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Wild Hearts, Stifled Breaths (Part 10)
by TheTopTier
6 years ago
Mipha's squirming didn't make a hint of a difference to the thug carrying her.
The adrenaline was still coursing through the princess's cold-blooded veins as she was taken away from Link and brought back to the original cell the two of them had spent what felt like an eternity in. And needless to say, she was not looking forward to any more time in there.
But she was helpless to do anything as they finally reached it, and she was tossed back in. This time the gates between her and Link's units were open, meaning she had double the space in her prison.
Of course, she tried to scream at the cruel Yiga. "Yrrrnnn gnnmwmmm nnrphthnnh!"
These people had threatened not only herself and her love, but now her entire home and family. She couldn't imagine the worry that would consume her father when he discovered what was happening, nor what he and the rest of the Zoras would be forced to do just to keep her alive. Was there truly no low to which these beasts would stoop?
Another Yiga then entered the cell, this one carrying a small bottle, small enough to be held in her palm. Not bothering with any introductions, she walked up to the tied-up Zora and knelt down to her level. Mipha's luminescent brown eyes shined with hatred that burned even stronger than the desert heat.
"Ohram tells us that you Zora get hotter than most in these conditions," the Yiga said apathetically. "Since you're still useful to us alive, we need to keep you at least somewhat sustained."
She twisted the cap to the bottle open, brought the bottle an inch from Mipha's covered mouth, and raised her other hand up to the gag. "I'm removing your gag, and you'll drink this water without a word. One peep and I take it away. Am I clear?"
Mipha breathed slowly, hesitant. The prospect of water sounded impossible to pass up right now. But was that really what they were giving her, or something contaminated? Was it worth the risk to possibly quench her terrible thirst? Could she in any way take advantage of this moment, however brief it ended up being?
But the guard, impatient, then repeated, "Am I clear?!"
Bolstered by the sudden exclamation, as well as the desperation and severe dehydration she was suffering, Mipha immediately nodded her head. The guard was then prompt to pull the cloth down to her neck, freeing her mouth to spit out the other material packed inside.
Mipha couldn't even take a deep breath, however, before the bottle was shoved into her mouth and the water was poured in. It tasted bitter and unclean, but once the sensation of the liquid touched her tongue, she didn't care. At this point, anything she could get was sacred. She felt herself starting to cool down with every gulp, her throat sighing in relief as it got its first source of moisture in a day.
Which made her all the more devastated when the drink only lasted four seconds. After that, the bottle was yanked away, water spilling onto the floor.
Mipha lunged forward to try and catch any extra drops, but it was too late. She scooted forward as the cap was tightened back onto the container, sealing away the precious water.
They can't possibly think that's enough! she thought indignantly. The brevity of her drink felt almost as cruel as not getting one at all; it only fueled her cravings for more, and made the prospect of waiting Hylia knows how long for another even more unthinkable.
She hated herself for begging, but couldn't resist any longer. "No, no, please, I need more. Just a little more."
The guard only sighed in response, only picking up the cloth previously in her mouth. Mipha's heart raced as it approached her face, panicking at the thought of returning to the dry, suffocating sensation of being gagged once more.
"No, please, don't gag me ag-rghph!"
She was cruelly ignored as the gag was shoved back in, with her jaw being roughly squeezed to keep her from spitting it out. The other guard was quick to get behind her and bring the other cloth back up over her mouth, tying it just as tightly as before.
"NN!! YNNPHMMPH, YNNNGNGMM RNNMMMHH!!! NNH!!!" she screamed, thrashing in her bonds. That was the most freedom she'd had in a full day, and now that she got a taste of it, her fight was renewed to get it back. She couldn't take this anymore; she'd had it with these blasted bonds.
But the Yiga didn't acknowledge her gagged protests. She doubted they would even if they could be understood. They just walked out and closed the gate, without another word. Leaving the poor princess to struggle and scream in unbridled fury and despair. She dragged herself over to kick at the gate for the latest of many times, but once again it was useless. It wasn't an immensely strong structure, but it wasn't coming down if she kept at it in her current, seemingly never-ending condition.
It took a few minutes for the princess to calm down. She kept struggling and kicking a bit more, but at some point the rush of the situation died down enough for her to begin thinking clearly again.
And her attention turned to the item that was still in her concealed grip.
The three-mooned headwear accessory, in a rare stroke of luck, had gone unseen by her captors as it was kept behind her arms and hands. But she wasn't questioning a thing. Her ever-selfless Link had been generous enough to allow her to have it, and it turned out to mean him sacrificing his own potential ticket to freedom for hers. She would not let it go to waste.
There were two ways she could think of to use this object. One was as a sort of knife or blade to cut through her ropes. The other was to try and slip it into one of the knots and loosen it that way. She tried her first option, twisting her head to look down and aim her jewel. She maneuvered her hands as well as possible to rub the edges back and forth against her bonds … and could immediately tell that this was going to be strenuous at best. The ornament wasn't the dullest thing in the world, but it certainly wasn't sharp. She wouldn't be cutting the ropes so much as fraying them; either way, it would take an extremely long time.
Time that Mipha believed herself to be short on. Even though that pitiful amount of water had cooled her down a little, she knew that the heat was going to catch up and overwhelm her not too long from now. She still was in a large amount of discomfort from that alone, and could tell that her breathing was only going to get worse than it already was.
So, Mipha tried the other method in mind. She repositioned the jewelry, trying to feel around for a knot on her wrists. She had to twist her hands and transfer the moons between fingers, more difficult than it sounded in these ropes. Thankfully, she was able to feel that the Yiga had tied a knot within reach. Mipha then pointed a tip of the decoration at said knot, and brought it down to test it.
"Mmnnh," the Zora groaned when she realized that this was barely going to be any easier. The knot was expertly tight, having practically no slack whatsoever. She could have pieced that together already given how long they'd held her, but this, combined with the minimal leverage she had, meant that she'd likely spend an agonizingly long amount of time on this as well.
But it felt like it might be the slightest bit easier than the alternative solution. And with her options so limited, that's what she would have to base her decision on.
Mipha poked at the knot again, rubbing the moon tip against it to locate what felt like a micrometer-wide (at best) gap between the ropes. The dips and bumps of the weaving strands gave this location away. She poked at it again, wedging and turning it but still not having any more of an effect. She twisted her wrists as much as she could, but still no noticeable progress.
Ten minutes later, there was practically no difference still, aside from Mipha's body getting more agitated from the temperature. What kept her going were the few times she felt like there was an opening there, the times she felt her jewel get the slightest bit of progress burrowing into the knot. It was deflating when that was immediately followed by it slipping back out, but it was the one sign she had that this could work.
The Zora's chest began pounding, her breaths ragged above the stifling cloth. At this point, it was beginning to truly sink in just how long and arduous this process was likely going to be … without even a strong probability of working at all!
"MMRRMM!!" she shouted as she pulled herself against the ropes, restlessness building on an already-strong foundation. She could already feel some cramping in her wrists, the new layer of claustrophobia in having so little wiggle room in her attempts, rather literally. It was tempting to try and stop to find another, more convenient way.
But she knew that she wasn't so lucky. And so she kept at it.
Half an hour later, she felt substantially worse.
She was gasping and panting heavily through her nose, the temperature now smothering her and making the consumption of air notably more difficult. She was boiling inside, like an alarm had gone off within her flesh and wouldn't stop blaring. Her arms and hands were even more sore from the precise movements required of them, adding to the physical toll. She often tugged her hands in the ropes, testing to see if they were finally loose enough to slip free, and feeling her spirits take a hit when no difference was found.
The bound and gagged Zora took to many different positions just for the sake of bare-bones comfort for her suffering form. She would lie on her stomach, not caring about the filth that stained her bright blue Champion's sash. She leaned herself against a wall, allowing herself a lounge-like position as her bound legs lay splayed out. Her limbs all twitched and shifted in anxiety, making it harder for her to remain coordinated and precise.
"Hmmm, hmmm, hmmmph," she huffed, her muffled voice growing more exasperated. She felt herself welling up a bit from the torturous experience.
But despite these worsening conditions, her hope had grown a little more.
She could sense that the knot, while far from becoming loose, was not quite as airtight as it had been before. She could feel herself able to push the edge in the slightest iota further. And that was enough for her.
She forced her will and, even more so, her patience, to be stronger than she could ever remember. She could feel something happening; she knew it could be done! But the time it took was eating away at her. Not just physically, but emotionally in how she didn't know what Link was going through in the time she was taking. He could be getting tortured at this very moment, or being put through this "ritual" that was mentioned by Ohram.
What would become of him in the grasps of the Yiga?
Nothing! Mipha yelled at herself. Not so long as I can help it!
That drive pushed her through the next half-hour.
It was the same, never-ending process, and it was driving her mad. She wanted so badly to stop, or at least take a break, but refused herself that luxury. She could taste the first bit of release that would get her the freedom she needed.
She ignored the aches, the confinement, the burning inside, the ever-slow progress. The knot was getting looser, and the rate at which it did so felt like it could be increasing. Or that could be in her mind, wishful thinking
Her whole body shook, flaring up at the sting of the ropes all over her.
She kept going. Twisting her wrists. Pulling her arms. Moaning and panting to get precious air. Praying that the Yiga wouldn't come back.
Her pace doubled as she felt the accessory go deeper than it ever had.
Please, just give!
She wriggled it further.
Please!
Further.
Please! PLEASE!!!
And then, after more than an hour of her horrible, taxing efforts, one pull of her wrists brought them apart.
They were free.
And Mipha allowed herself the slightest muffled yell of elation.
As Zelda and Revali rode their way to Gerudo Town, they explained the entire situation as they knew it to Urbosa. And as it all was being laid out in one single summation, going over the details confirmed to Zelda what she now believed to be true. And the Gerudo chief was having very little trouble believing it as well.
From the outside, Gerudo Town likely didn't look like anything special. The exterior was a fairly standard set of walls that did their job of keeping anyone from sneaking in undetected. But on the inside, life was bustling, busy, and prosperous. The many huts and shops aligning the walls of the domain gave it the resemblance of a market square, as did the many residents and travelers who spent their time either browsing through the attractions or just lounging around, taking it easy. A few rows of tall trees were grown to further decorate the town, and the babbling aqueducts that flowed across some of the flattened rooftops proved quite soothing for those able to see and hear it.
It was both a bustling town for Urbosa and her people, and a safe haven for anyone passing through the desert ... provided they met one specific criterion.
"No voes are allowed in the town," ordered the two guards at the town's entrance. One glared at Revali, the "voe", or male, in question. "You two can come in, but he must stay out."
Revali narrowed his eyes. He was aware and thought himself respectful of this Gerudo-specific custom, but now hardly seemed like the time for such strict adherence to it. He was ready to protest, but the tall, female Champion did so instead.
"He is an esteemed Champion and highly valuable to our current situation," Urbosa proclaimed, respectfully but sternly. "I am making an exception today."
The Gerudo guards didn't seem thrilled about it, but begrudgingly nodded and let the Rito pass. Revali turned and gave a subtle but grateful look to the chief, which she responded to with a gentle grin.
And just like that, the trio and Jacklyn were inside. And they wasted no time getting to work on a plan against the Yiga, one that would hopefully result in the rescue of their two captured Champions and friends.
The most obvious problem they faced was that none of them, nor anyone in this town, knew anything about the Yiga Clan hideout outside of its location. From the layout of the structures to the positions of the guards to even the best route of entry, almost everything about it was a mystery to all. As such, they were unable to form any specific strategies around it, or even know where to look for the duo they were trying to save. While they knew that they couldn't just go in without any thought at all, a lot of their mission would have to rely on improvisation. Which meant they would need to come up with a series of many different plans that they could execute and switch out on a whim.
Nonetheless, the soldiers of Gerudo Town made it clear that they were willing to go in and take the risks needed to help the captive Champions. They knew that this was their fight as much as it was the Champions' themselves, and a few even expressed enthusiasm at sticking it to these Yiga a bit. Some of them even volunteered to venture into the territory and scout out the lair for any information they could get. It filled Urbosa's heart with beaming pride for her subjects and sisters.
Several hours of planning passed, with frustratingly minimal progression. Needing a break from it all, Zelda stepped outside onto a high balcony. She let herself be blessed with the fresh air and looked out to the sky. It was just on the cusp of dusk, as she could tell by the sun's very slow descent to the edge of the horizon.
It was hard to believe where she was. She knew that being the Champions of Hyrule came with several dangers, but couldn't have imagined the stakes being so high for a mission, outside of the rise of Calamity Ganon himself. The princess shuddered as she thought of what might have been had she obeyed her father's orders to stay at the castle. By now he was surely going berserk, and a part of her felt regretful for putting him through that. But if her decision ended up saving two cherished lives, she would face the consequences with her head held high.
"Lost in thought?"
Urbosa's voice broke the silence. She casually walked up to join the princess on the balcony rail, looking fondly upon her.
Zelda sighed. "I just don't know how we'll pull something like this off. We know so little about what will be waiting for us." She turned to look at Urbosa, her eyes brimming with uncertainty and fear. "Link and Mipha have come through for us so many times. I just don't want to fail them when they need us now."
Urbosa lay a loving hand on the younger girl's shoulder in comfort. "The scout team should be back with at least some intel. And our warriors are well-trained to deal with many situations, expected or unexpected."
Zelda nodded, only somewhat comforted.
"Besides," Urbosa continued, "Your intellect and bravery got you here. You followed the smallest of bread crumbs to a crucial discovery. Who's to say more miracles won't bless us tonight? I know the odds don't look the greatest, but Hylia will be with us. All we can do is try and follow our own hearts and pray that our goals line up with hers."
The Hylian didn't say anything. She just gazed out into the town once more. Lately it hasn't felt like Hylia has been with me. Nor wanted me to see my desires realized.
One thing was for sure, though. She was ready to take more matters into her own hands going forward. She knew the duty she was bound by, the task set before her. But today was absolute proof of how much good could be lost by not venturing beyond them. Once her inevitable punishment was over upon returning home, Zelda was determined to take more charge of what she could do for her people. And even more than that, she felt herself ready to take charge of her relationship with a certain chosen knight. The idea of losing him had never felt so real, and it made her realize how fragile everything was in these uncertain times. So, once he was safe, she would finally follow her heart's desires and lay her true feelings out to him. She could only hope he felt the same.
It was another, extra personal motivation to ensure this plan worked.
"You've grown so much, Little Bird," Urbosa near-whispered, rubbing her back tenderly. "When our time comes to fulfill our destinies, you'll know what to do," she smiled. "We all will."
Zelda couldn't help but smile back. Even before Link, this chief was the one to provide her with the most sincere, unwavering comfort in her many times of doubt. No one could replace her deceased mother, but this Gerudo certainly came close.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Lady Urbosa!" a soldier suddenly joined the ladies on the balcony, turning both of their heads. "Our scouts have returned. They need you at the town entrance right away!"
"What seems to be the problem?" Urbosa asked.
"It's ... just please, come quickly!"
Mipha's legs were burning, exhausted, and ready to give out beneath her. But she fought through it and forced them to power her across the sand.
Once her wrists had finally been freed, it had taken her an additional ten minutes to untie the rest of her bonds, another testament to how effective they were. That is, after she took off her gag and consumed what might have been gallons of air through her sore, arid mouth. The Zora then took another few minutes to get the feeling back in the many parts of her body that had been under such merciless constriction for such a long time, rubbing the scaly limbs and stretching herself in any and every way possible.
But knowing that the Yiga could be back at any second, she allowed herself no more time before beginning her escape. She first attempted to bust down the gate, finally having the physical capabilities that would be needed for such a feat. But while the barrier was by no means indestructible, her tiny form was not powerful enough to break it open, no matter how many well-placed flying kicks she delivered to it.
So, she then turned back to the beloved ornament that had made her current freedom possible. And it turned out its use was not over yet.
There was a padlock to the gate that kept it locked shut, one that Mipha could reach through the gate's bars. So, grabbing the jewel, she reached through the bars and brought it to the keyhole. Once again, it took many aggravating minutes of fiddling and fidgeting, something she was beyond ready to be done with. But with the grace of Hylia, she was able to persevere until she heard a clicking sound that was music to her ears. Almost too vigorously, she pushed the gate open, needing to grab and pull it back to prevent it from slamming into a wall and alerting her captors.
From there, she ran. She ran as fast as she could possibly go, in spite of feeling almost entirely drained in every way imaginable. Down the stairway, past the curtain, and through the circular corridor that she recognized as her first ever sight of the Yiga Clan hideout. She didn't look behind or around her; she just kept going, her movements a hybrid of a mad dash and the awkward stumbling that one would expect from a toddler walking for the first time. It certainly felt that way to her. Her webbed feet kicked up little clouds of the sand that slowed her down, and the late-afternoon sun beat down on her.
Mipha didn't know what she would do once she was in the clear. Her first order of business would have to be finding some way to ride off to sanctuary. She knew the desert housed a few sparse oases, including the home of the Gerudos, but getting there would be a battle on its own. She hoped that the Yiga kept at least one horse on the outskirts of their home, one she could use to ride her way through Gerudo. Then, she of course had to find a way to come back and somehow free Link. Doing so would be impossible without help, but the princess would stop at nothing to save her Hylian hero. The two of them had vowed to get out of this together, and she would ensure that promise went fulfilled, no matter the cost.
But she was so tired ... so, so tired. Every step was a test of endurance, each one more difficult than the last. She stumbled more than once, but got back up each time.
And unfortunately, in the middle of the winding canyon that led her out of the lair, she was forced to suffer yet another blow.
Her eyes caught a bomb arrow zipping by her, and she had no time to react as it hit the ground right by her feet, sending her falling on her side.
The eerily familiar shadow of a Yiga soldier ominously slithered over the Champion's downed form, lightly snickering. Mipha weakly lifted her head to look up at the dominant Yiga, and the two companions that joined him above her.
"... No ..." the Zora whimpered. She sloppily swung her arm out to try and hit a soldier with her three-mooned jewel, but her thin wrist was swiftly grabbed. The item was snatched out of her hand as another Yiga kicked her firmly in the back, bringing her down again.
"Looks like we underestimated you," one of them said.
No ... I can't fail now! I was so close! Mipha cried internally. The Zora tried to get back up, but the explosion from that arrow was the proverbial straw that broke her back. She had nothing left in her; she could feel every muscle trembling violently, and everything around her was becoming less and less distinguishable.
"Did you use this to get out?" a Yiga asked, sounding legitimately impressed. He admired the silver jewel for a few seconds, before tossing it to the ground like some worthless piece of trash.
"No matter," he said. "You're one slippery little fish, I'll give you that. But you're staying with us. And this time, we're tossing you into the deepest hole we have and never letting you out."
His words were muted and distorted to the fading Zora, but she understood them painfully clearly. She wanted to weep; after all she did to get herself to this point, to be dragged back into that hellscape was more than the poor girl could bear.
... Help ... someone ... help ...
With that last, hopeless thought, for the second time in under forty-eight hours, Mipha's mind slipped into darkness.
As a result, she missed the piercing wail than erupted from a Yiga, that Yiga collapsing, and the other two following suit. As well as the three arrows piercing their masked faces that caused their demises.
"Mmmmh. Mmmmgh."
Link breathed deeply in and out as he lay on his back, golden hair ruffled and dirtied on the cold, hard floor.
That was all that he was capable of right now. He'd spent hours in this room, bathed in its overpowering darkness as the lack of windows prevented any light from getting through. He was in the dark, alone, restricted ... so often he felt that way in his mind, but now it was both inside and out.
The floor had nothing, except for the heavy amounts of dust that would creep their way into his nose with every big shift he made that kicked it up. He kept struggling against the ropes, feeling them bite into the legs of his trousers and sleeves of his tunic, even though he knew that a full day of such attempts had resulted in nothing. His gag was still unbearable as it choked him and seemed to burn the corners of his mouth, every twitch of his lips renewing the pain. The hunger pangs were driving him mad, the drought in his mouth even more so, only second to the thoughts that wandered to his dear Mipha and how much she must be suffering. He desperately held onto hope that she would be able to use the accessory passed to her in a successful escape; he would have no regrets letting her have it if those hopes came true.
Link knew that should he perish in here, the world would be in a dire situation. There would be no hero to swoop in and fight off the darkness, no one to wield the blade of evil's bane. But then again, was it not foretold that the hero would be victorious against such darkness? If he were to die, would that mean he was, in fact, not the Chosen One? In which case, he would have simply let his life turn to silent servitude, let himself be sealed away in a tomb of distance and burden, all for nothing? Somehow, in the moment, that felt worse than leaving Hyrule to perish under Ganon.
As his dry lips twitched in sadness around the cleaving cloth, all Link could feel was defeat. Whatever happened now was completely out of his hands. And it made him sick. It made him want to close his eyes and never open them until the ordeal was over, however that came about. He tossed and turned, looking like a sleeping child having a bad dream.
The Hylian felt broken; he was being consumed by negative thoughts, and he wanted them to go away. Forever.
The creaking of the metal door in front of him halted his lamenting. It slowly slid open, and he was greeted once again by the hideous sight of Jora. Link didn't growl or make any noise. He just thrust himself to sit up, brought his tied knees to his chest, bit into the gag, and stared her down.
Jora, however, reached into a pocket and brought out a knife. The sight of it widened Link's sky-blue eyes and brought out a muffled gasp.
But Jora didn't use it right away, instead opting to speak first. "I won't even give you one final chance to join us, hero. I know what answer I'll get."
Link narrowed his eyes, but remained silent. For once, you're right.
"But know this," she stated, turning the knife so that it now lay in a reverse position in her hand. "Hyrule took you for no other reason than that you were needed. But with us, rest assured: we'll make you feel wanted."
She decked Link as hard as he could with the handle of her blade. The Hylian knight let out a choked "MMMPH!!" before his body went limp.
He didn't even feel himself hit the floor.
The Legend of Zelda franchise, the image used, and all characters and settings portrayed (except named Yiga members), all belong to Nintendo.
Originally uploaded on April 17, 2020.
Things are about to come to a head!
First off, yup, Mipha got free. And man, did I make the poor girl work for it. Just sitting there fiddling with something may not sound that bad, but as someone who gets anxiety just trying to untangle earbuds, I can't imagine the mental stress she's going through ... all I can do is hope to convey it. And I think most of you can guess who her saviors are, but I won't say in case you can't. But that just leaves Link, who's not through with his captivity yet ... and will have himself a different kind of bondage experience as well. I cut his time in this chapter a bit short, because not only was there a lot of slow-moving plot and thinking going on already, but I'm saving it up for next time.
Up next, the heavily built up ritual commences ... or does it? What does it entail? Can our heroes make it in time to stop it? In the words of Dr. Strange, we're in the endgame now.
Thank you all for reading, and as always, I hope you enjoyed!
Mipha's gag speech translated:
"Yrrrnnn gnnmwmmm nnrphthnnh!" - "You'll never get away with any of this!"
"NN!! YNNPHMMPH, YNNNGNGMM RNNMMMHH!!! NNH!!!" - "NO!! YOU FIENDS, YOU UNGAG ME RIGHT NOW!!! NOW!!!"
The adrenaline was still coursing through the princess's cold-blooded veins as she was taken away from Link and brought back to the original cell the two of them had spent what felt like an eternity in. And needless to say, she was not looking forward to any more time in there.
But she was helpless to do anything as they finally reached it, and she was tossed back in. This time the gates between her and Link's units were open, meaning she had double the space in her prison.
Of course, she tried to scream at the cruel Yiga. "Yrrrnnn gnnmwmmm nnrphthnnh!"
These people had threatened not only herself and her love, but now her entire home and family. She couldn't imagine the worry that would consume her father when he discovered what was happening, nor what he and the rest of the Zoras would be forced to do just to keep her alive. Was there truly no low to which these beasts would stoop?
Another Yiga then entered the cell, this one carrying a small bottle, small enough to be held in her palm. Not bothering with any introductions, she walked up to the tied-up Zora and knelt down to her level. Mipha's luminescent brown eyes shined with hatred that burned even stronger than the desert heat.
"Ohram tells us that you Zora get hotter than most in these conditions," the Yiga said apathetically. "Since you're still useful to us alive, we need to keep you at least somewhat sustained."
She twisted the cap to the bottle open, brought the bottle an inch from Mipha's covered mouth, and raised her other hand up to the gag. "I'm removing your gag, and you'll drink this water without a word. One peep and I take it away. Am I clear?"
Mipha breathed slowly, hesitant. The prospect of water sounded impossible to pass up right now. But was that really what they were giving her, or something contaminated? Was it worth the risk to possibly quench her terrible thirst? Could she in any way take advantage of this moment, however brief it ended up being?
But the guard, impatient, then repeated, "Am I clear?!"
Bolstered by the sudden exclamation, as well as the desperation and severe dehydration she was suffering, Mipha immediately nodded her head. The guard was then prompt to pull the cloth down to her neck, freeing her mouth to spit out the other material packed inside.
Mipha couldn't even take a deep breath, however, before the bottle was shoved into her mouth and the water was poured in. It tasted bitter and unclean, but once the sensation of the liquid touched her tongue, she didn't care. At this point, anything she could get was sacred. She felt herself starting to cool down with every gulp, her throat sighing in relief as it got its first source of moisture in a day.
Which made her all the more devastated when the drink only lasted four seconds. After that, the bottle was yanked away, water spilling onto the floor.
Mipha lunged forward to try and catch any extra drops, but it was too late. She scooted forward as the cap was tightened back onto the container, sealing away the precious water.
They can't possibly think that's enough! she thought indignantly. The brevity of her drink felt almost as cruel as not getting one at all; it only fueled her cravings for more, and made the prospect of waiting Hylia knows how long for another even more unthinkable.
She hated herself for begging, but couldn't resist any longer. "No, no, please, I need more. Just a little more."
The guard only sighed in response, only picking up the cloth previously in her mouth. Mipha's heart raced as it approached her face, panicking at the thought of returning to the dry, suffocating sensation of being gagged once more.
"No, please, don't gag me ag-rghph!"
She was cruelly ignored as the gag was shoved back in, with her jaw being roughly squeezed to keep her from spitting it out. The other guard was quick to get behind her and bring the other cloth back up over her mouth, tying it just as tightly as before.
"NN!! YNNPHMMPH, YNNNGNGMM RNNMMMHH!!! NNH!!!" she screamed, thrashing in her bonds. That was the most freedom she'd had in a full day, and now that she got a taste of it, her fight was renewed to get it back. She couldn't take this anymore; she'd had it with these blasted bonds.
But the Yiga didn't acknowledge her gagged protests. She doubted they would even if they could be understood. They just walked out and closed the gate, without another word. Leaving the poor princess to struggle and scream in unbridled fury and despair. She dragged herself over to kick at the gate for the latest of many times, but once again it was useless. It wasn't an immensely strong structure, but it wasn't coming down if she kept at it in her current, seemingly never-ending condition.
It took a few minutes for the princess to calm down. She kept struggling and kicking a bit more, but at some point the rush of the situation died down enough for her to begin thinking clearly again.
And her attention turned to the item that was still in her concealed grip.
The three-mooned headwear accessory, in a rare stroke of luck, had gone unseen by her captors as it was kept behind her arms and hands. But she wasn't questioning a thing. Her ever-selfless Link had been generous enough to allow her to have it, and it turned out to mean him sacrificing his own potential ticket to freedom for hers. She would not let it go to waste.
There were two ways she could think of to use this object. One was as a sort of knife or blade to cut through her ropes. The other was to try and slip it into one of the knots and loosen it that way. She tried her first option, twisting her head to look down and aim her jewel. She maneuvered her hands as well as possible to rub the edges back and forth against her bonds … and could immediately tell that this was going to be strenuous at best. The ornament wasn't the dullest thing in the world, but it certainly wasn't sharp. She wouldn't be cutting the ropes so much as fraying them; either way, it would take an extremely long time.
Time that Mipha believed herself to be short on. Even though that pitiful amount of water had cooled her down a little, she knew that the heat was going to catch up and overwhelm her not too long from now. She still was in a large amount of discomfort from that alone, and could tell that her breathing was only going to get worse than it already was.
So, Mipha tried the other method in mind. She repositioned the jewelry, trying to feel around for a knot on her wrists. She had to twist her hands and transfer the moons between fingers, more difficult than it sounded in these ropes. Thankfully, she was able to feel that the Yiga had tied a knot within reach. Mipha then pointed a tip of the decoration at said knot, and brought it down to test it.
"Mmnnh," the Zora groaned when she realized that this was barely going to be any easier. The knot was expertly tight, having practically no slack whatsoever. She could have pieced that together already given how long they'd held her, but this, combined with the minimal leverage she had, meant that she'd likely spend an agonizingly long amount of time on this as well.
But it felt like it might be the slightest bit easier than the alternative solution. And with her options so limited, that's what she would have to base her decision on.
Mipha poked at the knot again, rubbing the moon tip against it to locate what felt like a micrometer-wide (at best) gap between the ropes. The dips and bumps of the weaving strands gave this location away. She poked at it again, wedging and turning it but still not having any more of an effect. She twisted her wrists as much as she could, but still no noticeable progress.
Ten minutes later, there was practically no difference still, aside from Mipha's body getting more agitated from the temperature. What kept her going were the few times she felt like there was an opening there, the times she felt her jewel get the slightest bit of progress burrowing into the knot. It was deflating when that was immediately followed by it slipping back out, but it was the one sign she had that this could work.
The Zora's chest began pounding, her breaths ragged above the stifling cloth. At this point, it was beginning to truly sink in just how long and arduous this process was likely going to be … without even a strong probability of working at all!
"MMRRMM!!" she shouted as she pulled herself against the ropes, restlessness building on an already-strong foundation. She could already feel some cramping in her wrists, the new layer of claustrophobia in having so little wiggle room in her attempts, rather literally. It was tempting to try and stop to find another, more convenient way.
But she knew that she wasn't so lucky. And so she kept at it.
Half an hour later, she felt substantially worse.
She was gasping and panting heavily through her nose, the temperature now smothering her and making the consumption of air notably more difficult. She was boiling inside, like an alarm had gone off within her flesh and wouldn't stop blaring. Her arms and hands were even more sore from the precise movements required of them, adding to the physical toll. She often tugged her hands in the ropes, testing to see if they were finally loose enough to slip free, and feeling her spirits take a hit when no difference was found.
The bound and gagged Zora took to many different positions just for the sake of bare-bones comfort for her suffering form. She would lie on her stomach, not caring about the filth that stained her bright blue Champion's sash. She leaned herself against a wall, allowing herself a lounge-like position as her bound legs lay splayed out. Her limbs all twitched and shifted in anxiety, making it harder for her to remain coordinated and precise.
"Hmmm, hmmm, hmmmph," she huffed, her muffled voice growing more exasperated. She felt herself welling up a bit from the torturous experience.
But despite these worsening conditions, her hope had grown a little more.
She could sense that the knot, while far from becoming loose, was not quite as airtight as it had been before. She could feel herself able to push the edge in the slightest iota further. And that was enough for her.
She forced her will and, even more so, her patience, to be stronger than she could ever remember. She could feel something happening; she knew it could be done! But the time it took was eating away at her. Not just physically, but emotionally in how she didn't know what Link was going through in the time she was taking. He could be getting tortured at this very moment, or being put through this "ritual" that was mentioned by Ohram.
What would become of him in the grasps of the Yiga?
Nothing! Mipha yelled at herself. Not so long as I can help it!
That drive pushed her through the next half-hour.
It was the same, never-ending process, and it was driving her mad. She wanted so badly to stop, or at least take a break, but refused herself that luxury. She could taste the first bit of release that would get her the freedom she needed.
She ignored the aches, the confinement, the burning inside, the ever-slow progress. The knot was getting looser, and the rate at which it did so felt like it could be increasing. Or that could be in her mind, wishful thinking
Her whole body shook, flaring up at the sting of the ropes all over her.
She kept going. Twisting her wrists. Pulling her arms. Moaning and panting to get precious air. Praying that the Yiga wouldn't come back.
Her pace doubled as she felt the accessory go deeper than it ever had.
Please, just give!
She wriggled it further.
Please!
Further.
Please! PLEASE!!!
And then, after more than an hour of her horrible, taxing efforts, one pull of her wrists brought them apart.
They were free.
And Mipha allowed herself the slightest muffled yell of elation.
As Zelda and Revali rode their way to Gerudo Town, they explained the entire situation as they knew it to Urbosa. And as it all was being laid out in one single summation, going over the details confirmed to Zelda what she now believed to be true. And the Gerudo chief was having very little trouble believing it as well.
From the outside, Gerudo Town likely didn't look like anything special. The exterior was a fairly standard set of walls that did their job of keeping anyone from sneaking in undetected. But on the inside, life was bustling, busy, and prosperous. The many huts and shops aligning the walls of the domain gave it the resemblance of a market square, as did the many residents and travelers who spent their time either browsing through the attractions or just lounging around, taking it easy. A few rows of tall trees were grown to further decorate the town, and the babbling aqueducts that flowed across some of the flattened rooftops proved quite soothing for those able to see and hear it.
It was both a bustling town for Urbosa and her people, and a safe haven for anyone passing through the desert ... provided they met one specific criterion.
"No voes are allowed in the town," ordered the two guards at the town's entrance. One glared at Revali, the "voe", or male, in question. "You two can come in, but he must stay out."
Revali narrowed his eyes. He was aware and thought himself respectful of this Gerudo-specific custom, but now hardly seemed like the time for such strict adherence to it. He was ready to protest, but the tall, female Champion did so instead.
"He is an esteemed Champion and highly valuable to our current situation," Urbosa proclaimed, respectfully but sternly. "I am making an exception today."
The Gerudo guards didn't seem thrilled about it, but begrudgingly nodded and let the Rito pass. Revali turned and gave a subtle but grateful look to the chief, which she responded to with a gentle grin.
And just like that, the trio and Jacklyn were inside. And they wasted no time getting to work on a plan against the Yiga, one that would hopefully result in the rescue of their two captured Champions and friends.
The most obvious problem they faced was that none of them, nor anyone in this town, knew anything about the Yiga Clan hideout outside of its location. From the layout of the structures to the positions of the guards to even the best route of entry, almost everything about it was a mystery to all. As such, they were unable to form any specific strategies around it, or even know where to look for the duo they were trying to save. While they knew that they couldn't just go in without any thought at all, a lot of their mission would have to rely on improvisation. Which meant they would need to come up with a series of many different plans that they could execute and switch out on a whim.
Nonetheless, the soldiers of Gerudo Town made it clear that they were willing to go in and take the risks needed to help the captive Champions. They knew that this was their fight as much as it was the Champions' themselves, and a few even expressed enthusiasm at sticking it to these Yiga a bit. Some of them even volunteered to venture into the territory and scout out the lair for any information they could get. It filled Urbosa's heart with beaming pride for her subjects and sisters.
Several hours of planning passed, with frustratingly minimal progression. Needing a break from it all, Zelda stepped outside onto a high balcony. She let herself be blessed with the fresh air and looked out to the sky. It was just on the cusp of dusk, as she could tell by the sun's very slow descent to the edge of the horizon.
It was hard to believe where she was. She knew that being the Champions of Hyrule came with several dangers, but couldn't have imagined the stakes being so high for a mission, outside of the rise of Calamity Ganon himself. The princess shuddered as she thought of what might have been had she obeyed her father's orders to stay at the castle. By now he was surely going berserk, and a part of her felt regretful for putting him through that. But if her decision ended up saving two cherished lives, she would face the consequences with her head held high.
"Lost in thought?"
Urbosa's voice broke the silence. She casually walked up to join the princess on the balcony rail, looking fondly upon her.
Zelda sighed. "I just don't know how we'll pull something like this off. We know so little about what will be waiting for us." She turned to look at Urbosa, her eyes brimming with uncertainty and fear. "Link and Mipha have come through for us so many times. I just don't want to fail them when they need us now."
Urbosa lay a loving hand on the younger girl's shoulder in comfort. "The scout team should be back with at least some intel. And our warriors are well-trained to deal with many situations, expected or unexpected."
Zelda nodded, only somewhat comforted.
"Besides," Urbosa continued, "Your intellect and bravery got you here. You followed the smallest of bread crumbs to a crucial discovery. Who's to say more miracles won't bless us tonight? I know the odds don't look the greatest, but Hylia will be with us. All we can do is try and follow our own hearts and pray that our goals line up with hers."
The Hylian didn't say anything. She just gazed out into the town once more. Lately it hasn't felt like Hylia has been with me. Nor wanted me to see my desires realized.
One thing was for sure, though. She was ready to take more matters into her own hands going forward. She knew the duty she was bound by, the task set before her. But today was absolute proof of how much good could be lost by not venturing beyond them. Once her inevitable punishment was over upon returning home, Zelda was determined to take more charge of what she could do for her people. And even more than that, she felt herself ready to take charge of her relationship with a certain chosen knight. The idea of losing him had never felt so real, and it made her realize how fragile everything was in these uncertain times. So, once he was safe, she would finally follow her heart's desires and lay her true feelings out to him. She could only hope he felt the same.
It was another, extra personal motivation to ensure this plan worked.
"You've grown so much, Little Bird," Urbosa near-whispered, rubbing her back tenderly. "When our time comes to fulfill our destinies, you'll know what to do," she smiled. "We all will."
Zelda couldn't help but smile back. Even before Link, this chief was the one to provide her with the most sincere, unwavering comfort in her many times of doubt. No one could replace her deceased mother, but this Gerudo certainly came close.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Lady Urbosa!" a soldier suddenly joined the ladies on the balcony, turning both of their heads. "Our scouts have returned. They need you at the town entrance right away!"
"What seems to be the problem?" Urbosa asked.
"It's ... just please, come quickly!"
Mipha's legs were burning, exhausted, and ready to give out beneath her. But she fought through it and forced them to power her across the sand.
Once her wrists had finally been freed, it had taken her an additional ten minutes to untie the rest of her bonds, another testament to how effective they were. That is, after she took off her gag and consumed what might have been gallons of air through her sore, arid mouth. The Zora then took another few minutes to get the feeling back in the many parts of her body that had been under such merciless constriction for such a long time, rubbing the scaly limbs and stretching herself in any and every way possible.
But knowing that the Yiga could be back at any second, she allowed herself no more time before beginning her escape. She first attempted to bust down the gate, finally having the physical capabilities that would be needed for such a feat. But while the barrier was by no means indestructible, her tiny form was not powerful enough to break it open, no matter how many well-placed flying kicks she delivered to it.
So, she then turned back to the beloved ornament that had made her current freedom possible. And it turned out its use was not over yet.
There was a padlock to the gate that kept it locked shut, one that Mipha could reach through the gate's bars. So, grabbing the jewel, she reached through the bars and brought it to the keyhole. Once again, it took many aggravating minutes of fiddling and fidgeting, something she was beyond ready to be done with. But with the grace of Hylia, she was able to persevere until she heard a clicking sound that was music to her ears. Almost too vigorously, she pushed the gate open, needing to grab and pull it back to prevent it from slamming into a wall and alerting her captors.
From there, she ran. She ran as fast as she could possibly go, in spite of feeling almost entirely drained in every way imaginable. Down the stairway, past the curtain, and through the circular corridor that she recognized as her first ever sight of the Yiga Clan hideout. She didn't look behind or around her; she just kept going, her movements a hybrid of a mad dash and the awkward stumbling that one would expect from a toddler walking for the first time. It certainly felt that way to her. Her webbed feet kicked up little clouds of the sand that slowed her down, and the late-afternoon sun beat down on her.
Mipha didn't know what she would do once she was in the clear. Her first order of business would have to be finding some way to ride off to sanctuary. She knew the desert housed a few sparse oases, including the home of the Gerudos, but getting there would be a battle on its own. She hoped that the Yiga kept at least one horse on the outskirts of their home, one she could use to ride her way through Gerudo. Then, she of course had to find a way to come back and somehow free Link. Doing so would be impossible without help, but the princess would stop at nothing to save her Hylian hero. The two of them had vowed to get out of this together, and she would ensure that promise went fulfilled, no matter the cost.
But she was so tired ... so, so tired. Every step was a test of endurance, each one more difficult than the last. She stumbled more than once, but got back up each time.
And unfortunately, in the middle of the winding canyon that led her out of the lair, she was forced to suffer yet another blow.
Her eyes caught a bomb arrow zipping by her, and she had no time to react as it hit the ground right by her feet, sending her falling on her side.
The eerily familiar shadow of a Yiga soldier ominously slithered over the Champion's downed form, lightly snickering. Mipha weakly lifted her head to look up at the dominant Yiga, and the two companions that joined him above her.
"... No ..." the Zora whimpered. She sloppily swung her arm out to try and hit a soldier with her three-mooned jewel, but her thin wrist was swiftly grabbed. The item was snatched out of her hand as another Yiga kicked her firmly in the back, bringing her down again.
"Looks like we underestimated you," one of them said.
No ... I can't fail now! I was so close! Mipha cried internally. The Zora tried to get back up, but the explosion from that arrow was the proverbial straw that broke her back. She had nothing left in her; she could feel every muscle trembling violently, and everything around her was becoming less and less distinguishable.
"Did you use this to get out?" a Yiga asked, sounding legitimately impressed. He admired the silver jewel for a few seconds, before tossing it to the ground like some worthless piece of trash.
"No matter," he said. "You're one slippery little fish, I'll give you that. But you're staying with us. And this time, we're tossing you into the deepest hole we have and never letting you out."
His words were muted and distorted to the fading Zora, but she understood them painfully clearly. She wanted to weep; after all she did to get herself to this point, to be dragged back into that hellscape was more than the poor girl could bear.
... Help ... someone ... help ...
With that last, hopeless thought, for the second time in under forty-eight hours, Mipha's mind slipped into darkness.
As a result, she missed the piercing wail than erupted from a Yiga, that Yiga collapsing, and the other two following suit. As well as the three arrows piercing their masked faces that caused their demises.
"Mmmmh. Mmmmgh."
Link breathed deeply in and out as he lay on his back, golden hair ruffled and dirtied on the cold, hard floor.
That was all that he was capable of right now. He'd spent hours in this room, bathed in its overpowering darkness as the lack of windows prevented any light from getting through. He was in the dark, alone, restricted ... so often he felt that way in his mind, but now it was both inside and out.
The floor had nothing, except for the heavy amounts of dust that would creep their way into his nose with every big shift he made that kicked it up. He kept struggling against the ropes, feeling them bite into the legs of his trousers and sleeves of his tunic, even though he knew that a full day of such attempts had resulted in nothing. His gag was still unbearable as it choked him and seemed to burn the corners of his mouth, every twitch of his lips renewing the pain. The hunger pangs were driving him mad, the drought in his mouth even more so, only second to the thoughts that wandered to his dear Mipha and how much she must be suffering. He desperately held onto hope that she would be able to use the accessory passed to her in a successful escape; he would have no regrets letting her have it if those hopes came true.
Link knew that should he perish in here, the world would be in a dire situation. There would be no hero to swoop in and fight off the darkness, no one to wield the blade of evil's bane. But then again, was it not foretold that the hero would be victorious against such darkness? If he were to die, would that mean he was, in fact, not the Chosen One? In which case, he would have simply let his life turn to silent servitude, let himself be sealed away in a tomb of distance and burden, all for nothing? Somehow, in the moment, that felt worse than leaving Hyrule to perish under Ganon.
As his dry lips twitched in sadness around the cleaving cloth, all Link could feel was defeat. Whatever happened now was completely out of his hands. And it made him sick. It made him want to close his eyes and never open them until the ordeal was over, however that came about. He tossed and turned, looking like a sleeping child having a bad dream.
The Hylian felt broken; he was being consumed by negative thoughts, and he wanted them to go away. Forever.
The creaking of the metal door in front of him halted his lamenting. It slowly slid open, and he was greeted once again by the hideous sight of Jora. Link didn't growl or make any noise. He just thrust himself to sit up, brought his tied knees to his chest, bit into the gag, and stared her down.
Jora, however, reached into a pocket and brought out a knife. The sight of it widened Link's sky-blue eyes and brought out a muffled gasp.
But Jora didn't use it right away, instead opting to speak first. "I won't even give you one final chance to join us, hero. I know what answer I'll get."
Link narrowed his eyes, but remained silent. For once, you're right.
"But know this," she stated, turning the knife so that it now lay in a reverse position in her hand. "Hyrule took you for no other reason than that you were needed. But with us, rest assured: we'll make you feel wanted."
She decked Link as hard as he could with the handle of her blade. The Hylian knight let out a choked "MMMPH!!" before his body went limp.
He didn't even feel himself hit the floor.
The Legend of Zelda franchise, the image used, and all characters and settings portrayed (except named Yiga members), all belong to Nintendo.
Originally uploaded on April 17, 2020.
Things are about to come to a head!
First off, yup, Mipha got free. And man, did I make the poor girl work for it. Just sitting there fiddling with something may not sound that bad, but as someone who gets anxiety just trying to untangle earbuds, I can't imagine the mental stress she's going through ... all I can do is hope to convey it. And I think most of you can guess who her saviors are, but I won't say in case you can't. But that just leaves Link, who's not through with his captivity yet ... and will have himself a different kind of bondage experience as well. I cut his time in this chapter a bit short, because not only was there a lot of slow-moving plot and thinking going on already, but I'm saving it up for next time.
Up next, the heavily built up ritual commences ... or does it? What does it entail? Can our heroes make it in time to stop it? In the words of Dr. Strange, we're in the endgame now.
Thank you all for reading, and as always, I hope you enjoyed!
Mipha's gag speech translated:
"Yrrrnnn gnnmwmmm nnrphthnnh!" - "You'll never get away with any of this!"
"NN!! YNNPHMMPH, YNNNGNGMM RNNMMMHH!!! NNH!!!" - "NO!! YOU FIENDS, YOU UNGAG ME RIGHT NOW!!! NOW!!!"
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