What is going on with the former Triforce Champion?

Link lost the title on Treasure Island and apologized to his fans, and has been silent since. Hyrule Pro-Wrestling has sent a small news team to see how he’s doing.

Paya and crew arrive in Kakariko Village.

They pass by Karakiro High, Link’s alma mater, and see a crowd of students pulling down a “Home of the Triforce Champion” banner that was on the front of the building. Well, Link isn’t champion so it makes sense, but it’s still sad to see. Eventually, the crew arrives at Link’s home in “Old Kakariko.” The house itself is part tree, to Paya’s surprise. There’s a small crowd gathered on the sidewalk, of children and young adults wearing Link merchandise shirts. Three girls out in front wear “I <3 Link” shirts, one in red, one in blue and one in green. The crowd sees the crew and all start asking things. Paya nervously asks they settle down and let them through. Is she here to see Link? Yes, actually. Paya is fairly sure their questions are the same as hers, so please be patient.

Paya goes up the steps and knocks on the door. An old woman slowly opens the door and is surprised to see the cameraman. “Are you here from Publishers Clearing-” No, ma’am, they’re from HPW. 8G Double Who? Paya speaks up as she she says, “No, H P W. Is Link home?” Zlink? No one named Zlink lives here. A young woman hurries over. “Grandma, I think you need to turn up your hearing aid.” The old woman does exactly that. “I think you have a point, Aryll. I’m sorry about that, who were you again?” Paya introduces herself and again says she’s here on behalf of HPW, Hyrule Pro-Wrestling. “Oh, HPW! Of course! Link’s been in his room, waiting for someone to finally deliver that title belt. We can’t wait to see it shine with the new plates.” Um, new plates?

Mrs… Link’s Grandmother… Wait, what is Link’s last name? Well, that’s besides the point now. Link isn’t- Aryll interrupts, suggesting to Grandma that they should give their guests something to drink. Grandma agrees and goes to the kitchen while Aryll leads the crew down the hall and up the stairs. Aryll quietly explains that Grandma doesn’t really know what happened on Treasure Island. Grandma fell asleep somewhere near the end of the Eventide Challenge match. She felt bad missing the main event, and Aryll didn’t have the heart to tell her Link lost. Aryll’s been covering up things but it’s only a matter of time before Grandma finds out. Aryll wants the truth to come from Link, so please don’t say anything. They arrive at Link’s room and Aryll knocks on the door. “Big Brother? Some people from HPW are here to see you.”

It’s quiet enough in the hallway that they can hear inside Link’s room. It sounds like a flute is playing. Aryll opens the door and Link is playing Through the Water and the Waves on Ocarina Hero. “Really? You’re playing a video game?” Aryll huffs and puffs over to her brother and turns the console off! Link is about to say something but his sister cuts him off. “You need to tell Grandma the truth. Ms. Paya is here and they want to talk to you about stuff, and Grandma still thinks you’re champion!” Link sighs and drops his ocarina controller, but he doesn’t get up. Aryll puffs her cheeks more as she pulls his arm. Link grumbles but gets up, and Aryll pulls him along as she goes back out to the hall. Paya and cameraman quietly follow the siblings back to the den and find Grandma has served lemonade. “There he is! Now, let’s see that even shinier belt!”

The awkward silence confuses Grandma. Aryll tells her that Link has something to tell her about that. Aryll looks at her brother but he looks down at the floor. She nudges him with an expectant look and Link sighs again. He starts to say something, but Grandma speaks first. “You’re no longer champion, are you?” Link shakes his head, “No.” Why didn’t he and Aryll just say so? Link isn’t sure how to put it into words, so Aryll says that they didn’t want to break her heart. Grandma says him losing wouldn’t have hurt her. Them keeping this secret doesn’t exactly make her happy. But the only thing that could hurt her is if Link gave up. He hasn’t given up, has he? Paya would like to know that, too, actually.

Link takes a deep breath and stands up tall. He heads back to the hallway and up the stairs. The cameraman hurries after Link, but he’s already coming back with a big duffel bag and luggage. He brings those back to the living room and clearly Aryll and Grandma understand. Link’s not quitting HPW! He says good-bye to Aryll and Grandma before leaving with Paya and crew. But with Gerudo Canyon’s cards already set, when and where will Link get back in the ring again?

My Thoughts:

Hooray for introducing Aryll and Grandma a la Wind Waker! And I realized that Link has never lived directly in Kakariko Village, but in Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds, his house was just on the outskirts. I also decided to make the house part tree like in Twilight Princess. And of course he wasn’t quitting, he’s Link! Just wait to see when he shows up again.