"Danger is real, fear is a choice."

The quiet lands of Lanayru are disrupted by the sounds of a young woman running from an unknown attacker. After reaching a recently built house, she closes the door, locks it and places a table in front of it. She then goes deeper inside the house and finds a sword, which she picks up and then jumps as the sound of the door being forced open alerts her. She looks back and sees the door torn off its hinges and the table split in half. Fearful, she slowly walks to the back of the room, never taking her eyes off the entrance, but stops after hearing a thud from behind her. The young woman turns around and the attacker towers over her (growling all the while), its hideous visage reflected in her widened emerald green eyes. The attacker then roars at her.

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6 hours earlier

"Like this?" Zelda asks while standing upright with her arms spread out.

"Yes. Just stay still, I'm going to scan you. The fact that several metroids skipped over us to get to you was no mere coincidence; they wanted something from you." Samus explains. "Something that we can't see."

Samus scans Zelda, the latter being mesmerized by the almost water like surface of the scan visors light reflected on her.

"Bioscan complete." Virginia gives the report. "Subject is a young female Hylian. Bioscan's indicate healthy life signs and the presence of an unknown energy source. Energy is reminiscent of subjects life force, but on a much grander scale."

"There's another energy source within you, princess?" Samus questions.

"Well, there is a power that is passed down within my family; it's a sealing power that was strong enough to stop the Calamity. Why do you ask?"

"I think that's what the metroids are after."

"Hold on. What exactly are you talking about?" Link interrupts.

"I think that her sealing power is tied to her life force. It is probably stronger than any other living creature here. Bearing that in mind, the metroids see her and go into a frenzy; intending to feed on her life force as if they were being beckoned by it."

Zelda reels back in fear over Samus's explanation. After some deliberation, the decision is made to leave Zelda in the care of the Zora's and for Link and Samus to continue to Vah Ruta without her. Zelda, however, did not take the desicion well.

"I refuse to be left here while you continue on!"

"Princess, this is for your own good. You stay here and you'll be safe." Link explains.

"I'm the one they want; I stay here and they'll come for us eventually! How many of these people have to die before they get to me?!"

"Princess-"

"I have a name! It's Zelda; not 'princess', not 'your highness', Zelda! Their lives are just as important as mine; I will not let them die because I was the one the enemy is after. Besides, you said that you are my protector; is leaving me out of your sight protecting me in any way?"

Link, taking all of her words into account, comes to a surprising conclusion; she was right. Leaving her here as a "beacon" of sorts to indirectly lure the metroids to the safe zone would result in the deaths of all the survivors. Also, that he would protect Zelda from anyone and anything, he was nowhere near willing to repeat his mistakes from a century ago.

"You must promise to stay in my sight at all times, in Samus's sight as well. Don't move unless I say. Don't make a sound unless I say. Do you promise me?" Link lays down the rules.

"Of course, I leave it all in your hands." Zelda answers.

"Then let's not waste any more time. We're moving out." Link says before being stopped by Samus.

"Link, are you sure that this is a good idea? She's basically a walking beacon to the metroids."

"We won't be with anyone else; if push comes to shove then we'll handle it."

Samus, not fully convinced, decides to listen to Link and walks over to Zelda.

"Princess- I mean Zelda, let me see your journal for a moment." Samus asks and Zelda hands over her journal, which she then imprints paragraphs and images of the metroid species. "Here, with this you'll be able know what types of metroids we may come across."

"Wow, you've seen all of these?" Zelda asks and Samus nods. "Category one, category two, category three? What's that one like?"

"There will be plenty of time to read up on them later. Right now, we need to head out." Link speaks up as he walks to the safe zone entrance.

"Link, your highness and our new friend; I thank you for your help. Now, you plan to head to their territory?" Sidon asks.

"Yes, if we can stop it at the source then that should be our next destination." Zelda declares. "Besides, Samus will help us every step of the way. Won't you?"

"I'm not going to stop now." Samus smiles and pats Zelda's back, earning a smile from her as well.

"Well, if that is your plan; then I wish you luck. Those beasts are ruthless, but if anyone has a shot at beating them, it's you."

"We'll handle it. You'll have your home back, Sidon. You've got my word on it." Link promises to Sidon.

"There's no doubt about it; I believe in you!"

The trio jump into the tunnel and Sidon looks on as it is sealed with a large boulder by the Zora guards.

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After leaving the tunnel, the trio makes their way to Zora's Domain. Samus noting that it is late in the afternoon and that the metroids become more active at night, so they should find shelter soon. On another note, Samus nudges Link's shoulder while gesturing to Zelda, who is reading up on her journal. Link, letting out a sigh, realizes what Samus is implying and walks up to Zelda.

" *ahem* Princ- I mean, Zelda?" Link realizes how odd it is to speak to her in such an informal way.

"Yes? What is it Link?" Zelda asks, while not taking her eyes off her journal.

Deciding that asking directly might "put her on the spot", Link talks to Zelda as if it was any regular conversation. "Well, I just wanted to know what you planned to do when this is all over. What you want to do for the future and such."

"Hmm, well first of all, the castle will need to be completely repaired. Then, the reunification of the land can officially begin. From there, we'll just take it one step at a time."

"Ah, good. But, there's nothing else that needs to be done? Nothing very important that slipped your mind?"

"...Nope. Nothing at the moment."

Samus, growing weary of the "conversation", tells Link (quietly) to just mention it now. Link takes a deep breath and finally asks directly.

"Not even...the coronation ceremony?"

Zelda stops abruptly and Link feels a chill go up his spine. After a few seconds, she answers him.

"Ah yes, that. That is important, isn't it? Well, that is still a ways off, so I don't need to worry about it now."

Based on her tone, Link and Samus realize that Zelda isn't setting it aside for later; she is up front avoiding the subject altogether. But why?

"May I ask when you'll tackle the matter?"

"Another time."

"When will that be-"

"WHEN I SAY IT WILL BE!" Zelda defensively yells. "We're done talking about this, now drop it and let's go..." Zelda continues to walk in a huff. Link decides to drop the matter for now and silently walks behind her while sulking. Samus walks up beside him and reassures that they'll find another way to get her to open up. Just then, Link feels a surge in his head and runs toward Zelda and tackles her to the ground. Before she can protest, several arrows fly above them.

"It's the Yiga!" Samus shouts as she begins firing missiles at the cliffs where the arrows came from. Link then hurries Zelda to take cover in some bushes before doing a 180° turn and slashing diagonally at a Yiga footsoldier that just materialized behind him. Switching to her plasma beam, Samus blasts a hole through another Yiga before being blindsided by another footsoldier that is emanating phazon energy from his body. Samus regains her composure and Virginia reports this.

"Samus, that footsoldier has entered hypermode. Confirming the same case from Kakariko village during their botched invasion."

"Unbelievable; this 'god' of theirs gave them hypermode?" Samus then jumps over the footsoldiers phazon whip and drop kicks him in the face, incapacitating him and then calling out to Link. "Link, use the new arrows! You'll overload the empowered Yiga!"

Link nods as he pushes away a hypermode Yiga and then, using his finely tuned reflexes, shoots a glowing blue tipped arrow at the soldier, causing him to convulse and writhe on the ground before dissolving into a pool of phazon. No time to comment on the gruesome sight, another footsoldier tries to hit Link from behind. He turns back to defend himself, only for the footsoldier to fall dead at his feet, an arrow sticking out from the back of his head. Zelda, having taken a duplex bow from another dead Yiga, shot an arrow directly at the attacking footsoldiers head. Impressed by her pinpoint accuracy, Link hands Zelda two bundles of arrows and bomb arrows.

"Here; make them count!" Link says as he rejoins the fight. At the other end of fight, Samus struggles with a hypermode footsoldier, internally wishing that she still had her PED (Phazon Enhancement Device) suit as it would have done wonders against the Yiga. Eventually, an ice wizzrobe emerges from the trees, however this wizzrobe is covered with upside down Sheikah markings, indicating that it is being used by the Yiga. Link, realizing that it is behind the sudden cold temperature and clouds, shouts to Samus.

"Samus, that creature is causing the cold! Shoot it with something heated, you'll melt it instantly!"

As if picking up on this, the wizzrobe begins hurling chunks of ice from its rod, creating several stalagmites and lowering the temperature further. Soon, Link and Zelda move sluggishly as they start to succumb to the cold. Not wanting to waste any more time or leave Link and Zelda exposed to hypothermia, Samus fights off the Yiga, readies her plasma beam and fires off a charged shot of it before being hit by a surge of ice, freezing her. Fortunately, the shot connects and the wizzrobe is instantly evaporated. The sky clears and the temperature regulates itself.

"Stupid fools, you've chosen your own demise! Everyone fall back!" One of the footsoldiers shouts as the surviving Yiga escape. Samus breaks free of the ice and walks over to the pair.

"Are you two alright?"

"Hah...I'll live." Link exhales.

"I'm fine." Zelda responds.

"What happened? They just left." Samus inquires.

"Was that wizzrobe important to them or something?" Link asks before being interrupted by loud screeches from all directions. Samus checks her radar and sees several metroid signatures closing in on them, finally realizing why the Yiga ran off; they were using the ice wizzrobe to keep the metroids away!

"Both of you; huddle up! We've got metroids incoming!" Samus shouts as she readies her ice beam. She then asks Link to extend his right arm, which has a circular pattern that appears when she connects her arm cannon, causing it to glow.

"What are you doing?"

"Upgrading your suit; you can now imbue your sword with fire, electricity and even ice. Your neural interface lets you choose by thinking one of the three. Now, get ready."

A metroid flies towards them, but Zelda shoots it down with an arrow. After this, a group of larval, alpha and gamma metroids rush them. Link chooses ice for his sword, causing it to glow blueish white, and slashes at a pair of metroids; bifurcating and freezing them at once. An alpha metroid rushes from their right side and Zelda obliterates it with a bomb arrow to its mouth, while Samus destroys another pair with her super missiles. A trio of gamma metroids fly down and run towards the group; Link runs at the nearest one and runs the master sword through its mouth, freezing it from the inside out. The second one rushes at Zelda, but she fires a bomb arrow at it, which throws it at some nearby bushes. The last one is rushed and then electrocuted by Samus's wave beam, followed by Link, who stabs it on the top of its head. They turn around to kill the remaining metroids, but are shocked to see Zelda take them down with nothing but arrows, each one with startling accuracy. With the metroids taken care of, the trio catch their breaths.

"Where did you learn to shoot like that?" Samus asks, genuinely curious.

"I just trained with a bow and arrows when I was younger; it just...clicked with me." Zelda explains.

"She's actually much better than me, hahah." Link adds, a small hint of pride present in his words. "Well, if we're ready, we should continue on to the domain. There's still a few more meters between here and there-"

Just then, it happened in the blink of an eye and time seemed to slow down; Samus was shot from behind by an energy blast, knocking her down and then Link being rammed against the rock wall. Link looks up and sees the gamma metroid grappling with Zelda, having survived being shot by the bomb arrow, and trying to sink its fangs into her. To his horror, the metroid forces Zelda to the edge of the path, intending to fall down with her.

"Ahh! Link!" Zelda shouts in terror as she begins to lose her footing, holding her hand out to him and letting the metroid suck out some of her life force, screeching in what appears to be 'delight'.

"No!" Link jumps to his feet, disoriented, and desperately reaches out to her. Unfortunately, he misses by centimeters. "ZELDA!"

Zelda screams as she falls over the edge with the gamma metroid into the rapids below. Seconds later, Samus gets back up, groaning in pain.

"What was that?" She then looks over at Link, who is on his knees, by the edge. "Link, what's the matter? Where is Zelda?"

Link turns around, tears in his eyes, and answers her.

"I lost her..."

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On the shores of Mercay Island, on a far side of the Lanayru wetlands, an unconscious Zelda washes up albeit alive. Moments later, she wakes up.

"Where... am I?" Zelda wearily gets up, but cries out in pain as she sees one of the metroids fangs lodged in her left bicep. She grabs the fang and pulls it out, exclaiming in pain as it is removed. Tearing off her sleeve, she uses it as a makeshift bandage to stop the bleeding. Taking into account of the area, Zelda walks towards the river as it would lead back up to Link and Samus, along the way she finds the duplex bow, which had been damaged by the fall and rendering it useless. Undeterred, she walks up the hill, holding onto her arm.

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Meanwhile, back up with Link and Samus.

"Virginia, tell me what I want to hear..." Samus commands, the fear and despair present in her voice.

"...The princess is mobile." Virginia reports, bringing up a blue light in the radar, indicating Zelda's position. "The tracker is functioning properly." Samus smiles at this.

Flashback

"Besides, Samus will help us every step of the way. Won't you?"

"I'm not going to stop now." Samus smiles and pats Zelda's back, placing a glowing green light that becomes covered by her hair. Samus had placed a tracker on her.

Flashback end

"Link, I've got her; she's headed back up to us."

"She's alive?!" Link stands in front of Samus and grabs her shoulders. "Where is she? Is she alright?"

"Calm down, I can't see how she is. But I know that she's trying to get back up here. We should go get her first before anything else, and then we need to get to some place safe for the night."

"I agree. So, what are we waiting for?" Link readies his sword and starts to follow Samus down the path. Just then, Virginia begins alerting the pair.

"The princess is deviating from the path and she's moving erratically. I believe that she is being chased by something."

Fearing the worst, they run as fast as they can to her position.

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Going up the river, she finds her bag hanging on the side of it and reaches out to grab it. Just then, the gamma metroid falls on top of her, causing her to scream. She pushes it off and is surprised to see it completely unresponsive. After poking it with a branch several times, she concludes that it died in the fall. Relieved, she picks up her bag and continues forward. Unknown to her, the gamma metroid yellows and then crumbles away, revealed to only be an empty shell.

Deciding that she needs to stop for a moment, Zelda reaches into her bag and pulls out her journal. Skimming through the entries that Samus gave her, she stops at a particular one and reads aloud.

"Category Three: Zeta Metroid. The second to last stage in an ordinary metroids lifecycle, this creature is by far the most dangerous metroid. No longer able to fly, it can climb on walls, ceilings and most other surfaces with its sharp talons. The most distinguishing aspect of a zeta is its tenacity; it has a habit of choosing a prey and then relentlessly hunting it until it is finally captured. Any other person who has been pursued by a zeta metroid is usually never found. Side note; the gamma metamorphs into a zeta after a long period of time, feeding on life energy in an attempt to rush the transformation."

As she finishes reading, a viscous fluid falls on her head and she looks up to where it came from. She stares wide eyed as a large creature with an elongated head, leech like mouth, 4 pairs of red compound eyes (four eyes on both sides of its head), long arms and legs ending in sharp talons, a greenish hide and a long tail emerges from its hiding spot on the moss covered canyon wall and stares back at her. There is no mistake; she is staring up at a zeta metroid. It then roars at Zelda, exposing its sharp teeth and menacingly crawls towards her. Zelda responds by slowly backing up, only being stopped by a boulder. Taking note of this, she patiently waits; sure enough, the metroid lunges at her from the wall and she moves to the side, having it crash into the boulder behind her and disorienting it, allowing her time to run back down towards the wetlands. Angered, the metroid begins chasing her and Zelda runs through a herd of water buffalo, startling and making them run at the sight of the rampaging metroid. The metroid catches up to the herd and, while trying to reach Zelda, is constantly rammed and shoved by the herd. In its frustration, the metroid begins slaughtering the buffalos, clawing, biting and shooting energy from its mouth at them. Finally rid of them, the metroid looks around for Zelda, but to no avail, until it spots a house; the door shutting as it gets into view.

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Back at the hill, Link and Samus continue running towards the tracker signal.

"Link, she's in the wetlands!" Samus confirms.

"Hurry, it's not that far away!" Link says while picking up speed.

"Virginia, can you see her from the ship?"

"Negative." Virginia confirms. "She's in an area that is out of range. But, there is something else; I detect the presence of a zeta metroid in the vicinity. Also, it seems to be stronger than normal and, if I'm not mistaken, it is close to molting. Even though it has already molted from a gamma metroid."

"What?! How is that possible?!"

Before anymore can be said, they are stopped by another group of Yiga and Link angrily points the master sword at them. They then charge at the pair.

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Zelda had managed to escape into a house that was recently built by the Hylian soldiers as a means to watch over the Zoras as they reclaim their lands from the monsters infesting it. In other words, a perfect place to find weapons. After barricading the door, she walks deeper inside and finds a royal guards broadsword and as she picks it up, the door forces itself open, causing her to jump and turn around and sees it torn off its hinges and the table that was in front of it split in half. Fearful, she slowly walks to the back of the room, never taking her eyes off the entrance, but stops after hearing a thud from behind her. She turns around and sees the zeta metroid standing on its hind legs behind her. As it reaches out to grab her, she slashes at its chest and then tries running outside, but grabs her and then throws her back towards the kitchen, dropping the broadsword in the process. Before she can react, the metroid grabs and forces her to the wall, opening its mouth wide with the intent to bite down on her head. Using her left leg, Zelda keeps the metroid at a relative distance, giving her just enough time to grab a nearby knife and stab it on its shoulder, causing it to roar and then drop her. Zelda follows up by grabbing the broadsword and then tries to stab its nucleus, but she misses and stabs its right arm onto the wall and the metroid roars in pain. She makes a beeline for the stairs, but the metroid grabs her by the leg, causing her to fall and it swings her side to side and destroying the tracker on her back when she hits the wall. Zelda manages to pry herself from its grip and shakily runs up the stairs, dodging the green bolts of energy from the enraged metroid. She makes it to the second floor and blockades the door with a large cabinet and then ducks down behind another cabinet and begins to shake.

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Samus stands in shock as she looks at the four Yiga footsoldiers that had been slaughtered by Link, given the fact that she barely fired off a shot at all.

"We've wasted too much time, let's go." Link sternly says as he tosses away a bloodstained demon carver (a circular blade with uneven serrated edges) and continues to the edge of the wetlands, until Samus stops him."

"Link, I can't detect the tracker. I don't understand; I can't find her!"

With panic welling up within him, Link tries to figure out their next plan. "...She came down the river, right? Then we should try checking out Mercay Island first, come on!" They make their way to the end of the river, unaware of Zelda's actual position.

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The zeta metroid breaks the broadsword from its arm and then runs up the stairs, but stops as it sees four doors. Like a lion stalking its prey, the metroid starts searching each room slowly. In one of the rooms, Zelda cowers in fear at the idea that the metroid is loose.

"Link... Samus... Help me... Please..." Zelda shakes with tears running down her eyes. "I can't do this alone... I'm terrified... That monster is out there, what am I going to do?" As she's pleading, Zelda hears the metroid crawling along the floor outside, forcing another door open. Finally, she whispers; "...Urbosa... I need you..."

"Don't be afraid."

"Huh? Who said that?" Zelda looks up and tries to find the source of the voice, but nothing.

"You're stronger than you think; you just need to see that."

"Wait a minute, is that..." Before Zelda can finish, the metroid tries to open the door and, after seeing that it can't, begins ramming and clawing at it. Zelda stares in wide eyed terror, before the voice speaks to her again.

"You've faced Calamity Ganon on your own; you can face the abomination in this house."

Zelda listens as the ramming causes a tarp on the cabinet to fall off, revealing several swords. She grabs a knight's broadsword and hides behind the cabinet. The metroid moves the other cabinet blocking the door enough to allow its arm through. Zelda, instead of worrying about the metroid, continues to listen to the voice.

"Only you can save yourself this time, that monster is in your element; if anyone should be afraid, it's him." Zelda's worried face begins to slowly relax. "This is your moment to prove that you can survive, to show that you are capable of facing any threat." Zelda begins to show determination. The metroid finally gets its head through the door and roars. "This is your land; prove yourself as its queen!" Zelda finally shows seriousness as the metroid slides through the door and begins to stalk inside the room. Zelda waits until it searches the other side and then she slowly walks out with the broadsword in a battle stance.

"Now!"

Zelda slashes horizontally at the metroids right hind leg, causing a large gash, and the metroids screeches in pain as it turns around and spots Zelda and then fires a green bolt of energy at her. She dodges it, grabs a spear from the ground and rams it into the metroids chest, pinning it to the wall. The metroid fires more bolts of energy at Zelda, which she evades with some difficulty before throwing a shield at its mouth, breaking some of its teeth. To her surprise, she finds a pair of ancient short swords as the metroid escapes the spear and lunges at her. She ducks down, the metroid passing over her and giving Zelda enough time to jump on its back and drive both swords into it. The metroid roars in agony as Zelda twists the blades inside of it and through reflex, it shoots a beam of red energy out the window.

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Link and Samus, after reaching Mercay Island, see the red beam of energy that shot out of the house. The two look at each other and then run towards the house.

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Zelda continues to grapple on the metroids back as it hits the walls in a desperate attempt to get her off. Zelda pulls off one of the swords and then stabs it into another area on its back. The metroids stands on its hind legs, gives an agonized screech and then falls on its back (Zelda having gotten off of it already).

"HAAAHHH!" Zelda drives both of the ancient short swords into its nucleus. The metroid roars loudly, before croaking weakly as it finally dies. Zelda gets up off of it and exhales heavily.

"You've done well, Zelda." The voice speaks with pride.

The door begins being forced open as Zelda looks on with exhaustion. To her surprise, Link had forced his way in and then stares at Zelda.

"Link...?"

Instead of responding, he stares at her bandaged left arm, bloodied clothes and face and slashes on her legs, as well as the dead zeta metroid on the floor. Then he runs over and hugs her firmly, causing Zelda to go wide eyed.

"Thank the goddess we found you. I thought I lost you. I'm so sorry I put you through this."

"Link, you came back for me?" Zelda asks, her voice shaking.

"Of course. I will always be here for you, even if you don't want me around. Remember?"

Samus walks in and takes in the scene, noticing the zeta metroid as well.

"Samus?"

"Hello Zelda, I'm so glad that we found you." Samus comments before noticing her injuries. "Good heavens, you're hurt!" Samus responds with genuine worry.

"You two.... Thank you... for coming back." Zelda smiles as she loses consciousness, with only Link to support her.

"Zelda!"

"She is fine. The princess has simply given in to exhaustion. She needs rest now." Virginia reports as she scans her. Link sets her down before picking her up.

"Samus, you said that it's almost night. Can we make it to your ship?"

"Yes, it's less than half a mile away. We can get there in 10 minutes."

"Let's get her out of here then. We should take a look at her wounds." Link then leaves the room with Zelda in his arms. Samus takes one more look at the metroids corpse and wonders; 'did she really kill it by herself?' The group makes it outside and start towards Samus's ship. The voice speaks once more, this time with gentleness.

"Remember; I will always be watching over you, my little bird."

To be continued.