World Tree MUSH

    Snowpeak Garrison was built in one of the few environments most hostile to life in the whole of Hyrule. No stars glimmer in its frozen skies, tonight, although there are a few torches still lit within the garrison itself. Fully reconstructed, it includes personal quarters for the occupants as well as plenty of room for guests; they can either sleep communally in the barracks-room, or they've been outfitted with personal quarters.
    As what is rightfully Hyrule's queen, Zelda would have been within her right to claim the bedroom suite at the top of the manor, but instead she chose more humble lodgings, on the second floor.
    Yet she's not there, either. It's the sacred spring that Yumi Tachibana has been instructed to meet her, with the caveat of 'no matter the time of day or night that I call you.'
    It is, as luck would have it, night. Very late night. Locally, it's the equivalent of one or two o'clock. Yet there are torches lit in the chamber of the sacred spring, and the water ripples from a disturbance -- the young queen standing waist-deep in the hot water, arms wrapped around herself in a posture that seems more vulnerable that anything else, gaze dropped to the steam curling off the surface. She wears her ritual garments; the white embroidered dress, feet bare, hair meticulously braided, bracelets of gold clinking at her wrists and the pendant of the Sacred Bird with wings outstretched resting over her collarbone.
    ...She must have salvaged those from whatever priestess had occupied this place before. They're not very lavish-looking, so the original occupants must have skimped on the spiritual spending a little bit.
    That's where Yumi will find her, waiting for the sound of either a knock at the door, or the door opening.

    For a summons like that, neither time of day nor day of week, nor inclement weather is stopping Yumi from showing up. Winter has quite fiercely descended on Snowpeak, and the girl finds herself grateful for the restored garrison the moment she has the door shut behind her. Even in the foyer, unlikely to be heated by anything other than scant torchlight, it's far warmer than outside. And once the young woman makes her way to the sacred spring, it's absolutely balmy by comparison. So as she's opening the door, the redhead is already peeling off her outermost, anti-blizzard layers of clothing. "Hey, I'm here. This seemed pretty urgent, are you alright...?"

    There's something to be said for what amounts to a sauna sealed within a chamber of stone. It's always warm, it's always humid, and it's always ten times better than whatever the weather might be like outside.
    The door clicks open, and the princess lifts her gaze, slowly, to regard the Goddess Statue dominating the deep end of the basin. Water ripples around her as she turns slowly. She looks haggard -- like one who hasn't slept -- but there is warmth in her expression when she greets the redhead.
    "Tachibana Yumi." Her greeting is soft, but her voice generally is, unless she's channeling righteous indignation. Zelda gestures faintly and indicates the rows of stone benches. "Sit, if you like."
    "I am fine." Despite current appearances, is the unspoken addition. But she continues on, slowly wading out of the basin, as though she were taking care not to disturb the surface of the water too much. "Better than I have been in several turns of the seasons. I have been given a sign by the Author of Law, and we will be marching south as soon as we are able."
    "We go to claim a relic that was forged by my own ancestor, Her Grace, and we will use it to restore Link to his rightful form. In his hands, it will lead us on the path to victory. It will liberate my kingdom, and return to me the throne that is rightfully mine." She brushes past Yumi, graceful as a dancer despite being sopping wet, and reaches for the towels she'd left there, briskly drying off. "Have I spoken to you of the Master Sword?"

    Yumi is tempted to comment on the exhausted look; the concern is on her face before she can conceal it. But she chooses not to, knowing the princess all too well, and sensing the urgency besides. Instead, she chooses to stride forward, once she's set aside her clothes, and moves as Zelda's bidden to seat herself on the bench. It's here, where she's finally seated, that she hears the good news.

    "-eh?" The goddess has finally spoken, and they're finally moving. That's both anxiety-inspiring, and kind of a relief. She was beginning to worry about the wait stretching on too long, leaving the people of Hyrule in a bad spot (and Zelda stressing). "No, I don't think you have," Yumi replies, handing over towels if only to save a moment or two for the Hylian. "But between the name and the way you're describing it, it sounds like it's as powerful as they come."

    "Thank you." Zelda takes one of the towels, wringing out the hem of her dress and using the towel to try and sop up some of the water. At least it's warm in here, or she might have had an unhappy time trying to pray while fending off hypothermia. "I should know," she comments simply, on the matter of the sword's power. "It was the Goddess Hylia who forged it. My own ancestor."
    "It was forged before Hyrule existed and bestowed upon the very first of the heroes who would rise to protect the land." Her voice falls as she sidles around a bench to where she apparently left clothing folded, changing into a plain grey dress in the time it takes to inhale and exhale. It must have been scrounged from storage and mended; it looks decidedly not-regal, and only seems to accentuate her plain appearance... well, aside from the pointed ears, anyway. She wraps one of the unused towels around herself and settles on the bench, crossing one leg over the other at the ankle. "Hylia herself forged it with the fires of the sun."
    "It will never rust, nor tarnish, nor be sundered. Its specialty is in the vanquishing of corruption and evil. For that purpose, it has returned to us time and again through the ages," Zelda explains. "I know of the location of the pedestal it sleeps within, as a secret of the royal family. I intend to use it to restore Link to his rightful form, before all else; the prophecies cannot be fulfilled within the Chosen Hero. I cannot fill that role, for it is to me to guide that hero, as the voice of Wisdom." She looks down, sighing. "Though, were it my choice, I would, if I could. I have never been very good at waiting," she adds, with a rueful smile.

    Yumi sits and listens, as Zelda tells the tale; she finds it rather interesting to hear, and something about it being forged by Hylia in the fires of the sun seems to tug at her curosity, briefly. But it's not really a point worth pursuing, with the blade itself as the focus of discussion. An eternal blade, and one made to destroy evil. If anything could nullify Link's curse, then yeah, that's definitely it. "If I could help with that, I'd step up in a heartbeat. You've still got my brains, at least, for what that's worth." She might not be great in a fight, compared to the Hero of Courage or a dark knight and a summoner, but she can keep a cool head in a fight, and that alone is worth a fair bit.

    After smoothing out her skirt a bit, Yumi sits back, and leans a bit of weight on her hands. "You mentioned we're heading south. What all are we going to run into?"

    It may well be metaphor, given how the princess sometimes waxes poetic. That just seems to be the way she is.
    "You can," Zelda says, glancing over to the girl. "I have settled what affairs here require it, but we will have need of supplies for the road south. While I have the funds to purchase supplies, it will be more difficult to trace if I can count on you to do so." The smile that flickers across her face is apologetic. "I am sorry to impose."
    She gestures loosely, turning her hand over to study the faint mark of the Triforce of Wisdom on the back of her hand. "Fighting alone does not a hero make, Tachibana Yumi. I have trained to do so, but there is no enjoyment in it for me. I would sooner shoot arrows at targets than living creatures, even if they are mindless beasts that would prey upon us. I do not enjoy the taking of life. In a way, it is against what I am."
    "South. Yes." She looks down again. "Between here and there, we will be crossing Hyrule Field. I expect to spend at least a week across the field. It may be more. Depending on where the Twilight lies, we may be forced to find alternative routes... beyond that, we will be travelling into Faron Wood. In it lies Ordon Village, which I believe is where Link hails from. I do not know if he intends to stop there or not."
    The princess considers for a few moments, eventually shaking her head slowly. "From there, we will travel to the deepest heart of Faron Wood. It will be slow going. I do not know if the Twilight has spread so far as that. There, on a pedestal, in the heart of what is known as the Sacred Grove, we will find the blade... if we are lucky. It will be there; but the road is long, and dangerous. Once outside of Snowpeak Province, I expect that the usurper's beasts will begin to take note of my presence. It is possible we will be hounded by his creatures all the way south."

    "Don't worry about it," Yumi replies immediately, almost reflexively. She's always been glad, even eager to help, even with something as simple as ensuring they're supplied for a trip. And it sounds like this will be quite a trip indeed - a week of travel over open plains. Possibly more. She'll plan for more, just in case, although there's a limit to just how /much/ extra they can carry. Things to consider, at least.

    The more concerning part right now, though, is the thought that creatures of Twilight will potentially be harrying them the entire way. Against those things, she's not sure how much good a baseball bat will be. Her mind briefly flashes back to a battle in which she was powerless to save Zelda, and something inside her grows tense, but it's yet another thing the girl pushes aside to focus on what needs to be considered. "Will we be bringing a lot of people? We might be harder to find if we don't, but less manpower will leave us a little worse off when we do run into trouble..."

    "As many as are willing to accompany us. There is little point in stealth." Zelda shakes her head, reaching up to unbraid her hair, running her fingers through it to try and comb out any tangling. "The creatures do not see or smell, so far as I can understand. They sense, and I would be willing to wager that it is the blood of the goddess that they sense."
    She tilts her head to one side. "Think of it this way," she adds, as though noticing Yumi's apprehension about a week on dangerous plains. The Hylian chuckles. "There will be snow, but it should not be so cold as Snowpeak Province."
    "I have no doubt that Link will do his part to fend the creatures off; from what I understand, he had developed quite a knack for fighting the beasts with Midna." Her lips thin. "Her silence worries me but I cannot wait. I must recover the Master Sword, and once that is finished, I must discern why Zora's Domain and Death Mountain have been silent for so long. I fear the worst with so much time lost. The goddesses have not enlightened me on the reasons why."
    She sighs and shakes her head, raking her hair out of her face. "Tachibana Yumi, I yearn for the day when Hyrule is restored, and my most pressing troubles are squabbling aristocrats."

    Stealth isn't an option, so they'll be traveling in force. Right, so they'll need to pack as much extra food as possible, potentially even an extra wagon to carry it in. This isn't so much going to be a group as a caravan. That will take some doing, but it's doable.

    However, Zelda is concerned about the Zora and the Gorons, much as she has been for most of the year, and she's received no explanations from the goddesses about it. Yumi seems to consider this, lapsing into silence for a moment or two. "Mm... maybe the lack of a message is the message in and of itself? It's possible they want us to go and see for ourselves."

    "That is possible." Zelda reaches up and rubs at her face. "In fact, that is probable. I had meant to, but it was important to secure a base of operations. Necessary, even. I do not think I would have long survived out in the open, alone. I would have run myself ragged staying away from the usurper's beasts."
    The princess glances back to the basin where the water has begun to settle, steam curling from its surface. "But. Yes. The point stands. I must go there. It is, as princess--no, queen--my duty. They are my subjects, my allies; I must ensure their safety as much as any of the Hylians beneath my protection."
    She blows out a sigh and leans back a little, huddling into the towel. "I only hope their silence means that they have been defending themselves."

    Yumi shakes her head. "Don't kick yourself over it. We needed a safe place to base ourselves out of, and if time was running out, I think they /would/ have contacted you by now." She leans forward again, curling her fingers and resting her chin atop them. "I think... it's probably more that 'us being there' is the important part. I don't want to let it sit either, though. So let me know when you want to leave, and I can have supplies ready to go by then." She turns and glances at the door, with a rueful chuckle. "Though we might have to pick up some of the supplies at the foot of the mountain. It's expensive to get that much food through this much snow." Not to mention the chance of losing some of it.

    "Yes? You can gather supplies that quickly?" The princess glances over, eyeing the redhead with a raised brow, still absently combing out chestnut hair with her fingers. "I would be grateful. The sooner we begin southward, the better. We must return the Master Sword to our possession."
    Zelda gestures, faintly, with her free hand. "There is a small chance that Zant may seek to bar us from the Master Sword, but I have some hope that he is not clever enough by half to find its location. It is a secret of the royal family." The statement brings her no pride or joy; apprehension, if anything. "I am the last living person who knows where to find the Master Sword."
    "I will have need of company, because I cannot afford anything to happen to me." She shakes her head. "If I am lost... so too is Hyrule, if the line of the Goddess Hylia is brought to an end."
    "I have faith," she says with a faint smile, and a shake of her head. "The goddesses will guide us, and our friends will protect us on our journey. Fetching it at the foot of the mountain may be safer, and by far less arduous than travelling down the mountain in winter with it. I mislike leaving here in such a state of weather, but..."
    If they wait until spring or summer, Hyrule may be lost.

    Truthfully, Yumi isn't sure whether she can gather supplies that fast or not, but if she has to dip into her own funds, or pull a few all-nighters (metaphorically speaking - she's pretty sure most of the merchants she'll be seeing don't do business at night) to get it done, she'll do so gladly. "Well, that, and a week's travel is gonna be pretty exhausting," the younger girl replies. "Company's good for that, too. I'll bring a couple of games we can use to pass the time, when it's peaceful." She might still be stinging a little from some of Zelda's performances in the more socially-aspected games. Just a tad.

    "Don't worry, though," she adds, letting a warm, encouraging confidence slip into her smile - along with some of that strange, ageless warrior's thoughtfulness she shows from time to time. "We'll make this happen. We have a destination, the means to get there, and willing hands being lent. We know the enemy to prepare for, and we know what we've got on hand to deal with them. People have turned the tides of war with less than we've got."

    "It would be good to leave as soon as we are able, but we need not do so if it should cost us too much." Zelda shakes her head. "We must leave, but we must be rested and prepared for the journey when we do. As you say, a week or more of travel will be exhausting."
    She seems to brighten just a little at the thought of board games and other distractions. 'Fun' is not often a part of her life, but she enjoys things like that, too, just like any other person, in spite of her responsibilities. "I would like that," she says, with feeling. "Please." There's a short pause, and a smile almost impish; a little incongruous, with howw ell she plays off innocence. "I will... try to let you win from time to time with 'Risk.'"
    "Yes. We will get there. And this will mark a turning point in liberating my kingdom and my people." Zelda doesn't smile, but she does study Yumi; wondering, perhaps, at that ageless confidence. It's familiar to her, although she couldn't say why.
    Memories, perhaps, tickling at the edge of her consciousness. It gets wearisome, sometimes; sorting out which of the murkiest of them are hers, and which are Hylia's.
    She blows out a sigh, pushing herself upright and wrapping the towel more securely around herself, slipping her feet into the boots she'd brought. "Yes, Tachibana Yumi, they have. And they have done so in Hyrule, as well, before me. But my purview is Wisdom, not Courage; it is in my nature to worry, not for needless complication, but because there are lives depending upon my decisions."
    "In truth, I envy you in some measure, Tachibana Yumi. You are free to do as you please, and to follow your heart." The smile that flickers across her face is apologetic. "I suppose that doesn't sound very regal, does it? In any case, let me not keep you any later than I have already. I am sorry to call upon you at such an hour; dawn is but a few hours distant."
    Instead, she turns, smiling that gentle, pleased smile that makes her features go from almost plainly to radiant, however fleeting. "Thank you for coming. I do not know what I have done to deserve such friends and allies, but I treasure them, all the same, and I treasure your insight. You are welcome to remain here, if you wish. Such an offer is always open to you, Tachibana Yumi. May the goddesses watch over you. I think I will retire, for the night."
    "We will need our strength in the days to come."