The New Hyrule ? Chaos of the Deserted

They sat in a flame-less meadow, trees at every crevice forming a cluster of foliage above. The birds of the morning rang out tunes the Rito came close, but never could truly replicate. Dew splattered the grass, and the sun rose above the heavens.

Link had saved Paya from her doom, at mercy of the Sheikah. He knew she could move again, but she didn't.

When she saw Link, her eyes fluttering open, she almost screamed. "Master Link! You? It's you!" She embraced Link stronger than Zelda did. "Where are we?"

"I have no idea, my Sheikah Slate was stolen." Link scanned the area for lurking monsters, but none were present.

"Maste Link," muttered Paya hesitantly like a child, a reflection of her jovial side. "What happened to my village?"

Link paused, straightening up. "Paya, the Yiga are occupying Hyrule Castle," he informed her, staring into her inquisitive eyes. "They've partially ressurected Ganon, and they plan to destroy Hyrule. Turn us into them. Paya, Kakariko Village burned down yesterday. I brought you back here in time before the bombs. Its all gone. Im sorry."

"Is everyone okay?" Paya asked, tense. Her home was gone. In a mere month she couldnt uphold the village as her grandmother could. She was a failure. A throne of lies a failure she was.

"They made it out safe, except Dorian was kidnapped by the Yiga, and Cado's children," informed Link. "I'm sure we can save them."

Paya looked down, and then up at the rainy skies. Smoke rose from the distant peaks, and she realized the vastness of the situation. The ancient tapestry of the hero was gone. Surely Mollie's plum garden was gone. Impa lie under the ashes of Kakariko, and it was all Paya's fault.

"I'm terrible!" Paya buried her head in her hands, but Link placed an arm around her, making her jolt.

She embraced her hero, forgetting Zelda was being held captive, and her childhood was all burned to ash. For once she let the tears fall, akin to the rain that fell in a light drizzle at their feet. "It seems this wont let up anytime soon," remarked Link. "We should get into a shelter." He grabbed Paya's hand, and they ran towards the Dueling Peaks Stables to get some well deserved rest.

---

"There's no way," said Yunobo, backing up before Divine Beast Vah Ruta. "She's stuck. Her feet are inactive."

" i am NOT activating that terminal again," snapped Sidon, rolling his eyes at the Goron imbocile before him. "It keeps bugging up; I'm starting to think this ancient Sheikah tech is waning on me." Over ten years, Prince Sidon had gotten more snappy, knowing Mipha's spirit had vanished fully.

Yunobo shook his head. "There's nothing I can do," he exclaimed, rubbing his arms. "Can I go in there and help--?"

Teba flew in, bearing his new Champion wear. "Vah Medoh's terminal's have shut down. What's going on?"

Yunobo and Sidon paused. "Same here," spouted Sidon, walking towards the Rito champion.

"Hm," thought Teba outloud. "Do you suspect the Yiga have done this?" He formed an updraft using his Champion's gale, and flew up to Vah Ruta's trunk, walking in and finding the terminal shut down. "Oh no," he sighed.

"What?" Yunobo yelled from down at Vah Ruta's feet. He awaited Teba's return, but also shivered at the thought that the Divine Beasts may have been... put down.

Teba alighted, and stared up where the terminal rest, Sidon anxious to see if Mipha's proud Beast was truly immobile. "The Terminal was orange," the Rito admitted with a sigh. "Someone else has taken Link's Sheikah Slate; infiltrated the Divine Beast; and shut down the terminals. There's nothing we can do."

"So the Yiga Clan has the slate?" inquired Sidon, his eyes wide with shock.

"Certainly," exclaimed Teba. He flew through Vah Ruta to see if the main terminal was activated, but it seemed it remained inactivated like the rest. "We have to find the Champion."