Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to another edition of Beans and Screens! I’m your host, Ryan.

On today’s episode, we have two guests joining us, but only one of them will do all the talking! Fresh off of saving Hyrule from Calamity Ganon in the epic, Breath of the Wild and here to talk about their latest exploits, they are two of the industry’s biggest icons. Please welcome the Princess Queen of Destiny, Zelda and the Hero of the Wilds, Link!

*From the side of the stage, two Hylians walk out to the applause and cheers from the audience. Both wave and smile politely as they make their way to the couch.

The man, no older than seventeen in age, is dressed in a blue tunic emblazoned with intricate, light blue designs, with loose beige pants and brown, traveler’s boots. On his arms are worn leather gauntlets and on his waist is a Sheikah Slate, bouncing lightly against him with every step. Strapped to his back is a sturdy blue and silver shield adorned with the Hylian Royal Crest and the Triforce. Behind it, safely tucked away in its sheath is the Blade of Evil’s Bane – The Master Sword – it’s indigo hilt gleaming in the studio lights. Even while smiling at the crowd, his sharp, piercing blue eyes sweep the room, scrutinizing everything and identifying all possible threats. His dirty blonde hair is tied up in a loose ponytail.

Walking alongside him is a woman of the same age, a few inches shorter than the man. She wore a long sleeved blue garb similar to the man’s tunic but with black and gold accents, along with beige tights and riding boots. Her long, honey blonde hair is tied in a loose ponytail, gently swishing to and fro as she walked. She projected an air of confidence and poise befitting that of a ruler and yet in the peaceful blue eyes that scanned the crowd elatedly, there lay a shimmering, vast trove of wisdom and knowledge deigned from countless years of study. Tucked under her arm was a weathered tome with bits of paper sticking out; likely notes and scribbles from her research that she haphazardly added in.

They both reach the couch and take a seat, the male unbuckling his sword and shield, placing it nearby, his fingers dancing on the hilt. The woman sits beside him, her shoulders square and back straight, her hands clasped on top of the book in her lap. The audience’s cheers and claps die down as the interview begins.*

Ryan: I’m so glad you two were able to make it! Was the journey hard? I understand that realm travel is a bit on the difficult side, correct?

Zelda: Oh no, it was very little trouble. While being able to use the Triforce would have made things much easier –

Link: *Nods*

Z: – We did have a little help from one of the three Dragons that circle our land. They deemed that it was the least they could do, as they were very grateful for our efforts in stopping Calamity Ganon.

L: *Frowns* Hrmm…

Z: Oh, cheer up Link! At least this time Farosh was not trying to electrocute you. Although, you did have it coming; you kept troubling the poor beast for its scales, claws, fangs and horns!

L: *Rolls eyes, crosses arms* Hmph.

R: *Laughs* OK you two, settle down. So let’s get to it: Ganon’s been defeated, your kingdom is in ruins: what’s the plan, Your Highness?

Z: Ah, great question! Well, despite the castle and the town being in ruins, the rest of the kingdom is intact, thank the Goddess. The plan is for us to rebuild with the Gorons, the Zora, the Rito and the Gerudo and bring Hyrule back to its former glory. To do so, I must form a council with representatives of the four races and start building up a government, fairly similar to what we had a hundred years ago. I hope that through cooperation with one another, we can strengthen ourselves for when Ganon reawakens. Another thing I would like to investigate is how it was even possible for Ganon to take over and corrupt the Divine Beasts and Guardians so easily. I have spoken to some of the Sheikah about this and I am hoping that they will have some theories to present once we return to Hyrule.

However, one of my grandest desires is to let the lands beyond our own know that the people of Hyrule have emerged victorious against the war with Ganon and that our borders and shores are open for newcomers to visit and live in. Despite how vast Hyrule is, my time with the Triforce has shown me how isolated our land has been. I want to change the notion that we are an insular country and expand our horizons, invite new talent, bring in new cultures and create new experiences for both current and future residents that will only make our land that much stronger. *Audience claps and cheers ecstatically*

R: That’s a bold proclamation there, your Highness!

Z: *Grinning amid the applause* Oh please, please call me Zelda. And yes, it does sound highly ambitious, but I am confident that we will succeed. In fact, before we came onto the stage, Link and I were approached by a rather enigmatic individual.

L: Ah. *Nods and smiles*

Z: He has invited Link and I to represent Hyrule in a vast fighting tournament spanning many lands. While Link jumped at the opportunity to test his skills without hesitation –

L: Hyah! *Grins confidently*

Z: *Continuing on as if Link didn’t interrupt* – I, on the other hand, am more of a researcher than a fighter and thus declined the invite. To that end, this individual told me that it would not be a problem. Instead, he would ask one of my previous incarnations to join the tournament!

R: Woah, hold on, that’s crazy! Who is this guy?

Z: *Taps a slender finger on her chin, her head tilted to the side and eyes looking up in thought* Hmm… well he did not give me his name. *Turns to face Link* Link, were you able to record an image of him on the Sheikah Slate?

L: *Shoots Zelda a beaming smile* Uh-huh!

R: Well then, show us!

*Link removes the Sheikah Slate from his waist and activates it. Going into the photos, he scrolls down with his finger until he finds the image he seeks. He turns the Slate towards me. I recoil back in shock.*

R: What!? No way, that’s Masahiro Sakurai?! *Audience whoops and cheers* Masahiro Sakurai, hah! Now I understand! He’s invited you and your previous incarnation to join other battlers in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate! That’s amazing!

Z: Really? Is that what it is called? It is rather an odd name, but nevertheless I am glad for the invitation. Link would be an excellent ambassador for Hyrule in this regard since he is our land’s Champion; I am certain he will bond well with the other fighters.

On top of that, this ‘Sakurai’ individual had asked me if the Great Plateau Tower could be used as a battleground. Mulling it over, it would be a boost to local tourism – the view from that particular tower is spectacular – so I heartily agreed. My only concern about this tournament is for my friend Link; I do not want to see him to get severely hurt.

L: *Turns to her and gives her a reassuring smile*

Z: *Turns to him and smiles back* Oh, I know you will be fine, but I do worry about you.

L: *Grins* Hah.

R: How… are you doing that?

Z: *She blinks before whipping her head around to face me, a startled expression on her face* Oh! Oh this? Well, our connection between one another during Link’s travels around the realm had allowed me to truly understand him. He speaks little, but his actions and gestures give away what he would like to say.

R: Hm… Wish I had that same connection with my wife. But I guess that’s what happens when you’re linked through destiny and a magical godly artifact. Anyways, back to our discussion: Besides the fighting tournament, what else do you have planned for Hyrule’s grand comeback?

Z: Throughout Link’s adventure, he has discovered many forgotten ruins that were buried long before Ganon awakened a hundred years ago. Age estimates have come in from between centuries to millennia, so that has me quite thrilled at the prospect of discovering more history about the land! What I would like to see happen is for tours and expeditions to occur within these lost ruins and monuments to the past. I dare say that both the local and foreign populations would benefit greatly from the knowledge and appreciate the history and heritage of the land, should they choose to pursue it. *Applause*

R: Hm, indeed. It’s always interesting to learn about the history and culture of another land. Speaking of history, Zelda, could you take us back one hundred years before Link awoke. Tell us, what were you feeling right after you placed him at the Shrine of Awakening?

*Zelda bows her head and her hands tighten up in her lap. Link places a gentle hand on her shoulder before glaring daggers at me.*

Z: *Whispers softly to Link* Link it’s OK. *She lifts up her head to face me, giving me a saddened but gentle look* To be honest, I felt dread and anguish. Dread that I could not hold back the unstoppable power of Calamity Ganon. Anguish over the loss of Hyrule’s Champions – the tamers of the Divine Beasts – … as well as my father, the King. I nearly… *she pauses for a brief moment to compose herself, her voice trembling slightly* I nearly lost Link, who had so valiantly protected me.

However, I knew that there was a sliver of hope remaining. Link was not lost, only injured. The Shrine of Awakening, while experimental, would be the key to restoring him to full strength. I knew that he would awaken and I knew he would do whatever it took to help me defeat Ganon. What I did not count on was… his memory loss.

*Link’s eyes move to the side and downward, his mouth set in a grim line.*

R: Memory loss?

Z: Yes. Amnesia is an unfortunate side effect of using the Shrine of Awakening.

L: Oh! *He snaps out of his funk, pulls up the Sheikah Slate and shows me a set of pictures.* Aha!

R: What’s this?

Z: Oh yes! It seems that there was some residual data left over on the device; pictures that I took before the Calamity. It became corrupted over the hundred year period, but after the data was repaired by the Sheikah, Link traveled to each of the spots where we took the photos and it seemed to trigger some of his lost memories! So, while Link had amnesia, it was not as permanent as I feared. *Applause, some cheers ring out*

L: *Link nods happily.*

R: That’s good to hear Link! Zelda, I have one last question before we turn to our silent hero here: What research are you thinking of looking into next?

Z: *Taps a finger on her chin* Hmm… I suppose I would like to take an in depth look at my bloodline and heritage, including how the power of the Triforce is activated in the female line of the royal family. It seems to me that prayer and study are not enough to activate the power – there also must be some distress involved, such as when I jumped in to protect Link from a Guardian, knowing full well I would be killed myself. That is only a hypothesis at this point and it would be hard to test that out in the real world… but I must find out, at least for my successor’s sake. *Eyes widening suddenly, she opens her notebook, pulls out a pen and scribbles down some notes in it before closing it and placing it back in her lap.* I apologize, I wanted to make sure I had this in my notes. Being both a ruler and a researcher is extremely hard work and sometimes I forget things that I think about, so I must write my thoughts down or else I would never get to investigate and probe them for answers.

R: Not a problem! Sometimes, with so much going on in our lives, it’s good to keep things written down, it helps to keep you on track of things. *I turn to Link* Now Link, I understand you’re not much of a talker, but I’d like to ask you a few questions about your adventure.

L: *Link pauses for a moment and thinks it over. He nods slowly in acceptance.* Hm.

R: Great! Now, Mr. Hero; I heard you had to do some disguise work to get into a certain city? Care to tell us about it? *Zelda breaks out in a fit of sniggers while Link looks at me darkly*

Z: Oh come on Link, you knew this was coming! I’ll tell the story actually; In the Gerudo region, men are strictly forbidden from entering the capital city. Gerudo City’s population consists solely of women and Link needed to enter the city to gain information to conquer the Divine Beast, Vah Nabooris. So, in order- *she starts cracking up* In order… to… *starts to laugh, but composes herself.* Ahem! Whew! In order to get into the city, he had to dress like one of the Gerudo! *bursts into laughter, along with the audience*

*Link looks at Zelda glumly as she laughs harder, tears starting to stream from her eyes.*

Z: *Laughter starts to subside after a few minutes* Come now Link, we only jest. If you had not dressed like a girl, Hyrule would still be under the thrall of Ganon.

L: Mm. *He nods, a small smile on his face.*

R: She’s right you know! It’s a heroic cross-dressing moment!

Z: Oh wait, I have another story to add in here; once in the past, I was doing some research on the local flora, when I spotted a Silent Princess – my favourite flower – and spoke about its decline in the wild. Link was sitting nearby, listening to me talk in his usual stoic self, when I happened to spot an extremely rare amphibian specimen, one that could potentially augment certain abilities if ingested. I caught one and… well tried to force him to eat it. *Grins*

R: You forced him to eat a frog?!

L: *Frowns*

Z: *Giggles* Funny enough, he ate it too! And he got sick in the process: Turns out that the frog I gave him was the wrong one… I felt terrible after that. However, Link forgave me after he recovered, never blaming me once. That’s the kind of person he is.

R: Well, I can certainly take a page out of his book. Having the capacity to forgive is an important quality to have. OK Hero, let’s move onto some more serious question: You journey was a very isolating one and you were given very little support in it, so what was it that kept you so motivated?

L: *Link strokes his chin for a moment, before pointing to Zelda. She lets out a light blush. Audience lets out an “Awww…”*

Z: Oh Link… That is very thoughtful of you.

R: Aww, isn’t that sweet, everyone? That answer can warm even the most frozen of hearts… Well, except Ganon I suppose… Anyhow, Link, here’s a two-parter for you: One, how are you feeling now that your quest is over?

L: *Let’s out an exaggerated, relieved sigh, followed by a smile.*

R: Hm interesting… And two, how are you feeling about the upcoming Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament?

L: *Narrows his eyebrows and looks determined* Hyah!

R: Looks like you’re pumped and ready to win this! I wish you good luck! Last question Hero before we finish things off: What’s the coolest or most amazing thing in your arsenal right now?

L: *Suddenly shoots an excited, yet maniacal grin.*

Z: *Places a palm on her head exasperatedly.* Oh Goddess Hylia help us… You have opened the proverbial floodgates.

*Link again whips out the Sheikah Slate and stands up. He holds it upright and taps on the screen. A blue circle appears on the floor, just in front of him. He taps the screen again and suddenly, a strange machine appears in the studio! It looks like a dirt bike designed with a stallion in mind and features the same architectural details as the four Divine Beasts. Link outstretches his hands as if he’s dramatically unveiling it. He looks to Zelda expectantly.*

Z: * let’s out a deep sigh and deadpans* Behold, the Master Cycle Zero, the Divine Beast of Champion Link.

R: Woah, now that’s cool! Can I take it for a spin?!

L: *Gives me his darkest stare yet. It’s almost as if he’s saying “Don’t push your luck.”*

R: *Relents* Alright, alright, jeez… Oh well, at least I tried! Well, Link, Zelda, it was truly a pleasure having you here in the studio: Link, we’ll see you again in Smash Bros. Ultimate, hopefully with Zelda here cheering you on! Best of luck in the tournament!

*Link recalls the Master Cycle Zero. He stands up and buckles his sword and shield. Amidst the raucous applause, Zelda stands and shakes my hand, followed by Link. Together, they walk off the stage into the backstage area, waving to the audience as they depart.*

Link and Zelda everybody! So, that’s today’s episode, but join me for the next one, because I’m welcoming my first blogging guest on the show! I’m keeping his identity a surprise and I’m telling ya, this interview is gonna be a fun one filled with lots of Ninja-like surprises! Stay tuned for when it drops!

And so, to my dear audience, I bid you farewell! This is Ryan from Beans and Screens, signing off and reminding you to Keep Gaming and Keep Brewing!