The Royal Ancient Tech Lab was buzzing with activity. Well, “buzzing” was a strong word to describe 5 people excited at the prospect of going out for a short adventure on the Great Plateau in order to revisit the Shrine of Resurrection. It would be Fuga, Zelda and Impa’s first time visiting the Shrine, but the two scientists had wanted to check it out again in case it could be used for an emergency.
“The Great Plateau is no easy feat to get to…” pondered Zelda.
“We can’t pass by the front gate since the earthquake,” Impa shook her head. “The rockslide is far too solid to even dig out, at least with the equipment we have.”
“Even then, it would take us ages to come up with a mechanical beast capable of digging that out,” added Purah.
“How tall is it?” asked Fuga, wondering if the scientists had precise data.
“At least 200 metres,” Robbie shook his head. “No way we’re getting in it through the underground, too. The walls are too solid for that, and the ground must be too solid too. There’s a waterfall, but we’re not Zora.”
“We can just climb it.”
Everyone was now staring at Fuga, who seemed mad even in comparison to Robbie and Purah.
You can’t be serious,” said Impa.
Fuga smiled wide under their mask, and Zelda understood exactly what that pause meant.
“Oh, they are very serious,” added Zelda.
The group of four researchers had gathered at the bottom of the Great Plateau, exchanging worried glances, while Fuga was preparing some rope for the climb. They had never attempted such a high climb, but they knew it would be no different from other climbs. They were at the north-east of the Plateau, where the old entrance had crumbled and was now inaccessible. The gate, however, was still mostly intact, and would be helpful for small rests while climbing. At the top of the wall, Fuga could see a large tree, which was perfect as an anchor point. They started talking to the rest of the group.
“Alright, I’m going to tie each of you with a harness, it’s all going to be connected to this one rope,” they say, holding up a thick, solid rope. “I’m going to climb up, tie a rope to the tree, and belay from there.”
“Belay?” asked Impa.
“Um- I’m going to be pulling the rope as you climb up, so if one of you falls or slips, you won’t fall down to the ground, but be in mid-air. Also, don’t start climbing until I’ve shouted down to start. Now, who wants to be at the lead, who wants to be the last climber?” Fuga smiled.
“I’ll be first!” shouted Purah, excited as ever.
Once all members of the group had been tied with a harness and set apart by a few feet of rope, Fuga started ascending the Great Plateau, making sure to drop down rope ever so often, as not to pull the others up just yet. Fuga had planned ahead, taking the longest rope they could find, and extra smaller ones to tie everything together. They had also made sure to practice the knots they would be using to secure everything.
Right hand, right foot, left hand, left foot...
The bricks of the walls of the Great Plateau were uneven, broken down by time, wind and weather, but it was perfect for such a climb. Countless nooks and crannies to put a hand, or foot into, and not slip. Fuga tried not to think of what would happen if they were to fall now, at such a height.
Before they knew it, they were at the top of the wall, and looked for the tree they had found. It would work just fine, but now just realised they would have to move from the entrance, as the height of the wall was far too high above the ground of the Plateau to offer great ease with the climb. Fuga moved sideways until they came across a dent in the wall, and had a direct line to the tree. The Yiga tied a rope to the tree, made a knot with a hole through it, and passed the rope that held the other group members. After testing multiple times that the rope could sustain their weight without a hitch, they went back to the wall, and signalled to the others to come closer.
“You can climb now!”
As soon as Fuga felt the rope go slack, they started pulling it towards them, and holding it in place until more slack came about. Despite their small stature, they were quite strong. Perhaps the diet of Mighty Bananas helped their case. A few times, Fuga had the opportunity to look down the wall, and see the others making their climb. More than once, they held the rope in place for a few minutes, as what they assumed were the others taking a small break. And, on multiple occasions, Fuga could hear the others shout. Helpful advice, insults at Fuga, and anxious noises.
Finally, Fuga saw Purah’s head poke up behind the wall, and it was only a matter of pulling up the others. Once all were on solid ground again, most let themselves fall and lay on the ground, to take their breath again and stop shaking. Fuga knelt beside them, putting their weight on the ball and toes of their feet.
“Wasn’t so bad, now, was it?”
A comment that was met with multiple swear words and insults.
Purah was the first to stand up again, and Fuga helped her and the others undo their harnesses. They took turns sharing a water bottle, then took in the almost untouched beauty of the Great Plateau.
Fields with rolling hills and large forests, moss growing on rocks and trees, water as clear as the sky above them… Then, the Temple of Time, its towers looming over them, yet its presence peaceful and calming. Behind it, large mountains whose snowy peaks reached for the clouds. The Gerudo Highlands could be seen behind.
“So… where’s the Shrine of Resurrection?”
Everyone’s attention was brought back to the thing they were here for.
“I… don’t remember exactly,” said Purah, as looks fell on her. “What? It’s been years, give me a break. It was definitely in the forest, though.”
“Seconded,” added Robbie. “We didn’t go quite far from the Temple of Time, and it was definitely in the Forest of Spirits, right over there.”
He pointed to the north, where a thick forest was growing undisturbed. The Forest of Spirits somehow reminded Fuga of the Lost Woods, and Korok Forest. The way the trees enshrouded everything, protected itself from the outside world, and how Fuga could see Koroks if they looked hard enough. They didn’t risk pointing them out to the others, as they learned very few could see them. Suddenly, Purah, at the head of the group, stopped.
In front of them were a group of three Bokoblins, bows drawn.
All tried to reach for weapons they forgot to bring, except Fuga, who placed themselves in front of the others, and hushed them. Then, stomped the ground once with their left foot and grunted twice, in slightly different intonations.
The Bokoblins’ ears twitched, recognizing the language, but racking their brains as to how something as different as them knew it. Then, sensing no threat from the newcomers, one Bokoblin responded with the same gestures. Then, two stomps, a few grunts, another stomp, followed by dragging the foot behind itself. Fuga looked over at the group again.
“I greeted them, they greeted us, and told me we’re on their hunting territory.”
Fuga looked over at the Bokoblin again, as it grunted thrice, stomped once, grunted twice, stomped twice, then pointed to somewhere with its head.
“There’s a path that way,” said Fuga, pointing to where the Bokoblin had pointed. “And a symbol that resembles what you’re wearing.”
The Sheikah looked at themselves, and at the eye symbol that adorned their clothing. Fuga then did the same stomp and grunts as the first they did, which they said was a greeting, and started walking towards the path, as the others followed, still confused as to what had just happened. The Bokoblins, on the other hand, continued on their hunting route.
“Wait- I- what?” said Impa.
“You can speak with Bokoblins?” asked Zelda, now catching up to Fuga’s stride.
“Bokoblins, Moblins and Hinoxes,” corrected Fuga. “It’s one unified language. They have their own dialects, but it’s still pretty similar. I only know the Bokoblin dialect well enough to ‘speak it’ though.”
“Wait- hold on, when did you learn this?” asked Purah, almost running behind the quick walkers, as she was shorter than the rest.
“I’ve been learning since I was pretty young, it’s useful when you don’t want to engage in combat with the many BokoMoNox in the Gerudo Highlands.
“Boko… Mo… Nox…“ repeated Robbie. “But… how?”
Fuga shrugged in response.
“I was pretty bored I guess, and was lucky enough to stumble upon Bokoblins that didn’t want to hurt children. It was easier to have them teach me once they understood I was interested in learning. Lots of trial and error, and practice.”
“Wait- I thought the Great Plateau was too sacred to have evil roam it-,” said Impa.
“What about BokoMoNox is inherently evil?”
“Well, I- Hm…” pondered Impa.
“I suppose…” started Zelda. “It’s a bit much to presume all creatures we don’t understand to be evil. But… why do they attack us, then?”
“Lack of understanding, just like we attack them,” hypothesised Robbie. “Hm. Hm! Yes, I suppose I’ll rethink the way I view them.”
“Is this the Shrine of Resurrection?” Fuga pointed to the large Sheikah entrance that stood on the side of a cliff.
“Yes! This is it!” exclaimed Purah, who rushed over to look at it more closely. “The markings, the way it’s built… no doubt about it, it’s definitely what we had found years ago!”
“Has the door been open since then?” Asked Fuga, a tinge of concern in their voice.
“I think so, why?” Asked Robbie.
“Bears,” nodded Fuga. “Boars, other wildlife. Maybe even Bokoblins.”
“Oh… Right,” said Impa.
“So Fuga!” Purah put an arm around Fuga’s shoulders. “Want to be the first explorer of the Shrine of Resurrection in many years? You’re the only one with a weapon!”
“H-hey!”
Fuga had been pushed by Purah into the maw of the Shrine, and they turned back to the group.
“If I die, you have no way off this plateau,” they snickered.