Chapter Text
“Oh, Link… I’m home!”
He caught her in his arms then, once more. Finally there, finally in her own Hyrulean body. They shared a brief moment in each other's arms before the new Sages found them, with worry written all over their faces.
“Princess!” Purah's voice carried through the green Hylian Fields.
Letting go of Zelda, Link’s eye caught his right arm. It was back in its place, he noticed while forming and squeezing a fist. It relaxed and Link continued to watch his fingers move back and forth. He almost forgot how the real touch felt. His gaze shifted to Zelda embracing everyone, as he reached backwards for the sword. He drew it out, tearing his eyes away from the Princess to examine the blade. Not even a scratch was visible on the repaired surface. He soon caught a glimpse of a reflection on it, he narrowed his eyes, rotating the Master Sword softly.
“Are you alright, my friend?” Sidon’s touch on his left shoulder brought him back to reality. “Do you require any medical assistance?”
Link was forever thankful for Purah’s loud chatter, which stopped the King’s question from being heard by the group. He was fine. He had to be. So, he shook his head, motioning for Sidon to return to the rest.
“I… I fail to find the right words!” Zelda said with such emotions. “I never thought- It’s so good to see you again, every one of you!” She looked around, stopping once she noticed Link right behind her. She offered him her hand, which he took, stepping closer. “I have so much to tell you! I- I don’t know where to even begin! I knew you all would succeed. I-”
“Zelda, you look like you’re about to pass out on us,” Riju interrupted her, pointing to the Lookout Landing. “I suggest we continue it later.”
Zelda blinked at her interruption, but still nodded, waiting for everybody to start moving, leaving her with Link in the back. She gently went for his right arm, joining their hands as they strolled, both looking and feeling exhausted, happy and at peace. Zelda took a quick look at her knight, before speaking. “I hope you didn’t face Ganondorf only wearing your pants, Link.” A faint chuckle followed that sentence.
She meant it as a joke, fully expecting the blush starting to cover Link’s face. But then, a frown replaced the shy smile. “It was the new tunic you wanted to give me. I… I found it by accident, your journal. I read it. I’m so sorry.”
“Oh, it’s okay!” she quickly reassured him. “I’ve been meaning to give it to you, true. Now then… I supposed I would have to make you another one,” she squeezed his palm. “With some new measurement…”
Link only rolled his eyes playfully, intertwining their fingers.
Zelda’s tale was a breakthrough that shed new light on the history well-known to others. Link, already seeing most of it in her tears, could only hold her hand in silence, offering his support as she went on about the past she had to have lived in.
“So, technically, there were like four Calamities?” Purah mused, rubbing her chin. “The first one was in King Rauru’s era; the Imprisoning War. The second - when the Divine Beasts were created. The third - our first, foresaw in a prophecy. And then the fourth; the Upheaval?”
Zelda nodded slowly, processing the statement. “To summarize, yes. Although, I-” Her brows were drawn together. “When I’d read Hyrule Hystoria… I saw his name many, many times. I have no idea how that is even possible-”
“Trust me, it is possible,” Mineru spoke up. “We- My brother and I have heard about someone like him before. Rauru just chose to ignore the signs. A mistake he paid for.”
A frown was formed on Zelda’s face, as she set her eyes on her feet. “He did everything he could.”
Even in a foreign body, a loud gulp of air was heard, as Mineru couldn’t find any suitable response to that.
“But then…” Robbie scratched his hair. “If the Zonai are indeed extinct, then who in Hylia’s name is on the tapestry?”
“I never said we were,” was her reply.
“What?” Zelda’s head shot back up. “What do you mean? You and Rauru were the last Zonai.”
“Yes, the only ones left on the Surface, Zelda. We never said our people went extinct.” That earned a gasp from the small crowd around them. Mineru sighed, tired and not that fancy to elaborate on the subject. “Rest today, all of you. For tomorrow… I wish to show you something.”
If Link could, he would gather Zelda in his arms and sleep through another century alongside her. From failing her, to losing her, to having her next to him, only to losing her once more… Link couldn’t help but flinch while laying in a bed next to Zelda’s. Their hands held each other, but even that didn’t give him enough peace to nod off. Thankfully, her sleep wasn’t disturbed by his sudden movement. She always was a rather deep sleeper.
He still had a hard time processing the pieces of information they gathered from Mineru about the Zonai. Even if he wasn’t an archaeologist he knew what her words meant. That the Zonai come and go as they please, only bothering when it’s in their favour. They left once, but they could return whenever they wished to probably. And what would happen then? Would they want to reclaim their land? It wasn’t like they would live in harmony as all of Hyrule with such different races already did. However, they didn’t seem like they would be satisfied easily.
It was a problem for the future, should they ever decide to show up again. For now, as Mineru said, they should rest. They deserved it.
Link could only observe the all-too-familiar view of a ghost disappearing before one's very eyes. He waited nearby, ready to come closer if Zelda wished him to. As she stood proudly, speaking with confidence and authority to all of them about the future, about Hyrule as a whole, a new era would begin.
“King Rauru… Queen Sonia… Mineru… Ancient Sages… Ancient and our Champions … They wished not only to save Hyrule from the Demon King but for it to see eternal peace. I would dedicate myself to that goal.” She turned her back to them, looking over the Hyrulean landscape. “Now and for all time. My friends… with all of your strength… stand with me!”
They spent there quite some time. Reminiscing the events. Sharing some stories. Planning the future.
“Ehm, guys…” Yunobo shyly started. “And how exactly are we going to get back down, goro?”
“Oh.”
That was the first reaction he got from her since discovering the rest of the murals.
Zelda insisted that he took her to the Depths underneath the Castle once more. He wasn’t sure whatever for until he remembered the pile of stones he bombed away right before coming even deeper for the battle.
He eyed her with compassion as the realisation sank in.
“I thought… I thought I was sent there for a reason. But Rauru had said… He was wrong.”
“And you were. Zelda-”
“No.” Her tone was unfamiliar. Cold. “It was always meant to happen in the past. I was always destined to go there. And Ganondorf…” Her eyes opened wider in shock. “That means… He was always destined to- All I was trying to do was useless from the start.”
He sighed heavily, reaching out to grasp her hand. “Destiny is a cruel thing, I know th-”
She snatched her arm back as his fingers found hers. “What do you know about destiny, Link?” she snapped at him before storming off back to the surface.
Later Link was analysing the scene over and over, trying to figure out what had he done wrong to anger her. Maybe he shouldn’t have commented on the destiny thing - after all she had to live under the pressure of it for over 20 000 years…
“I’m sorry,” she whispered to him, as she laid face-to-face with him on their bed. “I apologise for lashing out at you. You didn’t deserve that. Any of it.”
“It’s alright,” he whispered back, reaching behind her and rubbing his fingers along her spine.
“We probably should get married,” she mentioned casually one morning when passing through the newly rebuilt Castle Town.
The Town was teeming with life as the once ghost town turned back into the centre of Hylian culture. It was a breathtaking sight, especially with the knowledge of how it was there before… Well, before everything.
Link halted mid-step. Opened his mouth at her. And then he shrugged, continuing their walk. “Yes, we should.”
Zelda nodded with a small smile. “Bolson said the Castle should be ready in seven weeks. Impa presses me to have an official coronation along with the grand opening of the Castle Gates.”
To make everyone’s life easier, the space between the Castle and its foundation was filled with new floors, thus extending the time of waiting. Zelda being the one to order the original Castle in the past, quickly realised that the ancient one was destroyed during the first Calamity, only for the Sheikah to rebuild it later, on which Hylians built the known to them shell of the building.
“Do you suggest we get married during that same event?”
“It would be more convenient for us, wouldn’t it?”
He smiled back at her, squeezing her palm. “Yes, it would be advantageous, wouldn’t it?”
The wedding, between the opening of the Castle and Zelda’s coronation, was held almost six months after Ganondorf’s demise.
Link’s hand tried not to let go of Zelda’s no matter how long into the reception. He held her tight during the dances. Swaying tenderly to Kass’s melodies. Talking to their friends in the breaks to feast and rest.
“Queen Zelda! It’s an honour, truly! Today’s ceremonies are simply magnificent!”
Zelda managed to turn her eyes away from Link to focus on the people in front of her.
“I am so sorry for not being here for your coronation, King Sidon, or your wedding.”
“Ah, it’s nothing! I’m sure my dear friend here was able to tell you all that happened!”
“Well, yes-”
“Splendid! And I’m honoured to present to you Queen Yona, my beloved wife.” With his famous smile, Sidon spread his arms widely, only to quickly place one of them on the Queen’s shoulder.
Zelda shared a bright smile with Yona before transferring into words. “I’m so happy for both of you. Sidon, I’m sure the Zora are in good hands. Please do enjoy yourselves tonight.”
“But of course, Your Highness!”
“It’s very… Cold there, without any lava, you know?” Zelda murmured, turning to Yunobo from her chair.
“It was very weird to me when I visited the first time, too,” Link said.
“But the mining facilities are flourishing, I noticed.”
“Yes!” Yunobo exclaimed happily. “With lower temperatures more Hylians come to visit us, some even work in our mines!”
“I must congratulate you on your promotion, Chief Teba.” Zelda offered a wide smile to him when he and Saki joined her, Paya and Purah, standing in the corner with coups of wine.
“Thank you, Your Highness. The congratulations are mutual-” He fell silent suddenly as their attention was stolen away by Link and Tulin’s loud laugh over something Bazz had said. “And I’m sure the future of Hyrule is bright.”
“And then! Link takes out his bow - a beautiful one, too! Like, you know, with gold, shiny ornaments! And then when he shoots the arrow it lands straight on that monstrous creature’s face! An unforgettable sight! Really!”
“I’m sure, Lady Riju,” Rhondson nodded along the story. “Link was always incredible.”
“But well!” Hudson chuckled, patting the freshly crowned Prince Consort.
Link only blushed, rolling his eyes.
“And Link, as always is a man of very few words,” Riju mimicked his last movement. “Live a little! It’s your wedding!”
Link gave her an unamused smile with a raised eyebrow, slowly sipping his wine. A corner of his eye searching for his wife in the crowd.
Their visit to the Gerudo Wasteland was a rather difficult journey for both of them. After her return, Zelda had some sort of aversion to the Gerudo Town. However, since they were invited by the Gerudo Chief herself claiming they must visit immediately, they set off.
It took them a little longer than normal, as a result of Zelda’s sudden desire to see the Depths of the desert. Link realised then just how little he actually knew of the events during her time in the past. Zelda was still holding a grudge against Riju, but nonetheless accepted when the Chief offered them a drink. He knew his wife wanted to make this vacation as short as possible. He then watched how quickly her whole demeanour changed when she saw what was in Riju’s possession.
“Is that-” he murmured.
“Hyrule Hystoria!” Zelda finished before he could. “How… How did you find it?”
Riju’s smile was a little suspicious, but she only handed the book to the Queen of Hyrule. “I have my ways. Figured you would want that book for yourself, Your Highness!”
The day of Impa’s death was a sunny, peaceful day in the middle of spring. Zelda kneeling by her friend’s bedside, held her hand gently. Her thumb made soft circles on the back of her palm. Zelda as per Impa’s request kept telling her some stories from before the Calamity. Their first meeting, their first cup of tea, their studying times together, all while swallowing sobs escaping Queen’s mouth.
Zelda knew this day was close, she was even surprised to see Impa after over a century. But she also knew she would never be ready for it.
Link stood by the door, failing to bring himself closer and interrupt the moment. Paya sat on the other side of the bed along with Purah and Robbie. For a long time, Zelda’s soft voice was the only sound in the Kakariko Village.
As they rode through the Hyrule Fields Zelda couldn’t help but admire Moondelions and Sundelions and even a few Nightshades now permanently decorating the land. She combed through Storm’s mane, and Link could only admire her. Like he always was.
It was almost a year after their wedding. A year and a half after her return. He still could sometimes comprehend the mere thoughts of the fact that she was alive and with him.
He patted Epona’s neck, checking their surroundings. Yiga Clan had somehow vanished soon after the Upheaval, but he would rather be safe than sorry.
His role didn’t change much. He was always by her side, taking care of her, her taking care of him. Although he knew there were so many things yet to be rebuilt, he was happy with the state Hyrule was in. Reborn from literal ashes.
“We should head back to Lon Lon Ranch,” Zelda called a few meters ahead of him. “I would rather set off early in the morning, you know.”
Link rolled his eyes, as he trailed after her. A weird sense of peace finally sank in.