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The figures in the field had been oblivious to anything but each other for the longest time. They lay on the grass, half on top of the other. Arms wound painfully tight around the other, heads buried in necks, and legs too far intertwined to stand up any time soon. Both were sobbing.
Sonia reached out to hold her husband’s hand, tears in her eyes. He smiled at her. They had watched from afar during the entire fight, their ghostly forms cheering Link on and later helping him use magic to turn Zelda back to human.
They watched as he caught her and set her body down. They watched the hesitation in Link as he laid her down and stepped back. They watched as he launched himself at her after she smiled at him and told him she was home.
They were watching as they still embraced.
“I’m glad you were able to help Zelda,” a new voice said. The Queen and King of Hyrule turned to find Mineru’s ghost behind them, watching the pair as well.
Rauru smiled, “And thank you for helping Link. Your construct worked well.”
“It was nice to be able to defeat Ganondorf, once and for all.” Mineru said.
“At least my descendant was able to kick his ass, did you see that Goro in the fight?” The Sage of Fire crowded enthusiastically.
The other Sages had broken out a bottle of… something, as they talked over each other about their descendant’s roles in the fight.
Sonia laughed as she took in Rauru’s confused face. “Don’t think too hard about it,” she said as she pulled him closer to the Sages.
To Rauru’s surprise, ghost liquor was delicious.
The seven Sages sat and drank. They watched as Zelda tried to stand, bracing herself against Link. Her weak legs gave out before she could stand up straight, but Link didn’t let her fall. He set her down again and sat behind her, letting her lay her back to his front as his arms wrapped around her once more. They stayed there, looking quietly in the distance.
“I guess it’ll take some time to get used to having legs again after thousands of years,” Zelda’s weak laugh turned to tears as she held herself closer to her knight.
Sonia wanted to reach out to her. Her hand raised towards the princess. The poor girl had sacrificed so much.
A strong hand clasped her shoulder. A Gerudo woman stared out to the scene in front of her. She was wearing champion’s blue in her skirt.
“That girl is stronger than we can imagine. She bounced back after fighting Calamity by herself for 100 years.” The woman said. Her tone was sad as she spoke. “I’m sure she’ll be all right after this.”
Behind the Gerudo woman stood three others: a Rito, a Zora and a Goron. They all wore the color blue in their clothing.
More liquor was served as the group introduced themselves as the Champions who had fought with Link and Zelda against Calamity a century prior.
“I almost had him, but he was a most formidable adversary.” Revali was saying, wings gesturing excitedly as he retold the story of his fight against Windblight Ganon.
“Please,” said Daruk, teasingly. “Link took Windblight down in like two minutes.”
The others laughed at the offended expression in the Rito’s face. “He bought 200 bomb arrows before coming on the Divine Beast. Anybody could have taken the beast down with that much preparation!”
Link was holding his arm out, inspecting it while Zelda asked hundreds of questions about what he had been able to do with Rauru’s arm.
Mipha, the Zora champion, looked at them sadly. Rauru asked what was wrong when she didn’t join in the laughter.
“I just wish I could be there to heal him. We grew up together, you know. I made him a promise…before. I promised him I would always be there to heal him.” She said. “When I lent him my power, I was able to keep my promise, but when Calamity was defeated, it faded away.”
“With how many times the idiot charged into battle with nothing but a rock on a stick this time around, I’m sure he missed you the most, Mipha.” Revali said in a teasing tone, hoping to distract the girl.
“There’s no doubt Zelda is really enamored with the man.” Rauru said as he placed his head on his hands. “She failed to mention his absolute lack of impulse control and recklessness when she described him that first time.”
Mipha laughed softly, with the others. “Goddesses, no. I’m sure travelling around those sky islands was hard without you, Revali.”
“Of course, he missed me the most. Who wouldn’t?” He said haughtily but everyone laughed at the blush adorning the Rito’s face.
The Sages started talking about the changes to their homes with the Champions. Sonia turned to Urbosa.
“How long has it been since they defeated Calamity?” Sonia asked.
Urbosa shrugged, “We’re not sure exactly. Soon after Ganon was defeated, the Divine Beasts stopped working and our connection with Link faded. We left them on their own for a while. My little bird needs to grow on her own, so I’ve only come by to check sporadically.”
“She’s been doing well.” Sonia smiled at her. “Zelda told me about all the reconstruction she’s been in charge of. You should be proud.”
“And of course, Link refuses to leave her side.” Urbosa laughed softly. “You should have seen how she treated him in the beginning! She tried to deny her feelings for the longest time, I’m glad to see she finally got around to them. And the boy has been in love with her since the first time he laid eyes on her. They’ve really helped each other heal.”
“You should have seen how she talked about him now.” Sonia smiled fondly. “I’m glad they have each other.”
Both women laughed when Zelda’s voice rang out from the clearing. “You went and bought ANOTHER house?”
Link was busy trying to defend himself by placing kisses on her neck.
“What about the school? My books, my notes, how are we going to move all that all the way to Akkala?” Zelda asked, there was no real fire in her voice.
Link signed something that the sages and the champions couldn’t see.
“A summer house? Link, how did you even get the money to buy that?” Zelda asked.
More signing, a pause.
Zelda sighed. “I leave you alone for a couple of months and you go ahead and ruin the economy by multiplying and selling diamonds?”
Link laughed into her hair. He signed something else.
“AND LIGHT DRAGON SCALES? LINK I SWEAR!”
He stood up, everyone could see him sign from his new position facing Zelda.
‘Now you know I can’t be left alone. I guess you’re going to have to stay with me forever.’
Link picked Zelda up and held her bridal style. The kiss they shared was exceedingly gentle.
Zelda broke it off to protest, “You can’t carry me to Akkala, Link. You just fought the Demon King, you’re tired too. Leave me here and come back with a horse, I can wait.”
Link looked ready to protest when the sound of a horse running towards them interrupted. A shockingly glowing gold horse came into view as it headed towards them.
Zelda cooed at it as it came close, while Link groaned.
‘Not only is she ugly,’ he deadpanned, ‘She ran away from the stables and almost knocked me down when I went and got her back. It’s like she had never seen me before! I swear that horse only likes you.'
Zelda smacked his arm good naturedly as he helped her climb on before climbing in front of her.
“Protest all you want, but this is honestly a miracle! She’s such a good girl.” Zelda said as she patted her horse’s head.
“No miracle there,” a gruff voice said. An old man joined the group of ghosts watching the scene. “Just a little nudging from my part.”
Daruk handed the newcomer the bottle and he raised it to the pair. King Rhoam drank a little, “Goddesses know they deserve a little bit of rest.”
“Your daughter and son-in-law just defeated the Demon King, Rhoam,” Urbosa said to him. “Don’t be so glum.”
Rauru was grim, “Well, if what the legends say is true, this won’t be the last time they have to face him.”
Sonia nudged him with her elbow.
Rhoam just nodded. “You should see the number of us there are. People who those two have loved or saved or fought with who look after them from time to time. People from different lifetimes, timelines, and dimensions. We just happen to be the latest in a very long line.”
Sonia turned to look at the pair. Zelda had made Link pull a carrot from the slate at his waist and feed it to her horse before they could move. He climbed back on the horse and turned her towards them.
For a second, Zelda could have sworn she saw Rauru and Sonia standing there, next to the other sages, champions and her father smiling at her. Goddesses, she must be more tired than she thought.
An entire kingdom awaited them, longing to see Zelda safe and sound and to congratulate Link for once again getting rid of the evil that haunted them. There were a lot of questions left unanswered and a lot of things that needed to be done. Today though, they were going to go home and rest.
They could deal with all that in a week or so.
“Well,” Sonia said as Zelda and Link rode away. “I have no doubt when they face destiny again, they will defeat whatever may come.”