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His arm trembled with exhaustion, his chest heaving out heavy breaths while the beast’s tormented cries resounded in his ears, its blood gushing out from where the holy blade struck. Taking immediate action, the Princess of Destiny sealed the Demon King away with the aid of the Six Sages, his curse echoing in the wind.
It was over.
It was finally over.
Link let out a shaky breath, his body collapsing towards the bloody pavement. He prepared for the solid hit but instead he felt a pair of toned arms catch him moments prior. A gentle hand cupped his face, turning him to meet his savior.
“Zelda,” he uttered, tasting iron on his tongue. Her Highness’ face was covered in soot, speckles of monster blood and injuries, and yet she had never looked more beautiful in his eyes. She gently cradled him in her lap, brushing his bangs away.
“Don’t strain yourself, just breathe.” Link closed his eyes, doing as she advised. Simply being near her, feeling the warmth that her body radiated, was like drinking from life itself. Maybe I could fall asleep here, would she mind if I did? A nap sounded heavenly after everything, one that didn't last seven years at least.
A newfound surge of energy suddenly flowed throughout his body, his earlier drowsiness fading away like a distant dream. He opened his eyes, finding himself in an unusual location, puffy white clouds surrounding the pair in what seemed to be an endless sky. He took a quick glance below, and clutched onto Zelda’s arm.
“We’re up in the air?!” Where he expected there to be luscious green grass was instead more sky and cloud. Was there some magic that allowed them to not fall???
“Sacred Realm actually,” she corrected him. It wasn’t what he expected the realm to look like at all- something more pristine and shiny like that of Hyrule Castle,but more golden and temple-esque. Then again many places he’d come to know looked nothing like he imagined them to be.
“It’s okay Link, you can let go of me now,” Zelda giggled. He hadn’t even noticed that he crawled himself even closer to her.
“Ah, sorry!” he apologized, scratching his neck in embarrassment. Goddesses, could he make himself even more of a fool? Her Highness smiled at him, taking his hand to help him stand up with her.
“We did it, Link. He’s finally gone.” He couldn’t stop the grin forming on his face. Seven years of despair, of monsters covering each corner of the world, of their own lives taken now come to an end. The light finally dispelling the dark clouds.
“And now Hyrule can be rebuilt! And I can help!” He couldn't wait to tell the citizens in Kakariko that they could return home (after they rebuilt the town of course). Goron City, Zora’s Domain, even the fortress in Gerudo Valley would need tending and supplies; but it was okay! Because Ganondorf was gone, and most importantly he would rebuild the kingdom with Zelda.
As he was daydreaming of all the new opportunities and ideas to do, the princess’ expression fell. She looked away from her beloved hero, leading Link to become worried. “Zelda?”
“Yes, Hyrule can be rebuilt.” Her hands anxiously fidgeted with the hem of her gloves, much like she did when they were kids. “But I must send you back.”
“What?”
“Hyrule is at peace, and heroes aren’t needed during peacetime.” A half-hearted laugh escaped her lips, but to Link it sounded like she was trying to not sob. “Besides, you deserve to reclaim your childhood…” She turned to look at him, tears daring to fall from her eyes. “You deserve to be happy.”
And you don’t?! He was rendered speechless at her decision. Sending him back? To reclaim a childhood that he lost the moment the Deku Tree fell ill. To seek out the child within him that was buried beneath the heavy burdens of being a hero, of seeing all the horrors he experienced and the guilt of his failures.
What hurt him the most wasn’t the fact that she wanted to send him back, but that she felt undeserving of the same chance to reclaim her own childhood. Link wished to protest as she extended out her palm for the ocarina. He wanted to scream, shout, yell, say anything! But his body was deaf to his wishes, placing the delicate instrument into her hands.
She then placed her other hand on top of his, silently bringing him closer, knowing that this would be her final time with him, to feel his touch even if it was just their hands. “I understand if you hate me for this, I do and I deserve it. But I must do what is right, Link. For both of us.” But why! he silently demanded. If the right thing means we'll both be apart, then is it truly the right thing? He had always listened to his heart, followed the righteous path that his friends followed and made the best choices.
But this?
This felt wrong.
And if it was right, then he chose to be damned.
Link pulled the princess closer, letting the ocarina fall from their hands as he embraced her like he tried to do so at the Temple of Time. Zelda gasped at his sudden action, feeling her heart rate spike from the sudden embrace.
"Link wha-" the words died in her mouth when she heard the sound of his cries, tears trickling into her neck; tendrils of guilt coiled around her heart with each broken sob.
"I can't, I'm sorry." She didn’t respond, only held him closer, soothingly rubbing his back. He didn’t know how long they stayed that way. He silently hoped it could be forever so he wouldn’t have to leave.
“Link-”
“Why?” he begged. “You don’t have to do this alone anymore. I can help! Just say the word and-”
“I can’t ask any more of you than what you’ve done already! You’ve sacrificed so much for the kingdom, it would be unfair to have you do more after the conflict I brought upon you.”
“I never did it because of the conflict, Zelda.” The princess leaned away from his hold, brows furrowed at his statement.
“Then why-” Link cupped her cheek, the words flowing out of his mouth before he could process them.
“I fought for you.”
The carefully crafted mask she wore cracked before him, the tears she’d tried so hard to hide breaking through. “I don’t understand.” Link pulled her back in, resting her head against his chest.
“You mean a lot to me, Zelda.” More than words could ever define. "You shouldn't need to carry the burden on your own. I shouldn't need to be the only one finding happiness. We've both dealt with enough on our own."
"It's my responsibility as queen," she argued back. "I abandoned them for seven years, I have to amend my mistakes-"
"Then share the responsibility with me."
Zelda blinked, daring to look up at him. "What are you saying?"
"Let me be at your side." His voice softened, contrasting the determined glint his eyes held. "You said heroes aren't needed during peacetime, then let me take on a different role. With you."
A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “You do understand what you’re asking, right?” Link mirrored her expression, wiping away the last of her tears. He wasn’t entirely sure what this would mean for them, but he did know what he wanted.
He was so close he could taste her breath on his lips, see the galaxy swimming in her eyes that he yearned to explore within, every freckle adorning her face that he could map out constellations with. She tasted of the morning sunrise after a torrential storm, of sweet berries dipped in honey. She tugged the collar of his tunic closer as he grabbed her waist, the scent of pinewood and ash dizzying him. The sky bled into the morning sunrise, the world shifting into the temple of time’s chambers.
When they finally parted for air, Link rested his forehead against hers, smiling like a madman. Zelda herself couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Let’s go home, Link.” She gently tugged him out of the temple, ready to greet the new era that was in store for them.
“I already am.”