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The princess extends an invitation for the Guardian of Time to attend the ball to celebrate the end of the war. Read between the lines, Lana: this invitation is for you only. Cia does not say that. She says, “This is a bad idea, yes? We are both clear on that?”
“But Cia!” says Lana. “This is our first invitation to a party! You have to come!”
Cia is of two minds – well, literally. But also, in her own head, she wants two things: to never ever see any of those people again, who also never want to see her again – and, also, she wants to go to a party. But it cannot be this party, as she just made clear. To be dragged in as Lana’s plus-one, the sorceress blamed for the war by most everyone in Hyrule, ugh…
“No.”
There is some twisted equation of balance between them: when Cia chases something down, Lana pulls back. When Cia is ready to sensibly give up, Lana comes rushing in to pull her back up.
Because Cia says no, and Lana spends the weeks leading up to the ball pestering Cia to change her mind. Just as hopeful each time she asks.
Cia knows she shouldn’t give in. But Lana seems to know she will eventually give in.
Cia is the one who got the persistence. Unfortunately, she’s also the one who got the desire. The weak resistance. Or whatever it is which finally makes her yield to Lana, tempted by the idea Lana paints. A hopeful fantasy of hers. Does Lana enjoy being disappointed?
This is me, Cia thinks often when she looks at Lana. Somehow, that is part of her. Rather, she was.
Cia retreats, Lana pushes on.
They both end up going to the ball.
It’s held in Hyrule Castle, of course, which has been cleaned up since the war and decked out in banners of all sizes sporting the Hyrulean emblems. There are lanterns lit in every corner and along every wall, and the ballroom’s three huge chandeliers have all their candles lit – just enough to bathe the ballroom in an orange glow and fend off the night’s darkness pressing on the wide windows.
They arrive late, because Cia almost managed to change her mind again just before leaving. It should have been easy to slip inside and blend into the crowd – at least for Lana – but no. The caller at the doorway announces, “The Sorceress Guardians of Time, Lana and Cia!”
So every eye, of every wide-eyed hylian noble or frowning veteran, is on them as they come down the stairs into the ballroom proper. Lana first, chin held high, probably smiling at everyone as she drags Cia along by the hand like the evil stepmother in a story. Cia, in the guardian’s white dress and no mask to hide her face, keeps a smirk fixed on her face and looks out over the crowd.
The time-displaced allies of the Hero have all left. They were the only fighters to make any sort of impression on the battlefield. In this room is only a sea of unknown faces staring up at Cia in dread or disdain.
There, the princess. Zelda and her Sheikah bodyguard are in the middle of the crowd, which parts for Lana and Cia, scattering like mice. Cia can’t even enjoy it.
“Lana!” Zelda smiles and takes Lana by the hand. “And Cia. I am glad you could make it.”
“Of course!” chirps Lana. And she starts telling Princess Zelda all about how they’ve never been to a party before and how sad and lonely they were as a girl and Cia just tunes her out. She is not going to listen to that.
Sometimes even Lana’s voice makes her cringe. She makes her voice sound higher on purpose, and it slips into this whine, like an abandoned dog. Please? Cia? And then there’s that hopeful lilt, it almost makes Cia taste something bad when she hears it.
Because this is her. This is me. Somehow.
“-and Link should still be around,” says Zelda, talking to Lana, and Cia picks out his name and tunes in again, without any say-so from her brain. Cia tries hard to tune the conversation out again as quickly as possible, but doesn’t manage before Zelda continues, “And Linkle, for that matter. She arrived just a bit before you got here, said she got turned around looking for the castle.”
Linkle? Who is that supposed to be?
“We’ll go say hi to everyone,” says Lana to Zelda.
Oh no, no, Cia does not think so. Just no. Lana can do that, Cia will just… slip away.
Cia times her moment right. Lana has let go off her hand, thinking Cia will follow her obediently, and Cia lets the distance between them grow before then quickly striding off in the opposite direction. Not discreetly in the least, but there’s little Cia can do about the heads that turn or the people who jump out of her way.
There are buffet tables by the wall, relatively out of the way. Cia heads over there as soon as she spots them. If she has to be out of place and unwanted at this ball, she at least wants a drink.
In defiance of post-war scarcity, the buffet sprawls over several tables with offerings from all regions of Hyrule. Some less glamorous, true – such as the tray of fried Ordon catfish – but still. This is just showing off. Aren’t there still houses to rebuild all over?
Cia deliberates over a selection of custards for a long while. Finally, when a daring couple start to edge closer to the dessert table, Cia snags one of them and a wine glass and strides off to stand by the wall. A massive drapery with the Triforce and a lunging loftwing hang on the wall right next to her, not quite large enough to hide behind. Not that she would.
She’ll stand right here, gazing out at the hall like an eagle on its perch, contemplating.
Lana is somewhere in the crowd, but for some reason she is shorter than Cia, and Cia cannot pick out her bright blue hair. There are only pale-faced nobles in elaborate hats and doublets, or dresses with long trains or fur trim, depending, all reds and greens and purples, and then there are veterans, no doubt in their finest tunics or doublets. Plenty of green there too, but then Cia sees a glimpse of green – that shade of green – and a familiar silhouette.
Cia closes her eyes and drains her glass, counting down.
When she looks again, he’s gone. Or maybe it was someone else all along.
Still no hint of Lana. Cia scans the crowd, and stops again on a shade of green. This time because the attire is out of place, a bright green cape, and boots up to her thighs, no skirt. The girl wearing it sticks out in the crowd, even as short as she is, because she’s standing at the edge of the crowd already and looking around.
She turns and sees Cia looking at her.
All the time-displaced people have left, but still, this girl seems familiar. Cia watches the girl and, instead of turning and dashing into the crowd to hide, the girl squares her shoulders and starts walking towards Cia.
No thanks, that’s the last thing Cia wants. Cia looks around for somewhere to go and starts towards a statue of an owl farther down along the wall, but the girl dashes up to her before she has taken more than a few steps.
“Aha!” she cries, stopping right in front of Cia. “I knew I recognized you!”
“I’m sorry,” says Cia, making her voice lofty. “Have we met?”
“Obviously!” says the girl, a sharp grin on her face. “I’m the Hero of Hyrule and you’re the Sorceress Cia!”
“You are not the Hero.”
“Am too. I’m a hero, anyway. And you’re Ms Villain, so of course I, the dashing hero, must chaperone you tonight!”
“Mhm. And what’s your name again?”
“Linkle.”
That name again. So this girl must be one of the Hero’s allies, though not a time-displaced one, how strange. Did Cia ever see her on the battlefield? She never saw her in her crystal ball, that’s for sure. She might as well have come from nowhere.
She’s still grinning up at Cia. What a change of pace from the norm here.
Cia puts her glass down on the nearest decoration. “And what does a chaperone do, hmm?”
“I stick with you and make sure you don’t cause any trouble!”
Such a condescending statement said with such a carefree smile. But of all the nobles who cower or sneer when they look at Cia, the people at this ball who rush to get out of her way, Linkle at least says it while staring right at her face. Bold little ‘hero’.
“Suit yourself,” says Cia.
Back to the wall, Cia starts to eat her custard. Linkle bounces on her toes, watching her.
“So,” says Linkle. “What do you do now? You just went back to watching over time?”
“Yes.”
“Huh. Isn’t that though… I mean, really? You’re okay with that?”
“Obviously.”
There has never been any other option for Cia and Lana. If there was, then not anymore.
The war is over. This is all that’s left for her and Lana.
“I don’t think I could go back,” muses Linkle. Girl, no one asked. “I’m a hero! I can’t just watch cuccos all day.”
“Then don’t.” Mortals are blessed with choice, after all.
Linkle nods. “Yeah. I don’t know what I’ll do yet, but I’ll figure it out. Are you and Lana going to start coming by the castle?”
“What a concept. I doubt the guards would let me in.”
“I’m sure the princess will tell them to knock it off.”
Ugh. Cia starts to head towards the buffet tables again and Linkle follows, though at least she switches topic and starts talking about the time-displaced fighters from the war and how much they would liven up this party if they were here.
“The balls Agitha threw were always so much fun…”
The musicians have started playing by now, and the buffet tables are nearly deserted as most of the nobles begin to dance. If Lana is among them somewhere in the crowd, Cia doesn’t spot her. But Lana should take this chance, since she was so damn eager to go to this ball.
Linkle throws a confectionery in her mouth and then turns to follow Cia’s gaze. “Oh! That’s right, we could dance!”
Cia looks down at her. “You know how to waltz.”
“I know enough. And it can hardly be so complicated if they’re doing it!”
Cia barks a laugh. Linkle grins.
She sweeps her leg back and bows, holding out a hand. “May I have this dance, my lady evil sorceress?”
Linkle makes a mockery of the whole affair.
But that same stupid thing which allowed Lana to convince Cia to come to this ball now makes Cia takes Linkle’s hand, even as she looks down on her in disdain. In response Linkle stares up at her boldly, grinning, and puts her hand on Cia’s waist.
From all the waltzing Cia has observed throughout the ages, the taller party should lead. But Cia has never danced like this, so let Linkle struggle. It could be amusing.
Linkle pulls her out onto the floor, at the edge of the crowd but still among the dancers. Cia sees eyes widen and couples stumbling at the sight of her, but then Linkle squeezes her hand, and Cia looks down at her again.
“Just follow my lead! I’ll try not to step on your toes.” Linkle grins.
She’s not the hero in green Cia once fantasized about doing this with. But honestly? That makes it better.
They take small steps back and forth, and follow the other dancers as they fall out of the circle and then back in. Some dancers swap partners all at once, but Linkle never lets go off Cia.
“We should do a spin!”
“Where you dip me? You’ll drop me on the floor.”
“Aw c’mon, I wouldn’t!”
When the other dancers start to dip their partners, Linkle’s smile brightens and she stares intently at Cia. Cia rolls her eyes, and fine. Don’t come crying to her when they embarrass themselves. She leans into Linkle’s arms and follows her lead, letting her dip her – and Linkle is stronger than she looks, because she does it flawlessly.
Linkle pulls her up again, cheeks flushed and grinning all self-satisfied. “See? Told you I could do it.”
“Mm.”
The musicians start to wind down to a slower tempo, a slower dance starting. Linkle and Cia sway together, taking small steps back and forth, left and right, only vaguely following the other dancers.
Then, over Linkle’s shoulder, Cia spots Lana, watching them. She’s alone – probably ready to leave.
Cia slows until they stand still. Then she leans down just enough to brush a soft kiss against Linkle’s cheek. “Goodbye.”
She strides away to rejoin Lana while Linkle flounders. Cia is not going to look back, but then she hears Linkle shout, “I’ll come find you!”
Cia looks over her shoulder to smirk.
Oh, she’ll look forward to it.