Chapter Text
Holding the Bow of Light, Link felt time slow as he took aim, making sure to make no mistake in this shot. It was the final battle, and he needed to ensure The Calamity's defeat. He already carried tremendous amounts of guilt for not only the deaths of his friends, but the countless lives lost throughout the past century.
"If only I had been stronger," he thought, knowing that he tried his best, and still failed to protect the kingdom. He has devoted every second since he has awoken from the Shrine of Resurrection, rushing to not only save, but make up the bottomless debt he has to the kingdom.
But now, he was going to make sure that the Great Calamity would be defeated, for good. Link pulled the bowstring back, pulling in light from all directions to the tip of the arrow, before letting the golden string fly. The arrow of light was released, jetting out as it streaked yellow gold across the rusted sky, and it held only one intention: destroy Ganon.
It struck in the center of the iris, collapsing the structure of the eye as it cried tears of malice in pain. Dark Beast Ganon roared in pain, there was no way he could hold this form for much longer and keep Zelda prisoner. The central eye churned as beams of light were beginning to escape its hold, just before it ruptured, releasing a bright spherical golden light that stood out against the blood-soaked sky.
Link landed on the surface using his paraglider. He did not hesitate to quickly remount his horse and dash far from the scene; just in case Ganon had any last tricks in this form of evil.
The Beast went cold silent, cranking its boar-like head upwards to view the light that was released and now floated in front of him, just before settling on the ground. Link focused his eyes, and struggled to see the figure, but was able to make out Princess Zelda emitting the beams—the same magic she held as a descendant of The Goddess. She still donned the outfit from the day the Calamity broke out of its seal, which was over a century ago now. Despite the entrapment, Zelda gave off a composed, confident look. Perhaps this scared the Beast, as she was key in his foretold demise alongside Link.
Without missing a step, Zelda began to extend her hand out towards the Beast when a piercing, high-pitched humming sound of sorts rang throughout the air. Ganon knew what was coming, and began to dissolve into his phantom form to make a last effort of recapturing the Princess.
It rose back into the sky in its ghostly form, trailing the sky with magenta tainted with black where it flew. It made a few attempts of swirling and swooshing down at the Princess, threatening to recapture her once more.
Zelda still held no fear against this monstrosity. After spending over a century in its hold, she knew it well. She knew that it was afraid of her magic—The Goddess's magic—that it tried to destroy her. And it could not. Even after one-hundred years of trying, Ganon's magic was no match for hers; she would not lose this time.
Zelda activated her power using the Triforce, increasing the output of the divine light emitted by her. A burning, sun-like orb appeared in the sky, swelling up to the size of Hyrule Castle nearly. The sound was deafening now and Link had to avert his eyes as the scolding light stood out against the red, darkened sky.
With futile efforts, Ganon attempted to escape this fate. He rose in his ghost form, doing anything to escape the light that would inevitably consume him. The light ate his trail, slowly taking him apart piece-by-piece until he was swallowed. Instead of him capturing Zelda, she trapped him this time. Once she knew he was fully in the sealing power's range, the raging star contracted and collapsed to a single point just before vanishing entirely, leaving not a trace of Ganon behind.
Within an instant, the sky seemed to be released of the burden of displaying such evils, returning to its natural blue hue filled with wispy cirrus clouds littering the sky. Even Link could feel the calling reign of peace as his sword's rhythmic hum faded and its luster vanished. Calamity Ganon was gone. Vanquished and sealed at last, both Zelda and Link never could have imagined a time where they would be free. Free from the burden of saving the kingdom. Free from the constant looming threat of monsters. Free at last.
The air tasted sweeter than ever before. Not only because the plagued malice was dispelled—which most certainly helped—but because they knew that everything would turn out fine now. Even if some Yiga-aligned members should claim one of their lives, Hyrule was no longer threatened by the Calamity and would be able to rebuild.
Link took the moment to enjoy this moment of peace, checking if it were real. He could smell the air. He felt the warm, caring breeze enveloping him. He could hear the crickets and wildlife of Hyrule returning, almost rejoicing in its liberation. And most importantly, he could see Zelda in front of him. "Was it really her?" he questioned. Indeed. It truly was her. He could see her more clearly without the blinding light and dark sky. There she stood, still staring out into the sky with her arm outstretched, likely doubting whether or not this was a dream as well. She slowly retracted her arm and rested it at her side.
Link made the first move. He began to approach behind her, slow and calm; after all, there was no need to rush now, Ganon was gone, for good. The morning sun now struck brightly against Zelda and the Castle in the background, despite the ruined appearance of both of them.
"I've been keeping watch over you all this time…" Zelda started.
She continued, "I've witnessed your struggles to return to us as well as your trials in battle."
Link slowed to a stop to listen to the Princess's words.
"I always thought—no, I always believed—that you would find a way to defeat Ganon."
"I never lost faith in you over these many years…"
Zelda now turned herself to face Link, smiling in her usual warm, genuine manner.
"Thank you, Link… the hero of Hyrule."
She paused for a second, only momentarily, "May I ask? Do you really remember me?"
She stood there, hands crossed onto her chest as she awaited an answer. Link stood there, total silence per typical; he knew he needed to give a response.
"Yes, Princess, I do remember you," he answered, though unsure of his answer. He did remember her after all, but not in her entirety. Sure, he had recalled all of the memories that were captured on the Sheikah Slate, but there were bound to be missing memories that he had never fully recovered. But for now, his answer would suffice, and he believed that he would grow to remember her, or at least get to know her as she is. After all, they did have quite the bit of catching up to do, and there would be plenty of time to do that.
"Oh good. Thank you, Link, for everything," she responded with an opening smile.
"So… what shall we do now with ourselves? After all, there is still a lot we need to accomplish for Hyrule."
"I agree," Link said, "perhaps we should make our way towards Kakarios Village. Impa could help us." This was right. Impa was one of the last people that knew the pair, so it would be ideal to reconnect with a person of higher status so that they could ensure the fate of the Kingdom is salvageable.
"Yes. That does sound good. However, may I request a favor—only for a moment it be."
Link nodded. There was nothing that he would object to and after everything she has been through, a simple favor would not hurt in the slightest.
"I would like to visit the Castle. One last time, if that may be fine with you, of course." She seemed unsure, as if Link might challenge her on that proposal.
Link continued to nod, but slowly this time; why was she slightly hesitant with that? He reciprocated the smile and walked up to join her by her side as they set off towards the Castle, with its Sheikah pillars glowing its old blue tone.
For a moment, the two walked in silence, with only the occasional chirp of a bird or bug to interrupt the silence.
The two passed through the Castle ruins, observing damage as they made way for the main gates. All the malice had disappeared by now, so it was also a new experience for Link. Houses destroyed, infrastructure tarnished, and bones scattered. For a place that once contained the villagers of the once-prosperous kingdom, a graveyard would have been a better-suited label to describe the dismal, bleak area.
From the corner of Link's eye, he heard a Guardian Stalker creak as its decayed body settled since its recent expulsion of malice. Link's instincts instantly grasped the hilt of his sword, readying himself for combat. His body startled and heartbeat was hammering.
"They scare me too," Zelda started. "It's okay, Link," speaking with a sense of trust as she offered that warm smile.
Link relaxed, allowing his hand to drop away from the handle of his blade. He took in a deep breath and looked towards Zelda. She, herself, seemed startled by the Guardian shifting, giving worried eyes to Link. They continued their stride towards the gate. And upon arrival, the two stood in silence, side-by-side looking upwards at the Castle.
Hyrule Castle. The place where Zelda was raised, researching ancient Sheikah technology and devoted herself to awakening her sacred power. Filled with life and festivities, the castle was alive with color and joy. However, Hyrule Castle held many negatively-charged memories. It felt as if all corners of Hyrule were facing her, holding high expectations and placing the fate of the world on her. It did not help that her father, King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule, also carried these expectations for her daughter, forcing her to grow up prematurely to take on the fated role.
Even though time lay still for Link and Zelda now, it surely had passed for the castle. There it lay—bleak and devoid of life, drained of all former color. The wind felt dry and dusty; as if death had ravaged this place long ago, leaving them atop a wasteland.
Zelda, full of sorrow looking upon the deserted place, looked down before looking towards Link. It was time to go. There was no stick around for a place that was empty. Doing so would not bring any of the Champions back nor their loved ones. For some reason, they foolishly thought that coming back would allow them to relive the memories with the Champions—even if they were just once more.
As they began to walk back toward the ruins of Hyrule Castle Town, Zelda felt as if something was watching her—or that she heard something—from the Castle, as if the memories of the past called for her, one last time. She stopped to turn; Link doing the same after her—had he felt it too? Nothing was there, after all. The Castle was dead and now they were left to move on. Taking one last look at it, they resumed their travel. They will be heading to Kakariko Village here from now.
They each walked out of the town's gates, leaving behind the past, allowing themselves to move forward, for good. Upon leaving, they made their way back to where Dark Beast Ganon was defeated to locate Link's horse; they were not planning on walking the entire way to Kakariko, especially since they were exhausted, nor did they wish to use the Sheikah slate to teleport either as it was ages since it was last used on multiple objects. Link found his horse, standing in the same spot where he dismounted it when taking the final shot. Link whistled for his horse to come. Upon doing so, it galloped right up to them, then stopped in the grass next to them. It's luscious, gorgeous cream-colored mane sailing in the wind while its snow-white coat shined in the sun.
"Is that…" Zelda began.
"Yes. Sort of. I think it's a descendant of the one you once had," Link finished for her.
There was no doubt it was related to Zelda's horse. It stood out like no other.
"I see. You've taken quite good care of her as far as I can tell. Though, I do believe it was a bit reckless of you to take such a fine specimen out to face Dark Beast Ganon."
"Hey! That's not fair. You were the one that brought me out here! I did not choose to take her out. It was just the last horse I had." Link responded, frantically while slightly blushing at being put on the spot.
Zelda laughed, "I guess that is true. I only knew you had a horse out, so I decided to summon it for the fight. I knew you would be needing it," she said as she touched the bright coat, soothing the horse that was now slightly started by their banter.
Link set his stuff on the compartment straps of his Traveler's Saddle and pulled himself on top of the horse. He then reached out towards Zelda, allowing her to ride behind him on the horse. Despite the fact that there was plenty of room for the two of them atop the horse, Zelda leaned forward, close to Link. Perhaps when she was isolated for over one-hundred years, the isolation had deprived her of physical touch. She likely subconsciously developed a craving for it since, so when they started off on the horse, she gently wrapped her arms around the sides of Link; an intimacy that they had never been to before. Link took subtle note of this, but did not think much of it. He understood that she likely enjoyed the company of another Hylian after all of these years.
So, they were off now, and had big plans for the future. They were both unsure of what action to take first, but would head to Kakariko to recuperate with Impa and the Sheikah—surely, they would know what to do as they were allies of Hyrule. Robbie and Purah would need to be contacted; they would be helpful in both the knowledge of the Sheikah technology they were left with. Link could see them now—the Divine Beasts, all standing in their original positions when they locked onto The Calamity. But instead of their lights emitting sinister purple, they now glowed the same peaceful tone of blue like the pillars surrounding Hyrule Castle.
A good majority of the ride was in silence, still attempting to process the last few hours. His horse seemingly knew where to take him, and continued along the route to Dueling Peaks. They were traveling smoothly, when Zelda cleared her throat, preparing to speak something on her mind.
"…Link?" she started, with her tone indicating a seriousness in what she was about to say.
"Yes, Princess Zelda?" Link said, slowing the horse down to focus his attention on her.
"Don't you think that—well, after all this time that it would come as a shock to Hyrule that I was still alive all this time. Do you believe that it might be risky, and potentially dangerous, to let the world know that I am alive?" She asked, with worry underlying in her question.
Link sat still for a moment, resting the reins forward. This was true. It would come as a surprise to many that the Princess survived, and would bring lots of attention—bad attention, even, that would be attracted to the two: the legendary pair that would, and did, seal The Great Evil. Even if their mission was complete, Link became certain that some Hyruleans would become hostile towards them, and possibly act with ill intentions. Link would certainly be able to defend himself as the skilled swordsman that he is, and has when the Yiga would suddenly appear to end him, but for Zelda, there was no knowing if her power would be able to reactivate, especially after being used over such a long period. She likely exhausted herself; even the magic of The Goddess has its limits.
"Yeah, I agree with you." He began. "Perhaps it's best if we stay low for now, and wouldn't want to draw any unnecessary attention."
"Thank you, Link, for hearing my concerns, but what should we do now? Try to avoid Riverside Stable?"
"Here," Link said, moving his hands to his collarbone, where he undid the button on his Hylian Hood, "take this, it'll help to cover you as we move, and will also protect you as well."
Zelda, still behind Link, cocked her head slightly to the side, what did he mean by, will also protect you? She was never doubtful of Link, but how could a piece of fabric protect someone? She gently grabbed hold of the clothing, and held it in front of her with both hands. It was soft and comfortable; she could see why Link chose to wear it to the final battle. Upon further inspection she could feel that multiple layers of magic were embedded into the fibers, likely reinforcing it at least six times the strength of any other hood—this was not just any ordinary hood. No, this hood had clearly been imbued with some sort of power, giving added protection for its user. The lightweight material also made it excellent for any region, shielding against sun and snow and rain and heat—it truly was the perfect hood for any good traveler.
Zelda swung the hood around her neck, and adjusted the button to fit her neck. It was a good fit; it would for any Hylian, frankly. She lifted the hood around her head to shield herself from the surroundings, when she suddenly noticed the funniest thing. There was this aroma of sorts that she picked up on, giving off the scent of rich flowers and fragrance—this was no manly hero smell.
Zelda, now slightly concerned but not judging, asked Link, "Hey, Link… why does this hood hold a womanly scent to it?"
"Oh, um… well—it's a long story. That's all I can say. But everything is good now." Link frantically rushed to answer, not knowing she would catch on to that. He would have some explaining to do, but this would not be the time to do so. Promptly, he lifted up the reins once more, signaling the horse to go on and to continue its travel.
"Also, Link," Zelda interrupted, "you don't have to call me Princess Zelda every time now; I believe we're much more acquainted with each other, so no need to keep the formal titles," she laughed.
Link bantered back, "Okay. Whatever you say, Zelda," laughing as doing so.
The two continued along their trek, going around Whistling Hill and onto the main path towards Dueling Peaks, which was frequently used by travelers. They would have to play it safe from here; people would likely be about. However, they likely would have escaped further away from the center due to Dark Beast Ganon's appearance. Nevertheless, they must stay secret for her protection. They continued further until they reached Gatepost Town Ruins, which boarded The Great Plateau. While passing by, Link subtly slowed the horse down—likely unknowingly—as he stared up the stony wall, decorated in Hyrulean crests and symbols.
Just a few weeks ago, he was still at rest within the Shrine of Resurrection, not knowing anything about the life he lived. Now, though, he had learned his story—he was a knight that served the princess and was destined to defeat great evils in this world. Although, there are many blanks in his life that he cannot remember, nor ever get back. For instance, he has no recollection about his family or his personal life, as that was never recorded for him, but his life had instead become the expectations that were placed upon him by the world, and somehow, he was okay with that. Knowing that his life was fated for greatness was a rewarding sense, and felt as if people from all over counted on him, the legendary hero, to save them. Despite all of this, he remained quite humble, and never spoke highly of himself; only in promises that he would help those in need. Though, at times he did not feel like a person, and instead more used as a tool, yet typically never in malicious intent; just that some neglected to view him as an individual, and only a way of meeting ends. That was the past, and now he still had a role to play in determining the future of the kingdom alongside Zelda. There would be many reformations and restorations to be made following the last hundred years.
In silence, they continued to encircle the great stony wall, following the path. Shortly, they reached Outpost Ruins, where Zelda and Link kept silent, as a way to honor those lost. Zelda had not been able to witness the true scale of destruction as Link had since awakening. Link briefly glanced back to check on Zelda. Tears began welling in her eyes; she couldn't help believing it was all her fault, and had she only been better—better at concentrating on her duties instead of wasting time on Sheikah technology. How was she so ignorant of her duties? Because of her, so many were dead—the Champions, her father, and countless Hyruleans all killed. Somehow, in her mind, Zelda overlooked the uncounted efforts that were in vain, and did not think to consider those into her perspective on the situation, which certainty left her with large guilt on her chest. Zelda was unaware of Link looking back at her, and he paused his glance on her to observe. There was a beauty in her; the kind you only really notice—or appreciate—when close up, allowing him to take in her details. Her face held a soft complexion, peach and porcelain. Her hair stringed out in waves of golden blond strands, flowing with each soothing breeze. And most notably, her eyes, aquamarine in color, which seemed to bear every piece of hope she had as well as her woes.
Finally catching on that Link was watching her, she looked up to meet him in his eyes. Sharp and defined. That was how she always remembered them—fierce. She always felt safe around him, that was for certain. However, there were times where she felt that she could not get close to him, especially during the scarce times of celebration and comfort they were allowed to have; he was truly dedicated to his work. Somewhere along the lines, the direction of Link's training had seemingly erased his sense of self, leaving him as not a husk, but a trained weapon that held a nature akin to his own sword.
Once the two of them realized they were staring directly into the other's soul, they averted their eyes back to the path, looking towards the horizon. The ride kept them in a trance for a while. Their movements and faces gradually became increasingly lethargic and drained. After all, they were exhausted from today's events, and were starting to get hungry too. So, they decided to stop soon enough to cook a meal after they reached the nearest cooking pot.
Before passing through Dueling Peaks, Link remembered the location of a cooking pot that was covered by many trees, which would serve as a reserved location for the two of them. As they both arrived, Link noticed the place had been abandoned by Giro, a merchant who would often settle in the campsite, likely fleeing because of Link's showdown against Dark Beast Ganon. Link dismounted his horse first before helping Zelda afterwards, and tied the horse's reins to a nearby tree. Shortly after, he grabbed a piece of flint from his pouch, before setting it underneath the unlit pot. He struck the rock with his sword, sparking the wood below and creating a fire for the pot. Zelda stepped forward and leaned down to feel its warmth. Although it was not terribly cold out, a gentle rolling of clouds coming from Lanayru cast shadows across the Necluda region, allowing slight breezes to come off chilly. She sat down slowly, releasing a sigh as a way of decompression. Link, after preparing the fire and checking their surroundings, sat next to her. With nothing much to say, Link attempted to crack at the silence that sat between them.
"…Are you hungry, Princess?"
"Yes. I quite am, matter of fact. I've been trapped in that castle for over a century now. Also, what did I tell you about calling me Princess—it's me, Zelda!"
"Sorry, Zelda, it's a bad habit I guess I haven't forgotten."
"No, no, it's not your fault, seriously—it isn't. I guess what I get mad about when I hear it is…is the fact that you call me 'princess,' yet there is hardly a Kingdom, if any, left for me to rule over. Guess it just sounds silly in a way, that I come back after all of these years, with many, many dead because of me. I could not see how anyone would wish to call me Princess after I had failed them. I know I, for one, would not."
Link, now quite aware of the tension, but also the issues, was slow to speak, ensuring that he did not stumble over any of his words by accident. "I understand. It's hard—if not seemingly impossible—for you to come back and feel ready for the throne. But hey, no one, and I truly mean no one, can blame you for this. Sure, there will be those mad, but they are just mad because they, too, are also going through the loss this kingdom has suffered. Also, it is impossible for anyone to judge you because they are not you, and they could never have felt the pressure you did all those years ago carrying the weight of the entire world. It is absolutely not your fault, Zelda, and you mustn't carry the blame. After all, I have my own shortcomings—I fell when you needed me most against those Guardians, and left you."
Zelda, taking her eyes out of the fire, tilted her head towards Link, and began to speak."Oh, Link, I suppose you're right. I don't know though, it just seems as if I could have done better given the first seventeen years of my life. I guess I am also bent around how long it took me to awaken my power too. But you, Link, you also did your best—we did our best to fend off against the Calamity, and it must have been a bad matchup, especially considering the Guardians and Sheikah technology were seized by Ganon. We lost so much, and we still have so much to do as means of fixing what we lost. Do you think that too, Link?"
"I agree. We were placed at an unfair advantage since he arrived on your birthday, and we did everything we could to awaken your power and also train; although we can hold ourselves accountable, we cannot blame ourselves. We must carry on. Hyrule still needs us, and you, to lead it forward out of this age."
Taking in the last few minutes, Zelda leaned up against Link, who in turn leaned on her. Together they sat, pondering about their future and what must await them when Zelda comes back to Hyrule. The topic suddenly switched when Zelda sat up, and faced Link again.
"I am hungry, though." Link began to subtly laugh, his body shuddering as he tried desperately to suppress it.
"What is so funny, Link? Is it not clear that I am hungry?"
"You know what," she cleared her throat, lowering it slightly, "I order you as Hyrule's Princess for you to make me something. Yes. It is final."
Link, now pushing himself off the floor now, stood up at the pot, rummaging through his pockets. Surely he had something he could make. Granted, he did use much of his stockpile for his recent fight, though he had to have had something. Then, it came to him, a realization as he put the ingredients together in his head.
Apples, Wildberries, Cane Sugar, and Tabantha Wheat—they were all the required ingredients to create the perfect dish for Zelda: Fruitcake. It was her favorite, which he had learned along an adventure into the castle where he stumbled upon a book in the Castle Library. He pulled the ingredients out of his pockets, throwing them into the pot. Zelda had not gotten a proper view of what Link was cooking, so she remained quite curious throughout the dish's creation. He believed he was doing it right. Even if he wasn't the best cook, Link certainly liked food, and therefore how he liked his food, so he was doing the best he could. After about a minute or so of brewing the ingredients together, Link removed the product from the pot, placing it on a wooden plate before handing it to Zelda.
Zelda was agasp upon seeing it. Could he have known? No, but certainly he did? Out of everything he could have made, and this was his choosing? Zelda started for a moment before taking the dish from Link, who by now was deviously smiling, knowing quite well what he was doing. She picked the dessert up by the side and took a bite. She quickly set it back down as tears came to her eyes. It quite literally had been ages since not only did she have something to eat, but also someone to think about her in this way, and she could not handle it.
"Zelda, is there something wrong with it? I know it might be a bit burnt, or maybe the icing was made with the wrong ratios. I can make it again if you would like me to—"
"No, Link, it's not that, not at all," Zelda said in a cracking voice.
"…Then, what is it?" Link inquired, about as clueless as a Hightail Lizard.
"It's nothing, seriously. There is no fault in your cooking; you followed this recipe just how I like it. It is very good, thank you." She wiped her watery eyes.
Link was shaken from today's events, and now felt as though anything could happen; continuing to sit frigid in fear.
"Oh, Link, there is nothing to fear for," she began to laugh, placing a hand on Link's arm. He felt the tension melt away in real time, and in the next few minutes she finished up her Fruitcake. They stood up, gathering their things before getting ready to head off to Kakariko Village again. Today was already eventful enough to last a decade or so; they just wanted to find a shelter now.
Link put out their fire while Zelda returned to pet the horse. Once Link was finished with his work, she turned around to him, "well, shall be off then, there is still much to do." She smiled, and Link joined up with her, helping each other onto the horse before setting off.