#Zelda would already consider Link friendly and Link barely knows her at all

[ovegakart]

Fun piece of twilight princess lore i realized tends to get glazed over a lot. Zelda gave her entire spirit to save Midna about halfway thru the game so Midna wouldnt die to Light Exposure. Midna and Link assume Zelda just Died but whats actually going on is Zeldas spirit is just, Hanging out inside Midna, totally aware the whole time. And she even says after going back to her own body towards the end of the game that her and Midna were One and she KNOWS. Everything.

So while Link doesnt know Zelda well, Zelda has been unintentionally spying on him and Midna for months through Midnas eyes. Unable to talk or interact.

And I think that could be a fun dynamic to explore with them. I would like to write one day how their journey back to castle town would be like together after Midna left them stranded on top of a temple that has no easy way down. That door inside the boss room that leads back into the temple is LOCKED, I checked.

[luimagines]

Might I request some slight angst? Like the reader has a crush on the boys but they see them with their Zelda (or closest female friend) and think they're a couple (when actually the Link in question is asking for advice on their feelings for the reader)?

Masterlist

Angst, angst, angst!

It may end up a bit closer to hurt/no comfort.... But I can do that. It's not my forte but I can do that.

Part 1 will include Time, Sky and Legend.

Content under the cut!

Time

“Thanks for taking the time to talk with me Malon.” Time sighs and cradles the steaming mug of coffee in his hands. It’s warm against his calluses and he hopes that he can get this over with before one of the boys (or worse, you) comes in to look for him.

“Any time Link.” She grins and sits across from him at the table. “What is it that you need?”

“I need advice.”

“Oh?”

“I... think I might have a... I’ve been thinking more about one of my traveling companions than I believe is appropriate and I don’t know what to do next or if I should do anything at all.” Time bites his lip and drinks a quick swig of hot drink.

It does little to actually calm his nerves and instead he burns his throat something fierce. But a distraction is a distraction and he takes it for what it is.

“Link, I think the word you’re trying to use is crush. You have a crush on one of them.”  Malon smiles a little tensely. “We’ve already had this discussion on what a crush is a few years ago, remember?”

Time chokes on his own spit. 

Yes, yes he remembers.

He avoided Malon for a while before he manned up and had that conversation with her and told her that he wasn’t interested no matter how flattered he was. He considers himself lucky that she was wiling to still be his friend- he wouldn’t know what he’d do without her.

“Can I ask who it is?” Malon tilts her head. “A few of your traveling companions might be a bit young for you, you know.”

“No- it’s not...” Time is quick to shoot them down. “Not them... It’s...”

Time takes another swig, trying to pay more attention in the dimming burn as he speaks. He murmurs your name at first, not wanting to meet Malon in the eye as he says it. But she doesn’t understand- he can tell. So despite the ever growing blush on his face, he says your name louder and Malon beams.

“Oh them!” She gasps with a small clap of her hands. “Oh Link that’s wonderful!”

She reaches over to place a hand on his. “Tell me all about them. What can I do to help?”

***

You were busy (along with the boys) tending to the ranch that Time has made you all stop at for the day. He said that it was his Hyrule and that the place belonged to a close friend of his. That you were safe and no doubt welcome on their land.

You took the work in stride. 

It was hard  and sun was hot, but if a little work was all it took to pay for a warm meal and roof over your head to sleep for the night then you’ll do with no complaints.

The others not so much but hey- that’s on them.

They can sleep in the barn for all you cared, you were going to do your part.

And if Time was a little more appreciative in the meantime...? Well... you suppose that it would just be a bonus.

You have to make a good impression on the people he cares about after all.

You hold the pitch fork over your head and rest the rod against your shoulder, draping your arms over it as you walk by the house. You were on your way to the stables to catch up with Twilight and figure out what needs to be done next when you spot something through the window to the house.

In your periphery- and you have no idea how you managed to see him- was Time, sitting at the table with the lady of the house in front of him.

You gulp a little come to a stop, trying to stay to the side and avoid being seen while you watch them through the glass.

It looks like they’re talking.

Nothing to be concerned about.

But then you see Time blush and curl ever so slightly in on himself.

He says something.

And Malon looks like she could jump over the moon.

She’s quick to place her hands over his and lean closer to him.

Time doesn’t push her away and instead gets the softest- dare you say, dreamiest look on his face when he finally looks up to meet her eyes.

He smiles.

It’s bright and it covers his entire face as one hands comes up from the cup to cover half of it.

He looks so happy.

Has he ever that happy when you’re with him?

It’s an arrow to your heart and you look away from the delicate moment to continue doing... 

What were you doing again?

You feel the tears begin to pool in your eyes against your will because of course he would like her. 

He’s known her longer.

She’s so pretty. She was drop dead gorgeous with bright flame like hair, and bright eyes and her figure would have been any man’s dream.

She has a house- has land- has a place for him and possible future children and then some.

Time’s the hero here- he could have anyone he wanted by title alone.

What do you have to offer him?

Nothing here- that’s for sure. You don’t even have a lot to offer if you were in your own home let alone his.

You gulp and try to steer clear from the boys less you want them to see your heart breaking and actually ask you what’s wrong.

You don’t try to wipe your tears away when you go to put the pitch fork away in the barn.

Maybe you’ll sleep here tonight instead of in the house with the boys...

You don’t want to intrude on the alone time he’s probably been looking forward to once you’ve arrived.

You don’t wipe away your tears.

Sky.

“Zelda, I’m telling you I don’t know what to do here!” Sky whispers in a panic as he nearly tears his hair out. “I can barely form a coherent sentence around them- how I supposed to go through with this?”

“And here I thought saving the world would have been your biggest problem.” She giggles slightly with a gentle hand on her mouth. “Just talk to them.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“They are... so good and nice and friendly... and in no way shape or form see me that way. And I just stutter and stumble my way other them and - oh god- they have to think I’m incompetent-”

“Link.” She smirks and walks up her childhood fiend, wrapping her hands around him. “Deep breaths, ok? You are a strong, capable and an intelligent young man. You saved our people- you saved me. And there’s a whole lot more good you’re going to do. I want to see you do it. And if that means you go through with this then so be it. But you actually have to do it.”

Sky hugs her back and takes a deep breath like he’s instructed. “Ok. Ok. You’re right. I’m going to look like an idiot in the process but you’re right.”

“I care about you and your happiness, you know that right?”

“Of course I do.”

“And you know I love you. right?”

“I love you too.”

“Good. Now, tell me all about them.” Zelda grin brightly as she pulls away. “We have to do this right and we only have one shot.”

***

You walked along the edge of Skyloft in an attempt to see beyond the clouds.

You can’t.

But that doesn’t stop from walking the perimeter regardless and trying to find a weak point in the cloud barrier. You also take the time to look around Skyloft and makes yourself acquainted with the place.

It’s smaller than you actually imagined it to be but it’s homey and you can see how it was able to produce someone as wonderful as Sky.

It’s nice.

You pass some of the others in the process and wave to them as you go- they look like they’re planning something with bombs, the edge of the island and a whole lot of rope.

If you walk a little faster away from them than your typical walking speed, that’s for you to know.

As you walk you come across a little alcove and climb through it out of curiosity.

It lifts you higher than you thought it would go and you mange to see Sky with a girl on the other side.

You try to remember who she is, or at least who she might be to Sky, what she might mean to him...

It hits you like a brick.

That’s Zelda.

The first Zelda.

The Hylia herself Zelda.

Your heart plummets at the sight of them alone together and you nearly fall over the rock at the thought of why they might be alone.

Zelda places her hands on Sky’s shoulder, talking to him sternly without hesitation and Sky smiles a little despite himself.

You can’t hear them and you know it would be rude of you to do this, but your morbid curiosity pushes you further and you crawl down.

Glutton for punishment you suppose.

“Ok. Ok. You’re right. I’m going to look like an idiot in the process but you’re right.” You hear Sky say. It’s a bit muffled and you have to strain yourself to hear it clearly but you don’t want to go further and out of your hiding spot in case they see you.

You look around the corner and see them hugging, tightly and with familiarity of comfort.

Right... childhood friends... and she’s so pretty too.... Man how can you compete with that?

“I care about you and your happiness, you know that right?” You hear her say. You gulp and try to fight your rising heart rate. You’re starting to breath a little heavier and have to cup your hand over your mouth in a vain attempt to muffle the sound.

“Of course I do.” Sky says.

“And you know I love you. right?” She says with no shame.

“I love you too.” Sky responds.

It’s the final nail on the coffin.

With tears now pouring down your face, you run away from them, from the alcove, from the boys by the edge of the island.

There’s not a lot of spaces to hide but you do find a spot behind the wall just on the other side of the island and hide yourself behind it.

You let yourself cry and try to take comfort from the little animals that come to see you out of their own curiosity.

Of course he’s with her.

Of course he’s taken.

Of course he doesn’t see you that way.

Why did you think he ever would?

Legend

“Zel, I’m not going to do this. You’re wrong. There’s nothing going on between us.” Legend sighs and runs his hands harshly through his hair.

“I beg to differ.” She rolls her eyes and flicks his forehead.

“Ow.”

“You’re blushing just thinking about them.” She crosses her arms. “Just admit to yourself you like them, I’m not asking you to confess to them...”

“Ok well-”

“Yet.”

“Zelda!” Legend jumps and rips his hat off. “I’m not- I just- I give up. I’m a lost cause. It’s never going to happen. I’m going to die alone and no one is going to remember me when I die.”

Zelda sighs and shakes her head, an amused smile on her face. “You’re not a lost cause. There’s a lot of ways this can go wrong but I promise you, not in the ways I’m sure you’re imagining.” 

“I love the vote of confidence.” He sulks and drops into a squat and holds his head in his hands.

“Link. I love you as my brother but you’re one of the most dramatic people I know.” She laughs.

“Zelda... I really like them.... What do I do?” Legend looks up with what can only be described as despair on his face.

“Well, you can try and do something for them or maybe get them something small that lets them know you’re thinking about them..” She offers. “What do they like?”

***

It’s not everyday that you find yourself inside the Hyrule Castle, let alone in a different Hyrule entirely.

It’s nice.

Different.

But nice.

You might be lost though.

Your group was allowed to explore for the time being as Legend tried to figure out what was needed to be done and where you would need to be situated. 

You were lost though.

There were so many hallways and doors and turns that took little to no time at all to disorient and confuse you.

At some point you end up on a balcony and you go to lean on the railing. It over looks a beautiful garden with a rose hedge maze. 

From the height that you stand, you can see Legend and Zelda talking in one of the corners of the maze, seemingly walking together, shoulder to shoulder, close and friendly.

You feel yourself tense a little and your grip on the railing tightens until your knuckles turn white.

It’s fine. 

They’re friends, right? Legend did say that he needed to talk to the princess.

So they’re talking. No biggie.

Zelda then smiles brightly and wraps her arm around Legend’s shoulder before leaning over and ducking closer to his face.

Did she just kiss him?

He doesn’t push her away. 

Your heart plummets and you turn away from the view, placing your hand over your mouth in shock. You gulp and turn back after a moment of digesting what you just saw.

Legend looks a little more miffed, running his hands through his hair and shaking it roughly. Zelda shakes her head and flicks him on the forehead. They interact with familiarity and you can see that they’re closer than Legend wanted the group to know.

Were they together?

Was it taboo? 

You look away again and leave the balcony, wanting to get away from the place as quick as you could.

Away from the garden.

Away from the princess.

Away from Legend.

He probably wanted to be alone with her for a reason- to keep it all a secret and not let it get out.

How could you stand a chance against the princess of all people? Someone that would share his position in history- a part of his trauma and adventure and shares those moments with him. Not to mention to social status and the fact that she’s already in his own Hyrule.

He deserves more than what you could give him.

He deserves to be happy.

You hope that she can give that to him.

Part 2 

[shirokh]

THE POET OF THE COURT

“Alas my love you do me wrong

To cast me off discourteously;

And I have loved you oh so long

Delighting in your company.”

So was one of the more popular songs Damien, the sheikah poet used to sing for the court of Hyrule. Since he was a child, he always thought the queen was beautiful, and one of his goals was to sing in front of them just as he was now doing, and he did so since his father allowed him to acompany them at the age of twelve. The princess was a few years younger than him, but he always managed to find a nice lyric, story or poem to delight her with during special meals.

Even when he had to find some appropriate melody to her mother’s funeral, the sympathy he felt for the princess became more intense, as he felt the need to protect her from any harm, watching her child stoic self, and not allowing herself to cry in front of others. Was it perhaps his Sheikah blood, such as her guardian Impa, that he felt... whatever he was feeling...

Or maybe the songs he sang about romance were there for a reason, and from then on, every time he composed and sang, the princess came to his mind.

-“That must be what love is about... an impossible love... such inspiring” He told himself the moment he realised he just kept thinking a big percentage of the day on princess (goddess) Zelda, his muse. He didn’t eat, he didn’t sleep until he recognised on his heart that the love the songs described was little, compared to what he felt for his unreachable lady.

Or so he believed.

-“Damien! Could you keep playing that lullaby?” The princess asked him, it was already late and, as usual she kept working on her lab. Impa was half asleep sitting in a chair, and the princess was dissecting a peculiar full guardian arm.

-“You’r request is my pleasure as always, your highness” He said as he played a guitar version of Zelda’s lullaby. He loved when she called his name, it was like tasting honey.

-“You know that you are not obligued to keep working this late, right?” Impa told him, they knew each other since childhood, they were neighbours in Kakariko village, and their families also had a long friendship. Despite Impa’s parents and grandparents dedicated themselves to train in the arts of fighting as successors and guardians to the royal family, and all of Damien’s family were dedicated to music and served the royal family also.

-“It’s an honor to contribute to the princess investigations” he said as he began to play a different song, secretly this song was composed to express his feelings to the princess, it was a waltz he thought it would be better played with an accordion, but the violin gave it a soft and nice tone itself.

-“Such nice melody! I like when you play the violin also” The princes said, her hands were stained with oil from the guardian and half her face too. -“It always helps to have music, I think I can concentrate better”

-“Princess Zelda, It’s past midnight, we should get you to have a bath and prepare for tomorrow” Impa pleadingly asked, as she was tired herself.

-“I... Why can’t you come with me?! Instead of that perfect knight or whatever?!” Zelda left a heavy piece on the table, making a loud noise, Damien perceived her annoyance.

-“Princess... we already discussed it... it was a direct order from the King”

-“Impa! Or you could come along! I don’t think I need a knight to follow me around, it’s such a nonsense”

-“If I could be of any help, princess, I’d gladly contribute”

-“Thanks Damien, it’s just that I must part to the four regions to investigate the divine beasts, and my father insisted on me going with a knight he selected, instead of just me going alone...or with Impa” she said looking at her reproachingly.

“Mo! Princess! I told you already, all of us Sheikas are required to help with thecnology investigation, it could be an important part to defeat calamity... besides the sacred sword selected him”

-“Divine beasts are more important ! But my father is... worried that I can’t wake my power in time ..., so I must hurry, if I want to be able to pray to the goddess and have the Goron,Orni, Zora and Gerudo help with the beasts at the same time...”

-“I could come along if you allow me to, besides I haven’t been required in court for a while” Damien shyly suggested.

-“Could you do that?!” Zelda took his hands firmly, surprised the young Sheika blushed entirely, retreating himself from her.

-“I’m sorry... it’s just...” the princess began to apologise, it was a rush, but she liked the idea of going with a friendly face.

-“Please don’t apologise your highness, of course I’d love you... I’d love to go along with you...” he said stuttering a bit. Impa gave him a suspicious glance.

-“I’m watching you Damien, don’t try anything funny!” Impa said pointing at him with the guardian’s leg, and the three of them began laughing.

His hands were now also stained with oil. If he could, he wanted to keep them unwashed forever.

The knight was already waiting in the hall. He wasn’t a very tall man, even Damien was taller. He couldn’t help but compare himself to the boy, he seemed to be like his age, yet he had imagined a big and musculous guy, but instead there was this young man with an innocent and serious face, if he could say so.

Not that Damien considered himself ugly, even some girls had flirted with him, not because of his manly appearance, but because he took good care of his fragile self. Being a court musician didn’t involve much physical activity, yet he was trained in the proper way of the sigilous Sheikah. Demian had just packed some sheikah snaks, and of course his violin as well, it was better for travelling, the guitar would be heavy to carry.

The princess went down the stairs, and without even looking at Link, she went out her way, greeting Damien. Link bowed politely, getting on one knee.

“-Are you ready, master of music?”

-“On this tempestuous day,

Let me, beautiful princess

Show you all the way”

-“How is it you always have a verse?” She smiled and kept on going to the exit of the castle.

LINK’S POINT OF VIEW

He arrived early this morning. Rumour was that he was soon to be named the appointed knight for the princess officially. Yet now, the king entrusted him with the safety of his daughter travelling to the Rito Village. He used to be relaxed, but since that event where he obtained the master sword, he felt every one was watching him, so he was restless... “Was he good enough to carry the sword that repels the darkness?” Since childhood legends told that the hero would rise against evil, he used to love that stories, now he felt anxious about them, as he never imagined he would actually get to BE the hero himself.

A sheikah arrived and seemed to be waiting for something or someone. It was odd he carried a violin and Link felt observed. He nodded as a greeting.

The princess came downstairs. She was as beautiful as he remembered, and she had quite developed womanly features, Link scolded himself because of this thought, after all she was to become his Queen someday, so he owned every respect he could muster. Quickly he got in one knee and greeted her silently. After he stood up, he saw the princess happily greet the man with the violin, and how he took her hands and told her some words that made her smile.

“Why was he so close to the princess?” That though left his envious side arise, yet he had being training on not letting his emotions show anymore, after all, he had to be seen as a true hero chosen by the sword.

End of LINK’s POV

They began walking, followed by the knight and three more knights her father assigned to scort her. Damien thought that the sweet princess had also a different and more dark side, as she ignored and diminished the presence of the appointed knight, it was more than evident that she didn’t enjoy or even wanted his presence around her. Damien wanted to know every side of her, even the wrong sides.

The fact that the knight hadn’t said a single word about it was more entangling.

It was almost noon, they went on horse all the way, and only stopped to feed the horses and have a snack themselves. Zelda mainly spoke with Damien, as he also improvised some verses for her, and the other knights were entertained during meal by him. Link stood behind, always vigilant of the surrounding.

They went back on the horses, and when they got to Carock bridge Zelda looked at the map again.

-“So, I think that the way to Tabanta is this way to the north.”

Damien wasn’t sure, he barely traveled back and forth from Kakariko village, he had seen once or twice an orni merchant, but he was confident that the princess had the map with her.

-“It’s not”

A voice sounded from behind. Link had spoken. He had a soft and somehow masculine voice.

-“Speak, Link? Was it your name?”

-“The shortest way to Rito village is to the left. Unless you want to go trough the tundra, that would take us...”

-“We’ll take north” she interrupted him, not wanting to hear more of the chosen knight. And her horse obeyed the command to go north. Time after she would regret this decision.

-“... one more day...” he finished his sentence with a whisper. The other knights looked at him.

-“Well, if we are with you Link, I bet no monster would scare the sh** out of me”

The other knight scolded him for swearing, after all the princess may have heard them.

THIS WAS MEANT FOR A ONE SHOT, but the story kept on going 😬. Hope you enjoy it, Zelink story to the bones, and some jealousy involving the poet of the court (Main witness of Zelink) THANKS to Greenie for the name of the poet 💖

[thecagedsong]

Zelda’s Research

A/N Okay, so originally this headcanon was going to be in headcanon style, but then it became a fic, so here it is. I could never put together what exactly Zelda was studying, and fics usually made it seem like she was just being silly, trying to get Link to eat a frog that everyone already knew how to use. Everything connects here though, and I cried while wiriting it, because Zelda needs to be reminded constantly and often that she isn’t useless.

               Link was trying to be helpful. Zelda said she needed time away before Hyrule’s leaders arrived for the summit meeting, so Link took Zelda out to the mountains. Zelda shivered, so he gave her his wam doublet. Zelda didn’t want to talk about her outburst at Impa that she didn’t have the golden power anymore, so he didn’t ask. Zelda didn’t want to talk about the Calamity, or the future, or the past, or the summit, so they rode in silence.

               There was only so much he could do however, when Zelda threw herself off her horse, stumbled but missed crashing into a boulder, and frog jumped to catch a lizard.  

               “Are you okay?” he yelled, desperately calming their horses from her abrupt exit before swinging himself down beside her. Her horse had already bolted from the unfamiliar rider though. He didn’t wait for her to answer and started checking her over for injuries.

               “Yes!” Zelda cheered, the streak of mud on her face seemed to disagree with her, as did Link’s heart rate. “Look what I caught! My studies, before I was forced to stop, indicated that this critter can be used to augment speed. I just absolutely had to catch it before it got away. You said you remembered the time I tried to get to you eat a frog right? Well I had a break through before our trip to the spring of power and realized it needed to be cooked with monster parts before being consumed! Oh, this is so exciting. Do you happen to have a cooking pot on you? Wait…it had to be a particular kind of pot made with Hylian flint…”

               Link breathed out slowly. Only this princess would risk breaking her neck in the name of science.

               “I know what a hightail lizard is,” Link said slowly, taking the lizard from her and pulling out the three others he was carrying to show her. He put them all away and pulled out a potion bottle, “This is an elixir made from a hightail lizard. Now, no more throwing yourself from horses okay? You have a physical body again, and it can get hurt, and you nearly gave me a heart attack right there. You aren’t allowed to die. Ever.” He said it all as firmly as he could.

               “How can you know that? About the elixir I mean,” she asked, completely ignoring his warning.

               Link groaned, “It’s in the compendium. Not only that, it’s common knowledge. Any traveler or child could tell you the same thing.”

               “Let me see!” Zelda demanded, “I’ve been trying to translate that infuriating compendium for three years! Half of the letters were missing, the rest were in a dialect of Sheikah that was lost to memory seven thousand years ago!”

               Well, that made sense. Considering she had the sheikah slate without runes on it, he had always wondered what she was studying and doing with it besides taking pictures.

               “The compendium is in modern Hylian now,” Link said, pulling it up for her and showing it. The look on her face was somewhere between anger and wonder, “but like I said, everyone just knows.”

               “How did they know though? None of that was known 100 years ago. It was the stuff of fairy tales. And of course the slate had translation abilities in it the entire time” Zelda said, grumbling the last bit. She stood up straight and shoved the slate at him. “Change of plans, I want to get to Robbie. I entrusted him with all my notes, translations, and ideas.”

               “Er, is it that important? We need to make sure we’re back in Kakiriko before the representatives arrive,” Link said, wondering where this demanding Zelda had come from. They would barely be able to make it back to Kakirko before nightfall now that they would have to share a horse on the return journey.

               “I need to know what he did with my notes, because it sounds like…” Zelda’s eyes unfocused, she took a breath, then refocused on him. She was smiling, and there were tears in her eyes. “Yes. Yes, it is that important,” she said, her voice cracking. She looked like she did when she was first freed from the Calamity, when she asked if he knew her. Link the same panic came back at the thought of her crying, happy tears or not.

               “Alright!” Link said, jumping closer to her, “Is it important enough to be incorporeal for a few seconds?”

               Zelda nodded. He slid the slate onto his belt and helped her onto his horse, with his arms around her, he pushed towards Akkala.

               They came across the shrine at the riverside stables, and Link explained that he didn’t know if the slate could take two people, but if it couldn’t, she could travel to Robbie’s lab alone to speak with him. He would wait at this shrine for her to come back. He highlighted the symbols very clearly for her, and made her repeat the plan and directions back to him.

               “Well, get close to me then,” she said, stepping so that her back was pressed against his chest, “if all your things travel with you, skin contact should be enough to transport the both of us. Hold on tight.” Link gulped as he found his arms full of princess. Apparently, though she had been awkward with her body since she sealed the Calamity, she was relearning the joys of skin contact.

               He eventually tightened his arms around her waist, and he must have imagined her smelling him, just before she pressed the symbol for Robbie’s research lab.

               They both dissolved and arrived together. Zelda stumbled out of his hold right away though, and threw up on the trash heap outside of the lab. He held her hair back and winced every time she retched.

               “Better?” he asked, a minute after she stopped, and he almost pulled out some hearty durain simmered fruit before he realized he should ask first. (He hadn’t the first time and Zelda was currently trying to condition him out of the habit of shoving food at her when he thought something was wrong.)

               “Goddesses,” she croaked, wiping her mouth on her hand, “That was terrible.”

               “What’s all the ruckus?” a voice called, “I told you kids not to use my back yard for your parties anymore, not if you don’t have any decent mus—”

               Zelda and Link turned at the same time, and Robbie’s mouth dropped open.

               “My apologies, old friend. Shrine travel doesn’t seem to agree with me,” she said, forcing herself to stand up. Link kept an arm around her, and she seemed to accept the aid.

               “Princess?” Robbie’s voice croaked. He bowed first to her, then rushed forward and threw his arms around her. “Princess! My dear friend. Come inside, I’m so happy to see you.”

               “I’ve missed you too, old friend,” she said softly, then let Robbie pull her inside, with Link awkwardly shuffling beside her, still supporting her.

               Robbie started telling her everything then. How he knew Link could do it, and he’s been helping Link all along. How far he’s gotten with Cherry and what he’s discovered about guardians. How he had a wife and son.

               “How could you have a son?” Zelda managed to tease, “You always swore that your Cherry would be the only woman in your life.”

               “Cherry still is, it seems like,” Jerrin responded, with a friendly glare at her husband, who just laughed and helped Jerrin pull up some chairs.

               “Oh, I’ve missed you Zelda,” Robbie said, as they all settled with some tea and in front of the fire. “I had hoped I would live to see you again when I saw the Calamity leave the castle, but I feared that your trial meant your death.”

               “The goddesses were kind enough to return me how I was,” Zelda said, smiling. “However, before we discuss anything further, I have an important matter to ask you about.” Link watched Zelda closely, and she got that heartbreakingly hopeful look again, even as her hands stared fidgeting with her teacup. “I’m sorry, but I just had to know,” she said, “Robbie, did you…I mean…Link said everyone knew about cooking insects with monster parts. Did my research…Did I do…” her voice grew thick as she tried to get the question out.

               Robbie smiled and took Zelda’s free hand between his own, stopping her fidgeting. “Yes, Princess Zelda of Hyrule. I took your work and put the final touches on it before sending it to every town and providence, a week before your birthday. I had hoped to have some positive news for you; should the Spring of Wisdom not unlock your power. Hylians, Zora, Rito, Gerudo, Goron, and Sheikah knew about making elixirs and preparing meals the way you described to bring out the special effects, and had begun experimenting when Calamity struck. Your years of research and translation were not wasted, as I can say with no doubt in my mind that the work Zelda the Scholar did saved her people.” Zelda let out a sob and Robbie continued, “I got letters back for years, people thanking me for publishing your work because they were able to outrun monsters because they had brewed a stamina potion, and were able to save their children from burning villages because of strength potions and fireproof elixirs. Those years were anything but wasted.”

               Zelda was crying, and Link shot Robbie a panicked look, but he just shook his head fondly, so Link let her cry.

               “Thank-thank you,” Zelda said, giving a watery smile. “I needed to hear that.”

               “No, thank you, Princess,” Robbie said, giving a sad smile, “It was all your work. It did a lot more good than mine, in the end. Ancient technology is all well and good, but reviving as many guardians as I did only brought death. You focused on Hyrule itself, and brought hope. Hyrule will be forever in your debt. Unfortunately, since the King had decreed you weren’t allowed to pursue your studies, I decided to publish your work under the penname Adlez, in hopes of sparing you his ire. I tried to spread word that it was their princess who had discovered the secrets to Hyrule’s flora and fauna, but the origins of the discovery of so much were so secondary to the uses themselves, then the uses became common knowledge and people forgot there was a time they didn’t know. Only some of the Sheikah know that it was your work, your Highness. I pray you will forgive me.”

               “My people survived,” Zelda laughed through her tears, “You more than earned your forgiveness.”

               “I only helped,” Robbie said.

               “It’s getting late, you two will be staying the night,” Jerrin said, standing up and leaving no room for argument. “We will put you in Grante’s old room. I’ll go make it up for you.”

               Cherry also decided to make herself known in that moment by blowing a circuit.

               “Familiar name known! Princess Zelda! Bzzt!” which had Robbie scrambling towards the forge.

               Link took this moment of privace to place a hand on Zelda’s shoulder. She jumped, then leaned into the touch, smiling at him, wiping her tears away.

               “Hey, are you okay?” he checked.

               “I’m so much more than okay,” Zelda said, smiling at him. “I berated myself for those first fifty years, as much as I could while still keeping the Calamity at bay, thinking that if I had only awakened my powers sooner, if I had been willing to trust in my feelings and let myself love people, maybe things could have been different. That those years of research had been wasted because the slate had always been for you, I had just been stubborn, and the King had made sure that any useful discoveries I made had died with him when he forbade my research. Then I let it go, because I needed to focus on faith and hope to keep the Calamity back. But my work saved people, Link. Just plain Zelda saved her people too.”

               Link smiled because he understood exactly what that meant to her, and she squeezed his hand on her shoulder. Princess Zelda, without her golden power from the goddess, was just as worthy of her throne. Just Princess Zelda, did so much, she could do the rest of it too.

                Then Link cocked his head, “You know, if the King hadn’t stopped your research on that very day, you wouldn’t have given it to Robbie, and he wouldn’t have published it before your birthday.”

“Everything happened exactly the way it was supposed to,” Zelda agreed, understanding shining in her eyes and smile, “Hyrule survived, and the Calamity destroyed.”

               “That was all you Zelda,” Link said, giving a small smile, “I just helped a little.”

               She laughed, and it was a good sound.

               Link sent a prayer of thanks to the goddesses that he could be helpful.

[anotherlifefic]

Chapter 9: Their Blessing: Darunia and Impa

I awoke before Link did the next morning. During the night, I had been driven to pretty much the very border of the bed while Link lay next to me with arms and legs outstretched. While I was kind of annoyed, I reminded myself that Link had probably never shared a bed with someone before. I sighed and looked out the window. The sun was just rising; I would normally get up and get to work around this time. A soft mumble made me turn my attention back to Link, who was just waking up. He looked so cute with his messy hair and his eyes only half open. I leaned over him and gently kissed him on the tip of his nose. „Good morning, Love.“ He grinned. „Morning, Rebecca. Did you sleep well?“ „As well as I could considering how little space I had“, I quipped, prompting Link to look around. „Oh no. I'm so sorry.“ „It's okay. You'll get used to having someone in your bed.“ I kissed him again, on his mouth this time, and then sat up. „So, shall we go have some breakfast?“ „Actually, I was planning to stay in bed just a little bit longer and enjoy the first time waking up next to you.“ Link pulled me down again, looking me in the eyes as my head came to rest on the pillow. „I really like this feeling. It's... peaceful.“ „I agree“, I whispered and snuggled up to him again.

The sun was already way overhead when we finally got up and dressed. Now that I was well rested, I could finally take a good look at Kakariko, as I had never been there before. It was a calm, quiet little town. Link had said that many of Hyrule City's residents had fled to Kakariko after Ganondorf took over in that alternate future, and now that I saw the place, I wondered why they did so. There was just something about it that made me feel uneasy, something sinister lurking in the shadows of this seemingly quiet town.. But perhaps I only felt that way because Link had told me of all of the horrible things he had discovered in and around Kakariko during his quest. So I was quite glad to leave it behind after we had breakfast and started to ascend the stairs leading to the gate of Death Mountain. Link assured me that the main road up the mountain was, in spite of the mountains intimidating name, generally safe, with only the occasional Red Tektite blocking the path. The guard at the gate nodded at us as we passed by. And as we hiked up the mountain, I asked:„So... what was Darunia like?“ Link took a moment to answer. „He was... strong. Reliable. But also very friendly. And he loved music and dancing. After I freed Dodongo's Cavern, he declared me a blood brother to the Goron tribe. It's one of the few things that weren't erased.“ I took his hand. „So you were very close, then.“ „You could say that, yes.“ Then he stopped, and grabbed me so I wouldn't just walk on. „Wait. Do you hear that? There's a Tektite up ahead. You wait here while I go take care of it.“ There was indeed a strange thumping sound, as if something was bouncing up and down. Link grabbed his sword and dashed ahead, around the corner until he was out of view. I just heard him yell and the pitiful final cry of the creature as it died. Then he returned to me, wiping the slimy transparent blood of the Tektite off of his weapon. „There we go. There don't seem to be any more of them. Uh... try not to look too close as we walk past the Tektite's remains. It's not pretty.“ I nodded and held onto him. „Alright.“

Link led me past the carcass so quickly that I couldn't even get a chance to look at it. Not that I wanted to. We proceeded up the winding path until we came to the entrance of a cave. Above it, there were a row of small flags, each donning the Triforce. I had thus far only seen this symbol on the uniforms of the royal guards and in the Temple of Time. Link followed my gaze and explained:„These flags mean that the Gorons are connected to the royal family. The Zora have a Triforce in front of the entrance to their domain as well.“ Then he led me inside.

We had barely stepped foot into the cave, when a Goron who had been sitting near the entrance jumped up. „Link! Brother! You're back! Oh it's been so long, everyone is going to be so happy to see you!“ Link smiled at the Goron. „I'm very glad to be back as well. I came to visit Darunia's shrine. I'm planning to get married soon, and I wanted to introduce him to my fiancée.“ The Goron nodded. „Oh, that's wonderful news! He would be so happy that you come to visit, and also to meet your intended. You still know where the shrine is, right? It has been almost a decade, after all. Oh, and you should talk to our Link, too! He's our Chief now, you know? He should be at the shrine as well.“ „Yes, I remember where the shrine is. And I will be sure to talk to Link.“

As we walked on, down a staircase leading deeper into the mountain, I turned to Link and raised my eyebrow. „There's a Goron named after you?“ „Yes, he's Darunia's son. He was born a short while after I freed Dodongo's Cavern, right before Darunia disappeared.“ We finally arrived at the lowest level, he led me towards the entrance to what seemed to be another cave. We entered it, and found ourselves in a small room, mostly dominated by a massive Goron statue, with a smaller statue and a bowl for offerings in front of that. By the shrine stood another Goron; taller than the other ones I had seen throughout the city and with the beginnings of what would probably become a spiky beard on his face. He gasped when he recognized Link. „Link! It has been ages! We thought you wouldn't return! And who did you bring with you? A friend?“ Link (the Hylian one) laughed. „Not just a friend, but the one I will spend my life with.“ I bowed before the Goron. He was the Chief of the Gorons, after all. „It's a pleasure to meet you.“ But Link (the Goron one) just grabbed my hand and patted my shoulder hard enough to later leave a big bruise. „Nice to meet you! So you have stolen our brother's heart, hm? I'm sure my father would be happy for the two of you!“ „Thank... thank you“, I said between gritted teeth, trying not to let him notice how much that little pat had hurt me. Now the Goron turned to Link again. „It's good that you came here, either way. Father's shrine has been acting... strange lately. It sometimes starts to glow out of nowhere. We tried to see if there was any particular pattern to it, but if there is, we haven't found out about it yet.“ The Hylian Link looked at the statue of Darunia and approached it. Just then, it started to emitt a soft, red light. I wanted to get closer, but Link stopped me. „Stay where you are, Rebecca. We don't know what this means yet.“ „Since when have you become so distrustful, Link?“, a deep, booming voice asked. And from the shrine emerged the ghostly form of a huge Goron with spiky hair and beard, much like I would imagine Link the Goron would look a few years down the road. So this was Darunia. He grinned at Link. „I heard what you said. Congratulations on your engagement, brother!“ Then he turned to the other Link. „And you, my son, are doing me proud with how you lead our people. I have been watching you through the eyes of this shrine.“ Then he turned to the Hylian Link again. „There was a good reason for Princess Zelda to have these shrines built, you know. They serve as a connection through which us sages can watch the world, and briefly manifest in it, if it proves necessary.“ Darunia's face grew worried. „And I fear it does. There is an unrest going through the Sacred Realm, and I fear that the seal that keeps Ganondorf at bay may be in danger of breaking. You should visit the other sages' shrines. They will tell you more.“ Link's face had lost all color, and I stepped forth and took his hand. Then I turned to Darunia. „How much longer will the seal last?“ He looked at me. „I cannot tell. Days? Weeks? Years?“ „It doesn't matter“, Link said resolutely. „I will be ready when it breaks. I beat Ganondorf once, and I can do it again!“ Darunia laughed out loud. „That's the Link I know! But now, you should go and visit Impa's shrine, since it's the closest one to mine. Farewell, brother. And take care.“ With that, the specter vanished as if it had never been there at all.

We went down the mountain in silence, too worried to talk much. If Ganondorf were to return, what would that mean? Would that other future become a reality once more? I looked over to Link, taking in how his demeanor had changed after hearing the bad news. There was nothing casual or light about the way he walked anymore. As we reached Kakariko, we startled the guard at the gate, who had appearantly been dozing off, as we rushed past. A lot of people gave us odd looks as we walked to the cemetery.

I had never really been to a cemetery before, and even if I had, I doubt that other cemeterys were quite es threatening as this one. It was as if I could hear the whispering of the dead souls in the wind as it blew inbetween the lonely graves. Link took my hand. „Don't be afraid. I'm with you.“ I looked at him, seeing but a glint of his usual kindness behind his steely gaze. So I followed him, not letting go of his hand, until we reached the headstone marking the grave of the Royal Family. However, we walked past that to the statue of a woman, again with a bowl for offerings in front of it. It began to glow purple as we approached. „Ah, there you are, Link“, a deep, female voice said, and like with Darunia before, the figure of the sage Impa emerged from the shrine. Her smile was gentle, almost maternal, when she looked at Link. „You've grown.“ „That tends to happen when time passes“, Link replied. Then he sighed. „I'm... sorry. I'm sure you already know that Darunia told me about the seal on Ganondorf beginning to break, so I'm a little on edge.“ „Yes. Nobody would have more right to be upset about that then you“, the sage said sympathetically. „The only positive thing about this is that this time, we have a headstart on him. We know that he's coming, and we can make preparations to meet him when he does.“ Link groaned an rubbed his eyes. „Today was supposed to be a happy day! I just wanted to introduce my fiancée to all of you.“ Now Impa seemed to notice me. „Fiancée? Hm... I know several people who will be very disappointed about this. But in the end, it is your choice who you want to spend your life with.“ Then she sighed. „I can only tell you this: Make sure that you have quick accesss to the Master Sword. And maybe gather some of your old weapons. Especially your old bow should come in handy. Good luck.“ With that, she disappeared, leaving Link a little more relaxed. But just a little.

We decided to spend another night in Kakariko before leaving for Zora's Domain the next morning. As we got ready for bed, I softly asked:„Do you think we should stop this journey and maybe take it up again once this whole business is finished?“ Link sighed. „Honestly? I don't know. I don't know anything anymore.“ Then he sat down on the bed, burying his face in his hands. I sat down behind him and began rubbing his shoulders, taking in all of the scars he had amassed during his travels. Some were cuts, slashes, lacerations, others were obviously from fire. My heart ached at the thought that he might have to go through all of that again „Tell me what I can do.“ „Huh?“ „I couldn't possibly know how you feel right now... or how to help you. So please. Tell me what I can do to make all of this easier for you.“ He turned around to me and kissed me. „Just be here“, he mumbled in a hoarse voice. „And don't worry. I will not let Ganondorf hurt you again. This time, I will protect everyone. I refuse to lose more friends to this man.“ Then he leaned on me, his head coming to rest just below my chin, his hair tickling my sensitive skin. I hugged him close to me, wanting to somehow let him know that I was there for him. After a while, his breathing became more steady, until he was fast asleep. I placed his head on his pillow and came to rest beside him, slowly drifting into sleep as well.