The idea of one hundred years passing was still a bit surreal, but looking out over the wilderness that was now Hyrule Field, it elucidated the tale of time. Time that had so mercilessly devoured the land and its civilization. Fragmented structures that had seen the full extent of the battle that she barely remembered and scattered, skeletal remains of the guardians that had been meant to protect the kingdom. A sharp pang stung the side of her head as an evanescent memory flashed in her mind before it dissipated. Even after defeating Calamity Ganon, things were basically the same. There were still the shadows of the Calamity’s essence that needed to be expelled, but the last month had been spent relearning her past and envisioning the future.
The future that now involved Princess Zelda. Link had spent their recent time together letting the princess get her bearings. She had been captured in a sense for one hundred years as well, keeping the Great Calamity suppressed until Link was strong enough to defeat it. It was awkward at first, having to relearn her mannerisms and quirks. It was almost helpful that she had lost the majority of her memories since she had no expectations of the princess and very little recollection of their now ancient interactions or conversations. They had just climbed to the top of the Central Tower, at Zelda's behest, in Hyrule Field that overlooked the derelict remnants of the once grandiose castle. The hero had reached the top before the princess and was taking a minute to absorb the view she’d surveyed a hundred times over. For a second, the ruins flickered back to life, back to the former glory of billowing crimson and gold banners and robust ramparts that protected the people.
A second later, the castle was back to its dilapidated state and Link blinked to make sure her mind wasn’t playing tricks again, that she was back in the present. She closed her eyes, blocking out the view of the field she’d known like the back of her hand. A deep breath. Something to ground her to this current flow of time. The crisp air at this altitude invigorated her body and cleared the fog from her mind as the ballads of birds serenaded her on the breeze. The wind whispered secrets as it swirled around her body and rushed by on its wayward course.
When she opened her eyes again, the sunlight was glittering down over the land, painting the trees and meadows with gold, as if attempting to brighten the hero’s mood. The slow exhale that departed her lungs eased most of the worry that had been manifesting in her muscles and obscuring her thoughts. Her arm reached behind her to retrieve the collapsed glider from her back as she silently stepped to the edge to look down. Admittedly, the first time she’d ever used the glider at King Rhoam’s guidance, she had been a bit skeptical of the durability of the flimsy contraption. Though, after her first time drifting freely through the air like a bird coasting on thermals, it became quite addictive.
Link turned her head to peer over her shoulder, blue eyes settling on the princess who was still somewhat alien to her. The destined hero’s memories were still askew in her mind. The one thing she could summon from the depths of her past on a whim was their first meeting. A look of disapproval masking the princess’s kindness and curiosity. After that, the memories bounced out of order between Zelda’s indifference towards Link, to the compassion that she had been known for around the kingdom and to the people.
The sight of her now stirred something in the woman’s chest that was…confusing, to say the least. Was it an ache? Or more of a tingle? The hero couldn't discern or name the feeling. Still, this was the beginning of a new adventure for the both of them, and as much as Link found herself dwelling on the past, she wanted to look forward. Hyrule needed to be rebuilt and eventually, the throne restored. Though these were thoughts of a former knight. She hadn’t voiced these concerns to the princess, yet. Zelda had seemed so elated to just explore her kingdom. From what Link could recall, she had always been like that. Disobeying her father to explore the shrines and Divine Beasts without the protection of Link or the champions. It only made sense now that Zelda wanted to continue her exploration without any constraints of the past.
“We’re aiming for the Kaya Wan Shrine.” Link said as she pointed to the east where the faint shape of a horse head could be seen. “Right near the Wetlands Stable.” The wind was fair and at their backs, which should make for an easy flight as long as the weather continued to cooperate. There wasn’t a cloud in the crystalline blue sky and she wasn’t concerned about making it to their destination without error.
Link quickly flourished her arm out to unfold her glider and she couldn’t help the smile that grew on her lips with the adrenaline that began to bubble up in her body, the excitement of gliding never dwindling. She took a few steps backward before getting a running start and leapt off the tower. Her hands grasped the handles of her glider as she engaged all the muscles in her body to adjust her course to the east. Air rushed past her before the canopy of the glider caught enough to keep her suspended, jerking her slightly and slowing her velocity. She could never overcome the immense feeling of freedom she felt as she drifted through the air. All of her concerns fleeing her mind as she gazed out over Hyrule and took in her irrefutable beauty. She could never tire of this.
Soles protected by plaited sandals the hue of roasted deku nuts climbed, and climbed up the sky-scraping tower. A side-swept part and golden wheat strands tucked behind ears pointed like blunt daggers, pierced thrice with small, medium, and large smelted rings at the crown shone behind lustrous strands the color of sand. Princess Zelda, none other than the sage of wisdom, presented atop the tower: a cloak woven in empyrean blue, threaded through and through by gold-coated fibers flapping at her humble posterior.
Was Link speaking…just now? Imagery of distant times spent with Link, often times without either of them muttering a word, until the rabbit in the moon materialized in the twilight hours. The hours when the dead rose anew, and sanguine appeared in the night. That dreaded eve would befall them in hours, and Zelda suggested to her companion that they relocate to a new destination. Anywhere, she’d told Link, but Hyrule castle. The castle where not only her ancestors' blood painted the marble walls, but Calamity Ganon’s forces antagonized her in a centuries long battle. Centuries in solitude, but an intentional choice on the princess's behalf.
The legendary battles hardened her resolve, but Princess Zelda triumphed over evil forces, imbued by the powerful trio goddesses, and the hero of time’s protective veil on her. Her psyche, forged by Hylian steel, endured and stood the test of time. Where she should be fragmented and helpless, she brimmed with courage and wisdom.Link. Emerald irises skimmed the blue expanse, crystalline sky as Link rode the calm gusts. After a dozen gliding lessons or so, Zelda was ready to take to the winds. The gliding skills she so coveted ripened and the white cotton robes caught wind first, as Princess Zelda leaped from the platform her guts fluttered in such a way that twisted her face for an awful second. The glider!The princess hastily swung the glider outward; gray wings sprouting and beak tilted eastward.By the mercy of the goddesses. Zelda’s elbows wobbled, white-gloved hands adhered to the wooden shaft supporting her meager frame.
“Hey!” The princess merrily called to Link. Thick amber lashes fluttering, reviewing verdant Hyrulean fields, an endless expanse bustling with life. Not all life was worth appreciating, however. Monsters established encampments throughout, scaring adventurers and lesser monsters into human settlements. From this vantage point in the heavens, the lost rupees twinkled in the tall grass, but the bokoblins wielding their clubs made it a hassle worth admiring from afar. Perhaps there were some jars in the shrine to smash, that would certainly make up for the lost funds.
Arms were tired, but the stamina boosting foods that Link prepared as a precautionary measure caused Zelda's stamina to plateau when it was too low. An icy sharp stab, like a blade buried into her head, turned out to be reason for pause. A painful sensation blunted by years upon years spent receiving powerful visions and ‘bad feelings’. Princess Zelda recognized what this was. A mournful look cast out at the hero of time, Princess Zelda grit her teeth, tucked her chin against the underside of her arm. The goddesses had the worst timing, but seconds passed, and she went without a divine message.
The fair winds at their backs gusted in the opposite direction, pointing Zelda’s glider westward to the snowy mountains and frozen rivers overlooking the Hyrule Kingdom. Princess Zelda peered over her shoulder: Hyrule fading behind the clouds and mist. These gliders were crafted with temperature change in mind, that was one of the few things Link told her, at least. Frigid winds rolled in, forcibly pulling the gliders through the slate gray sky. Puffing cold breaths in and out, her nose bridge dusted red as snow melted on her warm ears. Looking past her knees, the terrain below sparkled white, and a treacherous river, booby-trapped with frozen spikes protruding over the water passed by. A sight to behold, Zelda folded her glider and landed in the snow; ankles rattling up to the wrist.
At the river bank, Princess Zelda pulled the velvet cloak over blushing shoulders, exhaled only to marvel at the cold vapor. She marveled at the fact her fingertips only trembled from the cold; that her toes were slightly pink, but not black and blue with frostbite. "Link?" The princess's brows raised, advancing footsteps causing her ears to twitch.
The shift in the wind wasn't expected or accounted for. So when Link's glider veered her off to the west, a flash of panic overwhelmed her body and mind. The princess was farther ahead than she was on this new course, and at a higher altitude. A particular memory of a confrontation in Gerudo Desert at Kara Kara Bazaar resurfaced involving the Yiga Clan. Link had experienced a similar sensation of panic in the pit of her chest that day. The realization that Zelda had, yet again, left the hero behind to recover ancient data from the shrines and put herself in danger. This gut feeling was similar. When Link saw Zelda drifting above her towards the brilliant, jagged snow capped peaks of the Hebra Mountain Range, she gripped her glider in desperation. Silently willing it to go faster, to gain altitude somehow.
Desperation was new. The thought of losing sight of the princess was causing her muscles to contract and her breath to still in her lungs. She was desperate to keep her eyes on Zelda, but as the thick, low hanging shroud of clouds began rolling in, it became harder to make out the blonde's figure overhead. Desperation felt like drowning in the ocean when the surface was just out of reach. The princess became a silhouette before being veiled completely in the clouds, to Link's dread.
Shit. Link was drifting lower and before she knew it, the rough face of a cliff was blocking her path. Hebra wasn't new to the hero, but one could never acclimate to the frigid climate. Her knuckles were already white from gripping the glider, and now her body was fatiguing from the biting winds that were lashing at her face. As the cliff wall grew nearer, she prepared herself to release the glider. A couple quick breaths as the stony ridges drew closer, and before Link collided, she folded the glider. Arms clumsily floundered through leather straps to secure it on her back as the air whipped violently around her body. A quiet yelp escaped her as it snaked its way up her tunic and licked icy contrails along her back.
Link clenched her teeth, breath coming out in quick puffs of condensation as she retrieved her sword and stabbed it into the stone. Sparks erupted from the tempered steel as it met weathered rock and carved a fresh wound. Her arms quaked, already spent from gliding and her fingers ached from the arctic temperature. The soles of her boots scraped the cliffside, racking her bones from her toes all the way to her teeth until finally, she stopped. Her chest heaved as she tried to calm her erratic heart and her eyes gazed upward. She couldn't see the top of the cliff in the dense clouds, but that was no matter, she needed to find the princess.
A ledge above, large enough for her to rest, taunted her as her frozen hands grabbed hold of rocky protrusions so she could free her sword from stone. When it was safely and securely sheathed once again, Link began her ascent. She could feel her cheeks growing numb as she climbed slowly up the cliff to the limited refuge of the ledge. Just enough space that she could sit and catch her breath, that's all she needed. When her back pressed against the icy rock, she sighed heavily and reached into the satchel attached to her belt.
The icy winds of Hebra never relented. They may weaken now and again, but never ceased and Link was usually prepared. Except for this impromptu expedition that left her exposed skin burning at the slightest bitter breeze. Fortunately enough, she always carried the furred gloves of her Snowquill garb with her, just in case. She pulled the gloves on and the numbness in her fingers started to dissipate. Another moment and she would be ready to climb once more. She retrieved a navy blue satin mask from her satchel as well and tied it around her neck before pulling it over her face. The fact that she had neglected to wear her cloak was an ardent vexation in the back of her mind, but something she didn't have time to dwell on.
With her stamina restored, Link stood cautiously and turned, reaching up and pulling herself along the cliff wall. Her muscles strained as she repeated the motion. Up and up and up she climbed at a steady pace until, by the grace of the goddesses, she saw the top. Large snowflakes were spinning gracefully on the wind as she hoisted herself up and over the cliff, letting her body collapse in the pure snow as her feet dangled off the edge. Had she gotten weaker? No. Less oxygen. She thought as she stood and began looking for traces of Zelda. She couldn't have landed too far away.
Blue eyes strained through the flurry of snowflakes as the howling of the wind was replaced by the, thankfully distant, howls of wolves. It's not that Link was concerned. Why should she be? The princess was decently practiced with several weapons, but proficient with a bow, not to mention the power endowed to her by the goddesses. Judging by the mountain range, they should be close to Gee Ha'rah Shrine which would offer decent shelter until the weather died down.
"Princess Zelda!" Link’s voice didn’t make it very far with the mocking gusts sweeping it off and into the mountains. She found foot prints in the vestal snow and followed them before spying a shimmer of gold against the gray blue hue that surrounded her. “Zelda!”
Link jogged, her breath being forced out in thick clouds of vapor as she neared the princess. When she reached her, the hero heard the rhythmic, heavy footfalls across the river. She stood next to Zelda, attempting to block her from the wind and turned her left ear towards the approaching steps. One, two, three…four. Link inhaled quickly, recognizing the cadency of the steps and she moved in front of Zelda before unsheathing her sword, the steel singing in anticipation as its wielder brandished it defensively. A massive, towering silhouette began forming in the blizzard as the glint of sharpened steel peaked a polished brass shaft. The clanking of chains resounding clearly through the raucous wind.
Link had encountered lynels before, but the lynels in the Hebra Mountains were hardened and forged from arctic winds and glacial ice. They were in a league the lynels in other regions of Hyrule couldn’t even reach and Link had only ever felled one, by accident. As the white-maned lynel finally breached the haze of snow, blue eyes narrowed as she examined the beast. Something was wrong. The normally alabaster mane was accented with bright scarlet wisps that swirled and twisted down its entire body, replacing the white pattern that was normal for the creature. Red eyes were common for lynels, but this one had ink black irises with no white visible and Link couldn’t tell if the monster had seen them or not.
“Zelda,” Link tried to keep her voice low as the lynel inhaled deeply through its nose. “Something isn't right with that lynel.” It lowered its unsettling gaze to the Hylians, baring its teeth before releasing a roar that shook the hero to her bones. Her hands came up to cover her ears and her eyes squeezed shut to keep them from shaking out of her skull.
Link heard, before she saw, the lynel’s colossal halberd singing through the air and she brought her sword up just in time to block the blade a foot from her face. The snowflakes around her danced away, the force of the lynel’s attack almost suspending the snow from falling at all, for a moment. Link pushed the massive weapon back, only for the lynel to swat her away like a fly with its other hand.
Her body bounced once, hard, against the snow covered ground before she landed on her stomach and skidded towards the edge of the cliff. The air had been forced from her lungs and she gasped desperately like a suffocating fish to get it back. She struggled to her knees, oxygen flowing into her deprived lungs sparingly when she managed to get a breath. Where was Zelda? Link turned her head and was met with the lynel looming over her menacingly. Her eyes widened as she looked up at the gargantuan creature. Her sword. Where was her sword? Where was her shield?
The destined hero saw her sword lying too far for her to grab in time and her shield sticking out of the snow where she’d originally been hit. So she just continued to glare up at the lynel as the tempo of her breathing returned to normal. There was nothing she could do to protect herself at this point, she wasn’t even sure why the lynel wasn’t attacking yet. It was almost like it was waiting for her to make a move so it could cut her down, toying with her. After what seemed like minutes, but in reality mere seconds, the monster raised its weapon over its head and Link glared up in defiance. In her mind, she supposed one hundred years was long enough to be alive. At least Zelda would have had more than enough time to flee.
A snow-furred hare bounced on the snow, crinkled dead leaves under its thumps and chittered distinctly. Not the tunic-wearing, sword touting, too quiet hero she searched for, but a cute alternative. Link will be fine, Princess Zelda assured, I know it took ages to accept her as the chosen hero, but I know now… When she fired holy light arrows into nefarious forces that threatened the castle, Link, like a beacon in a miasma, stepped to her side wielding the master sword on horseback. An epic battle that permanently lived in her memories, cemented their bond if not as the chosen heroes of Hyrule, but friends. Just friends, right? Link protected her, followed her, even fed her. Princess Zelda did the same.
Although months passed since that unholy war, Link proved herself time and time again by slicing down powerful lynels and taming horses as strong as the Calamity himself. Princess Zelda’s century’s long seclusion left her, without a doubt, lacking vital information about the lands she ruled. As she kicked up snow, the princess lunged after the rabbit, only after noticing in its mouth was her money pouch. Into the thick brush she went, the rush of a nearby creek pulling her curious gaze to the trickling sound. The blade plunging into her head again, and this time, a vision… A lynel, its fur singed and flared; cracked skin with the glow of raging red where it should be black. A frigid environment and white abyss, making the setting obvious. The goddesses presented a crisis to her, and she needed to solve it before Link was fatally wounded. Forgetting all about her measly rupees, Princess Zelda pushed spindly branches and skidded to a stop - cloak half torn from her body, and luxurious strands coated with ice. The lynel aimed to swing its halberd at Link, and did exactly that.
“Link!” The Princess's voice undulated, the cold kissing her all over, mixing with the heat of battle. How much time remains? Princess Zelda contemplated, a bow arcing with light and gold crystallizing and materializing all at once in her hands. Link jumped in front of her, and though she was posed to fire, finger on the invisible nock and strings - the hero of time deflected the blow for her. Princess Zelda freed the arrow from the shimmering bow, a supernova erupting through the cracked skin of the lynel.
She padded through the snow, the halberd thudding to the ground beside her, and the lynel disintegrating into the wind. There was a reason Link hated to take her hunting, and the thought made her chuckle. Crisis averted.
“Hey, Link? Are you alright?” Princess Zelda awkwardly grasped the woman’s shoulders, her discerning gaze glazing Link’s figure. “What happened today?” Genuine concern in her sea-green irises, as she knelt beside Link and shuffled in her cloak for something…anything to mend her escort’s wounds. Healing was simple enough, but she knew the necessary times to heal, and this wasn’t one of them.
“Maybe we can find spare hearts in the grass.” Folding her cloak back over her arms, she glanced over her shoulder, noted the hare had come back to play, this time without her coin pouch.
Watching the holy golden light purify the lynel down to its very essence was beautiful, in a way. The way the lustrous explosion engulfed the infected monster’s body until there was nothing left except the fading brilliance, it was enough to keep Link staring in awe as crimson flecks drifted up into the sky and dissipated completely. As she watched the remnants of the lynel flutter off on the wind, a jolt zipped from one temple to the other. The visage of Zelda standing in front of her, hand raised against a guardian. The first time that the princess had protected the hero. Link snapped back to the present when she felt a delicate hand on her shoulder.
“I don’t know.” Link stood, her arm hugging her bruised ribs as she took a long breath in. The snow had melted where the lynel once stood and, possibly by coincidence, the wind had died down. “The wind hardly ever shifts like that around Hyrule Field.” Azure eyes finally settled on the princess. “Did you sense anything when we changed course?”
As the flow of the snow began to slow, Link spotted a silhouette in the distance behind her companion. She inhaled slowly, her body tensing for some reason as the wind swirled around the figure and for a split second, she thought she saw a woman. Her eyes blinked rapidly, thinking that maybe the flurries were playing tricks on her. When her eyes refocused, the shade was gone and Link sighed. She must've been seeing things. Her feet stumbled a bit as she walked over and retrieved her sword and shield.
The hero smiled a bit when Zelda had mentioned hearts in the grass. It caused an ache for the past that had long since disappeared in this land, but the nostalgia was welcome. Of course, she didn’t want to burst the princess’s bubble, so she kept silent on that subject. It could also be amusing to watch the princess search the tall grass and shrubs for something she may not find. Though Link wasn’t that cruel, at the moment.
“The Snowfield stable shouldn't be too far from here.” Link said as she removed her gloves and offered then to the princess for extra protection against the climate. “We can rest and make some food, get out of this cold for a while.” Her eyes roamed the princess's attire...platonically. "You're not really outfitted for Hebra."
With the righteous explosion causing a shift in the clouds (or maybe it hadn’t), the sun filtered through sparingly, making the road visible from where they stood. Link reached out, gently taking Zelda’s hand and guiding her towards the stable that was visible in the distance now. Without the biting winds, the Hebra Mountains were more beautiful and its snow covered wilderness shimmered like a billion tiny crystals twinkling merrily in the snow. There was always something to appreciate in every region of Hyrule. Whether it be the endless sands of the Gerudo Desert, or the scorching rivers of lava that encompassed Death Mountain. Hebra wasn’t any different. When the sun was shining, the arctic terrain was a splendor to experience, as long as you were dressed to weather the elements.
The walk to the stable wasn’t terribly long when Link wasn't fighting against the harsh winds and blizzards, and before long, the couple reached the stable where a lively fire was already blazing under a cast iron pot. An elderly woman was cooking something that looked like a hearty soup and she offered a pleasant smile as they passed. The air around the stable already seemed several degrees warmer.
“Hey!” Varke greeted from the window where he grinned, delighted to see the destined hero of Hyrule and waved animatedly. “Link! I haven’t seen you in a while, my friend! Need a place to warm up?” When he opened his eyes, the stable owner blinked a few times when his gaze landed on the princess. “I-is that?” Varke leaned back, his jaw dropping as his eyes widened and he gasped dramatically. “PRINCESS ZELDA?!” Link released an exasperated sigh as her hand came up to cover her face. The man began gushing over the princess with stars in his eyes. “Your Majesty!” He bowed his head and Link closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Of course there’s no charge if you wish to stay here! Link it'll be thirty rupees for your bed." What? "Please, enjoy your stay! And do let us know if you’d like any food!”
Link didn’t say a word as she nodded, pulling out some rupees from her satchel and practically throwing them at Varke. "Enjoy your stay!" Bright sapphires rolled before Link gently pulled Zelda into the inn area. A heavy curtain fell behind them when they entered to block the wind and the cold. There wasn’t anyone else staying at the inn, so Link moved to the two beds that were farthest away from the doors. She freed her equipment from her back and rested it against the wall, rolling her shoulders before sitting down on the bed.
“What do you think was wrong with that lynel?” She asked as her eyes found her companion. “Even with monsters under the Calamity’s influence, I’ve never seen one that had mutated so dramatically.”
The rabbit successfully stole the coin pouch, leaving her with the rupees in the grass and trees to shake down for that precious, always glittering currency. The cursed hare should be so lucky that Link wasn’t in a hunting mood - that their blades and arrows pointed to another foe in dire need of purification, and that they forgot about all else within minutes. That same rabbit would nourish their tummies and mend missing hearts if turned into a soup, but Link had questions, and Zelda may have an answer for the hero. As the Lynel floated up to the celestial skies, ash and snow flurries difficult to discern from one another, blended until the wind swept it all away into the eternally cold bliss.
Far from daft, but Zelda’s lack of forthcoming attitude and sealed lips left much to be desired, a detail that she didn’t plan on changing to accommodate anyone. The burgeoning scholar appeared aloof, as Link peered past her pointy ears. Bad feelings? Absolutely, but the otherworldly sensations and visions were far from extraordinary, though the princess lacked the understanding about what the strange, tingly and painful stabs meant all at once, the fragments of a vision fit together eventually and all made sense. The omens and nightmares, the sense of deja-vu and the ever persistent essence that Calamity Ganon left behind, scattered across the lands. Without a peep, Zelda’s curious gaze met Link’s sculpted posterior as she bent to retrieve her blade and shield. When did Link get so buff? Zelda offered her silence, thick eyebrows knitted in concern. Communicating telepathically was also an option, but Link caught the gist. Grasping Link’s hand in her own ; nurturing the gauntlets with her silky fingers as her feet found steady ground from the knelt position. Link’s hands were entirely too warm, and Zelda’s lips tinted blue and her teeth chattered as the wind brushed up on her pebbling, delicate skin.
She accepted Link’s gloves too graciously, creating friction around Link’s fingers, up to her wrists and elbows for seconds with newly acquired warmth. Wandering in the direction of the Snowfield Stables. The Princess hadn’t a clue about where they were. A century spent praying away Ganon - rather warding off his essence and influence while the champions perished in their stead. What day is it, again? Day thirty-nine, or forty, spent with Link since awakening into the new world. King Rhoam, or the servants who chose her dresses everyday couldn’t have cared less about her adventuring or exploring Hyrule. She fulfilled her one true purpose to unlock the Goddess powers and extinguish the evil known as Calamity Ganon. Now, as she walked alongside Link, she couldn’t help but to ponder where the winding icy path led.
The puffing chimney and clomping hooves signaled life, and the stables! Princess Zelda ogled the stewing pot brimming with spicy orange roots and red broth. Ambling along, Zelda’s rosy cheeks puffed and her nose scrunched from the fumes that singed her brows. She planned to hassle Link about food later, but for now, she would daydream about that soup. The bellowing voice that called to her actually interrupted her thoughts, and the royal princess turned beggar peered up at him with helpless, emerald orbs.
Inside the inn, Zelda unclasped the cloak and held it over the open hearth - assessing the damages, poking her wind-chapped lips with her tongue. Flattering herself in the full length mirror, the sopping wet linen weighing the waistline down in an unflattering way dripped onto the wooden floor. Zelda sloshed to Link’s bedside, hip to hip and her cheek making a home out of her shoulder.
“The lynel concerns me, but he was easy enough to dispose of. However,” Princess Zelda’s throat coagulated for moments, as she replayed that ordeal in the forest. “We should trace his origins, see if there are more like it.” She nudged Link downward with her bosom, as she had a dozen or so times before. “I wasn’t honest, Link. The goddesses are warning us of something, and I fear the shift in the winds and the afflicted lynel is the beginning of something worse.”
Even after the copious amount of days Link had spent with the princess after Calamity Ganon’s demise, it was still a bit strange to be traveling with her currently. She had these fractured, fragmented memories that weren't chronological and breaching the fog of her mind abruptly at the slightest similarity. She’d known she had spent a plethora of time with Zelda one hundred years ago. Following her around like an obedient canine who only wanted to please its master, not biting back when she was reprimanded for nothing. Back then, Link remembered the overwhelming need to prove herself to Zelda and only Zelda. King Rhoam, the people of Hyrule, she had already won them over simply by holding possession of the Master Sword. That was really all that was needed, but that wasn’t enough for the princess. It wouldn’t be until later into their partnership that she would realize why Zelda held such animosity towards her.
This new Zelda, who was one hundred years older as well, was different after suppressing the Calamity for so long on her own. Perhaps her isolation and ability to only communicate with Link telepathically made her a bit more amicable to the hero. Or maybe it was just the sheer fact that there was less to worry about without the primal evil that had hung over the land like a looming storm for a century. Regardless, it wasn’t much of a concern for Link. She just needed to take their time together in stride. No rushing. No pushing. There was nothing she expected of Zelda, and she hoped that the blonde woman had expected nothing from her as well, other than growing more familiar. Link’s blue eyes observed the princess as she examined her cloak, watched as pale pink partitioned parched lips that still, somehow, looked impossibly soft.
When Zelda made her way over to her, Link’s gaze averted to her boots, and she unlaced them with astonishing focus. By the time she’d kicked them off, she felt the bed give to her companion’s weight next to her. The springs of the mattress groaning lightly under their combined weight. Link was a bit frazzled when Zelda rested her head against her shoulder, and, once again, a jolt vibrated her eyes as she squeezed them shut.
In this recollection, Link was ascending the divine beast, Vah Naboris. Zelda had gone with Urbosa to inspect the great beast and the hero had been meant to collect her later. Of course, she wasn’t sure exactly when, so she had stayed in the Kara Kara Bazaar, unknown to the princess, until she had received word from Urbosa herself. Sand Seal surfing was something that Link had never really gotten proficient at, but luckily, the ride to Vah Naboris wasn’t too far. The Gerudo leader had taken into account the vastness of the desert and parked the beast near Gerudo Town, mainly to redirect the lightning that was ever present. By the time Link had arrived, Princess Zelda was sleeping calmly with her head resting against the amazon-like woman's shoulder.
“Ah…well you certainly got here fast.” Urbosa mused as she looked over her shoulder. “I should have expected as much from the princess’s own appointed knight.”
“I was waiting in Kara Kara Bazaar.” Link answered as her eyes flitted down to the sleeping princess. "Is she all right?"
“She was out on a survey all day today.” The champion continued, seeing Link’s focused gaze on Zelda. “Still as the sands now." Urbosa's emerald eyes found ocean blue and she raised an eyebrow. "So, spill it girl, have the two of you been getting along all right?”
Link flinched and wasn’t really sure how to answer, a frown pulling at her lips. They hadn’t actually been getting along at all. Zelda was still leaving her behind, still keeping her in the dark most of the time about her whereabouts. And even though they were together a lot, they barely spoke and the princess mainly conversed to herself. The look on her face must’ve given Urbosa her answer.
“It’s ok, I know.” Urbosa said gently, her gaze shifting back to the slumbering princess. “Your silence speaks volumes. She gets frustrated every time she looks up and sees that sword on your back. It makes her feel like a failure when it comes to her own destiny.” There was a loving lilt in Urbosa’s voice and for a split second, Link felt an itching pull in her chest.
“How do I fix that?” Link asked, finally breaking her silence when she was unable to keep her thoughts contained in her head. "How can I make her realize I'm here to assist her?"
“Don’t worry.” A small grin grew on the champion’s lips. “It’s not like you carry blame in any of this. It’s unfortunate, she’s put in more than enough time. Ever since she was a young girl, she went through rigorous daily routines to show her dedication. She once passed out in the freezing waters to access this…sealing power, and she has nothing to show for it.”
Link furrowed her brow as she thought about how Zelda would stare at her sometimes. Though there was…disdain, there was also a hint of, almost jealousy. She watched as Urbosa continued to speak, mentioning something about doing the same thing if she were in the princess’s position. At one point, the champion lifted her hand to brush a stray lock of blonde hair away from Zelda’s sleeping face, and the same pull reverberated in Link’s chest. Maybe stronger than the first…maybe.
“You be sure to protect her with your life.” Urbosa’s tone was kind, but the overall message and somber stare was a bit threatening, and Link just nodded without uttering a word.
The hero was brought back once more by Zelda jostling her down onto the mattress. Link was still recovering from her recent memory, one that left her a bit perplexed. She was aware of that particular memory, but the conversation was a bit patchy. The awareness of Zelda’s body pressed atop her own wasn’t helping much. She’d heard Zelda speak, but couldn’t comprehend the words in that exact moment. All she could focus on was feeling Zelda's heartbeat throb rhythmically against her bust. The hero's chest was soaring and plunging with a comfortable sequence as she adjusted to the ataractic pressure of Zelda’s weight across her body.
Something worse? Link's mind finally grasped Zelda's words as she peered up into the princess’s eyes that echoed the color of spring grass, a bit of concern knitting its way across her face. What could be worse than the great Calamity Ganon? Surely the lynel was just the result of the residue from Ganon’s essence that hadn’t been purged yet. The hero had yet to explore Hebra with Zelda, so that would make sense. The mention of goddesses, however, was a bit more vexing. A sign from the divine deities wasn’t something to neglect.
“If you think we should, then we shall.” Link breathed as she let her head fall back against the soft mattress. "Ideally it's just a mutation from prolonged exposure to Ganon's influence." She raised her arm and for a very brief, uncalculated moment, it hovered over the small of the princess’s back. That was too fast. Too intimate for the destined hero, even if she’d done it an unspeakable number of times a century ago. So after full control of her body returned, she guided her arm up to drape over Zelda’s shoulders. Again, Link hadn’t accounted for the princess’s attire and was met with chilled, bare skin that was warming under her frosty fingertips.
The destined hero was still bound to the princess in every sense of the word. Bound to her physically, emotionally, and now their bond had been fortified through time. Even though it was Zelda’s destiny to purify the land and protect Hyrule, Link had always wished for the princess to live a more normal life doing whatever she desired. She had always seemed happier researching everything unknown across the kingdom, learning as much as she could. Being the emissary to the goddesses could be a burden for the rest of her life, would she ever find lasting peace?
“Lets hope that this warning is something of less severity than the Calamity.” Her eyes shifted to look at the princess once more. "I had hoped that our time together could be that of leisure, at least for a while."
Much of the timeless wisdom that Zelda collected over her early spring years was tragically lost during the violent psychic attacks Ganon and his minions cursed Hyrule with. The once sagacious princess contemplated her purpose now, but venting to Link, the one who understood her in stony silence and tolerated her regal nuances, protected what little she had left. When her bosom met with Link’s, and their slender frames landed on the mattress - one thing became evident, not a single bed could compare to the luxuriant duvet and golden cuckoo feather pillows in the ruins of her castle. She missed the frivolous and delicate lifestyle, but wouldn’t trade those luxuries for the things she now possessed with Link. Things that Zelda did not define, nor dwell on more than a second too long. Delving into those thoughts brought up deeper memories, like Link’s betrothal to Champion Mipha, and the jolt of lightning in her heart whenever she imagined the two heroes in matrimony. Guilt and sorrow now plagued that union. It would be tasteless, she thought, to go beyond sponging up Link’s body heat after the harrowing loss. But the thought evidently crossed her mind. Zelda imagined she wondered about Mipha more than Link did, solidifying her decision not to act on impulses. One hundred and eighteen years as a woman, and she hadn’t even secured her first kiss.
“There is little time for leisure when you’re the chosen ones.” Zelda jested in truth, sighing audibly as if to drive the horse into the stables. She relinquished her hold on Link, straightened her legs out across the mattress. Fingers laced together over her abdomen, and her lids lowered over her eyes. Amalgamations of Ganon, infants screaming and worst of all, King Rhoam’s disheartened expression. She had failed him, while he was alive, and now she would never know true peace.
“What could be worse than the Calamity? I want to never find out.” In the matters of the heart Zelda feigned innocence. Clueless, a little. But in the name of fighting evil and darkness, her prudence was unmatched by any sage to stand on two feet. It was for this reason alone that she sensed a greater darkness than the Calamity, but if Link was convinced of her own theory then she was entitled to her thoughts just as every Hylian before and after her. Did Zelda want to prove her wrong? No. She prayed that her feelings were inaccurate, and that the worst was behind them.
“We won’t have long before the blood moon, Link. Let us rest for the night, and trace our steps back to the stream in the morning.” The Princess extended her arm elegantly and draped it over Link’s waist - curled up behind her with her nose adjacent to her neck. The smell of freshly cut grass would never grow old. “I’ll wake in a few hours, but for now, a nap to replenish my goddess power.”
A little shut eye did the spirit good. Like those springs in the Death Mountains, the inn bed refreshed her goddess powers and refilled her heart containers much like a home-cooked meal might. A light arrow conjured on the spot wasn't backbreaking, but drained her nonetheless. An annoying grumble sounded from Zelda's stomach, and she craved that red and spicy broth in grandma's cauldron. They could bottle it up for their journey into the snow, but did Link have enough rupees? Princess Zelda sat up in bed, patted her plump lips with her palm as she yawned sweetly. A new sun, meant a new a day. Oh. She slept in, alright. The tweeting song birds outside the shabby window and sunny rays filtering into the room brightened Zelda's emerald irises as she glanced over her bedside out the windowpane. A stable boy heaved hay, fed and watered horses with a level of care that Zelda respected from that line of work.
"I want to get a horse, Link. We can't trust the winds to take us where we need to go this time around..."
Link lamented at the loss of Zelda’s warmth as the princess adjusted to lie next to her. It was an abnormal soreness without the appeasing weight of the princess’s body on her own, but she’d never say it out loud and she hoped she hadn’t worn it on her face. When she felt the divine envoy curl up against her back, her breath warming her neck, Link closed her eyes. Her body shook once with amusement when the princess mentioned a nap. Link knew what a nap meant, a nap to Princess Zelda, the ruler of Hyrule and messenger of the goddesses. It meant that she wouldn’t rise again until she’d gotten at least eight hours of rest. Though the hero wouldn’t contest. She could feel fatigue seeping into her bones and with the comfort of her companion close to her, her eyes finally closed.
Ever since waking in the Shrine of Resurrection, Link had suffered from insomnia. It was rare on her travels across the kingdom that she would rest at the stables, mainly due to lack of money. Camping in the wilderness wasn’t ideal. There were always threats. Monsters, wildlife, the Yiga Clan, it was never safe to rest for more than a couple hours at a time. So it didn’t surprise the hero when her eyes fluttered open and the sky was still dark. The wind was howling, causing the heavy curtain to flap and a chilled breeze invaded the warmth of the inn.
“Link?” The woman sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes as she heard the whisper of her name being swept through the fluttering curtain. Her head was still heavy with weariness and she looked around the inn to see not another soul. Who was calling her? “Link, help me.”
“I’m coming.” Cerulean eyes were clouded, half lidded as she stood, wobbling slightly and grabbing her sword, freeing it from its sheath. “I’m coming.”
Link pushed the heavy red curtain to the side and didn’t flinch when the arctic winds wrapped around her body. She was focused on the voice that was pulling her, calling for her help. Where were they? It was hard to see with her eyes still groggy and the snow dancing in obscuring patterns.
“Link.” The hero stopped, a figure of a woman standing in front of her. The same silhouette she'd seen earlier that day? A woman wearing a black cloak that concealed her whole body. A white gloved hand raised, reaching out to the hero. “Link, where have you been? Why aren’t you looking for me?”
“Who are you?” Link asked, her sword frozen at her side, but ready to strike if called upon. The figure raised her hands to pull back the cowl of her cloak and Link’s eyes widened with shock. Before her stood a taller, older Zelda. Though this visage had darker hair and eyes the color of steel. “Princess?” This wasn’t right. Something was wrong, but Link couldn’t will her body to move as the false princess moved towards her. A spiked, tarnished crown sat upon the woman’s head and her skin was almost transparent.
“I need you, Link.” Link swallowed hard when the woman moved with unnatural speed and stood in front of her. A gloved hand reached out, gently brushing against her cheek. “Find me.”
Nothing exciting ever happened at Snowfield Stables. It was a frozen wasteland, for the most part and Varke always found himself wishing he was somewhere else, somewhere warmer. Lakeside Stable would be nice in the jungle climate of Lake Floria. But today, today everything had changed when he’d been graced with the presence of their magnificent sovereign, Princess Zelda.
“Make sure to tell Embry that I’ll cover the fee to get the horses here.” Varke grinned as he spoke to Kass, the wandering Rito bard. “Tell him that it’s a favor for Princess Zelda and they have to be here by morning. I want it to be a surprise.”
“Of course, friend.” Kass mused as he secured his accordion over his shoulder. “Now that the weather has subsided, I should be able to get there in record time.” Kass bowed, he was a bit dramatic, the personality of a bard, before flapping his mighty wings and lifting off into the night sky. Varke let go of a contented sigh before a hefty yawn escaped him. With all the excitement, he had neglected to check on his guests and with the moon at its peak in the night sky, he figured he had better leave them to their rest.
The stable owner went to retreat into the warmth of his inn before he spotted Link standing outside, her sword clutched in her hand. Varke tilted his head, his brow creasing as he looked back and saw Zelda sleeping soundly. Why was the young hero up so late? And why was she wielding her sword? It didn’t look like the knight was focusing on anything and the wind was whipping around her, almost embracing her.
“Link?” Varke spoke finally, trying to get the woman’s attention. “Are you all right? Is there something I can get you?” He remembered the first time the Hero of Hyrule had come to his stable. It was then he knew that the Calamity Ganon would soon be purged from the world. Now, however, something was wrong and Varke was a little worried. The man made his way from behind the counter, the frigid cold infiltrating his heavy tunic as he approached the young woman.
Now that he was closer, he could see her eyes were a shade darker and unfocused as she stared forward. He waved his hand in front of her face and Link didn’t flinch. She must’ve been sleepwalking. Varke snapped his fingers in front of the hero’s face to no avail before moving to stand in front of her. Link continued to stare past him as Varke grabbed her shoulders.
“Hey, wake up!” He shouted over the bellow of the wind. “You’ll freeze out here! Link!” Varke was getting colder by the second and he could feel his fingers starting to burn. “Sorry, Link.” He muttered before he raised his hand and slapped her across the face.
Immediately, a hand was on his throat and he oofed as his back met the snow blanketed ground. He brought his hands away from the woman in surrender as he was met with serenading steel, the tip of the Master Sword shining in front of his face. Not once in his life had Varke ever been in real danger. Sure he’d broken up a few brawls in the inn now and again, but nothing where he thought he was in actual danger. But with the darkness-sealing sword inches away from ending his life, he felt his heart leap into his throat and throb in his ears.
“L-Link.” He swallowed hard, not taking his eyes off the sword. “It’s m-me, Varke. You’re sleepwalking.” Varke chanced a glance up at the hero whose eyes cleared of the haze and she blinked a few times.
“Varke.” She whispered as fear flourished on her face. Link withdrew her sword, standing as quickly as she could before looking around in confusion. “I’m outside.”
The stable owner exhaled dramatically as he sat up, his eyes closed as he tried desperately to calm his erratic heart. Deep down he knew, he knew Link would never hurt someone without reason. From everything she had seen and experienced, he silently thanked the goddesses that he would never witness the horrors she had.
“I’m sorry.” She said as she offered him her hand and he took it with a small grin. Link easily hoisted the man to his feet and he quickly ushered her inside to escape the icy winds. “I must’ve been dreaming.”
“You were sleepwalking.” Varke explained as he secured the curtain with three stones. “I’m sorry I slapped you, but much longer in the cold with no boots and no heavy clothing and you would’ve gotten frostbite.”
Link didn’t know what to make of the situation. Her gaze shifted in the dim firelight to Zelda who was still sleeping on the bed. The nightmare Link had experienced was burned into her thoughts and she stared at Zelda’s idle form with confusion. Had it been Zelda? A different version? An alternate time that had long passed or had yet to happen?
“Get some rest.” Varke put a reassuring hand on Link’s shoulder that caused her to jump. “You deserve it, and you obviously need it.”
The hero nodded as she walked back to the bed and sheathed her sword, resting it a bit closer to the bed in case she needed it. The cold was starting to register with her body as a slight shiver rattled her. Link, as carefully as she could, got back into bed and laid on her side to stare at Zelda’s slumbering face. When her eyes actually closed and sleep clutched her in it’s crushing embrace, it felt like only a moment had passed before she was roused by Zelda’s voice.
The sun was shining brilliantly through the small window and the curtain had been pulled back to allow a cleansing breeze to circulate the stagnant air of the inn. At the mention of horses, Link had completely forgotten to tell the princess she had found the progeny of her gallant stallion of old. Of course, the steed, as well as her own, were stabled at the Outskirt Stable in Hyrule Field. They might have to sacrifice some rupees to purchase temporary mounts from Varke.
“Good morning, Princess!” Speak of the devil. “I had the pleasure of procuring your mounts from my cousin Embry at the Outskirt Stables! And might I say, princess, your steed is absolutely regal.” Link sighed with a small smile as she sat up and pulled her boots back onto her feet. Her nightmare wasn’t as prominent as before, but she tried her best to ignore it. She had yet to decide if she wanted to express her concern to the princess at all. The elderly woman from the night before shuffled in from outside with two steaming bowls of stew, breaking Link's thought process.
“This will help keep you warm, dearies.” The woman said as she set them on the table. “It’s my special stew chock full of Hylian Bass and spicy peppers. Eat up!”
Princess Zelda narrowed her eyes, as Varke entered their inn room without warning. The spindly fellow brought back to light those servants who fawned over her every move in the castle. The civilians in the fields who truly believed in her, and viewed her as a savior. Where were they now?Functioning as a regular Hylian, as opposed to Princess Zelda - Sage of Wisdom and Goddess incarnate deluded her into thinking that people forgot her status as the princess. Good thing their bodies were covered in more than their undergarments, she thought. She forgot about the peculiar man’s intrusion when he mentioned the noble, and fabulously maned, regal stallion, Storm.
“Storm?” A clear demarcation line scrunched her arched brows. “Storm. I can't believe it.” The Princess mouthed the words the second time, awestruck by the news. She doted on Link, twinkling stars in her green irises.“Could it truly be?” A century passed, and she made peace long ago when Storm perished in the war. Or, so she thought. The valiant and noble steed always was a fighter. Zelda gracefully strode over to the doorway, and behind the slightly taller man, the grandma who hunched over the boiling cauldron carefully stepped upstairs balancing a tray and two bowls of chili infused soup. Simply divine. Their little hideout turned into a party, as Varke and grandma joined them for breakfast. The pair packed up what little they owned and mounted their horses in unison - silhouettes blending into the distance as Varke and Grandma waved good-bye to their backs.
Storm trotted down the pathway, hooves that stomped causing the rodents and birds to scramble out of their way. He bumped his snout on a fresh cleft hoof indented in snow and mud. Crimson fibers, distinctly reminiscent of the lynel they encountered during her bunny chase, stood out like bright poppies on a snow day. A good boy, her steed, as he led both Link and her horse into dense foliage. Zelda swung her now-booted feet onto the ground, courtesy of the strange innkeeper. Gloved hands parted the verdant bushes, and stone architecture carved into towering, warring figures eclipsed their measly bodies as they traversed stairs fitting for a palace door. She recalled walking up to Hyrule Castle, with its imposing stairs that brought visitors to their knees.
“Link, doesn’t this place seem…”
Click. Click.She paced up the walkway, developing a panoramic image of the stone pillars, the cracks and climbing, black ivy that encompassed the crumbling ruins. Clink. Clink. Hyper-aware of Link and the sound of metal at times. “This looks like…”Vaguely resembles the Temple of Time. Sharp needles pricking her skin gave her a sense of familiarity that was somehow new to her. “Have I been here before?”
The ruins' glory days, it might have been a sight to see, but what was left of it caved to mother nature. Princess Zelda, elegantly draped in her cloak, lowered the velvet from her visage. The derelict building provided no light within the stale confines, and Zelda lifted a dainty wrist; light illuminating their surroundings. A dizzy spell warred with her footing, and the glow beaming out dimmed briefly. "I think we're getting close." Red cracks dancing along the ceiling was evidence of that. Hoof prints, and singed fur clung to the walls, and black... liquid gooped along their pathing. Zelda frisked over it, wary of the effects it may have on their armor, or worse.
The breakfast was hearty and warming Link to her core. She inhaled as she drank the broth from her bowl and released a satisfied sigh. The knight followed Zelda’s lead the rest of the morning. She was relieved to see her mount, Epona, standing out front next to Zelda’s stallion. Her mare had always been reliable and strong, a perfect horse for a knight. Her reddish coat and silver mane and tail were unique in a way that she’d never seen in any other horse in the kingdom. So as they trotted down the path in tow behind the princess’s majestic steed, Link enjoyed the view and familiarity with her horse.
Hebra was beautiful in the sunlight. The snow had stopped falling for the time being and all that was left was a glittering, pristine quilt of pearlescent snow. She even had to shield her eyes from the sun reflecting off the sparkling diamonds scattered on the ground. When they reached the area where they had encountered the mutated lynel, Zelda’s horse, like a wolf tracking prey, sniffed the ground and veered them towards a nearby mountain. They blazed a trail through some brush before it became too dense for the stocky beasts to fit through.
Link followed her princess through the thicket and almost bumped into Zelda before looking up to see the architecture carved into the side of the mountain. A sting, sharp and brief as she shut her eyes and winced. Her hands came up to clasp either side of her head as Zelda ascended the stone stairs into the time-worn temple. Her vision flickered as the ancient sanctuary was magically restored to polished, obsidian stone. Had she been here before? Other than the remnants of the corrupted lynel, Link didn’t recognize anything else about this place.
“Link.”
Not again. Link pleaded as she shook her head and proceeded to follow Zelda up the stairs. Seeing now, how far the temple had actually fallen to Ganon’s malfeasance. The thick, tar-like substance was splattered across the once magnificent mosaic on the floor that was now so deteriorated that you couldn’t make out the pattern. A chill ran up the hero’s spine as she followed the princess’s golden light and rested at the base of her skull, a warning that wouldn’t leave her alone. Link unsheathed her sword and the puddles of thick liquid began to evaporate, leaving behind shimmering red cinders that drifted to the ceiling. The glistening sacred sword hummed softly as she continued down the path. Red fractures in the stone pillars and ceiling were growing brighter the further they delved into the temple.
“Help me.”
Link ignored the velvety voice as she tried to focus on Zelda. Soon, the only light source other than the princess’s divine light was the shimmering crimson that was almost…pulsating. The corridor soon gave way to a massive room with a strange circular structure on the far wall in front of them. Link’s brow scrunched as she narrowed her eyes and walked past the princess to get a better look. Marble stairs led up to the edifice and from the dim blue light of her sword, Link could make out some symbols.
“Princess, could you bring your light over here?” Link looked over her shoulder at Zelda. “There’s something engraved on this thing.” The hero extended her right hand to touch the polished surface and a bright, golden triangle appeared on the back of her hand. “What?”
A thunderous CLANG resounded and bounced off the walls as the mirrored surface in front of her began to glow. Link took a step back as she saw the structure resembled that of a gear. It creaked and groaned as the giant contraption turned once, then again, and again. The bizarre glow got brighter, the iridescent light shifting beautifully as the gear turned slowly.
“I knew you could help me.” Link flourished her sword as the Zelda from her dream appeared from behind the massive formation and glided towards the hero. “I need your help, in another time.” An elegant, white gloved hand raised as a dark light began to flicker in her palm.
“Ah!” Link’s ears began to ring, her sword escaping her grasp and her hands game up to cover her ears. Her vision began to blur as the strength was siphoned from her body and her knees gave out from under her. She felt slim arms catch her shoulders and barely heard words being spoken through the pulsing thrum of her heart in her ears.
She had been waiting a long time for this moment, well maybe not a horribly long time, but long enough. Having to research this ancient Hyrule and find the one who could activate the Gate of Time. She thought for sure that was going to be the ancient version of herself, but it wasn’t. It was this…female version of Link whose piece of the Triforce awakened and activated the time traveling contraption. It was unexpected, but it was ideal for her. She didn’t want to have to explain things to her past self who looked far too naive and pure to even comprehend what was going on.
The older Zelda moved forward, catching Link before she fell and peered down at this…alternate, younger version of herself. The innocence and curiosity on her face irritated her for some reason and she sneered down as she waved a hand, causing the Master Sword to hover. Her hero was needed elsewhere, and she didn’t have time to explain her motives to this doe-eyed princess.
“I’ll do my best to keep her safe.” She said as the Gate of Time began to form a tunnel in its center. “But I can’t promise I can get her back to you.” That being said, she stepped back into the gate with Link limp in her arms and the sacred sword following obediently.
The golden light fortified and brightened, as instructed by her companion, Zelda shed light on the engraving: Time’s Gate. Take care. Simple and to the point, but this was not the Temple of Time that the princess recalled. Hardly time to think before a cacophonous clang, and tremors shook her wobbly knees. Staggering back, the ticking and tocking filled the chambers. When Link touched the module, she must have activated the right mechanism. “Link!” Zelda consoled, placing a supporting hand on her shoulder. Peering ahead, a portal of churning gears and coils wreathed by shimmering Gerudo symbols rotated; swirling, vibrant energies belonging to another world entirely. Amber lashes batted frantically as a striking woman stepped out of hiding, muttering. The most peculiar blouse and skirt, none that Zelda recognized in the Zora’s Domain or Rito village.
The dark light surrounding the dark princess, like she was tainted somehow, gave the older version of herself a dastardly appearance. And…to have her grimy gloves on Link? This timeline’s hero of time belonged in this world, not another. Princess Zelda leaped after the woman, engulfed in a pure golden light. The tips of her fingernails brushed Link’s boot. The vile princesses truly believed she would let her escape after this?
“Link! Wake up!” Princess Zelda called up, dreadfully aware that the hero was unconscious, but the sound of her voice? Surely it was good for something? A glow unlike anything the Dark Zelda would ever conjure, curved into a wide arc into the princess’s hands. She poised to aim, and the Dark Zelda manifested a dark diamond around her and Link’s form. “I don’t know what you’re planning, bu-” The wind gusted from Zelda’s spluttering lips, as she thudded onto a wooden bench.
As she opened her eyes, gemstone colored stained glass in geometric shapes that connected to illustrate a woman resembling herself. Her vision blurred, and she coughed out, causing dust to rise and settle onto the back of the pews. Thinking of her pain for seconds, Link’s lovely face appeared in her mind’s eye. A reminder, though she didn’t require one. Zelda jumped to her feet, gritting through the sharp pains in her spine. The Dark Zelda hovered over a stone altar; a ruined statue resembling a divine feminine figure laying over it. “There you are.” Princess Zelda’s rage sparked. There was unfinished business to be settled. Vanquish this enigma of Ganon’s forces, save Link. “Let my hero of time go!” Her bow materialized a lot quicker this time, and Princess Zelda’s bushy-eyed appearance mirrored that of a seasoned warrior. After all, she was new to the world, but not protecting what she held dear to her heart. Three golden arrows, and Princess Zelda saw the confidence in the dark Zelda’s face. She thought she was safe in that forcefield.
“Go home, Princess!” Dark Zelda stepped over Link’s unconscious body, wielding the master sword with telekinesis.
Princess Zelda released the arrows from the glittering quiver, and Dark Zelda waved the master sword to deflect the shots. Two successfully ricocheted off of the mirrored ceiling, and imploded at Dark Zelda’s feet. The white hot energy temporarily disarmed her, blinding her to the true power of Princess Zelda, as the final plunged into her abdomen. The consequences of killing yourself from an alternate dimension? She didn’t consider that.
“How…could you?” Dark Zelda mournful cries echoed in the cathedral, before she burst into light. Much like a fairy would after being exposed in a jar, the girl’s soul floated in space and Zelda, holding back tears, dashed to pick it up. She didn’t die, right? Was Link going to wake up any time soon?
“I’ll find a container for you.” Zelda, balancing the light in her palms like it was a newborn, found a decanter modeled after the Princess of Hyrule. “I meant to vanquish you. Who are you?”
Link's nightmares had never ceased after she’d been roused from her resurrecting rest by her princess’s voice. She wasn’t sure if it was due to the grievous wounds she had sustained while battling guardians while half dead, or that her final thought before she had lost consciousness then, was the fear that Zelda had perished. Hearing Zelda’s velvety voice when she woke gave her hope, but it also made her paranoid. Was it just her mind playing tricks on her? Had her trauma been so horrendous that she just conjured the princess’s voice in her head as a way to cope with her loss?
Of course later, the proof that Princess Zelda, Envoy of the Goddesses was indeed, still alive was irrefutable. The squall of emotion for Link had been put on hold when she’d laid eyes on the princess during the battle with Calamity Ganon. Her attention had to be directed at finishing the one hundred years of darkness, only then would they be truly reunited. A fitting finale to the conclusion of this chapter of their prolonged lives was the couple riding through Hyrule Field, Link wielding her darkness sealing sword, and Zelda with her holy arrows. The knight thought for sure that after their reunion, her nightmares would subside for good. Unfortunately, that wasn’t what the Golden Goddesses had in store for her.
The images of the darkness she had helped vanquish haunted her while she slept. Whether in comfortability or unconsciousness. The one that frequented her from the nethermost corners of her mind, was watching her golden, celestial princess being swallowed by Ganon’s essence. The sludge crawled up and around Zelda’s body, the strands of glowing crimson pulsating grotesquely as it corrupted porcelain flesh. The unadulterated horror in emerald eyes and a silent scream physically ripping through her body as the muck slithered into her mouth was burned into Link's subconscious.
Cerulean eyes flew open, a sharp inhale stinging her lungs a bit as she coughed and the throbbing in her head stayed as an admonition of what had happened. There was a gentle weight on her sternum and Link blinked rapidly to clear her vision to see an ivory rabbit, nose twitching as it sniffed her cheek. The hero exhaled roughly, feeling the bunny’s whiskers tickling her skin which caused the lagomorph to sit up straight on its back legs. Link sat up, the rabbit hopping off of her and on the cement where she was laid. That’s when Link analyzed her surroundings.
Everything was devoid of light, other than the chromatic glow that filtered in dimly like sunlight through brackish water. It was a cathedral, the high ceilings and worn pews were now home to a cornucopia of dead leaves and cobwebs. There was ivy creeping in through shattered windows, cracks in the stone and between riven floorboards, laying bare the age of the cathedral. It had to be ancient. Link appeared to be on some sort of altar and she turned to see a great, mangled statue of what appeared to be a woman. Very similar to the statues of the goddesses in the Temple of Time. Where were they? Where was the other Zelda? The knight tried her best to control her anxiety, but with no sign of the offending dark princess, her teeth were set on edge.
“Zelda?” Link’s voice was disjointed by the aridity of her throat. The destined hero cautiously hopped off the stone pedestal, regaining her composure and spotting her sword lying dormant on the floor. A gentle trill warbled in her ears as she neared her sacred blade and it almost warmed to her touch when they were reunited. When the Master Sword was securely in its scabbard once more, Link’s eyes settled on the princess who was holding a small light that resembled a fairy. She watched silently as Zelda delicately placed the glowing orb into a vessel.
“What happened?” Link asked as she walked towards the princess who seemed to radiate light in the murky temple. “Are you all right?” The knight flinched slightly when she felt a heaviness on her boot and she looked down to see the white hare gnawing on her already frayed laces. “Hey!” The rabbit looked up, its long ears twitching forward towards Link’s voice before the knight bowed down to grab the little beast by the scruff. “How did you even get here?”
"I-I," The fairy's meek voice resonated within the decanter, sounding muffled, yet loud at the same time. "I am Princess Zelda." She started in earnest, and floated up, out of the mouth of the vase. The beaming ball presented itself in front of Zelda's face, between her scrunched up eyebrows and flitted diagonally, horizontally in short bursts.
“Perhaps you are, then-” Princess Zelda’s speech was intercepted by Link’s stirring. A sign that the hero had come-to. “Ah, Link? I am well, thank you.” Her palms clasped together over her heart chakra; blissfully frisking over to her companion’s side. Vibrant emeralds locked onto Link, ignoring the would-be Dark Zelda - if not for the fact that it was a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Princess Zelda disassociated everything that transpired minutes ago, assessing the Hero of Time for damages, gently taking her by the gloved hand. First the lynel, then being kidnapped by a fake princess. The two switched roles for the time being, but Zelda liked the role of protector more than damsel in distress. Gone were the days when she needed rescuing by the hero's hands. She was her own hero, own worst enemy, too.
The white rabbit gnawing on Link’s boots went ignored, though not unnoticed.Hey, is that? Princess Zelda’s quizzical expression relayed her thoughts, before her sincere gaze settled on Link, and the rabbit nudged its floppy ears in Zelda's direction. “It’s looking at me. Not possible.” That it was the same rabbit that hopped off with her rupee pouch, bankrupting her in the process. Not much use rupees would have here, Zelda thought, placing her hands near her waistline as she strode over to a pile of debris: ancient texts, golden lined pages, and chipped porcelain figurines abandoned. Like the now ruined Hyrule Castle - her home, standing tall, but no love or light touched the winding halls. The throne went without a proper ruler, and Calamity Ganon's essence tainted everything. Twisting in place, peering skyward, the heavens were just as blue as the ones back at home. Assuming, this is just an alternate version of their home. “Where are we?” Princess Zelda prompted, eyes downcast for all of two seconds. A bang, like silver lynels clashing in the Hyrule fields, shook the old building's foundation. “It sounds bad out there, Link.”
“Allow me to explain, please…” Fake Zelda zipped forward, wavering in place so that both Hylians could see her clearly. Little good that did, as Zelda skipped over to the wide double doors, barred by wooden planks. “Listen! I’m trying to help.”
“Help? How can you help us? You’re the reason we’re here.” The sprite, or nymph… Whatever the evil ball of light called itself, needed to go back to where it belonged. “A better suggestion might be, to take us back home.”
“Hmph! I saved you from your banal existence, Princess.” The fairy fired off, jolted at the Princess like an angry vespoid. "Look at you. The Princess Zelda of my day. Oh! Princess Z would have ne-"
Whomp!
The sympatyhy that Princess Zelda felt minutes ago was a fleeting little thing, and she swatted it away like a lady might slap a fly intruding on her space. Princess Zelda grabbed ahold of Link's hand, and used her free one to conjure a sunbeam. Wood shrapnel and a dusty explosion whipped cerulean linen about, and when the dust finally settled, Zelda asked Link forward with a knowing glance, and persisted. Her boots soundlessly met lush grass, but out of the peripherals, lush topiary and humans baring no more skin than that of a Gerudo warrior, but the risqué style always made her blush. Fond memories with Priestess Urbosa, brought on by a little skin? Batting her lashes, as if to clear the vision, Princess Zelda held Link's hand tighter and tentatively stepped onto the pavement. It resembled a road, but where does the road lead? Zelda followed white lines marked on the cement path, ambling past lanterns and storefronts - not too unlike Castle Town.
"What's this?" A chrome-plated machine on four-wheels blared out like a trumpet's horn, and Zelda peered into the crystalized eyes of the beast. "Full steam ahead, Link!"
The scene that unfolded was comical, and happened in a flash, literally. The little light had claimed to be Princess Zelda, and seemed thoroughly convinced that she was, but was that possible? Zelda was standing in front of Link and she had known her most of her life. This…false princess turned fairy, was flitting back and forth, buzzing around Zelda like a pest before the golden princess decided enough was enough. Link physically flinched when the princess’s hand made contact with the little ball of light. Had the knight been slapped by Princess Zelda in the past? Yes. Was it something she wanted to relive? Absolutely not.
A slight sting hummed on her left cheek as a faint memory flickered in her mind. One that didn’t linger, thankfully. The knight rubbed her cheek for a moment before Zelda’s hand found her own. Blue eyes watched as the gilded magic burst to life in the princess’s free hand and, for a second, Link thought that she was going to obliterate the fairy that was glowing a bit dimmer on the floor. Instead, Zelda blasted the heavy wooden doors and the hero brought her arm up to shield her face from the dust and debris as the sun filtered in.
Link gasped as Zelda pulled her through the threshold and she was met with the sounds of rushing wind, as well as something she didn’t recognize. She blinked, her blue eyes widening when she saw the amount of people walking around past the overgrown grass in front of the cathedral. This world was strange. If this was Hyrule, it was not the Hyrule Link had grown up in. Perhaps the false Zelda hadn’t just been spewing nonsense afterall. They were surrounded by buildings, all as tall as the cathedral or taller and Link found herself getting dizzy trying to follow them up to the sky.
The knight allowed the princess to drag her onto a stone pathway the likes she’d never seen before. There were so many people that Link was starting to get a anxious as they began to stare and congregate around them . A few pulled out devices that greatly resembled the Sheikah Slate. Link was pulled harshly from the distraction of the crowding people by a blaring noise that startled her so that she retrieved her sword from its sheath. When she spun to face the creature that had made the offending noise, her brow knit together in confusion when her eyes fell on an impossibly shiny, black contraption on wheels. A door opened to the strange machine and Link’s breath froze in her lungs. A tall, olive skinned man stood, towering over her before his yellow eyes fell on Zelda.
It couldn’t be him. Link thought as her grip tightened around her sword and before she could stop herself, she was flourishing. The man smirked before extending his hand, the same golden magic that Zelda used springing to life before he caught her sword. Ganondorf. A light began to glimmer on the back of Link's right hand as her blue eyes looked down to examine triangle that was shining through her glove.
“I thought I killed you, Hero of Time.” Link flinched when she heard his voice and her momentary lack of composure was enough for him to over power her, thrusting her back as his golden orb pushed against her blade. The crowd dispersed in an array of screams and panic as Link launched the orb up into the sky. “But my puppet must’ve succeeded, I see you’ve brought me my princess.”
“Never yours.” Link huffed as she dashed forward, Master Sword ready to strike. Ganondorf raised his hand, the orb of light growing quickly as she neared.
“Stop!” The hero felt something hard hit her between the eyes, knocking her onto her back as the orb of magic flew past her. “You’re gonna get yourself killed, you idiot!” The magenta little light was hovering over her face as Link winced, the wind partially forced from her lungs. “You can’t die here.”
“Get out of my way.” Link growled as she swatted at the fairy, who was a bit quicker than she had been earlier. “I need to stop him!”
“No! Not yet!” The fairy hit Link again and she fell back. How was this fairy so strong? When she managed to sit up, she saw Zelda thrown over Ganondorf’s shoulder like a sack and an evil sneer on his face.
“Zelda!” This couldn’t be happening. In this different Hyrule, in this time, Ganondorf was still alive and Link was…dead?
“Until we meet again, Destined Hero.” Ganondorf ducked into the vehicle with a mighty laugh before shutting the door. The glossy black machine squealed its tires before tearing off down the street. Link scrambled to her feet, boots scraping the cement trying desperately to follow on foot before another similar machine stopped in front of her and she slammed into it.
“Get out of the street!” A man shouted before taking off again. Link huffed as she looked around, there were so many of those things on the road, she couldn’t even tell which direction Ganondorf’s had gone. The hero slowly spun in a circle as the sounds began to overwhelm her and she brought her hands up to cover her ears. This couldn’t be happening. The hero fell to her knees as her heartbeat began to throb between her ears. This was too much, being here in this world she didn’t recognize was mind-boggling and now she’d lost Zelda. What was she going to do now?
“Link?” The drumming in her ears stopped when she heard the voice and a warm hand caressed her shoulder. “You are Link, aren’t you?” The Hylian opened her eyes and looked up, meeting honey hued irises.
The doors on the machine vertically opened, a compression hiss like the gears on a guardian working overtime in the metal casing. Low purrs and subtle vibrations, comparable to the koroks hiding beneath the soil. Pebbles crunched on the pavement, as a black wingtip boot revealed itself from inside the sleek convertible and a muscular, hulking silhouette advanced on her. Gasping and gushing sounded simultaneously as he stood tall, easily towering over the heroes, and eclipsing the roof’s shiny top. The flaps of his leather jacket danced at his calfs, fish net top exposing inked bronze.
“Ganondorf?!” The source of all evil; a man devoid of life and all that is holy flees from his terrifying grip. She was scarcely able to make out the lines in his face, the angular jaw and eyes watching behind sunglasses in their bustling environment. Panic ensued and Zelda advanced on the man, rays of light enveloping her hand; triforce resonating with the other holders in her immediate radius. How long has it been since their last meeting? How long since he ruined and destroyed her loved ones lives? Flashbacks attacked at the most opportune times, or fainting spells… Whichever. Knocking on the back of her skull in a repetitive succession, not unlike the pounding in her head that occurred with too much psychic stimulation i.e. telepathic battles.
“No.” The world shifted beneath her heels, palm flattened to her warm forehead. Her belly churned, like gliding for the first time. Puppets? This was all a scheme - from the beginning to now. “Link! Help!” The last thing Zelda remembered was the red mane; a leather and hellfire scent that was unmistakable for Ganondorf. “L-Link…” She muttered, teetering the line between dreaming and awake as her body landed on a hard cushion. The purring started up, and they peeled off down the street.
“The fabric of time has been manipulated.” Mipha said, chasing Link’s cheek with her palm; cradling Link’s back with her free hand. “Link, you look as if you have seen a ghost.” The Princess of Zora Domain, right in Castle Square. And fairy friends, too. The light balls hovered in the background.
The magenta light ball zipped over, where pedestrians encircled the trio with their Sheikah tablets to snap pictures for the Sheikanet. “This is going to be everywhere, but there isn’t time to worry about that. Princess Zelda…”
“She’s doomed! Ganondorf killed the other Zelda, and meant to do terrible things to her.” Not those things, but awful, terrible things. “He wants her power, but that was lost when she perished. She has been dead for five years.” The light sphere bounced in place, reminiscent of those energy balls that Ganondorf hurled at Link.. “Listen, Link. If you want to save your princess, you have to listen.”
Mipha’s tranquil gaze shifted to sincere concern, though she was charmed by Link's physical appearance. She looked so much like the Link she loved so many years ago, but she was a woman - not the man she fell for. Those difficult thoughts intruded on her brain, and she sat up with Link, mirroring her actions to stand upright. “If you want to get to Ganondorf Corps, you’ll need a ride. I have Link’s- the old hero of time's old bike.”
“...Wait! Listen, Princess Mipha, she can not ride your bike. Look at her,” The fairy zoomed in front of the Zora, stopping short of the fin jutting over her brows. “Let me start with the basics, Link. I’ll explain on the way.”
"...And that's all you need to know about the 30th century, Link. You can't just walk out into the streets anymore - you absolutely must look both ways." The pink light quavered, and sighed as if she even had a pair of lungs. Technically, she didn't need to breathe. "And you're dead, so people might be freaked by your resemblance to our Hero of Time."
“Ouch!” Link hissed as Mipha graced over her burn with her fingertips. “I thought you were supposed to be healing me?” Mipha giggled lightly and Link couldn’t help but smile behind her scoff and minor pain. “You know I need to get a feel for the injury before I can heal it properly.” Mipha hummed as she let her hands hover over the burn marring Link’s collarbone. “How you managed to sustain such an injury is beyond me. Aren’t you supposed to be a legendary hero?”
“It’s those blasted keeses.” Link rolled her eyes and released an exasperated sigh. “When they fly in groups it’s almost impossible to avoid them all.”
Soon, a cooling sensation, similar to the gentle flow of a stream, was washing over Link’s burned skin and she inhaled slowly. The soothing tingle slowly started to ease the hero’s body into a state of relaxation and her tension began to melt away like ice thawing under the spring sun. Mipha had discovered her gift at a young age and she was someone Link trusted to heal her wounds when needed.
“Sounds like you need more practice.” Mipha’s eyes glittered playfully as Link raised a semi-annoyed eyebrow at her girlfriend.
“Why are you taunting me today?” Link questioned as the princess laughed this time, a very hearty laugh.
“It’s just been such a long time since I’ve seen you.” The zora mused as the last of the knight’s blistered skin healed without a blemish in sight. “Ever since you were appointed Princess Zelda’s knight, I haven’t seen much of you. Not that I’ve had the time, of course.”
“It’s not like when we were kids.” It was true. They weren’t kids anymore and the fact that they were sitting on the trunk of Vah Ruta made that extremely evident.
“You’re coming back with more serious injuries, other than this one.” Link side-eyed the zora who just smiled as she drew her hands away from her body. “Good as new.” Mipha sat back on her knees and Link ran her hand over her collarbone.
“Thanks, Mipha.” Link smiled as the zora moved to sit next to her, her head falling to rest on the hero’s shoulder. It had been a long time since they’d had any time alone with each other and Link sighed softly as she leaned into Mipha. She gently wrapped her arm around the shorter woman's waist and released a contented sigh. Link was awestruck as she stared, dumbfounded, at Mipha as she felt her hand caress her cheek. She blinked so fast she almost got dizzy as she shook her head and stood up with Mipha’s help. She had a difficult time focusing on anything other than Mipha. Link had a very vivid memory of losing her then-girlfriend, and it felt like a dream to be seeing her now in this alternate time. For the first time in a long time, she was speechless. She hadn't gotten to talk to Mipha much before the battle had started, and that was one of the things that had haunted her when she'd heard of the champions' demise.
“Mipha.” Link was ignoring the magenta fairy buzzing around her face. “You’re alive.” Without thinking, she reached out and gently caressed Mipha’s cheek with her finger tips. Making sure that she wasn't a figment of her erratic imagination.
“Hey! Listen!” The hero flinched when the fairy flew in front of her face. “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?” Link shook her head and the light sank a bit before explaining everything again. It was hard for the hero to comprehend and by the end of the fairy’s commentary, she had a minor headache. “So, we need to get you some new clothes.”
“Why?” Link looked down at her outfit then at the clothes Mipha was wearing. It definitely wasn’t the ensemble that she usually wore. To be fair, she was actually wearing more clothing than normal, but it was…loud and colorful. Everyone around her was wearing a similar style of clothing.
“You need to blend in.” The fairy chimed as she hovered in front of her. “Maybe Mipha has some of the Hero’s clothes from this time?”
“Who are you again?” Princess Mipha’s pupils narrowed into slits as the illuminated fairy jumped about, telling them what to do and when. Not another word, at least until their thoughts were basketed and a plan concocted. “I think our priority should be rescuing the Princess as soon as possible.” The wispy clouds shifted with autumn’s breeze, her frilly mini dress, aqua painted nails and aquamarine crusted silver encircling her wrist singing as metal met metal.
“I am a messenger. Won’t anyone listen to me?” The yet-to-be identified fairy whimpered. From being swatted by one princess, to being shunned by another. “Princess Mipha, the most respected ruler of Zora Domain, but I can assist in this adventure! A change of clothes, so that Link can blend in.”
“No.” The dotted-white brow bone cinched, and relaxed as swiftly as her scowl appeared. Princess Mipha opened up to the idea that Link borrowed her beloved’s bike for an adventure, but not his clothes. A sick thought to think, at least at the time, because she was ill-prepared for the suggestion. “Listen, Link. You seem like a nice girl.” Her jolly tone concealed the internal struggle, like a small knot forming in her throat as a symptom of that. The next words Mipha left unsaid, and pointed to a railway connected to a station towering over the other tall structures and storefronts. “That will be our best bet, but this isn’t the team we will need to save Princess Zelda…”
“Time is of the essence. Soon, we will need to act.” Princess Mipha led the hero of time past booths, civilians gawking at the rose skinned Zora and bizarre Hylian with the otherworldly aura about her. Where Link lacked in fashionable taste, she compensated for in physical traits. Diverting her attention away from the fit silhouette hidden by a tunic, she wrapped her digits around her cellphone as it vibrated in her wallet-purse.
“Sidon.” Mipha answered, bosom decompressing and her shoulders drooping gently. “I’m so lucky you called, Prince. I need your help.” The princess’s elegant strides slowed to a stop, and she glanced at Link and the anonymous fairy with a look of consternation. “I was shopping in Castle Square, when I overheard a commotion in the Cathedral of Time. Something strange has happened, but you should see it for yourself.”
Mipha held her phone out with outstretched arms, and the slim device captured Link and the fairy in real time, projected Sidon onto the street for Link to see. “Can you pick us up? I’ll explain…on the way to Ganondorf corps.”
Link was still reeling from seeing this modern Mipha who was calling Sidon on her miniature tablet. The knight couldn't deny the stab of pain that shot through her chest like an ancient arrow when Mipha’s demeanor shifted to a cool nonchalance. Of course this wasn't her Mipha. It wasn't the Mipha that had healed her wounds when they were young and eased her insecurities with her demulcent words. A hollow ache lanced Link's heart once more at the rememberance that her Mipha was gone, but she recovered as quickly as she could upon hearing the name Sidon.
Admittedly, the Hylian couldn't catch most of the conversion between Mipha and Sidon, but within a few moments, a loud roar was heard down the street and a candy apple red vehicle screeched to a halt in front of them. This vehicle was different. It had sharp edges and the whole top of it was missing. Link hadn’t noticed that the abrupt and dramatic entrance of the vehicle had caused her hand to hover over the grip of her sword.
“Hey, hey!” Link inhaled slowly when she recognized the voice and looked up to see the Sidon she recognized step out of the car. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt that clung to his body and when his warm, golden eyes that matched his sister’s found Link, a toothy grin grew on his face. “Link! My brother!”
“W-wait!” Before the hero could protest further, she was scooped up in a tight embrace and lifted about three feet off the ground. “S-Sidon…” She grunted softly as she freed her arms and pressed her hands against his shoulders as he tightened his embrace. “I’m not…your Link.” He must’ve realized this as her breasts compressed against his own chest and suddenly, Link was falling to the ground.
“Woah!” Sidon took a half step back, his arm coming up in front of his face animatedly and his mouth falling open, a dusting of pink highlighting his cheekbones. After regaining his composure, he bent over at the waist and hummed in thought, examining Link as she rubbed her hip that she’d landed on. “Oh! You aren’t my brother! I-I’m sorry!” He bowed his head, clapping his hands in front of his crimson fins that protruded from his temples. “Please, forgive me.”
Link couldn’t help but smile at the familiarity of this Sidon, a carbon copy of the one in her time in appearance and personality. She stood up, her hip still a bit sore, and did what she would’ve done with her friend. “It’s all right.” Her hand reached out and patted Sidon on the crown of his head. “I forgive you.”
Sidon lifted his face, a shining smile beaming as he stood up straight and brought his fist up in front of his chest, the sun glinting of his sharp teeth. His signature move. He then turned to his sister and planted his hands on his hips.
“I think you should explain before we go to Ganondorf Corps.” His tone shifted from carefree to thoughtful as he tilted his head a bit. “Clearly this is Link.” He flourished his hand towards the destined hero. “Though not ours, and I don’t know what she’s wearing, so I think we should take care of that first before we do anything else.”
“Thank you.” The magenta fairy twinkled as she flitted a figure eight around Sidon’s head. “But we need to save Princess Zelda!”
“Princess Zelda?” Sidon parroted quietly as he looked at the little light. “And what’s your name, little fairy?”
“My name?” The fairy hovered in front of Sidon’s face for a moment before speaking again. “T-Tali. My name is Tali!”
“Nice to meet you, Tali.” Sidon booped the fairy, causing her to reel back a few inches. “So what is this about Princess Zelda?”
Link stayed silent as Tali, in a very animated fashion, began to recount the events that had happened prior to Sidon coming to his sister's aid. Including how she had come to inhabit a vessel of this time's Princess Zelda. It was a very...inconceivable story. Apparently their Link and Zelda had perished attempting to thwart Ganondorf, and the villain had lost a significant amount of his power with the loss of two thirds of the triforce (Link had questions about this). In an effort to regain his power, he had began implanting fairies into puppets of the princess, which proved unsuccessful with their limited magic.
"That's when he found the ancient Cathedral of Time." Tali said as she flew in a small circle in front of Link's face. "He had ordered me to go to a different timeline and try to capture a princess that had a piece of the triforce. Unfortunately I found you first and mistook you for Zelda. Since our time's Link was a man, I just assumed the first woman I would come in contact with who bared the triforce would be Princess Zelda." Link looked down at the back of her right hand and frowned.
"My Zelda has the whole triforce on her hand. I witnessed its power when she banished Calamity Ganon." Link said quietly as her brow knit together with confusion. "How is it possible I have a piece now?"
"I'm assuming it has something to do with the Gate of Time." Sidon hummed, his hand holding his chin as he was thinking out loud. "When the Gate of Time opens, whatever times it connects become merged. Since our Link is dead, you must've taken on his role." The small group grew silent for a moment and Link's head was, once again, starting to pound. "Thank you for filling me in, little fairy."
"Why would you ask my name if you aren't going to use it?" Tali huffed as she moved to hover over Link's shoulder. "Regardless, this Link needs a new wardrobe so she can fit in."
"Oh! That's right!" Sidon snapped his fingers, his shining personality breaking through the veil of gloom that had momentarily shrouded his face. "There's a masquerade ball tonight at Ganon Corps! All the region's royals are invited!" He squatted down so he was at Link's height and held up his index finger. "You can be my plus one!"
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