LOZ BOTW SPOILERS AHEAD, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
(post BOTW alt. ending)
WARNING: I'm jumping into the story very very quickly, this takes place a couple of days after Calamity Ganon's defeat. Keep in mind that I am also mixing in my own imagination into the botw universe, so not everything is literally from the game. For example, Epona is Link's actual horse in this version instead of a plain old amiibo feature.
ANYWAY, enjoy :)
CHAPTER 1
She took a moment to gaze at the vast field set before her eyes as Link steered the horse. Everything was destroyed, but thankfully no enemies were alive in sight. That was a first. Guardians were sprawled across the land and looked as if each and every one of them had the life sucked out of them. There they lay, hopeless and desperate. Surrounding the guardians were a mob of dead moblins, mimicking the same helpless fatigue as the rest.
This was a good sign, Zelda supposed, but she couldn't help but feel a slight sense of guilt as she eyed them all. She had doubts that maybe, just maybe, she could have ceased this all from happening a little earlier. Immediately, Zelda shook her head in disbelief at the thought of allowing herself to be thinking such absurd thoughts. At least most of them were dead.
"Link, I think we should scope out the entire field in search for any remaining monsters that could still be lingering from the shadows."
As much as he wanted to rebuttal against her idea, Link admitted she made a good point. He kept his gaze set ahead of him the entire time as he steered Epona while nodding in response to Zelda's words. He didn't want it to end there, Link wanted to tell Zelda that she should rest and that she should let him scope out the area while she stayed at a nearby inn. He couldn't help but feel worry for her, it's only been a few days since Calamity Ganon's battle came to an abrupt end. Zelda and Link traveled around the vast field in search for any enemies that survived. It was best to search for them now instead of merely waiting a full week where the monsters could have easily devised a plan during the short break. The duo wouldn't take any chances. Of course, Link was still hesitant with the idea of Zelda tagging along this soon.
"...I wanted to tell you something."
She caught him off guard. Slowly, Link turned his head in her direction in order for her to continue, "It's true... I've learned over the past 100 years that the courage you hold is indeed, very powerful." She looked down as she gripped onto the saddle, "Your bravery is quite impressive... I wanted to say... w-well, thank you."
Link admitted to himself that he was a tad bit surprised, "You don't have to-"
"And that I'm sorry."
At this point, Link stopped the horse from proceeding onwards. Now he was in full shock. He cautiously leaped off of Epona and held his hand out for Zelda to grab.
"Why are you apologizing?" His bewildered expression was quite clear on his face.
She eyed him for a moment nervously before taking his hand and jumping off, slowly bringing her arm back to her side.
"W-well... I hadn't realized how badly I've treated you in the past until after you were placed into your deep slumber." She looked at him again before quickly gazing down, "Well to be fair, I've known before that too. A-anyway, listen. I know I am very stubborn and it's hard to get through me sometimes. I'm so-"
Link interrupted her before she could spit out another apology, "Don't be sorry, princess." he said while scratching the back of his hair, "I understand the pain you felt and what you were going through at the time... so really, don't worry about it."
Zelda was taken aback at Link's forgiving nature. It shouldn't have surprised her this much, she knew Link was very caring. But, something about this whole thing... she couldn't easily forgive herself like Link had just did.
She was about to get back onto the horse until she felt two hands gently grab her waist, halting her actions. Zelda jumped at the sudden touch and looked back at Link. Link's cheeks reddened immediately and he briskly released, "S-sorry," Link exhaled before continuing, "I know you said we should scope out the area, but you're exhausted princess. At least take a few hour break at the inn."
"But-"
"I'm not asking you to stay the entire night."
Zelda then felt her own cheeks heat up from his sudden counter. His gaze was intensifying at the minute, resulting in her sighing dramatically.
"Fine. But just one hour. Got it?" She started walking in front of him while Link quickly picked up his pace following behind, "And if you even think about sneaking out to scope the area without me, I will show no mercy!" She huffed while stomping away.
Though she couldn't see, her knight who was cautiously following her lead from a safe distance slightly smiled at her grace. She literally apologized two seconds ago to Link because of the way she treated him 100 years ago... and here she was going back to her roots snapping at him. Link suppressed a chuckle, but was happy that she was truly being the Zelda that he remembered.
The stable they arrived at wasn't too far off from the castle. Zelda made her way to the inviting soft bed that seemed to be eagerly waiting for her return while Link stayed near the front grooming Epona.
She casually glanced over her shoulder at the extra bed across the room every few minutes or so, wondering if Link had entered the room or not. Disappointed by his absence, she laid back down on her back huffing in dismay. Looking up at the dull ceiling, Zelda couldn't help but feel anxiety enter her body. She twiddled with her thumbs around nervously when a new terrifying thought infiltrated her mind.
'What if he...'
Zelda instantly forced herself up in a now-sitting position. Her eyes widened at the thought.
"He could'nt have...!"
By now, the young princess lunged off of her bed and sped outside. She was receiving stares from the strangers around her, but she didn't let that stop her adrenaline. He wasn't at the front, so she started walking towards the back of the stable where the horses were. Zelda found herself squinting due to the night sky. She spotted a hanging lantern with a couple of men chatting around the light. She squinted even more until her eyelids were almost shut, and realized that she was staring right at Link.
He appeared to be at ease, leaning his back on the wall while conversing with an older bulkier gentlemen. She hadn't seen Link appear so calm before. Normally when it's just the two of them alone, he would occasionally lug around an expressionless look 24/7. Zelda frowned at the mere thought of it.
'Maybe he... maybe he doesn't hold the same feelings in return for me.'
It made sense to her. Why would he feel less tense around strangers than with Zelda herself? This feeling... she felt something inside of her. She didn't quite know how to explain it, but she was hurting. Not because Link hurt her, but she did this to herself.
'No!' She was internally screaming at herself for letting her unfitting thoughts, once again, consume her mind.
Luckily, Link's back was facing the princess. This was her chance to scurry away. She turned around and began to run having no idea where she was heading to next. She wasn't running away, but she needed some peace and quiet. Somewhere where her thoughts wouldn't betray her. She ran and ran until she bumped into something and fell onto the grass by this mysterious great force. Mumbling, Zelda starting rubbing her behind.
"Ou..ch..." Peering up, she was taken aback by the tall human towering over her. A Gerudo.
The women held her hand out for Zelda to take, "Forgive me, but you came at me at full speed. Didn't quite give me the chance to move out of your way," She chuckled.
Smiling shyly, Zelda took the lady's hand carefully. "Please, don't apologize. I should be apologizing for my reckless behavior," She stood up and started brushing at her black tights, "I'll get out of your way now-"
"Woah there. Now where do you think you're going, miss? I just had a run-in with some horrifying monsters the way you're heading. Fortunately, theres an inn around here somewhere." The Gerudo's appearance was strikingly beautiful. She was unbelievably tall with astonishing bronze skin that displayed her stunning rock hard abs, looking more defined with the sunset lighting striking at her toned stomach. Zelda blushed at the sight of the woman in front of her. She was so beautiful.
"Hello there?" The woman was waving her hands in a up and down motion trying to evoke a reaction from the young girl.
Fluttering her eyes, Zelda was brought back to reality.
"S-sorry!" Looking back at the Gerudo, Zelda exhibited determination in her eyes. "You said there were monsters over there?" she pointed with her index finger.
The Gerudo nodded. Zelda took a deep breath and started heading towards the region sustaining a glint of fierce in her eyes. Unexpectedly, the woman halted Zelda from going any further by extending her arm out to block the path ahead. Zelda shot her a bewildered look.
"Listen, I am a guard from Gerudo Town. You're certainly not armed, thus I highly urge you not to pass," the lady let her arm fall back to her side as she resumed, "It's still your decision, but it would be a shame if you were to die young."
Zelda was stunned by her authoritarian mannerism. A moment of silence passed until Zelda was the first to say speak up.
"If I may, what do they call you?"
The Gerudo woman eyed Zelda carefully before returning back to her cordial-self once more, "Alika." she grinned, "And yours?"
"Zelda," she stated calmly.
Out of nowhere, Alika's eyes widened. "Don't tell me... are you the Princess Zelda?" Zelda blinked a few times before motionlessly nodding her head, not processing what was going on in Alika's mind. The Gerudo then spontaneously knelt on one knee and bowed to her grace, "I-I apologize. I've only heard stories about you, your highness. I didn't know how you looked, you know, appearance-wise."
Alika felt a pair of hands gently squeeze her broad shoulders. She peered up and saw a smiling Zelda looking down at her.
"No need for formalities. We're equals here." Zelda chortled. Alika took this as an order and nodded at Zelda's demand. She rose and brushed off the loose grass from her skin, "Right." Alika had many questions to ask, but decided to stick to one out of the hundred.
"If I may... why were you venturing out on your own? You do know how dangerous that is? I know I don't have any say in this... but let me accompany you to wherever you were heading. I cannot simply let the princes- I mean, you, out of my sight unprotected," she spoke firmly.
Zelda quickly reassured the Gerudo that her company wouldn't be necessary. Alika raised an eyebrow, nudging Zelda to continue. The princess found herself explaining that she arrived with her knight that she left behind. The Gerudo could tell that the young girl looked trouble, and gently nudged her to spill the beans if she needed to. Suddenly, Zelda found herself in a predicament speaking about the dilemma between her and Link, of course, without stating names. Both women were seated on a green hill overlooking the stable. Alika listened carefully while Zelda poured her heart out. Who would have thought that one day she would run into the princess of Hyrule, voicing her predicament with love.
"I just... I don't know if he likes me back." Zelda whispered.
"How could that be? The boy protected you with his life, and suffered dealing with the tragic outcome. You still haven't told me what the outcome was... but, I take your word for it that it must have been terrible."
Zelda found herself hugging her knees, pressing her legs to her chest as tightly as she could, "That's the thing. I felt something there, but I'm not sure if he did. I don't blame him though... I was so cold and brutal towards him before that. Maybe he was just doing his job as a knight, protecting me with his life..."
Alika chuckled as she gazed up at the stars, inhaling the fresh air the land brought, "Oh, young one. You're carrying unnecessary stress on your shoulders. Not every knight is willing to protect people with their lives. Whether you agree or not, he had to have felt something." Zelda could only stare at the lady in awe.
"Take a deep breath. Let life decide what will happen next." She peeked at Zelda to see if she was still listening. "Get what I'm trying to say?"
Zelda sighed, "...that I should stop worrying. That I'm being ridiculous." She untangled herself from her sitting position and stood up, gazing up at the night sky. "You're right. He had to feel something. I just know it, Alika."
Alika, still seated on the grass, gaped at Zelda's intense eyes. They were filled with determination, a spark ready to ignite.
"Go to him."
Akila's unexpected request caused the princess to jump. The Gerudo laughed and shook her head repeating herself once more, "go to him."
After hearing Akila repeat herself, Zelda came to realization that nightfall approached rather quickly.
"Oh my goodness! What time is it?! H-he must be searching for me!" Frantic, the princess briskly embraced her new friend. Akila sat there shocked, but instantly returned the short hug.
Pulling away swiftly, Zelda flashed her a smile.
"Thank you for all you've done." The princess started sprinting away. About mid-way, Zelda turned around and shouted, "Oh! And the inn is in the direction I'm heading to right now! I would go with you, but I'm in a rush! Just keep heading North and you'll be there in no time!" By now her voice was fading but Akila still managed to hear the last part, "And don't worry about the monsters! I'll find a way to defeat th..-" Now she was at a far distance where she couldn't be heard.
Akila smiled at the princess and simply waved her goodbye.
"Until then."
A/N: New BOTW story :) Hope y'all liked it.
My favorite character in this chapter would have to be Akila, hehe. I love the Gerudo in BOTW. Anyway, hope this leaves you in suspense.
If ya liked it, let me know :D (gives me motivation hehe)
