*Surprise my readers! Yes, I told myself I couldn't do this, but lo and behold, I DID! That's right, this is the sequel to After Twilight. Please review and let me know what you think. I promise to do my best to update as fast as I can and as soon as I can. ENJOY!*

Chapter 1: A Royal Gift

The sun shone in my face, warming me to another glorious morning. The birds twittered and tweeted outside my window in the shining rays. Talo, Malo, Beth, and Collin's laughter filled my front yard. The other thing that woke me was a sharp, impatient knocking on my door. "Link! Link! You have to hurry! Get up lad!"

I pulled the cover off of my sore body and crawled out of my bed. I wiped the sleep from my eyes as I opened the door to find my employer, Fado standing on the landing of my home. "Fado, do you honestly need me this morning to round the goats? I was out late last night chasing after those two goats you let loose, and not only that, I chased them all the way to the Bridge of Eldin before I could rope them onto Epona and walk them the rest of the way back. So, go ahead and ask me to herd the goats for you because you know I'll have no choice."

"No Link, it's Zelda." I immediately snapped from drowsy and sore, to alert and concerned the minute Zelda's name pierced my ears.

"What is it? Is she hurt?"

"Well I don't know but one of her soldiers sent you this letter telling you all about it and had it sent immediately to the village addressed to you. I did ask him however what the urgency was about and all he said was that it was of the utmost importance that I get it to you as fast as I could. I didn't know you slept in."

"Where is it? Let me see it." I demanded, sticking my hand out towards him. He reached into his pouch and pulled out the folded letter. I yanked it out of his hands and brought it to my face to read it. It said…

Dear Link,

Your presence is requested at the demand of her royal majesty Princess Zelda of Hyrule. Make haste to Hyrule Castle immediately where she will be awaiting you.

I threw the letter to the floor and rushed passed Fado. I didn't even bother to take the ladder, I bounded off the landing and came to rest at the field where I kept Epona.

"Link, you don't even know what's going on with her. Why would you just rush into it? You don't know that she's in trouble."

"That message wasn't just for pleasantries sake Fado. She's in trouble and I'm going to help her in any way I can." I mounted Epona. "Take care of the goats and everyone in the village while I'm gone. I don't know when I shall return but until then please do as I ask." His stunned silence was enough of a confirmation for me. I signaled Epona to gallop and we sped off down the narrow path to Faron Woods. Once we hit Hyrule Field, I could practically feel Epona's muscles getting tired and sore from overuse. One more path across the field would take me to the South Gate and then Epona could rest in the stable. I leaned forward to encourage her forward.

"Come on big girl. You can do it, just a little bit farther sweetheart." She seemed to take my encouragement and she stepped up speed despite the fact that she was getting tired. "That's my good girl." I praised. We finally reached the grand steps leading to the south entrance and I halted Epona just before her hoofs hit the bottom. I took some time to pet her nose and give her grateful kisses. I tied her to the railing and hastened up the stairs to the gate. The people stepped aside as they saw me coming.

Most of the townspeople lined the streets and stared at me as I ran passed them. Telma and the members of the former Resistance stood at the end of South Road and Telma stopped in front of me. "Good to see you again Link. Where are you going in such a hurry?"

I tried to push my words out despite my lack of proper air. I gasped for more air as I bent over, hands on my knees trying to catch my breath. "I got an urgent message…Zelda…she…needs me."

I was too out of breath to notice or care about the suspicious look they exchanged between one another but Telma said, "Well don't let us get in your way honey. You better see what she needs of you. Good luck." And then she and the others stepped aside with the others. I nodded my thanks and hurried around the goddesses' fountain and up more stairs to the castle doors. Guards waited at the bottom of the stairs and they hadn't spoken a word, they only lead me the rest of the way. I was annoyed that they hadn't mentioned her condition; was she alright? Was she in trouble, was she hurt? The other thing that annoyed me was that they were so calm right now, and then I heard her scream.

"Zelda!" I called out, pushing aside the guards and sprinting full speed toward the door I heard her voice coming from.

"Link! Link!" Another painful scream interrupted her calling out for me. I burst through the doors and found my princess; she was sweating from head to toe, dressed in a paper gown with her legs spread at the end of the bed. A nursemaid stood on either side of her and I dared not pay attention to the tools in their hands. "Link," she smiled through her tears of pain, "I'm so glad you're finally here."

I went right over to her. "Zelda, honey, are you alright?"

She smiled and put her hand on my face, which I placed my hand over. "You're sweating as much as me darling." She joked.

I chuckled a little. "Yeah well, I ran a lot to get here to you in a decent amount of time." I chuckled again and returned to my original question. "Are you alright?"

"I've had better days darling." She joked.

"I'm so sorry my darling. If I had known it would be today I would've been here long before you had to begin without me."

"It's alright Link. I tried to send you a letter but I suppose it got lost." Another rush of pain overcame her and she moaned.

"Why are you just standing there?!" I panicked, "Can't you see that she is pain?"

"Calm down Prince Link." The nursemaid soothed, "She's just having a contraction. We're almost ready to deliver the baby."

A lump rose in my throat; in just a few moments, Zelda and I would be more than man and wife we would also be a mother and father. Me, Link, a lowly old farm hand turned into a chosen hero, turned into a prince, a father, I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Did I even know how to be a father? I had no role model to show me how to be a father; I had been on my own since I was a child. I knew in my heart, however, that I would not allow my child to suffer that same fate. No matter what I would try my best to be the best father I could be.

"Link!" Zelda screamed. "It hurts."

I patted her hair back out of her eyes and kissed her forehead. "I know sweetheart. But it will all be over soon."

"I see the head Your Highness. I can see the baby's head."

"Oh bless the Goddesses!" Zelda said. "Link, can you see the head?"

"Yes darling, I see the baby's head."

The nursemaids gathered around Zelda's bed, downing their aprons; some of them held blankets and towels for the baby, and others held cold compresses for Zelda's head. I took one of those and went back to Zelda to hold her hand and cool her head. "Alright Your Highness, this is it. You have to start pushing now. Give me a big push." The nursemaid said.

"I can't do this." Zelda whined.

"Yes you can." I encouraged. "You can do it, push. I'm right here with you, push sweetheart." I could see how much pushing really hurt but there was nothing I could do. She squeezed my hand and she let out this horrible cry. Tears streamed down her face and her breathing came more rapidly and shallow. "Come on honey, you can do this."

"One more big push Your Highness, you're almost there, one more big one." The nursemaid encouraged. Zelda let out one last cry and sighed. She freed my hand and it felt a little numb; she then laid her head back on the pillow and tried to catch her breath once more. I was about to ask her if she was alright but the sound of crying interrupted my thought. I looked down to the nursemaid and in her arms, she cradled a little thing wrapped in blue blankets. She held up the bundle for me to grasp and she said to me, "Congratulations Princess Zelda, and Prince Link, it's a boy."

I could taste the tears of joy in my smile; a little boy, a son. I took my new son in my arms and kissed his face. The moment my lips met his cheek, he opened his little blue eyes and gazed into mine. I could sense that he knew exactly who I was. I smiled back to Zelda and brought our son over to her. "This is our son."

She wrapped him in her arms and smiled down to him. "Hello dear son." She looked back up to me, the smile only grower wider every second she held our son. "What shall we name him?" We hadn't gotten a chance to name our child because we hadn't known if we would have a boy or a girl. One boy name stood out in particular, it was a name that meant open, grassy meadow for the open meadows of Ordon and Hyrule where Zelda and I grew up. His name was Landon, Prince Landon.

"His name shall be Landon. Prince Landon." I said.

Zelda smiled up at me and then looked back to our son. "Landon, that name suits you. For the open meadows of Hyrule. Where did you come up with that name Link?"

"It just came to me. May I hold him again?" I asked reaching for Landon. Zelda's smile never faded or faltered and she passed him into my arms. I nestled him close to my chest and swayed him back and forth. All the while, his little eyes stared up at me and in that moment, I felt such passion and such joy that I was overcome by them. "I promise, no, I vow to you that I will always put your best interests first. I will always protect you and your mother, no matter what. And I promise that I will teach you everything I have to teach you and you will make a fine ruler someday."

A few days after the birth of Landon, Zelda and I gathered the people of Hyrule in the Castle Town Square for the presentation of our new son. Zelda had never once put Landon down since we settled him into his new room at the castle. Before the big speech, while I was preparing myself, Zelda paid me a visit.

"Link, are you almost ready?"

"Yes darling. Just give me a few more moments."

She tried to hand Landon off to me. "Can you take Landon for a moment? I have to finish getting ready for the presentation of the new prince." I tied my last lace on my boot and took Landon in my arms. Zelda walked over to the mirror and started fixing herself. I rocked Landon back and forth and soothed him. It seemed to work for a while but I was growing concerned about Zelda. She hadn't gotten a wink of sleep since the baby was born and her lack of energy was showing. I settled Landon down into his pen and walked over to Zelda.

"Sweetheart, you really should get some rest." I said, placing my hands on her shoulders.

"I will after the presentation." She assured me, adding more makeup to her face.

"You've been saying after this and after that for days now. Zelda, you haven't slept at all for days." She put down her makeup and rested her head against her hands. "Zelda, why don't we delay the presentation of Landon for a few more days? Just until you are well rested."

She didn't lift her head but she said, "I am tired Link. But this is important for our son. No, he may have no memory of it and yes it may seem trivial but this is about introducing Landon as not only our first son, but the new Prince of Hyrule."

"I know that darling. All I'm saying is that I want you to be properly rested before we go through with this. I don't want you to pass out in the middle of it or anything dangerous like that. I just think it would be safer and healthier for you and the baby wouldn't know the difference." I tried to reason. She finally looked up and stood from her vanity; she wiped some sleep from her eye with a little bit of makeup as well and she walked over to Landon's pen and picked him up.

"We'll proceed with the ceremony as planned. However, we'll end earlier and you can care for him while I catch up on sleep. It's called a compromise. Do we have an accord?"

I smiled. "I can live with that. Why don't you let me hold him while you address the people?" I offered, holding out my hands as well.

"That's a very good suggestion actually." She sighed and passed Landon to me.

"Yes, Daddy will take good care of you, yes he will." I said to Landon. "Then when you're old enough, Daddy will make you a bow, and a slingshot and Daddy will teach you how to use them."

"Link." Zelda said in disagreement. "We have not had that discussion yet."

"Come now honey. Surely you would have seen that if we were to bear a son, I would teach him all that I know."

"We shall discuss this later, for now we must get ready for the ceremony." Before she could sit down again, a knock at the door ordered her to her feet once more to answer the door. "Yes? What is it?"

"Sorry to interrupt Your Majesty, but the people are gathered in the square now." The guard told Zelda.

"Excellent. I trust everyone from Ordon to Zora's Domain are in attendance?"

"They are Madam. And as you have requested, the villagers of Ordon have been moved to the north side of the fountain for the presentation. I also have your address and Sir Link's address written down if you'd like to browse it before presenting the young Prince."

"Thank you very much. You may address the people and let them know we shall be along shortly." Zelda ordered.

"Very good Madam." The guard closed the door and made way for the balcony to address Hyrule's people.

"Are you ready darling?" Zelda asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be Princess." I winked and looked down to Landon. "Are you ready little Prince? Huh? Are you ready to meet Hyrule?" He smiled and in return I chuckled a bit. Zelda waited for me at the door and she linked her arm through my less occupied arm and we gracefully walked to the balcony. The two guards on either side of the door opened their side and let in the sun's light. The people immediately cheered as they saw us and the bundle in my arms. Zelda unlinked herself, kissed me, and then stepped forward to greet everyone.

"Loyal subjects, today you are gathered to welcome into the world and to Hyrule the new Prince. As you all know, Link and I have now been married for a little over a year. You were all here to witness our coronation from Prince Link and Princess Zelda, to King Link and Queen Zelda. You have all witnessed many hardships and joys of our dear kingdom and today, I share with you my greatest joy. King Link."

The moment she spoke my name before our people, a lump rose in my throat. I tried to clear it and I handed Landon off to Zelda so that I may properly address them. "Hyrule, standing before you now as your newest King, I still reflect on the days when I was a lowly stable boy in Ordon. The people of Ordon became my family. They clothed me, they cared for me, and they have always been there for me. And then I met Princess Zelda. In her, I found my one true love, the half that makes me a whole, the one worth fighting for. And first, she turned me into a Prince. And today, you will witness the greatest thing she has ever done, which is make me into a father." I motioned for her to hand me the baby. I cradled his head in my hand and lifted him into the air with my other hand. "Citizens, I give to you Prince Landon, named for the open, grassy meadows of Hyrule, he is the future of Hyrule."

The crowd erupted once more, hats were thrown into the air in joy. Children sat on their father's shoulders and clapped while their mothers clung to their father's side. I lowered Landon back down and cradled him in both arms while Zelda took the front again. "Tonight, in the Grand Hall, we shall have a feast in honor of Prince Landon." The citizens piled into the castle, still cheering and clapping. Zelda and I left the balcony and made our way to the Grand Hall. Halfway there, Zelda took Landon in her arms and I settled for grasping her elbow in a loving gesture. The doors to the Grand Hall opened and inside, people scattered to find seats and waiting for us at the head of the table were the villagers from Ordon. The head of the table was reserved for Zelda but she insisted that I take that role. She sat down next to me after putting Landon in his playpen in the dining hall. Zelda gave me a look as she picked up her glass, signaling that it was time to toast our friends and son. I cleared my throat, received an encouraging look from Ilia, who was my best friend again and was now seated on my left hand, and I stood before our kingdom again.

"I would like to thank you all once more for your presence at our beloved Castle for our new prince. And now I raise a toast to all of you; the people of Hyrule. May you always be blessed by the goddesses and may you always live prosperously. A toast as well to my family from Ordon. May you always remember our times together. May you always cherish the moments and the children. And to my lovely wife and Queen. May we always smile on this day and may we always show Landon the right path of the goddesses. And finally, cheers to the people of Hyrule and Ordon, and cheers to Queen Zelda and Prince Landon. And cheers to the safety of Hyrule, may it stay safe this time." Everyone laughed and sipped from their cups.

The servants brought a glorious feast and everyone ate and was merry. I had meant those last words. Twice now I have saved Hyrule and the rest of the world from certain destruction. I wanted no more surprises from evil forces. Gandondorf was dead; Zant was dead; Kannon was dead, and there seemed to be no new menace in sight. I sent a silent prayer to the goddesses, praying that for once, I wouldn't have to be the Great Hero. I had no idea how to be a King, but Zelda knew all there was to know about ruling a kingdom, she would be there to guide me and help me. I could finally be a husband, a father, a normal guy.

After the Castle grew dark and bare, Zelda and I made our way to our bed chamber. Landon had fallen asleep hours ago in his pen but his sleep did not falter as I laid him in his crib. Zelda and I snuck out of the room and lightly closed the door. We changed into our nightly attire and retired to our bed for the night. Zelda snuggled close to me, as she had done every night before, and kissed me goodnight.

"Not bad for our first Kingly and Queenly duties was it my darling?" Zelda smiled.

"No, not bad at all. How did you do it for all this time as a Princess?" I asked curiously.

"Well, honestly my father before us was a great ruler as you know. I learned most of my essential skills from him before our coronation. I watched him many a time during his reign and I learned so much from him. And now, we can pass that legacy to our new son, Prince Landon."

I smiled and kissed her once more. "Goodnight my darling. May the goddesses watch over us and our son as we sleep."

"Goodnight Link. I shall see you in the morning." She nestled into my arms and drifted to sleep. After imagining what the future would bring; the growing of my son, teaching him to fight, teaching him how to rule, and all of the happy years that awaited us, I drifted into the land of sleep after my wife.