Making Up For Lost Time
Link floated next to Zelda in the Sacred Realm. A feeling of relief washed over him as he realized that it was over. It was all over. Ganondorf was dead and gone while his altar-ego Ganon was locked away in the Evil Realm. He looked at the Princess and smiled. She really was beautiful.
Maybe we can be together now…He thought. He moved closer to her and took her hands into his with a smile.
She smiled back and almost laughed.
"Thank you Link…Thanks to you, Ganondorf has been sealed inside the Evil Realm! Thus peace will once again reign in this world…for a time."
He nodded and smiled at her.
"Things will slowly start to go back to the way they were." Link said. "And everything will be good again."
Zelda sighed and looked down.
"All the tragedy that has befallen Hyrule was my doing…"
Link furrowed his brow. "Don't talk like that Zelda." He said lifting her chin up to look him in the eyes.
"I was so young…" She continued. "I could not comprehend the consequences of trying to control the Sacred Realm." A small tear ran down her cheek.
Link reached forward and brushed it away before she continued.
"I dragged you into it, too."
Link shook his head. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
She smiled and nodded. "Now it is time for me to make up for my mistakes…" She looked up into his eyes. "Link, you must lay the Master Sword to rest and close the Door of Time."
He nodded.
"However," She paused and looked down. "by doing this, the road between times will be closed…"
Link looked down at her. He didn't like the way this was going. She looked back up at him with a soft smile across her face.
"Link, give the Ocarina to me. As a Sage, I can return you to your original time with it."
Link backed up slightly. "What?" He moved back to her. "Zelda…"
She looked into his eyes. He saw the hurt there, the same hurt that he felt, but he also knew she was right. He had missed so much time and the world had been through so much pain. Now that Ganondorf was gone, she could erase it all from time. The people in Hyrule would be able to live happy lives again. The castle would still be there, and even the King…the King wouldn't be dead and Zelda would have her family. Zelda…Link felt tears threatening to pour down his face but he held them back. He loved her so much. He wanted nothing more than to make her happy.
Her family would make her happy.
He stood as straight as he could, considering he was floating, and nodded. Reaching into the pack that was under his shield, he pulled out the Ocarina of Time and handed it to Zelda. She clutched it tightly to her chest and looked at Link in the eyes.
"When peace returns to Hyrule…It will be time for us to say good-bye…" The tears that were threatening to over take her beautiful eyes finally fell. Link felt his composure going but he held fast. He took in a deep breath and kissed Zelda's cheek.
She composed herself and smiled at him.
"Now, go home Link. Regain your lost time!" She looked down at the Ocarina in her hands. "Home…where you are supposed to be…" She looked up at him. "The way you are supposed to be…" Bringing the Ocarina up to her lips, she played the Song of Time.
The notes echoed through the air and Link could feel them surrounding him. His vision of Zelda became clouded and he could feel himself slipping further and further away from her. He was used to the magical power of the notes, but never before had they meant leaving behind something to precious. He felt the tears fall down his cheeks as he watched her finger fade into the light. Soon, it was gone completely and he was standing in the Temple of Time. Looking around he realized he was alone. He was half praying that Zelda would be standing behind a pillar, dressed as Sheik, there to give him some strange form of wisdom; but there was no one. He sighed and walked forward passed the Door of Time. He stood in front of the pedestal with the marble slot carved into it and the symbol of the Triforce on the front. Pulling his sword from the sheath on his back he looked at it with mournful eyes.
"You have been a trustworthy friend to me during this adventure." He said to the sword. Then, with a mighty heave, he shoved the sword back into its slot. His world again became clouded and he felt himself growing younger. He closed his eyes, letting the sensation over take him. When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in the castle courtyard with a very young Zelda staring at him. She smiled and for a moment, had an aged look in her eyes.
"Link…" She said.
He looked around and then at her.
"I suppose it's over then…isn't it?" He asked.
She nodded and moved aside. "Look in there." She pointed to the window.
Link remembered that window. It seemed like ages ago when the two of them watched Ganondorf bowing before the King in that window. He walked to it and looked inside. Instead of Ganondorf, three Gerudo women stood flanking Nabooru as they vowed their allegiance to the King of Hyrule. He smiled and turned to Zelda.
"We did it!" He whispered excitedly.
She nodded. "It's over. Ganondorf is gone…" She looked at Link for a long time and then giggled. "Well, I guess you should get home now."
Link nodded and slowly began walking down the stairs.
"Hey!" She called from behind him.
He stopped and turned around.
"Come back and visit me okay?"
Link smiled and nodded. Impa met him at the gate and she escorted him safely outside of the castle. They stood side by side on the drawbridge in silence.
"Link," She said at last. "I want you to know, that visiting the Princess will be difficult." She looked down at him. "For while Zelda and the rest of the Sages will have full memories of what has transpired, no one else will. You will not be recognized by the King of Hyrule as any form of hero."
Link nodded. "I understand."
She nodded. "I will not ask you to stay away from her…but I will ask you that you take care. If you are caught by the guards, there is nothing I can, or will, do for you." She looked down at him. "And there is not much that Zelda can do either."
Link nodded. "I'll be careful."
Impa nodded, and with a flash, she was gone and Link stood alone in the field. Navi flew around his head looking at everything she could.
"We're really back, Link!" She exclaimed.
Link nodded. "Yes…we are."
A nuzzling at his back shocked him and caused his to jump. He turned and laughed happily.
"Epona!" He exclaimed. The young horse stood rubbing her nose against the young hero's back. "Do you remember too?" He asked.
The answer was a happy neigh and a lick to the face.
Link laughed and hugged his horse. "I'm so glad!" He pulled back and looked at her. "Come on girl. Let's go home."