-1After the Twilight Fades

Authors note: Here it is at last, the beginning of my vision of the aftermath of Twilight Princess, again as was the case with the Missing Link, Nintendo owns all names and places except the ones I make up for the purposes of the story and I'm not doing this to make money. This story will be set immediately after the end of TP, and while it will use some ideas from The Missing Link, it is not a sequel. This is definitely a Zelink, but I like Illia, so I'm not going to do the whole jealous Illia routine, as I think it's been done to death, and I think she sees Link as more a surrogate brother rather than a boyfriend as they grew up together and were close their whole lives.

Chapter 1: The Long March

As the glittering shards of the mirror of twilight faded, Link could not help but feel sad as he gazed up at the black granite slab that Midna had just disappeared into mere moments ago. As he stood there, memories from his adventure flooded into his mind and a single tear fell from his eyes as he thought of all that had occurred fighting by the side of the Twilight Princess. Link felt a warm hand rest on his shoulder and remembered he was not alone on the stone platform and turned to face Zelda, the mysterious Princess he had met only twice before and he only just managed to save from the clutches of the Dark Lord Ganondorf himself. Zelda had a sympathetic look on her pretty face and said to him, " It's ok to show emotion Link, you shared a strong bond with her and I can understand how you feel, but she could not linger here as she had to return to her own people. What was it like to travel with her?"

Link looked at the beautiful young woman before him and begun to speak, "Your Majesty, at first I couldn't stand Midna, when she sprung me from the prison she was the most annoying creature I had ever met. But the more we travelled, the more we fought against the darkness, with every monster slain, the nicer Midna became. By the time we recovered the master sword and came to the desert looking for the mirror, we had become quite close. In a lot of ways, she was like a sister to me."

Zelda squeezed his shoulder in a comforting manner and said, "at first she didn't care about this world but came to love it in a way, and she only thought of you as a means to an end at first. That was why she was so cold, you changed her though as two people walking the same path will always change to work together, you couldn't have done all you have without her."

Link smiled at the kindly Princess and said, "we had better get moving Your Majesty, you have a kingdom to rule, but since we don't have Midna here, we'll have to take the long way out."

Zelda took her hand away and said to Link, "we have a long way to go to restore the kingdom, and I don't think I can do it alone, the entire royal council as well as my father were killed in the first attack."

Link gasped in shock and said, "goddesses help us, that's awful, may they rest in peace. But destiny runs its course, as heir to the throne your duty is to the people Your Majesty, I don't know how much help I could be, but I'll do what I can."

Zelda smiled at him and replied, "these lands will need a protector, my duty is indeed to my people. But you are a man of vision, that the people will need to look to for leadership and reassurance."

Link shrugged and said, "but Your Majesty, I'm just a goatherd from a small village I'm no leader, what could I possibly do that you can't?"

Zelda smiled and said, "you're stronger than you know Link, and those who do not desire power often find that they have a gift at wielding it. That sword you carry is proof, only the pure of heart can wield it. That is all the proof I need of your sincerity, now as my first act in the new age of this land I will grant you a new title, on your knees Link."

Link felt strange as he did not know what Zelda has planning but knelt down onto the stone of the platform and watched as Zelda drew her sword, and felt uneasy. Zelda tapped his shoulders with the flat of the blade and said, "I dub thee, Lord Lanaryu, Lord Protector of Hyrule and Duke of Lanaryu province, arise a Lord and take on your new task."

Link got up nervously and said, "I'll do my best Your Majesty."

Zelda held up a finger as he spoke and said, "forget my title, I'm not Queen yet and, you have more than earned the right to address me by my first name, now lead on."

Link felt shocked but beckoned to Zelda and led the way down the stairs and into the deep gloom of the arbiters grounds, looking carefully for any sign of monsters. Coming to a halt on the platform in the room where he fought the giant skeleton he looked for a way across. Spotting metal bars in the ceiling he beckoned Zelda closer and said, "getting over this gap is not going to be easy, do you trust me Zelda?"

Zelda smiled and said, "of course I do Link, you have fought valiantly for me for a long time, and you never once complained or faltered, I'd trust you with my life, do what you must my hero."

Link strapped his clawshots to his arms and said, "hold onto me Zelda and hold on tight,"

Zelda blushed a pale shade of pink and threw her arms around him and held tight, and Link turned red as he noticed that the Princess was a very healthy young woman, but shot a claw out where it stuck on a bar in the ceiling, he heard Zelda gasp slightly as they rose into the air but after a few more grapples he lowered them down gently next to the door. Opening it, he led the way out and got the spinner out to get them down, Zelda looked apprehensive but held on tightly as they went down the stairs. Leading the way through the gloomy halls of the ancient prison, nostrils full of the stench of old tombs he was grateful to not meet any monsters as he led Zelda out. Making their way through the ruined outbuildings, nothing bothered them apart from the occasional orc, and Link quickly found a riding boar, saddled up and ready to ride, he mounted up and helped Zelda to get on before turning to her and saying, "

hang on tight Zelda, these things can really go fast when they want to."

Zelda smiled and said, "it can't be any worse than a horse."

Link spurred the boar and with the usual grunt it raced forwards Link holding on for dear life as it smashed through the wooden fences and towers, Zelda gripping him tightly around the waist and screaming behind him. Link slowed the boar to a more comfortable pace and began to ride through the desert sands as the sun began to sink in earnest. As he noticed the sunset Link guessed his best option would be to set up camp for the night, so he looked around and managed to find a small cave not far from the cliff, helping Zelda off the boar he said, "we'd better stop for now, it's getting dark and we'll need to be fresh to get down the cliff into the lake."

Zelda smiled at him and said, "you really are quite practical Link, you're exactly what the people need in these times, a man of grand potential not blinded by the trappings of noble birth."

Link blushed slightly at Zelda's praise and was glad it was dark, but busied himself getting a fire going and cooking up some soup, feeling lucky that he knew a few simple recipes and carried some food with him, Zelda was impressed with his cooking, and after they'd finished eating Link and Zelda fell asleep quickly as it had been a long hard day. The next morning Link and Zelda woke up and quickly made it to the edge of the cliff. Link looked around and saw the remains of a narrow path down, but rockslides had made it impassable so Link quickly got his bow out and prepared some bomb arrows. Stepping back from the cliff edge, he lit the fuses and fired at the blockages, the bombs struck their mark and loosened the blockages, sending a wave of loose rock into the lake below. Beckoning Zelda close, Link gingerly made his way down the path, it was narrow, forcing him to hug the rock face at times, but after a few minutes he managed to get to the cliff base next to the old watch tower. Zelda stopped next to him and brushed some dirt off her dress before saying to him,

we'd better get moving Link, I will warp us to the cliff top on the other side, here take my arm."

Link took hold of Zelda's proffered arm and gripped it tight before the young Princess closed her eyes and turned on her heels, and with a flash of gold light and a brief feeling of constriction the pair found themselves at the cliff top in Hyrule field. Link quickly pulled out his horse charm and called for Epona, the brown and white mare, appearing at his side in an instant. Link patted her head fondly and helped Zelda to get on before mounting up and urging Epona forwards. They swept the miles beneath them and soon came to the castle town, which looked very strange without the castle overlooking it, Link turned to Zelda and said,

"the castle's completely gone, I hope the explosion didn't hurt anybody or do much damage, Whatever Ganondorf did it certainly packed a wallop, look there's bit's of stone everywhere."

Link could see loose rubble all over the field and a thin plume of smoke still rising from the ruins of the castle and felt grateful nobody was inside at the time, however he also felt slightly sad as what little he saw of the castle was quite amazing compared to the simple buildings in Ordon village, Zelda sighed at the sight and said to Link.

"for centuries that castle was there, it's been built and rebuilt over time, and now it must be rebuilt again, but like our nation it will rise again, onwards Link, we must face the people."

Link felt nervous, as it would be his first time in the town since the defeat of Ganondorf, and he was already a well known face. But he nudged Epona with his heels and urged her over the drawbridge and into the west gate.

Link gazed around as he rode into town and saw men, women and children stop in their tracks ans stare at him and Zelda in silence. Whispers broke out among the populace as he rode and as he reached the town square someone began to clap, slowly like an awakening giant the clapping and cheering began to intensify to the point of hurting their ears as the crowd saw their beloved Princess with their own eyes. Zelda gazed at the crowd, held her hands up to silence them and began to speak.

"My people, I come to you under the gravest of circumstances, while the Dark Lord has been defeated, the terrible suffering he caused must still be resolved. Let us together rebuild our homes and way of life and move forward to a new age of peace and justice. I wish only to serve you, my people by leading Hyrule to a better future for all, by ruling wisely and doing the best I can to be a better ruler than father. I shall not do so alone however, for I have appointed Link, the gallant hero who fought against the darkness and defeated the dark lord to be the new Lord Protector of this realm. I ask all of you, to respect his position and to lend your support to his work in restoring our beloved Hyrule to it's former glory, may the goddesses bless you all and may all our honoured dead rest in peace."

The crowd gasped and gazed at Link with looks of surprise and then started cheering at the Princesses words, Link waved at the crowd feeling slightly nervous at all the attention and said to them,

"as Lord Protector, I promise to lead wisely at the side of our Princess Zelda, and do my utmost to bring peace and justice to all corners of our land. But alone, I cannot do it, which is why I am asking for volunteers to join our army and watch and our efforts of reconstruction so that we can rebuild our world and share in the days of peace."

The crowd cheered again as Link finished speaking and began to break up, Telma came up to him and said, "well done Link, well done. You've done a good job, and I'm sure you'll make a great leader, Lord protector is a special job, and quite a rare honour. I'm calling a meeting of members of the resistance for tomorrow night, perhaps you and Her Highness would consent to come, it'll be at my bar at 7:00pm."

Link turned to Zelda who nodded at him before he turned back to Telma and said, "of course we'll come Telma, I'm going to need the cooperation of the resistance and any local militia's that were formed in order to keep the peace and restore order to the country."

Telma smiled saucily at him and said, "I'll see you later handsome."

Telma turned and went away, before Zelda turned to him and said, "who was that, and what did she mean about the resistance?"

Link smiled and said, "That was Telma, the local pub owner, one of my earliest adventures was to try and find all the missing people from my village, one of them, Illia, an old friend of mine had ended up working for Telma. Telma asked me to escort her and Illia to Krakariko village because there were field monsters everywhere, as well as that big orc leader, and once I'd done that she invited me to join the resistance, which uses her tavern as headquarters. The resistance are a group of people trying to stand against the darkness, they helped me in my efforts by giving me a lot of useful information and when I finally raided the castle, they came as well and drew off some of the monsters in the grounds."

Zelda smiled and said, "they sound like good people, now we'd better make a start and muster our remaining troops."

Link got off Epona and helped Zelda get down before calling over some of the soldiers in the square and saying to one of them, "is this all of you? Where are your officers?"

The soldier Link had addressed, who had sergeants stripes looked grimly at him and said, "most of our best fighters were killed in the initial attack of the dark creatures. It was terrible, they came at us in waves, like a black ocean, just when we'd kill one of them, three more would take its place. The fighting went on all day, and by the time it was over most of the army had been wiped out and the castle was on fire, we've got other regiments in other parts of the country but it'll take time to call them back. We've got around 500 men here but that's about it. But what's really bad is that the royal armoury would have gone up in the explosion."

Link winced but turned to the sergeant and said, "we'll have to recruit heavily, it'll take time but we can do it. 500 men should be able to hold the city for now, I'll have to promote the few experienced troops we have and get them to train new recruits. Tell the senior personnel in the town that I want them at a meeting tomorrow at 7:00pm at Telma's bar."

The sergeant nodded and said, "as Your Grace pleases, if I might be so bold, it'd be a good idea for you to get Her Highness out of the city, if we get attacked it'd be better if she were in a safe place."

Link nodded and walked over to Zelda who was talking to the mayor and said, "we'd better get you out of town Zelda, since the castle is destroyed it'd be a good idea if you were somewhere safer and less exposed than here."

Zelda looked reluctant but agreed to be moved, and so Link got her onto Epona before getting on himself and moving out the east gate before galloping to Kakariko village, it looked the same as always, slightly war damaged and with few native inhabitants left, but when Link stopped and got off Epona, he saw the Ordon village children come up to him while Zelda stood a few paces away with a small smile on her face. Beth and Talo were the first to speak, asking questions about the magical storm, but after they had been answered, Link was being bombarded with questions about Zelda. Beth turned to him and said, "have you kissed her yet Link?"

Link blushed scarlet and Illia said to Beth, "give them time Beth, they've only just met each other."

With that, the line of questioning stopped and Link was able to lead Zelda to Romano's sanctuary, the shaman delighted to receive the Princess, and offering the local inn as a safe house. After speaking with Romano for a few hours Link led Zelda to the inn, where a hot meal was waiting for them, they ate with the others and spoke about some of their ideas for rebuilding, most of which were received with good opinions. But eventually everyone began to tire and drift off to bed, Link followed Zelda up the stairs as he had been assigned the room next to her and said,

"good night Zelda, we've got a long day tomorrow, if you need me for any reason, I'm just next door okay."

Zelda smiled at him and stepped forward, giving him a soft hug for a few moments before drawing away and saying, "you were so sweet to those children today, I can see why they look up to you. You are the perfect man to assist me in rebuilding our land, my hero. Sleep well Link."

With that, the young Princess retreated into her own room, Link staring at the closed door for a moment before walking into his own room and getting undressed before hopping into bed, his last thoughts before he slept being of the pretty young Princess sleeping only a few metres away and how much she had changed his world in such a short time. Link slept soundly, dreaming of his adventures with Midna and good times back in Ordon, when he was suddenly jerked awake by a scream. Link jumped out of bed and seized his sword and shield and raced to Zelda's door as he heard her scream again. Link shoulder barged the door, breaking the cheap wood of its hinges and ran into the room, sword raised, only to find no enemy trying to assassinate the Princess, but the sight of the heir to the throne clearly in the grip of a terrible nightmare. Link sighed and dropped his sword and shield and approached the bed, before gently shaking the slumbering Princess until he saw her eyes flutter open, cold sweat running down her face. Link spoke gently to her and said,

"are you alright Zelda? I heard your voice and thought you were being attacked."

Zelda shuddered and tears began to pour down her face before she said, "I… I saw them, saw them, the.. the black beasts att.. attacking the castle, I saw my fathers army cut down like wheat, then my father and the council tortured. Father told me to run for the throne room, my last sight of him being those awful beasts closing on him."

She broke down sobbing, so Link sighed and knelt down and pulled Zelda to him and rubbed her back, feeling her nightdress soaked to the skin in sweat and he spoke soothingly, "there dead, Zant and Ganondorf are both dead now. I have avenged the deaths of the fallen, and if you hadn't run, the beats would have killed you too. I know it's hard but you have to be strong for the people now, they need us. There'll be a time to mourn the dead."

Zelda nodded against his bare chest and Link held her until he felt her begin to calm down before lifting her chin so that she was facing him and saying. " we've got a lot to do together, but we will ensure that those who died didn't die in vain. We'll make them proud Zelda, now lets get you cleaned up."

He stepped away as Zelda got up and tried not to look until she had put a robe on, Romano was waiting in the hall and Link led Zelda out and said, "she's ok, just a nightmare. I won't repeat what it was about, poor thing, she's carrying such a heavy burden."

Romano smiled sadly at the two of them before his daughter appeared and led Zelda away for a bath and flesh clothes, Link found his own bathrobe and slippers that he'd been given and waited, and after a short time Zelda came out in a fresh nightdress looking much calmer before walking over to him, pulling him close and saying, "thank you Link, you continually prove just how good a man you are, I don't think I've ever met anybody like you before."

Link smiled and said, "I just did what had to be done, it looked terrible seeing you in pain like that, I couldn't stand it."

Zelda smiled, but then blushed pinkly as she looked at Link, Link was unsure as to why until he remembered he only had his robe and underwear on and turned bright red as he saw Zelda giggle slightly."

Zelda then whispered into his ear, "being a goatherd didn't do you any harm Link, I must say I'm impressed."

Link felt surprised but quickly responded in kind, "certainly, I'm no worse than most Lords."

Zelda giggled again but then turned serious and said, "can you stay with me tonight? I felt awful before and would feel a lot safer."

Link couldn't believe his ears, after only two days he was being asked to stay with Zelda all night, he nodded and said, "okay, I don't want to see you suffer like that again Zelda."

With that Zelda led the way inside and got into bed, Link shrugged his robe off and felt Zelda's eyes on his bare chest as he got into bed as well before wrapping an arm around Zelda's waist and swiftly falling asleep, only peaceful dreams came to the young Princess for the rest of the night.