Chapter 1 - Reunited after the test of time

Link stood before princess Zelda, her eyes waiting for his reply. 'Do I remember...' Link smiled and nodded to the princess, understanding the worry that was within her. She smiled back, and tears began to fall as she hicked. Link rushed over and caught her before she fell to her knees.

"I-I I'm so glad... *Hick* I thought for sure that, you wouldn't remember" Zelda tried to contain herself, but couldn't help but seek refuge in Link's chest. She had been trapped with the almighty Ganon for a near century, only having but one thing all that time. Faith. She knew for sure that Link, the champion she had ended up trusting, would without doubt come to her rescue and save Hyrule. But what she wasn't sure of, was if he would be able to remember. Her studies showed that for one to recover successfully, they would undergo a long period of rest in which the mind would assuredly lose all cognitive memory, while keeping motor functions intact. Zelda was barley able to accumulate the memory images and assign the duty to Impa to guide Link in the journey to hopefully recover his lost pieces.

She would have been at a loss, should Link have forgotten everything that had transpired between them. But once more, her noble knight came through and regained his memories. "Oh but... Oh dear..." Zelda wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up to Link, who was unsure of what she felt was amiss. "What... What do we do now?" she looked back to the castle, it was in ruins after that endless battle. She looked all across Hyrule, it appeared to be in disarray compared to how it looked all those years ago. Link was lost in thought at how small and yet beautiful she looked. His memories did no justice to how admirable she looked in person. A thought popped into his head, or more of a reminder. Link lifted her up in his arms and carried her over to a tree to rest next to. Zelda was at a loss, he seemed to be readying for something.

"Did I forget something?" asked Zelda

Link whistled loud and clear to the plains, hoping that his steed could hear him call. Sure enough, his horse galloped and yelped toward the two. When it reached them, it trotted to a stop and Link walked over to Zelda and outstretched his hand for her to get up. "Come" he said

Zelda took his hand and Link lifted her up and gestured to his horse. They were going for a ride. "Alright Link, but where are we going?" Zelda climbed aboard the magnificent beast, and Link followed. He snapped to the horse and let out a "Hya!" and so the gallant horse charged onward. While Link was appreciating her honest and gorgeous looks, he remembered someone else who had wanted to see her smile again.

(...)

"Oh but Link, could we stopped for a change of clothes? Mine seemed to have... worn out a bit" Link looked over his shoulder and eyed her up and down. She was right, new clothes were in order. He changed course so that they would stop by a stable, in hopes that they would be able to provide them with the things they needed. As he rode toward Wetland Stable, the sounds of Kass's music could be heard, and Beedle could be seen sitting on the dirt road, giggling to himself. Link smiled as he approached, even when the most terrifying beast in all of Hyrule had been slain, everything would stay how it was. At least until the royal family took over once more. He thought maybe it would be too much if word got out that the princess was alive and well. There were more enemies around these days, most were affiliated with the somewhat dangerous Yiga clan. He thought it would be better to lay low until they got a plan of action before spilling the beans on the existence of one of the most known people in all of Hyrule.

He rode the horse a bit from the stable until he reached the Kaya Wan Shrine. He rode his steed up the left of the shrine and stopped there. The path they were on had two walls for cover, the shrine on the right acting as one wall, and the natural rock formation to the left acted as another. Link hopped off and let the princess down after.

"Do you think they have clothes for me? I'm not too sure" asked Zelda

Link shrugged and took out a Hylian Hood from his Inventory. He handed it over to Zelda and then he motioned her to put it on.

"Oh I see, to hide my identity right?" asked Zelda

Link nodded, but then Zelda looked off to the side.

"I'm not sure Link. Shouldn't the knowledge of my survival be spread instead of hidden? Wait, are there people hunting me?" Zelda eyed Link, looking for an answer.

Link made a small pinching gesture with one hand, indicating there were some, but not too many.

"Then you should have no problem dealing with them should they come up. Am I right?"

Link's arms slugged a bit. He was trying to reduce the amount of attention they would get, but the princess didn't think that was necessary.

Nonetheless, if that was what her majesty wished, it was his command. He tightened up his posture and gave a strong nod.

"Good. Now let's see what they have here" said Zelda as she walked along towards the stable. Link followed, on guard.

(...)

Link walked on toe with the princess, she seemed a bit miffed at how things turned out. After asking around, the entire stable was actually composed of all men. Once they talked to a man named Quince out near the back, they had confirmed their suspicion.

"Honestly Link. Why bring me here, were there isn't a single lady?" she turned for a response, but Link didn't have one.

He just went around stables for needs and quests. He never thought keeping a mental list of gender ratios was important when stopping at a stable.

Link pulled up the Shekiah Slate and began looking around the map to see if there was any obvious choices for clothes shopping. Zelda stood next to the horse and patted its neck. The wind brushed by as he scrolled about, but he didn't like what he saw. Her majesty grew bored and walked over to Link, who was sitting next to the shrine.

"Any luck?"

Link did find an obvious option. Of course the Gerudo Town would be a primary choice, however it was in the exact opposite direction of where he was trying to bring the princess. His goal was to take her to The Great Deku Tree. He remembered that the tree longed to see her brilliant smile once more, but maybe that would have to wait. After all, she shouldn't have to be seen in rags as she traveled. He looked up to her and nodded once more, and made his way to his horse to ready their journey to the Gerudo.

"Wait. Can't we rest? It's getting late and riding horseback sounds tiring" Zelda looked over to the stable and sighed. "Those soft beds the man mentioned sound perfect" Link supposed that's what happens when you spend what feels like an eternity fighting off a demon that was bent on total destruction. He tugged softly on the muzzle strains on his horse and led it to the stable while following Zelda once more.

'Hold on Deku Tree. I'll bring her back to you soon'