Takes place immediately after the true ending of BotW. Link and Zelda's duties are far from over as they have some people to see after Ganon has at last been sealed away.

BotW: Visitations

Visitations Part 2: Kakariko Village

Zelda couldn't hear anything but a muted, liquid thudding in her ears. She felt suspended and enclosed and the sensation was stifling; her limbs only able to move haltingly as if stuck in so much molasses. She knew it well. But hadn't she escaped from that place? Hadn't Link freed her from her prison? But she was back in her suffocating cell and Ganon's eyes were upon her again, ever boring into her, willing her to capitulate. What a relief it would have been to do just that. To not feel the pressure of an ancient evil squeezing her mind and body into submission. If she just let go, she could be free of it all.

"No!" she cried loudly, though it only came out as a muffled, dampened noise, as always. Ganon had completely consumed her and her cries were always stamped out within his churning form. "NO!" she cried out again, "You will NOT…!"

An electric shot of sensation on her left shoulder brought her out and she shot upwards, only to come within inches of Link's face. Both were wide-eyed and held their breaths as they stared at one another for a moment.

Zelda swallowed and looked down. She was sitting upright on a bed of soft leaves that had been prepared for her and Link the night before by the Koroks. Link laid his hand on her shoulder once again and she looked up into his concerned eyes.

"I'm sorry, was I talking in my sleep? Did I wake you?" she asked as she looked over at Link's bed of leaves just a few paces away. He had fallen asleep quickly and deeply last night. She wondered if he had ever had the chance to sleep so serenely in his life. She knew she certainly didn't make it any easier for him now or one hundred years ago.

"I went out to gather some supplies for our next leg. I thought I'd let you sleep a little longer but you were…" Link started saying.

"Just a nightmare. It's all right," she said, trying to allay his worries.

His hand felt warm on her cool skin. She thought she felt his thumb lightly brush it once before he retracted it and put his gloves back on. He took a moment to look at her again from his kneeling position before he stood up straight, then offered his hand. She rubbed her eyes quickly and took it, slowly standing up.

"It took a while to wake you," Link said simply as he stood before her.

"It really felt as if I were back there again. But I suppose it's all I'd known for quite some time. It makes sense that it will linger for a while," she said, resolutely. "I can still feel him, smell him. Everything."

He thought he saw her shiver and he instinctively reached for her. But, it passed, so he only nodded. "We should get going soon," he said as he reached for her cloak instead, handing it to her. "It's not much, but there are some baked apples, nuts, and fresh water if you'd like to eat something before we head out."

"Mm, thank you, I think I will," she said, gratefully. "I think some cold water on my face will do nicely."

By the time Zelda had finished washing her face and eating a light meal, Link had both of the horses fed, watered, and loaded with fresh supplies. She had watched him while he went about his work and marveled at how efficient and focused he was. Not a movement wasted. She decided that she would have to learn from him. If only she'd done it sooner instead of spending so much of her time before trying to push him away.

Zelda stood and smoothed her cloak down before walking over to Link. When he caught her eyes, he stopped patting down the horses and they both walked back over to the Deku Tree together.

"Already on your way, I see?" he said to them, sleepily.

"Yes, thank you for your hospitality. We slept warmly and peacefully and are ready to travel," said Zelda.

"Hmmm….I know this one slept like an aged old stone, not even turning once. But you, Princess…you will need to create new memories to replace the ones that come to disturb you in the night."

"I suppose you're right," she acknowledged.

"Then be on your way and may the Goddess guide your steps. Know that you are both always welcome here," he decreed.

She bowed deeply and Link followed suit in his own way, nodding his head once firmly at the great tree.

The children of the forest escorted them all the way out of Minshi Woods until neither she nor Link could hear their laughter anymore. The long road south to Kakariko Village awaited them. Perhaps it would have made better sense to go to Zora's Domain first. It was, after all, more on the way. But they both felt that Impa would do well to see the Princess' face before any more suns had set. Zelda knew she was agreeable to this plan for another reason: As eager as she was to see Impa, her heart was not ready to face Mipha's family. Would it ever be?

They stopped at the Wetland Stable for the night and started off again early the next morning. All the while, Zelda heard Link tell tales of the shrines along the way. He recounted what he had seen and encountered in Mirro Shaz, Sheh Rata, Kaya Wan, Hila Rao Shrines in great detail, much to Zelda's delight. Though she was disappointed that she couldn't enter the shrines and explore them herself, Zelda was more than happy to hear him talk about his trials in his own words. She had watched over him and his challenges as he made his way to Hyrule Castle, but hearing him speak about what he did and how he used the Sheikah Slate was invigorating. He was talking more now than ever she had heard in her life and she planned on appreciating every moment of it.

The people at Wetland Stable seemed quite taken with Link and were friendly with him. He seemed to have unwittingly made quite a name for himself as he traversed the land. A real hero, she'd heard them say. Would they ever truly know the magnitude and accuracy of their words—what he sacrificed for them all?

Link was starting to talk about the nearby Daka Tuss Shrine when his voice trailed off.

"We're very close now," was all he said and he fell silent.

Zelda looked around as the terrain turned high and rocky. She had forgotten how tucked away this village was; surrounded and hidden by stony hills as if they were the village's petrified guardians. She had been there once as a young girl when she had accompanied Impa on one of her trips to visit her family there. Impa…

Zelda lowered her head and rested her chin against her chest. People started to notice them as they rode through the village. The Sheikah were still loyal to Hyrule and its royal family even all these years later and in the absence of an actual heir. But only the old ones remembered the true events of 100 years past while the younger ones heard the tale and believed it to be only that. But would any of them believe that she would return to them?

Cado and Dorian, as always, stood vigilant at the steps of Impa's house. They greeted Link as he and Zelda approached.

"There has been some startling news from our eyes out beyond the village walls, young Master Link," started Cado, "and Lady Impa told us to expect you soon. Possibly being accompanied by a friend. And here you are." As he spoke, he never took his eyes off of Link's companion.

Dorian walked over to Zelda's horse and gently grabbed the reins, offering his hand to help her dismount. She slowly took it, her golden hair spilling out from within her deep hood as she climbed down.

Cado gasped and Dorian immediately knelt, "My Lady!" he exclaimed, "So it's true!"

Cado knelt and said, "We've been waiting for you for so long. But one has been counting the days longer than others…."

"No, please, you don't need to…rise and stand…" Zelda started to explain. But before she could continue, Impa's doors burst open.

"Grandmother, where are you going at this time of night?!" came a worried voice from the top of the stairs. Cado and Dorian parted and Zelda and Link looked up.

There stood the diminutive Impa, walking stick firmly gripped in hand, looking down imperiously at them all; her eyes clear and piercing from underneath the brim of her wide hat.

"Grandmother, at least put something warm on! This is so unlike you…" declared Paya, as she ran out after Impa with a shawl in hand. Then she saw the visitors below.

"Oh! M-Master Link! You've returned!" she said, in a slightly higher pitch. She then noticed the stranger standing next to him and how Cado and Dorian had their heads bowed. They weren't usually this formal with Grandmother.

"You…." Impa said, shakily. Paya turned to look at her grandmother, never knowing her to be short on words. She heard the footfalls before seeing them.

Zelda slowly began walking up the steps toward Impa and Paya, as Link watched on steadily, allowing the moment to unfold without him.

As she reached the middle of the stairway, Zelda could not hold herself in anymore. Whatever formality this called for, if any at all, she was not beholden to it any longer. Whatever title she held, whatever her station was a hundred years ago, that was gone. But what was in front of her here and now, was her dear friend; a friend she thought she'd never see again. Maybe her world was not completely lost after all. She had Link and now she had Impa back, though time had treated them very differently.

With only a few steps remaining, she locked eyes with Impa. It was her, there was no doubting it. The fiery intensity and strength was still within the small frame.

"Impa!" Zelda cried and ran up the rest of the way, tears blurring her vision. She almost tackled the poor old woman but Impa remained and accepted the arms that enfolded her. Paya covered her mouth in shock as she looked on. Never had she expected such an outburst of emotion and to feel so moved by a stranger who embraced her grandmother with so much love and pain.

"Impaaa…" cried Zelda again, weeping openly now, her body shaking as she embraced the elderly lady. She felt like she was a child again and she didn't care.

"It's really you…" Impa said, her voice breaking, patting her friend on the back, which then turned into a hard clutch.

Link noticed Dorian sniffle to the side and Cado wipe his eyes quickly.

"Come inside," Impa finally said and gestured toward Link as well. As she turned, she held onto Zelda's hand and pointed her to the young lady standing beside them. "This is my granddaughter, Paya. She is my joy and the pride of the clan."

Zelda looked upon Paya with amazement and adoration at Impa's words. So much so that Paya turned a beet red. "Oh, Paya! You look just like Impa when she was your age. She has never been one to freely compliment a soul. You must be as formidable as you are lovely." She extended both her hands and gently squeezed Paya's.

"Prin-Princess! Oh my! What do I say? What should I do…?" sputtered Paya, unable to look at Zelda directly.

"You can call me Zelda," she said, beaming. Paya was left disarmed at the sight.

Link was there now at the landing. He nodded gently at Paya and put his hand on Zelda's shoulder lightly, gesturing for her to follow Impa who had already walked inside. Zelda turned and beamed unabashedly at Link in return. And it was his turn to be disarmed.

NEXT UP: Visitations Part 3 – Kakariko Village Cont'd