PREVIOUSLY: While viewing the youngest version of themselves, the late queen is pulled from her time and Link and Zelda warn her of the coming of Calamity Ganon. The memory next shows Zelda attempting to give Link books, but stops before she is scolded by her father, and she disappears to face her own Trial of Courage. Link continues to watch the past play out on his own, and is surprised to learn his father was fueling the gossip about Zelda's failures to her father. Zelda returns and confesses that she is in love with Link, but she was afraid he was only with her out of a sense of duty. With the help of King Rhoam, Link reveals that he has been free of his oath ever since she was freed from Ganon, and that he stayed for her. Farosh is able to split the Triforce of Courage between the pair, saying that it will become dormant and pass down through their future children until it is needed once more.

SPOILER WARNING: This chapter contains references to Memory 13 "Slumbering Power" / Photo 9.

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Title: It All Must Start With Us
Chapter 16: Test of Power
Author: Sailor Song
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The nearest shrine that bordered the currently cutoff Akkala Tower Region also happened to be near the Foothill Stable. After arriving in a swirl of blue light, they checked in for the night, deciding a good sleep would be needed before facing the Test of Power. After he'd paid for the beds and ordered a pair of horses to be readied for their return after the test, he found Zelda under the covers of the bed where he'd already deposited his bag.

"Oh goodness," he said removing his gear and Champion tunic, leaving his thin undershirt. "I didn't know my bed would come with a girl. The stable owners didn't tell me they offered this sort of service, so I'm not sure I can afford it."

She pulled back the sheet with a smile and grabbed his shirt to pull him down to the bed beside her. "It is a price you could never pay in Rupees."

He chuckled and pulled her against his body, and as their legs became entangled, he wondered why he bothered to spend the money on seperate beds. The sudden feeling of Zelda's hand settling on his chest caused his body to give a strange, involuntary jerk. She gave him an inquisitive look before pulling up the undershirt to reveal his scar-covered stomach and chest. Her eyes instantly focused on one scar in particular, the dark one centered in the middle of his chest, and she hovered her fingers over it.

"Does it hurt?"

He shook his head. "It's more like a bruise than an old wound." He knew it was more than that though. As a swordsman, he had seen the shape left behind when a sword pierced a body, and this was definitely sword-shaped. The fact that the same mark also appeared in the middle of his back, he knew this was the blow that nearly ended his life one hundred years ago. However, that contradicted with his current remembrance of what happened on Blatchery Plain.

She didn't seem to want to talk about it, and he didn't want to force it out of her. It made him wonder what was worse: not remembering the past and always wondering, or knowing it fully and all of the accompanying horrors.

… … …

Unlike the previous Triforce test that shrouded the Spring of Courage, the Akkala Tower Region was clear of fog. Even though very early on they realized that this test would be different, Link and Zelda decided to continue on foot rather than returning to the stable to retrieve horses. The area was still inaccessible to the Sheikah Slate map, which meant there was something magical about the experience they were about to have.

Yet, nothing happened, and even once they had arrived at the entrance to the Spring of Power, they found it empty but for the Guardian Skywatchers still flying around overhead that paid them no mind. Inside the secluded spring, they found no sign of the dragon, but there was the golden glow of the memory location.

"Should we," she asked, indicating the circle of light. Link gave one last look around before agreeing.

The memory began with Link walking slightly ahead of a great white stallion, leading it by its reins across the Akkala Span bridge. On its back, the horse bore the princess of Hyrule, whose face still showed distress from the interaction she'd had earlier in the day with her father.

Link reached his hand up to the horse, rewarding him with a shiny red apple. As the beast ate it up greedily, Link spoke, "We're nearly to the Akkala Citadel."

Although he had taken care to soothe the horse, Zelda's surprise caused her mount to start slightly. Before he could throw her, she reached down and gave a pat before stroking his white coat. He calmed and continued trotting along.

"Do we have to go there?"

"No, I supposed not," Link replied. "I can-"

"Good," she interrupted. "I do not wish to stop."

Link pursed his lips, carefully scrutinizing what he should say next. "Very well. If you are comfortable riding Storm, I can scout ahead and find a spot to camp for the night instead."

"I do not wish to stop at all," Zelda repeated. "I want to keep going to the spring."

"But-"

"Please, Link," she said, barely above a whisper. "You heard my father. I cannot let him… let Hyrule down. I have to unlock this power."

Link straightened up and replied without emotion, "Yes, Princess."

"Zelda," she corrected.

He stayed silent for a while before rotely saying, "There are rules, Princess."

This seemed to annoy her more than usual. "Rules are meant to be broken."

"Respectfully, Princess, you are mistaken," he replied. "Rules exist for a reason. Without them, there would be chaos."

"Very well," she said as she grabbed the horse's reins from him. "Follow your rules, but know that Calamity Ganon isn't going to fight with honor. He's going to fight to win, which will mean breaking the rules. And I intend to stop him." With a snap of the wrist, she urged Storm onward, leaving a coughing Link alone in the dust.

For once, Link did not run off after her. Instead, as the dust cleared, he began walking at a steady pace towards the spring. His normal emotionless appearance seemed disturbed, perhaps by her words as he contemplated what she had told him.

Upon reaching the Spring of Power, he found Storm grazing not far from the entrance leading to the ancient spring. He cautiously approached the opening to find the princess had already changed into her white gown. He watched her lower herself into the water, and without a glance back, walk towards the statue of the Goddess.

Link, the ever-dutiful knight, turned his back to give her privacy, standing guard with the sheathed Master Sword pointed down towards the ground.

The only sound that could be heard was the water falling into the pool all around them. Link suddenly recalled the many hours he had stood guard at the springs while Zelda head was bowed as she recited her silent prayers. Something else came to him, an instruction, a rule: "Never set foot in the holy waters. Only Princess Zelda is pure enough to enter the springs."

Nothing had changed by the time the moon was high overhead. Link made no motion in all that time, causing the present day Link to wonder at his past self's patience and ability to remain inert when he himself had barely stopped moving since awakening from the sleep of restoration.

"I come seeking help. Regarding this power that has been handed down over time…. Prayer will awaken my power to seal Ganon away…. Or so I've been told all my life…. And yet… Grandmother heard them—the voices from the spirit realm."

At that moment, oh so subtly, the dutiful knight turned his head. "Princess?"

Either she ignored him or didn't hear him, because she continued on. As she spoke, as she cursed the religion, he listened, but did not move. Finally, with her hands clutching her arms, she cried out her final plea, "Please just tell me… what is it? What's wrong with me?"

It was then that he picked up his sword and turned to face her. There were a couple of beats where he seemed to consider the consequences of what he was about to do, before he lowered himself from the platform down into the water and waded out towards her.

"Pr… Zelda?"

She gave a start, but did not turn to face him. The tone of her voice made her irritation known. "You shouldn't be in here. What about your 'rules'?"

He shrugged as he looked up at the statue. "I don't care anymore. Let it be chaos."

Zelda turned, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and surprise. "Do you mean it?"

"Damn the rules. I swore my life to you," he said as he looked her in the eyes. "I do not fight for a religion, nor a statue, nor a god or goddess. My devotion is not to your father or mine. I fight for you. Beside you. I will defeat Calamity Ganon for you."

The memory came to an end, uncharacteristically short considering the amount of revelations shown in other visions of the past. Before either one could speak about the memory, the warm fires emitting from Dinraal drew their attention to where he was perched high on the grassy overlook that surrounded the spring.

"Welcome to the Spring of Power," the dragon greeted.

Zelda looked to Link before replying. "We've come to face the Test of Power."

"There is no need for either of you face a test from me," Dinraal replied. "Princess, you stemmed the tide of Calamity Ganon's rise for over a century. Hero, you were able to defeat monsters and beasts along the road to your ultimate victory over the Darkness. Both of you have more than proved your strength of power in the eyes of the goddess."

Zelda began to glow red as the uppermost Triforce piece in her hand began to glow brighter than the other two. As before, the light rose from her chest and flowed into Link, transferring part of the power from the princess into her knight.

When it was over, Dinraal lingered with a warning. "Princess, if you haven't already noticed, you will soon find yourself weakening. Do not be alarmed, but I would caution you both against speeding off to visit the final spring so soon. The Triforce no longer is a threat to the princess's life, but too much of it either drained from or added to you could be a shock to your lifeforce. A week or so to yourselves would do you both some good."

As the dragon bid them farewell and rose up to the sky portal, Link looked at the second Triforce piece glowing white-hot in his hand. He felt even stronger than before, but what's more, he sensed a pull towards the figure standing beside him.

"Do you feel it too? The pieces calling to one another?" she asked, observing her own hand. "It wants to be reunited."

He nodded, suddenly realizing the reason for Farosh coaxing out their confessions of love. Had they waited, they might have always wondered if their feelings were caused by the Triforce pull instead of their own true affections.

"What should we do with our break?" Zelda asked. "A break. What an odd concept for us. I'm not sure either of us have ever had a break in our lives."

Link suddenly felt guilty for his hours spent hunting Koroks. "We did have the day at the beach," he reminded her. "We could do that again."

A mischievous look crossed her features, and she pressed closer to him. "Or, we could try something new."

Their hands began to roam. His found the nape of her neck as their lips pressed in together, and he gently pulled her in even closer. He used his tongue to gently prod her mouth. She was surprised, but did not resist, and as he tried something new, she too explored. He felt a chill as her hands inched slowly closer to his waist, and he pulled away.

"Wait," he said huskily. His last resolve was melting as he looked into her longing eyes.

"Your rules again?" she asked

"No. Well, not my rules anyway. It's just… I think there is something we should do first."

… … …

In the middle of Lake Akkala, in the middle of the night, an elderly Zora stood with a pair of Hylians before a statue. Their only witnesses were a pair, a large man and a very tall woman, both surrounded by green, glowing flames.

"Link, before the eyes of these… um... witnesses and before those of Goddess Hylia, do you take Zelda to be your wife, to have and to hold, in good times and in bad?"

"I do," Link said with a smile.

"And Zelda, before the eyes of these witnesses and before those of Goddess Hylia, do you take Link as your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health?"

"I-"

The Zora continued, "And do you also vow to name your children in accordance with the Bolson Construction naming guidelines?"

Zelda flustered. "Um... I…"

"Oh, right. Ignore that last part," Kapson said. "Just the other thing."

She smiled at Link. "I do."

Whatever was said after that, Link was too enchanted by the sight of his wife before him. Wife. From what he remembered of his past life, he never gave much thought to the idea of becoming a husband. Now, he had a wife. He had awoken alone in the world, unsure if he had any relatives, and now, he had a family.

She gave him a nudge so that he could bid a final farewell to their gathered guests. With all unfinished business wrapped up by knowing Zelda was in good hands, King Rhoam's and Lady Urbosa's spirits were finally at peace to rest. As they disappeared, a third ghostly figure was visible, though it left so suddenly they did not get a clear look more to identify him as a male and a Hylian.

"If you'd like, there is room at the inn," Kapson offered. Before Link could come up with an excuse, the wise Zora added, "Though, you newlyweds will have only one thing in mind right now, and an inn is a somewhat public place."

Link cleared his throat. "Yes, well, we were thinking of moving on." He paused, and seeing Zelda's tired expression, he capitulated. "But one night would be nice."

"Splendid!" Kapson exclaimed. "I'll prepare a bed for you."

As they watched the Zora lumber away, Link pulled Zelda into his embrace.

"Husband," she said smiling. "Who would have thought our lives would take this turn?"

His knowledge of the past heroes and princesses was that not all ended up together, and some in fact, had not survived at all. As he looked at his own princess, his wife, something inside him couldn't believe this was happening. "Are you happy?"

"You make me happy," she replied with her hands on his chest. "Whatever challenges are in store for our future, I know we will be okay if we face them together."

There was a moment when she looked away, causing him to ask, "What is it?"

"The memories," she began, gently touching that tender spot on his chest that she had explored the night before. "There's something you still don't know. It's about what's coming… I just… should I have told you? Should I tell you now?"

He considered this question again, knowing or not knowing? "It's about my father, isn't it?" he asked, to which she gave him an uncertain nod. It had been building in the memories for so long, this straining relationship between father and son. While the scenes had been removed when he viewed his past before, clearly there was something about the man and what ultimately happened to him that might have distracted from Link's mission to defeat Calamity Ganon. "We'll face it together, when the time comes," he replied finally.

That night, with his wife in his arms, Link slept through the night in a dreamless sleep, never once hearing the sound of the Sheikah Slate signaling an update:

** Mysterious Voice - Sacred Grounds **

A strange yet familiar voice has tasked you and Princess Zelda with reliving memories of your past. Visit in chronological order. By figuring out the mistakes you both made before the Calamity occurred, you can create a record to guide Hyrule in the future.

An encounter with the princess who faced Ganon 10,000 years ago has led you to seek out the ancient hero to see if he knows a way to save Zelda from the strange affliction caused by the Triforce. Having visited with the Champions of old, you should both pay a visit to the three springs. By splitting the power between you both, it will force it to rest until it is needed once more by future generations.

Congratulations, Hero of Legend and Princess Zelda. May you have every happiness in your life together.

** Memories revisited: 14/19 **

** Tests completed: 2/3 **

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'd like to think that this chapter and the next are like the calm before the storm.