Sunlight blazed in through the room, glaring into Link's sleepy eyes. He yawned, and tried to stretch, only to find his arm movement limited. He looked down in confusion, only to find Zelda asleep on his arm, drooling into the bed. He chuckled lightly, lightly kissing her forehead. He slowly moved his arm out from her sleeping form and gently got off the bed.
"It might be a bit awkward if I bump into the king now…" Link thought. "Especially since I am leaving Zelda's room…"
He slowly put on his full tunic, and tightly fastened his boots, all the while trying not to wake Zelda. He hoisted his shield onto his back and went to pick up the Master Sword, but noticed it was unsheathed slightly.
"Huh, Fi must have been 'practising'…" Link mused, before hoisting it up as well, and firmly sheathing the mythical sword. "I suppose I should really return this to the Temple of Time now…" he thought. "I have no reason to keep it…" He walked to the door to go down to the temple, but turning the handle gently woke Zelda up.
"Link?" she asked groggily, slightly sitting up.
"Morning!" He replied cheerfully, walking back over to the bed and embracing her. "I was leaving, to return the Master Sword…"
Zelda nodded, hugging him back. "Are you okay doing it on your own? I mean, when you went to retrieve it…"
"I know what you're getting at…" Link chuckled, stroking her hair. "But this time, there isn't a psychopathic who wants to murder me in cold blood."
"True…" Zelda giggled, maintaining the hug. "Are you going to walk down?"
"You know what?" Link said. "I think I might teleport there. It might be the last chance that I get to do this, so I might as well…"
"Do you think multiple people could teleport?" Zelda asked, pulling away slightly. "I mean, if I held your arm or something while you did it…"
"Hey, what's the worst that could happen?" Link joked. "But, you might want to put something a little more decent on…" he murmured, glancing down at her nightgown.
Zelda blushed, and then hurriedly leapt off the bed. "My maids will be coming in soon, to change me. You might want to be scarce before they see you here…"
Link nodded. He quickly got over to her, kissed her quickly, and ran out of the room, leaving her slightly breathless.
Link wasn't caught by anyone as he exited the room. He narrowly avoided the maids walking down the corridor a minute later, but they just smiled at him and carried on. Sighing with relief, he walked down another corridor, leading down to the breakfast hall. The hall was deserted, so he just sat down at a chair, waiting for Zelda. It was while doing this that a familiar voice seemed to emerge from his bag, from the Fierce Deity…
"Link…" it whispered. "Brave Hero…"
"I'm listening" he replied softly.
"Before you allowed me to empower you, you promised that I would help you if you could help me…"
Link gulped, wondering what the Fierce Deity would demand. "I remember. Is there anything you want me to do?
"I want, I want you to ensure that my anger cannot be unleashed by any random person who could abuse it." The Fierce Deity continued. "You managed to control my power, quite masterfully might I add. That poor demon never knew what hit him…"
"Are you developing a sense of humour?" Link asked, smiling slightly.
"Humour is one way of trying to remove the pain I have felt. I may not show it that well, but I try and use it when possible."
"Anyway, what would you have me do?" Link said, returning to the subject. "Lock the mask away? Or try and destroy your mask? I'm sure that the Master Sword could make sure your evil is sealed away…"
"Actually… you might be on to something." The deity responded, excitement in his voice. "Unfortunately, my mask cannot be destroyed, it was created by Gods. However, its nature can be altered; evil can be purified by light..."
Link's eyes widened. "Light arrows? The Master Sword?"
"Maybe you should ask your companion…" the Fierce Deity suggested.
Link nodded. "Fi? You haven't sealed yourself away yet, have you?"
He got his answer moments later, with Fi surging forth from the Master Sword.
"You called, Master?"
"You've analysed everything about me, and my items, have you not?" Linked asked, raising an eyebrow.
"While you were not aware, yes…" Fi spoke, her tone never wavering.
"Do you think such an item as the Fierce Deity's Mask could be purified? All of its regrets and evil removed, so they can't be brought up again?"
Fi paused, processing. "Yes." She replied finally. "I believe the Master Sword should be enough. Just the process could be, shall we say, interesting."
"Really?" Link asked, feeling a surge from the Fierce Deity.
"Well, Master. The Master Sword could heal the mask, but not the spirit inside. So…"
Link finished. "The spirit needs to be purified." He lowered his head. "Do we need to stab the Deity's heart?"
"Oh no!" Fi called out, closing in on Link. Just a Skyward Strike should do. This does mean transforming again…"
Link breathed heavily. A sudden noise brought his attention back to reality, as he noticed Zelda standing in the doorway, gazing at Fi. "What's going on?" she asked, walking towards him.
"Fi knows how to purify the Fierce Deity, the spirit of the Mask I used…" Link murmured, reaching out for her hand, gently holding it. "I'm transforming again, into the Fierce Deity"
"Not in here you aren't!" came another voice from behind him. Link turned round, to see Impa standing there, fierce looking as always.
"Well obviously not here…" Link sighed. "I was thinking of a larger space, maybe the field…"
"Well, that's one idea…." Impa hummed. "But his majesty has demanded that the person responsible for the protection of Hyrule recently is commended. Namely you, if you couldn't tell…"
"If I am to be commended," Link suggested. "Then the fierce Deity should be commended as well. He dealt the final blow…"
"Is that a good idea?" Zelda asked. "I mean, an 8 foot Deity intimidating the citizens… it might not go down well…"
"Well, I'll be in control…" Link sighed. "Plus, he could get his reward there, of being purified…"
"Master, if you don't mind being struck with sacred power, then that might be the best result, depending on where you are to be honoured, which you have most definitely earned over the recent days…" Fi spoke up.
"I second that." Impa continued, "as well as everyone who knows you…"
Link nodded. "That might be for the best…"
Later that day, a plinth had been erected in the middle of the town square by the king's workers. A huge crowd was gathered around it, all waiting to congratulate Link, unawares of what they were going to witness. Hylians, Zoras and Gorons were all intermixed, with Ruto and Dariuna proudly standing to the side, next to Link, Zelda and Impa. Daphnes was standing on stage, and greeted the crowd, accompanied by a royal fanfare.
"Citizens of Hyrule! Gorons, Zoras and Hylians!" he shouted, capturing their attention. "I am sure you know of the reason why we are here today. We are honouring a man, no, a hero who has long gone unrewarded for his brave and legendary actions. He saved Kakariko village and the Gorons from a devastating eruption, he protected the deity figure and king of the Zoras, and stopped multiple threats to innocent citizens in forms of pure terror. All of this work was at the hand of an ancient demon, which our hero showed no fear in facing up to, even when it seemed that he had no hope left, almost bleeding to death, only keep on going and driving the demon back. And even last night, he alone stopped an entire army at the control of this demon, destroying the army and Demon. I know he is not one for many words, but still, I invite onto stage, Link! Hero of Hyrule!"
This was met with rapturous applause, as Link walked slowly onto stage. The applause and cheering only grew louder as he stood there, and seemed like it would never end. Holding up one hand, he brought the crowd to silence.
"I first of all wish to thank you all, for coming here today and congratulating me, even though I feel that this is slightly unnecessary…" he smiled sheepishly, earning a light chuckle from the crowd. "I want you all to know that I did all of this because I wish to preserve this land, and all that it stands for. This land means too much to me for me to allow it to fall into fear and desperation at the hands of a sadistic demon."
"Secondly, I wish to correct his majesty on one detail." This earned a few more chuckles from the crowd, especially from the King himself. "Last night, fighting the Demon Lord for the final time, I was not alone. I did not deal the final blow… "
This shocked the crowd. One Goron called out, "Brother, what happened then?"
"Well, I intend to show you today, as this spirit deserves the recognition as much as I might do…" With this, Link unsheathed the Master Sword. He felt the awe and admiration of the crowd following the crowd, and then confusion, as he lowered the sword to the ground. He withdrew the Fierce Deity's mask, looked at the wide-eyed crowd and put the Mask on again.
Link looked up, after his body had finished growing. He saw the look of fear in the crowd's eyes, and chuckled slightly.
"I am known as the Fierce Deity…" he spoke, before an angry shout came from the crowd.
"What did you do to our hero?"
"Calm yourselves. Link is still here, controlling my movements. It is my words though that come from this body. I will admit, I have done terrible things in my long and arduous past. Things I do not wish to speak about. Things you do not wish to hear. Yet, Link has helped me, not only last night." This caused another layer of confusion in the crowd.
"I assume you all know the stories of Link going to Termina when he was still a child." The Deity continued. "There, he retrieved me from the clutches of another demon, Majora. He witnessed my power first hand, and sought to protect my power from the clutches of evil, from people who wish to abuse my power. I have never known anyone so dedicated to a cause as Link. And for that, I am forever indebted to him, although I know he feels indebted to me."
"My power is a power of evil origin, and Link has tamed that evil, using it for good, protecting the lives of innocent people. Yet, my evil still remains. And so, I must be purified…" The Fierce Deity took a step backwards, bracing himself. "When you are ready, Fi…."
"Of course, Deity…" came the response. The crowd gasped as they saw the Master Sword lift off the ground of its own accord. The Master Sword raised itself skyward, and became sheathed in sacred blue light. The sword slashed downwards, unleashing the energy on the deity.
The Deity screamed, collapsing to one knee, convulsing with energy. The majority of the crowd screamed, with some screaming Link's name. Their shouts were joined by those from Ruto, Zelda and Malon, who had worked her way to the front of the crowd. They all stopped making any noise when the deity's face started glowing. The light became dazzling, before dying down. The face that was in its place was the same as the one that had been, only somehow brighter, and lacked tribal markings. The Deity panted, gasping at the floor. Soon, he looked back up at the shocked crowd. It was then that the deity spoke.
"I feel, happiness. Joy. Love. Feelings that have been barred from my heart for such a time…" he gasped, looking up at the sky. "Thank you Link, thank you." He looked down at the floor, hand on heart. "With my evil gone, I dedicate my service only to you and the other Heroes who follow. May my power strengthen you in times of need. Not just of your need, but Hyrule's need." With this, The Deity smiled, and enjoyed the feeling. A slow clap started from some members of the crowd, then more and more. Soon, the entirety of the crowd was applauding the figure they had once feared.
The Purified Deity grinned, unsheathing his helixed sword, drawing gasps of awe. Swinging up at the sky, the beams of energy emitted from the sword were no longer green, but blue, similar to that of the skyward strike. Smiling even more, the Purified Deity leapt, landing on nearby roofs, and unleashed a barrage of attacks at the air, no longer feeling the anger and hatred of the eons gone by.
He turned, facing the crowd, who were craning their necks up at him. He sighed, a single tear slowly flowing down his cheek. "Thank you, Link…" He reached up, taking the mask off.
Link breathed deeply, and lifted the mask up, getting a better look at it. The markings on the mask had disappeared as well, leaving a single pure mask, which no longer emanated a suspicious aura. "Remember," a voice whispered. "I serve you now." Link looked back up at the crowd, putting the mask away. The crowd were mesmerised at what they had seen, looking at Link intently.
Link considered jumping down from the roof, but decided to shock the crowd one last time. He focused, and reappeared, facing the crowd.
"Where's he gone?" one female Zora shouted, before turning around and squealing. "How did you get there?" This alerted the entire crowd, who broke into a deafening applause. Link smiled, and slowly walked off the plinth. He stopped, picking up the Master Sword and sheathing it. "One more thing to be done." He whispered to Zelda. "Time to return this".
A/N: Thought's on the 'purified deity'? Suitable name or not? Some readers might see what the Deity said as suggesting that there may be another story following this timeline, featuring certain characters. Maybe, Maybe. All in good time. I have to finish this bastard of a story first…
Thanks for reading!