Author's Note: Okay, I actually came through on my promise that I'd update today! Last chapter from me, the master of cheesy love scenes :)
The Aftermath
My face was about an inch from Link's when I realized we weren't quite in Castle Town anymore. In fact, I had no idea where we were. We seemed to be floating in the sky, but when I looked down there was no ground below us. Also, Zelda was staring at Link sadly. We jumped apart.
Zelda stared at the ground. She thanked Link for saving Hyrule, but still seemed very negative about it. She apologised to Link for dragging him into her silly plan to stop Ganondorf from entering the Sacred Realm, and then she looked straight at him. "Now it is time for me to make up for my mistakes... you must lay the Master Sword to rest and close the Door of Time... however, by doing this, the road between times will be closed..."
She took a deep breath, and looked as if she was going to regret what she was about to say. "Link, give the ocarina to me. As a sage, I can return you to your original time with it. When peace returns to Hyrule, it is time for us to say good-bye. Now, go home, Link! Regain your lost time! Home... where you are supposed to be... the way you are supposed to be..."
"No way!" I shouted, breaking up the serene scene. Zelda and Link looked at me. "You're jealous! I don't believe you! Just because you send him back in time doesn't mean you get to be all lovey-dovey! Don't forget that you're a princess, and you have to marry who you're expected to marry!"
"Emmeline!" Link snapped. "That was way out of line! I'm not going to marry the princess, not now, and not then. I know how to make up my own mind. And she said why she was sending me back!"
"I'm sorry," I admitted miserably. "But I don't want you to go."
He kissed me, quickly and unexpectedly. "I know. But maybe someday, maybe in another timeline, we can fall in love." He sounded so sweet that I almost cried. I didn't only because I didn't want him to feel guilty. "Please send her to the celebration before you send me back," he murmured to Zelda. Just like that, I was at Lon Lon Ranch, in the midst of a huge party. I didn't want to be here. I wanted to be anywhere but here. I found a lonely corner and curled up there.
Someone cleared their throat. I looked up. It was Nathan, fins drooping. His face said everything I need to know. I stood up, hardly daring to believe it. "Where's Link?" he asked.
My eyes blurred, and I blinked away the tears, not wanting to cry. "He's... in the Temple of Time."
Nathan seemed to instantly understand. "When is he?"
"Seven years ago." I stared at him, and suddenly I wanted him again so badly. Falling for the Hero of Time was such a stupid idea. I could never be with someone like him. But Nathan, he was someone normal, someone I could be with, someone I needed. I stepped toward him unsteadily.
"Wait," he said, "I don't know if I can trust you anymore. The new you."
My hope drained. "Then why–"
He held up a hand to stop me. "I want our relationship back. But not now. Right now I just want to get to know you again."
I smiled at him as we walked toward the party together. "I would love that."
THE END