Disclaimer: GrimGrave does not own any of the characters of their respective franchises; Metroid and Legend of Zelda belongs to Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo, while Soul Calibur belongs to Namco Bandai. GrimGrave does not make money for writing fiction.

A Hylian's Harem

Epilogue #6

The Friendship that Bloomed into Love

It is something that grows over time... a true friendship. A feeling in the heart that becomes even stronger through time...The passion of friendship will soon blossom… Young love will become deep affection...

Link stared up at the sky, lost in his train of thoughts while he fished by the river. The Hylian wondered many a times if Sheik's words had perhaps, even way back then, reflected her feelings. It warmed his heart thinking that she had, and simultaneously struck him with guilt for being oblivious to her and her feelings.

Not that it mattered now; life in Kakariko Village had been joyous so far, with Link and Sheik moving in together in Impa's house – the Sage of Shadow lived in the castle anyway – and the Hero was surprised still at how… right it all felt.

Ever since he had come to realize that his heart belonged to Sheik, everything had felt natural. Of course he loved her – he loved her above everything else! She had always been there for him in times of need, guiding and supporting Link through and through. He had missed Sheik when she wasn't around and was overcome with joy whenever they met, but never had he considered those emotions to be… well, romantic.

He had been ashamed when he first came to realize his error.

Link pulled on his fishing pole and bemusedly admired his catch as he thought about that day…

/ "I feel that I have to ask you again… Pardon my stubbornness…" Sheik said, uncharacteristically averting her gaze. She had managed to drag Link out of the castle after he had confessed to her – in front of everybody – and she was visibly taken aback, still.

"Are you really… speaking the truth?" she asked him. "I may not have been as unsubtle as I could, but… had you not even the slightest idea?"

"I have no excuse," Link admitted. "I have been oblivious. I realized it when I thought things through, and remembered your words…The more I thought back on them, the more it made sense and…" He hung his head in shame. "I am sorry. You must resent me."

"I couldn't possibly hate you," the Sheikah was quick to say. "But it did hurt to see you together with the others… and I don't want have my heart broken because your feelings are confused. So, Link… are you speaking the truth? It is I who has managed to ensnare your heart?"

The Hero smiled at her. "I love you, Sheik. I speak from the bottom of my heart when I say that."

Sheik managed a smile and leant close, her arms wrapping around the Hylian. "Good…Because I never intend on letting you go. Not now. I waited for seven years, and more, for this day…"

Embracing the Sheikah, Link leant in and kissed her, and he swore little sparks went off in his brain. This was nothing like their earlier kisses; Link reciprocated fervidly, his heart – and Sheik's – racing uncontrollably beneath their chests.

The Sheikah pulled back, albeit reluctantly. "Our hearts are beating as one, Link. Can you feel it?"

A nod. "Yes…I've only felt like this once…"

"When?"

"When you kissed me the first time," he replied. Her scarlet pools widened and she released a breathless gasp before claiming those lovable lips of his again, embracing the Hero for dear life.

"I've waited for this day…" she said, surprisingly meekly. "I love you. I can't express it any other way."

"It's alright," he said. "I love you too. I kept you waiting… but I'm here now."

Sheik managed a soft laughter and kissed him again. /

He had been a fool – but a happy fool, he remained.

With enough fish caught from the river, Link ventured back to his home – home, where he was supposed to be. It was evening already: the sky was golden-crimson. He had been away for a while now, but the fish he had caught would make up for it. Everyone loved fresh fish.

Years had passed since that bittersweet day. While Link had unfortunately lost some friends, he had gained a life-partner and counted himself as blessed to be married with Sheik; a dear friend-turned-lover-turned-wife. She was strict and seemed cold sometimes but behind that was a young woman whose heart had always belonged to him. And now, Link's heart belonged to Sheik.

He entered the quiet, quaint little village, greeting a few of the villagers along the way. As he climbed the staircase, his heart melted at the sight. No matter how often he saw it, Link always took a few moments to silently watch.

Sheik stood outside their house; she still wore her tribe's garbs and she had let her hair grow quite a bit and had twisted it into a braid. And while she was still beautiful, Link's eyes shifted focus past her.

A pair of children – twins, one boy and one girl – dressed in Sheikah clothes, stood at attention and mimicked their mother's movements. The pair of bundles of joy was the newest blessings in Link's and Sheik's lives, and seeing them together made the Hero glad that he had given Sheik a chance.

It had been long overdue, but the friendship he and Sheik had long ago formed had grown and bloomed into love – the source to Link's happiness for years, and many more years to come.

Smiling to himself, he walked over to the three. The children were first; running up to their father, they tackled and hugged him whilst their mother chuckled and walked over to her husband's side.

She kissed him. "Welcome home, my love."

"I'm home," he replied.

X.x.X

Link married Sheik after three years after the day he proclaimed his love for her. Their life together was said to be blissful, fitting the era of peace they all lived in. Despite the peace, Sheik insisted on training their children in the ways of her people with the help of Impa, on the grounds that "they must be taught – they must be prepared – should something happen when we're gone."

The couple lived out their days in Kakariko, where they were buried. Their children lived on with the rest of the few remaining "Shadow Folk", carrying on their parents' legacy through many, many years.