We walked through the East Gate, to find a giant crowd waiting for us. "Tell them what happened, Zelda, Link!" Midna hissed, from Link's shadow.
"Well, who?"
"I don't care, pick one!"
Zelda stepped forward, after clearing her throat to quiet the crowd, she folded her hands and put her public speaking skills to use. "My good Hylians, some of you may not have been aware, but as of a few minutes ago, Hyrule and Cateline just won a war that has been waging for almost a year. It was against an Usurper King that plunged our land into darkness. His name was Zant, and he hailed from a land called the Twilight Realm. Our land, and the neighboring one to the North, Cateline, was plunged into Twilight until our two heroes, Link and Elyon, banished it.
"Unfortunately, when confronting Zant, they found that he was puppet to much greater evil. His name was Ganondorf. 100 years ago, he was banished from Hyrule, two the Twilight Realm, and used Zant as a puppet to get what he wanted. We have just returned from a battle, a battle that won our freedom!"
There was much cheering at this.
"But this took effort, and this took teamwork. I want to show you the Heroes of Twilight!" Her hand flung out to Link and I. While he was searching the crowd for someone, I raised a hand and waved at the people there.
They 'aww'ed at something, and I looked down to find mine and Link's hands still connected. I blushed, but didn't let go. "There is one more person; we couldn't have done it without her."
What was Zelda playing at?
"Zelda, what are doing?" Link hissed.
"Unfortunately, due to certain circumstances, the third hero could not be here with us right now, but she is still in her hearts, and we will never forget her.
"Please, everyone, the Heroes of Twilight!"
And the cheers wouldn't stop.
.~:*:~.
The next morning, while sitting atop the gate, watching the masons and welders work, I saw the royal standard hoisted high.
Cateline's royal standard.
Heading a group of soldiers was the royal family. Rennifer included. I ran out to meet them. "The restorations back home are basically done, so I think that Hyrule would like some aid."
I swept a bow, and said "We have suffered much."
The Queen frowned, I was well known to them by now, no doubt. I saved their homeland from Twilight, my best friend was marrying the Prince, and I was already a city leader's family member.
To them, I was a full-blood Catelinian.
But after all of this, I wasn't sure anymore.
"Shall we go see Queen Zelda, Your Majesties?" I asked, trying to ease the tension in the air. "She's the one who's running the restoration; some of the Hylian troops have been stretched thin because they had to go to Kakariko over in Eldin Province."
"Stay here." The King instructed his men, before beckoning his family (and Ren) to follow him, and by extension, me. I led them through Castle Town to the base of the restoration. Where else?
Telma's bar.
The bar part was temporarily suspended to make it safe and proper for our Queen-their Queen. My Queen too. . .
Queen Zelda, okay?
I still have to work this out.
I swept another bow to the leader of Hyrule. "Milady, the royal family of Cateline with regimens of soldiers have arrived to assist u- the Hylians with the restoration."
Zelda looked up at me from a chart she had been studying. "Thank you, Lady Heroine. Re Neo, Regina Kyrie, Principe Vaughn, Lady Rennifer." She rose with a grace I envied, and took all of their hands. "I thank you very much for the help. The most we are working on is the Castle, as the monsters that inhabited it have largely destroyed it."
"Shall we take you to the troops, so you can start handing out jobs?" Re Neo offered. Zelda nodded, and grabbed some blueprints and parchment, shoved them in a messenger bag, and put it on her shoulder.
I really admired her.
Smiling, I walked away, leaving them to their work. No matter how many times we offered to help restore the world, Link and I were always shoved off, told to go back and rest, that we had done enough already. I walked back to the Inn, where Zelda, Link, Midna and I were staying for the time being.
I walked in, and sat down in the bay window that they had in the downstairs/lounge area. I should probably tell you what's been going on since the battle, since about three weeks have passed.
The Gorons have continued their efforts to control their mines, began to regain their culture, and were helping clear the path to the Gerudo Desert.
The children were finally headed back to Ordon, with Colin following in Link's footsteps and acting as a guard. He had a wooden sword and shield made just for him.
Ralis was becoming accustomed to his place on the throne, and the Zora's prospered. He recently confided in me (when I went back for an actual visit and not an alarm call) that he had a vision of his Mother, telling him that she was proud of him and he was doing well.
I touched my earring at the thought and smiled. I was so proud of him.
Iza, Hena, and Coro recently had a reunion at Hena's fishing hole, having a fishing contest. I watched from the shadows, envious of something they had that I didn't.
A true family.
The Yetis continue to live peacefully up on Snowpeak, no longer a bother to the Zoras when they fished. Link often goes up and has snowboarding races with them.
Shad, Ashei, and Auru traveled to the Sacred Grove, in awe as they took it all in. Yes, they too had to deal with the Skull Kid. I had stitches from laughing so much when they informed me of what happened.
Colin's Mother, Uli, had a little baby girl. Colin would make a wonderful big brother. That is one blessed little girl, she won't know the time of unrest and fear. There was a large reunion in Ordon as families previously torn across provinces were brought back together.
Everything was shaping up.
But, I still had some unattended matters to fix. My heart was heavy, and I dreaded the journey I needed to take. Link suddenly opened the door, and found me. "Ely, she needs to go back. The path is finally clear to the desert; Zelda is leaving the restoration in the hands of the General while we're gone. She won't survive much longer if we stay here."
Guess what? I'm sick again! I go to soccer/football practice, and it's cold out, and I'm standing there with nothing to do and freezing my booty off. I come back, and mom's like 'How are you feeling?' And I said bad, and it turns out that my fever spiked up again. So, here's your chapter!