This is an AU idea I have for in between Breath of the Wild and Breath of the Wild 2. Meaning when the game does launch. It won't have any link to it. I am going on my own ideas. As well as how I am currently playing the game. That is right, I am playing still. I am taking my sweet time and exploring every inch Hyrule has to offer while playing it my way at the same time. I also have three horses. My first was Midna (whom I had to resurrect cause a Lynel killed her), another female named Mipha and a stallion (the white one) which I named Regal. So now you know a bit of my game play :3

The days of Calamity Ganon have come to an end at last. The journey Link took upon himself after 100 years finally completed. The malice that once had its grip upon the land gone. The threat of the calamity and its monsters banished. Zelda is even back, safe and dressed like she had been in his memories. Though he couldn't recall all of his old past, Link knew he had fulfilled his task as a champion. He aided the princess as best as he could and the victory was earned. Yet, the more he listened to her and what they had to do now. His body just didn't seem to wish to do no more. Link knew Hyrule had to be built up again but what else could be built? The castle may be in ruins but that surely could be built back up right? Unless the memories she had retained haunted her.

Victory Over Calamity

Chapter 1

His silence is noticed and his mind brought to the present moment. Zelda leaning close to him with a concerned expression. Link took a step back and with a hand held up, smiles. The only way to calm the princess down. Her eyes once again turn back to the slate and he hears her comment about how many points they could easily travel too thanks to his exploration. He does his best to listen to how she planned to visit the Divine Beast Ruta but the idea of going back to where Mipha was. As much as Zora's Domain felt at home and honored to know Mipha loved him, even in death. He wasn't the same and his love for her seemed to be different. Link couldn't recall much of his time with her still and the more he forced it, the worse his headaches became. In the end, the hero gave up and would let the memories return when they wished.

In the time he explored, he honestly found Gerudo Town the best place for him. True he had to wear that...garb and fake his way in. Risking all the women there finding out he is a voe and not a vai but hey, it was nice. He didn't always visit the town. He had a male outfit to explore the desert. It came in handy. In fact, he got most of his gear he would need out of the Sheika Slate and into his saddle bags. That included his equipment as well but he left her the basics. It was her slate after all, not his own.

"Well, it is safe to say that...due to the inability to transport the horses the quick way. We'll have to travel by them." The princess slung the slate onto her belt. "Now that we have finished our task, it is best we set upon our next one. Hyrule won't rebuild itself."

The princess turns and heads to her white stallion. Link turning to follow but unable to move. Thinking about what he should do. As a knight, it was his sworn duty by the order of the king to protect the princess during the times of Calamity Ganon. Now, there was no king, no calamity. Hyrule had its peace. Now, what did he do? His job is complete. The Yiga clan disbanded. There is no real point in him staying, right?

"Link, are you sure you are alright? You seem distant." The princess's voice has him look up. "Do you have doubts? About staying at my side?"

Her words didn't cut him deep but they brought forth how he felt. Link did have doubts. Would he be of use? She had the slate that held tools for her own protection. Did she even need him? No monsters, no Yiga Clan...no real threat. In fact, the Zora's would no doubt put her under their protection as would the Gorons. Protection that would far surpass his current exhausted body.

"Link," Zelda sighs. "You are my sworn knight. It is okay to have doubts."

The hero walks to his horse. Pulling himself onto her back and feeling her stay still. Thinking still about what it was that he wanted. During his travels, he often frequented the Gerudo Queen's chambers and personal balcony. Talking with Riju and learning about her and feeling relaxed enough to let her see how he actually looks. The young queen was impressed and said for him to be a hundred and look no older than she was. It was impressive. Riju also made it clear she enjoyed older men. A curious hmm has his attention focused on Zelda as she brought her horse to stand still next to his. A picture Ruji took of the two in the desert on screen. Him smiling happily with her on his back and her holding the camera out to take a picture of her kissing his cheek.

"What is this about?" She shoved it closer to his face."Who is this on your back?"

The once gentle tone was now harsh. As if he had insulted her somehow by enjoying another's company. He went to speak but the princess clearly had more to say.

"What exactly were you up to while I was fighting Calamity Ganon? Were you...courting another while still being MY sworn knight?" The princess asks. "Or was someone courting you and you just didn't understand the methods of their culture?"

The hero knew if he told Zelda that he did enjoy the young queen's company more, then he knew she would no doubt be angry. Yet she also insulted him. While she was fighting the Calamity, he had been preparing himself for battle. He awoke days, maybe months ago at a shrine. No weapons, no memory save for her voice guiding him and the slate. He had to build his strength from the ground up and here she was. Accusing him of fooling around for a single week? A week he took because he had been severely overheated as well as injured after the battle in a desert?

"Your Highness, I merely to-" A finger inches from his nose cuts him off.

"Do not lie either. You are my sworn knight. I can easily dismiss you!" She spat, finger still close to his nose. "You are meant to keep me safe and I was to be your top priority. Now why is this...female on your back?"

The hero tried again to speak but the scholar princess deletes the image.

"I can't believe the person I trusted most would make someone else more important. To believe I have to keep you at my side." The angered princess no longer cared to look his way.

"Then I guess I can't stay at your side as my oath says I should." Link spoke, surprising Zelda enough to look at him. "Henceforth, I Sir Link leave your service. I no longer will be here to ruffle your mind or be an annoyance to your presence." Zelda clearly went to make a remark about his sword but he shut her up this time. "This sword has been in my family for generations. It shall stay in my family. I am no longer bound to you and will see myself to where I belong."

The hero has his horse turn south. The princess stunned for words at this point. It is only when he has Midna start a slow trot that she yells for his return. The ex knight ignores her though. Having Midna gallop down the winding road. Turning off the beaten path when he heard Zelda's horse coming after him. He lost her easily by taking a shorter path. There were two roads leading to his destination. One more traveled and the other less. Zelda didn't know the map like he did. Link had climbed, dropped, and other various methods to explore Hyrule from top to bottom. Every short path, every shortcut all found by him. Many of which lead to towns but one that leads to the desert itself. Following his path, he runs around the River of the Dead. Making a long turn until he saw a long slant of grass going towards the main path once again. Midna knew this route and easily skids down to the road. Galloping along Gerudo Canyon Pass happily as always. While horses couldn't run the desert, there was a stable she could stay in at the entrance.

Link pats his horse on the side of her head. Earning a happy swish of her mane as he has her trot now. He took this chance to start changing. Pulling his worn leather boots off first and stuffing them into the saddle bag with difficulty. When he couldn't handle the frustration, Midna stops and lets him off. Allowing him to dig out the outfit he needed most. Pulling his trousers next. With a quick switch, he has the green voe pants on. As well as the belts of gold and other extensions it came with to hold the pants in place. Placing the green fabric on and the gold plates and shoes on. He pulls off the champion tunic next and gets the single green sleeve on and the remaining gold accessories for his body and hair on. Once done, he packed away his champion outfit neatly. Pulling himself back up onto Midna. The horse is back to trotting.

He knew where they were. His mind saw them passing Mount Nabooru and seconds after, they entered Koukot Plateau. Soon enough, she began to gallop her way through it. The PTSD of their journey through there kicking in. Landslides were so common and his poor Midna suffered many close calls through this point. The safety of the Gateway Stable calling for her to hurry and Link's desire to get her safely through pushing her onwards. If he had the slate then he could have warped here but he refused to take that item away. It was Zelda's. He had been borrowing it. Midna's pace slows from a gallop to a trot and soon, she stops at the Gerudo Canyon Stable. The familiar man walked to Link as he had done so in the past.

"I hear you have defeated the Calamity at last." He grabs the ex Knight's hand and shook it. "Thank you. Words can not express how grateful Hyrule is to you and your efforts. Thanks to you, we can now be free to rebuild our homeland."

Link nods and smiles at the praise. Focusing on the present as best as he could to listen. Everyone in the area came over and gave him praise as well. Telling him his victory was well earned and hard fought. The hero looks towards the Gerudo Desert Gateway. When the people around him finished their praise. He writes that he wished for Midna to be taken into their care. He'd be crossing the desert. He would take all his saddle bags with him across the desert to avoid trouble storing the items. The people disagree in seconds. Everyone taking a part of the bag into their own and saying they would carry it to his destination. He is thankful and when Midna is free of her weight. The group walks with him towards the Gateway and through it. Entering the desert and talking to him. All thanking him and updating him that the minute he won. The monsters that had been festering around just vanished. Puffs of black smoke fading in the wind, as if they had never been there to start.

Hearing the news has his heart feel relieved to know they managed to stay safe. Now they all made plans to expand their own trade or explore more. All happy to have the chance to maybe even make Hyrule better than it had been before. The group makes it Kara Kara Bazaar and see Gerudo Women surrounding the middle of the bazaar. Even the Merchants are on high alert. They put his things down the minute two guards command them to. Letting the two tall women search the bags while another looks Link up and down.

"Wait, Queen Riju...it is Link."

The minute he heard Riju, his body felt at home. Seeing her turn and look his way had him give her a warm smile. One she returned while hastily swimming to land. Running towards him, soaking wet and hugging him. She had grown more since his last visit. The young queen looked young but now stood at his exact height. No doubt she would grow to be much taller than himself.

"I heard the news. We have won. Hyrule is ours." Ruji leans back. "But...I was told you would follow Zelda."

With a wave of her hands, guards from around grab his items and begin the long walk back to Gerudo Town. A couple stand closer with more closing the circle and soon following her and Link. The pair are walking back to town now as well. Link signing to her all he and Zelda spoke after the battle and how the princess took to their picture together on the slate. Even mentioning how she deleted in rage over him enjoying the queen's company. It didn't really seem to aggravate Riju though. Seems the young queen expected this reaction. After all, he was still Zelda's sworn knight at the time. Pictures with another would look bad to anyone expecting their knight to prioritize them only. She seemed content to have him at her side and thrilled to hear he would be at her side for good. He excused himself of the princess's service since his job is complete. She let him take a break from signing and leans against him. The other guards no care towards the motion of Link touching the queen.

"The divine beast…" Ruji looks towards it. "It stopped working once the battle ended." She looks back to Link. "I knew the minute it stopped, you won. I was so proud to know...that the hero had completed his quest. Nor could I wait to see you once again. I know I am young and that technically you are over a hundred but I can't help but feel pulled towards you."

She stops walking. So does Link, who is solely focused on her.

"I know you feel the same. With your feelings in mind, I wish to ask for your hand. I am aware of how this may look to others but the times we spent in that week. The days you would visit to help me or my people. Those were always the best to me." She puts one hand over her heart. "You began to make my heart long for you when you left and make it flutter with joy when around. I feel so relaxed with you. Even when guarded, I feel so calm."

"I feel the same. I know I had someone I loved a hundred years ago but I am not the same as I was back then." Link gives her a warm smile. "I'd like to be at your side, if you'll have me."

"I would have it no other way Link."

The queen got closer and carefully took his hand into hers. Placing the other hand against his chest.

"Then let's get you to town. I have to check for wounds. I am sure you have some. You are reckless in battle." Ruji jokes then with a serious tone, speaks: "Guards, run ahead and tell the others to prepare the medics. The champion of Hyrule is home."

"Right away your highness!"

The entire group went ahead. Riju carefully hooked her arm with his and walked at a slow and steady pace back to Gerudo Town.

"We also have to get you ready for nights here. You always complained that Hyrule was often always too cold. Will you be okay?" Her worry asks.

He nods, "I'll be fine."

"Good, because I expect a champion to handle a bit of cold weather." She laughs.