"You did WHAT!?" Urbosa stood gaping at Link, not sure weather to be angry or concerned first. Link had come inside and immediately sought her out. He found her in the guard's training room working on new spear techniques. He had almost snapped his wrist explaining everything."Link, I know you're a skilled solider, but hand to hand combat? He'll kick your..."
"Language!" The Gerudo scoffed.
"Forget that! Look, you're going to have to do some serious training with Daruk if you want to stand a chance. You should take this up with him."
"Right right. Thanks..." A piercing scream echoed through the castle, cutting Link off. He and Urbosa shared a quick glance before racing upstairs. Both had their weapons ready. They burst through the hall doors only to find Daruk and Revali nervously pacing outside the infirmary door. Well, Revali wasn't pacing, but he was nervously preening his feathers.
"What's going on?" Urbosa demanded. "We heard screaming!"
"Calm down. We aren't under attack. Zelda went into labor a few hours ago. I guess the last contraction hit harder than the others. Mipha is in there with her now, along with the doctor."
"Thanks Revali." Link signed as he rushed into the room, Urbosa not too far behind.
Inside, the princess lay panting and sweating on the bed. She looked so tired, even more so than after she sealed Ganon away. Her eyes were closed, but tears still managed to escape. Mipha sat in a chair next to the bed, holding the young queen's hand tight. From her other hand came a soft blue glow. She rested this hand on Zelda's stomach to ease the queen's pain.
"You've done wonderfully, Zelda. Congratulations." The Zora cooed softly. She looked up from the queen, finally spotting Urbosa and Link in the doorway. She smiled and waved them inside.
"Is she okay?" Urbosa asked. Link took his wife's hand.
"She's fine, but exhausted. Let her sleep. For now, we have a little surprise for you, Link." As if on cue, the doctor came back inside. He had not one, but two little bundles in his arms. Link's jaw dropped.
"Congratulations, Sir Link. You've been blessed with twins! The little prince was born first, then the princess. Again, congratulations." He handed the baby girl to Link. The boy was given to Mipha. Though it seemed impossible, the Hylian champion was even more speechless than usual.
"Wow." He muttered. She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. The baby in his arms opened her eyes. She blinked, adjusting to the light. She squeaked, then started to fuss. The boy must have heard her, because he too started to fuss. Zelda awoke at the sound.
"The children are hungry, your majesty." Mipha said gently. The young queen nodded slightly, still only half awake. She didn't notice Link or Urbosa, who was still standing in the doorway. The Gerudo was content to just watch for now. Mipha placed the squealing boy in his mother's arms. She adjusted herself and the baby and let him nurse. She watched her son with the biggest, proudest smile the other three had ever seen her sport. The love in her eyes overflowed, erasing the pain and exhaustion from her features. The baby finished with a slurping noise, and fell asleep again. When Zelda handed him back to Mipha and looked for her daughter, she caught sight of her two visitors.
"Oh! Link, Urbosa, how long have you been standing there?" Link laughed a bit as he handed Zelda their daughter.
"Pretty much the whole time." Urbosa answered. "It looks like you've truly been blessed, little bird."
"I have to agree. I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner." Zelda situated the baby girl before taking Link's hand. She smiled.
"It's quite alright. It all happened so fast that we forgot to send an attendant for you. I'm just glad you're here now." She turned her head to smile at Mipha. "And thank you, Mipha."
"It was my pleasure. Do you want me to get the other two outside?"
"In a moment, yes. For now," Zelda looked back to Urbosa. "Urbosa, would you like to hold him?"
"Oh, yes. If I may." Mipha carefully stood and handed the little boy to her. Urbosa was fascinated; she'd never seen a newborn Hylian, much less a boy. She noted how red he was, and how he had a lot of wrinkles. Still, he was probably the third cutest thing she'd seen; the first being Zelda as a baby and the second at the moment was Mipha's baby brother, who was most certainly almost full grown by now. "He looks a lot like you, little bird."
"I suppose he does. But this little one definitely favors her father." Zelda stroked her daughter's head. When the baby finished nursing, she handed her back to Link and fixed her shirt. "Okay, Revali and Daruk can come in."
"I'll let them know. Oh, what are their names?" Mipha asked.
"Oh right. Link had wanted to name his son Zander, and I wanted to name my daughter Elizabeth. Since Hylia gave us twins, we can both get our wish. So, as queen of Hyrule, I officially welcome Prince Zander and Princess Elizabeth to the royal family." Zelda looked at her daughter and smiled. "But you're such a little thing for such a big name, why don't we call you Liz for short." She cooed.
"...I... Agree." Link mumbled.
"Okay, I'll bring in Revali and Daruk." Mipha exited the room. After a few minutes, in came the remaining champions. Daruk refused to handle the tiny babies. He knew his strength and didn't want to hurt them by mistake. Revali thought they were cute, but refused to say so at first. Then Link remembered what happened outside the gates.
"Daruk, Zelda, Urbosa, can I talk to you three alone for a minute?"
"Of course Link." Zelda said. Mipha nodded. Urbosa handed Zander to her, and the Zora left the room. Link held Liz out to Revali.
"Uhm... I'm not sure about thi- Oh!" Link gently shoved the baby into Revali's wings. The Rito begrudgingly took her. He followed Mipha outside. He found her in the sitting room reclining on one of the couches with Zander asleep against her chest.
"Is it your first time holding a baby?" Mipha asked him as he sat down stiffly next to her in a chair.
"With a Hylian anyway. Normally, Rito mothers lay their eggs, sit on them for a few weeks, then when it hatches, soft foods are given until they grow their down." He glanced at Liz, who was staring at him. She snuggled into his feathers best she could against the blanket. She made a happy little noise before falling asleep. Revali froze. He couldn't stop the smile creeping across his beak. He relaxed a bit.
"I think she likes you." Mipha said. Revali full on smiled and nodded. He didn't have the heart to make a snobby comment.
It was an hour before everyone else, excluding Zelda, who was ordered to stay in bed, came back from the infirmary. By that point, Revali and Mipha had already put the children to bed in the nursery. Both knew something was off instantly.
"What's wrong?" Mipha asked. Link sighed.
"I accepted a challenge for the throne from a Yiga master. He threatened to wipe out the four races if I refused. I didn't have a choice."
"Well, it shouldn't be too difficult. You took down Calamity Ganon." Revali said.
"The battle will be hand to hand combat. No weapons, winner has to kill the loser." Urbosa clarified.
"Oh."
"How did Zelda react?" Mipha asked, expecting the worst.
"She didn't seem upset when he mentioned the threat. She just asked that he train hard with me." Daruk explained. He put his large hand on Link's shoulder. "If you guys want to help, he and I are meeting in sanctum tomorrow at eight in the morning."
"We'll keep that in mind. For now, it's been a long day. We should probably get some sleep." The other champions agreed.
Link was alone in his and Zelda's room that night. He tossed and turned, still wondering if he had made the right decision. Suddenly there was a flash; a figure stood before him, cloaked in a light so bright, Link had to look away at first.
"Link..." Its voice in his head whispered. "Heed my warning: Do not get attached to your children, place them instead in the care of the champions. Leave your possessions to your daughter, for your son holds the sealing power of legend. The spirit of the sword calls out to your daughter. She will hear it soon enough."
"But, why? What about my wife?" Link thought.
"Fear not, hero. I have visited her as well. Now, write this which I shall tell you next in a letter." Link shot out of bed and grabbed some paper and a quill. He nodded once and the voice continued.
"Two champions must, immediately following the challenge, take my son to the village in which Impa resides. A home will be provided for you there. Do not visit your home villages until he is seventeen. Take only my sheikah slate.
"To the remaining two champions, immediately following the challenge, take my daughter to the village overlooked by Purah's lab. I own a secluded home with a sign that says, 'Link's house' in front of it. Go and live with her there. Take my gear and my equipment, including the Master Sword and Hylian Shield. Take also the champions picture hanging above the crib. Do not visit your home villages until she is seventeen.
"Sign your name on the bottom and seal the letter." Link did as the voice told. "Let nobody know that the champions live, or that you have had children. Zelda knows this too. Give the champions this letter right before you leave for the battle. I shall see you again on that day."
"Okay... I guess?" The glowing figure nodded, then vanished.
Link jolted awake suddenly. He glanced at his desk, praying that he had just been having a nightmare. What he saw made him cry. There it was, the sealed letter on his desk, waiting for the fateful challenge day.