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Series title: The Shrinking Trilogy
Part 2: Hero, I've Shrunk the Princess!

Chapter 2
Author: Sailor Song
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Whatever possessed me to yell "ZELDA, NO!" at her, the words had left my mouth before I realized I had spoken.

With a look of confusion, she turned toward my direction, and for a moment, I thought she could see me. Her eyes narrowed as she looked directly at me, but her gaze was pulled away as my past self made a swift move to grab the knife from her hand, stopping her from what she was attempting to do.

"Give it back!"

"No."

The look on her face was almost as if he had slapped her across the face. "You...you cannot defy an order from your princess. Link, give it back now."

He slid the knife into its holder, and while continuing to ignore her demands, he began to unstrap the bracer from his arm.

"Wha-what do you think you are doing?"

"Do you remember me telling you that I wanted to help you with the weight of the burden we carry?" he asked. She glared at him, but nodded. As he began to unroll his armband on his left arm, he went on, "I was nearly thirteen when I pulled the sword. I was too young for the burden, and yet, it chose me anyway. The memories of battles with monsters compounded with the angst of puberty, I had trouble coping with the nightmares and I…"

His voice trailed off as his arm was fully exposed. After some hesitation, he held it out to her, palm side up. She edged forward and gasped, tracing a faint scar on his wrist with her fingertip.

"I… I didn't know."

I looked at my own wrist, finding the small thin line I had never once before noticed amongst the other deeper battle scars scattered all around my body.

"There are not many who do. My mother was the one who found me. She and my dad saved me and kept it secret, but it took its toll on her health."

Snippets of memories hit me suddenly. My mother falling into despair, walking on eggshells around me whenever I was home. Not too long after I had healed. physically at least, I was finally presented to the king and princess, my destiny revealed at last. My parents and sister moved away, and I was moved into the castle barracks.

"Link…" Her voice pulled me back, and I could see the look of pity on her face.

"Don't be sad for me, princess," he told her. "I've wanted to confide in you for a while, but I never knew how to bring it up."

"Do you ever, I mean, did you regret…"

"I've grown up, and I understand things better," he replied. "I have bad days every so often, but nothing like it was back then."

They stood together in silence, though the tension had eased quite a bit. She shivered slightly from the growing chill in the air, so he suggested they leave the spring and warm up by the fire. Never once did she let go of her hold on him, nor did she speak until he suggested she turn in for the night.

"Link, will you… can I ask…"

"Anything, princess. I want to help you."

"Will you hold me tonight? I'm sorry, Link. I know what I'm asking of you, and I know that I am putting you in a terrible position. You can tell me no-"

"Yes," he replied. "My answer is yes. Whatever you need."

I watched the pair settle in, knowing that my past self was not at all concerned about getting caught in such a compromising position. Sure, for anyone else to touch the Princess of Hyrule, even at her request, it would mean certain death. But for him, well, who would execute the wielder of that holy sword knowing what was to come? A shame that it had been lost in that final battle one hundred years ago. I wondered idly if it was one of the rusting weapons I'd passed many a time as I traveled through Blatchery Plain.

Her eyes were closed, but a small voice whispered my name. I thought at first she was dreaming, but moments later she stirred. "I had a dream a few nights ago, the very night you were turned back from a child to your normal self. In it you...you died." There was a pause as the weight of what she said hung over them. "You died," she repeated. "You were in my arms, dead, and there was nothing I could do. So when I saw you like...like... that in the river, even though you were only pretending, it reminded me of my failure."

"So that's why…" he said, finally realizing how he'd unintentionally upset her. Clearly, this was a flaw I still seemed to have. "It was only a dream. You don't have to cry over a dream, not even for me."

She must have known then as I know now, that her dreams were prophecies of what was to come; however, she didn't correct him or try to change his mind. Instead, she wrapped her arm tighter around his waist and fell asleep.

The next morning, he woke alone in the tunnel, but beside him was a note. He read it and smiled, and after a stretch, he jogged off towards the spring.

Curious, I looked at the discarded note. Seeing it seemed to be the same mysterious language as the note left for me by the present day Zelda, I ran off after him to see if I could figure out how to recall my knowledge of this language.

I found him standing guard, watching with a smile on his face. After an hour or so, she stirred when his stomach loudly growled.

"Good morning," she said, wading her way out of the water towards him. "You read my note?" When he gave a slight nod, she smirked. "I'd been wondering if you knew Ancient Hylian."

"I haven't always."

"Was it part of your training?"

"You could say that," he said, adjusting the sword on his back. "So, there was something you wanted to tell me?"

"Yes. Would you help me out of the water, please?" He lifted her as though she were a feather. "Thank you. And thank you for holding me last night, but I wanted you to know that...that I will never ask that of you again. I took advantage of my position, and for that, I'm truly sorry."

I saw him recoil. It was ever so subtle, but I could feel the sting even now. "I...I didn't mind."

"I am the Princess of Hyrule." She smiled, but still managed to look a little sad. "No one would ever say differently."

"Then I will be the one asking," he said, placing his hands on either side of her face. "Can I… may I kiss you?"

"W-what?"

"You can say no. I will not force myself upon you, and I will never mention it again if you don't want this. But I want you, and I think-"

"Kiss me," she whispered. "Kiss me, Link. I want you-"

Whatever she was going to say, her sentence was lost as his mouth covered hers. I walked away, unable to observe their intimate moment, even though I remembered it well enough. Back then, we were innocent and naive, despite the burden we carried. If, by some miracle she came back to me now, there wasn't any guarantee we would even end up together. I was still so very different from him, and she… she was a goddess who had battled a monster for over one hundred years. That had to change a person. What if she and I had changed so much that we'd grown apart.

… … …

My self-consciousness over their blossoming relationship couldn't stop me from continuing on with my mission. Having traveled to the Spring of Power with the Slate, I didn't have to feel guilt over leaving behind one of my horses when I used it once again to warp to a new location. This next memory took some time. A horse statue in the middle of nowhere was not much to go on, but the Gerudo Highlands looming high in the background gave enough of a hint that I could start at the Outskirt Stable where, luckily, I ran into Pikango who gave me some better directions.

The familiar light welcomed me, and the memory began not at the statue, but inside the castle. As though to taunt me, there were numerous episodes of stolen moments between Zelda and my past self as they carried on their new relationship in secret. Longing glances during official events. Soft kisses in recessed corners of the library. More than once I observed them making out behind curtains or statues, and more than once they were nearly discovered, often by Impa and her uncanny sense of timing. I couldn't help but laugh to realize she did know all along, and either lied to me or forgot in her old age.

Another incident came flooding back: the beginning of the festivities for Zelda's birthday. The king and princess were riding in the carriage while my past self, wearing his Royal Guard uniform, rode at the back of the carriage to stand watch. The memory itself was uneventful, but there was a subtle moment where he caught a lock of her hair in his gloved finger, giving it a little twirl before letting it fall back in place. No one was supposed to see, but apparently someone did.

"Sir Link, a word." It was none other than the king himself, who pulled the past me aside once we had arrived back at the castle. Zelda had already left, the tensions still high between her and her father after their fight outside her chambers. "Walk with me."

My past self did as he was told, following through the corridors until they exited onto a balcony that overlooked Hyrule. The king excused his own personal guards, leaving them alone.

"From here I can see much of what is going on in my kingdom. The buzzing of the castle grounds. The festival celebrations down in the market place. Even at times the far off columns of troops marching in formation. But do you know what I saw today? For the first time in a very long while, I saw my daughter smile."

Though it would have been imperceivable to most, I could almost feel my past self tense up as the king spoke those words. They had been caught, but any consequences would be his alone to take.

"It has been so long since she looked happy," the king went on. "I regret that I, myself, am partially to blame for the stress she has put upon herself. While it is imperative for the good of the kingdom that she unlock her sealing powers, I do not think my methods are helping. Given our recent argument, she will be suspicious if I propose what I am thinking, which is why I wanted to talk to you."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I am at your service." Such a good tin soldier I was.

"I'd like you to take her away from town tomorrow. I will make excuses and cancel tomorrow's plans. Just please, get her away from the noise of the castle, keep her from that blasted tech laboratory, and distract her from the anxiety of her upcoming trip to Mount Lanayru."

That was not what I was expecting.

"And Link, I must tell you that despite my current appearance, I too was once a young man. Just so you know, if you do anything to hurt my daughter, there is a certain part of your anatomy that I can have removed that will not at all prevent you from using that sword."

What. The fuck?

He didn't say a word about any of this when we were on the Great Plateau after I woke up and did his little shrine quest. Although I suppose that would have been a jarring way to re-associate myself with life, by having an old man threaten to cut off my...

As he excused himself to his library study, the vision changed into what must have been the next morning, and I watched my past self sneak into the princess's chambers before the sun rose.

With a soft kiss, he woke her. "Get dressed," he whispered. "I have a surprise for you."

They rode out on separate horses, a necessity given the many guard outposts spread throughout the direction they were headed. Because of this, the dialogue between them was quite bland, talk of soothing horses and whatnot.

Finally reaching their destination, my current location of Sanidin Park, he requested she put on a blindfold while he tied up the horses. Her blind trust in him as he helped her off the horse and led her away made me realize just how traumatic my present day behavior must have seemed to her. I hadn't just betrayed her as a lover, but as a trusted partner and friend.

I caught up to them on a spread out blanket that overlooked the scenery of Hyrule.

"I hope you like this," he said shyly. "I'm sure it's nothing compared to what's being planned for tomorrow, but-"

"It's perfect." She placed her hand on his cheek, pulling him gently closer to her. As they began to explore one another's bodies, I moved away. I was not interested in watching my past self touching her, holding her in a way that I could feel a growing part of my present day self desperately longing to do.

My head buried in my hands, I tried to block out the sounds of their intimacy, scolding myself that I could have been happy all along had I not been so stubborn, so proud. When everything became quiet, I couldn't stop myself from looking over. They were laying together, still fully clothed, though disheveled, and yet perfectly content with just being next to one another.

"I'm a little sad we're missing the dance tonight."

He made a humming noise. "I'm not. Nobles and courtiers talking vapidly about their puffy sleeves and ruffled collars." There was a pause before he added, "Since when do you like going to dances?"

She shrugged. "I don't. I just wanted to see you in your formal uniform again."

This elicited a laugh from him. "I'm not sure how to feel about that. Am I nothing more than a piece of meat for your pleasure?"

"If I'd known how good it looked on you, I might have chosen a different style for your Champion's apparel."

That horny little princess. "I guess I know what I'll be wearing for your birthday tomorrow."

"No," she whispered. Her face fell and a far off look came over her. "Not tomorrow…" I heard her begin softly. "Tomorrow I have to ascend Mount Lanayru."

I already knew how that day went. It was the first memory I recovered thanks to Impa's urging and Pikango's guidance, but given the state of Hyrule, it was so obvious a recollection that I hadn't given it a second thought.

There was one image left. One more place to visit, but I failed to see how it could change anything for me now. I had a vague recognition of it: that Zelda and I were running from the castle, from the Calamity. Running towards her awakening and towards my death.

And yet, I traveled there anyway. There were enormous gaps in my memories, and even though I couldn't imagine that this last vision would restore everything, I didn't want to run the risk of missing even the smallest interaction between us. I still could not read her letter to me, and even if it was a whole paragraph of her telling me what a despicable man I was.

The lack of danger from Guardians and the repetitive landscape, combined with my self-destructive lack of sleep, began to weigh on me as I traveled towards the swamp. I had shut my eyes for only a moment when I found myself flat on my back. Groaning and winded, I looked up to see what appeared to be a giant broccoli staring down at me.

"Shalaka!" it shouted, causing me to jump up. "So we meet again!"

I had not seen Hestu since the early days of my journey. He was still lost, and after a quick conversation and exchange of a few Korok seeds, he suddenly remembered the way home.

"Come with me to the Korok Forest," he invited.

"Maybe some other time," I said offhandedly, nodding politely while I ignored him saying something about his grandfather wanting to see me. It was the Zora situation all over again: uncomfortably awkward when others know so much more about me than I know about myself. I enjoyed my time with the Rito so much more for this reason.

Wait, had he said Korok Forest? There were hints, rumors, all around Hyrule of a legendary sword hidden away deep in a mysterious forest. Could it be?

"Hestu!" I called after the musical Korok. "Hold up!"

… … …

As fast as I could, I rode my swiftest horse to Kakariko. Although traveling via Sheikah Slate would have been the quickest option, I was still trying to process the overwhelming rush of memories that flooded my mind when I touched the sword in the Lost Woods. No longer did I see another man interacting with her. Now, they were all my memories. My glances. My touches. My kisses.

Having endured a lengthy lecture from the Great Deku Tree, I knew I was headed toward another as I walked up the stairs to Impa's home. It didn't matter. I would take a thousand moblin whippings as penance for my betrayal.

The benefit of having taken the long way to Kakariko was that I'd had time to build an argument for Impa. I knew she would need convincing, so I laid out my case carefully for the Sheikah leader. As I completed my defense, I paused for a gasp of air, unaware that I had been talking without much chance to take a breath.

"Are you finished?"

"I am," I told her honestly as I awaited her decision, my fate, my heart now fully in her hands.

"Good. May I ask, have you had the opportunity to stay at the Shuteye Inn? I hear they have a soft bed, though I myself prefer a futon, even-"

"Impa!" I interrupted.

"Patience, young man," she said to me calmly. "You did not need to convince me of anything. Even if I didn't know the contents of that letter, I can see the desperation in your eyes. I also see exhaustion. When did you last sleep?"

I shrugged. I had no answer as I wondered the same thing myself.

"As I suspected. I would advise you to rest up so you don't endanger both of your lives."

"Very well. We will leave at first light tomorrow."

"I should think so. And Link, do me a favor. After this is over, please destroy that blasted machine of my sister's so I don't have to worry about this again. Three of you aging backwards in one lifetime is too much for this old woman's heart to take."

… … …

Amazingly, it was Purah who needed convincing to reverse the princess's aging, or else the sisters were teaming up to torture me. After delivering my impassioned speech yet again, the Sheikah smiled suspiciously and asked me what the letter said. I told Purah the contents of the letter, specifically the clue to where Zelda had hidden the setting she used. After a few twists and turns of the machine's dials and a sudden "Snap!", Purah instructed me to set the infant down where the beam was aimed.

"Will it hurt her?"

"You would know, as you are the only other who has experienced it. Did it hurt you?" Purah asked. I shook my head. "Snap! Get out of the way then! Let's bring back our princess!"

I stepped aside, anxious to meet her again. A whirring began and a blue light erupted from the machine, which beamed its full strength on the tiny baby. It took everything in me, as well as Symin's hand on my tunic, to keep from throwing myself in its path. It stopped unexpectedly. "What happened?" I looked at the baby. "Why didn't it work?"

Purah tried to tell me something, but I didn't wait for a response. The buildup to this moment was all too much, and now that it was apparent had failed, I mumbled something incoherent and walked out through the back. I walked as far as I could towards the edge of the cliff. My ears were ringing and my vision was starting to blur.

"Linky?"

I didn't turn back, instead, staring out at the great sea in the distance. "Purah, I have decided, I wish to be turned back into an infant too." She did not speak, but I could hear soft footsteps coming up behind me, so I continued, "I cannot be an old man pining after a child, and I also cannot stand the thought of watching her grow up and fall in love with another man. I just want it to end."

And then, a voice, sweeter than Courser Bee Honey reached my ears asking, "Is that what you truly desire?"

To Be Continued!

Here is the translation of Zelda's message (it was only in Wingdings, so you may have already translated it):

Link,

I love you more than I will ever be able to say. I always regretted my behavior to you when we first met, and now, my sins have come back to haunt me in the most terrible way. You have forgotten us, and I cannot hold that against you, but I also cannot live with the memories of the past, of us, knowing that you now hate me. Therefore, I have decided to be selfish.

I have made this choice, to start over with a clean slate just like you, but if you are reading this, you may now be in possession of the memories of us. If you now desire for us to be together, tell Purah I have hidden the settings in her copy of Hyrule Historia, and she should be able to reverse what I did (if it's possible).

Yours always,

Zelda