"Link! Please come in here!" Impa called out. Link walked standing at the door, acting in his knightly manor.
"No need to be so formal boy, I was in of the few who knew how close you two were." Impa chuckled at him. Link smiled and loosened up a bit. "Sit child."
"Once again I congratulate you on defeating the Calamity Ganon. That was no small feat. It took many trials to complete. However, now you have a decision to make."
Link looked confused as he sat next to Zelda. He looked over at the princess, who wasn't looking at him. He looked back up at Impa who continued to speak.
"You have been a loyal Knight to Hyrule for the last hundred years. Even more if we count your years serving under the previous King and being Princess Zelda's Personal Knight. However, as Zelda and I have discussed. There is no more kingdom of Hyrule. You know better than the both of us that there is no longer a kingdom in order in these lands, and the people seem quite content with it."
Link inhaled. He knew. It had crossed his mind many times that Hyrule was at peace with its small population and its inhabitants had no intention of reestablishing its Kingdoms rule. The Hylians were scattered and their numbers wavering. And the other races content with ruling themselves.
"With that being said Link, the princess is no longer the princess of this land. She has claim to a throne that simply does not exist in this era." Impa explained. "Zelda has already made her choice. She will live a normal life, learning the ways of this new land before attempting to create a new throne for her to be placed upon. You however, must make your own choice.
"If there is no longer a Kingdom of Hyrule, then there is no decree keeping you to serve the Royal Family. We must act with the times now. Zelda is forgoing her title as princess for the time being. You now have no Royal Family to follow. If you wish, you may stay with Zelda. Or..." Impa looked over at Zelda, a hint of sadness in her face. "You may leave, be your own person, and wander these lands free of your duty. You may be your own person and run free, or live quietly. It is completely your choice. Zelda is now just a normal girl in this land. You have no obligation to stay."
Link looked at Impa, then over to Zelda, then to the Master Sword on his back.
"That sword still belongs to you child. That sword does not act according to Hyrule. It acts according to its Master and the Evil in the land. It still claims you as it's Master." Impa nodded. Link looked down at his hands for a few seconds before getting up and walking out the house. Zelda didn't look back. Tears fell down her face.
"I am sorry, Zelda. It had to be done..." Impa said woefully. Zelda took a deep breath.
"Its quite alright Impa. It was bound to happen. I can't force him to follow me forever. I'm just happy he was there when he was." Zelda said wiping a tear from her face.
"Well then. Now that the hard part is over, I do have something for you. I've kept this for you for a long time now." Impa grabbed something from behind her stack of pillows and held it out. It was Zelda's old blue traveling gear.
"Impa... You kept this?" Zelda asked, taking the clothing and looking at it. "It's in perfect condition!"
"Well I was the one that helped you make them. I kept Link's in good quality as well. Though his could use a bit of a tune up." She chuckled. Zelda chuckled.
"Where should I go now Impa?" Zelda asked.
"Anywhere. You can stay here for a bit if you wish but, if you wish to start your travels now, I would understand."
Zelda nodded. "I shall begin my travels now. Time to learn to be a normal Hylian girl now shouldn't I?"
Impa chuckled. "indeed. Indeed it is. Go get changed upstairs.
Zelda came down the stairs, her hair down and in its braided top, her travel gear on, though the Sheikah Slate missing from her belt. Link still had it.
"The same as a hundred years ago." Impa smiled.
"Fits the same as well. Thank You Impa. I've been dying to get out of those old prayer clothes."
"Would you like a horse to start you on your journey? I'm sure the Sheikah could go catch you one..." Impa asked, walking Zelda to the door.
"No Impa, that's alright. Link was able to start from nothing. I believe I should follow in his footsteps. I need to be a normal girl now, no special treatment." Zelda smiled.
"Well then be off dear. And don't forget to visit. Tell Link that too." and the door closed with Zelda outside of it. Though Zelda thought about that last part.
'Tell Link that too?' But Link had left. He wasn't with her anymore. He walked out without a word. Zelda walked down the stairs, think about that. Paya was at the bottom of the stairs, making her daily prayer.
"Good Evening Princess!" Paya called out.
"Just Zelda is fine. I'm no longer a princess. Could you direct me to the Village exit?" Zelda asked. Paya points to the top of the hill Link and herself had walked down.
"Just up that hill and around the bend."
"Got it. Thank you." Zelda said bowing. Paya looked perplexed.
"Why are you bowing to me Prin- Zelda?" She asked flustered.
"Normal people bow when showing respect and thanks. So that is what I'm doing to you. I'll be off then. Thank you again." Zelda said, and started off. Zelda waved at the passerby's as she crossed through Kakariko and over the bridge. However the person she least expected to see was saddling up his horse, preparing to leave. The blonde haired swordsman looked over at the now normal girl.
"H-Hello Link. I thought you had left already with the Sheikah Slate..." Zelda said, looking at the horse.
"Nope. I figured you'd wanna start our adventure on foot. So I prepped Epona for us until we get your own horse." Link said with a smile.
Zelda's eyes grew wide as she turned back towards Link.
"'Our adventure'? Link what do you mean by 'our'? I thought you chose to be your own person and leave me since I'm not a princess anymore..." Zelda said, giving him a look.
"Actually Zelda, if I remember correctly, I just walked out. I didn't make a choice. I needed a second to think about it."
Zelda's heart rate increased.
"So... Which did you choose...?" Zelda asked, bracing for impact.
"Neither."
"NEITHER!?" Zelda yelled. "What are you doing Link? Is this a joke to you?"
Zelda furrowed her eyes at him. He wasn't taking this seriously! Link laughed, only proving her point.
"I made a third option." He said. Turning towards her completely. Zelda tilted her head a bit, looking confused.
"A third option?" She repeated.
"Yup. I'm not gonna follow the Royal Family anymore. But I'm also not going to travel alone." Link said, walking up to her.
"I'm going to go on a journey with the previous princess of Hyrule as her best friend, and help her when needed." Link smiled that big smile. "Only if she wants my company that is."
Zelda put her hands to her mouth. Tears started rolling down her face. Link wasn't leaving her. And he was breaking down the barrier between them.
"So is that a yes?" Link asked putting on hand on the back of his head, and the other on his hip.
"Of course it is Link! You're the absolute worst! I thought you had left me!" Zelda yelled grabbing him by the tunic and pressing her face to his chest. Link smiled but also gulped. She wasn't a princess anymore right? She had only done this to him when the Kingdom was collapsing around her... Ah what the heck. What dungeon would he be thrown in?
He wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm not going anywhere Prin... Zelda. I'm not going anywhere."
After a few moments, Zelda pulled away from him.
"Alright then. You know about adventuring in this new world more than I do! So where should we head first?" She asked with a smile.
"My house. Time for you to get acquainted with the residents of Hateno Village." Link said hopping onto Epona.
"You have a house!?" Zelda asked, astonished. He really worked his way up that much? Just by living off the land?
"Slaying monsters comes with good pay, even without the Royal Family paying me. This is actually even more than before! I think." Link laughed. He held out his hand to Zelda.
"Shall we be off?"
Zelda smiled at him, taking his hand.
"Yes we shall."
...