A short time after the end of chapter 1

"What happened to you…? After… After I left…" The beautiful blond whispered. It had been an hour since they reconnected, and after she had calmed down, she couldn't hold back her curiosity. He was laying on his back, with the mature young Queen laying absentmindedly on his stomach.

It was getting rather chilly out, what with her lack of clothing, but she couldn't make herself get up to go and get her white garments. She didn't want to leave his side now that she had him back.

He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, but all he seemed capable of managing currently was grunts and hisses. But he was acknowledging her.

"M-My.. Mast-er died t-o the Guardia-ns… He seems curren-tly incap-…able of pro-per speech…" The broken voice of the sword spirit spoke up, leaning close to the Queen.

Zelda glanced away from the face of her hero, eyeing the spirit of the sword. It seems as if it wasn't only just Link that suffered a terrible fate that day.

"Died…" She breathed, looking at him in a different light. "But… You.. You are still here…"

"I a-apologize. I a-am unable to explain h-his current st-status.." She lowered her head, never having felt more useless in her thousands of years of life.

The blond tore her attention away from Link's soft glowing red eyes, her expression softened. The spirit maiden was gently cradling the Master Sword with her winglike arms, as if to keep it safe.

"You are the spirit of the sword. What happened to you..?" Zelda questioned. She finally sat up from her position on the resting hero, and moved to gently caress the spirit's face. The damaged spirit melted into the representation of her goddess reborn's touch.

"T-The malice that t-took my master, b-brought him b-back to lif-e. But I-I am broken… dam-damaged…" She brokenly explained. "M-My power to r-repel evil ha-had waned… I am w-weak…"

The princess made Queen quietly glanced between the revived hero and the sword spirit. Knowing what she did now, she had to do something. But who would believe that her hero had truly returned, and wasn't some messenger of the darkness? With his evil, twisted appearance, no one would believe him.

But she believed him. And she was sure she could eventually convince others too. But for now, he needed to be hidden from the people.

That, and he needed a bath too. She would worry about hiding him after she cleaned him up.

A few moments later found the hero removed of all his destroyed and torn clothes, before being submerged into the lake. He allowed his Queen to guide him, melting into her touch as she ran her delicate fingers through his silver locks, slowly removing all the knots and old blood stains.

He didn't make a peep, letting her do as she pleased. She gently grasped his arms, careful of the claws and the malice veins pulsing lightly around them. His arms were so damaged before, but had been repaired by the darkness. Running her palms up his arms revealed just how cool they were, cooler then the rest of his body.

She hesitated when she brushed her hand up against the giant dark spot around his abdomen, the area where a beam had pierced right through, the attack that had taken his life. It had been covered over, the malice filling and replacing the damaged organs with dark counterparts.

There was a smaller mark directly above that one, one placed dead center on his heart. That was where most of the malice collected, and it was the darkest part on his body. But besides that, the Queen couldn't help but get lost in his chocolate cream colored skin, most likely having been a result of the malice's influence.

She didn't care one way or another what he looked like, but she did admit that she rather enjoyed that color. It was a rare one, and it contrasted splendidly with his long silver locks, and his glowing red eye.

The Hero shivered when the Queen pressed up against his back, resting her head on his shoulder. Her hands gently and carefully cleaned his head free of dirt and grime, leaving him spotless. She even cleaned his right eyes spikes.

"I missed this… These moments where I could spend the night alone with you." She breathed, her azure orbs glowing in the night. "I was so alone… It just wasn't the same with you gone…" She whispered.

"Please… don't ever leave me again…" She whispered. He turned within her grasp, facing her. She felt her cheeks warm, but she didn't speak up against it. He smiled a fanged smile at her, as if to say that he wouldn't leave.

She felt a smile of her own split her face, the hot tears coming back with a vengeance. The Hero suddenly found himself pulled into a lip lock with the blond, and for a moment he stared wide eyed at her, confused. When she pulled back, she couldn't help the tear filled giggle that escaped her as she gazed upon his frazzled features.

"I've always wanted to do that…" She breathed. The dark Hero looked dazed, and she could only assume why. "I wasn't going to wait this time around."

Her long ears twitched, picking up the faint sound of footsteps approaching the lake. Thinking quickly, she spun Link back around, her front to his back, and pulled him in close. She didn't face the person slowly approaching, lest they see who she was with.

"Zelda? Are you out here?" It was female, and young too. She easily placed it as the voice of Purah, the other Sheikah head.

"Don't move. Just stay right there.." She whispered into his ear, the long pointed appendage twitching. He didn't know what was going on, but he listened to her.

Zelda, for her part, was furiously trying to think of a way to play this off. The Queen requests some time alone from prying eyes, only to be caught naked with a boy in a lake at night.

Ohhh….

That was going to spread very quickly. She knew that much. Curse her…

"Purah? Is that you?" Zelda called out, turning to glance at the white haired woman out of the corner of her eye.

"Oh, there you are! When I didn't see you at the temple… I… I got…" The woman slowly trailed off, eyes widening dramatically as she realized that the beautiful young queen wasn't alone. Zelda felt her cheeks warm slightly, but didn't comment.

"Was there something you needed? I wished to be left alone." She questioned, sounding like the Queen she was supposed to be.

"Not particularly…" The Sheikah stated.

"Then?" Zelda raised a brow in question. Purah's face suddenly gained a glint. "I am busy… right now…"

"Hmmm… I can see that. My my, I didn't know you were into the rare types, my Queen. I've never seen a Hylian with that skin tone before…" Purah teased, her cheeks red.

"You better keep him close, otherwise I might steal him away from you…" She grinned.

Zelda's face lit up. "P-Purah!"

The Sheikah giggled behind her hand. "You make it too easy, my Queen. I won't steal your man. That would be another level of low."

The blond sighed, trying to ignore her current predicament. It was really starting to feel warm pressed up against the light chocolate skinned Hylian.

"Well, I'll leave you alone now. I don't want to interrupt anything." She teased.

Zelda huffed, calming her heart down. "Wait, before you go. Can you bring a change of garments for him. I'm afraid his were… destroyed." She requested, eyeing the other woman. Purah's eyes widened.

"Goodness me. You can't be so rough with your lover-"

"Purah!" Zelda squeaked indignantly.

"Right, right! I'll be right back." She exclaimed with a cheerful giggle, before running back down the mountain.

Once she was sure the white haired woman was out of sight, she let Link go, a relieved sigh escaping her. The Hero gazed at her in confusion, not fully understanding what she was hoping to accomplish.

He was here to defend her..

To protect her from everything in this harsh world…

So why would she hide him? He didn't know, but he was sure she would eventually tell him what he was supposed to do. He didn't know otherwise…

Purah eventually came back, in her arms a hooded bath robe fit for a Hylian male. She left after teasing the Queen once more, leaving them both alone again.

Zelda was quick to get out, the cool water cascading down her back. She felt her cheeks heat up when she realized that her Hero was watching her, unmoving from his position in the lake. She took a little bit of pride in her body, seeing as she was easily able to render him starstruck.

She adopted her swimsuit and her royal white robe once more, before helping dress him in the robe Purah brought along. It was barely enough to cover him for the time being, but it would do until she could get him to the temple. In the dark of night the hood managed to hide his face, so that would have to do.

By the hand she led him home, back to the Sheikah temple where she stayed. There were only a few people out this late, but suffice it to say, a handful of town gossipers definitely saw the young Queen of Hyrule rushing back to the temple, dragging along a heavily underdressed young man. And she seemed to be in a hurry too.

She only hoped that the fact that it seemed like the heartbroken Queen finally found someone would keep their curiosity to a minimum. But she knew that her wish would definitely not come true.

People would start asking questions, probably first thing in the morning. The news would spread like a wildfire, and soon enough everyone would know. But before then, she would have to make his true existence hidden.

The scantily clad Queen ignored the looks the people gave her, and managed to drag the dark Hero into the temple without much fuss. This late into the night, few were awake. Save for a few civilians, it was mostly the guards that saw her.

She didn't care…

She finally had him back…

And she wasn't going to let her emotions get in the way of doing things she wanted to do before…

The door to her chambers closed with a click, the blond locked it behind her. The Hero stumbled in, taking a moment to familiarize himself with the room he had never seen before. He was struggling to pull himself out of fight and defend mode, and relax as his Queen requested of him.

He had the Master Sword clenched tightly in his hand, almost afraid to set it down. He stopped when he felt Zelda press up against him from behind, hugging him close.

"It's okay now. No one will hurt me here. You can relax." She hummed quietly. He looked for a moment that he was still on edge, but then he finally relented. She gently took the sword from his hands, the black handle sending a shiver up her spine when she touched it.

She didn't know what truly made the weapon suffer such damage, or what changed its nature. But it wasn't destroyed, not yet. And from the dried blood covering it, he had continued to use it before reuniting with her now. They still had a chance to defeat this evil that plagued their land once and for all.

She set it, along with its scabbard off to the side, resting up against the wall. She would question the sword's spirit tomorrow, perhaps she would have more information by then.

But for now, she was going to rest, and her Hero was coming along with her. She took his dark malice enveloped hand with her own, staring him in sole exposed red eye.

"Let us worry about the world tomorrow. I just want you by my side…" She breathed, leading him to her bed. His feral features softened, and he allowed himself to be led to her bed.

He felt confused, and his mind was at a loss. He was left with very little memory of his life prior to when he died, but he knew that he needed to defend her with everything that he had.

But stripped of his weapons and his gear, and in her bed…

How was he supposed to ensure her safety?

She saw his confusion, and smiled. "Please, right now, all I need is you…" She stated softly. She sat on her bed, reaching her arms out to him. He stared at her for a moment, his mind connecting the dots, before it clicked.

He took her hands, and joined her in bed. He would keep her safe, even in her sleep.

That night, for the first time since she lost him, Zelda slept peacefully…

When the next morning came, she had Link adorned in a special armor that she had specially made just for him. It was a suit of armor crafted out of the remnants of old Sheikah technology, and was built by the Sheikah professor Robbie.

The suit was originally meant to be gifted to him, to offer the Princess's personal guard the best armor possible. But he had died before she ever got the chance to give it to him.

She had the armor kept with her, unable to get rid of it, or even gift it to a different soldier. But with its original user having returned, it was finally time he dawned the suit.

It consisted of a skintight under-suit, that covered from his toes to his neck. It was a little tight, but she definitely wasn't complaining. It perfectly displayed his lithe powerful toned frame.

The actual armor consisted of a pair of sabatons and greaves made out of the metals of a Guardian. His thighs were well protected with a set of plates that wrapped around, leaving certain parts exposed for mobility.

Hanging on his hips were two large armored plates that were connected by a dark red belt, the plates of which were decorated with small power cores stripped from Guardians. A large armored breastplate wrapped around his chest, and covered his back as well. Decorating the breastplate was a large single power core, built into the spot over his heart.

The Hero reborn's hands were completely covered by gauntlets that extended up past his elbows. Hanging on his shoulders were two large pauldrons, shaped like large gears.

Then, finally, when all other parts of the suit were placed upon him, Zelda took hold of the helmet. It would cover his entire head, leaving only from his nose down open. It pushed his long flowing silver hair down his back, the five glowing Guardian cores that acted as the eyes of the helmet glowing blue.

When she finally stepped back, her eyes shining as she gazed upon his form. The armor was astounding, and it fit him perfectly. His identity was hidden rather well too, and the most you could see was a red glow emanating from the right side of the helmet, where his three malice eyes hid.

But in her eyes, he was beautiful. Too busy getting used to the new feeling of the armor, he didn't see the Queen. He snapped forward when he felt her hands cup his cheeks past the helmet. There was a soft smile on her face, and he felt his heart calm when he lay his eyes upon her.

"My people…" She started. "Our people won't understand what has happened to you. They will believe that you are a monster sent by the calamity, here to take my life."

He looked like she had just stabbed him through the heart, the very idea that he'd hurt her never, not even once being a thought that dared to cross his mind. He looked down at her, his lone eye hurt. But she was there for him, and her thumbs ran soothing circles on his smooth light chocolate colored skin.

"That is why, I ask this of you now. Unless we are alone, privately bathing, resting together, adventuring throughout Hyrule…" Her voice slowly got softer, her cheeks becoming warmer as she continued. "… sharing a bed, or are completely alone in our privacy. You mustn't take off your helmet. This is for your protection, as much as it is my own."

His lone red eye shined in recognition behind the helmet, an understanding smile splitting his face. He nodded, and her shoulders lost some of their tension. He didn't fully get it, but he would do it, for her.

"Hm!" He confirmed with a grunt, smiling at her. He took a moment to separate from her, retrieving the Master Sword and strapping it to the harness on his back.

She smiled at him. Despite dying and resurrecting as some half evil creature, he still cut a striking figure. It warmed her heart knowing that not even the pure evil that was malice could override his love and his will to protect.

There was so much that they could do, now that they have him and the Master Sword back on their sides. She didn't stop the calamity, no. She barely froze it, keeping the source of it locked away within the confines of Hyrule Castle.

They would eventually have to retake Hyrule, but doing that now would be suicidal. It wasn't only the Castle that fell.

The Gerudo Tribe of the dessert lands of Hyrule. The Zora fish People of the wetlands of Hyrule. The Goron rock people of the volcanic lands of Hyrule. And finally, the Rito bird people of Hyrule.

Each of these people had suffered loss and damage to their land, their families, and as of recently, the very legendary Divine Beasts that each tribe had control over, had suddenly betrayed them all.

Each corner of Hyrule was now ruled by the rampaging Divine Beasts, and only the power of the Goddess would be able to reverse the damage done. She couldn't have done it alone, but with her hero standing before her, despite all odds…

With him, she get like she could do anything. And she wished, now more then ever, to let him finally know that. It was something she regretted never telling him previously.

"Come closer… please.." She held out her hands beckoningly, the softness of her supple skin shining in the dim lighting. He stepped closer, pausing as his Queen cupped his chocolate cheeks past his helmet. His eyes widened in surprise before his expression softened as he melted into her kiss.

She pressed her soft lips to his corrupt ones, putting all her passion and love into that first intense and powerful lip lock. His eyes rolled back, and he allowed him to fall into her control, letting her guide him.

When she finally pulled away, face flushed and short of breath, a small trail of saliva connected their lips. Her eyes were half lidded, cheeks burning with passion. "O-Oh my… I cannot find myself ever becoming tired of this…" She whispered breathily.

She eyed his sharp pointed fangs that slipped past his parted lips, and she went in for another kiss. A soft moan escaped her lips as she ran her tongue across his sharp teeth, his own tongue offering little resistance against hers as it explored his mouth. His malice infused tongue should've repulsed her, but it instead pulled her in, begging her for more.

"My Queen?" Zelda jumped up, nearly smacking her head into her Hero's helmet. Link's head snapped towards the door, instantly on guard. The golden haired queen's face practically caught fire, and she had to take a second to calm herself down.

"..Y-Yes? What is it?" She called out, a hitch in her throat. She was rapidly adjusting her nightgown, smoothing out her hair to look presentable. Too bad she forgot about her puffy lips due to the fact that she had only seconds ago been in an intense lip-lock with the only other Hylian in the room.

"M-My Queen? I thought I heard something. Is everything all right?" It took the Queen a brief moment to recognize that voice. It was a young Sheikah boy, eager to serve the Queen, and had been assigned as her guard.

"Y-Yes, all is quite all right. You have nothing to worry about." She cleared her throat, shameful to admit her stutter.

There was a pause on the other side of the door, before the boy spoke up again. "A-Ah, I see. I'm terribly sorry for bothering you, my Queen." He hastily added, quickly leaving her alone.

Zelda sighed, pulling her attention away from the door and to Link. He was eyeing the door with a dangerous glint, but his expression softened when she took hold of his arms. "Link. You need not fear my own people, they would not dare to bring harm to their Queen." She explained lightly, already having gone back to rubbing his cheeks to sooth his unspoken worries.

He still seemed on edge, but less now then before. She supposed that it couldn't be helped, it was in his undead blood to defend her from anything.

"Come now, I must get dressed. There is a meeting going on that I am requested to attend." She soothed, standing up. He watched her with a glowing eye, letting her be. She felt a strange sense of embarrassment and comfort as she de-robed and then dressed in front of him. She could feel his hot gaze lingering on her backside, and felt a jolt of pride flow through her.

Once she finished dressing, now adorned in her royal garb and crown, she made to leave. But she stopped just before leaving, grabbing Link's hands once more.

"You mustn't lash out at my people, and you must respond only to me." She requested, staring intensely into his eyes. "Just follow my direction, and everything will be alright." He was silent for a moment, staring her down, before finally nodding. He would do as she asked.

"And, I believe it would be prudent to hide the Master Sword for the time being. It may give away your cover." She thought last moment. "I have this for you instead, I believe it should suffice." Held in her hands was a black blade, looking strikingly similar to a Royal Broadsword. It felt awkward in his hands, yet familiar. He strapped it to his back alongside the Master Sword, the new blade resting comfortably next to the sleeping spirit sword.

She smiled, his unspoken strength filling her heart to the brim. By his side, she felt as if the world was her own, and nothing could stop them…

There was a loud hum of hushed whispers that filled the lower half of the Sheikah shrine, what remained of the royal guard and the Sheikah elders having congregated for another hastily thrown together meeting.

After losing the castle, Kakariko Village had become the newest base of operations for the Royal Family. But that was only supposed to be an emergency plan. The entirety of the people of Castle Town, those that survived the Calamity, could not live forever in the small hidden village. There simply wasn't enough food, space, or resources to spread across them all.

None knew this fact more then the village head herself, Impa. She was similarly young, and similarly very beautiful. She, alongside the more teasing and bubbly Purah were the current leaders of the Sheikah.

Purah was currently out with a small team scouting a route to the second largest town in Hyrule's borders, Hateno Village. That would become the new permanent home for the residents of Hyrule until the land was saved…

Or lost forever…

"Lady Impa, surely you do not plan to move them now? The roads are much too dangerous!" A Hylia court official pleaded.

"Don't listen to him, Lady Impa. If you allow the people to stay here any longer, the problem we are already suffering from will only worsen." Another man, A Sheikah court official fought back, trying to make her see reason.

"People please! You overwhelm Lady Impa with your demands." The Royal Guard Captain spoke up, grabbing the majority of the people's attention. "Fighting will get us nowhere. We must attack this situation with a level head." Like a man that had lived a hundred battles, the Captain spoke from experience.

The people were scared, and he knew it all too well. Everyone was scared. Hyrule Castle's downfall was still fresh in the people's minds, and they were hasty to return to some semblance of normalcy.

"Thank you Mahaz." For the first time since the meeting began, Impa spoke up. She was sitting at the back of the room, her legs crossed. She was trying to put on a mask of calm, but unlike her other, she wasn't capable of keeping a bubbly happy outlook on the current situation in the land.

"To address the concerns posed, we have only a week remaining before the supplies run out. Kakariko simply isn't set to tend to this many people. Currently, Hateno is our only option." Impa explained slowly, getting her point across.

"But Lady Impa, are you not aware of the dangers on the roads? They are too dangerous to use now." The head of the Merchant official pleaded.

"I am aware." She corrected blankly, staring the man down.

"T-Then…"

"Because we have run out of alternatives. There is little time left before this all comes to a head, and without-" Impa paused, eyes wide as Zelda entered the room. Shocked and joyful silence pursued following her arrival, but before her presence could be celebrated, another presence was felt.

A collective shiver ran down the spine of everyone in the room, the click clack of armored boots echoing throughout the hallway behind the Queen. To those more sensitive to it, there was a dark presence that emanated behind the blessed young Queen of Hyrule.

The dark hallway was aglow with a light blue, and the presence they all felt was finally revealed. A dark armored figure slowly walked in, their gait holding a very lifeless presence, a slight sway to and fro as they went. The figure posed up next to the Queen, and from the body language given off, wasn't going to leave her side.

"Lady Impa, I pray I'm not intruding." Zelda spoke up professionally, eyeing the village leader. Impa, for her part, eyed the newcomer wearily. She couldn't have been the only one to sense the vile aura wafting off of him, and from the wide eyed glances they were receiving, her assumption was proven correct.

Link eyed the room, his burning red gaze lingering on a few of the more skittish people. He was tense, his shoulders high strung, but was soothed when Zelda subtly grasped his hand tightly with her own.

"N-No, of course not my Queen. Your presence is more then welcomed here." Impa cleared her throat, the stutter having snuck past her lips. "Please, take a seat." The Sheikah elder offered.

Zelda's gaze lingered on Link's, trying to convey something without the use of words. Then she left his side, taking her seat beside Impa. Link went to follow her a moment later, but stopped when he locked eyes with her.

She wanted him to stay there, instead of beside her. It hurt for some reason, but he would do it.

Because his Queen asked such of him, he would do as requested…

Or die trying…

Chapter

2

End

Author's Note

Yeah, I bet nobody thought this was going to get continued. But I found myself deeply enjoying the premise, and had to continue it.

The idea behind it was bolstered when I thought of this new Link as this universe's Goblin Slayer, with obvious changes.