Summary:
After the defeat of the Calamity, Link is left with the aftermath, trying to move on. Not knowing who he is but knowing all he has lost makes him want nothing more than a second chance. The wheels of fate begin to turn once more. Different timeline AU. Mipha/Link pairing.
They were running for their lives. Everything had fallen apart. "Argh! Damnit!" Link looked behind him and saw that the princess had slipped due to the mud. Grabbing her forcefully by the arm he urged her to continue running. The charging of multiple lasers could be heard in every direction along with the downpour of rain.
"Just keep running," Link thought to himself.
But no sooner than the thought was complete, Zelda fell once again. He was getting tired of this dance of evading death beams and having to pick up the princess every time she fell. He couldn't blame her though, it was raining so hard that it was deafening. The mud made running so much harder.
His ears perked up at the sound of arrows being released from their bows and on instinct went to shield the princess's body with his own. His shield long gone and his sword broken left him with no options.
He could see Zelda's shell shocked face as his warm blood and cold rain splattered her face. Three arrows had struck Link's back. "Link, there is no hope!" Zelda wailed. Link could no longer stand but he held tightly to his broken sword regardless. With only a large rock for coverage, Link knew this was the end.
They were going to die, he just prayed to the goddess that it would be painless for Zelda. Painless. If he could laugh he would. Her helpless face, devoid of all hope, told him loud and clear how much pain she was in.
Everyone was dead. Strong Urbosa, friendly Daruk, prideful Revali, and sweet Mipha.
"Mipha…" Link choked out, he could feel the hot tears he was holding in finally spill out, combining with the cold rain on his face.
The corrupted guardians were upon them now, their laser sights right on the Hylian Princess and the appointed knight. Link closed his eyes and when he dared to open them again - only for a second - the brightest and purest white light he ever saw enveloped everything around him.
Link quickly shot up from his bed and instinctively reached out for his sword. Covered in sweat and with labored breath he realized it was just a dream.
Well not a dream, but a memory of an event that happened over 100 years ago. He sat on his bed and took deep breaths to calm himself down. "Get a grip" he thought to himself. It had been a few months since the defeat of Calamity Ganon and Link had been plagued with these horrible memories every time he tried to sleep.
It was starting to piss him off. He could still not remember everything about his past and was upset that his mind decided to reveal only the most painful and traumatic memories it could muster up.
Link knew he would not be able to go back to sleep so he decided to start his day even though it was still dark out. Pulling his blue tunic over his head, tying his unruly blonde hair back, and putting on his boots he proceeded downstairs. His modest little home didn't offer much - devoid of a lot of furnishings - but it was more than enough for him.
Link walked over to the hearth to start a fire for a quick meal before heading out. He looked over all the weapons that were proudly displayed on the wall, the only items in his home that had any sort of value to him. All the weapons of his former champions gleamed in the fire light.
Link thought back to all the unpleasant dreams that had plagued him and ran through them in his head. The bloody fights, the pain felt, and the eventual end to his world were the only things that came to him now.
Link frowned and walked over to the wall and stood directly in front of the beautifully designed trident. He had pleasant, crystal clear memories about all his friends - even though many didn't have much context - but the most pleasant involved Princess Mipha. Mipha. Link could feel his cheeks flush as he thought of his favorite hazy memory.
Not all the details could be made out, it was almost like he was looking through a film. But it was clear to Link that he was walking by the shoreline with Mipha by his side.
He soon realized that not only was his sight hazy, but his hearing was muffled too. Mipha was staring at him and moving her hands about, talking animatedly, but her exact words were unknown.
Link could tell Mipha had gotten closer to him, to the point where her blurry and surreal face was all he could see. He knew what came next. His heart rate picked up as he held his breath in anticipation to meet her lips with his own. It was a gentle touch that sent little tingles of pleasure up his back and warmth throughout his chest. Even though his senses were dulled, the emotion and reaction that little kiss caused had Link's head spinning.
The sun was beginning to rise, the rays of early morning sunshine landing on the trident to give it an ethereal glow. Link knew his train of thought was dangerous, thinking about sweet Mipha giving him a kiss always led to one question - how badly did she suffer before she died? Flashes of Princess Zelda's anguished face passed through his mind and his heart sank.
Angrily, he turned away from the beautiful trident and headed out the door defeated and with an empty stomach.
It was a peaceful morning, the sun changing the colors of the sky as it rose to take claim. Birds and insects could be heard going about their business. Link took it all in as he walked over to fetch Epona some water.
Taking notice of her master, Epona let out a snort of acknowledgement and waited patiently.
The sloshing water kept bringing Links' thoughts to the red finned Zora princess. He still didn't know the full extent of his relationship with her but he could guess based on his Zora armor and the little memories he could recall. His hazy memory of their innocent kiss was his most treasured for a reason.
Enough. She's dead. Link was going to be in a foul mood for the rest of the day.
Even though he no longer was the appointed knight, Link still patrolled Hyrule for any remaining enemy camps - be it the beasts of Ganon's army or his faithful Yiga clan members.
It was becoming a rare occurrence to happen upon the camps once the blood moons stopped, but Link always took great pleasure in finishing them off. 100 years ago he would have been disgusted at his own bloodlust but a lot had happened between then and now. Link was no longer the noble and heroic Hero of Hyrule, that title had been stripped the day of the Calamity when Hyrule fell.
He saw himself more as a broken soldier that no longer had land and loved ones to protect and fight for.
He frowned. That wasn't true, he had made many new friends along the way. However… Even though he was aware of the friends he still had, it didn't numb the pain and loneliness he still felt.
The only person who could even come close to understanding what he was feeling was Zelda, and even she didn't seem to fully get what Link was going through. He supposed it was due to the princess having her memories intact. The princess, soon to become the queen. She had shown concern for the knight's well-being and always gave him the same useless advice whenever Link would visit Hyrule Castle - it's ok to move on, it's what they would want. But how could he move on? Everyone expected him to just be ok, live a quiet life, and be peaceful for the rest of his days.
His relationship with Zelda had always been strained but he was glad that it no longer was awkward and bitter.
He would go as far as to say she was a true friend but one he could not tell his deepest, darkest worries to. Link suspected that if Zelda knew how mentally tormented he felt and how dangerous he really was, she would have him locked up in the newly resurrected castle as a guest who could not leave.
He shook his head to rid himself of this train of thought.
He saddled up Epona and inspected her to make sure she was in tip top shape. With everything in order, Link set course towards the West.
He had not been to Gerudo Town since he obtained the treasured helm that made one shock proof. Even if he had to disguise himself as the opposite sex, he still very much enjoyed visiting the place. All the women there were so kind and easy to converse with. It was a place where one could truly relax and just enjoy the sun and some good drinks. He may be going for different purposes but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy himself. Goddess, knows I need it.
Riding along the long and winding dirt path, Link entrusted Epona with guiding them both. The vast open land brought Link much comfort and he ate up the peaceful scenery with hungry eyes.
A few months ago the whole of Hyrule had been plagued with Malice and Ganon's minions but the only remnants of that were the destroyed buildings that were left to decay and the many enemy camps that were now devoid of all life.
When Link had first started his journey after waking up in the chamber of resurrection, there had been endless battles with countless Bokoblins, Yiga members, Hinoxs, Lizalfos, Moblins, and Lynels. Day and night he was being chased and hunted, and the bloody fights started to grow on him. It was a sick kind of comfort, he could satisfy his need for revenge and with every enemy killed it meant he was getting stronger.
Link scowled. No matter how much good had come out of this entire mess he could not help but feel like a shell of his former self. I don't even know who my former self really was. He was too young to harbor such intense feelings of bitterness and sadness but he couldn't stop.
His world had been savagely ripped apart from him and now that his mission was fulfilled he was stuck to wallow in his misery without a goal keeping him focused. He felt a lot like the decayed buildings - a broken and sad reminder of a time now forgotten.
Link was taken out of his depressing thoughts as Epona slowed down to a stop next to the Gerudo Canyon stable. Making meaningless small talk, he paid his fee to keep Epona at the stable and set out the last miles to Gerudo on foot.
The quiet walk unnerved him - he was used to being constantly attacked and fighting for his life. And even though it had been some time now, Link felt like a big part of him was left behind when he finally managed to destroy the Calamity. Not being on constant guard was a foreign feeling to him.
He knew what he was missing - his champions, his friends. Their spirits had kept him company and gave him silent encouragement to keep going and to fulfill his destiny in defeating Ganon. They had stayed his friends even through death.
Link had been so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize that he had already made it to the oasis. He looked over at the water and decided to just be and stay here for a quick patrol. I need to snap out of it, these depressing thoughts are getting me nowhere.
All the women selling their unique and not so unique items all watched Link with an almost distrustful eye. He didn't blame them, Gerudo women had very little patience for men that weren't marriage material.
Link shrugged them off and sat by the water when he deemed everything was alright. The wind picked up as the sun began to set and it was then that Link could hear it.
" It is my pleasure." He could hear the sweet and melodic voice of Mipha in the wind. It made him think of the countless times when that voice was absolutely euphoric to his dull and dying senses.
Knowing he no longer had his champions at his side made him feel weak.
He hated feeling weak.
With revived vigor to continue on his "mission" patrolling Hyrule, he set out for the remaining distance to Gerudo Town.
"Now for the fun part" Link said to himself with a smirk. Hiding behind the shrine so conveniently located a few yards away from the entrance of the town, he changed into more feminine attire.
Once ready, he walked past the guards at the entrance and walked into Gerudo without a hitch. Funnily enough, the Gerudo chief, Riju and all her guards know about Link and his disguise. "It's just policy here" Link recalled what the young chief said to him after she welcomed him to Gerudo anytime on the condition he still wore his disguise. He didn't mind though, he could pretend to be someone else and everyone would be none the wiser.
Walking up the grand stairs that led to Lady Riju's throne felt almost nostalgic. Link hadn't been to Gerudo since before the final fall of the Calamity.
Before he could even announce his presence, Captain Buliara had already informed Riju.
"Link! What a nice surprise to have you here," Riju said in her laid back tone and with a small smile.
"Sorry it's been so long, Riju, but I am glad to be back and see everything still be peaceful," Link replied back with a smile of his own.
He noticed Captain Buliara almost suffered a brain aneurysm from that exchange.
"You brat! How many times must I remind you to not address our chief that way!" Buliara exclaimed.
"Buliara, please." Riju sighed.
Riju stood up from her throne and beckoned for the knight to follow her. "There's something I must show you, Link. It'll definitely be of interest to you." Riju sported a mysterious smile.
Before Link could say anything, the captain interjected. "But chief! The sun has set! Why not wait until morning?" Buliara exclaimed.
"I'm taking the knight to that place." Riju calmly replied.
"… I see. Please be careful, chief." Buliara sighed in resignation.
"Don't worry, captain! I have the world's strongest knight by my side!" Riju smiled while giving Link a thumbs up.
After saddling up their seals, a quick change of more appropriate clothing, and setting course to their destination, Link realized the direction they were headed towards.
"The Yiga Clan hideout" Link thought to himself pensively. His grip on the strap attached to his seal tightened until his knuckles became white. A flash of adrenaline coursed through him. His day had been haunted by his failures and if he could eliminate some pests it would certainly help his foul mood.
The large canyon that housed the Yiga was certainly imposing. Too bad the Yiga themselves were a joke.
Riju elegantly led Link through the labyrinth until they reached a spot that Link recognized. The place Kohga fell into the 'endless' pit. Link also noted that there were no Yiga around, hiding out.
"If you look down the pit, you can see a faint light. It seems to be ancient Shiekah technology. You can't see it during the day." Riju got right to the point as they both approached the edge of the giant pit.
Suddenly, Link felt a horrible burning on his chest, right above his heart. He tried to shake it off.
"We know it can't be from the puzzle you solved to resurrect the shrine because the pattern is different." Riju continued, unaware of the discomfort Link was feeling.
"Why does her voice sound so distant?" Link thought to himself. The burning sensation was increasing to the point he couldn't help but have a physical reaction to the pain.
"Hey…-nk…are…feeling…-right?" Link could hear Riju's concerned voice calling out to him from a million miles away. The pain was beginning to become unbearable.
Breathing hard, Link slowly tried to take a step to prevent from collapsing. However, he stumbled and fell into the pit.
"LINK!" Riju yelled out his name as he disappeared into the darkness of the pit.
As Link fell down, down, down all he could think was, "what a shitty day, I didn't even get to eat anything."