Link leaves Ordon, pokes his head into the rest of the world. Waves to Coro as he passes through Faron Woods. Dutifully avoids the postman. Rides Epona over the jumps in Hyrule Field that they both used to love so much, the wind cold on his face and wild in his hair. Stops in Kakariko to leave a flower on Rutela's grave, and it looks like Ralis was here not long ago, for there's a delicate shell resting there too, glittering in the sun.
He swings by Goron City to watch a sumo match (and vehemently parries all attempts to get him to participate). Visits Impaz at the Hidden Village and leaves with two kittens, named Starling and Jay for their bird-like cries, and entrusts them to Luda to deliver them to Ordon for him (she'd been meaning to visit Beth again, she says blushingly). Drops by the fishing hole and plays Rollgoal while Hena fills the air with idle chatter (she doesn't ask about his scars, and he appreciates it, and she appreciates his business enough to plant a kiss on his cheek). Fishes for salmon with Ralis, notes amusedly that even mentioning Colin's name makes the young ruler's headfin wag. Snowboards with Yeta and drinks his fill of Yeto's soup. Goes swimming at Lake Hylia, avoids the cannon at all costs.
Finally he heads to Castle Town, where he stops by Telma's (gets smothered in a hug), has a tea party with Agitha and her insects, gives his regards to Gengle and the other cats in Jovani's yard, generously tips the musicians in the square, walks past Malo Mart's open door to hear its ceaseless jingle, and at last has an audience with Zelda.
The castle repairs are still far from finished (after all, the place was thoroughly destroyed by Ganondorf) so they talk not in a grand throne room but on a small quiet balcony, voices just as small and quiet, and finally Zelda says what's been in her eyes this whole time, which is that Midna loved him dearly, and always would. Her heart and mine were one, Zelda says. I miss her, Link replies in a voice that's far too wavering for his liking. Zelda says she misses her too, and Link finally meets her eyes to see the ache in his own chest reflected in her gaze. Not all scars are on the outside, he realizes, and he allows the princess to engulf him in a hug, her chin tucked over his shoulder, gloved hands clutching the fabric of his shirt. The frank vulnerability of the gesture just reminds him how young they all were, six years ago when the world nearly ended. Before the twilight descended, they'd just been kids; they'd believed that the future was a far-off place and everything would always stay the same, because how were they supposed to know any better? And now that the future's here neither of them know what to do with it, this new world they've made for themselves.
They'll figure it out, he thinks, watching Zelda wipe her eyes. They've got their whole lives to figure it out, and they'll never have to do it alone.
(A statue? he asks at last. She replies, so the people never forget the battles you fought for them. He quirks a smile, half-sad, and says maybe some things are better left forgotten.)
(Zelda gives him a look of fierce disagreement but has the wisdom not to subject him to a lecture on self-worth. Not today, anyway.)
After all this sentimental talk Link finally goes down to the lot where the STAR tent used to be, now just an old overgrown lot. His old fangirls are still there, gossiping behind their hands, but they don't seem to recognize him. He can't decide how to feel about that—has he really changed that much?—but finally chalks it up to the floppy hat. He really is indistinguishable without it, however much Midna always made fun of it. He throws a bone for the little dog that hangs out there, and then he turns his feet toward home.
As he climbs into Epona's saddle, the dark part of him whispers that this sweet little reunion tour felt awfully, dangerously, like a goodbye—like he was leaving bits of himself all across Hyrule for people to remember him by. But no, that's not it. It's less of a goodbye and more of a hello, a reminder to himself of the kingdom he loves and the people who love him. It's like waking up after a long night and seeing the sun again, rising despite the darkness's whispers that it would never return.
He's still not ready to go back to the desert, to the last place he ever saw Midna. Maybe he'll never be ready—and maybe that's okay. For the first time, it feels like the love he has for her outweighs the missing, or at least soothes the ever-present ache.
It gets easier, but that doesn't mean it's never hard.
.
.
.
Later, he thinks maybe it was about feeling like he had control over his life. From the moment he was born with the Triforce on the back of his hand, he'd been subject to the whims of the gods. His destiny was written in elaborate detail until the moment his sword pierced Ganondorf's heart, and after that, the story ended. He was left with a life all his own, and no idea what to do with it. He'd thought, since his legend ended, maybe his life should too.
Now, standing in his house in Ordon, watching his new kittens tumble and chase each other around his feet, he comes to the stark realization that he no longer wants to die.
And that comes with its own special kind of grief, as he confronts the fact that he had, even for a moment, preferred death over existing any longer under the burden his life had become—and mourning that his life had ever been a burden, had ever been anything other than an established fact he no longer felt the need to question, had ever been anything but this: a collection of moments good and bad, emotions easy and difficult to bear, people and animals relying on and providing for him in turn. Life is baking bread and smelling like yeast for hours, trying and failing to prevent a stubborn kid goat from eating the hem of his shirt, being suddenly and unexpectedly brought to tears by the falling of rain or the gathering of clouds.
Five years ago, he'd have been unable to fathom the idea of remaining in Ordon forever; he'd been restless, desperate, itching to escape this place, this body, this life. But now, it's as if his soul has settled into its niche at last. This place, these people, this land: it's home. The pieces are finally in place for him to heal; there's a foundation upon which he can build his life anew. He can put down his sword at last.
And for now, that's all he needs.
.
.
.
Link's watching Starling and Jay explore the clearing outside his house when he hears footsteps coming from the direction of the forest path. The cats immediately bound over with their tails in the air, eager to make friends, and the person obligingly stoops to extend a hand for them to rub against. And then she rises, and rises, to stand at her full height—and her hair is tied back in a high ponytail, and she wears simple traveler's garb under her shadow-dark cloak, and her eyes are perhaps a bit sad when she smiles, but it's her.
Midna.
Link's latest batch of pumpkin bread waits on the counter, forgotten.
A/N: Hilariously, I intended to update this maybe a week after I posted the first chapter. But then the ending was being difficult, and seasonal depression showed up, and this chapter sat 80% finished for months. Thanks to reviewer Epokalypto for reminding me that hey, this exists. Kudos to you. Meanwhile, the ending issue was solved when Midna decided to insert herself into the narrative; it just felt like a good time for them to reunite, not right away, but after some time had passed, time for them to grow into their lives without each other, so that they could be on solid footing for the future. Might have to write a companion piece with my Midlink kids now... let me know if that's something you're into.
P.S. Yes I inserted my rarepairs (Beth/Luda and Colin/Ralis) into this and no I will not apologize. Also feel free to headcanon Midna/Zelda as also happening here (Midna has two hands), unless you prefer Ilia/Zelda or Ashei/Zelda... or is that just me projecting again. Who knows. Thanks for humoring me.
P.P.S. Starling and Jay are sort of named after my cats, who also have bird names, but not the same bird names. Link may be a literal dog person, but he's also a cat person.