Chapter Twenty Three

Going Home, Well the Other One That Is

The next day, there was the first chill of fall in the air. Already summer was nearly over, it all seemed to just fly by. I would then soon be heading back to my home in Oregon, on the western side of the continent. I again thought about Zelda, she was going to be staying here, as I had suspected. After all she had no home out there, not anymore. My heart ached at the thought of not seeing her for months, but I knew it had to be this way, for now at least. One day, I would be able to see her regularly but I was just going to have to wait.

As summer drew to a close, and the camp staff begin the end of summer preparations and usual process of figuring out who would be staying and who would be going home everyone was bummed because for the majority of us it meant another nine months of slogging through school. On the final day, everyone who was leaving for the school year had gathered all their things and grouped together on Half-Blood Hill, waiting for Argus to bring all of us out of state residents to the local airport to arrange our trips home.

There were the usual goodbyes and well-wishes of course, but I hadn't noticed because of my Zelda. As those who were leaving gathered on the hill, she walked up to me and pulled me into a hug, just long enough for each of us to whisper into each other's ears.

"Goodbye, my hero, don't even think about forgetting me! You come back here, alright?"

"Of course, I'll come back. I have someone here to return to" I muttered softly in reply.

She let out a shaky breath, trying keep her emotions from spilling out and being seen by everyone.

"That's right, you better keep that promise, I don't want to be stood up" she said with pretend formality, pulling back and returning her voice to a normal volume.

As the non-year-round campers headed off down the hill to where Argus was waiting for us in the driver's seat of the big van that would take us to the airport, I turned my head back to look at Zelda again, giving her the smile that was reserved just for her. She beamed back at me with her own and waved before turning back around herself and walking back toward camp.

At the airport, everyone somewhat dispersed. Most were from eastern side states, only a few were like me and from the west side. Although the Greek and Roman sides were at peace, most Greek demigods were from the eastern half of the country and the western half was largely to the Roman ones.

Since the founding of the peace between the two sides, an agreement was made where the Romans would have people from their side waiting for the Greek campers coming into the western states to provide safe transport to their homes or prearranged pickup locations from their families. The Romans didn't have anything like that on the other side of the agreement because of how Camp Jupiter had its own city part where most of the residents there lived.

Although I personally felt safe enough on my own, I did still appreciate it and understand how not everyone was the hero chosen by the goddesses and endowed with the abilities I had. As I boarded my flight and it began the trip back to the Portland Airport, I pulled out my journal and recorded the most relevant happenings that had transpired since I last wrote in it.

In addition to everything else I've just written in this entry, I also must include how it is beginning to look very much like we could be in for the return of Ganondorf. This world hasn't seen the manifestation of evil in Hylia knows how long. How long has it been anyway? Ten thousand years? Less? More? Maybe that will be revealed in time, who knows? Anyway, the counselors for all the cabins were informed about the truth of Zelda and me. They took it reasonably well I suppose, they have been sworn to secrecy on this, for now at least. Recently there was an incident during a game of capture the flag, somehow there was a stone talus in the woods. No one was killed or seriously injured, but everyone was understandably rattled by the incident.

Some worried that it was a sign of Gaia awaking again, but fortunately or unfortunately, I don't actually know which is more accurate, that idea was discounted. Zelda and I, with the help of Fi, showed Chiron and the head counselors the memories from our last life where the guardians were taken over by Ganon's malice. This was because someone asked how the malice could affect things before Ganon returned itself.

I would wish these happenings to be unrelated, but I know that would be wishful thinking. It has to be connected to the cycle, it is about to repeat. Ganon will return, and may the gods and goddesses help us be prepared this time around. We don't need another Great Calamity occurring.

Also of note, although disappointing in this case, is that summer is now essentially over. This means it's time for most of us campers to go back home, and to school. Leaving proved to be harder than I ever imagined it would be when I arrived a few months ago, not because I got attached to the place, but rather someone.

Oh, look at me, even in my journal entry I am being vague. I had a hard time saying goodbye to Zelda. She is going to be staying as a year round camper for the foreseeable future. Then again, I will still see her again next summer. I feel confident that that knowledge will see me through the school year, that my other half will be waiting for me. Just before I and the other summertime residents left, she hugged me and made me promise to come back and never forget her. I responded that she didn't need to even say it, I was already living by that promise. The promise that has apparently transcended lifetimes, the promise to always be there for her, to be by her side, and to love her unconditionally for the rest of eternity.

I closed the journal, having finally filled every page of it. I leaned back in the seat, resting my head against the headrest. For the sake of not looking too out of place, my green outfit was packed away in my luggage, instead I had opted for a more plain, normal, attire.

When the plane arrived in Portland it was early evening. My dad was waiting for me, similar to with Chiron, while being initially surprised by my change in appearance as well as the Sheikah slate, quickly recognized me all the same. Maybe the best way to explain this mystery was that this appearance was in some way always a part of me somehow, and that it was just waiting to come out. After all my appearance only changed once I found the green garb and experienced my true awakening as the legendary hero. Speaking of my father by the way, he was clearly curious about what other, unusual let's say, things happened. I told him quietly that it was a long story and would be better told another time. He relented, fortunately, and didn't press the matter.

On getting home, I was very tired and went to bed. As I drifted off, my mind was elsewhere, well on a particular location to be honest. My mind drifted back to the east coast, back to camp Half-Blood. My heart swelled at the knowledge that regardless of everything else, no matter what life threw at us, there was someone who would always be waiting there for me. Zelda was waiting for me, and I was already feeling impatient, waiting for next summer.

Just before I faded off to sleep, I heard the Master Sword chime softly from its mount on my wall, as Fi, the ever flat yet somehow expressive cheeky self she was, spoke to me.

"Master, it is my great honor to see you find happiness with Zelda again. It pleases me greatly to see the two of you side by side again, may you find every happiness together."