As Zelda watched the Sheikah carefully pick up her dying knight and carry him away, she felt her resolve shatter to pieces. Before, she'd had him, if nothing else. Now, she was truly alone. She worried if the experimental technology would even work on Link. Would she ever see him again?"
"Oh, Goddess Hylia!" she cried into the storming sky, "What do I do?"
In response, three golden triangles glowed on the back of her hand.
"Do not fear, descendant of my mistress," the voice inside the sword whispered, the blade glowing beside her. "I project a 73% probability that your knight will wield this blade again."
"Who are you?"
"I am Fi. My mistress Hylia created me to aid the first chosen hero on his quest."
"How long..." Zelda trailed off, her voice shaking.
"I am unfortunately unable to calculate the amount of time it will take for my master to recover."
"Oh, Link!" she cried, "I can't... I can't face the Calamity alone!"
"Princess... You are stronger than you are aware. However, I highly recommend you seek shelter and regain your strength. My readings indicate your body temperature is dropping."
"I... I failed him," she whispered.
"That is a lie, Princess. According to my knowledge, your concern and devotion directed toward your people was admirable. Now it is time to think of your own needs. As the voice of the Master Sword, forged by Hylia to seal the darkness, I urge you to follow my advice."
Zelda fell silent for a long moment. Then she managed to stand on her stiff legs, picking up the glowing blade. "Thank you, Fi."
...
Pain. Darkness. Exhaustion.
And...
Zap!
Link suddenly became aware of the electric shock coursing through his body. His heart jolted in his chest, as if beating for the first time again. He sucked in a ragged gasp and coughed painfully. He was in... water? He cracked open his blurry eyes. Dark walls. Blue lights. Glowing water.
A face appeared above him. A red symbol. White hair.
It was all he saw before slipping back into darkness.
...
"Are you sure you want to leave so soon, Princess? That thing is still out there."
"That's exactly why I'm leaving," Zelda replied. She stood firm against the worries of the soldiers. After a change of clothes, a hot meal, and twelve hours of sleep within the guarded walls of Fort Hateno, she felt at least a little more like herself. Except for, of course, the crushing weight of the Calamity's effects.
"You'll be killed!"
"No. I have Hylia's sacred power now."
"But-"
"Is it not a Princess's duty to take care of her people?"
The soldier fell silent.
"I have to save them like he saved me."
The silence continued, then the Captain of the soldiers spoke up. "You'll have our aid, should you have need of us."
She smiled. "Thank you. But you should stay here and see to the safety of the people. My power will protect me."
The Captain saluted.
"Now... I have my knight to avenge."
...
Zelda strode through the long grasses of Hyrule Field. It had taken her longer than she'd expected to get there, but that didn't matter now. Instead, she looked up ahead at the Calamity swirling with its corrupted form of malice around the spires of the castle. She hadn't had the time to get a good look at the monster until now. It was like the head of a spectral beast, with a cloud of darkness trailing after it.
"Ganon." She stopped and held out a glowing hand. "You have taken something precious from me."
The beast saw her light. It roared menacingly and thundered toward her. Her heart beat against her chest in fear, but she did not heed the urge to flee. The burning shadow closed the distance between them.
A memory surfaced in the Princess's mind. Darkness. Chaos. Fear. She saw herself leaping in front of Link to defend him from the Guardian preparing to shoot him. Then light.
She repeated the motion of stretching out her hand, just like before. Golden light exploded from her just as the jaws of death were snapping shut.
...
100 years later
...
"You must save her. My daughter."
Link lethargically watched the ethereal figure float to the grassy field. The beast raged, but the girl stretched out her hand. Light. Beautiful, golden light. It grew larger and larger until it swallowed the beast whole, then disappeared into nothingness.
She turned.
Link felt his heart pounding. For the first time in a century, he smiled. He didn't care that he was collapsing on the ground. He'd already been there before, and this time he wasn't dying.
Her light faded and her legs gave out. The both of them sprawled in the long grass. He reached a shaking hand and grasped hers gently. She closed her hand around his.
"Do you... really remember me?"
Link sat up and looked down her the dirty, exhausted, beautiful face. Memories flooded his mind. Their whole journey, from saving her from the very first malfunctioning Guardian and being appointed her knight, to her resentment, to the forging of their bond, to seeing her face for what he'd thought would be the last time. He looked at her now, drinking in every detail. "Every second, Princess Zelda."
He wrapped her tightly in his arms and kissed her for all he was worth.
THE END