Ganondorf was dead. The once proud Gerudo reduced to the corpse by the Master Sword during the Era of Twilight. He became a mindless abomination of twisted hatred and malice, Ganon.
Ganon was dead. Not the massive boar-like creature, Ganondorf's true form that plagued Hyrule centuries ago during the time of the Four Sword.
Calamity Ganon was dead. In unleashing his true power, all the built of hatred and malice that dates back to when Hylians soared the skies, he sacrificed his reincarnation. His Curse upon the Chosen Hero and Goddess reincarnate.
Now he was doomed. Defeated and Sealed away into damnation by the latest Chosen Hero and Princess...
If. Even If he will return...It would be too long, so much so that the day he does return...It will surely be his last.
Zelda thought nothing of it, a warm smile upon her face as the bloody red skies faded away with Ganon's essence. Her own golden powers ceased from use that lasted a century.
She was happy. Oh so happy that this day had finally come. When peace had finally returned to Hyrule.
A century in the making.
"I've been keeping watch over you all this time..." She said, addressing her appointed knight, her back to him.
"I've witnessed your struggles to return to us," Light footsteps and crunches of grass came from behind as her Knight stepped closer. "as well as your trials in battle."
The footsteps stopped just behind her. Her golden hair whipped in the wind as she continued.
"I always thought-no, I always believed that you would find a way to defeat Ganon."
She began to turn. "I never lost faith in you over these many years..."
She faced him for the first time in 100 years, to find that he hadn't seemed to change. His once haunted sapphire eyes, the first thing she looked to, peered out from beneath the dark blue hylian hood. They now shone with spirited light, with clear signs of relief to her safety. His champion's tunic had nary a mark on it, the blue coloring glowed in the twilight of the setting sun.
The Master Sword rested in it's sheath, it's brilliant blue glow that dealt the mortal blows to Ganon had faded when the he had perished. Mipha's Trident, Daruk's Hammer, Urbosa's Shield and Sword, and Revali's Bow all were strapped to his back.
In his right hand was the Bow of Light she had bestowed upon him to defeat Dark Beast Ganon, in his left was a scorched Hylian Shield, obviously scavenged from the bowels on the Castle and used extensively in Ganon's battle.
"Thank you, Link..." Her hands folded together, she smiled to him. "...the hero of Hyrule."
His face didn't change expression, looking to her with gentle eyes but stoic demeanor.
"May I ask..." A twitch in his posture, one of curiosity. "Do you really remember me?"
She waited, anxiously for his reply. She hadn't heard his voice in so long, but she knew that today...She may finally get to hear it once more.
His grip on the Hylian shield slackened, the durable shield clattered loudly to the grass as he stepped forward. The now free hand reached for his hood, pulling it back to reveal his entire face.
He soon stood in front of her, carefully twisting the Bow of Light in his hand. He bent his knee and bowed his head, kneeling down to the former princess, presenting the Bow of Light to her.
"I do." He said, his voice warm and regretful. "I'm sorry for ever forgetting."
Zelda looked down to him, a feeling of sadness and remorse hung in her chest.
"I am the one who should be sorry, Link." She spoke tentatively. "I knew putting you into the Shrine of Resurrection would strip you of your memories. I, and I alone, am responsible for the hardships you had to endure in order to remember us again."
Link whipped his head up, nearly dropping the Bow. "And I am thankful!" He protested. "If you hadn't, I would have died for sure! Then you wouldn't have been able to stop Ganon and Hyrule would be doomed!"
His eyes changed from protest to the same stoic expression he held 100 years ago, his head bowed once more.
"Please don't regret it, Princess." He murmured subdued. "Urbosa, Daruk, Revali...Mipha. I remember them all...and I'm so glad I do. Thanks to you."
With that, he once again held the Bow up. Zelda looked upon the golden weapon, her frown morphed into a warm smile as she placed her hand on it.
"Thank you, Link." She said with a sighed. "That gives me some peace."
The bow free from his hands, he stood up, his knee wet from the muddy grass. For the first time in a lifetime, Zelda saw a genuine smile on his face, one that she only came across when she caught him cooking.
He flipped his hood back on, turning about to face the Castle. Zelda stood by his side, watching the magnificent structure capture the last bit of twilight as the sun sunk below the horizon and the beginnings of moonlight struck the spires.
"Ganon's influence over the Guardians will have vanished now." Zelda said, looping the bow of light around her shoulder. "If you don't mind Link, There are some possessions I'd like to recover from my room before we depart."
From beneath his hood, he gave a nod. He brought two fingers to his lips and whistled a tune, grabbing the Hylian Shield off the ground. On the horizon, his steed galloped across the field where the battle had taken place, stopping obediently in front of him.
"You did a great job, girl." He soothed, pulling out an apple from his pouch, feeding her and patting her White mane.
Zelda gazed in wonder at the Horse. "What a majestic horse, what is her name?"
"Epona." He replied, hooking the Hylian shield to the saddle and securing some saddlebags that had loosened during the battle. "I found her at the ruins of a ranch just northeast of here." He scratched his cheek. "Well...More like she found me."
"Epona..." Zelda repeated, frowning at the name. "Isn't that the name of the Horse of Legend? The one the Hero chosen by the Goddesses rode on his adventure?"
He gave her another smile, more of a mischievous smirk than anything. "Princess. You have no idea." He said cryptically.
Fastening one last strap, he helped her into the saddle. "Are you sure you don't want your own horse? I can call another."
"No, I'm actually a bit tired, Link." Zelda yawned. Shrugging, the hooded knight hopped into the saddle, taking hold of the reins. Zelda had to quickly hold onto him when Epona turned and galloped off towards the castle with speed.
The ride was uneventful, the Guardians, Sentries, and Turrets had lost their orange glow, returning to their blue hue and paid no heed to the Princess and her Knight as they rode across the bridge and into the castle courtyard, or what was left of it.
Link dismounted Epona, offering a hand to Zelda to help her down. After doing so, he instantly noticed a lone guardian moving towards them, it's helm more pronounced then the others.
He gripped the Master Sword's handle, his other arm held up to keep Zelda behind him. The Guardian didn't cease movement, moving closer and closer.
Link remembered something, a memory from 100 years ago. "Stop!" He barked, hoping that it would obey orders. To his surprise. It did.
It stopped on the dime, looking at them obediently. Zelda stepped from behind Link, watching the Guardian in fascination.
"You can understand us?" She asked. It's reply was a high whirring and clicking sound. "So, yes then..."
Link studied the Mechanical Soldier, it was obviously different if it had followed them when the other had not. It's helm also caught his attention.
"Zelda, was there a Guardian Leader?" He murmured. Zelda blinked, frowning as she tried to remember. Her father kept her away from such studies...but...
"I think so, It would make sense for the Shiekah to make one." She said, looking up to the Guardian. "Is that right?"
It gave the same noise as before.
"Alright...Can you guard the castle while Link and I look around?" She stood out from behind Link. "And please do not harm any Hylians."
"That aren't Yiga clan." Link added.
The Guardian Prime studied them for a moment, giving it's little confirmation click, before trekking off to patrol the courtyard.
"You learn something every day." Link muttered, releasing his grip on the Master Sword.
"Indeed. Shall we?" Zelda began walking towards the ruined steps to her former room. Link followed close behind as he used to long ago.
The place was a mess, walls torn down, everything but her bed and desk covered in rubble. Zelda pursed her lips, scrounging through the rubble like a simpleton because her powers were depleted.
Link stood guard in the corner, hands resting on the pommel of the Master Sword, with it's tip resting on the floor.
After a minute of scrounging, she finally found what she was looking for, a wooden chest. To her anger, the lock had rusted over the hundred years. She looked around for a rock to smash it open with, only to jump back in surprise when Link silently walked over and stomped downwards onto the lock, breaking it off, before walking back to his post.
"Thank you..." She said bewildered, prying open the chest. She reached in and pulled out it's contents to present it to Link. It was her Champion's tunic from all those years ago.
"Doesn't even have dust on it." She smirked in triumph. "Now if you don't mind, Link."
He nodded, walking out of the room so she could change. He took the time to scavenge some pieces of equipment and ingredients, along with a cookbook for Gotter.
By the time he got back, Zelda was in her Tunic and packing old notes and her diary into her satchel. It took her about ten minutes to gather everything, during which Link remained on guard.
"Where to now?" She asked, latching her satchel closed. Link's stoic demeanor didn't break as he thought.
"Riverside stables, about an hours ride from here, I'll board Epona there and we can use the Shiekah Slate to warp to my house in Hateno Village." He sheathed the Master Sword, stepping back from the doorway.
Zelda gave him a incredulous look. "You bought a house?"
He shrugged. "It was pretty worth it."
Zelda laughed. "I never expected you to be a settling down type."
"I'm not."
His expression became dark, his eyes hidden under his hood. Zelda's laugh became stuck in her throat, eyes cast downwards in sadness. She silently walked past him and down into the courtyard, hearing him follow her.
The moon hung just over the Horizon, Link checked the time on the Shiekah Slate: 9:13 PM.
"Let's get moving." He said, helping Zelda onto Epona before saddling up himself. As they rode across the bridge, the Prime Guardian rushed alongside them.
"We're going to spread the news of Ganon's defeat." Zelda told it. "People may come to the castle to investigate. Can you tidy up the place, clear the rubble, and welcome them if they do?"
It gave an affirmative click and rushed off to instruct it's fellow guardians.
"Patrolling, I can get." Link said, giving Zelda a look. "But Janitor work? Seriously?"
"Well, It appears they're more than willing to do it. Perhaps they were programmed for that too?" Zelda offered.
Link stared at her, but soon turned back to the road as he snapped Epona's reins.
Sure enough, an hour of Moonlit riding led them to a quaint little stable on the river. Link had Epona boarded and grabbed some food for later. He also gave a cookbook to a pompous man who seemed to adore cooking.
Nobody seemed to notice that Zelda resembled the Princess from 100 years ago, she didn't blame them. After all affairs were in order, Link led Zelda to back of the Stable to avoid a ruckus. Selecting his house in Hateno Village on the Shiekah slate, he pulled Zelda close as they both faded into the air as wisps of blue light.
The first thing Zelda noticed in Link's home was a large grey Wolf laying on the carpet. It looked up when they appeared in the room, giving faint recognition to Link, but an interested look to Zelda.
"You own a dog?" Zelda knelt down to study it. The wolf gave a growl at the term.
"Don't call him a dog." Link warned, unhooking the Champion's weapons from his back. "He doesn't like that."
"Oh, sorry." She studied the Wolf's face, instantly noting his blue eyes, similar to Link's...Almost Human. "What is his name?"
"Twilight." He noticed the look she gave him. "What?"
The wolf seemed annoyed to the scrutiny he was receiving, standing up and shuffling to lay down with his back
to the princess. Zelda stood up, looking around Link's home. It was very comfortable, with many furnishings that must've cost a fortune. Link had set the food, namely some meat skewers, from earlier on some plates on the table.
Link himself had gone around, setting the Champion's weapons onto various displays around the house. He gave a silent bow to each one, the only one he actually paid much heed to was Mipha's trident, which he stared at sadly before turning away.
"You can have the bed upstairs." Link grabbed and chewed on a meat skewer. "I have a sleeping mat I'll use."
Zelda nodded, reaching for her own skewer. They sat eating silently, after what was without a doubt a long day. After dinner, Zelda retired to the bed upstairs, almost flopping onto it and drifting off into slumber.
"She's rather inquisitive, Wild."
"Maybe, but I still have to protect her, Twilight."
"That was 100 years ago."
"Yes...But I have to try."
Author's Note:
Now without Dialogue Italics!
I finished Breath of the Wild with the Best ending...Now I'm sad because I want more story. So I decided to satiate myself for now.
Hope you enjoy this series.
Review/Fav for more chapters!