A/N: all right, Stefani Kitchel, just for you, here's the ceremony!
Epilogue
"I should never have gotten out of bed," grizzled Destiny.
"Well it's too late for that now," replied Zelda. "You might as well put on a happy face and get this over with."
"A mask, you mean," said Destiny. "That's all I do; I wear masks to let people see in me what they want."
"We can talk about that later," said Zelda. "There! Finished."
Destiny looked down in disgust at the dress she was wearing: snow-white silk with puffed bell sleeves so long that the bottoms of the sleeves came down to the hem of her skirt, an extremely full skirt, and a full apron that covered the bodice of the dress and part of the front and back. It resembled the one on Zelda's dress, depicting the Triforce and several other symbols sacred in Hyrule. However, Destiny's apron was silver and gold, not purple, red, yellow, and blue like Zelda's. Destiny also wore gold Triforce earrings, and her mother placed a ceremonial crown on her head; gold, in the shape of a Triforce with a ruby set in the piece representing Din and Power, a peridot set in the piece representing Fayore and Courage, and a sapphire set in the piece representing Nayru and Wisdom. Destiny's hair had been plaited and threaded with gold and silver ribbons. She hated it. Yes, admittedly she liked to dress up once in a while, but not in front of all of Hyrule! She scowled.
"Now, don't do that or you'll crease your makeup," Zelda gently chided her.
"I absolutely do not care!" declared Destiny.
"I know dear, but it's expected of you. Of us," Zelda replied. "It's not that bad, you just have to stand up there, smiling and looking pretty."
"I should be wearing the clothes I wore when I fought Ganondorf," complained Destiny, "not this stupid, over-dressed, fairy princess get-up!"
"You've mentioned this before," said Zelda patiently. "Sweetie, I know you don't like ceremonies and public events like this, but it must be done."
"Why? Because it's one of your ridiculous traditions? Hang traditions! Hang what's 'proper' and what's 'done' and try something new once in a while!" retorted Destiny.
"Just put up with it, just this once," pleaded Zelda. Destiny didn't answer. Link entered the room.
"Ah good, you're ready," he said approvingly. "Whenever you're ready, proceed to the terrace, I suppose. The crowd's already gathered, they're just waiting for you."
"We'll be right there, dear," said Zelda.
"Papa, do I really have to wear this stupid outfit?" Destiny asked, trying desperately to get someone to listen to her.
"I wish I could change that, but I can't," replied Link. Zelda swept past him out the door, turning back for a moment.
"I'll be waiting for you two outside the terrace," she said. "Remember Destiny, you don't come out until-"
"-you announce me, yes, yes I know," sighed Destiny. Zelda nodded and left.
"I wish that what's expected of us was different," said Link gently, carefully, "I wish I could change you back into your battle clothes, take off the makeup you're wearing, but I can't. Do you understand, Destiny? I can't do that." Destiny looked at him in confusion, then a slow smile spread over her face and she nodded. Link smiled at her, kissed her cheek, whispered, "No matter what, I am always proud of you," to her and left. Destiny stayed where she was. She now had a few last-minute preparations to make……
A while later, Destiny walked out to the doors to the terrace where her parents waited.
"What on Earth were you doing that took so long?" asked Zelda. Before Destiny could answer, Link intervened.
"Dear, what difference does it make? She's here now."
Zelda sighed. "You're right. Well, let's go out and announce Hyrule's heroine, shall we?"
'Indeed," Link replied, offering his arm. Zelda took it and the two walked out to the terrace. The people of Hyrule cheered for them when they appeared there, settling down when Link raised his hands. "Good people, a new hero has been born!" More cheers. This time Zelda called silently for order.
"This new hero risked much to save us, all of us, and all Hyrule as well," she said. "And now we present to you your savior, and mine and Link's daughter, Princess Destiny Trifosa!" The people went wild with cheers and joyful cries for the princess, then a great, "Ooh!" went through the crowd as Destiny walked out onto the terrace. Zelda stared at her in shock; Link smiled proudly. Now Zelda realized what had taken Destiny so long before; she had taken off her dress, put on her leggings, shirt, tunic, and boots on, then put the elaborate gown back on over it. While waiting for the announcement, Destiny had quickly taken off the gown, which had concealed everything beneath it in its voluminous folds of fabric, rubbed off the makeup with a cloth, put on her cap and gauntlets, taken off the jewelry, and pulled the ribbons out of her braid. With Toan hovering near her head, she looked almost exactly like she had when she fought Ganondorf. She smiled and waved to the crowd, who cheered for her, chanting her name, singing her praises (literally). Link slipped back inside unnoticed, and came back out holding the crown Destiny had rejected. He looked at Zelda and offered her the crown. She just looked at him, then sighed and smiled. She took the crown from Link's hands and turned to the crowd, signaling for quiet.
"Good citizens of Hyrule, I give your heroine and princess, Destiny Trifosa!" she called. The crowd cheered some more, until Zelda signaled again for order. She turned to Destiny and smiled. "See her now, exactly as she was when she fought the Evil King and saved us. She triumphed then, and she has triumphed again. For she has cast off the traditional embellished gown that I would have had her wear just for the sake of tradition. But she was right; she should appear to you as she appeared to Ganondorf, fearless and strong in the same clothes that her father, Link, wore when he faced off against Ganondorf. As Destiny said to me earlier, "Or did you think I fought the Evil One in a pretty dress?" There was good-natured laughter from the crowd at this. "However, there is one thing I must insist upon." She set the crown on Destiny's head. "I place this sacred symbol of triumph and glory on my daughter's head, not because it's tradition, but because she deserves it. She is the new Hero!" The people cheered again, hailing Destiny, praising her, singing for her. And Destiny just stood up there, smiling and looking pretty.
A/N: by the way, jelie36, I have another Zelda fic floating around there somewhere. It's called Serpent-Tongue. However, it tends to show up as SerpentTongue with no spaces or hyphens, in case you want to read.