Under the Hyrulian Moon
A couple of days had passed and the races of Hyrule were in the midst of cleaning up the carnage and their own dead. Link and Zelda took in the losses with heavy hearts and Link knew that it would have been many less if they had stayed behind the walls. Zelda suddenly noticed that Kariah was sitting on the battlements looking out at the field.
The princess made her way to see the Goddess of Time. Zelda was starting to see the oldness that was hidden behind the body of a young woman.
"Is everything alright Kariah?" Zelda asked quietly, standing beside the goddess.
"Yes and no," Kariah sighed, watching a group of Gorons find an injured comrade.
"The land is once again at peace thanks to you Kariah, we have much to be thankful for," Zelda said softly. Kariah gently shook her head.
"It was not I, it was the Hero of Time that saved this land again Zelda. I only gave him a bit of direction into a time that was forgotten and erased. It is time for me to return to where I belong," Kariah said softly, looking to the setting sun.
"Surely you will come with us to the lake tonight won't you?" Zelda asked, a small fondness edging her voice. Kariah looked at her with her amethyst eyes and gave a small smile.
"I suppose I can stay until then," Kariah said, slowly descending the stairs. She glanced and saw that Link was watching her sadly. Kariah came up to him slowly.
"It will be alright Link…" Suddenly a Gerudo that was just a little younger than Lania cut Kariah off.
"Sir, my mother is missing, we can't find Zo," the young red head said, her voice giving away her concern. Link's eyes immediately grew worried. Kariah intervened in a hurry.
"She has already passed to the golden land, you won't find her," Kariah said softly, watching her daughter with a pained heart. Link glanced at Kariah sharply but she turned away.
"Zo told me to give this to you Arya, it is a family keepsake and she wanted you to keep it safe and pass it on through generations to come," Kariah said, giving Arya a silver triangle. Arya took the small chain with the silver triangle on it and gently placed it around her neck, her golden eyes bright with unshed tears.
"Thank you Milady, from both my mother and me," Arya whispered softly. Kariah couldn't help herself she embraced her daughter. Link watched on in surprise but then he wondered for a moment, why would Kariah care for this one Gerudo girl?
Arya felt at peace as the young woman hugged her tightly.
"Keep it safe," Kariah whispered, briefly changing her voice to that of Zo's. Arya's eyes widened as she looked at Kariah in surprise. Kariah let go and winked at Arya before turning to Link. Arya smiled peacefully back.
"Let's get ready to head down to the lake, Hero of Time," Kariah said, turning towards the castle. Link watched her go with a sigh. He was surprised how easy it was becoming to let her go, almost to the point where he was suspicious that Kariah had done something to him. He followed the auburn haired woman to the castle.
Link found a silver tunic in the room that Zelda had given to him and so he put it on, with black tights and his brown boots. He strapped the Master Sword back in place on his back and placed a silver hat on his head. Someone obviously humoured him for his love of his hat. Kariah waited quietly with Zelda, who was dressed in a simple silver dress to match Link. Kariah was wearing a white dress. Arden, Epona and Libby were waiting for the trio.
Together they rode out onto the field and followed the gathering races moving to the lake. Kariah watched as the moon began to rise to shine its pale light on the Hyrulians. The moon was Kariah's patron. Time was supposed to be an element of the night, the same going for forest, water and shadow. The sun belonged to her sisters, and the elements of light, fire and spirit.
Link and Zelda looked at the light too and marvelled at the full moon as it lit up the extreme reaches of Hyrule Field. They both seemed to glow, as the silver in their clothes seemed to shine brilliantly in the moonlight.
Soon the lake came into view, and they saw the Hyrulians standing quietly at the shoreline. Kariah and Link and Zelda dismounted their horses and walked quietly to the lake, each holding a small candle and a Deku wood bowl. The candle was to represent somebody who was a casualty in the war. Arya walked behind the three with a candle for her mother. Zelda held a candle for her father, and Link and Kariah held candles for all who had been killed.
Kariah walked to the edge of the water and lit the candle and sent it adrift in the Deku wood bowl. It floated out onto the surface of Lake Hylia. Link did the same with his candle.
"Rest in peace warriors," Kariah said softly before turning to Link, "I need the Ocarina of Time, Hero."
Link hesitated for a second before he saw something in her eyes. Hope. Link complied giving her the blue ocarina. She gave him a gentle smile and she turned to the floating candles on the lake.
The surface of the lake was like glass with floating fire on the surface. The sky was clear and millions of stars were shining and the full moon cast its white light down on the people in the warm night on midsummer's eve.
Kariah stepped slightly into the water and began to play a pretty, slightly sad, but also hopeful song. It had pieces from all the cultures to satisfy those who were gone and seemed to come straight from the heart.
"May those deceased be happy in the golden land and may those who still live, live to the fullest that they can. Only once a soul has lived to the fullest potential, will they be able to move onto the next adventure. Those who have left us have gone on a new adventure in a new world where anything is possible and the challenges right for them, they aren't gone from your lives, just in a place where we can not physically see and touch. But if we face the winds and listen carefully, we can feel their spirits moving across the land in a happy way, and reassuring you that they will meet you on the river one day," Kariah's voice whispered softly through the minds of the Hyrulians and they all felt peace in their hearts. Kariah continued to play.
Three women wearing cloaks made their way to Kariah with their own candles to set afloat on the lake. The candles were different than the white candles that were set out by the other races. They were the colours of emerald green, ruby red, and sapphire blue. The women gently set them on the lake and joined Kariah by singing the beautiful song in the language of the heavens. Everyone listened quietly as the Goddesses of their land sang for them and the ones that were laid to rest.
Kariah continued to play and Din was the first to change the language. She began to sing for the Gorons in their native language. Each and every Goron wiped their eyes as the words of the song washed over them. Again Kariah played the song and Nayru began to sing for the Zora, and Din continued to sing for the Gorons. The Gorons, who were lovers of music, began to sing with Din and the Zora soon caught on and began to sing with Nayru.
Link and Zelda and many others who spoke Hylian as their language were curious to know what they were saying. The song came around again and Farore began to sing in the Hylian language with Din and Nayru still singing in Goron and Zora.
"You will find me in Hyrule deep in the mountain valley
When the summer is peaceful and high,
There where the streamlets meander the valley is still,
'Neath the blue of a calm cloudless sky
Look for me at dawning when the earth is a sleep.
Till each dewdrop is kissed by the day,
'Neath the Deku and rowan a vigil I'll keep,
Every moment you are away
The old earth gently turns as the seasons change slowly.
All the flowers and leaves born to wane.
Hear my song o'er the lea, like the wind soft and lowly.
Oh, please come back home again"They all began to sing it in Hylian and Kariah finished the beautiful song. A bit of a breeze came up and blew into the faces of all the Hyrulians staring out onto the lake. Kariah brought up the ocarina and began to play a new song and they all sang the farewell song to those who had gone onto bigger adventures.
"Fare you well upon your journey,
To the bright lands far away,
Where beside the peaceful rivers,
You may linger any day.
In the forests warm at noontide,
See the flowers bloom in the glades,
Meet the friends who've gone before you,
To the calm of quiet shades.
There you'll wait, O my beloved,
Never knowing want or care,
And when I have seen my seasons,
We will walk together there."
Kariah went straight into another farewell song and the people once again recognized the song and began to sing with the three goddesses.
"I search for the summer o'er fields far and still,
Though seasons may take me wherever they will,
Cross vale and o'er hill as the warm winds blow down,
'Twas there I found autumn gold, russet, and brown.
I wandered the lands 'neath a misty morn sky,
'Till the frost rimed a small icy tear from my eye.
O winter, cold winter turns short days to night,
And dresses the lea in a gown of pure white,
So windswept and sad until yon comes the day,
A pale morn of sunlight melts snowflakes away.
See green shoots a-pushing to pierce the bare earth,
Bringing fair-coloured flowers to herald spring birth,
As spinney and woodland grow leafier each day,
Young birds sing that summer is soon on its way.
I'll find me the glade that my heart recalls best,
In my soft summer dell I will lay down to rest"
Kariah finished the final song as the Hyrulians said their farewells, starting on their own journeys home. Link and Zelda stayed behind along with the six sages close to the edge of the lake.
"Kariah, it is time for you to come home too," Din said quietly, giving the youngest sister a hug.
"I know Din, but I can't leave without saying good-bye," Kariah said softly, looking at the princess and the hero.
"We will wait for you sister," Farore said, gently pushing Kariah to the others. Kariah approached the sages and the hero.
"Take care Hero, and may the winds of change prosper upon the land. Your descendents will find us again, Hero and Sage of Time," Kariah said gently to Link and Zelda. Zelda quickly gave the Goddess of Time a tearful hug.
"Farewell Kariah, we will miss you greatly," Zelda said, crying softly. Kariah made her way around to each and every sage and she whispered different things to each on. She soon found herself in front of Link.
Link stepped forward and Kariah found herself lost in his familiar azure depths. He stood tensely in front of her with mixed emotions in his eyes. He quickly found his voice.
"Goddess Kariah, I wish you well in your own adventures. Your legacy here in Hyrule will be missed. I hope that one day we will meet again," Link said rather stiffly. Kariah raised a delicate auburn eyebrow at Link and Zelda had an incredulous look on her face.
"Good-bye Link, Kariah said quietly as she saw no sign of a joke lining Link's features. She turned away, slightly disappointed by Link's lack of sensitivity.
Ruto happened to see the disappointment in Kariah's eyes as she turned away. Ruto and Zelda decided that Link hadn't given Kariah a proper good-bye and so they pushed the Hero of Time right into Kariah. She caught him in a hug and Link found himself looking into her amethyst eyes.
"Forgive me Milady," Link whispered before he claimed her lips in a farewell kiss. Zelda knew that Link would always have a special place in his heart for Kariah. They broke apart and Link and Kariah smiled at each other before she looked to her sisters. They all nodded in unison and Kariah looked back at Link.
"Farewell, Hero," Kariah whispered, before gently pushing him back to the Princess Zelda. Link looked into Zelda's sapphire eyes and saw hope there. Link embraced her and then bent down and gently kissed the princess that he knew he was destined to marry. Link looked back at Kariah and saw that she was grinning happily. With a wave, she walked back to the waters edge to join her sisters.
Din, Farore and Nayru all embraced Kariah and then they turned to the Hylians on the shore. With a wave, they sang one last farewell song as they took to their home in the heavens.
"Hey la ho, hey la ho,
Our hearts go with you where you go,
Hey la hey, hey la hey,
Maybe we'll meet again someday.
Like a feather on the breeze,
Blown to wander restlessly,
Out upon the open seas,
Travel speedily and free.
But as the earth turns,
And our fire burns,
And the moss grows on the lee,
When long day ends,
Think of old friends,
In whatever place you be.
Hey la ho, hey la ho,
Fortune follow you where e'er you go,
Hey la hey, hey la hey,
May sunlight warm your back upon the way."
Wow, what a story, it has taken me several months to finish this story but here is the ending. I hope that you all enjoyed the final chapter and that you will drop a final review for this story. I hope that you will all check out Sea Flower, it is like a spin off of this story only starting at Wind Waker. I hope to see you all there!Thanks go out to all reviewers. Especially:
Emeralddestiny – Thanks for your constant support and for giving me the push that I often needed to get the chapters going. I hope you liked the ending!
Living Arrow – thanks for your constant support and patience with my complaining :D
You girls are the greatest!
Thanks also goes out to:
Dragon Sword Master, Hopeless Maiden, Blondie 91, Ultmate Lifeform, Forloin Rain, Emperor Palpatine, Ri2, Michael, Itxier, CloudxInxCrimson, my cousin TheDale, Janus Kamaren, MageWriter14, Sage of Water: Aranel, sardonic shispers, Greki, RayxJade, par armsford, fallenavalon, Oni-Fil, darkangel, CrazygurlMadness and also to the readers who didn't review.
Later in the heavens…
Kariah stood with her sisters watching as Hyrule picked up the pieces.
"Kariah, they are slipping into the other time stream," Farore observed.
"That was part of my plan, everyone in Hyrule will fall back into place, it was part of the reason that I let Ganondorf go after freeing the king. I knew that those who were killed in the Imprisoning War, or the forgotten time, would need to die in order to rejoin the split in the time stream," Kariah said calmly. Nayru glanced at Kariah.
"But what was wrong with this timeline?" Nayru asked. Kariah turned away to look out across their beloved land.
"The Ocarina is too powerful to stay in Hyrule, I'm going to lock it away so that only the Hero of Winds and my descendent can unlock it. These times must merge and form back into a single stream. Time will merge the memories of both times and create the people for the future. Only if Link marries Zelda, will his descendent take on the title of Hero," Kariah said quietly.
"What will threaten the Courage Bearer's descendent?" Din asked," Kariah turned to face Din, her amethyst eyes met ruby eyes.
"Ganondorf," Kariah said, and Din dropped her gaze.
"How do you know all of this for sure?"" Farore asked.
"I'm the Bearer of Time. I know how to read downriver. Right now the two streams are separate, but each day those streams narrow and will combine back into one. Link split the stream when he opened the gate to the Sacred Realm when he was ten and too young to take on the title Hero of Time. The stream was able to repair itself the first time. Later, Zelda split it again when she sent Link back seven years to grow up maturely. The stream will be able to combine back into one now," Kariah said looking at her sisters.
"We will leave it to you little sister. Keep watch over Hyrule, we are going to create other lands and we will need you later to set the time for them, farewell."