Title: Ganondorf's Return

Game: Zelda

Rating: T

Genre: Romance/Action/Adventure

Summary: They thought all was safe once the King of Evil was sealed in the Evil Realm. However, he now threatens to break out and return to Hyrule once again. What will happen and what else threatens to hinder the budding love between a Hero and his Princess? L+Z

Warning: none

Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time belongs to Nintendo.

A/N: Uwaah, it's been so long since I've posted! X.x So sorry everyone! It's been months! I just had a major block with this one piece, so yeah, many apologies!

o O o

Chapter II – One and One

He was no longer lying on the cold hard floor of the temple. He could feel something soft beneath him and he stirred slowly. His head ached, but not as much as it had before. Attempting to lift his hand to his head, he gave up, for it felt too heavy. Letting out a groan in protest to not being able to do anything, he slowly opened his eyes as he felt a slender hand upon his cheek.

"Better?" he registered the sound of Zelda's voice.

He tried to nod, but couldn't. She seemed to understand.

"Everyone was worried about you," she whispered to him, "Saria and Princess Ruto were sobbing hysterically, Impa and Nabooru became panicky. King Daruina… well, I've never seen him as afraid as he was then, and Rauru was trying to think of all the explanations for what had happened and he became so distraught as he could think of none."

Link wanted to ask what of her, but was too weak. It seemed as though she had read the question in his eyes and looked away, embarrassed, "Well, I'm glad you are safe. I'll tell the others you're awake. Princess Ruto and I had just swapped, as she was watching you before in case you woke. Firstly, though, drink this."

A blue liquid was brought to his lips and he recognised it as the strong potion that would bring his strength back. Eagerly parting his lips to allow the medicine through, already feeling the healing effects of it.

"I'll be going –" Zelda murmured turning, but Link caught her hand.

"Zelda…"

She turned and looked at him patiently, "What's the matter?"

"What… happened…" Link began, but Zelda though it was a question and she began to speak.

"You took the Master Sword from the pedestal and everything seemed normal, until you disappeared. It seemed to be hours for which you were gone, but in reality, I think it was only a few minutes. Suddenly, a blinding flash of blue light erupted from the pedestal and threw you backwards."

"Zelda…" Link repeated, slowly becoming stronger by the moment due to the effects of the potion, "That's not what I meant. I saw… I saw something horrible when I was there."

Her expression immediately softened and he sat on the edge of the bed he lay in and looked into his eyes in concern, "Where? What did you see?"

"I… somehow ended up in the Evil Realm," Link said as he sat up and Zelda gasped. Continuing, he spoke, "There was some clearing there and all the creatures from the temples I had once defeated were all gathered there. Ganondorf spoke of a plan to somehow get into Hyrule again. Then they found me and I couldn't hear anymore of their plan. They all attacked me, but… then I was suddenly brought back into the temple."

Zelda's blue eyes were widened in fear and she hugged him, tears streaming down her face, "Thank the Goddesses you weren't hurt!"

Link welcomed the embrace, his own arms holding her securely, "I'm glad too."

To his embarrassment, but not exactly against his liking, Zelda showed no signs of letting go of him. Their closeness brought back memories of escaping from Ganon's collapsing castle, when they ran hand in hand down the seemingly endless flights of stairs and her screams of fright whenever he was hurt. It had given him the feeling that someone truly cared for him… for the first time in his life; he had mattered to somebody.

Slowly letting go of him, Zelda slightly drew back, looking into Link's eyes. Again, it brought back memories. This time, of the brief moment just before they heard Ganon stir beneath the rubble of his destroyed castle. That short moment in which Link felt as if he wanted to move forward and kiss the princess. There was no Ganon this time… there was nothing to stop him. Taking Zelda's hands in his, he moved forward, only to find her lips already upon his. Surprised that she had been the one to initiate the kiss, yet encouraged at the same time, knowing he wasn't the only one feeling the way he did, he held Zelda again, this time closer and more protectively.

After a short moment, she pulled back and gave him a small shy smile; "I should tell the others that you're awake now."

Getting up to his feet too, he looked at her, "I'll come with you."

The blue potion had done wonders, though he doubted the kiss they shared hadn't helped him regain some energy. He figured that he was in one of the houses in Kakariko Village as he walked about. On the table nearby, he found his gauntlets, Hylian Shield and the Master Sword in its scabbard. Equipping himself, he left his cap on the table, put on his boots and walked to Zelda, who was standing by the door, smiling at him.

"You look much better now," she commented, taking his hand and marveling at how strong it felt and how secure it made her feel.

She began walking out but Link stopped. Turning, she looked at him inquiringly and he sighed.

"I'm afraid," he admitted in a quiet voice, looking at the ground.

"Link… you've saved Hyrule before, it'll be just the same this time – "

He shook his head, "That's not what I meant. I mean this. Us."

Zelda looked wary, "Us? We…shouldn't have –?"

"No," he cut in; "I don't mean that. I mean… you can do a lot better than me."

She looked at him almost sternly, "I never want to hear you say that again, Link. You saved the world for the Triforce's sake! How much 'better' can you get?"

He sighed and shook his head; "Impa won't like it."

"So?" she asked, not getting angry but still raising her voice slightly, "I choose who I'm with, not Impa, okay Link? I don't care if she doesn't want us together Link, it's not going to stop me."

Before he could argue further, she hugged him tightly, "Nothing's going to stop me."

Looking down into her eyes, he smiled and caressed her cheek gently before kissing her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer.

"Princess, would you like a break, you haven't slept since Link –"

Their kiss was abruptly ended as Impa walked into the house, but Link was too slow to remove his arms from around Zelda's waist and as he froze in shock, that was where they stayed. Zelda's eyes avoided Impa's gaze as she looked at the floor at her guardian's feet. Link, however, looked into the Shadow Sage's cold eyes for a long moment while she glared back, before he broke eye contact with her and his gaze joined Zelda's on the floor.

"I can explain…" Zelda stammered, her eyes darting back and forth between Impa and Link.

"There is no need," was the short reply, "But seeing as Link is fit and well, you will not object to accompanying me outside, would you?"

Zelda sighed and looked at the floor again. By the tone of Impa's voice, she knew she wouldn't have been able to object even if Link was still unconscious. Following her outside, she reached the doorway, giving Link, who was standing there as if frozen, one sad smile before closing the door and following Impa.

o O o

Link stared at the shut door before him for a few moments, assessing and reassessing what had just happened. Surely, the things he most wanted and most feared hadn't just happened within quick succession of each other. It had to be his tired mind, what else could be the reason behind his thinking that his feelings for Zelda were returned and that she had almostly instantly been torn away from him? It didn't make sense. It just couldn't.

He looked at the bottle that had held his blue potion earlier and frowned. It must've been the effects of the drug. It couldn't be true. Walking to his bed slowly, he sat down and buried his hands in his hair with barely controlled rage. Who was he kidding? It had happened. She was his and suddenly, she was gone. He shut his eyes tightly, loathing Impa. He had no idea how much influence her guardian held over the princess, but he wasn't about to get his hopes up – he knew they were close. Zelda would probably be reluctant to displease her old friend. He had no chance. She was gone, even before they even really were together.

Sighing, he stood up slowly and made his way to the door, pulling it open and walking out into the light. Shielding his eyes from the sun temporarily as they adjusted to the sudden change in brightness as he stepped out from the dark house, he looked around. Zelda was nowhere to be seen, nor was Impa, but he could make out the figures of Saria, Nabooru and Ruto in the distance. As his azure eyes scanned the area, he ascertained it was indeed Kakariko Village, though there was really no other place he could have been anyways, as Hyrule Marketplace was yet to be repaired and it was the only other place with houses and furniture similar to that of where he was. The large turning windmill and the lone well were comforting sights and a small smile momentarily made his features seem young and innocent before a thought hit him. Ganondorf was once again threatening to steal all of this from him and his fellow citizens of Hyrule. His gaze narrowed and he made a silent vow to defeat Ganondorf in a manner that he would never be a threat again.

o O o

"Walk with me," Impa said, beginning to walk herself, leaving the princess no time to protest.

Zelda stared blankly ahead of her as she followed her guardian and old friend. Walk with Impa; it always meant she was in trouble. It was what happened in her childhood, when she had done wrong and her parents didn't have the heart to discipline her. She and Impa would end up walking through the large courtyard of the castle, and by the end of the walk, Zelda would feel so guilty that she wished the earth to swallow her whole. Impa had a talent for being passive and stern at the same time, or at least seem as though she was being passive, pretending well enough to be believed and too well to be resented for it. A familiar sensation that Zelda assosciated to the dagger of guilt being lodged in her gut came to her and she looked at Impa, but the Sheikah made no signs of looking back at her or anything.

She knew what this would be about. Impa was like a mother to her and like any mother, had a wild obsession of Zelda marrying a rich and noble prince. Well, to the princess, Link was the prince. What did money and class matter? He had already proven himself to be dedicated to the country, to be trustworthy and to possess all other qualities Zelda valued in a man. She didn't understand why Impa had any objections to her feelings for him, but she felt the immediate dislike for him the moment she had seen him in the castle courtyard where Zelda herself had first met him. Impa had initially protested to Zelda's wanting to involve Link in the fight against Ganondorf. How, she reasoned, could they put their trust into a simple boy who did not even know the truth of his heritage to save the entire world? Impa's awakening to the Sage of Shadows was only for Zelda's sake, not to help Link. In fact, the princess suspected Impa's hate for him had grown after he had proved her wrong, that he could be trusted to help them. She felt the colour leave her face as she thought of what Impa would say, or what she would do. One thing Zelda was sure of, was that she wasn't going to let anything between Link and herself, but she had never objected to Impa's wishes before. Hating the silence as it led her farther down the spiral of negative thought, she looked up, about to speak when Impa began to speak.

"Link is a good man," the Sheikah said quietly, "He has proven to us time and again that he can be trusted and that he is very compassionate. He selflessly throws himself into battle to save other lives while he is fully aware than his own is at great risk."

Zelda stared speechlessly. Was Impa approving of Link? A strong happiness surged forth within her and she smiled, about to speak when again, she was cut off.

"He would make a good husband," Impa continued, stopping and looking over her shoulder to the girl she had mothered for years, "To perhaps a simple woman, like Malon from Lon Lon Ranch. He isn't suited to royalty."

Impa's words were met with silence. Zelda looked into her guardian's resolute crimson eyes in disbelief, feeling as though she had been slapped. She regretted the hope she had allowed to grow within her, now having been crushed beyond reason. One thought passed through her mind to strengthen her resolve. I am not going to lose Link, no matter what… I won't let anything come in between us. Now all she had to do was tell this to Impa. With a heavy sigh, she spoke.

"I appreciate that you're looking out for me," she said earnestly, looking into her guardian and friend's eyes, "But I believe that I'm old and wise enough to make my own decisions. The days that I have needed your guidance have passed. I am my own woman now."

Clearly, her words were not met with much appreciation. The two women stood in silence for a moment, before Zelda turned and left, walking back to the house Link was in.

o O o

"Link!"

He turned as a young girl almost tackled him to the ground, her eyes shining with happiness as she hugged him tightly, "You're okay!"

Sitting up, he laughed and hugged his childhood best friend in return, "Of course I am. You should know it'd take more than that to get rid of me."

Saria smiled, clearly overwhelmed with happiness and relief, "Everyone was so worried about you."

He smiled in return, "So I've been told."

Looking to the side a little, Saria nodded towards Ruto; "Princess over there was acting as if the world was going to end, nothing could cheer her up."

Link quickly looked over to where Saria was. His shoulders slumped slightly. Wrong princess. "What about… Zelda?"

"Ah, she was the one who took charge when you passed out. She was the one who seemed most visibly shaken, but she didn't cry like Ruto did, or me, for that matter. Her face remained expressionless and she just gave us all commands, saying we needed to get you to Kakariko Village and get some medicine as soon as possible. She didn't even leave your side 'til Impa forced her to-"

Saria's sudden silence made Link look up and following his friend's gaze, he looked over his shoulder to see Zelda walking towards them.

"Hello Saria," Zelda greeted the young Kokiri with a pleasant smile, getting a smile in return.

"Zelda…"

Link was standing and looking into her azure eyes.

She turned to him and gave him a small smile, "I've told Impa that although I respect her opinion, I also take my own into consideration. Nothing's changed, Link. Nothing ever will."

A grin spread across Link's face and he made a move to take her into his arms, but stopped himself and looked at Saria.

The young girl gave her friend a sly grin, "Took your time. Couldn't have been any more obvious about it, Link."

Zelda laughed and Link blushed. Looking away for a moment, Link thought in silence. He knew that Zelda was a very strong willed person and despite Impa's blatant dislike for him, she would stay with him if she wanted to. He had no reason to worry about that, but it was the fact that Impa didn't like him in the first place that made him feel uneasy. It wasn't as if he had no clue as to why she disliked him. He could think of why; he was poor, he was parentless, he had not but a title to his name… the reasons were endless. The one thing that worried him was whether she'd take it into her own hands to keep them separated.

"Link…"

He felt Zelda's hand upon his shoulder and turned to her with a small smile, which was returned as she hugged him.

"Don't worry about it, okay?" she said as though she had read his mind, "Nothing's going to happen."

Wrapping his arms her, he noticed they had gained the attention of Princess Ruto and Nabooru. The two came running, although Ruto seemed rather… annoyed at the fact that Link was in Zelda's arms.

Zelda made a quick move to slide away, but Link held tighter, giving her a reassuring smile. He didn't plan on letting her go for a long time.