The babble of conversation inside Impa's house halts the moment Link pushes the door with Teba at his side. Impa - who had been deep in discussion with Riju - looks up to take in the Sword sheathed at his back, and the Champion's tunic.

"Link," she breathes; welcome and benediction. "It has been a long time, my friend. Come, let me look at you."

Link drops to his knees in front of her cushion and pulls her into a hug. "I missed you," he murmurs into her hair - so wiry now. She pats his hand with her own wrinkled one, and after a moment he pulls away to stand.

At the side of the room, Purah is grinning at him. And wow, he was not prepared to see her looking exactly the same as the last time he'd seen her. The last time, that is; not the most recent. Which is to say, she looks twenty-one again, and every bit as stunning as she'd been back then. Her outfit is impeccably tailored - clearly Claree's work - and hugs her figure so closely he doesn't want to consider where she's keeping her Slate.

This train of thought is apparently written on his face, because Purah sends him a highly exaggerated wink. He curses his pale skin as a blush flushes across his cheeks.

Impa coughs, amused. "Well then. Now that everyone is gathered, shall we begin?"

The planning carries on into the night, though in truth, the Sheikah covered enough of this ground previously that it's more a matter of refinement now. Sidon and Teba are both pragmatic, practised tacticians, giving short and succinct steers to the plan coming together. Riju has little experience but she's shrewd, and listens well. Her input is infrequent but well-measured. Yunobo is initially hesitant, often deferring to Gabro's judgement on the Goron forces. Link suspects he doesn't feel empowered to take decisions, despite being here with Bludo's blessing. But as the night progresses, with the encouragement of the others he warms up to the task. By the end, it's turned into more of a catch-up and reminiscence session than anything else.

The only real point of contention is this:

"Why are we even considering letting Reckless here just saunter into the Castle all by himself?" Purah's tone is terse. "If you die, there goes the whole plan!"

Impa cuts in before Link can reply. "We can't assault the Castle directly, not even with all four Beasts. The chance of accidentally killing Princess Zelda in the attempt is too high."

Purah rolls her eyes. "Yes, the only alternative to sending in one man is to send in everyone, that is obviously what I meant. Someone should go to watch his back."

"I'll do it."

All eyes turn to Paya, who looks calm and determined. Impa nods, resigned.

"There are old Sheikah passages which should still lead into the Castle. I'll tell you how to find them."

Robbie coughs lightly, addressing Paya. "Since you're going... there is something else you could do that would help a lot."

After the representatives of the other races have dispersed to the inn, Link leans on his elbows on the railings outside. It's cold, but Kakariko is peaceful in the darkness; a scene of rural idyll at stark odds with what Link knows awaits in the Castle. If this is the last evening he has to spend, there are certainly worse places to spend it.

After a few minutes of solitude, Impa shuffles up to stand nearby.

"It's so much harder this time," she muses. He sends her a questioning look, and she elaborates. "Knowing that all I can do is wait, and hope. I can't lend my blades to your cause with knees like these."

"I'm surprised Purah hasn't tried to talk you into taking her anti-aging treatment."

Impa snorts. "She's tried. But even if I could be sure it wouldn't render my arms too small and weak to take up my blades again... I've had my time. The future is for the younger generation to forge."

Earlier, Link gathered the Champions' successors together to capture an image with the Slate. It had felt just the same, and yet completely different, to the one he still has from Before. Yunobo has none of Daruk's easy confidence; Sidon none of Mipha's reserve; Teba none of Revali's prickliness. Riju - okay, maybe Riju has Urbosa's same dry sense of humor; just aged for a few decades less. But what they all have in common is that sense of tenacity and spirit.

"They'll do you proud," he says. "They're good people."

"Of course they will." The expression on Impa's face is balanced perfectly between amusement and bafflement. "But I meant you, too. I know it's hard to think of yourself as one of them, but if all goes well tomorrow, you'll spend a great deal more of your life in the present than you ever did in the past."

Link breathes in the crisp nighttime air, exhaling in a frosty puff. "I've never let myself think beyond Ganon."

"Maybe it's time you did." Impa lays one leathery palm on his arm before heading inside. "But first, you should get some sleep."

The morning passes in a whirl of activity. Link - as the only Slate holder who has stepped foot on the Divine Beasts - warps all the Champion successors back to their respective rides. Purah's given them each one of her spare slates, for coordination during the assault. The Sheikah use the rest to ferry their own people to the rendezvous point. Link had tried to argue with Impa about how many they're sending to fight, but she'd shut him down quickly.

"Link, the entire purpose of the Sheikah is to protect and preserve Hylia's line, so it may in turn shield the world from destruction at the hands of Ganon. Zelda is the very last of the blood of the Goddess. This is the point of no return; there is no point in half measures."

Finally, only Link is left. Paya is waiting downstairs for him. In her dark stealth outfit - a style he hasn't seen since the Calamity - her resemblance to the Impa of old is eerie. Impa herself looks grave, and clasps his hands between hers in a traditional Sheikah blessing.

"Farore guide your strikes, Link. Bring Zelda home."

Paya steps close, wordlessly offering the other handle of her slate. Once he grasps it she keys in their destination, and the world dissolves into neon blue.

From the top of Crenel Hill, the army of monsters amassed in the plains surrounding the ruins of Castle Town look like ants. He can tell there are large numbers of Guardians among them, by the faint specks of magenta. The air above the Castle itself is clear: Ganon hasn't broken free enough to manifest his smoke form yet.

Vah Ruta, Naboris, and Rudania are visible even with the naked eye at this distance, sweeping in like pincers around the horde. As they engage, Vah Medoh swoops over, releasing clouds of drones to reflect its lasers off. There's no discipline among the ranks of the monsters: they break under the assault, scattering through to the waiting lines of the allied forces. Link watches through the viewfinder as a mob of electric lizalfos pin down a unit of Zora. Some Gorons roll in to beat them back with their sledgehammers. Further away, Rudania is scything its tail through a crowd of moblins, sending them flying. In the distance, Naboris unleashes furious lightning on the surrounding monsters. Ruta tramples a pair of hinox.

It's hard to wait and watch, knowing his sword could be helping to slice through the horde. Paya, tense at his side, must be having similar thoughts. But they need to make sure the monsters' attention is drawn before they make their move. Finally, they decide the way is clear enough. They pick their way down the grassy slopes. Link dislikes the exposed route; all it would take is for one of the Skywatchers to wander a bit further East and the entire gig would be up. But of all the ways into the Castle, this is by far the likeliest to succeed. They can't afford a repeat of Link's last, ill-fated excursion.

They make it to Boneyard Bridge unscathed though, and from there it's just a short sprint to the ruined Cathedral. Link stands in the shadow of the walls as Paya scouts the graveyard lying around them. Once she's found what she's looking for she beckons him over. The headstone she's crouched in front of has the Sheikah eye carved into it, just discernible under the moss and lichen. He helps her heave up the stone covering the grave. Sure enough, there are steps beneath, descending into the cool earth. Link lights two torches, passing one to Paya. Then he follows her down into the dark of the tunnel.

The soft scraping of their boots on the floor and the faint whisper of their breath are the only sounds for a long time. As they pass under the river, the walls and flagstones become slick with moisture. On the Castle side, the narrow passage widens out slightly, changing from bare earth walls to brick. There are rats, and the usual chuchus to dispatch - those spawn anywhere dank, given sufficient time - but no monsters of any significance. Their little passage joins up with the main branch of the castle sewers, and Link and Paya turn inward, feet quiet as they pick among the rubble and oozing slime. The lack of monsters continues: they must all be out on the Field. His thoughts keep straying to the battle above, and he forces his attention back to his own mission.

Eventually they pass directly under where the Throne Room should be. Paya, still just ahead, lets slip a muffled gasp. Link peers past her, and is struck silent. Something has torn a gaping chasm through the heart of the palace. It's as if a meteor has struck within its walls. The floors are ripped out from wall to wall, letting them see all the way up to the domed ceiling high above. Below there's just a hole where the lowest level of the palace used to be. He approaches the edge, and peers cautiously over. There's a golden glow down there, surrounded by impenetrable blackness.

"...I guess we climb."

Paya nods, looking wan.

They descend the mess of broken stone and rotting wood carefully, placing their hands and feet in gaps in the slime. The noxious, fleshy goop oozes over the walls more thickly here than anywhere else Link has encountered. The entire space stinks like rotting meat, fetid and moist. There's a kind of a pulse to its movement, and to the faint, weak rush of the wind. It's as if the room itself is breathing.

He senses more than sees Paya breaking away. She melts into the shadows as efficiently as Impa used to. Link steps out into the middle of the cavernous space. The sword is almost blindingly bright in his hand, though still dim in comparison to the golden light. As he approaches, his eyes adjust enough to discern Zelda.

She's standing with feet braced and one hand flung out towards the roiling dark; an uncanny echo of his last moments. Ragged and stained though her prayer gown is, she looks like a goddess. Her very skin glows, as if lit from within by holy radiance. It has an oddly calming effect. His racing heart and spiking fear subside a little. Until he looks at the grotesque form frozen on the other side of the barrier, anyway. His mind rebels; refuses to focus. It's like the mental equivalent of a dry heave. The writhing darkness looks like no man, beast or monster he has ever known. There's just a hideous tangle of impossible anatomy, oozing Malice from its many disjointed limbs. It's clear that the smoke-monster he's seen above the castle is just a fragment - an echo - projected beyond this prison while Zelda is distracted.

He steps closer to Zelda. Her eyes are open but unseeing, frozen in time. And then he hears her voice in his head.

Link. I can't release myself from the seal without lifting it. When I do, Ganon will be free. Be ready.

He runs through his options in the space of a heartbeat. Should they fight here, or run? Running makes them vulnerable, but this isn't an ideal place to make a stand. There's nowhere for Zelda to get clear. It'd be too easy to get backed into a corner. Plus, Paya needs to disable the Guardians from the master terminal. That won't be possible with Ganon crashing about the place.

He sheathes the sword, and slides his hand gently into her statue-like one, held at her side.

"I'm ready."

As soon as Zelda sags back into the flow of time, he pulls her by the hand. Away from the Sanctum; away from the disorienting form of Ganon. There's no time to feel joy at being reunited. He shoves it aside, into the same deep place within himself he's shoved the paralysing fear and the mind-melting terror. They flee back into the tunnels. Ganon's roar of fury follows behind.

Their escape is frantic. They slam into walls to rebound around corners and get splashed with stagnant water running down the middle of the damp stone corridors. They bash shins and elbows against the many obstacles in their path. Link topples any furniture still standing across the doors as they pass. Anything to buy another stretch of heartbeats and rasping breaths. The beast shakes the very stones with its pursuit. It crashes through rubble; explodes out of doorways with frightening speed. It fires laser bursts into the masonry just above their heads, and they shield themselves from showers of rock. Zelda throws golden barrier after golden barrier behind them, each slowing it just enough for them to stay ahead. They don't speak. There's no time or breath to spare on words.

Link catches a better glimpse of the Calamity as he helps Zelda up a ruined staircase in a larger chamber. It's not so much chasing them through the warren as flowing. Its body shifts form, spindly limbs bursting from the chaos to grab onto the walls for purchase. Eyes appear and disappear on its bone-mask face. The jaw lolls comically below a nightmare of a mouth. Even if this thing was capable of words, it wouldn't be able to form them. Instead it emits a constant, inhuman screech that saws across Link's nerves.

Finally they burst out into the sunlight. Zelda turns back to the Castle, intent focus on her face as she flings her hands out, summoning the largest barrier yet. A shimmering dome wraps the Castle tight. Granté is waiting nearby with two horses. He helps Zelda up onto Storm's back while Link mounts Epona. Link digs his heels into Epona's sides, spurring her into a gallop.

"Hiyah!"

Behind, Storm follows with Zelda clinging onto his reins. They clatter over the cobbles, full tilt through the remains of the place they'd once called home. Lifeless Guardians litter the streets; the tiny part of him not totally consumed by their flight notes with satisfaction that Paya's task was a success. Only once they're over the bridge into the blasted ruins of Castle Town proper does Link reach for his slate.

[CLEAR], is the last message from Paya. [CLEAR], from Granté just now.

He sends his own message, with fingers fumbling from the adrenaline coursing through him. [CLEAR]

After a moment's wait, four responses of [READY] pour in from the new Champions: Teba, then Sidon, then Yunobo and Riju together.

The sky above glows red briefly.

"Now," he tells Zelda. "Drop the barrier!"

There's a noise that Link couldn't describe with all the words in the Hylian language. He feels it, through the top of his head all the way down through the soles of his feet. The four lasers smash into the Castle with a noise like Death Mountain erupting. A cloud of rubble explodes outwards, the wind scouring dust across Link's face even from this distance. The hum picks up again, and a second barrage hits the Castle with just as much force as the first. This time the tower wobbles with the impact, and then collapses in on itself, smashing down onto the ruins below. It takes a long time for the dust to settle. Link watches, one hand stretched out for Zelda to hold onto, the other on the pommel of the Master Sword.

"Is it...?"

These are the first words he's heard from Zelda in a century. Her voice is rusty from disuse, but so achingly familiar. He turns to look at her.

"I don't know. We should probably - "

He's interrupted by another loud crash. The rubble of the Castle bursts outward, flung away by a pillar of roiling smoke that swirls up into the sky. Then it coalesces into a gigantic, pitch-black boar. Its outline wavers with the haze of Malice, and its coarse mane is alight with corruption glowing bright magenta. It turns its beady, hateful eyes on them and roars its anger at the sky. The clouds thicken and darken, drawing an unnatural gloom over Hyrule Field. Then the boar lurches into a ground-shaking run. Everywhere its feet touch blackens, as if burned.

"Go, go!"

They wheel the horses round, racing through the streets of Castle Town and through the gates. At his side, Zelda closes her eyes, murmuring to herself with one hand clasped in front of her breast as if praying. This really isn't the time, he thinks hysterically. But then she flings her arm out with a burst of gold, and her hand is clasped around a bow made of golden light. A quiver of golden arrows appears at her thigh.

"Come here!" she yells. He nudges Epona to ride closer alongside, and she reaches out to repeat the cantrip with one hand braced against his own quiver. The golden glow washes along his arrows too.

These will penetrate the beast's hide, she thinks at him. If we can damage him enough, I might be able to constrain him enough for a final blow with the Master Sword.

The Calamity is on them now. This close its size is staggering. It's not as tall as Naboris, but it's got far more bulk. Heat pours off it in waves.

Link swings Epona wide, haring away from Zelda at a tangent. The Calamity can't follow them both if they split up. Unfortunately it picks Zelda. Link grabs his bow from his back and nocks one of the divine-imbued arrows, sending it right into the beast's flank, but it carries on its rampage. Several lynels not fast enough to get out of the Calamity's way are trampled underfoot. It's getting close to the edge of the fighting now, despite Link's best efforts to divert it.

Suddenly Vah Ruta lumbers into its path. The Divine Beast lowers its head to catch the Calamity's tusks in its own. The mechanical legs and shoulders strain with the effort of keeping the boar from advancing. Even then, Ruta is sliding slowly backwards, its feet carving huge gouges into the muddy field. It trumpets with the effort, shoving forward again.

Link and Zelda have both been steadily peppering the Calamity with arrows. One of Link's manages to hit it right in the back of the knee, and it turns again, snarling. Link spurs Epona back into a gallop, turning in his saddle to keep firing as the boar gives chase. Another of Zelda's arrows lands, and this time the Calamity's flank keeps glowing gold around the wound.

Aim for the weakened spot! Zelda tells him.

Link wheels Epona around to charge right back at it. And Hylia bless her, she goes, riding down a nightmare a hundred times her size. Link stands up in his stirrups, holding the reins in his off hand. In his main hand he holds the Master Sword outstretched, urging Fi to send out her power. The blade glows blue-white, slicing into the foul hide as they ride past. Gouts of tar-like blood spurt from the wound, searing the grass around. Epona whinnies in pain as drops splash onto her legs.

It's working! He's not sure whether that's Zelda or Fi; their combined excitement echoes through his mind.

The Calamity rears up, roaring. When it slams back down, a rolling wave of fire rushes outward from it. Link and Zelda both fall back, away from the flames.

They keep drawing Ganon's enormous form slowly away from the fighting. Zelda obstructs it with weak barriers, and they trade off getting its attention with the holy arrows. At one point, Medoh dives low to strafe it with another laser blast. It distracts the Calamity just long enough for Zelda to get away, but does no damage.

There's another gold patch on its other side, where Zelda sunk her arrow. Link dives in again with the Master Sword, scoring another deep cut. It snarls and kicks out, swinging its head around. One of its tusks sends Link flying. His foot catches in the stirrup, leaving him dangling. Epona keeps running, dragging him behind until he can free his foot and roll to a stop.

The Calamity belches a curtain of flame towards him. Link grasps his medallion. Daruk's protection wraps around him in an orange curtain, and the fire parts around him. Nearby, Link can see Zelda desperately firing arrow after arrow to draw the boar's attention away again. The golden shafts bury into its haunch; its shoulder; its cheek. The Calamity finally turns, and she fires another right between its eyes. It screams rage and fire at her, which she only just blocks with a golden shield.

Swing it back around! he thinks.

Are you sure?!

Yes!

Zelda rides in a sweeping circle behind him. Ganon tracks her, like a dog following a bone. Link waits for one of those tusks to come back in range.

Pin it! Now!

A tight golden shield wraps around the boar, keeping its shoulders low to the ground. It bucks and thrashes, sending burst after burst of flame.

I can't hold this for long, Zelda warns him.

Link brings Daruk's shield back up as he runs through the flame. He jumps up onto a tusk as wide as a beam; pushes off again to grab hold of a sharp-bristled ear. The Calamity tries to squint at him, but he's too close. He swings up onto its forehead, and slams the Master Sword down right into the middle of the golden seal between its eyes.

The next few moments have an unreal quality to them. Link perceives them in flashes. The boar collapsing under him. Trying to hold his footing and keep the sword in place even as it begins to dissolve into sludge that his boots sink into. Zelda, walking up to its face. Pressing her palms together, then gesturing outward to create a great golden globe. The light tingles as it passes over Link; it tears Ganon to pieces. The foul hide dissipates into scraps of blackened ash. Then Zelda brings her hands back together, and the globe shrinks inwards. The remnants of the Calamity are crushed into a tiny bauble of light. Zelda twists her wrist, and even that vanishes.

He sits down heavily on the charred grass, faintly amazed that touching the beast's hide hasn't left him burned beyond recognition. Zelda must have extended her shield to him. His gaze drifts over the blighted expanse around. He suspects nothing will ever grow here again. Perhaps they can pave it over as a memorial garden.

After a moment he realises he's woolgathering, and that if he doesn't get up now he's never going to be able to. He heaves himself off the floor using the Master Sword as a crutch. Fi's fond outrage sparks at the back of his mind. There are other emotions there too: elation; encouragement; satisfaction. He wipes the blade, bone-deep exhaustion slowing his movements, and then sheathes it once more.

Then he hobbles over towards Zelda. The ethereal glow has faded, leaving just his friend once more. She looks nervous, under her triumph. Her hands are clasped loosely together, and she wrings them as he approaches.

All the joy and heartbreak he'd pushed aside during the battle floods in, filling the hollow spaces inside him. It takes him a moment to find his voice.

"I thought you might be a ghost, before I came. I didn't - I didn't dare hope."

Zelda brings her hands to her face, tears welling in her eyes. "Oh, it's so - so good to see you, I can't even describe - " she shakes her head, unable to finish the sentence.

He steps forward, pulling her into his shoulder, and she shakes against him.

He lets himself soak in her warmth; her physical presence. His blood sings with the knowledge that she's finally here, whole and safe and alive in his arms. It still feels unreal. It's taken so long to get here; so much sweat, and blood. Hot tears roll down his cheek. He has no idea if they're tears of happiness, or of mourning for all that's been lost. He spares a thought for Daruk, Mipha, Urbosa, Revali. All of them deserved better.

When the shivers subside, Zelda pulls back.

"I have to ask... do you... remember?"

A large number of emotions pass through Link. He hesitates just long enough for Zelda's face to fall. As she begins to turn away, he reaches out for her hand.

"I do remember. Not quite everything, I don't think, but enough. It took a while to get there though." He looks away briefly; brings his hand up to scrub at his hair. "You have no idea how hard it was, when I'd only got back fragments. I thought you hated me."

She smiles back, her face still damp. "I could never hate you."

He's about to refute that, because that's something he remembers very clearly, but she holds a hand out to stop him.

"I didn't know you, when I said those things. Not truly. I am so sorry, Link. For everything. For all our missteps before the Calamity, and for everything you've been through since. When the sword told me you could be saved, I didn't expect it to take so much from you."

That's a well-handled hurt; its edges are worn smooth with time. He takes a deep, cleansing breath. "I think we're both due a fresh start, don't you?"

Zelda smiles at him again, weakly - and it feels like he might never be able to stop smiling at her. Every sight of her is a reminder that they have, incredibly, survived. That they've somehow made it to a future where the only thing standing between them and happiness is their own choices. Speaking of which... He opens his mouth, gathering his words together.

There's a shadow overhead as Kass swoops down for a landing. He smiles knowingly at the sight of Zelda, still standing so close to Link.

"Princess." His wings sweep out in a Rito bow. "I am Kass, a bard and chronicler from Rito Village. It is the greatest of pleasures to see you whole and unharmed, and let me be the first to express gratitude on behalf of all of Hyrule, for your actions today in freeing us once and for all from the Calamity. And Link, I'm pleased to see you safe also. The battle has wound down, for the most part. The Champions have departed the Beasts, and their successors are gathering with the Sheikah leadership at the Sacred Grounds."

Link nods to him. "Tell them we're on our way."

Kass departs with one last playful glance. Link turns to Zelda, who raises a curious eyebrow at him.

When he opens his mouth to speak but finds no words come out, Zelda laughs lightly. "Has the shock reverted you to type, my brave knight? I would hear you speak, if you wish it."

He huffs laughter at himself. "I just... wanted to say. You asked me once, what I would do, if I could do anything. I didn't really have an answer for you."

Zelda looks politely baffled. "And now you do?"

Link soldiers on. "No, I wanted to ask the question back to you. With the Calamity gone, and all of the establishment of Hyrule with it... all the things which constrained your path are gone. You could do whatever you want, now. So... what do you want?"

She reaches out to take his hand. "Hm. A fresh start. I'll have to think about it. I confess, my time in the Castle didn't lend itself to quiet reflection as well as one might think."

His eartips flush red, but her eyes twinkle; it wasn't a jab, just self-deprecating humour. "Of course," he says. "But whatever you choose, I'll support. If you want to try restore the monarchy, I'll be right by your side. If you want to tell them all to go hang, and spend the rest of your life exploring all the weird and wonderful corners of Hyrule - I'll be there for that too."

Zelda's smile is warm and genuine now. "I do feel some responsibility to help in the rebuilding of Hyrule, but I see no reason why that should take the same form it did before. I think we should have enough time between the two of us, to pursue other interests."

She links her arm through his, peppering him with questions as they make their way towards the Sacred Grounds.

"You'll have to show me everything that's changed. Are the Shrines still open? Oh, and before, I heard about an island that's always dark, way up north - "

For all Zelda's easy words, he knows there are still expectations to manage among the races. But whatever form his future takes, he also knows facing it with Zelda at his side will make it worthwhile. They will make a home out of this strange and wonderful new Hyrule, together.

Hyrule awaits.

Notes: I am 100% on team Let Zelda Do Stuff, hence her greater involvement in the fight here. Similarly, the Divine Beasts get more use because it's actually criminal to design something so cool and then do basically nothing with them. I also leaned a bit more into the Ganon-as-Techno-Organic-Virus-Nightmare-Fuel, because that character design is really... something. Secret graveyard passages into Hyrule Castle is lifted from other Zelda games, but you can't tell me the BOTW era Sheikah didn't have anything similar. I'd love to know what you think! I was so nervous about this chapter and whether I could pull off the epic feeling of a Final Boss battle, or the emotional heft of the post-battle scene.