Author´s Note: Here it is! Chapter two! Hopefully this one has fewer typos. It´s a shorter chapter, but I felt it needed to be here. You know where we´re going don´t you? :)

It won´t be all fluffy and weepy I swear!

Let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading!


Chapter II

Good-bye

What once was Castle Town, was now nothing more than piles of rubble and debris. Some lucky walls still stood, as if too stubborn to fall. Some of the bigger buildings were only partially destroyed, but their ceilings had caved in due to the weight of the many guardians that lay motionless over them. It was a desolate sight. Link had but flashes of memories from the place, but the painful sting of sadness still found it´s way to his heart.

How many people had died after he had? Even more so, how many had died after the Princess had gone to fight Ganon alone? He had forced himself to think about that, he refused to think all of those countless deaths had been for naught. Ganon was finally gone, but the price they all had to pay was a costly one, for Hyrule had never felt so devoid of life -granted, many animals and monsters alike roamed freely across the land- but he couldnt help but wonder, how many Hyleans were there actually? He met many along his travels, but he couldn´t say there were enough to fill Castle town as of now. Then again, his sole focus for this whole year had been one, and one alone: Zelda. The thought of her made him sigh, almost forgetting that she was there, walking beside him.

He felt her gaze upon him.

"We will rebuild our country. Toghether", she had a regal way of speaking that reminded him that she was royalty, whereas he was not. This, however, never stood in the way of friendship, he remembered.

For them both, now, it felt as if only yesterday they were traveling across Gerudo desert, or climbing the steep Mount Lanayru. Or...eating frogs for science -an absentminded smile crossed his face at the thought-, it felt like only yesterday she didn´t trust him more than he would trust Sidon to be a quiet lad.

It was only yesterday she had bitterly wept in his arms, feeling the weight of the world crashing down on her. He had been lost at words but he himself had been on the verge of tears that night.

And yet, here they were.

"Yes, we will", said Link locking eyes with her, squeezing her hand a bit. He felt her squeeze his hand in return.


The doors to the castle were already open, since he had done that just a few hours earlier. It felt so...empty, useless. Somehow it felt like Ganon had striped the place of all it´s life and soul. On their way to the top of the tallest tower they saw the remains of the monsters that once called this place home. It wasn´t a pretty scene. Zelda gasped quite loudly when entering the library, as they saw a very dead Lizalfos, cut right in the middle with all it´s bowels and blood staining the red carpets of a dark purple tone. The blood was still fresh that the puddle shone brightly with the rays of the first light, though Link could tell it was already drying.

"Many creatures tried hard to prevent me from reaching Ganon. I´m not proud of the many lives I took, as most of these monsters had been possessed by Malice. But there was no other way, I guess", he said. He realised it sounded as a justification. Zelda took his hand and motioned for him to stop. She caressed the back of his hand with her thumb almost absent-mindedly and said, "You do not need to justify yourself, not with me, nor with anyone. You did what was necessary, Link. You are a Hero. Death is war´s most loyal companion, and we were at war with Ganon. You saved your country from being wiped out from existence after returning from your most certain death."

"I have to thank certain blonde for that", he said a bit playfully, "still, looking back on it all now, it makes it more real. Death...". Zelda did not let go of his hand.

They wondered what would they say once they met the King and the four Champions. Link noticed that Zelda did not hide her saddness at her father´s passing. He saw many tears fall down from her chin, but said nothing. She´s preparing herself to say her last goodbyes, thought the Hylian Champion.

The voice of the King had guided them to the bridge between Zelda´s studio and her bedroom. Once they arrived the scene before them was an otherworldly one: The five figures stood as if alive, though through their bodies emanated the same green flames that Link saw when first meeting King Rhoam at the tower of the Temple of Time. His eyes stood on Mipha´s face first. She was beaming at him, though her smile did not reach her eyes.


"Zelda...My dear Zelda. You strong, strong and beautiful girl. My little flower", The King´s voice broke after the last two words. The four champions echoed the sadness in King Rhoam´s voice.

The Princess ran to her father, lost for words she started to sob and repeat "Father" time and time again. The power the King had was mysterious to Link, he remembered he had taken a physical form. And as such, father and daughter held eachother in the longest embrace. Link looked at the rest of his friends, they all had sour expressions on their faces. Revali was the only one that seemed upset.

"You broke my bow, a hundred year relic gone to waste", he said. Link heard no emotion in his voice. Some how it wasn´t a joke.

"I´m sorry, it was all too much and- it was an accident" he said miserably. Daruk suddenly boomed with laughter, "Come on Featherfluff it´s not like it´s the end of the world!", a short silence followed. Urbosa was the first to roar with laughter, Daruk seemed proud of his really bad joke. Mipha merely smiled but quickly covered her mouth. Even the King had chuckled.

"You always had a way with words, Daruk", replied Revali, no smile ever appeared in his beak, though Link could tell he wasn´t angry, "Will you stop calling me names? We´re dead, Hylia above! I don´t want to hear those for all eternity!", the mood changed drastically and everyone stopped laughing.

"Link... Champion- no, Hero of Hyrule", He walked towards him, Zelda latched on to his father like a little girl her head resting on his chest, "My boy how much have you accomplished since I last saw you all those months back at the temple of time" King Rhoam said proudly, while still having one hand around her daughter´s shoulder.

"My King", Link said while kneeling on one knee, while presenting the sheathed Blade of Evil´s bane. The meaning this carried was known only to the King. He was at his complete disposal. Had the King wanted to, he could have taken the sword from its sheathe and take the champion´s life. It was a way of showing how much the knights of Hyrule respected and trusted their king. And Rhoam knew this all too well.

"The last time we three-" he motioned from Zelda to Link and himself, "-were here I remmeber thinking that´s where you belonged. Knelt and at my service", Zelda lifted her gaze to watch her father, a bewildered expression now ran across her fine features.

He closed the distance between them and he felt his hand over his shoulder. An odd warmth emanated from him, through the corner of his eye, he saw the white flames lazily licking his tunic, although it was not burning.

"But now, Link, Knight of Hyrule. You shall rise and bow to me no more, for it is I, who should be paying my respects to you. I have watched your every movement closely. I watched you struggle to remember your true self, the way your will never wavered. The many lives you have touched and helped. My boy it is I, who kneels to you", and with that the King took a knee.

Daruk let out a loud 'woah', while Urbosa smiled and nodded, she also bowed her head to him, not without winking at him while doing that. Revali merely gave him a thumbs up. Mipha looked at the whole scene as if she didn´t know what was happening. Zelda was smiling sweetly, while resting her hand on his father´s shoulder. Link started to feel awkward as the moment went on, and he could feel his cheeks burning hot, but did not say anything until the king stood up again.

"My King I-", the king waved his hand and cut him off. "Link you have saved us-", he held out his hand gesturing towards the champions, "-in more ways than you think. From now and until the last soul of this land exhales their last breath, Hyrule will be in debted to you. This land is now bonded to your soul, as are ours." He bowed his head one last time at him, which Link responded in kind. It felt weird, to be regarded as equal by his King. But he could not deny it made his heart swell a bit.

"Link, now that you have saved Hyrule", started Urbosa, not without a knowing glance to him and the smallest of smiles, "We are of no use to you anymore. You have brought peace to our spirits. We need not linger in this world anymore".

"You can´t stay?", asked Zelda, almost pleading. Her father smiled at her and shook his head solemnly. "But why?" She asked, her voice breaking.

"My dear Zelda, our purpose has been fullfiled. Even in death we have helped the champion fullfill the destiny of this land", Link didn´t know if spirits could shed tears, but the King looked like he could any moment now. Propping her daughter´s chin up he said, "I will never leave you, if you keep my memory alive. For the one´s that pass before us are never gone unless they are forgotten"

"Link", Urbosa interjected, "Please tell Riju, that I will always watch over her. That her mother and I will always be by her side", Link nodded, feeling a great sadness. Urbosa had been like a mother to him. Truly saying goodbye to her felt like saying goodbye to a part of himself.

"I will make sure she knows," replied the Hylian.

Daruk stood awkwardly swinging his humongous arms, licking his lips, not knowing what to say. Urbosa elbowed him and beckoned him to go on and talk.

"Link, I- Uh", he scratched his head looking for the right words, "Will you tell Yunobo that his grandpa is proud of him?", it was a very simple request, but they both knew it carried a lot of meaning for the younger Goron. "I will Daruk, although I think he knows. He saw you back in Death Mountain waving at him. Nonetheless I will tell him. He´ll be ecstatic to know it". Daruk merely nodded awkwardly. Revali rolled his eyes.

"You´re not bad for a featherless, scrawny kid, Hylian", said the Rito Champion. "I saw you from inside Medoh. Those were some impressive shooting skills, and you got up there without having to fly. You´ve earned my respect. Do tell Teba he is a worthy succesor of Revali.", Link did not smile through all that, as he knew it would hurt Revali´s feelings. He knew that praising him had taken a lot of effort from him. "I will, friend", Link responded with a small smile. Revali returned the favor, if only for a brief moment.

They were all looking at Mipha now, which made her more nervous and started to stutter starting the same sentence twice. Zelda walked up to her and said:

"Mipha, I never got the chance to tell you this, this whole century I have been working up the courage to tell you this. But your advice, the one at Lanayru promenade? It saved Link´s life."

The Zora looked right at Zelda and positively beamed at her, only to blush one second later. Zelda laughed sweetly and whispered something in her ear, that made her blush even more, but simply responded "Thank you, Princess".

Urbosa eyed the Zora and the Hylian champion and said, "Come now, Daruk, don´t stare. They all walked a few paces away from Link and Mipha.


Link smiled at her, as she leant against the wall. They both sat down on the floor, even in death, Mipha did not dare to sit close to him. Mipha leaned on her right hand, while fidgeting with her robe with her left. Link found something in his own hands and waited for her to talk.

"Do you remember what I said to you when we were atop Ruta?" She didn´t dare look at him. Oh sweet Mipha, Link thought.

"I remember it, the statue in your city brought my memories of you back to me. Mipha...", he started, she shot her eyes upward at the sound of her name, her gaze was one of longing and sadness, "I wish we had had more time, I wish you could´ve given me the present you made for me yourself..." He did not openly say what that present was, for everyone knew what Zora females gifted their one and true love.

Mipha´s eyes widened in realization, and almost immediately water began to swell on her eyelids. Turns out, spirits could cry. "I would have gladly accpeted it", he finished, while grabbing her hand. Both of them looked at eachother´s eyes. There was no lie in his words, Link had loved Mipha for sometime before being appointed Champion of Hyrule and Royal Escort to the Princess. But alas, neither had mustered the courage to say so. It was an unsaid love. He was surprised to find out that the same tears he saw in her eyes were forming on his´.

"Link I...", was all that Mipha could say. She closed her eyes and as if working up the courage for something, she leaned and gave him a quick peck on the lips. It had been so quick, and so... odd, not because of her, but because she was not a being of this world. A spirit had just kissed him. He felt an odd warmth spread through all his body, he sighed heavily before saying:

"Me too, Mipha".

It seemed as if sadness had overcome them both, for they did not speak anymore. And rather sat there in companionable silence, until a pair of Gerudo feet stood before them.

"We must go, my child. Come now", Mipha didn´t say anything and simply stood up. Link thought he had heard the smallest of sobs.

He too stood up and faced his old friends, his King and Princess.

"We will always look after you, oh brave youth", said the Gerudo matriarch, "We must part this world, but we will remain close to your hearts". She didn´t wink this time, and rather embraced Link and Zelda in a motherly hug. "Take care of eachother, you are all you have".

With that, in what appeared a slow burn, the body of the Gerudo started to burn in green flames. At the same time Daruk and Revali waved at them (Daruk had taken Revali´s arm and made him wave like a rag doll, much to Mipha´s amusement), and soon they too were engulfed by the same green fire.

"Princess... take care, I will watch and protect you both, always", she cast one last look at Link and muttered "Always". With that, she closed her eyes and the fire embraced her too. The duo turned to face the King.

"Father I don´t want you to go, please", almost whispered the heartbroken Princess.

"My beloved Little Flower, all things in life have an end. It is already too much that the Goddesses have allowed me to stay for as long as I have. It brings me joy to see that you two still have a future. That our land still has one. I have one last request to ask of you, however", said Rhoam mysteriously, "Do not undo what has already been done within. For it would bring you great sorrow and loss. Look inside and you will know what I´m talking about", he ended, leaving them both taken aback by those last words.

"Farewell, Zelda, Queen of Hyrule. Link, Hero of Hyrule", and with one last wave, the King was engulfed in the ethereal flames.

Five pyres of green fire now stood before them, Link didn´t know what to say or do. But Zelda apparently did, because she took him by the hand and said "Come on, they are at peace now..."

They walked their way back to the entrance of the Castle and with one last look to the tower, they saw the five columns of fire disappear with the sun. Zelda did not let go of his hand well until they were a few hundred steps away from the Castle. She only let go of him to wipe her tears away. Link had some of his own too so he, wiped them away. Thinking of his now impossible love.

With a long sigh, both of them looked to the horizon, with the same question in their minds

Where do we go now?


"You did not share with them what they needed to hear King Rhoam", said Urbosa, a small tinge of anger in her voice made the King sigh heavily, "They do not know that the beast once was one of us."

"I couldn´t bring myself to tell them, could you? The have just saved the world. Let them find out all about life, let them be happy without a care in the world. We don´t know if it will ever happen. What´s the point on taking whatever happiness they feel now from them?"

Urbosa did not answer.

The five pyres of green fire disappeared just as a certain blonde princess looked up to where they were.

"I pray for your happiness, my daughter".