The soft light of a new day shone upon the land of Hyrule, although the chaos and uncertainty brought on by the Calamity still lingered in the hearts and minds of all—except for one. The princess lay within a tent behind the walls of Fort Hateno, plotting and dreaming.
A group of six individuals approached Blatchery Plain, emerging from the narrow path between Dueling Peaks. They traveled with one singular goal in mind—reunite with Princess Zelda.
Impa felt as though a sad calm had descended in the wake of her battle to aid Daruk against Fireblight Ganon. To walk away unscathed had been no small feat. She could only imagine what Link and Mipha had faced aboard Vah Ruta, but the knight kept his silence.
Urbosa, the only Champion to accompany the party to Fort Hateno, related to them a similar hardship, although hers told of the loss of King Rhoam's three knight attendants, fallen victim to Thunderblight Ganon.
If there was one thing Impa and Urbosa could agree on, it was that Astor's warning had spared the lives of the Champions.
At this, King Rhoam festered beneath the surface. By this time, Rhoam had seen the malice swamps beginning to manifest across his kingdom and the unsettling yellow, slitted eyes that sprouted from them. Those eyes were all too familiar. It had dawned on him that Astor hadn't merely been a simple ally of the Yiga Clan, but someone with a far more insidious role. How else could he have known what would befall the Divine Beasts?
Rhoam's silent, smouldering anger didn't go unnoticed by Purah and Robbie. In the king's presence, the two Sheikah remained silent. It didn't bode well that out of everyone, they had been the last to see Princess Zelda. And so they only told Rhoam what he needed to know. There wasn't much to tell on that account, but they could have spoken volumes of the raw and wretched sobs of the princess as she sat opposite of them, and the comfort she derived from Astor, of all people.
How did this happen?
One day she's in our lab fawning over a true-to-life image of a man she says is their enemy, and the next they're riding the roads as the Calamity destroys everything, just trying to get by.
Can't awaken her power. Could make Mister All Hail Calamity Ganon himself fall to his knees in supplication.
Nothing like it… Robbie thought to himself.
But the memory wouldn't leave his thoughts, forcing him to contend with it. Life is long, fraught with grief and suffering, and a love like that is rare. He cast a glance at Purah, whose features were set with an uncharacteristic gravity.
The morning sun peeked over the mountains and glinted off something ahead of them on the path and Link broke into a sprint with Impa a few paces behind.
As they came closer, they could see it was a vehicle lying broken on its side. Its tire tracks had worn a dire path through the dew-slicked grass.
Impa took in the sight of the wreckage, her expression stiff. "This is...the Master Cycle?"
Purah gave a nod of the head. "This is it…" She said, somberly.
Robbie knelt, appraising the cycle. "It's a complete loss…"
"Do you think they continued the rest of the way on foot, or…?" Impa broke off, hesitant to give voice to her fears. She glanced at Rhoam's balled fists and Urbosa wrapping her muscular arms around herself as if struck by a sudden chill in the cool morning air.
Impa rummaged through the pouch on the side of the cycle, finding the Sheikah Slate inside. There was a severe crack along the screen's surface, and she held her breath as she carefully powered it on.
The relic lit up without incident, and a true-to-life image greeted her. The princess and the seer stood close together, in a moment frozen for all time. It gave Impa an eerie feeling she couldn't quite shake, her skin prickling as she absentmindedly ran a finger over the crack, praying silently.
"Lady Impa, if I may?" Rhoam held out a hand for the slate and Impa obliged.
The slate appeared much smaller in Rhaom's large hands. He gave the image a moment's glance and closed his eyes.
"Her Highness would never be so careless as to leave this behind…" Impa said, trying not to let worry enter her tone.
"...I fear you are correct..." Rhoam's words dropped off.
"Let's not give up hope just yet." Urbosa pressed. "Let's keep moving."
oOo
The soldiers cast furtive glances at the strange hooded individual from time to time so as not to gawk. The man stood out, in both appearance and manner of dress. His bruised and make-up-smeared face would have given anyone pause. And he was dithering as if he did not know what to do with himself. Word around the fort was he had arrived the night before with the princess of Hyrule herself, who convalesced in the tent he was eyeing.
Presently, the many soldiers who defended Fort Hateno were preoccupied with tending to the damage and chaos the Guardians wreaked, both to the crumbling structure itself and their wounded. Few noticed the man peek into the princess's tent, perhaps deliberating whether to wake her or to let her sleep. He tarried at the tent flap for a long moment and then began to pace again.
oOo
"Zelda… Zelda…"
A woman's voice calls out to her, almost echoing from across the expanse of light that surrounds her. It begins as a murmur, barely a whisper, and then amplifies.
The silhouette of the woman appears hazy at first and then she slowly comes into focus. Her flowing golden hair and the long graceful sleeves of her pure white gown are what stand out.
"I can hear your voice…" Zelda hears herself speak aloud her astonished thoughts. "You're the Goddess, aren't you?"
"I am—And the first Zelda."
The Goddess turns and changes. She stands before Zelda now in a form that is unmistakably mortal—no longer a divine and ageless being, but a young woman about her age. The transformation from Goddess to mortal is a stark one, though they are dressed in the same manner—in a pure white dress with bracelets and hair accents that are hewn from the same iridescent pale lavender stone, almost too ethereal and beautifully crafted to be of the realm of the living. The young woman has a kind face that sets Zelda at ease.
"You've struggled all these years... You must understand that it was not your fault and your prayers did not go unheard or ignored. Right now you're at the height of your power, but once the threat to Hyrule has been vanquished, that power will begin to diminish. Much like any other skill, if you don't use it it will fade over time."
"What are you saying? Won't the victory over Calamity Ganon be enough?"
"Calamity Ganon can't be sealed forever… It is a sad and painful truth that has haunted Hyrule for thousands of years. The last time Calamity Ganon awakened, the sealing power borne by the princess came easily and was mighty enough to seal Ganon away for 10,000 years. But… How long will Ganon be held this time?"
Zelda reflected on this a moment and then spoke. "What can be done?"
The Goddess—or rather her ancestor smiles at her with a bittersweet expression. "Our bloodline has weakened over the many millennia... It's true, but all hope is not lost. I believe with Astor, our line can be strengthened."
Zelda's lips part. "Astor?"
It feels as though she's been asleep for such a long and profound time, she has nearly forgotten his existence, and she is overcome as the name leaves the Goddess's lips. Her heart breaks as she recalls the night before and she's never been so eager to awaken from sleep.
"Someone like him...who has such a strong gift for prophecy...who was also touched by the Calamity itself... Ganon chose him for a reason. Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?"
Zelda tries to say something but finds herself lacking.
Hylia continues. "I am...sorry to have to say this to you... After living a mortal lifetime, I dislike the feeling that I might be imposing my will on those tied to my prophecies. I felt the same when guiding the hero of my era—that I was using him." The goddess said reflectively and solemnly.
Zelda exhaled softly, her features lifting into a sweet smile. She never would have imagined that the Goddess's words would be so tender.
"Don't be," Zelda says warmly. How strange it is to be the one to confer words of comfort, especially to her ancestor, and for once to feel united with the Goddess. "It is the eternal war against Ganon, and it's not just your will; It's mine, too. It's not as if I don't love… well… I'm sure you already know how I feel, do you not?"
Hylia returns her smile, solemnly. "I thought you might...Thank you… If not for you, he would have met a terrible fate. I'm so glad for you both and the life you will share."
And for a moment it feels as though their hearts and souls are as one, and Zelda wonders vaguely if they are truly connected by more than just blood.
"Go to him. I'm sure you'd rather hear the specifics of the prophecy in the tones of Astor's voice. And with that, I leave you with these final, parting words…"
Hylia's voice faded into the background
Zelda furrowed her brow at the hardness of the mat beneath her and the scent of damp air. She perceived the sound of birds chirping, the sound of work, and soldiers calling to each other. There was faint morning light streaming against her skin, as if through thick fabric.
The Goddess's words rang in Zelda's ears dully from the edge of time—and the boundaries of sleep, fading out as she stirred. "The sealing power will be strengthened in the future royal daughters and it will last and last for untold generations..."
Zelda's eyes fluttered open, carrying with her the serene prayer of the Goddess into consciousness.
That still and calm moment was shattered a moment later as Zelda heard the sound of men shouting and her beloved prophet pleading.
oOo
Astor could only tell the Hyrulean soldiers apart by voice, their faces covered by helmets obscuring their eyes.
"I've seen those robes before somewhere… Is that not the garb of those that worship Calamity Ganon?" Astor heard one of the soldiers ask his fellows in a low voice.
A murmur arose, spreading through the fort, the soldiers speculating in hushed tones.
Astor was too weary to turn his head, but he could hear the approaching footsteps of one of their ilk storming over and then the familiar, biting voice of the one from the previous night.
"You're one of them, aren't you? Explain yourself!" The stone-faced soldier seized Astor by the hood of his robe, spinning him around so that they were face to face.
Astor's eyes glazed over from exhaustion. "I… I... I am..." He began, not sure how he was going to begin to explain how he found himself in this situation—how he had gone from Prophet of Calamity Ganon to the princess of Hyrule's lover, and he was certain this particular soldier wasn't going to hearken to such a tale even if he tried.
He heard the soldier unsheath his blade. "I shall take great joy in ridding Hyrule of your evil influence."
Astor's laugh caught despairingly in his throat as he imagined the Goddess watching the mess she ordained unfold from the edge of time. It hadn't come to this, had it?
I gave up everything for her… Don't take her from me, too…
"No.. No… Please…You don't know what you're doing." Was all he could say in protest, panic rising in his voice.
The stone-faced soldier laughed cruelly. "You expect me to show someone like you mercy?"
"Leander, don't be rash!" another soldier spoke, cautiously. "It might be prudent to hear what he has to say. What have we to gain by cutting down a clearly exhausted and delirious man?"
Stone-faced Leander considered this a moment and then roughly shoved Astor forward, sending him falling fast and with little resistance into the mud.
"Astor!" A young woman's voice issued from behind them, somewhere between a shriek and a gasp.
They all turned to see the princess poking her head out of the tent.
Zelda darted to Astor and wrapped her arms around him. He folded into her embrace in his exhaustion.
The soldiers looked on in confusion but said nothing.
"I'd like to address the soldiers of Fort Hateno right away. You are mine to lead now," Zelda instructed the onlooking soldiers as she held tight to the prophet. Under the surface, she was boiling with rage, but she managed to channel it into an assertive tone she did not know she possessed.
Leander was silent for a long moment, setting his lips in a tight line. "As you wish, Your Highness," he said, coldly, before sulking away.
"Did you not sleep at all?" Zelda asked Astor, quietly.
"Not well, at least…" Astor breathed.
Zelda helped Astor to his tent, sitting with him for a moment in silence as he lay on his back, stroking his braids away from his eyes.
Her mind wandered, recalling what it was like to stand with him in that feverish pink dome, Sheikah constellations flickering as they gravitated around them.
I hope you will allow me to give you what Calamity Ganon cannot… Her promise to love him.
Zelda sucked in a deep breath through her nose to quell her rapidly beating heart, and she couldn't help but smile at the memory.
"Astor… What did you make of it when I said I could give you what Calamity Ganon couldn't?"
He looked at her, taken aback.
A brief giggle passed her lips. "No, I haven't forgotten what I told you that night at the Spring of Courage."
A pause. "I thought you were being awfully forward," Astor replied.
She felt a blush rising to her cheeks. "I can understand why now…" She made a sound of hesitation and then spoke. "Hylia has at last spoken to me… She told me you knew of a prophecy…"
Astor was silent for a long moment, but he seemed to take energy from her now that the burden he'd carried was out in the open. "I can't understand why the Goddess seemed so pleased… Even if I were the last man in Hyrule…"
"Does it matter? If it's what we want, why question it? You…do want this, too, don't you?"
His heart ached at the tiny hint of fear in her voice. It bolstered his resolve to fulfill the prophecy despite his own anxieties, and he couldn't help but reassure her.
"It feels strange to admit, but yes… A new path manufactured over fate's original course by the Goddess herself… My life will never be the same, but it's a change I gratefully accept…For a time, I thought you knew and that explained why you acted the way you did towards me. And then when I realized I was wrong, I didn't know whether I could tell you or not. I regret that I did not tell you sooner… I feel as though I can almost envision them already."
"Them?"
"Hylia said twins," Astor smiled crookedly.
Zelda took a moment to let those three simple words sink in, her world spinning.
Twins…?
"Let's tell those soldiers," He said, tiredly, sensing her shock.
"Astor!" Zelda scolded, and laughed.
His expression turned serious and he stared deeply into her eyes. "I thought I had lost you…"
She took his hand, marveling at how large his hands were compared to hers. "I almost don't believe it, but I have unlocked my power just as you said. Awakening my power and speaking with the Goddess… All those dreadful feelings I once had are vanishing." She brought his hand to her cheek. "I am exactly where I need to be. I have faith that we can all truly defeat Calamity Ganon. And...I want to fulfill this prophecy with you…more than anything." She couldn't help but blush at how sincere she was in this confession. "Well… I should probably let you get some sleep now."
Astor grinned and shut his eyes to hold back the tears that threatened to break through. "I love you, Zelda," He said, sleepily.
She smiled, holding back tears of her own. It wouldn't do for those soldiers to mistake her happiness for weakness.
"I know… As I love you..." She leaned to press her lips to his temple. She stayed with him until he fell asleep and then she rose to address the soldiers.
oOo
Zelda stood atop Fort Hateno's southern battlement, looking out over the soldiers below and the disarray across Blatchery Plain. A gentle breeze ruffled the blackened fabric of her dress.
"Everyone, hear me now..."
But just as she began she caught sight of a group of six entering the fort and she trailed off.
As her attention was diverted, so too were the soldiers below, jubilation spreading throughout the fort, infecting all in it as her father, Link, Impa, Urbosa, Purah, and Robbie all filed through the fort's north gate from Blatchery Plain.
King Rhoam and the others never took their eyes off her, and Zelda pumped her fist into the air, the awakened power gleaming for all to see.
A/N: As of 11/13/2021 the fanfic has seen some revisions to better fit the 2nd DLC. There have been improvements to the quality of writing. The rating has also changed from T to M just to be safe.
Prometheus17: I can only imagine it wouldn't have gone well for Astor if those soldiers had found him with a dead Zelda. And you're certainly not the only person to ask what would have happened if Zelda had indeed died. Just a few chapters left. Thanks for bearing with me!