The Links of Time

by Kit-Karamak

Link of Calatia wakes in a Sheikah Cryo-stasis bed centuries after defeating Mandrag Ganon. He discovers present day Hyrule where technology matches the might of the Ancient Ones. Link also meets his descendant, LJ, who rescues the modern Zelda. She causes a singularity event that will shape the destiny of Hyrule for ten millennia: the creation of the Divine Beasts & Guardians.

17. Government Funded Link-Tank

Author's Note: This chapter is pretty long. Sorry. It's a battle, it's a reuniting scene, it's a pep rally, it's a monologue-for-righteousness scene, it's … just one really long scene with a lot going on, and I couldn't find anywhere to break it in the middle without killing the feeling of action, so … it's 20k words long. Sorry!
TEN days, a week-and-a-half, has passed for Zelda without LJ's return.
We are picking up with her. I noticed this story was a lot more popular when I was posting it in 2013 than it is now, but that's okay. I'm writing it because my wife liked reading it and asked me to finish it. Anyway, here we go…!

Chapter -17-
Government Funded Link-Tank

Jesan 25, 2050 AD
Ten DAYS later
Royal Bunker housing the Gate of Time…

Zelda paced with her gloved hands behind her back. Her formal gown, white with gold and purple highlights, brushed the floor ever so slightly, creating a sound akin to sand strewn across gently textured rice paper.

Ovona cleared her throat … for the fourth time.

Zelda didn't look up. She remained stoic, lost in thought.

Finally, Ovona took a deep breath to try and psyche herself up for dressing down a queen. She lifted her chin a bit, straightened her back, and announced, "Queen Zelda of Hyrule."

Zelda looked up, still pacing.

"Your highness, you are slouching so much that your hemline is brushing the floor in the front and the back. What would your Sheikah handmaidens think? What would the Royal Hou…?"

Zelda interrupted Ovona. "I don't care what the Royal Household thinks. I don't care what my aides-de-camp think. I don't care what any of them think."

"You … don't care what others think about you?"

"Why should their opinions matter?"

"Because, my queen, perception is reality. To be blunt, if they perceive you one way or another, that becomes their reality. If they perceive you are slouching and acting despondent, then … to them, you are depressed. Make sense?"

"Personal disparagement aside, jumping to conclusions is part of the reason why I did away with the Lord High Chamberlain and gave more power to bailies, aldermen, magistrates, lord provosts, comptrollers, and high constables of the various regions. The amount of money my family spent on people was beyond belief. I cut taxes because of how much money we were paying these people just so they could feel special. It's why I also did away with the Marischal custodians and the junior custodians, and essentially anything else the Justiciars allowed me to cut. My point is, I don't need people waiting on me hand-and-foot like … like slaves any more than I wanted to pay people to act high and mighty. I'm certainly capable of dusting the dirt from the hem of my own dress, which won't be seen on holovision anyhow."

"…I was going to say the Royal Lady of the Bedchamber."

"I got rid of that position as well."

Ovona arched her brows. "Oh."

"I've divvied up the work between yourself and my two Sheikah assistants. I don't need someone pulling rank over a flock of busybody hens who wish to feel self-important simply because they occasionally rearrange my shoes. Completely unnecessary."

"Sometimes you need these people so that you can keep your focus on business."

Zelda scoffed at the very notion of needing servants. "I have been trained in self-defense and fencing by Admirals, Generals, Field Marshals, and the head Equerry. I was the head of my class in strategic command during my time in the Royal War College. If I can do all of that, while maintaining my own royal duties, I'm certainly capable of dusting off my own hem while running a nation."

"The head Equerry? I heard he was a considerable fencer."

"He was, yes. Gold medalist Olympic fencer for every year he competed."

"Yes, and then you got rid of the position of Equerry, correct?"

"Yes," said Zelda with a firm nod. "Yes, I did. It was a superfluous title and, if you ask me, rather insulting for a man of his caliber. Do you know what the head of Equerry was in the old days? Glorified royal stable boys. They were squires. Nowadays? They're squadron leaders, wing commanders, lieutenant commanders, and majors. The amount of money this family paid out just to make sure people had titles on top of their titles, for the mere sake of bragging is just … it's utterly nonsense. No one who is paid that much money to handle fleets of fighters and warships … needs to oversee the royal stables, nor do I need them to be an assistant in the 'nature of warfare,' as I have generals, admirals, and grand field marshals for that. All these superfluous titles, and for what? Why? It's so that lords and ladies can brag to their rich friends that they are special. We're the people of Hylia, and that means we're supposed to be mature enough to know that we're no better than round-ear'd humans. We're all in this together."

"So, you … simply removed half the positions with titles, so that everyone was equally normal?" Ovona grinned with amusement. "I bet some of them were very unhappy."

"I was done with the nonsense. I am happy to cavort and gambol with the rich and the politicians directly. Else, we're bleeding money simply for people to have egos. And for what? For people to call themselves 'viceroy' or 'vicereine' when the regions now have elected ministers and prime ministers. It was ridiculous."

"So, that's why so many people dislike you as queen. You've upset all the people of clout; people who still have connections to the media."

Zelda rolled her eyes, pivoted, and paced back the other direction for the ump-teenth time. "I tire of the old ways – keeping dukes and duchesses between the royals and the people … it was unnecessary."

"You're the first royal blood to say so in…" Ovona shrugged. "Maybe ever. What made you decide it was time to slim the buffer between the royalty and the people?"

Zelda scoffed. "People always know better than the leadership."

Ovona blinked at Zelda's bluntness. Ovona tilted her head, brows furrowed, and asked, "They do?"

Zelda nodded firmly. "Yes. Because without people, there can be no leadership … no Hyrule. People are the life's blood of Hyrule, not prime ministers or deputy vice prime ministers or viceroys or justiciars or…" Zelda trailed off, inhaled deeply, and then exhaled slow and calm. "Well, at least Prime Ministers are voted on by the people. That's … something. Anyhow, when am I to deliver this stupid speech?"

Ovona sighed. "You're moping. People will pick up on that."

"Again, I do not care what others think, right now, Ovona."

The Gerudo closed her eyes, sighed, took a deep breath, and slowly opened her deep brown eyes again. She took a moment to practice her breathing techniques, then she looked furtively around the bunker to make sure no one was within earshot. "Zelda…" Ovona moved closer to the queen and spoke in a softer, more personal tone. "Zelda, I know you miss him."

Zelda frowned.

Ovona continued. "Now that we have an older Link and an older Aryll, we must stay focused on moving forward with your project."

"Ovona, he'll be here. Have faith. I'm just … frustrated it's taking this long." She stole a glance at the Gate of Time at the far end of the room. It loomed over everyone assembled in the enormous bunker.

"Zelda, please. It's been ten days since everyone came back … except for Mr. Kasuto. It's a time machine. Why would he come back later than everyone else? It doesn't make sense. Right now, our best course of action is to focus on…"

Someone across the room shouted, "Ready in three minutes!"

Zelda huffed with indignation at the interruption. "Excuse me, please." She walked away from Ovona and headed for a podium with three spotlights pointed at it from various angles. She moved behind it, placed her violet gloved hands upon the podium, and stared at a camera in front of her. "I'm ready. Let's get this over with, please, shall we?"

Ovona sighed again and sat down in a brown metal folding chair over by the far wall, facing away from the Gate of Time. She smoothed her hands over the fabric dunes in her white tunic, similar in design to the Sheikah guard, but missing the Sheikah 'eye' logo. Unlike the Sheikah guard, she had black sleeves instead of blue ones. Ovona folded her hands upon the lap of her pants, which matched her sleeves, and interlaced her fingers so as not to feel the urge to reach up and adjust her hair. She instead reached down and placed her hands on the sides of the chair, on the outside of her legs, quick to note that her skin tone was nearly the same hue of brown coloration as the folding chair. She decided she liked the chair simply because it matched her.

One of the technicians, a young man with simple brown overalls overtop a three-piece suit, with curly brown hair and rounded ears, said, "Okay, ma'am … er, your majesty. Um, your … highness? I need you to look next to the camera. That's where your cue cards will be displayed."

Zelda scoffed. "The speechwriter is a fabulous young man, but I don't need to read someone else's opinions and feelings today. I'll be adlibbing from the heart."

"Er … okay. Sorry."

Zelda met the technician's gaze. "Sir, you've done nothing requiring an apology."

"Yes, ma'am, but you're … you're the reincarnation of the goddess, Hylia, and, uh … I'm, uh … nervous. Sorry."

Zelda waved him closer.

The man approached with a timid posture, all the while apprehensively avoiding eye contact.

Zelda opened her arms and simply hugged him.

The technician tensed up, but …then he calmed, somewhat. The hug lasted more than two seconds, and he stiffened up in the shoulders and neck. After a moment, he melted into the emotionally healing hug. Finally, he relaxed completely.

"We're all in this together," she told him. "We're all stuck in this bunker together, as well. Reincarnated or not, I'm just … me. I was just telling my friend, Ovona," she stole a glance over at Ovona in the little metal folding chair then continued, "that Hyrule is not its goddess, its queen, or its leadership. Hyrule is not the Royal Family."

"It's … not?"

"Hyrule is its people. Hylians, humans, Gerudo; whoever lives here. Whoever calls Hyrule home. We're a family of sorts. We're here to look after one another."

"I…" He swallowed back the emotion welling up in his throat. "Thank you for saying that. I … I have no idea what I've been so worried about. You're going to do great, and Ganon is going to get what he deserves."

Zelda stepped back from the embrace and patted his bicep, just beneath his shoulder, with a firm clasp of her palm. "Thank you for the encouragement. I think I honestly needed to hear that. I was in a foul mood until just now, so … thank you." She brightened her tone a bit, adding, "Let's spread the message to the people, shall we?"

"Yes, ma'am." The young technician hurried to the controls for the camera.

"No cameraman or head of audio video?"

"Err, no ma'am. The day after security vetted the rest of my team, we were on our way here, and those … weird creatures attacked. Bokoblins, I think they're called?"

"Oh, that is truly terrible to hear. I am so, so sorry to hear about your team. I'll keep them in my prayers." She paused, quick to note that he checked his watch. She asked, "How much time do we have?"

"Fifty-five seconds, ma'am. And … thank you for saying that."

Zelda feigned a soft smile. "I recognize you, you know. You've been flirting with our switchboard operator, Habuta. Flirting, but you never … mm, how to say this the right way – you never seem to take it far enough."

"Er … ma'am?"

"You heard me. She's interested in you, but she has been waiting for you to make the first move. Either she is terrified of rejection … or she has been taught that a gentleman makes the first move; the lady then counters with a measured response. Either way, my point is … Habuta has had her eye on you."

"She … she has?"

Zelda nodded. "Take a deep breath. When I've finished my speech, I want you to go and talk to her. Lift your chin, keep your back straight, and speak with confidence, because it conveys your interest, which is what she truly wants."

"Um … yes, ma'am!"

Zelda feigned a slight smile. "Ask her for coffee, talk together for a bit, and then ask her out to a future date – dinner, the theater or theatre depending on whether you prefer live or on screen, just … a date. She is rather fond of you. Trust me on that – I can tell."

"You can?"

"Yes, absolutely. A queen knows these things." As an afterthought, Zelda added, "Oh, heavens … now I'm sounding just like my mother." And then the camera light automatically came on, showing that it was live. Without missing a beat, Zelda changed her tone, staring straight into the camera lens, and said, "Good evening, Hyrule. It's time to tell you about the state of affairs within our kingdom. I believe in increased transparency, and I would like to begin by telling you that I do, in fact, have a plan of action."

The little light on the camera gleamed. The watchful eyes of Hyrule's people seemed to gaze back at Zelda. She could feel the energy of several million denizens listening intently to her voice.

She continued, "By now, many of you know that it has been ten days since we have heard from the young man I dubbed the Hero of Ages Past, the General of the Links of Time. I have learned that the future was going to be grim. Link Josiah Kasuto was destined to plunge the Master Sword into the heart of my uncle, Nohansen the Third, and strike him down for his transition to that of Ganon-Nohansen. It was to be one of Mr. Kasuto's final acts on this earth. Shortly after, he would succumb to his injuries – radiation sickness. We now know what to expect, when to expect it, and we have taken steps to ensure that his death will nothappen. Hyrule has installed radiation detection equipment in towers around Hyrule, which sends a signal to a network of supercomputers. This equipment can see radioactive material from satellite. We have effectively changed time to keep you and your families safe. But what of LJ Kasuto?" She trailed off.

She looked away from the camera, sighed wistfully, then, with a shake of her head, she cut her gaze back to the lens. "We move forward. If he does not appear, his sister has been trained for the past seven years; she has been plucked from time, and now she bears the symbol of the TriForce of Courage on her left hand – the first known occurrence in history of the TriForce moving from one person to another – in this case, between siblings. She has assured me that she is up to the task, and…"

Behind Zelda, the Gate of Time glowed, casting Zelda's shadow out in front of herself. She glanced over her shoulder, then she pivoted slow and graceful, on the balls of her feet, coming to face the Gate of Time.

A portal cracked the empty space at the heart of the gate, creating a crash of thunder in its wake. The curvature of the portal's event horizon extended away from the edges of the ancient gear-shaped gate.

Zelda arched her brows. "That's … different," she murmured.

Ovona stood up from the little brown metal folding chair. "You're right. It is different." She came to Zelda's side. She whispered so that only Zelda's lengthy elven ear would hear. "Remember, the camera is still streaming this … Hyrule is watching live."

"Yes, erm … quite right, thank you." Zelda spoke to Ovona in a softer tone than how she had addressed the camera. "The portal … it's massive by comparison to its normal known size. Why is the event horizon bulging outward so much farther than ever before?"

"I suppose we are about to find out."

Royal Soldiers and trained Sheikah warriors moved into position, fanning out around Zelda.

Ovona whispered to Zelda again. "The nation … likely the world, is watching your reaction. Stay in the moment."

The queen turned ninety degrees, so that she could look toward the camera off to her side. She eyed the camera, forced a practiced smile, and said, "Perhaps I spoke too soon. Perhaps LJ is returning to us now, live, right on your holovision. All of Hyrule, please, pray for us. Pray that this is not Ganon-Nohansen from the future attempting to lead an army. Lend us your faith. If I sound concerned, it is because I've never witnessed the light of the gate reach outward quite so far in all our previous tests and usages." She turned, expectantly, to face the gateway, quick to spot Ovona move to the gateway point, joining her fellow soldiers in the Royal Guard.

Link of Calatia stood adjacent to Zelda on one side, with Linkle on the other.

Zelda turned to Link. "Did it grow that size on your end, or any time in the past?"

"No, your grace. Never," said Link. "It's surprisingly large. I expect an army to come through. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst." He reached over his shoulder, left palm on the handle of the Master Sword, which was still sheathed upon his back. However, he did not yet draw the blade.

Linkle reached her own hand back, in similar fashion, grasping a shotgun slung by a strap, so that it rested on her own back, but she didn't yet draw it forth. "S'weird how the bloody light comes so far out … but then it's all flat. Like like a trapezium emergin' from a circle, if ya look at it top-down. Whatever's making it look like tha' is gonna be 'ell."

Link stole a glance over at his descendant. "You're not afraid of scratching your new toy, are you?"

"Psht. Bring it on, I say. Scratches are character marks. Doubt I'd even wanna mend it. You'd be best ready to fight, mate. Hope these Sheikah Medics have more than a box'a plaster on hand."

Zelda stepped back into the conversation, and said, "I hope you're both ready to fight Ganon without LJ or Ravio."

Linkle grinned. "Oi, I'll take a pop at him. I'm ready for this lot."

Link cut back into the conversation. "For me, it's been seven years since I've seen you fight, Linkle Lynn. I hope we're ready for this, because if this is Ganon from the future, coming through with an army of monsters and re-deads, we simply are not prepared."

"Oh, I doubt I'm the same lass as your alternate Linkle."

"I don't see how you would be different," said Link. "The future simply hasn't happened for you just yet."

"I won't bail on you, ta very much, then."

Link feigned a slight smile, glad to hear her say it.

Linkle continued. "I'll 'ave a go at this josser. We'll get'im sorted.

Zelda said, "I like your confidence."

"As do I," said Link.

Linkle shrugged a bit. "And why not be confident, yeah? Between you'n me, and bloody Aryll, we'll get this situation sussed out, and then we'll handle it, yeah? This shit-bird doesn't know what he's walkin' right into, and we're ready." Linkle trailed off and looked around at everyone in the bunker. "Look at the military types in a lather. You can see it on their faces." She cut her gaze back to the enormous energy bubble in front of the Gate of Time. Linkle brought her free hand to her mouth and called out to the enormous, curved energy field. "C'mon, Ganon. Quick as you like, mate! The good people of Hyrule're watching this live on the tele; they fancy seein' a proper match, so let's get on with it, yeah?! What're you waitin' for?! Boxing Day, then?! Get on with it!"

And then, without warning, people began to pour through. Hagrid looking citizens, some dirtier than others.

First, a dozen. Then another dozen. Then another dozen. They continued to come through the gate, pouring into the bunker. Most of them looked around in confusion. Some walked closely, huddled together.

Zelda took a deep breath, then she shouted, "Hold your fire! Hold your fire!"

Both Link and Linkle were startled by the volume of her voice; they turned to face her with wide eyes.

"Civilians!" shouted Zelda to the military people gathered in the bunker. "Friendlies!" she added with a billowing tone.

Ovona made gestures to the nearby Sheikah military squad, using hand gestures to them to holster their sidearm. Ovona kept her eyes on the parade of people as they emerged. "I'm seeing injuries! Triage! Triage!"

"Follow her orders," Zelda said, speaking about Ovona.

Ovona continued giving orders. "You six, start breaking out emergency supplies, blankets, first aid kits, whatever you can find! You two, at the end, start counting! You three, over there … yes, you! I need you to start collecting names and compile the lists! You five, surround the Gates of Time to make sure nothing follows them through; keep people moving, and direct them to the far wall of the bunker! And you two," she said, pointing at two ranking officers, "I need you to head to the castle, double-time, and secure a mobile drinking station! Find a water tank and disposable cups down here. Also, prep the kitchen staff for a humanitarian effort while you're there. Canned goods, simple meals in a large quantity. The head of the kitchen will know who to call to set up catering tables. Okay, you all have your assignments, chop, chop!" She clapped her hands twice on the last two words.

Linkle grinned at Ovona. "Oi, check out clever-clogs o'er here. Thought of everything in a split second."

As citizens continued to pour through, Ovona asked a few, in passing, about their health to ensure no one was seriously wounded from the group.

Linkle watched from about twenty feet away as Ovona worked with the civilians coming through the gate. Linkle turned to Zelda. "She's an impressive lass, no doubt about it."

Zelda grinned. "That's why I recently promoted her to Assistant Captain of the Guard. She's a sharp one, and she's become a very good friend to me in a rather short time."

"Field promotion?" asked Link with a tilt of his head. "I mean … really? That soon? That is an enormous amount of stock you're placing in a woman you haven't known that long. No offense."

Zelda nodded firmly. "None taken. I have a gift for reading people. And, on an unrelated note, your Hylian is exceptional now that you've spent just seven years in the future."

"Queen Zelda, in the future I came from, she is Captain of the Guard, I just didn't realize you gave her such a high rank so early into your friendship. I am not questioning your ability to read others; Ovona makes an exceptional and fiercely loyal soldier, responsible for keeping Skyloft safe."

Zelda smiled. "It seems I made a good decision."

Link set his gaze upon the glowing portal, remaining vigilant. "But running a full-sized army in 2050 and being a soldier that protects a village … it's two very different things. And to give her such a responsibility after having just met her? It just … surprised me, that's all."

"I have faith in my gifts. I have faith in myself. I have faith in the people to whom I have given my trust. And that is why I have faith that LJ will be here. Insofar as Ovona's rapid re-ranking, you should know that she held a much higher officer's rank in the Gerudo guard before joining the Hylian Royal Army, but she kept her past training to herself. There's an old Gerudo saying that her mother told her, that stuck with her as a child … it translates to, 'the nail that stands out will rust or be nailed down.' It's used to keep children in line, especially those with strong personalities. She and I have talked to excess in the last few weeks, and I've discovered that Ovona is … what we modern-day Hyrulians call … a sleeper car."

Link smirked. "A racecar that looks stock but has a powerful engine driving it?"

Zelda laughed with delight. "You learned colloquial phrasings like that in just seven years? Did you even have racecars on Skyloft?"

"No. But we had holo-visions … and lots of people that yearned for a return to the normalcy of their past. I learned quite a bit from watching people try to relive their glory days. So, you're saying you took a corporal and made her a field marshal? That has to be the fastest promotion in military history."

Linkle chimed back in. "No doubt, mate. The bottom of the food chain to the top … without doing work to achieve it."

Zelda turned her gaze to the portal as well, but she continued speaking. "Ovona is a better hand-to-hand fighter than the head Captain of the Guard, our current one, that is." Zelda grinned a bit, but it was fleeting. "…And she has an obsessive hobby regarding strategies of battles and warfare. The only thing she lacked was leadership experience but look at her – she's a natural at that, too. The reason I promoted her to such a high rank, though, is because I recently witnessed her stopping an argument between two enlisted soldiers, both of whom were much higher in rank than her old military rank. Two very, very high-ranking enlisted men, both seven ranks above her. She talked them into working together to solve an issue. She did it so smoothly; so effortlessly. I was so impressed, I called her into my quarters to talk about her future with the Royal Guard. The next morning, I sat down with her old military file, and realized that she was so good at keeping her head down and doing her job … that she was overlooked by all her previous superiors. What's more, she's the one that suggested the two of you act as my personal bodyguards today."

Link smiled a bit. "I'd say you made a good decision, your highness."

"Too right," said Linkle. She turned to Link and said, "Ovona could stomp you, I bet."

Link smirked. "I taught her a few things in the future, actually. But we're not in the future. This Ovona doesn't know my moves."

Linkle scoffed. "She's a bloody tower, though. Always slays me to see some cheeky Gerudo woman toss boys around like they're just toddlers, all whilst swanning about amongst the rest of society, like it's scripted to the point of hilarity. I'm a bit bummed I didn't get to see her doin' that today."

Zelda feigned a smile. "You'll have time to see her fight a battle. She's scheduled to head a raiding party against the moblins tomorrow at zero-eight hundred. Join her if you want."

"Brilliant," Linkle replied. She touched Zelda's elbow and whispered into the queen's ear. "In all the excitement, I just realized we're sittin' here waffling on whilst the camera's still loving you all up, guv. Address the people, your grace."

Zelda tilted her head a bit and whispered back into Linkle's ear. "It's really refreshing to have fellow women like you and Ovona that have my back. Thank you." She gave Linkle's bicep a firm pat, turned back to the holo-vision camera, and approached it.

Linkle stepped back to make sure she was not in front of the camera, so that Zelda had the spotlight.

Queen Zelda gazed into the lens as if she were looking at the technician behind it. "People of Hyrule, there is no doubt, by now, that those of you who are watching have just seen a group of people come through time. I recognize some of the people. One of them is the Honorable Judge Darnell Keagat; he's the highest military tribunal proceeding judge, and helps to create policies, procedures, and legislation regarding military usage. I know speculation is not becoming of a queen, but I have a feeling they are the survivors of Hyrule from an alternative timeline, set in 2057. This is based on information that has come from sources familiar with the situation…" Zelda's thoughts turned to the last ten days spent with Aryll Smith-Kasuto. Zelda realized she had trailed off, and she cleared her throat. "Excuse me. I am thinking of how best to explain things to you, if you're watching right now."

After another short pause, Zelda said, "My point is, that means … a handful of you watching this, right now, may recognize yourselves or your loved ones. This will be addressed in the days ahead, but, for now, let's welcome them to 2050, and promise them safety and shelter from whatever horrors they've endured in the alternative future, a time without running water, slate phones, the internet, microwaves, grocery stories…" Zelda trailed off once more. She turned and looked back at the portal.

The last group through the gate seemed to be running. The citizens had a look of fear plastered on their faces. Someone from their group shouted for the room's attention. "Moblins and bokoblins!"

Zelda clenched her fists with a stern look, followed by a sharp sigh of frustration. She faced the camera again, but she also listened as Ovona pivoted like an expert, barking new orders in the background.

The queen narrowed her gaze and took a step toward the camera. "For those who do not understand, moblins and bokoblins are types of goblins, suffused with the malice of demons under the influence of Ganon. They are living, breathing vessels of his tangible power. As his minions grow in strength because of his influence … they, themselves, begin to influence the world around them … the world of creatures … monsters. In that sense, demon-kind is a sort of malice plague. Demon-kind is doomed to propagate, as it is their biological imperative. It is unknown if these various goblin types are the children of Demise, as many have suggested and theorized over the past week in the mainstream media … but they are destined to never leave Hyrulian soil, creating a cycle of never-ending reincarnation. Their behavior may possibly be fate-driven … but know this: they can communicate. They are sentient, even if primitive and violent."

The camera tech peered out around the recording device; his brows furrowed with surprise.

Zelda continued to address the camera. "However, if they come through the portal behind the civilians, just know that these moblins and bokoblins are no longer under the influence of Ganon in 2057. They are now here, and not drawing off the power of Ganon from their time. Instead, they'll draw off the power of my uncle, Ganon-Nohansen, who has not yet reached his full potential over the control of tangible malice. He also does not yet likely know how to interact with these creatures. But for those of you watching this with small children in the room … it might be best to have them leave the room as soon as possible."

The people behind Zelda began to hurry away from the gate, meanwhile military members took up positions to fight.

Link headed toward the group, shouting, "On me, Hyrule's finest! Together, we shall rout the heathens! Ovona! Tactical withdraw! Let us maintain contact with the enemy as they come through, while the civilians and the queen draw back to the castle!"

Ovona immediately changed gears. "Squads! Cover the civilians but hold the line in a defensive-facing withdraw!"

Linkle withdrew her shotgun from the strap that kept it on her back. "Finally, some bloody action." She turned to Zelda. "With your blessing, of course, your grace."

Zelda turned away from the camera. "Would you first fetch me my bow?"

Linkle hurried to a gear box beneath the ramp leading up to the Gate of Time platform. She approached the gear chest with the royal crest and sigil upon it. She opened it, expecting to see a compound bow, but instead she withdrew a standard bow, as well as a quiver of arrows. She also retrieved a rapier in its sheath. "Ma'am? You wish t' fight?" She approached Zelda, weapons held aloft.

"I wish to cover myself." Zelda shouldered the bow, the quiver, and withdrew her rapier from its scabbard. She twirled it in her hand, creating a whisper of sound, then she brought it vertical and inspected the blade, sharpened on two sides with a needle-tip point at the end. "Excellent. As I said earlier, Hyrule is its people more than anything. And if I am to lead them, I must also protect them. Come, Linkle Lynn … escort me?"

"To where, guv?"

Zelda looked around and saw Link taking up a position halfway between the Gate and the civilians being herded out at the back entrance of the bunker.

Linkle tilted her head. "Ma'am?"

Zelda gestured to the battle across the bunker. "Escort me to Link of Calatia. We will not cover my retreat; we will fight to cover the retreat of the citizens."

"Brilliant! Blinding, even! With me!" Linkle withdrew her shotgun once more and pointed it forward. "You! Camera!" Linkle stopped in front of the lens. "You lot fancy the queen fighting to save the children of Hyrule? Then get a load'a this! But 'afore ya do, put yer kids to bed. It won't be pretty, and they needn't see this live!" She turned about on the balls of her feet and walked with Zelda toward the Gate of Time. "Time for these goblins to get learnt on what happens when you try to get one over on Hy-bloody-rule."

Zelda hurried with Linkle toward the Gate, up on a large platform with a ramp leading up to it.

Soldiers moved, spreading apart as a hand started to emerge from the light.

Just as the first Bokoblin emerged from the event horizon, Linkle fired her shotgun, blowing the creature back through the portal.

The next one through, a moblin of considerable size, had specks of blood on its armored outfit. It also wielded a club with a giant single spike protruding from one side. It spun about and swung the club.

Link, over on the north side of the gate, performed a backflip to avoid the swing.

Linkle, on the south side of the gate, dashed up the ramp and fired her shotgun again, but the buckshot became embedded in the creature's armor.

The moblin swung its spiked club again.

Linkle dove back into a sloppy roll, avoiding the attack.

The moblin's gaze landed upon Zelda and a devious crooked grin tugged at its face. Without further warning, the moblin charged her.

Zelda lifted her perry, snagging the large spike in the mace-like club. She guided the weapon up, so that it missed her, and drove the sharpened rapier into the moblin's armpit. Then she forced the blade downward, cutting through two ribs, but she lacked the upper body strength to cut through the rest. She put her heeled foot upon the moblin's hip and gave it a push to put distance between herself and her enemy. Her rapier slipped free, dripping viscera from the blade.

The moblin's right arm dropped, limp, to its side. Charged up on adrenaline, it swung its left arm, but it completely missed her.

She thrust the rapier into the moblin's solar plexus, so that the sword jutted from its chest.

The moblin staggered, but it was hardly defeated.

Zelda withdrew her bow and a single arrow. She clenched the arrow between gloved fingers, drew back on the bow string, and let loose an exploding arrow, which struck the moblin's forehead.

The crack of noise was twice as loud as Linkle's shotgun. The blast threw the moblin back, but it managed to return to its feet.

Zelda dashed forward on her kitten heels, sprinting on the balls of her feet. She snatched her sword, pulled firmly, and delivered a swift kick to the moblin's stomach, then she withdrew another exploding arrow and held it in her fist, then jammed the exploding arrow into the moblin's mouth, then shouldered the creature in the chest to push it back into the gate, just as the exploding arrow went off. The arrow shaft shattered, but the explosion stayed inside the portal.

When the creature disappeared back into the time portal, she was left in front of the event horizon, holding her sword in her right hand and her empty bow in her left.

A hand on her shoulder startled her, but she saw it was Link and quickly fell back into a defending position behind him. "I let myself become carried away."

Link feigned a wide grin. "I've always known you could fight, but never had the pleasure of seeing it with my own eyes. This attack did not happen the last time I lived out my life in 2050. I see, now, why LJ spoke with such pride when he said he was training with you, privately."

Zelda grinned, becoming flush in the face. Effeminate peals of laughter escaped her lips. "I'm going to be watching footage of that on the internet for the rest of my life, I'm afraid. I can already hear the internet memes – Zelda: Warrior Princess."

"But you're a queen, now!"

"It's based off the name of an old TV show, Sir Link. Also, it seems a lot of people have yet to accept me as their queen just yet. But I will fight for them just the same."

"Perhaps they will when they see you fight to protect the citizens of Hyrule. Here comes the next wave, your highness!" Link pointed to a flutter in the event horizon. "They've been emerging with weapons held outward. Be ready."

Zelda withdrew a bit, maneuvering behind Linkle and Link.

The next group of bokoblins and moblins began to pour through the portal.

The bokoblins and moblins came through, but with their backs presented to the group. A group of seven backed through the gate, and seconds later, a single bokoblin came flying through, bowling down all seven soldiers. The group of eight, in total, went to the floor.

Zelda blinked. "Are they … retreating through the portal? It seems they are defending themselves from an attack."

Without warning, a crimson Loftwing flew from the event horizon with LJ upon its back, a lighting-sword clenched in his grasp. He pulled back on the reigns, causing the Loftwing to ascend to the ceiling of the enormous bunker, then he pulled hard to port, causing it to circle around to the left. He leaned forward and the giant bird dove at the group of monsters, snatching the smallest bokoblin in its talons. The Loftwing flapped its giant wings, gained a bit of altitude in the tall bunker, and dropped the flailing skinny goblin upon another group of monsters from the first wave, bowling them down like dominos.

The Loftwing flapped wildly and extended its talons, coming to a quick but effective stop at the center of the bunker, not far from the camera, which was live-streaming the entire battle.

LJ did a backflip off the bird and landed on his feet, Thunderblade held aloft. He looked a bit older than before. He had wiser eyes, long red hair, and a five o' clock shadow on his cheeks and chin, which was short, neat, and fairly well-maintained. He wore a crimson-colored tunic with green accents, similar in design to one that Link of Calatia wore when he first awakened in 2050, despite being a different color. The tunic looked as though it had seen countless battles, yet it seemed in surprisingly good condition, although the threading had become worn in two areas, showing off patches of chainmail sewn into the fabric.

But LJ's face was unmistakable, despite the hair, the scruff, his eyes, and the battle-mail.

Zelda's jaw dropped. "Oh, my goddess! Is that…?"

LJ gave the Thunderblade a twirl by the handle then announced, "I'm back! Didja miss me?!"

Zelda's eyes widened with delight, realizing it was, in fact, her LJ. "Link Josiah!?"

LJ grinned brightly. "Zelda Daltus!?" he replied in the same tone. "Holy Din, you are a sight for sore eyes!"

"I knew you were coming! I had faith! But … where were you for all this time?"

He scrunched his brows, unsure as to how long he'd been gone. "Sorry I kept you waiting, heh! I sent the people through to this time, at this moment, but I stayed to cover them, and the Gate closed." He approached her, which caused all the monsters to back away. Behind him, his Loftwing dove at the group of moblins and bokoblins, keeping them herded.

Zelda blinked. "The Gate of Time closed before you could come through?"

LJ nodded. "Yeah. It took a while to figure out how to recharge it, and during that time, I trained to fight. I trained every day, all day, every waking moment. Total immersion. I made it my lifestyle for … well, long enough to grow my hair out, heh. I discovered a few Sheikah monks in temples around Hyrule. Some of them were unfinished, but a few of them were up and running. They were there to teach 'Hylia's Chosen Hero,' so they welcomed me in for training. During my stay in 2057, a frickin' Loftwing found me on Skyloft. I learned how to ride the Loftwing and twirl my sword like Link, heh. Once I got the Gate working, I came through to this exact moment, and I blew up the Gate of Time behind myself." As if to punctuate his statement, the event horizon bubble expanded another few feet outward, then it abruptly fizzled out, leaving an empty gap of space within the hole at the heart of the gate's gear-like shape.

Zelda exclaimed, "Thank the gods and goddesses that you're alive and well."

LJ gave the Thunderblade sword another twirl. It glowed with the power of lightning. "Excuse me, Queen Zelda," he said, and broke into a hard run toward one of the waves of moblins up ahead. He announced, "Let's clear this room. We'll catch up after we get this thing secured! I promise!"

Zelda nodded firmly, impressed that he spoke with authority and confidence. "Sounds as though you've also found poise and conviction."

"That's not all I brought back with me. I'll explain when we've killed these things."

Link of Calatia chimed in, "Welcome home! By my count, at least half have already been felled thus far."

Linkle laughed in delight. "The bloody band is back together! Budge up, mates, and make some room for me on this ride, too, yeah?" She approached a moblin more than twice her size, performed a delicate pirouette on her right foot, and buried the buttstock of her shotgun into the creature's gut.

The moblin doubled over with a grunt, coming face-to-face with Linkle. She angled the shotgun downward at a forty-five-degree angle, barrel against the bridge of its nose, and pulled the trigger. Her foe flopped onto its back like a ragdoll.

For Zelda, time stood still if only for the moment. She watched Linkle's enemy flop onto its back, facing upward at her feet. The moblin's patchy hair brushed the dirty hem of her dress. The creature's empty accusative gaze faded as the eyes rolled away from one another, looking away in two directions.

Blood poured out of the larger hole at the back of the moblin's head, filling in the spaces between the floor tiles.

To Zelda, it was like the time she was a child, and a kitchen worker dropped a gallon of Lon Lon brand milk on the ground. She remembered watching the dairy flood roll across the floor, racing through the channels of grout to the far reaches of the kitchen.

Apparently, the head of a moblin holds far more blood than a jug holds milk.

"Your GRACE!"

Zelda blinked and looked up at Linkle. "I … yes, sorry."

"No use tarrying about, lookin' greener than that blighter. Pro tip, m'lady: don't chunder durin' battle whilst all of Hyrule is watchin', yeah?"

Zelda blinked again. She turned away from the moblin. "I … thought I recognized that one, that's all."

"Oh, love, nobody recognizes that one, now! Let's keep movin', though, yeah? C'mon, guv., we've gotta get this room sorted 'afore one of them get out and warn their mates … the ones here in 2050. All hands are on deck, while we take out the tosh."

"Right." Zelda nodded firmly and reached for a fresh arrow from her quiver. "Thanks for the pep-talk, Lady Linkle."

"Lady?!" Linkle laughed softly. "Come off it, y'Grace! I've been called a lot of things, but never that!" Linkle turned and headed for the next creature to engage.

Zelda lifted her gaze, but quickly looked back down just in time to hear the crack of Linkle's shotgun. Zelda closed her eyes, briefly, and exhaled through her nose. She put an arrow into place, turned, found an enemy, and let loose the Sheikah-crafted shaft.

After firing the arrow, Zelda put her bow back over her shoulder, across her chest, and lifted her rapier from her hip and held it aloft.

Ovona moved into position at Zelda's side and asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'll process it later," Zelda replied flatly. In a somewhat lighter tone, she added, "Thank you, though."

Ovona nodded, remaining at her queen's side. She withdrew her sidearm, thumbed the selector to 'charged shock-rounds,' and reached into a utility belt pouch for a flash suppressor. She screwed the silencer into place, took aim, and opened fire on the first bokoblin nearest to her.

The creature groaned, dropping to all fours.

"Arrows work better against these creatures. Bullets are too small and pass right through. Those that don't, don't have penetrating power to breech their layered armor."

Ovonoa feigned a slight smile. "Mine are hollow-point rounds. They fragment inside the body; they have more stopping power."

The bokoblin rolled onto its back, unable to breathe.

Zelda frowned. She approached the creature, placed the tip of her rapier against the bridge of the creature's nose and said, "I do not condone suffering. You fought; you will have your death. Send my regards to Demise." As an afterthought, she added, "Tell him I have not forgotten his transgressions." She closed her eyes, maneuvered the rapier an inch to the left, and pushed her hand forward.

The sharp tip of the rapier sank into the creature's eye, disappearing into the softest part of the skull.

The bokoblin didn't have the breath to cry out, but its suffering was quickly ended.

Zelda pushed down until the sword stopped at the back of the skull. She took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds, then exhaled slowly and withdrew her sword. She opened her eyes and brushed the blade against the creature's tattered outfit, cleaning the viscera from the metal.

Linkle replied with a tilt of her head. A sort of … unspoken respect glistened in her gaze.

With a nod of finality in reply, Zelda turned from Linkle to Ovona. Zelda exhaled sharply and said, "I detest the need for such violence and brutality, but … to eliminate a bully, one must push back with equal or greater force. I cannot, I will not … abide by these creatures hunting down Hyrule citizens. Not in the future, and certainly not now…" Zelda turned to face the holovision camera, nearby.

The heroes of time fought in the background, behind her.

Zelda addressed the camera lens, looking straight into it. "…For as long as I draw breath, Hyrule will be free of tyranny. Let us all take a stand, together. Every able body, myself included. We will stand as one against the demonic presence, Ganon, the self-proclaimed 'prince of thieves.' No matter your belief, no matter if you believe that something has corrupted my Uncle Nohansen, or if you believe that he is acting of his own free will, we must all be united Hyrulians, acting as one to stand up against his tyranny. His monsters are not trained in the tactics of a battlefield, but they are many. I fear this will be a war of attrition. But it is a war that we will win at all costs."

Zelda paused to think about what she learned of the alternative future from recordings brought back by Aryll Smith-Kasuto.

The queen took a deep breath and said, "I have learned what is at stake if we fail. But now … I have learned how to avoid any foreseeable mistakes. Please stand with me. I will fight for and with you. I will kill for you. I will bleed for you. And, if I must die for you, just know that I will not go without a fight."

Linkle discretely said, "Goddess help anyone who bullies your future child, love."

Zelda feigned a smile at the thought of what it might be like to create life rather than take it away. "Now … that sounds far more pleasant than…" she gestured with her free hand to the carnage surrounding the group. "…than all of this."

Ovona cut back in, "Not that any of us yet know the first thing about babies. Let's stay frosty, ladies."

Linkle grinned. "That kind of rhymed." She lifted her shotgun to the left and pulled the trigger at an approaching moblin.

The creature was thrown back. It landed on the floor and rolled over onto its face.

Linkle exclaimed, "All right, you lot. Nearly there! Let's get these last lot sorted, and then…? Pints on me!"

Zelda turned back to the live-streaming camera once again. "Those of you who are afraid to raise families in these uncertain times … take that fear and push it way down into your gut. Hyrule is in need right now. Not just of protectors who answer the call to arms … no. Hyrule is in need of mothers. Hyrule is in need of stability. Hyrule is in need of you. I will institute a reduction in taxes for young families with children under sixteen. I will further reduce taxes for those with multiple children. We will get through this. We will flourish. We will be fruitful and multiply; the children of Hylia and humans, alike. Gerudo. Children of Zora. Goron. Rito. Fairies – both healers and those acting as Hylia's messengers. All of us are in this together. We are all Hyrule. If you are watching this, no matter where you live in this world, Hyrule needs you now. I need you. Humanity, as a whole, has need of you. Come. Stand with us. The forces of good must not back down from the forces of evil. Please. Consider it. Take a stand with us." Zelda turned from the camera, drew an arrow from the quiver, fired it from her bow, and struck a creature off camera.

The moblin flailed about with an arrow jutting from between its eyes, causing blood to eek down from its nostrils and from the wound at the bridge of its nose. It dropped to its knees, flopped onto its side, and grew still.

Zelda placed the bow back over her chest, diagonally, then she dashed back into the fight with her rapier.

Ovona and Linkle came alongside of her.

"Inspiring speech," Ovona told her discretely. "Had I not already been involved with the royal family … I think I would have left my desk at my old security job at the observatory and joined you in the fight right this instant."

Zelda feigned a smile and continued across the room toward another group of moblins and bokoblins. "Thank you, Ovona."

"She's right," said Linkle. "You spoke some right posh tosh."

"I was serious. I mean every word."

"Oi, I just mean you made up some inspiring bits on the fly. Bloody brilliant, really."

"Thank you, ladies." Zelda gestured with her rapier. "I thought the remaining enemy would be as easy as they have been thusfar, but it looks as though Link and LJ require backup, so … let's assist the boys."

"To arms then," said Ovona with a firm nod.

The three hurried across the enormous bunker, only to realize that the multiple remaining moblins and large bokoblins were not the standard fare for their kind.

Ovona's eyes widened as the trio grew near to the fighting. "They're enormous."

"Bloody area bosses, those are. No doubt in m' mind." Linkle approached one of the ones that Link was fighting. She lifted her shotgun and fired, relaxing at the time of kickback. "We may be batting on a sticky wicket, mates, but if we put this to bed straight away, this day'll be ours."

The moblin that had been shot grimaced in pain. He looked down at the glistening rubies on his chest. Some of the buckshot didn't penetrate his armor. He looked back up at Linkle and sneered. A devious smirk found its way across the creature's face.

"Oi! That were but a taste, mate! Always have the dry loaded first. Wanna'r 'ave a squiz at the good stuff?" She fired the shotgun again. A brilliant white flame emerged from the barrel, along with incredibly hot tungsten buckshot.

The moblin roared in pain as flames licked up the front of his armor. He threw his spiked mace at Link, knocking the shield from Link's arm, due to breaking the brace that held the shield to his wrist. Free-handed, the moblin snatched up Link's shield and pressed it to his chest, suppressing the flames on his armor.

Zelda's eyes widened. She cut her gaze over at Ovona. "The sheer willpower required to pick up an object and put out flames that hot on your chest … we've overestimated these creatures simply because they don't bury their dead. That was foolish."

Ovona nodded. "The police commissioner made the claim these creatures are idiots. But the police commissioner is dead, now. Be smarter than him. Be a better leader."

Zelda nodded firmly. She withdrew her bow, an arrow, and fired it right into the moblin's forehead. The arrow made a loud cracking sound; the moblin was rather suddenly encased within a block of ice. "Mm. I guess I'm out of exploding arrows in my quiver. He's all yours, Sir Link."

"Your highness," Link said with a firm nod. He ran at the ice block, lifted the Master Sword high, put his foot up on the side of the ice block, and leapt upward. He swung the blade in a chopping motion, midair, and performed a downward thrust straight into the frozen head of the moblin.

The ice block cracked, and then rather abruptly, it shattered into little chunks of various sizes. The moblin dropped back on his backside, stunned, with blood gushing from a slash on the side of his face.

Zelda's eyes widened. "How is he still alive?!"

Linkle looked shocked. "No number'a star-jumps'll have you fit enough to survive fire, ice, and a bloody Goddess Blade to th' face. I'm thinking this is no normal munter of a moppet."

Link kicked the moblin onto its back, yanking his sword free. "Depends on which lobe of the brain I struck. He may take a moment to die as blood floods into his skull. But he will fight until his final breath. Your highness, go and assist LJ. I will put this creature out of his suffering."

Zelda turned away and headed toward LJ. She heard a thunk behind herself and started to look back, but Ovona kept her from doing so.

"You do not want to see a beheaded moblin, my queen. Eyes forward. Stay focused."

Zelda continued across the room, toward LJ. "Ovona, I have seen my own father after his utterly brutal murder; I identified the body because my mother was missing. I can handle the sight of an enemy with its head separated from its body."

Linkle moved on the other side of Zelda. "Your grace, no. She means you needn't to think of such a macabre image every time you see Link. Because you will, guv. You'll see'r'is face, and suddenly that bloody sword will be the first thing you recall by association, and then? Your twee bitty brain will hock up tha' image … the one of the headless shite. You'll remember the bloke's stomach com'in up, out his pie-hole pipe. You'll remember the blighter's burnt loin cloth all but gone, his bell-end flopped out. You dun't need tha' shite in yer head." Then, as an aside, Linkle added, "Sorry for thee, ah, colorful wordage."

Zelda sighed, keeping her eyes forward. "Pejoratives do not offend me."

"Too right, I just mean … I know tha' wasn't exactly classy t'say, but … the blighter's bloody balls are hangin' free, sittin' on the floor for the whole world t'see. Oh, and not to mention … lotta blood. It's not a sightly thing to behold, so … don't, yeah?"

Zelda drew in a deep breath, closed her eyes, exhaled, repeated the breathing technique, and opened her eyes. "It's behind me. I'd rather think about repopulating Hyrule with beautiful babies, planting heather and lavender at the local parks to make the air smell nice, and … couples holding hands at the market."

Ovona smirked. "You choose a battle for our lives to think of love? Mr. Kasuto's return has you riding high, my queen. But do not let some voe distract you."

"Speakin' of lads…" Linkle offered a playful wave in passing to the technician behind the camera. "Psst, oi, you lot … tha' tech boffin's watchin' us wit' his camera. Back straight, chin up, bust out, lasses."

Ovona clenched her jaw so as not to laugh, but she wound up snickering, which sounded like a snort from her nose. "You are something else."

"Oh, yeah, tha's what all the boys say about me. Jut yer bot when y' walk, ladies. If Hyrule's gonna'r oogle, best to walk like you're the baddest bitches inna bunker. For the record…? Tha's me to'a T." Linkle laughed, high on adrenaline. "The people of Hyrule now seen us slay moblins, live. Now we're the fookin' candidature fer mindspace across the land."

"Meaning?" Ovona furrowed her brows.

"Fer the lads? We're spank-bank material. Yuck? Absolutely. But deal wit' it, ladies … because we just set the bloody bar fer what these boys are lookin' for in their future wives. Best t' own it. But also…? We're what young lasses'll wanna be. Beautiful, badass, and not afraid of shite. The embodiment of th' modern woman, for sure. Tha's a right good aspiration for a young lady, now, innit?"

Zelda grinned a bit, but then picked up her pace upon approach to LJ, who was impressively holding his own against a large moblin and a tall bokoblin. "He's learned quite a bit about combat. Look at his technique."

Ovona shook her head with a roll of her eyes. "You're still being distracted by a voe."

Zelda replied, "It's my prerogative. Fan out, ladies. Let's surround these creatures." She looked around, briefly, then said, "It seems they're the last ones. Then we'll have secured the bunker."

"Let's let'em have it!" Linkle erupted.

Up ahead, LJ utilized a lightning tech-blade with the Staff of Byrna on his back.

"LJ!" Zelda called to him.

Kasuto exclaimed, "Boy, is it ever good to see you again, let me tell you!" He grinned brightly.

One of the creatures attempting to attack LJ offered a loud grunt due to it being knocked back by the Staff of Byrna.

"LJ, you brought another Staff of Byrna back with you! Is that your backup plan for the ring?"

"You noticed, huh? How do you like my hair?" LJ replied to the queen. He hooked a thumb at his long ginger locks. A hazy light flew about him. It repelled an enormous moblin that already seemed frustrated with its inability to grasp him, further compounded by the fact his weapon continued to shock the monster over and over.

"Very fetching for your complexion!" she said with a firm nod. "I see you've learned some fighting techniques that neither Link nor I ever taught you. Pick up some new tricks during your time in the future, did you?"

LJ glanced over at the group of ladies. "Yeah, I did." He held his hand aloft displaying a garnet-jeweled golden-banded ring. "I also finally tested out this thing in 2057. I never expected it to change how I look like this. I'm glad you recognized me."

"Glad, are you?" Zelda smirked at him, then, as an afterthought, she added, "Link Josiah, are you flirting with me?"

"Would you like me to?"

Zelda nodded. "Time and place. The time is soon, the place is anywhere just as soon as the moblins are defeated."

"Noted!" he replied with an emphatic nod. "We're nearly down to the last two monsters. One bokoblin and one moblin left."

Both creatures had teamed up on the Royal Guard, leaving the group on their backs, but alive. Both the bokoblin and moblin turned from the group to face the last remaining people in the room.

Zelda, Ovona, Linkle, Link, and LJ. The five stood together as a pack, facing the two enormous creatures that had just taken out the entire guard staff with relative ease.

Zelda narrowed her gaze. "Why are they trying to keep us here? Keep us busy, I mean? Did one of them get out of the bunker?"

"Not that I saw," said LJ. "But a few smaller ones came through the gate, by the looks of the bodies on the ground. Is it possible one of them followed the civilians out?"

Zelda clenched her teeth. The two groups stared at one another from about twenty feet apart. Zelda gestured for the exit. "Ovona, Linkle, we'll cover the two of you. Lock down the royal compound and make sure no one gets out until they've been vetted. I have a feeling we've missed one, and if it gets to my uncle, it could tell him information that might give him some sort of advantage. Hurry."

Linkle and Ovona darted for the exit.

The bokoblin and moblin tried to intercept the women by running at them.

Zelda drew an arrow and fired it to cover the girls' escape.

Link and LJ made a dash for the two creatures, giving Ovona and Linkle a chance to escape the bunker.

Zelda took a deep breath and exhaled through clenched teeth. She looked around the empty bunker, eyes briefly pausing on the cameraman, who was the only civilian left in the room. She nodded at the lens, then she turned to the two area boss creatures, slipped off her kitten heels, took a deep breath, and shouted, "Ah-r'ah la's tae vie Hyrule-sha!" Zelda dashed toward the creatures with her rapier held aloft.

LJ put his thumb and his index finger to the corners of his lips. He gasped a deep breath and whistled through his teeth so loud it made his gums and tongue tingle.

The crimson Loftwing swooped back into the bunker through the enormous blast doors and dipped its head down in a dive.

LJ looked back, then he jumped up into the air.

The Loftwing swooped back up just inches from the tiled floor and pulled up sharply, so that LJ was upon its back in a split second. The bird climbed for altitude in the large five story deep bunker, flapping its wings.

LJ reached down and adjusted his pants so that they weren't too tight in the groin. He shifted his weight a bit to get comfortable, and then he withdrew his Thunderblade. It crackled and shimmered with an unnatural golden glow. He gave the sword a twirl, horizontally above his head, so as not to let the blade touch the bird, then he guided the Loftwing into a dive at the moblin and bokoblin left standing.

The Loftwing put its talon-tipped feet outward, so that it struck the bokoblin in the face with its claws.

LJ leapt from the back of the Loftwing, so that when the large bird darted back up into the air, LJ landed on the bokoblin's shoulders.

The bokoblin flailed while bringing its hands up to its face where it just lost an eye from the bird's talons. It didn't even notice LJ landing on its shoulders, as it was too preoccupied with a newfound partial blindness.

LJ lifted his weapon high, then he drove the sword blade into the creature's skull with all the strength in his upper body. The glowing Thunderblade sank into the creature's head, creating a loud clap of noise. Electricity from the batteries in the handle electrified the blade, instantly killing the creature.

Its body crumbled to all fours.

LJ leapt from it, landed on his palms, and rolled. He stood up, pivoted, put his foot on the shoulders of the dying creature, and ripped his sword from its head.

The bokoblin flopped onto its chest, silent and twitching, but otherwise still.

Link, nearby, kicked the moblin in the gut, then jumped upward and put the Master Sword behind the moblin's neck, pulling its head forth. He also brought his knee up, all in the same motion, burying his knee in the moblin's chin.

The moblin flailed, throwing Link and his blade back.

Zelda fired an arrow into the moblin's chest, causing it to clasp its chest.

Link drew his knees to his chest then kicked outward, leaping from his back onto his feet. He ran at the moblin, paused to kick his sword up into the air, snatched it by the handle, and spun around, using momentum to slash at the stunned creature's gut.

The moblin panted from the multiple attacks.

LJ saw a window of opportunity; as soon as Link was out of the way, LJ threw the Thunderblade, end over end, so that the blade became buried in the moblin's chest.

The moblin turned away with a shout of anger and pain.

Link ran at the creature, slid along the ground, and used his Master Sword to attack the creature's knees with a swipe.

The moblin fell forward, landing on the Thunderblade handle, causing the tip to pierce its middle back. It was dark and lacked the power to shock the moblin, but it pierced the moblin just the same.

Silence.

Zelda lifted her hands. "Wait. Everyone, wait."

Link and LJ stayed their place.

Zelda approached the creature and nudged it with her rapier. It didn't move. She leaned in a bit closer, then she pushed the tip through the motionless creature's back, piercing its right lung. It didn't move. She turned back to Link and LJ. "LJ, I think you put your weapon through its heart."

"His eyes are still open," said LJ. He moved closer and lowered to one knee by the creature. "He's alive. How can he not feel your sword going through his back like that? Let alone mine?"

Link lifted his right hand, keeping the Master Sword off to the side in his left hand. "You didn't just pierce his heart, LJ. At the angle of entry, you separated his spine. He feels nothing and will soon die from his inability to breath. But suffering is needless; I will end it."

Zelda nodded. "No one should suffer from blood filling his lungs. Please, Sir Link, help him."

Link nodded on approach. He put the Master Sword against the creature's neck and said, "If you pray, pray now, moblin." He gave the creature a few seconds, lifted the Master Sword, then brought it down swift and sure.

Zelda turned away from the moblin's rolling head with a moue of disgust upon her face. She realized she was staring at the camera, still live-streaming. She sheathed her rapier and approached the camera. "Do you see this, Uncle Nohansen? You and your … war. It's disgusting. You are disgusting. Furthermore, where is my mother? Consider this an official Royal Family demand – I want her back. I want her back alive. You have twenty-four hours to release her and put her into contact with me, or I will bring the weight of the entire Hyrule military, police, and every mercenary I can find to crush you and everything you've built. And that won't be enough … if my mother is not returned to me, I will bring the weight of a brand-new project I've designed to fight you, and when the curtain is drawn back, you will be decimated with a level of shock and awe that will be spoken of as the scorn of Hylia for the next ten thousand years. I will be awaiting her return or your surrender … or both. You have…" she paused to glance at her wrist, then she lifted her gaze to the lens again. "…Twenty-three hours and fifty-six minutes." She stepped back from the camera and swiped her right hand in front of her neck as a gesture to the cameraman.

The light upon the camera went dark.

The technician stepped out from behind it, eyes wide, and said, "Permission to speak frankly?"

Zelda nodded.

"Remind me never to piss you off, your highness."

Zelda feigned a weak half-grin for a fleeting second. She turned to Link and LJ and said, "Gentlemen, I need to be escorted to the Sheikah R&D center. My clearly-psychotic uncle has no intention of surrendering, and he doesn't have any living hostages to release."

LJ shoved the moblin onto its back and frowned. "Damn. Broke my Thunderblade. Ah well." He looked up at Zelda and said, "How many Guardians have been built so far?"

"Five hundred Guardians. Thirty turrets. Forty Guardian Skywatchers. And sixty Guardian Stalkers. Some are scouts, some are standard Guardians, and some fly. The Sheikah monks have asked for an additional number of them as part of a series of tests … something about the next generation of hero that will fight the next iteration of Ganon in the distant future. I granted them as many as they will require, but those are being constructed now, and will be hidden away inside locked temples for the future Hero. They will not concern us, and they will not be used in this upcoming war against Ganon."

"Oh. Way to plan ahead."

"Come here, you. You scared me for the past ten days." She opened her arms and drew LJ into an embrace. "I am just … so relieved you are safe."

LJ rested his chin upon the top of her head and held her close. Her hair smelled of strawberries, lavender, and a hint of sweat. He felt his body start to relax just holding her close. "I died avenging you in the future."

"Did you, now…" Her voice was muffled against his chest.

"I take it Aryll and Link told you that we got married?"

"They did. And they told me how you died … that you were hailed a national hero for driving the Master Sword into Nohansen's chest. But he came back after just a few short years."

"Yeah. The coward attacked me while I was trying to get Aryll and Link prepared to come home … but not directly."

"Coward, hm?"

"Yeah, the coward used hard-light emitters … holograms. Clever but he's a total coward. That proved it to me."

"And you survived the attack, saved Skyloft, and allowed yourself to be arrested to ensure Aryll was able to come here. I have no doubt in my heart that you would have escaped if it became necessary. The fact you sent through civilians first, and then fought for a year to come back to me … it really proves you are a hero to me."

LJ enjoyed the moment … having his arms around her, being close to her. In that moment, it was easy to forget she was the queen or the reincarnation of a goddess or that she had ancient nanotech that gave her impressive healing powers. In that moment, she was just … a girl with beautiful eyes and great conversation chemistry. He never felt this way about any girl he dated in high school or college. He never felt this way about anyone or anything in the past. He seemed distracted for a moment. He stole a glance over at the direction that Ovona and Linkle had gone, following the future civilians out of the bunker. The fleeting moment passed. He offered Zelda a kiss on her forehead, then he leaned his head down and whispered into her left ear. "I love you."

Zelda drew her head back from his chest and looked up at him, meeting his gaze.

In a soft voice, he added, "I'm sorry. That just … came out. I've been trying for so long to get home to you, and I feel like you've been watching over me, keeping me alive. I don't know how to explain it. And … it just came out."

"Do you really love me?"

"Yes. But it was too soon to say that. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable or awkward; I know we've only been close for a short while, and you didn't go through a year of … yearning … a year of mourning … a year of fighting to try and come back to you. I didn't mean to say it just yet."

She reached up and cupped either side of his face. "Look me in the eyes … and say it again."

He met her gaze. "I love you."

She smiled. "I believe you. There is chemistry between us. We may have done things together that was … out of order … but the last ten days? I did mourn. I did pray. I did yearn. I did worry. I sense your feelings for me, and they were strong enough to get you through that ordeal in 2057."

LJ smiled. "As soon as we get a moment alone, I need to talk to you about my time in 2057."

Zelda eyed him for a moment. "I'm starting to feel a sort of … a possessiveness, really."

"Oh yeah?"

Zelda nodded firmly. "Yes. You're mine. You belong to no one else. You are mine, Link Josiah Kasuto. Mine. And I have never spoken in such a way of anyone or anything in my entire life. Not even the TriForce of Wisdom. But you? You are mine."

LJ's expression brightened. "That is … so…"

"Hot? Romantic?"

"I think I was going to say, uh, frickin' awesome, but yes. Hot and romantic also work. Before you tour the R&D facility, why don't we go and decompress for a night?"

"Perhaps that would be best. Some bonding time. Something that is … shall we say … frickin' awesome?"

LJ laughed. "Sold." He cleared his throat and said, "But before we do, you have a camera here. You have a lot of people sitting at home that just saw this fight live on their holo-vision, they heard your threat to Nohansen, and they don't know what to make of it. Maybe … you could address the people, directly, before we head back to thee, uh, penthouse in the castle…?"

Zelda kept her hands cupped over his face. She cradled his cheeks and jawline lovingly, then she pulled his face to hers and kissed his lips in a chaste yet loving way. "I am impressed. Most men do not think of the people of Hyrule first, and … perhaps there can be some things from the future that can stay the same."

"Yeah? Like what?"

"Making you my Royal Consort. Heh, Link and Aryll told me. Needless to say … we'll discuss that 'topic' in depth when the time and place are appropriate. LJ, I love you, too. I know it's soon. But the heart wants what the heart wants. And mine wants you. Maybe it's because our two pieces of the TriForce want to be reassembled, or maybe it's because we both have the soul of Hylia and her Chosen Hero, two people that love one another very much. Whatever this attraction is, I have no desire to deny it. So, if you will embrace it with me, I am satisfied to enter into a relationship with you. Maybe that is the adrenaline and post-battle high speaking for me. But … I want to embrace it. However, let us not flaunt it to the public right now. Time and place. We must focus on defeating Nohansen and saving Hyrule from his absolute tyranny and malice. That is first. But … tonight … I do think it would, in fact, be healthy to enjoy a night to decompress together. After I address Hyrule, first, of course."

LJ brought his hands up, atop of hers, still on his face, and he kissed her. The kiss was a few seconds long, enough to show his feelings for her, without making it too … intimate. Not yet at least. He broke the kiss and said, "I can't wait for tonight. But first, you have to address Hyrule and I have to shave. I found scissors … so I kept the beard trimmed, but in the entire year I was there, I couldn't find a razor. Not one. And trust me, I looked!"

"Yes," she said with a firm nod of agreement. "Yes, you must shave. I like the beard. It's trim and it says you are a refined man. But a beard is … a man's power over others. It must be used just right … and at the right time. Let's reintroduce it when the time is right. A Royal Wedding, perhaps. But … let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Let's enjoy being young just a bit longer."

Link of Calatia cleared his throat as if to remind them he was right there.

Zelda stepped back from LJ and spoke in a loud enough voice that showed she was addressing someone other than LJ. "Sir Link, be a dear and round up the Royal Guard. Bring them in so they can honor their fallen brethren. I wish to address the people of Hyrule, live, then retire for the night to process all that has happened."

Link bowed with his right fist to his chest. "Absolutely, your Grace." He turned and left the room.

Zelda gave LJ's hand a squeeze, then released it, and approached the camera. "Mr. Technician, sir, would you be so kind as to broadcast live once more?"

"Yes, ma'am … er, I mean, absolutely, your Royal Highness."

Zelda offered him a tired grin of amusement at his response. "Saying 'ma'am' is more than fine." Her grin evolved into a soft smile. Then, her eyes widened just a bit as if remembering something. She tilted her head at the technician behind the camera, and asked him, "Before we begin, are you alright?"

"Yes, ma'am," said the young man. "My heart was in my throat the entire time, but I just filmed my queen fighting moblins and bokoblins in a fancy dress."

"Are you sure you're alright? Adrenaline can keep you from feeling injuries in the heat of the moment."

He patted himself down then nodded emphatically. "No battle damage, heh. I mean … no, uh, you know … no injuries. I'll need some time to process the fact I was just on the set of a real-life action movie, but other than that, I'm fine. Great, even. Thank you for asking."

"Just remember to take Habuta to coffee."

"Absolutely!" The briefest of pauses, then he said, "Okay, it's streaming live in five, four, three … two…" He gave her a gesture with his hand for a silent 'one,' then another gesture to let her know they were broadcasting live.

Zelda cut her gaze from the camera operator to the camera lens. "The moblin's plan was to carry word to my uncle, Nohansen. It ran because it realized it was the last creature left alive that came through the Gate of Time. Little did it realize it would come across my personal body guard, a hero, and my finest squad of soldiers. By now, that moblin has failed in its mission. All the ones we fought here, today, also revealed no clues as to its message. Instead, each creature chose to die with its secrets intact. I come to you now, Hyrule, to bring you confirmation that the Gate of Time was destroyed in 2057, and no other creatures can come through. From this point forward, the future is what we make of it."

Queen Zelda placed a hand upon the handle of her rapier, at her side, and tapped the weapon on the ground twice, so that the decorative metal tip of the scabbard made a tapping sound. She held the sheathed sword like a walking stick.

Zelda pursed her lips, mulling over her words. "Forgive me, I'm deciding what to say, and thinking of how best to word it, because I'm still processing everything that happened." She used her free hand to remove the bow that was diagonally across her chest. She moved it to the hand that held her rapier.

She gestured to her weapons with a soft sigh. "These weapons are finely crafted tools, but … they are just tools. They will always be … just … tools. Furthermore, these tools are a last resort. I have always felt strongly that violence should be a final straw, and that détente through diplomacy should come first. There is only ever one reason to fight in life … one thing worth fighting for when it comes time to bear arms. There is an old saying that goes, 'The Price of Peace is Eternal Vigilance.' We do not know who said those words; those words are as old as Hyrule itself, perhaps older. But what the phrase says to me is that, sometimes, peace must be fought for. And when peace is achieved, the only way to maintain it is to stay alert." She took a deep breath, then she exhaled slow and calm.

Zelda looked down at her sheathed sword for a moment. She withdrew her quiver from her shoulder and sat it down on the ground at her feet, then she met the camera's lens once more with a practiced serene gaze. "I dare admit…" She paused for another calming breath.

"A queen should not show weakness. Ever. But I want to earn your trust, Hyrule. I am new in this role, and I am young. So, I dare admit to you that I am terrified of watching the footage you have all just witnessed … imagery of your queen fighting moblins and bokoblins to the death. I do not know if I am ready to watch videos that show that side of myself, but youhave seen it and I ask that you do not see me as a warrior. I am just a woman who is doing what is necessary to fight for the people for whom I am responsible. As part of my coronation, I proudly took an oath to protect all people of Hyrule by any means necessary…" She brought the rapier in front of herself, resting both hands upon it, as though it were some sort of royal scepter. The bow clattered at her feet, adjacent to the quiver. Her eyes lowered.

"…I know what some of you are thinking … fighting is not for a queen. Fighting is for the military, so a queen can rule and strategize. But I suppose I have something to prove to Hyrule right now…"

She shifted her weight, straightened her back and shoulders, lifted her chin a bit, and spoke with a tone of authority. "I ordered my guards, as well as my personal bodyguard … to protect the civilians that came through the gate. My soldiers are excellent fighters, and these civilians deserved protection from Hyrule's finest."

Again, she changed her posture a bit, shifting her weight from her left foot to her right one. "Some of you may not agree. Some of you may feel that my place is in the throne room … or cowering in the safety of some bunker deep beneath the castle. Please, I ask you to understand things from my perspective: Hyrule is not the Royal Family; Hyrule is its people. So, I joined the fight, along with LJ Kasuto. We engaged the first wave of enemies to cover the escape of these citizens. I sent my guards to protect those people as a last line of defense for them. I expect to be judged for my actions by critics for years to come, but I stand by my actions."

The bunker was so quiet that a pin-drop could have been heard.

She took a moment to look around the abandoned bunker. Her eyes panned over the Gate of Time, then she looked at the bodies of fallen creatures. She pursed her lips, sighed softly, then turned back to the camera tech and tapped the scabbard of her rapier twice.

Zelda continued to address the camera. "Those of you who have watched in revulsion at what it is like to view a live battle … I wish to apologize … I am truly sorry that you have witnessed these horrors on your holovision or television set. For those of you watching with families, it is safe for your children to come back into the room. I wish to confer with my team, my generals, and so forth, so that I can bring you the most accurate information possible."

She stepped over the quiver and bow, still holding the rapier as if it were a walking stick. She approached the camera just a few paces and said, "I know the Royal Family has, at times, throughout history, been secretive. And there are still going to be secrets I cannot speak of, mostly out of respect for the final orders given by my father. Just know that I will endeavor to be a bit more transparent than you may be used to. I have told you everything I know as of this moment, and I will return to you shortly when I know more. Just know that the threat is over for the time being, as I have had no updates on any other activity from Nohansen. However, for those of you who are parents and are worried for your children, I will confer with the ministry of education to give you some semblance of an expectation on when children will return to school. But, for now, I truly feel it would be best if schools remain closed until we know the threat is over."

Zelda bent at the knees, just a bit, and reverently placed the rapier on the ground, unlike how she had treated the bow and quiver, earlier. She stood back up, stared directly into the camera lens, and said, "The Royal Family sits on ancient wealth. We do this for many reasons – to fund programs that will keep us prepared for the return of Ganon, as well as keeping the value of the rupee strong, but you have families to feed, rent and utilities to be paid, maintenance on your vehicles to consider…"

Zelda paused, briefly, then took one more step closer to the camera. "…So I will be working with the head of the treasury to meet everyone's needs for an eight-week period. These are extraordinary times and call for extraordinary measures. How can we focus on our safety and survival if we're distracted by that which we are programmed to focus upon? We have been taught our entire adult lives to keep food on our tables, to keep the lights on in our homes, and to keep the water on, and, of course, to pay for a roof over our heads. But allow me to shoulder that burden for you until the threat has ended. I will have my staff reach out to all the utility companies, all the mortgage companies and the property management companies, and I will ensure all active accounts will be up to date for the next two months, then I will have my staff reach out to financial institutions and deposit money for all citizens' monthly expenses every ten days for the next two months."

The camera tech peered over the camera viewing screen, staring at Zelda with wide eyes.

Zelda continued. "Keep your families close. Be prepared, be vigilant, be alert. Be safe. I will return soon to inform you further. The sooner Nohansen is imprisoned or otherwise eliminated, the sooner we can heal and return to normalcy."

Silence.

Zelda brought both of her dingy gloved hands together, thumbs together and fingers curled, creating the symbol of a heart. "Hyrule: Stronger together." She turned from the camera and walked back toward LJ Kasuto.

The camera operator cut the feed. "We're clear, your highness."

She glanced over her shoulder. "Thank you. Go check on your family. And remember to catch up with Habuta as soon as you're able."

"Thank you, Queen Zelda." The tech pointed the camera down, so that it was facing the floor, and walked away from the tripod. He cleared his throat, adding, "Hyrule … stronger together." He turned and hurried out of the bunker.

Zelda feigned a weak smile, then she withdrew her Sheikah Slate from the hidden pocket of her dress. She checked to make sure it was undamaged, sighed in relief, and made a call on it. After a few seconds, she brought it to her ear and said, "Ovona, what is your status?"

A pause, then Zelda said, "Thank goodness. Are you near?"

Another pause, then Zelda brightened a bit. "Yes, meet me in the bunker. Thank you." She returned the device to its hiding place, then turned toward the sound of approaching footsteps, which echoed in the empty bunker.

Linkle and Ovona walked across the tiled floor, approaching LJ and Link.

Everyone shared quick hugs with one another, except for Ovona and LJ. Instead, LJ offered Ovona a professional and polite nod with a pleasant smile, but he turned away from her a little too quickly.

Zelda watched LJ's body language but refrained from commenting on it.

LJ hugged Linkle and then Link with a familiar sort of comradery, one that he did not afford to Ovona.

Zelda approached Linkle, Ovona, LJ, and Link. "Let's gather Ravio and Aryll. We have much to discuss with the generals and the national homeland security director."

LJ stole another glance at Ovona, followed by a frown, but he quickly looked away, hoping she didn't see it.

Ovona furrowed her brows. "What is it, Mr. Kasuto? Do I have some blood or guts in my hair?" She reached up and patted the top of her head, then she inspected her palm.

LJ shook his head. "I, uh… just … need a moment to talk to you."

Zelda asked, "Am I invited into this conversation?"

"You are invited into any conversation you want," said LJ. He cut his gaze to Linkle and Link. "But … could the three of us have a moment, you guys?"

Linkle took Link by the wrist. "Oi, c'mon, you. Let's give'em some privacy, mate." She guided Link away, adding, "Let's secure the bunker, yeah?"

Link said, "I agree, that would be a good use of our time." He followed Linkle out of the area.

The bunker fell silent again.

LJ waited for a moment until he was alone with Zelda and Ovona. Both women turned to face him with an expression of expectation.

LJ turned to Ovona, first. "Now that we have a moment, I need to confess something to you both. First, Lance Corporal Ovona Nabumyre Ne Ashdani Hairulésha…"

Ovona smirked. "I cannot believe you remember all that."

"Uh, yeah. I did. Anyhow, you survived in the future. I showed up in 2057, and I stayed until 2058. You were part of the Skyloft survivors."

"I … survived? I did not see myself among the others that came through the gate. Wait. Is that why you looked at me strangely? Did I stay behind to blow up the gate?"

"No, I used digital timers when making the timed charges; I blew the gate just seconds after I walked through it."

Ovona furrowed her brow and studied LJ's facial expression. "Then please explain your strange look … the one you gave me earlier?"

Zelda frowned. She knew something was off; she felt it in her gut. Zelda looked away. She rather suddenly felt … jealous. Possessive. Yet … empathetic. She remained quiet, letting LJ explain himself.

He said, "Ovona, you and I stayed after sending everyone else through. But not by choice. The Gate of Time crapped out on us, leaving us stranded for about a year. See, Ganon tried using one of the nuclear devices on the surface, not too terribly far from the bunker. A component for the Gate of Time was rendered inoperable from something we later learned was called an electromagnetic pulse – a side effect of his bomb. The device was set off in the upper atmosphere, so the 'EMP' effected the Gate of Time's systems. However, we managed to take a tunnel in this bunker, and we escaped deeper underground further away from the town. So, yeah, we survived."

Ovona tilted her head, but she remained quiet.

LJ continued speaking to the two women. "Some of the creatures that didn't make it through the Gate while chasing the civilians … you and I found ourselves stuck in the room with them. We fought in the sublevel passageways, but those tunnels weren't built for evading…"

"Did I die?" she demanded in an incredulous tone of voice. "If so, just tell me."

"Not … right away. You were injured, but you didn't die. I actually nursed you back to health, and we trained together for a year. You helped me find a few finished temples run by Sheikah monks. Quite a few of them were under construction but never finished, however a handful of them were. I trained with them, and when you were back on your feet, I trained with you."

"Go on," said Ovona, drawing out the words in a slightly suspicious tone.

LJ continued. "Eventually, we found a piece of technology and dismantled it, and we used it to repair the Gate of Time. We had a lot of adventures together. When it was time to finally escape 2057 through the Gate, there were a group of moblins and bokoblins that showed up. I got the gate activated, and the damned creatures went right on through, right in front of me. It was a squad of them. I attacked them as I went through the gate portal…"

"That isn't what you wanted to tell me, though, is it?"

LJ shook his head. "No, Ovona. Okay, I'll cut to the chase. During our year together…" He cleared his throat, stole a glance at Zelda, frowned, then looked at Ovona again. "We, uh … briefly … very briefly … had a, uh…"

Zelda closed her eyes and finished his sentence. "A physical relationship."

Ovona grimaced.

LJ frowned. "Yeah. That. I mean, we were in a very, uh, last guy and last girl in the worldsituation. There are people alive in 2057, don't get me wrong … but none were alive anywhere near our location and we didn't know anyone else even survived until about a week before it was time to escape from 2057. Not for hundreds of miles. We believed we were literally the last people left on Earth for eleven of those twelve months. Every town was wiped out, crawling with moblins and bokoblins, or otherwise flatted. So … we relied on one another … a lot. We fought side-by-side a lot … we became, uh…"

Ovona frowned. "We became physical."

LJ nodded.

"I see. Not something I could ever see myself doing, Mr. Kasuto, but … that doesn't explain where my future-self is hiding, so, again, I ask you … what happened to me?"

"We returned to the bunker to install the component that was damaged. We had been coming back to the bunker a few times during Feshal of 2058, you see … figuring out what part we'd need, figuring out how it worked … anyway, we didn't know that the moblins and bokoblins had been observing us and reporting back to Nohansen. Apparently, the damned things can talk; they're capable of learning Hylian, capable of … more than we thought. So, Nohansen laid a trap and waited until we could fix the Gate of Time. He didn't make his move until after we got the portal to come online."

Ovona frowned. "Go on…"

"We were ambushed. The minute the portal field opened, they rushed us, which is where the attackers came from. There were two squads. One group pinned us down, the other squad went through the Gate of Time first. The time component was set to the last location and time, which was … right on the heels of those citizens that came through, here and now, back in 2057. That's why they came through right behind the civilians that left our care a year prior. I set the charges while you used explosives to drive back part of their forces. I took you by the wrist and gave you a push to go through first. You yanked on my hand and said, 'we go together, silly voe!' and then … and then, uh … that was…" LJ pursed his lips together to keep his emotions in check. "Those were your last words."

Ovona tilted her head. "What … happened?"

"Arrow barrage. One of the initial volleys by their archers, who were ordered to keep us from leaving. An arrow struck you in the head. You dropped … and I caught you before you hit the ground. You were already gone. I started dragging you toward the portal's edge. More arrows. A few more hit your body. One went through my hair but didn't hit me. So, with my free hand, I snatched the detonator from your grasp, I clicked it, threw the detonator, which they thought was an explosive, so most of their Bravo squad leapt away from it, while one or two managed to rush through the Gate with me right on their six … that's when I jumped into the portal."

"I … cannot see myself with you in that way. Meliako," she said, pronouncing the word, 'may-lee-ah-koh,' before adding, "but I hope you understand that I don't have feelings for you like that."

"It's perfectly fine. We were friends, not lovers. It was just … a complicated friendship, I guess. You called it, uh … 'a temporary means of comfort in a world without any voe, any vai, anyone.'"

"Now that sounds like something I would say. Gerudo women know not to get too attached emotionally to a man, as it becomes likely that we must cut him loose. We, instead, become attached emotionally to our children." As an afterthought, she spoke in a softer voice, adding, "But my condolences to you on the loss of your … relationship."

LJ frowned. "It only got physical twice. And it was brief, and there was … a very long and very awkward refractory period afterward … months long. It wasn't meant to be, and we both knew it. But … I still feel like absolute shit that you died. I just … hate that I let you down. You were supposed to come through."

"Could you have reached up and snatched the arrow from the air before it struck my head?"

"No. Even if I saw it coming, you're taller than me, and I can't jump that high."

"Precisely. Meditate on the fact, Mr. Kasuto. It will bring you peace … in time. And do not expect me to start calling you 'LJ.'"

"You didn't. I was always Mr. Kasuto, even during…" he reached up and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Aks fayo nu, cuka, es'in … Fihplat Javehs voe. Va itehs, bi kalt," she mumbled then looked away.

"Look, before we figured out how to get the gate working again, we really thought we were going to die there. We resigned ourselves to being proud that we saved the people, and that we did enough. We trained to survive and stayed together because we were the only two known people left alive in a world full of moblins and bokoblins."

"Wait … I didn't train you specifically so you could come back and fight?"

"No. It was so we could survive for as long as possible. I was looking for the Master Sword so I could use it on Nohansen. But we also kept our hopes up that we would eventually figure out how to repair the Gate of Time."

"Then what happened," asked Ovona.

"Nohansen … he apparently had faith in us all along. He bided his time, and he went easy on us … until that last moment, when he had two squads appear at the entrance of the bunker. I should have done a better job sweeping the area before we went into the bunker, but … too late, now. Anyway. We were ambushed by them, and there were approximately a hundred more outside, but they weren't prepared for the fact I had fixed the bunker doors six months prior. Anyway…" LJ shook his head with a frown. "I'm sorry I let you down. I know it wasn't you, but I can't apologize to her, so … I'm apologizing to you in lieu of her: I am so, so very sorry I let that happen, Ovona."

Ovona sighed softly. "I understand. You should know that the queen has been quite worried for your wellbeing the entire time you were missing. We've been waiting ten days. You were supposed to come back to the same time as Aryll."

"Yeah, uh, the component we had to install was the computer, which is how the date was put into the device. I'd told myself I was going to send the civilians through a few days after I left, initially, so that I could make sure the area was clear and safe before their arrival. But then the circuits were damaged, like I said. When I got the thing working again, the coordinates were locked and couldn't be changed due to damage to the controls. One of the moblins tried to manipulate the controls to keep me from going through, and I guess that's why I wound up coming through a week-and-a-half later, but I saw three seconds left on the timed explosives as I dove into the portal. I cut it crazy close, huh? Anyway, I'm just glad we got the people from Skyloft here to safety; I only wish it didn't come at the cost of your death."

Ovona nodded. "Mr. Kasuto, you did your job, and my other self would be proud to have died in combat, fighting to protect the people." She nodded again with a measure of finality. "Do you still have feelings for Zelda?"

LJ nodded firmly. "Yes, I absolutely do." He cut his gaze over at the queen and told her, "I realized some time ago that I fell in love with you, Zelda. And that's part of what made things so … awkward between Ovona and myself. We lived for a year of being the only two people alive that we could find in all of Hyrule, despite occasional signs that there might still be people somewhere."

Zelda sighed softly. "It was extraordinary circumstances. Living in solitude can warp the mind, but cohabitating with the only other living person, especially when it's a man and woman … that can lead to nature taking its course. We are animals. We have basic needs, instincts, and frustrations of the blood. My only question for you is … did you love her, too?"

LJ shook his head. "No. We never … had that 'click' of chemistry, you know? It was just … two times spread out over a year. And both times we told one another that it would never happen again. It created a rift between us both times. We would have silent training spars the next morning; and after the second time, the silence lasted an entire week. It wasn't even worth dealing with all the awkwardness and silence afterward, as if things weren't quite enough in our lives without being the only two people alive. To be honest, this whole thing with Ovona … I know the average person probably wouldn't even bring it up, but … I can't exactly lie about that to the two of you. I kind of wear my emotions on my sleeve, so of course I had to tell you. But, yeah, now you know … I'm sorry, Zelda."

Zelda withdrew her dirty fabric glove and placed it into his palm. Then she brought her palm to his cheek and cupped his face. "You looked at me before you looked at her when you arrived. Even after those two times, you looked at me with love, and you gazed upon her with sorrow … and only because you feel … immense guilt. Guilt due to the death of her doppelgänger."

"I appreciate your empathy, but I'm still sorry. You don't deserve to feel any-kind-of-way because of this."

Zelda nodded with a frown. "Yes, I admit that I honestly feel … jealous … mm, possessive, really. But not angry. If anything, I feel empathetic, especially in the fact that you both let nature harm your friendship, and then had to process it together. I imagine that must have been frustrating."

LJ nodded in agreement. "To say the least. Not to mention super awkward."

"Thank you, LJ, for not waiting to tell me … us."

Ovona said, "I'm just glad you told me we slept together. At first, I was worried your gaze was something wholly different."

LJ furrowed his brows. "What's worse than telling you we had sex, followed you being murdered?"

Ovona shrugged. "Something worse would be … like the possibility that Nohansen took me as some sort of…" Ovona cringed and, in a softer tone, said, "Some sort of slave Gerudo queen to birth his spawn. Ugh."

"Wait, you know he's Gerudo?"

"Have you seen the man, Mr. Kasuto? His height? His nose and cheeks? His forehead? I cringed at the idea of you and I sharing a bed, let alone twice, but the mere notion of being the only woman alone in his world?" She shook her head. "Now that is truly disgusting. I wouldn't have been able to live with that, even knowing that baring loin spawn brainwashes you with hormones to accept the child and to want to love it."

LJ grimaced. "You'd have rather killed yourself than give that guy a chance to spawn. After spending a year with you, I can tell you that much. And you proved it by giving your live."

"Excellent. That is what I like to hear. I died in combat with honor."

"You died as captain of the guard. You were the highest-ranking military commander left alive. Your tactics kept the people of Skyloft alive."

Ovona turned to Zelda.

Zelda grinned a bit. "Angling for a promotion?"

"From your personal bodyguard? That would be a demotion, my queen. It sounds as though I took the next available job once you were no longer available to protect."

Zelda nodded in reply, adding, "It sounds as though you both had various ways to mourn my death. You two are the closest people within my inner circle. You mourned together and it nearly drove you apart."

LJ reached up and rubbed the nape of his neck with an expression of confusion. "I don't get it … how can you look at this so objectively? You and I had this wonderful thing going, and I messed up."

"No, LJ. You thought you weren't going to ever see me again. Let alone any other human … ever. And by the look on your face, when you speak of those moments, you are deeply bothered that those moments occurred. Is that accurate?"

"Yes. But I still feel like … like I cheated."

"No. It was a temporal situation; you thought I was dead. You let these two moments practically ruin your friendship with her. You hated yourself over it; I can tell by your tone and your facial expressions. You already disengaged yourself from the behavior beforediscovering that you could make your way home."

LJ gazed upon her with wide eyes, impressed by her logic. "How can you look at this sort of thing so … clear-headed?" he asked.

Ovona spoke for Zelda. "She possesses the Triforce of Wisdom in the same manner of way that you possess the Triforce of Courage. She understands a great deal of things the rest of us will never quite comprehend."

"Oh." LJ exhaled and faced Zelda directly. "I still feel guilty for cheating."

"You did not cheat. You knew that I was dead in that timeline, you knew the world was dead, and at the time … you thought the Gate of Time was beyond repair. Take all the time you need to process these emotions. And know that I've waited for your return and look forward to spending time with you when you are ready."

"I'm ready. I'll always be ready to spend time with you."

Zelda smiled softly.

"You know … we were married in the future. The future where we died together. We were married. I was called a 'royal consort.' No leadership duties, just … doing stuff in the name of the royal family. Public speaking at local schools, helping with royal duties, like a speech at a dinner with diplomats from Calatia. Stuff like that."

Ovona grinned a bit. "Oh. So, now we find out that you two really are compatible, as the tabloids keep suggesting." She eyed Zelda.

Zelda cleared her throat and waved for Link and Linkle to come near.

Both Link and Linkle approached the trio.

Zelda quickly brought her people back on topic. "Let's regroup. Everyone, head to the castle, find your room, clean up, and meet me in the war room in four hours." She withdrew her Skeikah Slate, glanced at the time, then said, "Make it four and a half, so that we'll meet at the top of the hour. See you all soon. Especially you, LJ." She turned, causing her dress to billow up around her ankles. "Ovona?"

"Yes, my queen." Ovona fell into step behind Zelda and followed her out of the bunker.

"Coordinate with the castle staff, have someone fetch LJ some clean clothes, and have him brought to my personal chambers." Her voice grew quiet as the two headed for the exit. "He's mine. He is my consort. I need to remind him that he's mine. Can I count on you to have him brought to me?"

"It'd be my honor," said Ovona, amused by Zelda's feelings on the otherwise emotionally complicated matter. "I'll have him delivered to your chambers within the hour."

"Excellent. Thank you, my friend. That will be all. Please escort me to my room until his arrival."

"Of course, my queen." The two women left together.

LJ licked his lips and hurried to catch up with Link and Linkle.

Linkle snickered at LJ once the queen was out of the room. "Budge up, Link; we got company joinin' us." She glanced over at LJ as he approached. An obnoxious grin spread across her face."

LJ furrowed his brows. "What? What's that look for?"

"Bloody hell, you Casanova. You roger'ed her best friend in clever lechercraft, and then you talked up all that mizpah y'had for her. And…! I reckon instead of driving her off? It made her possessive! Brilliant lad."

"I'm not a 'Casanova,' Linkle. I never wanted that to happen between myself and Ovona."

Linkle scoffed. "Yeah, yeah. You got lucky, and you'll get lucky tonight, too. Well played. Bloody blinding, even."

LJ pursed his lip, grimacing at the way she showered him with praise.

Link gesture for the two to follow him.

The group passed through the large bunker doors, making their way to the enormous hall and ramp that led up to the surface.

Link turned to one of the military guards that took up a post in front of the bunker's entrance and said, "Bring in more soldiers to watch the gates. Just in case. Better safe than sorry as the saying goes."

"Now what?" asked LJ.

Link said, "We talk about strategy before your … date with the queen."

LJ chuckled. "Right. Strategy. Like a government-funded Link-Tank."

"If you say so," said Link. "The 'Link Tank' just rolled, and all of Hyrule watched it live on their holo-vision." Link rolled his eyes. "Link-Tank indeed."

"I'm about to be a Royal Consort. I think that entitles me to use terrible puns with impunity."

"Indeed," Link replied. "And, perhaps, before you divest yourself of those worn threadbare rags, and don your comfortable habiliments for merrymaking this eventide, perhaps you would wish to unburden yourself by speaking of your time in the future."

"I thought you stopped talking like that?"

Link shrugged. "I have; I was aiming to amuse and disarm. But the question stands … do you wish to shed the emotional cumbrances of your recent journey?"

LJ frowned. "What, uh … how do you mean?"

Linkle chimed back into the conversation. "He means maybe you'd fancy going on about the past year of yer life to us rather than whinge to Zelda. It'll ruin the mood of yer date, luv. So, go on, get to busking – quick as ya' like."

Link gestured for Linkle to dial back the intensity of asking for details. He kept his eyes on LJ, and said, "She means you can talk to us; we're family. We've been through the darkest dungeons of the underworld. We understand the atrocities you've seen over the past year of your life."

LJ sighed softly. "Sounds like you guys overheard more than I intended."

Link nodded then chuckled, followed by a slight shrug. "Well, LJ, you see … sound carries quite well in an empty concrete room."

LJ cringed. "You heard everything?"

Linkle Lynn nodded emphatically. "Too right we did. We was tarrying about and all that, listenin' to the whole bit. Got the bloody tea, we did. Ta very much."

LJ sighed softly. "Yeah, yeah. I thought you guys were supposed to be watching the citizens that just came through?"

Link said, "They were intercepted by the Royal Guard, and Aryll, the one from the future, volunteered to handle things. We came back and we heard, well, you know…"

LJ arched his brows. "Go on."

"Oi, I got an ear-full of all the tacenda between you lovebirds over the last ten days. She's lookin' forward to seein' you, mate. Trust me on that. So 'afore the queen fards up t'night, or before you get done up all posh, you need to get that shite off yer shoulders, else it's just gonna kill the mood t'night, when you're chattin' it up wit' yer future wife, yeah?"

LJ nodded in understanding. "All right. I suppose. It might be good to decompress. Shouldn't someone be here to make a report of everything I went through, though? Isn't that how big governments work? Debriefing or whatever?"

Linkle smirked. "I bet the queen will personally … 'de-brief' you later tonight, mate."

Link brought a palm up to his face.

LJ glared at her. "Really?"

"Oh, sorry, all this good gossip has me completely foxed. I forgot … you're more of a 'boxers' guy, aren't ya? Well, that's fine. You can still de-brief her."

LJ rolled his eyes. "C'mon. Let's get somewhere quiet and we'll compare notes, and … whatever. Also, I need to see Aryll. My Aryll. She's been without me for ten days; I'm sure she was worried."

Link nodded firmly. "Perhaps we should see her first, before you decompress."

LJ nodded in agreement. "Okay, that's a good idea. Remember, Linkle. No weird sex talk around her."

"I'll be clever," Linkle replied with a polite smile. "C'mon then. Aryll is back at the castle. I'm sure you remember the way."

LJ grimaced. "Actually, there was no castle in the future."

Link deadpanned. "I know tha'. I went with you lot, remember? I stayed guard inna bunker after we saw the castle was taken' brick-by-brick."

"Right. Sorry. I've been surviving for the past year. Not a lot of sleep. Some of that stuff is a blur."

Linkle frowned, realizing that he'd been through way worse than she initially realized. "Are … you all right, mate?"

"No. But it's a long story, so clear your afternoon, or whatever time it is right now." LJ saw light up ahead, at the end of the concrete tunnel. He looked down at the incline, leading to the outside, silently comparing the fresh paint on the ground to how it had looked in 2058.

LJ glanced back at the blast doors, further down the ramp. He forced a weak smile, noting that there were no puddles of water in front of the enormous blast doors like he was used to seeing in 2058. He cleared his throat and said, "Well, gang … looks like it's daytime up ahead – so yeah, 'clear your afternoon,' I guess."

Linkle frowned. "Now, I'm from the past 'n all. But one of the first things I noticed when I arrived in 2050 was that men are a bit freer wit' their emotions. Not long after that, I learned you lot pay doctors to 'elp you through tough shite."

"Head shrinks. Psychologists study people who need psychological help. Psychiatrists do the same thing, but they can prescribe medication to help people with that unwanted lifetime subscription they have to all their issues."

"Not sure what that means, but tha's generally what I meant. Call up a doctor, get a pill, put a muffle on it all."

"I know the future is very different from your time, Linkle, but a pill doesn't fix things magically. It just clouds your head so that you're comfortably numb. I don't want my head to be cloudy. I need to be sharp and focused."

"Your 'ead is already cloudy. I see ya lookin' about this place like you're lost."

LJ shook his head. "Not lost. Just remembering what it looked like after the apocalypse. It wasn't pretty. I was appreciating what it looks like right now so I can remind myself what I'm fighting for. Or, you know, something like that."

Linkle feigned a smile and gave LJ a gentle slap on the back. "Sounds like you don't need no bloody pills after all. All right, then. Let's get your head back on right, then you can focus on tonight, yeah?"

LJ nodded. "Yeah. That sounds good. Thanks, you two. I appreciate you both. Also, I want to see Aryll. My Aryll. She's still just a kid. She hasn't seen me in ten days, and has been expecting me, so I need to show her that I'm okay."

Link cut back into the conversation. "Let's go see her first, then."

LJ nodded again and kept in step with his friends, who he hadn't seen in roughly a year. It felt good to be round people again. To talk to people again. To feel normal again. It felt good to see the sunshine. He stepped out of the bunker and paused to just bask in the sun with a soft sigh. "Been a while. Lot of dust and stuff floating in the air in 2058. It's been a year since I've seen a sunny day like this. Just completely clear with no clouds in the sky."

Linkle chuckled. "The forecast is callin' for rain inna' bit, mate. Just a few hours. Clear now, stormy later."

"That's okay. I miss normal rain, too." LJ gestured to Link to lead the way to the castle. "Let's go see my little sister."

Link nodded and led the group toward Hyrule Castle.

LJ studied every detail as if seeing it for the first time as they approached it. "Jeeze, I've really missed this place."

Linkle and Link exchanged glances, but neither said anything.