Chapter -19-
Linked & Bound

Jesan 26, 2050 After Deluge…
06:35am
Gate of Time Bunker beneath the Temple of Time…

LJ Kasuto stared at the looming Gate of Time while speaking to Zelda. "So, we're using a time machine to travel from point A to point B … we're using a time machine as a teleporter to get from Hyrule to the Old Realm … is that the gist of this?"

Zelda smiled. "So, you understood the science of my explanation, earlier, hmm?"

LJ replied with a slight shoulder shrug. "Maybe it will make more sense after coffee. Anyway. Joking aside, how does it even work?" As an afterthought, he asked, "Do we need to use this thing to get to the Old Realm? Can't we just take a flight?"

"There are no runways there, no ports for a ship, and … LJ, let me put things another way…"

"All right."

Zelda stood beside him with her hands folded in front of herself. She wore simple black pants that showed off her shapely figure, and the sleeves of her blouse came to her palms, partially obscuring her thumbs as well. Her bangs were held back with thin metallic barrette clips. "It's not that we need this gate to reach the Old Realm, LJ, but flying there or taking a ship there would draw attention, not to mention the lack of infrastructure in place to receive us upon arrival."

"Okay, so … we're using the Gate of Time as a glorified teleporter, then?"

Zelda nodded but then abruptly shook her head. "Yes, sort of. It's more … complicated than that. You see, to use a teleporter pad, another teleportation pad must be constructed on the receiving end. But this?" She gestured to the large gate on the platform, looming majestically in front of them.

"…Yeah?"

Flood lamps around the base of the gate created a mishmash of overlapping shadows on the back wall of the bunker, all of which stretched to the ceiling.

Zelda continued. "This? The Time Gate? It works by sending an object through spacetime, literally both space and time. It also acts as a receiving point. Although, today, it will only be used to send, because the receiving gate will be in the Old Realm. So, if we can calibrate the gate to send us to the Old Realm, just one minute earlier or later, we can utilize the Gate of Time as a 'glorified teleporter' as you call it. Although, in theory, you do not need another gate to arrive at a destination, but that is not safe."

"Wait, really? Theoretically, we could use these gates to send us anywhere? It doesn't have to be through another gate?"

"No, you don't have to step through a gate upon exit from this gate. But doing so is … 'ill-advised' at best."

LJ ran his hands back through his hair. "I mean, don't get me wrong – I'm glad Nohansen from 2057 can't come after us because we destroyed his gate, and I'm glad no one knows about the existence of the gate in the Old Realm, but … I'm just curious how these things work, and why you're saying it would be better to have another gate as the receiving end location."

"You're going to get me blathering about the mechanics of these devices. I love them. I've studied them. You really don't want to see the nerdy side of your queen, do you?"

LJ chuckled. "Of course I do. I wrote a book on old technology and its juxtaposition to modern tech."

"Juxtaposition … such an excellent word; fantastic usage of it. Well, all right, LJ, you've asked for it. Um, where to start? So, I've studied the science and theory of these gates, but my knowledge of quantum mechanics, as a field, is limited due to the time constraints of my schedule, else I would have taken classes. Suffice to say, it's not my area of expertise."

"What can you tell me about these things?"

"Well, LJ, here is the dumbed-down explanation. These gates are entangled to one another, so that you arrive through another gate, instead of just arriving somewhere random on the planet. There would be no way to handle the math involved in calculating an exit time-and-place point without having a center-of-universe reference point and, perhaps, some sort of … celestial compass."

"That's a thing?"

"No, LJ. It's not. And that's why we can't calculate."

"I don't understand why math would be difficult to calculate where you end up in your … time travels, so to speak. Sheikah scientists could probably figure it out. I'm sure they could make a 'celestial compass' or something."

Zelda chuckled softly but she shook her head and placed a hand on his elbow. "It's not possible. I know it might sound quite handy to just arrive anywhere, but you must also remember that the planet rotates. While engaged in rotation, it also revolves around the sun. During our annual orbital revolution around the sun, the entire solar system moves around the heart of the galaxy, spiraling about. The entire galaxy moves through the expanding universe we call the cosmos. And that's only half of the equation. My point is … the planet isn't located in the same place as it was in the past or future, due to the fact our world moves with a current of an expanding universe … a current that changes throughout spacetime. You can't just assume to have the gate send you across the sun to the other side of the orbital track to where we will be in six months from where we are now."

"So … I could step through this gate and go back or forward by six months, and I'll arrive in empty space, while our planet is on the other side of the sun in its orbit, because the orbital track and sun all moved because our … solar system is caught in some interstellar current?"

"Not exactly, but close enough."

"I want to get it … to actually understand this thing. So, uh, can you help me explain why I was close but not exact?"

Zelda nodded. "Very well, then. We don't know if the cosmos moves in a tide, in an expanding wave, or a little bit of both. You see, the math would be far easier if we could use the sun as a reference point. But … since everything is moving – the solar system in the galaxy, the galaxy in the universe, the universe within this dimension, the dimension within this reality – we must first conceive one simple truth: our solar community is just a cog in the cosmic wheel, and the cosmic wheel is on a trip through the fabric of existence. Therefore, in order to send someone through time without another gate as an arrival point, the traveler – you in this case – would need an astral reference point for your place in a moving universe, as well as a reference point of time. And once you have the reference point, you would need some sort of theoretical celestial compass to chart things, as well as a complex mathematical equation to plug in the variables of date and destination. That is how you would have to chart your arrival landing zone."

"Not sure I'm following. I think I understand, but could you dumb it down a little more? Just … so I know if I got it or not?"

Zelda nodded with a soft smile, glad to see him taking an interest in the subject. "If you step through the gate, that is 'point-A' and where you arrive is 'point-B,' right?"

"Right. Go on."

Zelda nodded again. "The only problem is that our planet spins over eleven hundred miles per hour. Furthermore, the solar system will have moved from that celestial position as well, at an unknown speed that is constantly changing based on gravity from large or dense heavenly bodies, causing sections to speed up or slow down at various points of time. Therefore, it's harder to calculate your exit point. In fact, it's not just 'harder,' it becomes closer to impossible the further you go into the past or future. There's no way to chart your exit point since the entire universe is moving in a way that science does not yet know how to calculate. We have no 'true center of the universe' reference point. And the universe is too large to figure out how to determine the origin point of the big bang or … whatever birthed our physical plane of existence. Not to mention if our system passes near another system in the Milky Way, it would speed or slow our system's movement around our arm of the spiral arm of the Milky Way. And how would we know to be able to chart a proper exit point. In fact, the known universe … the observable universe … is a mere grain of sand on an entire planet…"

"Oh."

"…many times larger than Jupiter."

LJ grimaced. "Holy freakin' Hylia."

"Yes. Quite incalculable by today's technology and knowledge standards."

"I … had no idea."

"And that's okay. That is why we can only travel to a time and place with an available gate."

"Uh, is it weird when I say Holy Hylia? Do you feel like I'm taking your name in vain or something?"

Zelda laughed. "No. Same soul, not the same body, being, or person."

"Is that some sort of philosophical…?"

Zelda clapped her hands in amusement while shaking her head. Her hair bounced about either side of her face. "No, you silly boy. Imagine you had your grandfather's kidney. That doesn't make you and your grandfather the same person. Hylia and I share a soul, but I'm me. I'm Zelda Daltus Hyrule, not Hylia."

"Oh. Okay, that kinda make sense. I've never looked at the soul like that before." He reverted to the prior topic and asked, "Hey, if you got the variables wrong on the gate without having an exit gate, would the traveler cease to exist, or would they just arrive in a random spot in empty space?"

"Maybe," she replied with a slight grin. "So … if you don't have a way to quantum entangle your entry and exit points, you could wind up somewhere in the empty universe where the planet used to exist at the time you went through the portal, but the planet is no longer in that place anymore because it has moved on in the universe. You'll arrive at whatever is in the same spot at a different time. Maybe space, maybe a sun or an asteroid. Maybe a satellite. Maybe a blackhole. Maybe an entirely different galaxy will be there if you go forward or backward far enough. There's no way to know until it's too late."

"No matter what, it sounds like a crummy way to die."

"We could always try to send my uncle through."

"Heh."

"Sorry," she said in a soft tone. "I know better than to make jokes in a time like this. So, LJ, now you know why these gates were designed to send people through spacetime, quantum entangled to either another gate or to the same gate you stepped into."

"And you want to go to the Old Realm using New Hyrule's gate so that no one can see that we traveled anywhere…? No flight manifest record, no bus ticket … nothing to track."

"Yes. And I figured gate travel is the easiest way to be clever … we go to the Old Realm and arrive a minute ago. Meanwhile, when we come back, we arrive back here a minute from now, so it's like we were practically never gone."

"Okay, that is pretty clever."

"Precisely," she said with a grin. "That way we can gather what we'll need in the Old Realm without anyone knowing we're not here in Hyrule."

LJ nodded. "Okay. I understand that space and time are just relative to …uh … well, however it works. But how would we use this time machine to send us somewhere else at practically the same time? As far as I know, we have never seen anyone use the Time Gate as a transporter machine to instantly beam someone to a desired location, within reason of course. But if you believe it will work, then I'm sure it will work."

"It will work," the queen replied. "Spacetime quantum entanglement is the sole principal for how teleportation pads work, but the Hyrule Gate of Time is a larger scale device, powered by a technology that modern Sheikah can only barely begin to understand…"

"What do they think is powering the gate?"

Zelda feigned a wry smile. "It's likely a power supply that exists just outside of phase with our reality, but quantum entangled to the gate, so that the 'batteries' can't be 'removed.' In a matter of speaking, I mean. The power needed to send a grain of sand across a room is enormous. Yet teleporter pads send us all around Hyrule all the time, right? This Time Gate has a power source beyond our current comprehension, so … traveling to the Old Realm will work. Timeshift stone tech is what powers the localized systems of the gate, and an off-campus energy source powers the time circuits."

"Thanks for taking the time to explain, Zelda."

"Thanks for letting me explain. Most men don't care."

"What? Really? How do you mean?"

"The average man acts like a know-it-all, or he simply stops caring about what I have to say on the matter, and then changes the subject to avoid listening to me ramble. You asked me to explain it until you were able to get it, and that's huge."

"It is?"

Zelda offered him a tender smile. "Humbleness and humility look very good on you."

"I hope weapons look good on me, too. I like being a writer, but every boy wants to look bad ass while holding a sword and shield. It's, uh … not how I look but how it makes me feel, right? Heh."

Zelda laughed with amusement. "Yes, there is some … innate … primal urge that allows me to appreciate the look of you wearing armor and weapons. So, if you want to 'look badass' for me, I can appreciate that." Again, she laughed.

LJ couldn't help but join her in laughter. It was so easy to be himself around her. He didn't feel judged, he didn't feel like he had to be something he wasn't. Loving her was just so … easy. "So, I should … bring a weapon or two so we can get moving, huh?"

"I couldn't have put it better myself. Okay, I need to pack, shower, and prepare; you need to do the same. Then you and I will travel, alone, to the Old Realm."

"Zelda?"

"Hmm?"

"Are we … a thing?"

Zelda cupped his face in her palms. "You silly, silly boy. We have been a thing for more than ten thousand years. We will always 'be' a thing. But if you're asking to evolve our current 'thing' then … well, I would enjoy that very much."

LJ reached his hands up and cupped her hands atop of his cheeks. "I feel like…" He trailed off, not knowing how to describe his happiness. "Just … I mean … you're the best thing to ever happen to me. Better than publishing, better than learning how to fight with the actual Master Sword. Better than anything."

She pulled his face a bit closer and kissed his lips. Then she drew her head back a bit and spoke in dulcet tones. "Even a queen appreciates the validation of romantic love. Thank you for being so open with me." She pressed her forehead to his.

"Is there, uh, anything I can do better? I like being open with you, but I want you to feel like you can be open with me, too."

Zelda gave his request some thought, still pressing her forehead to his. She lifted her head back a little and met his gaze. "Just … please remember to always respect me as a queen when in public. Use my title when in front of people or cameras … at least until you are officially my consort … else you set a precedent in how I accept to be treated by someone who is not my husband."

LJ nodded firmly in understanding. "You're right. Respect is everything, and it would be my pleasure to do better by you."

"Thank you for understanding."

"I may not understand quantum … stuff … but I think it's a bit easier to understand you."

"Typically, men and women find the other sex to be far more complex than quantum mechanics."

"Oh, yeah, I wasn't going to go there, but … half the time I don't understand my own sister, heh."

"Don't feel bad; I don't understand my own uncle."

"Touché."

"Heh. All joking aside, I want you to know something."

"Yeah?" And then before she could respond, he corrected himself. "Yes, Zelda, queen of my heart?"

She laughed at his corny response. "Link Josiah Kasuto, you are a kind and decent man. Intelligent and loving. Brave and courageous. Capable of learning and capable of training. Capable of so much good in this world. Thank you for finding your way to me. Thank you for rescuing me from that SCIF and those ancient robots. And thank you for being … mine. Even if you are a silly, silly man."

LJ had no idea what to say or how to reciprocate such an amazing compliment, so he leaned forward and kissed her with fervor. Enough to take her breath away in a figurative manner. And then he drew his head back to meet her gaze. "I guess we have a bonding adventure ahead of us. Let's go prepare for our, uh, quest or whatever."

"Agreed," she whispered, still breathless from his kiss. "Let's … um … prepare." She took his hand and guided him away from the Gate of Time. "I thought we were going to go through right now, but … perhaps after lunch."

"Where are we going?"

"My chambers. I … have weapons there." She feigned a slight grin and gave a tug at his hand. "This way."

"Right behind you," said LJ, falling into step with her. "Or, well, beside you, uh, I suppose."

"Beside me is where you belong."

LJ brightened. "I like that."

"So do I."

X

X

Middle of the afternoon…

LJ sat up with a start. He reached over and touched Zelda's shoulder. "Someone's knocking at your door." He looked around. "Where's that music coming from? I don't see any speakers."

She sat up and rubbed her eyes, abruptly covering her chest out of habit. "Who is it?" she asked. She turned to LJ and said, "Impa – my digital assistant." A small device, half the size of a Sheikah Slate, sat on a nightstand. It had a line of blue trim that lit up upon hearing its name. Zelda added, "Cancel." The device went dark again; it continued playing music.

From outside the door, "Your Grace, it's Ovona. We've had a development!"

Zelda sighed with frustration. "Impa," she said, causing her digital assistant to light up once more. "Pause Zelda's Lullaby. Impa, what time is it?"

The soft music stopped. "The current time is 14:45."

LJ said, "Uh, Impa, what time is that in normal people talk?"

Impa replied, "Quarter to three in the afternoon. If you are going to be the Hero of Time, I highly suggest you learn how to tell time, Mr. Kasuto."

LJ blinked.

Zelda snickered softly. "I have her attitude protocols turned on. My parents hated that I was such a 'modern-minded woman,' but I never wanted to be like every other Zelda before me."

Ovona knocked at the door again.

Zelda's tone changed. "I swear … I can't handle any more bad news right now. I'm ready to just be a princess again." She swung her legs out of bed, picked up a nightgown strewn across a nearby sitting chair, and approached the door. "One moment!" she called out while pulling the nightie over her head, then she unlatched the door. Instead of pulling it open, she glanced back at the bed and discretely hissed, "LJ…"

"Oh, right. Sorry." He reached for his pants, sitting at the foot of the bed, and pulled them on. "Okay, decent."

Zelda turned the knob and opened the door. "Ovona, what's wrong?"

Ovona was all business. "Satellite footage shows Nohansen and his creatures using some ancient ruins in a remote area. But here is, as your future consort would say, the kicker…" She glanced over Zelda's shoulder at shirtless LJ with a smirk, then she continued. "We reviewed footage of satellite feed taken just hours ago … and it showed a positive ID on him moving your mother to another building on the premises."

Zelda's eyes widened. "My mother?! She's alive?"

"Yes! Facial recognition confirmed it, but we also utilized a biometric algorithm that involves scanning her unique ear-shape with a six-hundred-megapixel camera. It's definitely her."

Zelda stared at Ovona in silence for a moment, then the young queen balled her hands into fists. "Recall everyone back to the Royal Compound. All side-quests are suspended. Send Link and Linkle only, no soldiers, but I want Ravio working with them as a logistical coordinator … yes, I know we have professionally trained coordinators, but I want people who are directly related to those who have defeated Ganon to be … in play, and I want Ravio in control of a Guardian, on location here at the castle. Also, give Ravio access to one of our best negotiators as an advisor, just in case."

The Gerudo furrowed her brows. "You want Ravio to remotely pilot a Guardian? I thought they were autonomous."

"Yes, Ovona. One that is fresh off the assembly line. One that hasn't had its autonomy software set up yet."

"Wouldn't that tip our hand, giving Nohansen a chance to study them?"

"Stop worrying, Ovona. We have done what we could, building those machines; from here on out it's in the hands of the goddess, and I don't believe my uncle will teach himself how to hack one. Regardless, those machines can strike a target with a precision-guided blast of a plasma beam from roughly two miles."

"How does Ravio fair with these things? Can he operate one with both skill and alacrity?"

Zelda replied with a wry grin. "Have you taken a moment to watch Ravio play a video game? That man has no life, but he has exceptional hand-eye-coordination. He can 'snipe' a moving target by leading his mouse or controller, and he can hit a target in the head on the first shot from a half-mile out, while 'bunny-hopping' his character, with the scope view mode active. It's impressively childish, but impressive never-the-less. He is perfect to cover our people using a mouse and keyboard in such a fashion."

"Understood, Your Grace."

"Thank you, Ovona. Also, move our army into position and have squads perform search patterns under the guise of securing a transport route back home, so that we don't tip off Nohansen; he will likely be listening to encrypted transmission lines. But discretely send Link and Linkle with the Guardian prototype as a test of its ability to maneuver through rough terrain."

"You … wait, you don't want to be present for this operation?"

"No. That would be … dangerous. And … while I have dangerous tasks ahead, I believe the safest play is for me to focus on my own objectives, as I must recuse myself to remove the element of clouded emotion. Please, see that they bring my mother home. Hyrule needs its queen."

"Your Grace, you are Hyrule's queen."

Zelda shook her head. "I am, but not quite yet. I need to focus on sealing that man away, living my life, and doing whatever is necessary to protect my family. Not necessarily in that order."

"If your mother is rescued, there needs to be a ceremony of…"

"Ovona, please pardon me for stopping you right there … I am quite happy to abdicate to my mother. She is an excellent ruler. I need to focus on my duties of sealing away that … monster."

"Your Grace, you have already upset the people whose titles you've stripped. You could've split the land into civil war by doing that in the first place. The fact that she is returning means they will get their titles back."

"Like I said, I'm happy to give it back to my mother. And there is no time for civil war when we are united against a common enemy. She will give them back their precious prestige; the throne will benefit from their coffers in the upcoming struggles, no doubt."

"Yes, but she was abducted, not killed. So, she was never uncrowned; never unseated. Perhaps a rededication ceremony would be a … better way to hand it all back to your mother if you feel so strongly to do such," said Ovona.

"Mm, yes, I agree that would be the better way to handle it. But I was planning on helping LJ find the sacred Silver Arrow. I had a prophetic dream that tells me that is my next course of action."

"Your Grace, the people who want their titles back … they will expect politics to aid their slighted and bruised egos…"

Zelda sighed in frustration. "I … I know the ex-nobles will be offended if I do not show up to … to bow to my mother in acknowledgement of both her crown and their titles, but there is no time to waste. I have a great deal of work ahead of me." As an afterthought, Zelda added, "Keep the details regarding my whereabouts to yourself. Please."

"I understand. Will there be anything else, Your Grace?"

"I, uh…" Zelda gave the question some thought. "Just … do me a favor and make sure Link and Linkle stay on track. Keep them focused."

"As you wish," Ovona replied with a firm nod. "I'll reach out to Link. I've finished my duties with Linkle. I have no doubt Link and Linkle will make an excellent team … as they do not distract one another due to their blood relation. May I ask, though … what are your plans?"

Zelda sighed softly. "I'm headed to the Old Realm, but my trip will be short lived and highly classified. I want no one to know that I am not on the throne during the rescue operation for my mother."

"What if anyone asks?"

Zelda grimaced. "If anyone asks, tell them I am in the war room with Ravio and a handful of advisors due to a high priority development. After the dust settles, well, people will assume I was handling her return. Until I return, I want you to act in my stead. Speak for me if I do not answer my Sheikah Slate immediately for any reason."

Ovona nodded. "Thank you for your trust in me."

Zelda replied, "Sarq'so." The two women hugged, then Zelda shut her door and turned to LJ with a sigh of relief.

He was out of the bed in an instant, hugging her.

She cried softly into his neck, happy to have some good news for once. "My mother is still alive," she said in a muffled tone into his collarbone.

"So, you got your wish. Are you really ready to be Princess Zelda, again?"

"Yes. I was crowned prematurely. It doesn't take the critics to tell me that much."

"I was on my phone last night after you drifted off. I was reading the headlines … after your speeches and after fighting for unarmed citizens, and after leading your soldiers in person, then giving pep-talk that could excite even the most curmudgeon teen hiding under the bleachers at a pep-rally … let me tell you how much they love you, now. Hands down, you are the talk of the kingdom."

Zelda shook her head. "Giving a good speech and hitting my targets with arrows does not act as a substitute for leadership experience." She removed her nightgown and walked to her closet to find something to wear. "I was happy to serve, and I was motivated to lead. But if I had to choose between the two jobs? I am ready to serve my nation again. That is the role that people loved me in to begin with, and all they saw, yesterday, was me serving my nation, again. All I did is remind them what they liked most about me, but that role has nothing to do with donning a crown and calling myself queen. I was born to serve first, and I was groomed to lead second … preferably later in my life, well after I become a mother."

"You really want to be a mom one day, huh?"

"LJ, I love children. One of my favorite occasional duties as a princess was to visit grade school classes, and to receive field trip groups to the castle. But, also, more than just my love of children, it is my duty to one day continue the blood of Hylia so that, one day, the next goddess-reborn can serve and lead the land of Hyrule, as we have done so for thousands of years. I have to keep the bloodline going to ensure Ganon always meets resistance when he is reincarnated."

"I understand … but, if you don't mind my asking … why do you feel so strongly about serving Hyrule? Shouldn't Hyrule be serving you?"

"LJ, I know we've had a whirlwind romance, and everything has felt like fate, but … you don't know me. Not yet, at least. And one thing you will find out about me in a short time … and I feel very strongly about this … there is no higher calling than to serve one's nation. Sometimes, that means taking what you perceive to be broken and then fixing things yourself, like when you arrived in Skyloft in 2057. However, sometimes it means stepping back and making sure Hyrule has what it needs … in this case, proper leadership from my mother."

"Did running a nation disillusion you from wanting to lead it? I just want to understand your feelings on the matter."

She offered LJ a soft smile. "I will lead when I am crowned at the right time, under the right circumstances. But now is not necessarily that time. I believe that now is my mother's time to shine. She has experience, grace, and the titled nobles loved her. Especially after I foolishly did away with titles. I'm quite sure they would be delighted to see me go, heh."

"But I thought your mother was … just … the King's wife?"

"My mother was never a consort. She is the queen. She is Hyrule's queen."

"How does that work? If I marry you while you're queen, I'm a consort. What's the difference?"

Zelda chuckled. "Didn't pay attention in how our absolute monarchy works back when you were in school, hmm?"

"My sister was in love with everything about royalty. She found it all very … romantic, I guess? But I didn't really grow up until my parents died, and then I didn't pay attention to anything but keeping food on the table, while finishing college, and keeping Aryll safe, followed by writing my book."

"Okay, well, here's the crash course for you, LJ. My mother was born a princess of the royal family of Calatia, but her brother is next in line of succession for that crown. When she married my father as part of a treaty between the two nations, she was crowned Hyrule's queen, not a consort or just a wife … she's Queen Tetra of Hyrule. She is an exceptional diplomat, a skilled negotiator, an exquisite politician, and she is a builder and a dreamer. She will bring so much growth and progress to Hyrule that my father was too conservative to consider. She will put millions of rupees into higher education, medicine, libraries, and so much more. And I will be free to focus on my birthright … serving Hyrule as a protector first and a leader second."

LJ grinned a bit. "It sounds like you've given this some thought."

"I've held out hope for mum's survival for so long, LJ. Sometimes that's the hardest part when there isn't a body on a Medical Examiner's slab – you wonder if they're in a shallow grave or decomposing in a dungeon. But to have confirmation, using biometrics from a drone, with real-time feed, which proves that she's alive…? That is … it's truly a miracle."

"I'm so happy for you, Zelda. I really am. I'd give anything to have my parents back … either one of them. But, can I offer you some advice?"

"Absolutely."

"All that hope and all that excitement you feel right now…? I want you to keep it to yourself until you know this isn't some sort of … you know … some sort of a trick."

"Thank you for that consideration. It's good advice. But … don't worry, LJ. I know better. I'm weary. I'm afraid to truly relax until she's wearing the crown and sitting in the chair. I'm talking about her as if she's going to be back in an hour or two, but I know better. I'm being cautiously optimistic; I know this could be a trap. I know my uncle is clever, and this could have been done as a trick when the drone was spotted by his forces. I also know that Nohansen could kill her when we try to make a rescue attempt. And that is why my first instinct was to send Link, Linkle, and Ravio piloting a Guardian. But … now I'm thinking, also, to send a professional negotiator to be part of this situation. At the very least, they should have access to the team's comms, and be available to Ravio's piloting rig in the war room."

"Let's just hope that Nohansen didn't somehow convert Queen Tetra … brainwash her. I know, I know, that's a bit on the fantasy side, but it's just … something to consider."

"I'm … I don't even know what to say to that possibility right now. I'll pass that along to the team, but … all I know is that the smart thing to do is to recuse myself from being involved in my mother's rescue. The smart thing to do is to stay focused on our quest to the Old Realm with you so that it removes the desire to take control of my mother's rescue if things get dicey or … you know what I mean."

"I understand. I really do. Until you know one way or the other, you are trying to stay busy because it's distracting, and you don't want the temptation of getting involved in something your training hasn't included – hostage extraction. So, you're going to have faith in Hyrule's best and brightest the same way that Hyrule has had faith in you, because it's the only way you know how to show them the same amount of respect the nation has shown you."

She smiled softly. "You do understand. Thank you." She picked up her Sheikah Slate and sent an encoded text message to Ovona. A few seconds later, Ovona replied to Zelda with a thumb's up emoji.

Then, a few seconds later, Ovona added another text box, asking of a small favor from the queen. This time, Zelda replied with the thumbs-up emoji.

Zelda looked up from her screen and saw LJ pulling an A-frame shirt on, followed by a chainmail with a tunic overtop. Zelda's eyes raked over him and a slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Her shoulders relaxed a bit.

"…What?"

Her grin broadened. "I like watching you get dressed almost as much as watching you get undressed."

LJ felt his cheeks tighten.

"Are you blushing?"

"Um … am I?"

Zelda gleamed with amusement. "I made you blush. I thought that reaction had stopped after the first time we became, well, intimate. It's nice to know I still have an effect on you that way."

"I, uh … I just … I've never really had those kinds of compliments before, and back when both of my parents were alive, I was still too emotionally immature to pick up on how people in love treat one another."

Zelda's smile evolved until she was absolutely beaming. "People in love, is that how you see us?"

"Um, I…" He nodded firmly and decided to just go for it. "Yes. I've spent an entire year trying to get back to you. And my first night back, you invited me right into your extremely comfortable bed. You gave me wine to help me sleep last night, you … it's just … sleeping snuggled up to you felt like a … a romantic holiday card. And it felt natural."

"You know, what helped me the most was seeing you treat Ovona like a buddy, as though what happened between the two of you never happened."

LJ sat down on the end of the bed and pushed his feet into boots. "Ovona who?"

Zelda laughed. "You don't have to pretend not to know her." Her smile faded. "You shared something and then you saw her die. You're allowed to grieve. Grieving is emotionally healthy."

"I didn't watch her die."

Zelda furrowed her brows and tilted her head. "But you said…"

"I saw that Ovona die, then I came through time and prevented the entire incident from happening. I saved this Ovona from ever going down that path. I saved her from having a miserable physical relationship, which only happened a mere two times, and probably because it was literally with the last man on earth, followed by a shitty death." As an afterthought, he added, "Pardon my language."

"We're not in public, LJ." She leaned forward, met his gaze, and said, "Shit, shit, shit. Saying such in the privacy of my bed chamber doesn't make me any less royal, nor does it make me any less the 'goddess reborn.' Being classy simply means not using that language in public."

"Right, uh … fair enough. Yeah, so, back to the topic of Ovona … I see it as a really freaky potentially prophetic dream I lived through, but then I changed things so that those events won't happen."

"But you actually did live through those events. You know her intimately, you witnessed her death, and then you came back to this time and … all I'm saying is, it's nice to see you talk to her like you're friends and not ex-lovers. She told me that she was worried you'd make things weird, but she's relieved you are just … being the same LJ she's always known."

"You mean the same 'Mr. Kasuto,' heh."

Zelda chuckled softly. "True."

"To be really honest, it's nice to see her not look at me weird anymore. What happened between us … it killed our friendship. I mourned that more than anything. I really hated that we were surviving as the last two people left alive in Hyrule. But, thankfully, I hit the reset button, and we're just … back to being two people that bonded over saving you from hijacked robots."

Zelda's smile returned.

"Hey, can I ask you something completely off topic?"

"Er, yes. Of course. What is on your mind, LJ?"

"Link of Calatia … that big orange shield of his. What's the deal with the orange-over-amber cross? You seem to know damned-near-everything, so I was just curious what that symbol means."

"Ah, the Calatian Cross. According to the oldest of royal library entries, it was originally some sort of religious symbol from the world of the Pre-Ancients. But then it became a religious symbol for the goddesses. It's far more popular in Calatia than here."

"What does it mean?"

"In that nation, it's called the Goddess Compass. It's a cross with a long bottom. The three short-lines, pointing up, left, and right, signify the three goddesses that created the world. The long line that points downward signifies the first reincarnation of Hylia coming to the surface world, so it's longer than the other lines, because it's somehow symbolic of the first Zelda leaving Skyloft to come to the surface world. She brought the first Hylians from Skyloft, settling and ruling over Hyrule. Calatia was considered frontier land for a very long time, but eventually became the land west of the mountains and north of the southwest desert. The Calatian Coast we know today. Sorry for the drawn out explanation, I have a passion for learning and teaching – bottom line, the cross is called the Goddess Compass."

"The Goddess Compass … got it."

"Mm-hmm. Any other questions, LJ?"

"So, what's the plan?"

Her smile faded once more, and she found it within herself to become business-personified again. "All right. So, I need to go and bless those going to rescue my mother. It was requested by Ovona in her reply text to me. I, um … I replied with a thumbs-up. Heh. I need to wear a dress for a blessing ceremony. Beneath it, I'll be wearing my dress-down clothes for going out into the countryside. As soon as I've finished, you and I will head for the Gate of Time and utilize it to head to the Old Realm. When we've finished there, or when I receive word that my mother is safe and that she's been cleared by a psychiatrist that the royal family has on retainer, I will return to abdicate the crown to her if necessary, although because she never died, I imagine it will be a simple rededication ceremony, where I officially hand her the crown and kneel before her to show loyalty to my mother's reign. After that, if we are unfinished in the Old Realm, you and I will return to finish our business. Else, we will sit down and start working on a plan to destroy Nohansen and everything he has become. Then, after he is overwhelmed by the guardians, the Divine Beast machines, and everything you and I can throw at him…? You and I will take a moment to focus on … us."

LJ smiled.

"Just remember, you've experienced a complete and total loss of all of mankind for an entire year. Maybe you've not had time to process it, yet. But if you need to vent, please vent. If you need to cry, please cry. If you need me to help you heal, I am here for you. Physically, emotionally, magically … I will help. I mean it. Include me, please. Let me be a part of your healing process."

"Thank you, I appreciate that."

She smiled again.

They hugged one another.

Silence.

LJ whispered into her ear, "You took off your nightgown, and I got dressed. I feel like I won at strip poker."

Zelda laughed softly into his shoulder. "It took ten days, but I got you back. It took over a month, but I am on the cusp of getting back my mother; just knowing she's likely still alive feels like a weight of grief off my shoulders. I feel amazing right now. I know, once I come down from the high of reuniting with you last night and the high of finding out about my mother being alive … I'll start to worry about all the possible variables of her rescue, but right now … I'm just … I'm floating." She had a genuine smile.

LJ returned the smile, delighted to see her happy. "God, I've missed you after all this time."

Zelda bit her bottom lip. "I'd better get dressed or we'll be in this room all day."

"What do you mean by that?" A brief pause, then, "Oh." Then another cesura, followed by a slight widening of his eyes, "Ohhh. Well, I like the sound of that."

"Do you, now." She afforded him a wry grin. "Let's bookmark that thought, Hylia's Chosen Hero. We have work to do. But … I'll take a raincheck on whatever thoughts were running through your head just now."

"I like the sound of that, too."

"Good." She turned back to her closet and rummaged through it, until… "There it is … adventuring gear, hidden safely in the back. Also, I will need…" she trailed off and selected a nice dress to put overtop her Sheikah hemmed black slacks, layered shirt with a Teflon coating to help with rain. She held up the dress and said, "Ah yes, this one. This dress will cover up anything I wear beneath it. After I address the public, I'll hand off the dress to an aid and we can leave. I'll also compile a checklist of gear to be 3-D printed for us to use later. Camping gear and other items."

"You thought this through."

"I did, yes." She grinned again. "I am a woman. Overthinking is my prerogative. Stay close, Hero. I'll keep you safe."

LJ returned her grin. "I'm sure you will. You know, on that note, I've gotta say … I have a feeling that the Zeldas of the past did a lot more for the Links of the past than what wound up documented in the old legends."

"Oh yeah? You think the girl pulled her weight more often? All right, LJ, then why wouldn't the ancient stories talk about my ancestor's role in such a manner?"

LJ held his hands outward, using his arms to explain. "Because the stories were likely penned for the people, not for those who lived it. And if you've ever seen people in regular public high schools, you'd know that men, especially, have a very fragile ego. People in general have fragile egos, but especially us men, because while a woman can birth a child and learn humility from it, or grow emotionally from the act of creating human life, well…" LJ trailed off with a shrug.

Zelda tilted her head.

Another shrug, then he said, "I'm just thinking … you know … after having a child, a woman's 'ego and rep' are not nearly as important as the baby she invests herself into, right? But a man? The average man only has his ego and reputation. 'Wah, wah, someone has besmirched my name' … and that mentality of, 'my name is my credit! Let us duel!' No one shall stain the name of the house Kasuto!" he erupted with dramatic flair.

Zelda burst into laughter. She turned from the closet and draped her outfits on the bed with a brilliant smile. "That sounds like something a woman would say about a man; it's refreshing to hear a man admit that toxic masculinity and ultra-machismo mindsets actually do still exist in the modern world."

"I raised my baby sister. While going to school. I had to grow up early, I guess. Just the same, I apologize on behalf of all men everywhere … we grow up late."

Again, Zelda laughed in amusement, completely charmed by his outlook and humor. "Where … how did you come up with such an outlook on masculinity?"

"I was a nerd in high school. I was surrounded by jocks. Gamer jocks. Sports jocks. Weight room jocks. All of them were different flavors of the infamous bully archetype. You have two options at that point – you become them and take comfort in that power by bullying the Freshmen, or you shun them and take comfort in telling yourself that you're better than that. It's human nature to wanna find validation or to validate yourself. That's what bullies want – validation from their peers, from girls who like alpha-male types … anyway, that is why, or rather, how I have Nohansen's number. He finds validation in making people respect him … by using fear to feel in control. He's no better than a high school jock that was bullied in middle school."

Zelda's smile faded as she listened to him. She gave his words careful consideration than nodded. "You're right. It's sad to admit this but … Uncle Nohansen's biggest bully was my father. I'm not making an excuse for him, but it seems you understand your enemy."

"Know your enemy … that's how you beat them."

Zelda nodded in agreement. "And, hey, you know what would hurt him the most?"

"Besides a mythological glowing silver arrow and the Master Sword?"

"Heh. I meant … it would hurt Nohansen if we called him out on his behavior, because it messes with his validation. I'm going to recite your little speech when I address the public and press."

"Heh, go for it. But some bullies don't care what you say about them. They double down when you call out their childish crap. They might snap out of it for someone they respect, they might pretend to snap out of it if they think it will elevate their social standing, but if it's someone they deem to be beneath them, they double down like … like opposition defiance disorder."

"That's what I'm hoping for. I want to force Nohansen's hand. I want him to make a mistake. I want to taunt him, so that he lashes out, but it will be up to our forces to capitalize on that opportunity."

LJ nodded. "Okay. Let's put a foot in his ass. But we'll do it your way."

"He's consumed by ancient magics. Malice and hatred-fueled powers. Modern science suggests it's old world tech, and the closest thing we have to understand it is something akin to nano-tech. In the ancient myths, it transformed him. You've already seen how he looks in 2057 – boar-faced, complete with tusks."

"Yeah, but that was a hologram. Not fully sure that's how he'll look in person. What are you hoping to get out of him?"

"Complete physical manifestation and transformation of his body."

"You want him to become a giant monster?"

Zelda nodded emphatically.

"For real? Why?"

"Because the ancient notes of my ancestors suggest that he loses his capability for rational thinking when consumed by what they call 'monstrous transformation.' Basically, we make him so mad that he transforms faster, then he makes one mistake after another. Then we hit him with everything we've got and overwhelm him."

"You're the queen."

"Yes, but hopefully not for long. At least until I'm much older. But yes, I really think this will work."

LJ nodded firmly. He grinned again and decided to try something corny. "I've tried to say it with my actions, but allow me to say this with words, now … I pledge my loyalty to you." He lowered to one knee, ducked his head down so that his forehead touched his kneecap, then he rested his forearm in front of his face as if to hide his slight grin.

"You're so fun. Truly." Zelda reached for the rapier in her closet, withdrew it from its scabbard, and touched each of his shoulders with the blade. "If you want, I can go and memorize the old customs and words, and we could make this official. Make you a knight. I think you've learned how to fight well enough, now, that you can stand on the ideals of the hero, and perform the required duties and expectations worthy of the title 'Hylia's Chosen Hero.' Would you like that?"

"The hero never does these things because he likes the way it sounds. If you believe I've earned titles and prestige, that's fine. But I would never ask that of you. Besides, I don't need titles or prestige – I just need to keep you safe when we arrive in the Old Realm. That is what matters most to me; that is what I would 'like,' if we're being honest."

Zelda used her rapier to push his arm away from his face, then she skillfully used it to lift his chin so that their eyes met. "Your reply just earned it. You're ready."

"I am?"

"I have no doubt in my heart." She sheathed the rapier. "Head to your quarters and have your adventuring tunic taken to the tailor. I'll send word that it's an emergency … have it mended with dressy highlights. I'll see you in the courtyard in … let's say … three hours."

"Wait, you're going to do this today?"

Zelda's eyes shined with the brilliance of promise. "Without a doubt in my heart, Sir Link Josiah Kasuto, knight of Hyrule. I'll see you then." She glanced at her Sheikah Slate on the bed. The screen was dim but showed just the time and date on it. She nodded at him. "Three hours from right now. I'll make calls to have the press meet in the courtyard and the tailor make something for you. Green with red highlights."

"Sounds amazing."

"Rise, my hero."

LJ stood up. "Does thee, uh, hero get a kiss from Zelda of Hyrule?"

She cast her sword onto the bed that they shared the night before. She threw her arms around him and slanted her lips across his in a firm kiss.

LJ put his arms around her waist and lifted her from the floor. He could feel her mostly undressed body against his ripped tunic and partially exposed chainmail. After the kiss, he turned about in a full circle, then he put her back down. "So, you're sending Link and Linkle to check on your mom? How long do you think that will take? Because I know you also told Linkle and Ovona to investigate something yesterday, but Ovona is still here this morning. Just curious when they'll come back."

"Technically, it's after noon, now, but yes. Ovona did go with Linkle, last night, to ensure that no other creatures escaped the compound. I could not risk anyone reporting to Nohansen, after all."

"And then you circled the wagons, huh?"

"I did, yes. But, please, don't worry about that right now. You and I will still hunt down Light-Infused Silver Arrows from the Old Realm. I have had one of my most trusted Sheikah scientists design a miniature Guardian robot, not on the defense computer network like the others. He's packed with an intense amount of tech, sensors, and the like. He will be helping me to find the weapon we'll need."

"I thought we were going there as some sort of trial, heh."

"There are technologically crafted arrows, made from silver, but coated with an alloy designed to make a soft metal, like silver, into an incredibly strong arrow shaft. Because silver is typically soft, it can absorb the impact of being shot against solid diamond without bending or breaking, but the alloy used on these silver arrows make them capable of penetrating dense materials like high end Hylian shields. However, this arrow is said to have been imbued with light energy, an ancient power source my scientists do not yet understand."

"So are we looking for Silver Arrows or Light Arrows?"

"They are Silver Arrows of Light, infused with light-arrow technology."

"And here I thought I was an expert in ancient tech…"

Zelda chuckled softly. She said, "One of my ancestors defeated the Dark Beast Ganon using hard-light technology designed to emit photonic light energy, which damaged Ganon, thus allowing her hero to strike down Dark Beast Ganon. She could not retrieve the Silver Arrow prior to that battle because she was a prisoner to a Malice attack, and her hero was briefly a prisoner to the Twilight Realm, so she utilized the Hard Light tech in place of the Silver Arrows. It worked surprisingly well against the Dark Energy utilized by Ganon."

"And you want to combine that hard light technology with a solid arrow? Why?"

"It has already been done. We just have to retrieve it. But, to answer your question of why they must be combined … it's because the ancient ones knew that if these devices were ever needed again, it might happen in a time period where society cannot figure out how to power the hard light emitters, so these people felt the need to build a hybrid technology that is both powerful, but also capable of being utilized even if the photonic light emitter is damaged, so they designed the arrow to be high-tech but also capable of working if broken, thus the inclusion of the lo-fi element."

"Low fidelity?"

"Essentially, yes. The inclusion of an old fashion silver arrow delivery system. If we went through another dark ages, and lost touch with technology, we would still need a way to fire such an arrow into Ganon's chest before striking him down with the Master Sword. But, by combining the light arrow tech into a silver arrow delivery system, coated with a powerful alloy, well, the hope is that it will seal Ganon away for even longer than his previous incarnations. To quote you, the plan is to put Ganon away 'for the next ten thousand years.' If humanity is even still on this planet that far into the future, we will likely … hopefully … have a way to destroy Ganon forever."

"How, if he keeps coming back?"

Zelda shrugged her delicate porcelain shoulders. "Maybe drop him into a blackhole…? But, for now, it would be ideal to seal him away for as long as possible. Longer than ever before. The Silver Arrow of Light is our best chance."

"Fair enough. Do you have an elaborate plan on how to find this thing?"

"Just the little white Guardian robot I mentioned. I had the Sheikah Tribe design it to amplify ancient tech, making the arrows not only easier to find but more powerful if and when we use them against Nohansen."

"So we'll have a Guardian guide with us, huh?"

"A very small one, yes."

"Are we sure it won't crap out if we can't find a way to charge it in the Old Realm?"

"LJ, we will be powering the Guardians with an old form of technology. It is the same thing from which the Ocarina of Time was fashioned. Furthermore, this tech powers the Gate of Time and the Master Sword. It refills on kinetic energy that is stored in its cells, and that energy is transferred into the sword plinth at the Gate each time the Master Sword is returned to its home. It means these devices can theoretically run forever."

"Wait, really? That's wild. Imagine a Sheikah Slate run on that tech."

"I have. We will be bringing it to the Old Realm with us. This battery, even if it has been inactive for decades, can run for hours on the kinetic energy of a single, firm tool-strike. Just imagine, if you wore the tablet on your belt, it would always be charged."

"From the kinetic energy created by walking around?"

Zelda nodded emphatically.

"Huh. Damn."

"Same with the Master Sword, which absorbs kinetic energy when worn on the hero's back. We are talking about an ancient, powerful, self-sustaining energy system designed at the end of the age of Hylia, Herself. This little Guardian will last for fifteen millennia, at least in theory. Furthermore, it's the smallest but highest level of technology and artificial intelligence we have to date. Nothing as fancy as Fi, inside the Master Sword, but very close. Fi displays an advanced intellect, but the little Guardian is no idiot, and has demonstrated gifted level thought processes with an IQ between 135-140, and charted on the Turing test, although it is not a true artificial intelligence, like Fi. Just the same, he is packed with, as I said earlier, our highest level of tech."

"Highest level of tech, huh? I understand it will stay charged, but the real question is … how long do the battery cells last?"

"Theoretically forever."

LJ's eyes widened.

"It's powered by ancient technology. There are no battery cells, as a cell eventually collapses. The power core is something called a Timeshift Stone. This is … just a prototype, of course. But every component of Terrako has power coursing through it. Even the gears, springs, and screws. They were designed this way to handle the immense power put out by the Timeshift Stone."

"Terrako? Also, the battery is called a Timeshift Stone?"

"Yes. I named it Terrako, and had the name stenciled on the inside of its maintenance cover. Timeshift Stones are what power systems like the Gate of Time, the Master Sword, the Sheikah Towers, and so much more. It's said they were once used to power robots in the mines where their components were gathered to make them function in the first place."

"I still can't wrap my head around the notion that you named the robot. So, if he has the same tech as the Gate of Time, does that mean he can he move through time?"

"Maybe in theory, but I doubt he would have the computing power to figure out the computations for something so complex without access to a server farm. Doesn't matter, though. What matters is that he won't crap out on us in the Old Realm."

LJ chuckled. "Crap out on us, huh? I love that I get to see the real you."

"I took the turn of phrase from you, LJ, you silly boy."

"Oh. Right, heh. Duh."

"I love that you are a complicated man at the right times, and a simple man at other times."

"Heh, that's how I roll." A pause, then he added, "Anyhow, speaking of 'complicated' … what about a complicated plan for when we arrive in the Old Realm? What is the plan?"

"Let's just focus on living in the moment and letting our actions be guided by fate."

"Wait, really? No plan at all?"

Zelda feigned a wry grin. The fleeting grin faded. "Per the Royal Family's most guarded tomes … it's said that Hylia, after the death of her hero, traveled to the end of time, where she could oversee every attack of Hyrule by Ganon at the same time. She did this to better help each hero and princess throughout time. If we let her guide our hand, we will better succeed. So, let's live in the moment, and let her guide us to victory." The grin returned to the corner of her lips.

"Well, okay then."

"Is that a good 'okay' or a worried 'okay,' LJ?"

He replied with a dry chuckle. "I have never been very religious, but it seems like a good reason to fly by the seat of our pants, so I guess I'm fine with that." He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. After the kiss, he brushed his nose against hers. "Okay, I'll see you in three hours in the courtyard, and kneel for the cameras. Aryll is going to explode, so I'd better prepare her. After the ceremony, we'll pack our gear and grab a bite to eat. And then we go to the Old Realm."

"Together."

"Together," he agreed.

She reached around him and gave his backside a gentle slap on his lower flank. "Just remember, you're mine."

"I'll never forget." A pause, then, "Oh, hey…"

"Yes?"

"Can I peacock for you?"

"Always."

LJ beamed. "Awesome. Watch this." He turned from her, opened the door to the balcony, and dashed out with a sense of purpose bestowed upon him by his queen.

"See you soon!"

"Never soon enough!" he called back.

She heard an enormous sound of feathers flapping. She hurried to the open doorway and saw the Crimson Loftwing flap its wings, carrying him off into the sky.

The noise faded.

"Never soon enough," she repeated with a grin. Zelda watched as her balcony door thumped shut. She flopped onto her back, across the foot of her bed mattress with the inward grin of a woman smitten with her hero. "That was a rather smooth response, I must admit. How is it that he takes my breath away? He brings out my worst traits, and is far from royal consort material, yet I just adore that man."

Peace and quiet resumed.

Zelda looked up at the ceiling. "Aaand … here I am talking to myself. No. No, I'm not. I am talking to the Goddess, Hylia, who is with me every step of my life from her perch at the end of time. Yes, that's exactly what I am doing. I am holding a monologue with my goddess."

Silence.

Zelda glanced at a relief above her door, which depicted the goddess, TriForce, and bird wings.

She sighed softly. "You needn't be so quiet, though. I hope I meet your expectations."

Silence.

She sat up, slid her legs off the end of the bed, stood up, turned to the clothes laid out on the middle of the mattress, and stretched. She started to dress herself, while murmuring softly to ready herself to give a short speech. Her heart was pounding with nervous energy about her mother's possible return.

She stole one last glance at the relief above her door and added, "I am leaving New Hyrule in your capable hands. Watch over my mother. Please. I hope you approve of my hero. Whether you do or not, I have seen him fight. I have seen him protect. I have seen him care about others. I am going to knight him. I only hope we both live to see our future, together."