A/N: I am now at the point in all of my stories where I'm past the introductions and I need to actually start planning shit instead of half-assing it. Wish me luck for y'alls own sake :) This is more of a comedic relief chapter, because I was growing tired of the angst.
"I'll be taking my leave now, if that's all right."
"Of course, Link," Sidon replied. "As always, your help is much appreciated." There was a pregnant pause before the prince asked, "If I may, where are you off to?"
"Tarrey Town," Link told him, adjusting his tunic. "Tell me, do you think, now that I'm not the princess's knight, that I should take this off?"
"Oh, no. It brings out your eyes. Why Tarrey Town?"
Link spared him a glance as he finished packing up. "Zelda believed blue looked good on me, too," he said. "I have reason to believe my sister's granddaughter lives there, which means she's my great niece." He shuddered. "What a weird thing to say. I'm only seventeen."
Sidon looked at him thoughtfully. "For someone who's so insistent that he was only protecting her, you address Her Majesty by her first name and mention her a whole lot. How did Miss Aryll survive the Calamity? I know some were able to escape Castle Town."
"I was only protecting her," Link insisted. "Aryll and my mother set off to Hateno after Aryll had a feeling that the Calamity was going to hit just two days before." He reached for the Master Sword, then frowned, remembering he'd given it back to Zelda.
"And yet you love the princess," Sidon said, handing him a different sword Link had picked up in Hyrule Castle, which he accepted. "Strange how she knew that Ganon was close."
Link bit his bottom lip before responding. "I feel a fierce loyalty to Princess Zelda. Once I regain my memories, I'll be able to tell you. But until then, I'm not too sure." After a moment, he added, "Aryll tried to warn me. Told me not to go. I think she made Zelda really upset that day." He paused, silently cursing himself. He said her name again.
"If I may ask, how did she know? Does it have something to do with being related to you?" Sidon inquired. "Do let me know once you remember everything. I'd be ecstatic to know you remember swimming with me."
Link smiled, something he so rarely did. "I do remember swimming with you. Mipha kept trying to be alone with me, but you wanted to play." His smile then vanished, and he said, "My sister was a magical person, I've always thought so. Mother used to say she belonged with the fairies. Now that I think about it, maybe she was like my guardian angel."
Sidon put a hand on his shoulder. "She loved you, you know."
Link wasn't sure who he meant.
Identifying what was wrong with Vah Ruta was simple: it had merely stopped working. He and Zelda already knew that. Now, figuring out why it had stopped working had taken up more time than the Hero would have liked, and he wasn't nearly as smart as the princess. The process would have gone much faster with her, but he supposed a duty is a duty, and his duty was to his people.
...Or something like that.
From what he could gather, the beast was:
1. No longer taking aim at Hyrule Castle. (Which was a good thing, considering that there was no longer anything to take aim at.)
2. Not functioning whatsoever. Not even the wheels on the inside.
Link wished he could do more than confirm what they already suspected: the threat of the Calamity had ceased - for now, at least - and so the Divine Beasts were no longer needed. Of course, that didn't explain why his Cycle continued to function. Or why, even a year before the Calamity, they were able to pilot the Divine Beasts. When Link voiced these concerns to Sidon, his friend suggested that perhaps there was a set amount of time before each Calamity in which the machines start to work again.
Which brought up the next question: how were the machines supposed to know when?
Wanting to get to Tarrey Town as soon as possible and not dwell on things he didn't understand, Link hurriedly gave his report to Sidon and left. He was told that his findings would make their way to Princess Zelda and, much to his dismay, his heart leaped at the thought of her agreeing with him.
He found himself wondering, as he rode Epona and got closer to the little town he'd helped to build, if the princess thought of him nearly as much as he did her. It wasn't likely, he figured, as she seemed to barely even acknowledge his presence in the hours leading up to him leaving.
Link ran a hand through his hair and sighed. If anything, she was probably glad to be relieved of him.
My dearest swift carrot-
"Arrgh! That is utterly ridiculous!" Zelda yelled, crumpling the paper into a ball and chucking it behind her.
This was so unlike her - worrying over what some silly boy thought. Not only that, but said silly boy wasn't even going to read it! Perhaps that frustrated her even further, knowing that she was writing in vain.
"You're not supposed to think about what you're writing," Riju pointed out. "Just... write. That's what I like to do."
Zelda looked at the younger girl out of the corner of her eye. "Is that so?" she said. "Do you have someone special you write to?"
Riju laughed. "Oh, no. Just a friend I met with while Link was busy saving all of Hyrule. I don't get out much, and I have no reason to believe he does, either. He's much older than I, anyways."
The princess played with the hem of her shirt, then asked, "Who is it? I'd like to know all of my subjects."
Riju waved her question off. "Just keep writing, and remember: it's not like he's going to read it. Just say what you want."
Zelda sighed quietly to herself and put ink down on paper.
Link,
Although I know this letter will never reach you, I want you to know...
She paused. She loved him? She was appalled by his blatantly disrespectful behavior?
I am sorry for whatever grief I have caused you, for it seems you can scarcely stand to be at my side. Of course, you are always welcome back as Captain of the Imperial Guard (no, really, I will see to it myself), and no matter what, you will always be not only Hyrule's Hero, but mine as well.
I have loved you for well over a century, and the only thing I want for myself anymore is you. I would abdicate the throne, chop off all of my hair, and eat a million hot-footed frogs if it meant you at least forgave me. All at once, even (this may be a slight exaggeration, as I don't know how I would accomplish these things, but I would find a way).
You do not have to come back to me immediately, but a year, I hope, will give you enough time to figure out your thoughts and feelings. I will send an official invitation to my coronation when I am eighteen. I am positive we will not have to delay.
Best wishes,
Princess Zelda Hyrule
"I like it."
Zelda jumped. She hadn't realized Riju was standing at her side, looking over her shoulder. The princess smiled sadly.
"I only wish to know where he is now, where's going next, and perhaps... for this letter to get to him," she said. "For now, I suppose I shall keep it in this drawer."
"Oh, well... you don't have to," Riju said. "You know, it's a long standing tradition that... you just toss the letter to the wind." When Zelda only looked at her in confusion, she added, "It's good luck."
"Well, I suppose," Zelda mused.
She folded the letter in half and stuck it in an envelope, writing Hero on it and sealing it shut. She then turned to the large window and gently threw the letter in the air, watching it be picked up by the breeze and sail off.
"Bit of a disappointment, I'd grown attached to the thing," she joked half-heartedly.
Ramella was promptly hit in the face by some letter thrown to the wind. She huffed to herself, wishing Chief would stop playing matchmaker and telling lovers to toss letters in the air. This happened every time. She was the unofficial messenger for the Gerudo now, in fact.
She peeled it off her face and saw on the back, in ridiculously neat handwriting, Hero and nearly screamed. She didn't know that she was now playing matchmaker for Master Link and Princess Zelda!
"Gruve?" she called, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Please tell me you're still here!"
When she received no answer, she groaned and hurriedly emptied her waterproof satchel of its contents (which is to say, a lot of gems). Throwing the letter in her bag, she ran to the nearest river and dropped it in, praying to the goddesses it would, at least, find its way to one Zora or another.
Gruve had been sending a lot of messages back and forth from Riju and Sidon, but he wasn't expecting another one so soon. He wished Ramella would have told him; he would have stayed in Faron, where they'd met this time, longer.
He recognized her satchel immediately, picking it up out of the water and shaking it dry before dumping the letter out onto the ground. The only word he saw on the back was not Prince Sidon or Fish Man or whatever other nickname Lady Riju had come up for the prince, but instead Hero.
He actually did scream.
Tucking the letter under one arm and vowing to protect it with his life, he swam as fast as he could to Zora's Domain, hoping to catch Master Link before he left for wherever he was going next.
"Oh, dear... this simply won't do," Sidon said, frowning. "He's already up and left to Tarrey Town."
"No!" Gruve groaned, slumping. "Do we even know anyone in Tarrey Town?"
"Well, there is Kapson, but he never leaves, and I'd hate to send you all the way..."
Gruve stood up straight, suddenly ready to prove his worth. "I'll do it, Prince Sidon! I swear to Hylia, I will not let you down!"
Sidon thought about this for a moment, then flashed his signature grin. "Then it's settled, Gruve! I trust you with the letter! Speaking of which - where is it?"
They stared at each other. A minute passed, then three...
"Your Highness, I seem to have lost the letter."
"Prince Sidon, we can't find it! It's lost forever!"
"Keep looking, little ones! This is a matter of love and great urgency!"
Four hours later, several search parties of young Zoras all came back with the same news: no letter. If it weren't for the fact that he was under Domain-arrest for meddling in other people's love lives, he would have just gone out and looked for the letter himself. He wasn't sure what it contained, but if it was so important that Riju was confident that just by throwing it in the air, it would find its way to Link, Sidon was going to make sure the young Hero read it one way or another.
"Sir?" Gruve said. "What if you asked Riju to ask Zelda to rewrite it?"
Sidon shook his head. "Ah, Gruve... if only it were that simple. The princess cannot know about our secret operations."
Well, their operations weren't secret, per se. He would just prefer that Link and Zelda not know that they were all playing matchmaker for them. It was better that way.
"Erm, excuse me?"
Sidon turned around to see a Rito standing before him. He'd heard from Link about the flyer who'd helped to overcome Vah Medoh, Teba. He fit the description, although what he was doing here, Sidon had no clue.
"Oh, you must be Teba!" Sidon held out a hand for the Rito to shake, but when it was clear he was literally incapable, he coughed and put his hand back at his side. "I've heard much about you. What brings you to Zora's Domain?"
"My family and I are on vacation," he answered. "I couldn't help but notice that you all are looking for a letter to give to Link?"
Again, not secret whatsoever.
"Oh, why yes! I'd hate to be a burden and ask that you go look for it, of course, but it is very important, so if you could just keep an eye out, that'd be great," Sidon said.
Teba pulled a letter out he was keeping hidden in his feathers. "Is this the one?"
He sounded genuine, but when Sidon saw the scraggly handwriting that merely said Link, he had to do a double-take to make sure Teba was pulling his leg.
"Er, no, although we'll be sure that it makes its way to him, as well," Sidon replied, disappointment heaving in his chest. He didn't like the heavy weight welling up inside of him - it was a feeling Sidon wasn't used to.
"Ah, you're looking for the one from the princess, then?" Teba said. "This one just so happens to be from my child. It's a thank-you letter."
"Aww, how cute!" Sidon gushed, letting positive feelings take over once more. "Yes, we are looking for Princess Zelda's letter. It contains highly sensitive information." About love!
The Rito nodded. "I see. Where was the last place it was seen?"
"Are you aware of the path leading up to Zora's Domain? It's the river leading up to there," Sidon answered. "But we've been looking everywhere and no such luck."
"My boy, Tulin, and I will watch from the skies," Teba promised. "We have very sharp eyes."
And with a flap of his wings, he was gone.
"Huh," Sidon said. "Much nicer than Revali."
Link gritted his teeth as took another swing at the Yiga clansmen who had appeared. He was sloppy out of anger, his movements rough and jagged, and the Yiga was able to dodge his attacks with ease despite being much larger than Link.
"Would you listen to me?!" the Yiga yelled, but Link could hardly hear him. "I don't want to fight you!" He dropped his Windcleaver as proof, and Link wiped the sweat from his forehead, panting. He could not attack someone who was vulnerable, it was against the Knights' Code. Not that he was still a knight.
"Then what do you want?" he spoke through clenched teeth. He'd recognized him as the one who had attempted to assassinate Princess Zelda not two weeks before by his hesitation and almost shy movements.
"I want a better life for myself, and to swear allegiance to the Princess of Hyrule," he said, removing his mask. "I was not expecting for the Hero and Princess to return in this lifetime." He got down on one knee out of respect. "I was with the Yiga for food and shelter-"
"The same thing you could have gotten at Kakariko," Link spit out.
"No, you do not understand, Master Link," he pleaded, looking into the Hero's eyes. "I was born among them, I had no choice! They would have killed me if I turned my back on them!"
"And they still might," Link pointed out, walking to where the Yiga had dropped the Windcleaver and kicking it away from them before sheathing his own sword.
"But now I would be dying for the rightful ruler of this kingdom, and I can imagine no better end," he said. "Please, I was naught but a coward before. If you'll have me, sir... I will protect you and the princess both with my life."
Link chuckled bitterly. "I am the Hero. I defeated Ganon singlehandedly, with nothing but the sword on my back and a bow gifted to me. What makes you think I need protection?" When the Yiga said nothing, Link asked, "What is your name?"
"Morello, Master Link. I don't have a last name."
"Rise, Morello. If you prove yourself within the next, say, six months, I will bring you to Princess Zelda. However, I will be keeping a very close eye on you," he said, almost threateningly. "Watch yourself, Morello, and do not betray my trust."
"Anything, Master Link. Thank you for this golden opportunity." He smiled graciously, and Link could only hope he was doing the right thing.
"Big brother! I met a boy today!"
"Boys are gross. They marry you and stuff," Link joked.
"Ugh, you're so lame," Aryll said, smiling. "He's really sweet, though!"
"Well?" Link inquired. "Who is the boy who's garnered my dearest one's attention?"
"The kitchen boy in the castle," she swooned. "He says he'll put in a good word for the bakery, so maybe we can-" She stopped herself mid-sentence. "Did you feel that?" Her voice was at a whisper now, her face white as a sheet.
Link dropped the dishes he was washing in the sink and ran to his sister, putting a hand against her forehead. "Aryll, what's the matter?"
"Darkness," she whispered. "I can feel it. Please be careful when you travel, big bro. I don't- I think- it feels wrong."
He hugged her close to him. "How many times do I have to tell you, little bokoblin?" he said. "Calamity Ganon's ass is going to be kicked to next Wednesday."
She giggled, but he could tell it was forced.
Link woke up, halfway off his sleeping mat and covered in dirt. He groaned, rubbing his eyes and looking up at the sky. It seemed Aryll was right all along. He should have been more careful, should have listened to her more.
It always seemed like it upset Zelda, to be reminded that the Calamity was getting nearer and she still hadn't awakened her power. He'd tell her to not listen to Aryll, that she was just being silly like little kids were.
He wasn't sure even then that he believed himself.
Link looked to his left to see Morello sleeping like a baby and silently wondered if this was the first time he'd ever had a good night's sleep. He almost felt bad for him - he couldn't have been any older than him.
"Morello," he whispered. "Get up."
He was met with a snore.
Sighing, Link threw his bag at him, to which Morello woke with a start. "W-wha- No, of course I didn't eat all the bananas!"
Link gave him a look before saying, "We've got to go. I want to get to Tarrey Town soon."
"I miss him," Zelda whispered to Riju.
"I bet he misses you, too," the chief murmured. "But please, for the love of Hylia, it must be only two in the morning."
"The Sheikah slate says four, actually-"
"Princess."
She sniffed. "You sound just like him."
Riju groaned. "Come on, you're leaving in a few hours, aren't you? Sleep, little bird, or else you'll feel tired in the morning."
Zelda smiled softly and snuggled closer to Patricia, falling into a sleep filled with dreams of her beloved Hero.
"The letter! I have it!" Tulin exclaimed to Sidon after a restless night.
This time, it really was the letter and, thank the goddesses, it was dry.
"Oh, thank Hylia!" Sidon practically shouted. "You are a blessing, little one."
Tulin puffed out his feathered chest proudly, earning a pat on the head from Teba.
"I can deliver them," Gruve said quickly. "I won't let you down this time, Prince Sidon!"
Sidon grinned. "Gruve, I cannot think of a better man for the job! ...Although perhaps this time, you shall carry a bag."
A/N: I promise Link will finally get this stupid letter in the next chapter haha. This was pretty fun to write, and a nice change from Link and Zelda's super angsty angst :)
Kisses,
Cherry