Home...where you are supposed to be. The way you are supposed to be.
After returning from the future, Link set out on a long journey to find himself - to find the place he was supposed to be - the person he was supposed to be.
Regretting the absence of his faithful friend, he began a quest to find her again. On this quest, he reached the land of Termina. It was in Termina that he chose to enjoy his life for the next seven years.
After seven years had passed, Link was reminded of Hyrule, and chose to visit his old homeland.
As he did, he was greeted by a terrifying sight:
Hyrule was no longer a land of light, but had fallen into darkness.
The land was not as he had left it, but was the same as it had been when Ganondorf had ruled it. But he had defeated Ganondorf! So why had the land fallen into darkness again?
Spending some time to ponder this, he eventually figured it out. Zelda had simply reversed time - Ganondorf being sealed away in the future did nothing to affect his state in the past. Ganondorf had collected all three Spiritual Stones on his own, entered the Sacred Realm, and claimed the Triforce.
Link rode on to the Temple of Time. The three Stones were indeed in their places. The Door of Time was open. He rushed into the Room of Time - yes, the Master Sword was still in its pedestal. He had never seen it there as an adult before - it was a surreal experience.
"You do not belong here."
It was a voice he had not heard in seven years, but he recognized it immediately. Link turned around to see her - disguised in that blue body suit and those white bandages, with shorter and skin and eyes of a different hue - but he knew who she was. Granted, he only knew her true identity now because she had revealed herself to him in the past, but he recognized her now.
"Leave this place." The voice said. "Only the Hero of Time should tread this ground."
"I know that it's you, Zelda." He said.
The woman's stance tensed up. A small degree of embarrassment could be seen in her posture.
"You're disguising yourself as a Sheikah to avoid being captured by Ganondorf. But don't remove the disguise - if you do, Ganondorf will find you, even in a place as Sacred as this."
"...How could you tell it was me?" The woman asked. "We have never even met before."
Link sorely regretted not going to see Princess Zelda after he had returned from the future. "We have met before, Zelda - in another time."
"Another time...?"
"We met as children. We tried to stop Ganondorf. We failed, and as a result, he gained entry to the Sacred Realm. I slept for seven years, and when I awoke, you came to me - disguised as a Sheikah. You eventually revealed your true identity to me, but until then, I was oblivious. With your guidance, I collected the medallions of the sages, and used that power to stop Ganondorf. Regretting the pain you put me through, you sent me back in time to regain my lost childhood. You sent me back in time to a point when we had not met. I then left Hyrule, and returned only recently. Hyrule is now in the same state it was the last time I saw it in this time period...I regret not making sure that history would repeat itself before I left this land."
Zelda listened very carefully to Link's words, and nodded when he was done. "You could not have seen through my disguise. You had to have already known my identity. That is proof enough for me."
Link sighed. "I suppose I must relive the events of seven years ago. It will be harder without a certain companion, but easier now that I have already done it once before."
"I am sorry that you must go through everything twice..." Zelda said regretfully.
"I think things will go more smoothly this time. I feel more capable than I was the last time."
Link drew the Master Sword from its pedestal. He was transported to the Sacred Realm, where Rauru spoke to him briefly and gave him the first Medallion before sending him back to Hyrule.
After Link collected all seven medallions, Sheik gave Link the light arrows - this time, at Link's request, not discarding her disguise. Fully equipped, Link and Sheik set out and destroyed Ganondorf exactly as they had the last time. After the battle, the two spoke to one another.
"Link..." Zelda began. "I no longer feel as if I am qualified to decide your future. Should I send you back in time, I might erase the current timeline - force you to stop Ganondorf again - both - or worse. Link, only you should be the one who decides your destiny. Tell me what you want to do."
"I want to stay here - in this time." Link said. "I don't want to travel back in time again. I've already lived a full childhood, and I am ready for adulthood. I want to help rebuild this land - this land I should have been here to defend."
Zelda nodded - and tried to hide her happiness.