A/N: Whoooah sorry I took so long to update! I've had some trivial times with mental health and school, thus setting me back some. But wow! Last chapter, next is the epilogue! And then the sequel? With kiddos?/?/ y ES

With a groan, Kokau propped himself on one elbow and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. Against the back of the skin on his hand, he felt the rigid skin that ran along his eye rub against him. With a scowl, the blond jerked his hand away from his face, refusing to remind himself of the many years gone. Nor did he want to remind himself of his fading vision on that side. Rolling his neck, Kokau stood from the floor, dusting the remnants of dust off his clothes. Staring up the loft at the origin of the small snores, he smiled. He would finally witness a ceremony of wed.

"Hey, Link!" Kokau cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled up at the sleeping mess. "Today's the big day! Get your butt out of bed!"

Grinning up at the groggy head that popped over the bedside, Kokau gave a wave. "Sleepyhead, get up. We gotta head down to the spring, remember? You're seeing Midna again today."

With the mention of her name, the dirty blond sprung up from his previously resting position, practically gliding down his small ladder, and rushing to his washroom to tidy up. Putting on a set of rather formal clothes himself, Kokau followed the shorter to the washroom, only coming to see Link practically ready. The soft cloth that embraced his skin held together by pelts that were only used in such ceremonies. He looked stunning, actually.

"A bit excited there?" Kokau leaned into the room, giggling slightly to the shorter's jump.

With a quick nod, Link squeezed himself by Kokau. "Get ready! We need to get down to the spring!"

With a snort, Kokau rolled his eyes. "So now you're awake. I see how it is."

"You said Midna, and that I get to see her. Be quiet." Link turned over his shoulder smirking, a rather playful look that had taken quite an absence from his face. And without a second thought, the excited youth began to promptly make his way to the door.

"Wait a second," Kokau called after him whilst beginning to change into his own formal attire. "Don't leave yet. We've still got to do something."

Turing on his heels, Link raised a brow at the former hero. "Huh? What else?"

Shaking his head and crossing his arms, Kokau snickered. "Your hair, dummy."

"What about it?"

"It's a bit long."

"But it's in a braid."

Rolling his eyes, Kokau took his palm to his face and a sarcastic wave of air left his lips. "Link… you're about to have your ceremony of wed. You can't have long hair like that. It looks sloppy."

"I look fine." Link laughed, shrugging the other off.

With a frustrated frown, Kokau stomped over to the shorter and grabbed him by the shoulder, considerate of the ceremonial garbs draped over his skin. Without the other's consent, he took dragged Link to the small kitchen area and grabbed the cleanest knife he saw. With a simple grab and slice, a wad of dirty blond hair fell to the wooden floor. Link turned around and looked at Kokau, bitterness in his expression.

"What the hell? You have your hair in a ponytail, why can't I."

"I'm not in the ceremony. Technically, I'm not even supposed to be standing and breathing right beside you. I'm only here for today and tomorrow and that's it. Then I'm gone. Back to the spirit world. I'm just living how I used to. Let me enjoy the time I have. I'm only here because of you, anyways." Kokau huffed at the smaller, giving him a rather disappointed frown.

Sighing and relaxing his rather tensed frown, Link's eyes somewhat flickered to the ground. "Sorry, I'm just really excited."

Patting the smaller's shoulder; the hero's shade gave a forgiving grin. "I can understand that. Now, let's head down to the spring, shall we?"

As his eyes widened, the younger practically bounced on his feet, too eager to keep it internal. Grabbing at Kokau's wrist, he began to drag the older to his door, keeping in mind both of their garments. Out the door and down the ladder, the two quickly made their way down to the spring, admiring the almost too good weather.

Link grinned up at the trees, attempting to hum along with the birds that sung out of delight. Kokau looked down at him and grinned. Over all the years – the nineteen years – that he had watched over the lad, it was today that he seemed his happiest, the brightest. The recent times of darken have taken for change.

Although, Kokau knew the light times would fall short – fall into the pattern of darkness, but then the light would prevail again. He was afraid for when that time would come again. He knew the goddesses would only grant him this one time to live again as a mortal. From then, he knew he could only communicate with the boy as he had done before. Noticing the shorter halting by his side, Kokau was dragged out of his thoughts with a tug on his shoulder.

"I think you'll stand up next to Eric, okay?" The shorter raised his brows, waiting for a conformation.

"Yeah, I will." Kokau nodded his head shakily.

With a delighted grin, the two entered the sandy hollow, only to be awaited by Bo, Rusl, and Eric. Urgently, the stout mayor strode his way over to the young groom. Taking him by his arm, he led him over to the 'front' of the ceremonial structure.

"Those garbs look a bit big on you, Link," whispered Bo as he tidied up Link's outfit.

Shrugging and smirking, the shorter laughed. "Well, I'm a bit short, if you can't see."

With a snort, Kokau shook his head, causing the center of attention to divert to him.

"Who's you friend?" Eric asked, pointing a thumb at the tall blonde man.
Taking a gulp, the dirty blonde's eyes wavered back and forth before answering. "His name's Kokau."

Nodding his head, the red head grinned. "Ah, sounds ancient, heh. It sounds like a word from one of Zelda's history books."

With a playful sneer, Kokau chuckled. "It does have a rather ancient meaning. Have you ever read of the ancient tribe of the Kokiri?"

Instantly, the red head's eyes widened and his grin grew twice its size. It was all too obvious that he had spent many days in the library studying this small group. "Yes! Yes! I have!"

Eric's interest in the subject enlivened the taller's mood, resulting with a wrap around his neck as they stood themselves astray of Link, to the left of the mantle in which Link stood under. Grinning, Kokau took his hand away from Eric, "Well, my family has had quite a relationship with that tribe in the past. My father's name was Kauku, which means 'Kokiri spirit', while my name means 'of the Kokiri'."

Since his face was hidden from the other two, Link faced down to the ground and grinned to himself. He knew Kokau's lies, but they seemed believable. Nobody else in the area knew he was the Hero of Time, he presumed. Nobody knew he lived hundreds of years ago, nor did they know he actually believed he was a Kokiri as a child. Thinking about his long gone friend ached away at his heart, like his feelings were guitar strings being strummed too hard. The sound rich and pure, but the recoil against the wood was all he felt. What if he were like that? No, he wouldn't die early. He was going to get married soon. He wouldn't end up like that, but the idea scared him.

As Link was finally going to take deep breaths, he spotted the hoard of guests filing into the small spring. At instant, his face turned a rosy hue and shot away from all the people staring at him. In his peripheral vision he saw the young children, jittery and bouncing on their feet, obviously excited for the occasion. And then he felt a tug on his garments.

He looked down to see Malo, who had grown taller since he saw him last. Behind him was Colin, who held Emma, Talo, Beth, and Ilia. While the children separated a small path, Ilia approached him and knit a small, white, rose into his garments. Staring at her wide-eyed, he opened his mouth to speak before she placed her finger on his lips to shush him.

"There was a time I loved you like you love her," she sighed, avoiding his eyes. "But, it didn't take long to learn that we were fated for different ways. And, to know that you're happy now… It means the world to me."

"Ilia.. I." Again, the woman's hand held his lips together.

"Forget about me, just go love her. Enjoy her. Cherish her. Spend the rest of your life with her. She is yours as you are hers. Enjoy it." With a grin, Ilia slowly pulled away from him. A hesitance as she took several steps back, rejoining her father in the mass of onlookers.

As the woman his age stepped away, the children took her place, all bundles of smiles with flowers knit in their hands. Greeting them with a grin, Link came down to their level, resting his hand on Colin's shoulder, only for little Emma to grab at it within seconds. While the tiny child pulled at his hand, the older children began to speak.

"So, if you're marryin' her… is she goin' to stay 'ere? Or are you goin' with her?" Beth was the first to speak, hands wrapped around her back as her eye contact fluttered around with the sand below their feet.

His smile turning to a somewhat sorry frown, Link sighed. "Well, yes."

The little gasp from Talo's mouth was a pain to the blonde's ears, cringing as he avoided seeing their hurt expressions. "Why?" asked Talo.

"Well," Link said before pausing. "She's the princess of her homeland… she has to be there. So I will be going with her."

A chorus of disappointed words fled the mouths of the children before Link spoke again.

"Don't worry, I'll come and visit!" Link grinned at the small children.

As soon as their frowns turned to excited smiles, their parents called them to their sides, sitting them down. And that was when Link realized that guests had fallen silent. He was about to laugh and ask why it had gotten so quiet. But then he looked out at the people and immediately he felt his cheeks grow hot and his hands clammy.

"Holy goddesses."

The words tainted his tongue with ever-so elegance, their resonance almost nonexistent. Link's eyes wide as an overjoyed smile graced upon his lips. Entering the small spring was the Twilit Princess, robed in traditional, Ordonian garments of wed. The white silk that flowed past her ankles was cloaked with the pelt of wolf, like Link's was.

While Link's eyes followed her down the aisle, his gaze only drifted for a moment to meet with Kile's. He wanted to give a haughty sneer at the man, but refrained from doing so, with the knowledge that the whole town and a few others watched him with a close eye.

But, before he knew it, Midna stood in front of his face, grinning from ear to ear. The only thing separating them was the veil that covered her face. With a cheesy grin, Link's blush only deepened until he jumped a little when Bo had placed his hand on his shoulder.

The older man's reassuring smile eased Link somewhat while Midna giggled to herself. "It's alright, Link. Let's get this ceremony started while we still have time."

Bo began to read off ceremonial texts, but the words turned to mush in Link's head. Midna's too. The words had to matter to them. Link would only focus himself when he heard the key words where he had to respond with 'I do'. Until then, he stared into Midna's eyes.

From her dark magenta pupils, to her fiery hair that was surprisingly tied to her side in a braid, Midna's appearance was mesmerizing. The young hero could only watch her in awe, each movement she made as precious as a blessing from the goddesses.

A rumble.

Bo stopped talking.

Gasps from the audience were the sudden noises that dragged Midna and Link out of their trance.

Dust knocked up in the air, followed by low, beastly grumbles. Midna's eyes only grew wide.

And then he saw it.

The shadowy figure of the Twili. The Twilit Bounty Hunters. Their leader holding a spear while the other two held small daggers.

As soon as the beast noticed Link's horrified expression, a malicious smile sprouted upon its black skin, revealing two rows of slightly stained teeth. A snicker and in a sudden motion, the three beasts began charging into the spring. The guests ran to the sides to stay clear.

"Eric, give me your sword!" Link yelled back to the red head, face filled with panic. With each passing second the bounty hunters inched forward.

I can't vaporize them, thought Midna. Not here, no. There's no place as the 'nothingness' in the light realm. Her fears only worsened when she realized the spear was aimed at Link, and he had nothing to defend himself.

Eric's hands grabbed at his sheath, which was all tangled up beneath his extensive robes. His eyes furiously met with Link's. "I can't get it."

Glancing back at the beasts, which were only a few steps away, his already quickened heartbeat skyrocketed. Out of instinct, he shoved Midna away, protecting the only thing he had left. As soon as he embraced himself for the blow, he only felt a pair of hands against his back, pushing him out of the way. He heard the puncture and felt the splatter of blood. As far as he knew he was just dead.

But then he took a breath. He was still breathing and in flesh. He wasn't dead. At instant, Link turned to see who took the blow for him, expecting Eric of Kokau.

But, no.

It was neither.

The man who dropped to his knees with a spear still in his chest was the one who betrayed him those many years ago. Kile. Disrupted by the shock, Eric finally freed his blade and severed the head of the murdering beast, while Rusl and Kokau finished off the remaining two.

When Midna turned her head to see Link again, she took a small gasp, watching the Hylian fall to his knees in front of his father. Cupping his hands around the man's face, Link pressed his forehead against the older's.

"Thank you," he whispered, a bit of hesitancy in his voice.

With a heavy breath, Kile nodded his head weakly. "Don't mention it." Another deep breath, with a quick glance down at the bloody spear end poking out from his chest. "I wasn't going to let that happen to you… not after all I put you through… no.."

The older coughed, sputtering a small trace of blood on Link's garbs while the rest ran down his face.

"You didn't have to do that though," Link whispered, taking his thumb and wiping some of the older man's blood away from his lips.

The life fading away from Kile was evident as his eyes grew glossier and skin paler. "I just wanted to make up for what I did."

"Well, I already forgave you for what you did," Link murmured, his voice dying down as he felt the man grow limp in his hand. Exhaling, the blond lowered the dead man gently to the ground. Looking up, he saw most of the guests had left in fear, which he had expected.

At the instant he turned around, he was taking into the arms of Midna, holding his head to her chest. "I'm sorry, darling."

Pulling away from the taller, Link shook his head and stared at the ground. "It's ok. I didn't love him anyways. Can we finish the ceremony? I just want to go home right now."

With a glum nod, Bo resumed his position under the mantle. While Midna and Link stood side to side, the Twili couldn't help but look down at the small blond and see the fear in his eyes. But then her attention was snapped back to the Ordonian mayor.

"Link, will you take her as your wife and promise to cherish her until death separates?"

"I do." Soft and quietly he spoke, not daring to risk a squeak in his voice.

"Midna, will you take Link as your husband and enjoy life with him until death separates?"

With a firm nod, she spoke loud and clearly. "I do."

With a smile, Bo glanced at both of them with rosy cheeks. "Link, you may now kiss the bride."

Looking up a Midna, Link gave a cheesy smile while his cheeks turned as bright as the Twili had ever seen them. Reaching up and unveiling her face, Midna bent down while Link had to rise up off his heels. Wrapping his arms around her neck, while she made her around his waist, the two met at the lips, eyes closed and faces pink as roses.

Pulling away, they were both caught off guard from the small applause from the remaining guests. Zelda, Eric, Kokau, Impa, Bo, and Rusl each had small, dainty smiles on their faces. With a giggle, Midna smirked and pulled Link into her side.

"See? I told you I'd see you again."

"Damn right, heh." Link snickered into her side, hiding his red face from the others.

Waving a final goodbye to the townsfolk, they all retreated to their homes, locking up safely for the night. It had been decided that Kile's burial would be held the following day. It was too hectic for everybody to take in, in only a short amount of time.

As Midna and Link were about to take the night back at his humble home, Kokau waited at the edge of the woods, gesturing for Link to see him.

"Midna, I'll be right there, I've got to say goodbye to somebody really quick." Link slid down his ladder, grinning up at his new wife.

"Be in before its dark, I wanna… heh… show you something." With a snicker and smirk, Midna made her way into the small home, leaving Link staring up at her, confused.

After the woman disappeared behind the closing door, Link continued to head over to Kokau. The former hero took him in with a warm hung before his voice dropped cold. Staring up at him, Link battered his eyes once or twice before developing a small, pouty frown.

"Link, you do realize I'll be gone once morning comes, right?"

"What?"

Sighing, Kokau pulled Link's hands from his arms. "I told you, the goddesses only allowed me this mortal body for this event. I'll be gone by morning. I can still talk to you, though. That will never be cut off."

"But-"

"I'll always be there for you, you little dork." Kokau messed with the younger's hair before slowly beginning to back away.

Link's smile slowly faded as Kokau's image became a blur in the distance. And with a heavy breath, he turned and returned to his small household. Opening the door, he was hit with an unexpected darkness – the only light in the rooms came from the dim and setting sun though the windows.

"Midna? Where are y-" He make a small yelp when he suddenly felt a pair of hands grab at his waist. "Oh, heh. There you are… what did you want to show me?"

Before he knew it, he saw the woman's silhouette whip around to his front, grabbing him by his wrist. Once she threw him on the sofa, he stared up at her flowing frame and grinned. "What're you up to?"

"Oh you'll see," she whispered in a snarky tone before placing herself on his hips. And then without a word, she dropped the robe that covered her and proceeded to lean down on to Link, her face just above his.

"Ah, I see what you're up to now," Link retorted, placing his hands no Midna's waist.

Their lips collided only once before the rest of the night became a sloppy mess, entangling their bodies.