So, this chapter contains elements from a couple different stories I have read. In other words there are select elements in this chapter that are similiar to a few different author's works mixed together into one chapter. These stories/authors are the following: A Coronation of Sorts by Jenseits-der-Sterne, Fi's return by MickeyTaco, and The King's Men by AsamiAllGrownUp. These similiar concepts are interespersed with my own original content so I DID NOT JUST COPY THEM! I know better than that, I just wanted to make sure everyone reading this is aware of the fact that some of this stuff wasn't originally created by myself.
Chapter Twenty Four
Coronation
Two years, it had been two years since Demise's defeat. So much had happened in the time since then it was almost impossible to imagine. In the last two years, we had restored Camp Half-Blood and just a couple of weeks ago, seen the finale to a long and grueling campaign of annihilation against the monsters. We could now be certain that all of them had been destroyed, no monsters remained, and thus no traces of malice left behind. All traces of the evil had been eliminated, the evil would never trouble the world again. The divine beasts had been extremely useful in this endeavor, but it was a grueling venture. But that's another story for another day.
We had also overseen the inhabitation of the Castle Town, and the intention was always eventually going to be to use the castle as our place of residence when we became rulers. This decision was initially met with confusion until we explained that it was just a structure, there was no evil in it anymore.
Although my wife and I were going to be king and queen, per everyone's insistence, it wasn't going to be like any such of the past. No, this time we were going to learn from history, although we would by definition be the royal family, we were going to be a far humbler one than any of the past. There would be no emphasis whatsoever on a royal bloodline, social standing, and more. Additionally, we decided to incorporate an element of the old United States government. From now on in this new government, if a king or queen became unfit for their position they would be replaced. We were going to do an older style of ruling, but better.
I came out of my thoughts with a sigh, drawing my wife's attention from her position next to me.
"Link? Is something wrong?" She asked, gentle concern in her tone.
"Oh, no, I was just thinking about stuff." I assured her.
"Oh? Do tell." She replied, turning to face me as we waited by the doors.
"Ah, just how far we've come and all that. Although I do wonder if…" I stopped, trailing into silence as an old pain resurfaced in my heart.
"Link, what's wrong? I know that face." She said, taking one of my hands and squeezing it a little.
"I wonder if my father would be proud of me, of the man I've become." I say hesitantly.
Her eyes soften with understanding, she nods and tells me that she thinks he would be. That he would be extremely proud that his son had accomplished so much. It was true, it felt like only last month that I first arrived at Camp Half-Blood, only knowing I was a demigod. I had no idea that was just the tip of the iceberg. I soon learned that I was also the reincarnation of a legendary hero, one from ages past that spanned a time so long it almost defied belief, that I was fated to defeat evil and save the world. I had reunited with my other half, I had married her, and we'd now had two children together, and now…we were going to be the king and queen of a newly reborn Hyrule.
It was on our insistence that New Hyrule not include the entirety of the former U.S. The borders of this new kingdom would extend as far north as the border with what used to be Canada, and as far south as the border with what used to be Mexico. Used to be, the former U.S. was the only population to have survived, and even that being said, the U.S. population had been severely affected by the catastrophe. Only about fifty million people had survived, or roughly fifteen percent of its original value. To the east, the border followed the old state boundary lines from the former Louisiana up to the former Minnesota. On our western border, it followed the old line up from western New Mexico to Colorado, which had been broken into two along with Montana. The remaining parts were left for the Romans on the west side and the Greeks on the east. Thus, what was once one country had become three. New Hyrule's neighbors were thus going to be New Rome, and New Greece.
Suddenly, muffled voices are heard behind the door. Zelda and I snap to attention, just in time as the doors open, revealing the entrance into the great hall and throne room. Everyone stands and faces us, leaving an open path down the middle. I turn to my wife and offer my arm, she smiles and loops her arm around my elbow and we stride forward. As we walk down the aisle, people bow their heads as we pass, I see many of our friends. On our left, I see Percy and Annabeth, who were some of the highest officials in New Greece. Near them are Lexa and Austin, also high officials in that country. On our right, I see some of our friends from New Rome, interspersed among the crowd are various representatives of the other races. Our four champions are present, Ralis beaming with his enthusiasm, the others significantly calmer.
Upon reaching the small goddess statue placed at the edge of slightly higher floor of the throne room adjoined to the great hall, we stop and kneel, demonstrating our deference to Hylia. Then we stand again and approach Impa, who's patiently waiting for us halfway between the thrones and the statue, a distance of forty feet perhaps. We stop again in front of her, she eyes us calmly and neutrally for a minute, before she speaks.
"Zelda, if you will kneel now, we shall begin with you." Her voice is smooth and calm.
Just as we'd rehearsed, Zelda knelt down on her knees before Impa. Impa extended a hand and snapped her fingers once, a signal. Another Sheikah teleported into view then, holding a little box. They held it out to Impa, who turned, opened the box, and took something out of it. She turned back around to face us, holding in her hands a crown. A crown in the shape of fully stretched wings, like the Hylian royal crest. An exact replica of the crowns worn in Hyrule in ages past. Impa didn't place the crown on Zelda's head yet, however.
"Zelda Parker, mortal embodiment of the goddess Hylia and wielder of the Triforce, do you swear to always consider the wellbeing of your citizens in every decision you make as queen?" Impa asks, voice absolutely serious.
"I swear." Zelda responds, resolve clear in her voice.
"Do you swear to uphold the values of this nation with every fiber of your being?" Impa continues.
"I swear." Zelda repeats, slightly louder this time.
"And do you swear to always lead your people with the courage of Farore, guide them with the wisdom of Nayru, and protect them with the power of Din?" Impa's voice rises now.
"I swear!" Zelda says loud and clear.
"Then by the power vested in me by the goddess Hylia and the golden goddesses, I now crown you Queen Zelda Parker Hyrule, first queen of New Hyrule! May your rule be long and prosperous!" Impa declares, finally placing the crown atop Zelda's head.
Zelda dips her head slightly then stands up again.
"I present to you your new queen, long live the queen!" Impa proclaims.
Everyone kneels, repeating the last four words. I'm no exception, I follow suit, my eyes full of pride for my beloved Zelda, she's earned every bit of this. I know she won't let us down, ever.
Zelda waits a moment for the noise to die down. Then she takes a couple steps towards me, before stopping and raising her right hand, extending it towards me, in the posture of bestowing a blessing. Just like in the previous age at the Sacred Grounds. However, this time when she speaks, her voice is beautiful to listen to, full of confidence and passion.
"Link Parker, hero of legend, once bearer of the Triforce of Courage, wielder of the sword that destroyed the darkness, and my loyal husband, you have overcome trials unimaginable and persevered through it all. You have pledged yourself in service to this land since time immemorial, you have spent countless lifetimes in unflinching duty to your destined task and never once asking for anything in return." She proclaims.
I don't answer, I just keep my head and eyes pointed down at the floor.
"Link, do you swear to always lead by my side and protect and defend this land with the bravery that you have always demonstrated?" She asks.
"I swear." I state, determination filling my voice.
"Do you swear to always consider the well-being of our citizens in your every decision?" She continues
"I swear." I repeat, focused.
"And do you swear to always act with the integrity that you have always displayed in life?" She finishes.
"I swear!" I say loudly.
"Then let it be known on this day by your wife and queen that you are to be crowned King Link Parker Hyrule, first king of New Hyrule! Now rise and take your place at my side." She declares.
Impa nods and turns once more to the Sheikah behind her, reaching into the box one last time, and pulling out another matching crown. She hands it to Zelda, who tenderly places it on my head. It's heavier than I expected, but at least I'll only have to wear it on the most formal of occasions. Zelda and I had insisted on that, the pretentiousness of crowns in the past did not represent the kind of nation we wanted to make. Indeed, this time there would be far less emphasis on formality.
As I stood up again, Impa's voice rang out.
"I now present to you your king and queen, long live the king and queen!"
The chant goes up, my wife and raise our eyes to look out over the audience. The Master Sword warms at my back then Fi appears beside me. For the sake of not confusing anyone I don't react to her presence as nobody else can see her, well save for Zelda that is of course.
"You have done well, Master. You have not only fulfilled your destiny, you have restored peace and reestablished the glory of Hyrule. Together, you and Zelda shall usher in a new golden age of prosperity that will last forever." She says in monotone, but yet still sounding almost pleased.
That evening, after we return to our suite in the castle, we gave our daughter Ilia a little gift we had made for her. Our now seven year old daughter received a little tiara as she was now by definition a princess. She was humbled and promised to make us proud, she'd be the best princess ever! We smiled and laughed at her seriousness. Our little Michael wasn't going to be getting one (although in his case it would be a circlet) for at least a couple years until he was big enough to have one.
Just as we wouldn't have to wear our crowns in most occasions, Ilia wasn't required to wear her tiara in most occasions as well. At least our friends had it easier, they weren't kings or queens, they had each become in charge of the different provinces in the two other nations. Percy and Annabeth oversaw the Appalachia province, which comprised the former states of Maine down to Virginia. Due west of them, the province of the Great Lakes was overseen by Lexa and Austin. To their south was the province of Alastria, encompassing the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. In New Rome, there were two provinces; The province of New Labrynna in the north and New Holodrum in the south. The former comprised the former states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and part of Montana and Colorado. New Holodrum consisted of the rest of the land area.
In the last two years, technology had boomed in many regards. These included new ways of transportation, energy generation, and more. Although the fast travel technology had been implemented, the technology of the Sheikah had also opened the way to faster and more efficient vehicles. Although it was very early still, there'd even been the first steps in reinitializing a space program, to pave the way to begin reaching out beyond our world again. There had also been research into developing technologies to combat climate change. As my wife and I got ready for bed, I again marveled at the already promising vision of the future ahead. A vision of a civilization that while not as large as the previous one, was humbler, and one that lived in peace with others and the planet itself.
Although with the global population of humans reduced to just fifty or so million as a result of the catastrophe that had occurred, we'd all agreed to learn from our mistakes before. We would not let the same things happen a second time. This time we would make sure that the population did not exceed the planet's renewal capacities. While it would mean population surveys occasionally, and some degree of monitoring the population, in the end it was necessary. Before, the world almost experienced a cataclysm by human-induced climate change. That could never happen again, so this time we had established a limit for the number of people. That number would be three billion people, also this would allow for the preservation of larger areas of wilderness.
The other continents would be reclaimed one day, to avoid overpopulating any one continent. To put it another way, although we'd nearly faced the end of our kind, we persevered and what could have been the sunset to our existence, instead heralded a new dawn.
I reached over to the bedside table and grabbed the slate. I selected the camera rune and looked into the photo album, wanting to look back in time, so to speak. My wife heard my tapping on the screen, looked over to see what I was doing, and then sat up a little to lean against me and look through the pictures as well. I leaned my head against hers as we began our trip down memory lane.
The first picture was of us when were seventeen, after I'd proposed to her. We were both smiling with immense happiness, our heads leaning against each other, my left arm around her shoulders, my right arm holding the slate out to take the picture. Although eleven years had passed since then, we still remembered that day like it had just happened.
The next few pictures were during our wedding about two months later. As we kept scrolling through the images, we basked in shared joy, we were truly blessed to have found such happiness together. We passed by images of either of us doing various things, like me practicing with my sword, or her sitting at the kitchen table by the window looking out at the world. Then there were a couple pictures from when Zelda was pregnant with Ilia, my head resting in her lap, leaning against her baby bump.
Soon we came to the pictures taken after we welcomed our first child into the world. The first such picture was taken when Ilia was about six months old, in it I was holding her and she was putting one of my fingers in her mouth with her little fists. Next was an image from when Ilia was ten months old. In the picture, I was giving her a bath, and she had just flung her arms up, sending soapy water into my eyes. Ilia had been doing exactly what kids do, playing with the water as if it were a toy.
The next picture of particular note was of Zelda holding a then one year old Ilia on her chest as she napped on the couch, Ilia sleeping as well. There was also a picture of the then four of us, myself, Zelda, Ilia, and Twilight. In this picture, I was standing beside my Zelda, arm around her shoulders as she held our daughter. Twilight sat beside me, my other hand resting on his head. A dark green bandana was around his neck and flared at the front. Speaking of Twilight by the way, he was currently lying beside our bed as he always did.
Other images of when Ilia was less than four years old showed her running around our backyard, swinging around a little wooden sword, and not stopping until she was exhausted. She was from an early age determined to be just like me, we always laughed at this and encouraged her, if for no other reason than because it would allow her to stay fit. We also passed by images of our son, other images we came upon were pictures of us when we went to the divine beasts for the first time in this life.
Our favorite images were the ones that showed us as a family. That thought led me to another, how even though we were now the king and queen of New Hyrule, that we would continue to raise our children just like we always had. This also included giving them opportunities to be children, to play with other children their age, to make friends, and all that. Although our closest friends were far away, overseeing their own regions, they always kept in contact, and with our new generation of air transportation vehicles, visits were no challenge.
In the castle itself, aside from our family we had a variety of staff. In addition to us, the castle also housed the families of the members of our council, cleaning staff, kitchen staff, and so on. A new chapter in the history of civilization was beginning, an era of peace, stability, and prosperity that would continue forever.
Most of the pictures I described on the Sheikah Slate are in fact based off of fanart I have seen around the internet. The funny thing is this, almost all of those pictures have apparently vanished from the internet, or if they haven't I haven't been able to locate them again. So if you have seen those pictures and the description of the images on the slate sound familiar, that's why.