Prologue
She looked almost exactly the same as he remembered her a hundred years ago.
Almost.
Zelda kept his back to him. The wind blew her tangled mane of dirty gold hair past her shoulders, her tattered white dress lifting above her muddied ankles. She was having difficulty projecting herself- 100 years without physically speaking to someone could do that. "I've been keeping watch over you all this time…"
Link held his breath. Her voice.
Her voice. How strange it was, to hear that very voice that woke him up months ago, that guided him in moments he least expected it, finally in front of him.
"I've witnessed your struggles to return to us as well as your trials in battle."
What was it that was different about her?
"I always thought," Her voice steadied itself, growing sure as she spoke with reassurance. "No, I always believed- that you would find a way to defeat Ganon," She turned on her heel, though her softened gaze was fixed to the ground. Her voice was softer. She spoke quietly, yet there was a presence that was different from the Zelda he remembered 100 years ago.
"I never lost faith in you over these many years…" Her hands folded over her heart like prayer, her voice quavering. "Thank you, Link." Her eyes finally met his, a smile tugging at the ends of her lips. "The hero of Hyrule."
Link's heart skipped a beat. She paused. "May I ask…"
"Do you really remember me?"
And to that, the Hero of Hyrule was unsure.
He remembered the woman before him as the Princess of Hyrule, bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom, the woman he swore to protect.
He remembered a stubborn woman who was constantly trying to prove herself to others, harsh on others but even harsher on herself. Insatiable, on the eternal pursuit of perfection, and dissatisfied with remaining idle.
Yet, when his eyes met hers, there was a warmth to the glint of her eyes he did not recognize. Her shoulders were slumped forward, but not in defeat as he was used to seeing but as if she were humbled. She carried herself with air of all-knowing.
He remembered her, but he could not recognize her.
Hello everyone!
Replaying the game and seeing fanart online inspired me to work on a fanfiction focusing on Zelda and Link after the Calamity.
I'm hoping to update in a few weeks. Please let me know your thoughts!