EDITED Oct. 2 2019

PLEASE SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR DISCLAIMERS

PLEASE READ & REVIEW, AND TEND TO THE TROPE PAGES

-CHAPTER START-

Hyrule Castle Courtyard

Zelda, 10-year-old princess of the kingdom of Hyrule, sighed as she sat alone in her favorite secluded courtyard. When, around three weeks ago, that little boy named Link had come up to her, telling an outrageous tale and showing outrageous proof of it, it had all but turned her dull little life upside-down. After thwarting the Gerudo King Ganondorf's plot before it could even get off the ground, she'd gotten to know the mysterious boy who bore the Triforce of Courage. She had deeply enjoyed the time she spent with him; he was witty and brave, but also polite and so gentle and kind, telling her she had a pretty smile. And he was really cute, too.

'Did I just think that?' she thought to herself, her cheeks a little pink.

Sadly, he'd departed after not very long, in search of the fairy companion who'd helped him in the fight against the other timeline's Ganondorf. She'd given him the Ocarina of Time as he left; she hoped it came in handy for him. The young princess let out a sigh as she realized just how much she missed him.

'Link…'

Zelda was interrupted from her lonesome musings as a spark of magical energy sprang up in the middle of the courtyard. She gasped and took cover behind a shrub as the spark rapidly grew into a whirling sphere of light and magic. The light briefly flared, and then faded away altogether to reveal four people – a young adult, two young teens, and a child – along with a blue-light fairy and a young horse.

"So this is Hyrule Castle?" Aqua said, looking around. "It's nice."

"Where is everyone?" Miyako asked.

"I know where this is!" Link said. "This is a secluded little courtyard toward the north of the castle grounds; it's the Princess' favorite hang-out spot."

"Link? …Is that you?"

The boy turned to look at the shrubs, and saw a familiar face peeking out from them – fair skin, long golden-blonde hair, and bright blue eyes. His face lit up with a smile as he headed towards her.

"Zelda!"

The two 10-year-olds raced toward each other, coming to a stop just shy of crashing into each other. Zelda grabbed and held Link's hands in hers as she looked into his eyes, a faint flush to her cheeks and a cute little smile on her face. He gave her a little grin, and she let out a soft giggle, her heart feeling light and fluttery. Then she hugged him, making him blush as she rested her chin on his shoulder.

"I missed you even more than I thought I would" she whispered, making him shiver as her breath tickled his ear, feeling his heart-rate briefly go up a little bit as his face felt hot. "Welcome back, Link."

He hugged her back, and she let out a content sigh as she relaxed, nuzzling the side of his neck and breathing in his scent. …Then she realized what she was doing, and her eyes opened as her face went red. But the hug was just too nice to stop, embarrassment be damned, so she didn't let go or pull back. Eventually, reluctantly, she pulled away, holding his hands again.

"S-So, um…" she murmured. "You've… been busy, I take it?"

Link nodded. "I just had another crazy adventure. Let's find a place to sit down and my new friends & I will tell you all about it."

-Break-

The audience, initially composed solely of Zelda, had quickly grown to include Impa, Zelda's nursemaid, attendant, and bodyguard, as well as her father the King, both of whom were familiar with and glad to see Link, having gotten to know him after he revealed Ganondorf's plot and allowed them to thwart it. Aqua had given a bare-bones description of the Dimensional Defense Force and its roles, and then Link and the Puellae Magi had launched into a detailed description of the events in Termina, supplemented by magically-acquired 'footage' of things, culminating in the final clash with Majora.

"After that," Link said, "we said our goodbyes and came back here."

"Goodness…" the king breathed out. "You certainly seem to make a habit of saving worlds, young man."

"It… kinda just happens" Link replied. "I was just trying to find Navi; I wasn't expecting to end up in another universe. Trouble finds me, Your Majesty."

The man chuckled. "Indeed it does, my boy" he said. "Such is the burden of he who bears a portion of the Triforce, I suppose." He made a barely-perceptible concerned glance toward his daughter, knowing that she too carried a piece of that ancient power, and wondering if similar danger would seek her out someday…

"U-Um, sir?" Miyako spoke up. "While we were in Termina, w-we made some friends. We wanted to set up a dimensional link s-so they and Link can pass through to see each other, but w-we can't set it up in Link's hometown because the Kokiri are distrustful of outsiders. S-So, we were wondering if…"

"If you could set it up somewhere in or near the castle grounds?" the King said. "Hmm… Well, I don't see why not. We'll find a good spot for it in a little while. Is there anything else?"

"Nothing that relates to the kingdom," Homura replied, "but… Link, I have an ability that would grant memories of the other timeline to people. Are there any friends you made in your last quest here in Hyrule that you would like to have remember you?"

"…Well…"

-Break-

Kokiri Forest – Lost Woods

Saria sat on a log, playing the song she'd composed on her ocarina, the birds and other animals hanging around in the shadows to listen. Moments like these always made her feel at peace. As she finished her song, she heard footsteps approaching. She turned to look, and a big smile formed on her face as she saw who it was.

"Link! You're back!"

She ran up to her dearest friend and hugged him, her cheeks pink as she felt his embrace for the first time in weeks. He'd been so busy searching Hyrule for his fairy friend that he hadn't had time to swing by the village in a while. Saria let out a happy sigh as they held each other. After a few moments, she heard a second set of footsteps approaching, and opened her eyes to see a black-haired girl in a white and purple outfit.

"…Who are you?" Saria asked.

"She's one of the friends I made in my latest big adventure" Link replied. "It's a long story. She has a few special powers related to time…"

"Link mentioned that he told you about his first big adventure, correct?" Homura asked.

"Yeah…" Saria replied. "How he saved the world from Ganondorf, and then time was 'rewound' for him…"

"I can use my power to give you some of the memories of the other timeline's you, if you like."

"…No thanks. I don't need them to know Link is a hero and a wonderful person."

"You're sure?" Link asked.

"Mm-hm" Saria nodded. "I'm guessing you've got other people to give that offer to, right? Could we… stay like this for a while longer, first? Please?"

Link smiled as he hugged her tighter. "Okay…" he whispered.

-Break-

Lon-Lon Ranch

As Link and Homura entered the ranch, Miyako was already there with Epona, who was being tended to by a little girl with chestnut-brown hair that reached down to her hips, wearing a white dress with blue accents. Upon seeing the green-clad boy, Malon smiled and waved him over.

"Link! It's so good to see you again!"

She grabbed his hand and spun him around once, giggling. "I've been worried about you and Epona" she said as she used one arm to hug him while the other petted the juvenile horse in question. "Miyako told me some stuff about the big adventure stuff you got caught up in. And… she told me what your other new friend Homura can do. So… could you?"

Homura nodded and came closer, laying her hand on Malon's shoulder while Link held Malon's hand. The young mage focused her energies, and the device attached to her forearm clicked as the gem set into the back of her hand pulsed. Malon gasped as memories – those belonging to another 'her' – flowed into her head. She groaned softly as her head ached for a few seconds, then a few moments later she looked back up at Link, a flush to her cheeks as she smiled.

"I remember a few things… When Ingo was corrupted, you saved me from him, and from the brainwashed Gerudo soldiers he sent after me… I've always dreamed of a knight riding in to save me from danger, and then in you came…" This time, she used both arms to hug Link, who blushed as he received his fourth hug from a cute girl in the space of half a day. "Hey… Why don't you stay for lunch, Link? I'd… We'd be happy to have you."

"S… Sure" the boy nodded, a little smile on his face; having been denied them for most of his life until he met Cremia & Romani, he had decided that hugs were very, very nice things, especially when someone cute and/or pretty who really liked him was giving one to him.

-SCENE BREAK-

Zora Domain – Throne Room

The Zora King groaned, holding a hand to his head as the memories settled in. He looked at the now-familiar boy standing before him.

"Gracious…." he muttered. "I probably could've done without the memory of being frozen solid. And… My little girl, in that other timeline, had to sacrifice her existence on the mortal plane to act as a Sage… My apologies for the slight mistrust I felt towards you, young Link. If you wish to see Ruto, she's in our 'fountain', near where Lord Jabu-Jabu rests. Let me just move out of the way…"

After waiting a considerable amount of time for the corpulent king to very slowly move his bulk out of the way of the passage, Link and Homura headed on through, emerging into the semi-secret cove. A titanic fish – Jabu-Jabu – slumbered half-sticking out of the water, and near the water's edge a little Zora girl around Link's age was staring up at the sky, lost in thought. Princess Ruto turned to face Link and Homura, cautious and curious, and Link blushed a little as he actively focused his gaze up on her face; apparently, it was a Zora tradition/custom/social more that children under the age of 13 could remain completely nude at any & all times they wished, which 11-year-old Ruto took full advantage of.

"W-Who are you?" the young princess asked.

'Wow, he's pretty cute for a Hylian…' she thought.

Ruto couldn't explain what happened next. One instant, the strange new people were a few meters in front of her, and the next they 'flickered' and reappeared right beside her, his hand touching hers and the black-haired girl's on her head. Ruto gasped as Homura's spell kicked in, and memories flooded into her mind. Link stepped back as Ruto whimpered, holding her head. After several seconds, she looked up at him, her blue eyes becoming slightly teary as her face flushed, a little smile on her face.

"I remember…" she spoke softly. "Link… My prince…"

Link was then caught off-guard as Ruto pounced on him, knocking him over as she pressed her lips to his and wrapped her arms around him. Link's face went red from the unexpected kiss and from the weight and warmth of Ruto's body atop his, and the young Zora Princess let out a quiet, happy moan as she felt his arms come up to rest on her back, returning the embrace, while his body relaxed as he returned the kiss as best he could. Eventually she broke the contact, smiling down at him as she used one hand to gently stroke his cheek.

"I remember you accepting my… proposal…" she said in a near-whisper. She saw Link's eyes widen a bit as he remembered as well… along with a hint of worry in his expression. "What's wrong, darling?" she asked. "Do you… not like the idea?"

"Huh? No, that's not it at all, Ruto!" Link replied earnestly, and looking into his eyes she could tell he was being truthful. "I like you, Princess; I really do. It was really, really nice being with you and getting to know you during and after I saved you from Jabu-Jabu's insides, and in the Water Temple. You're fun to be with and you're really cute and pretty and you're so… soft and warm… It's just that I… well, there are…"

"There are a few other girls who are in love with him" Homura said.

Ruto giggled. "Is that all? Dear, you don't have to worry about that! Princesses can share! If someone else loves you, I won't take you from them… as long as they're willing to share, too. So who else is it?"

Again, Homura answered for Link. "Two farm-girls, a Kokiri girl whom Link grew up with, and Princess Zelda."

Ruto gasped. "Even Zelly?" she asked, a bit astonished.

"…Zelly?" Link repeated.

"Oh, this is too cool! Me and Zelly have been playmates since we were both in diapers! We keep in touch still, and whenever my daddy and hers have king-stuff to talk about we hang out together. And now we've got the same consort! Ooh, yay! We can both have fun and do lovey-stuff with you together!"

Ruto gave a happy little giggle as she snuggled Link again. Link's face was rather red as his thoughts were all astir. He pretty much knew that Ruto and Romani had feelings for him, but to hear it actually called love? And to be told that Malon, Zelda, and Saria felt that kind of love for him, too? …And, once he thought about it, the feelings he got when thinking about or being with them… did he love them?

As he & Ruto looked into each other's eyes, and Link felt that flutter and lightness in his chest, the contentment and trust and happy thoughts, he realized that yes, he did love her. And he felt those things for the other four as well; his time spent with Zelda after helping her stop Ganondorf, playing and telling stories and relaxing together; all the things he & Saria did together over the years, always checking up on each other, playing together, helping each other; the time he spent with Malon once he came to her ranch to find Epona and ended up hanging out and doing things with her, eating picnic lunches and brushing her hair; all the things done with Romani, her hugging him all the time, wrestling in the hay in the barn, cuddling up with her at night, and the two kisses she'd given him, one of them his first kiss ever… He'd fallen in love with all five of them.

"Having an epiphany, darling?" Ruto asked with a smirk as she stroked his cheek again.

"…Uh-huh" Link nodded. "Didn't really… realize what I felt for you and the others was love… until now… Kinda worried if I can do this right… Don't wanna hurt any of you…"

"Don't worry about a thing, Link. It'll all work out; I can feel it in my heart. …I'm gonna kiss you some more."

"…'kay"

The little blond boy closed his eyes and relaxed as Ruto's lips claimed his, his arms going around the little Zora Princess' soft, warm body while her hands cradled his face and tilted his head back a bit. A little ways away, Homura smiled as she gave the little lovebirds a moment to themselves.

-SCENE BREAK-

Hyrule Castle

Next Day

The first portal linking Hyrule and Termina had been set up at Lon-Lon Ranch, linking it with Romani Ranch on the other side. Naturally, Cremia and Romani had come right through as soon as they could, happy to reunite with Link. When Romani and Malon met, it was no time at all before they were best buddies; at first it seemed like they really were mirrors of each other, cross-dimensional counterparts, but upon closer observation Malon was a little calmer, a teensy bit 'girlier' (though Romani still had plenty in that department), and an inch or so taller.

Aqua, Homura & Miyako, and 'Group Link' (the boy in question, Navi, Zelda, Saria and her fairy, Malon, Ruto, and Romani & Cremia) waited in Hyrule Field just outside of Castle Town, expecting the arrival of a few more DDF personnel bearing news. Soon, a large Midchildan long-range teleportation circle appeared on the ground a short distance away, and 11 people appeared – Teana & Subaru, Marie & Sarah, and the seven kids of Theta Team. One of the latter's members looked around in awe, and then had a bit of a star-struck expression as she caught sight of Link.

'O-Oh, wow…' Erika thought. 'I'm actually in Hyrule! T-That's actually Link and Zelda! …Oh, this is so cool!'

"Hey girls" Teana said as she walked over. "I read the report. Sounds like you got involved in something big. Sorry we couldn't be there to help; we've been pretty busy."

"Right" Homura replied. "The Z-Fighters were going to start training people in their kind of chakra/ki usage, starting with flight & ki blasts and working from there."

The redhead nodded. "My uncle taught me quite a few things; I'm a little stronger now, and I've got some new tricks. Same with my brother, Subaru & Ginga, Sora, Erika, Nanoha & Vita… Good thing Eva-chan's letting us use her 'resort'. We're hoping to have everyone we can versed in ki-based combat by the time Amon, Xehanort, or Harbinger make their move. I think Group Madoka – that's you girls' group – is slated to start in about a week, barring any unforeseen events."

"U-Um…" Erika chimed in, having walked over. "Goku's a-also helped me with something else. Remember h-how I blew up on Belka, got really angry and started s-screaming and cursing? T-Turns out I was bottling up a lot of any anger or a-annoyance I felt without knowing it – just l-little things, piling up over a l-long period of time, and that day i-it finally broke loose. Goku's helped me g-get a better handle on those emotions, taught me some methods to help s-stay calm without letting it build up. …Though h-he said after I l-let him read my mind that there was also actually a minor Dark spell on m-me that day that increased my anger unnaturally, and it was s-still on me. T-The Supreme Kai was able to remove it, though, thank goodness. I don't like the idea of having extra anger that's not supposed to be there."

"I was wondering why you blew your top so badly…" Teana said. "It was unlike you; I know you can get really angry sometimes, like when people you care about are being insulted or threatened, but usually it's a cold and tranquil fury; seeing your anger run red-hot was really unusual."

"Y-Yeah…" Erika looked down, a bit of shame crossing her expression.

'T-Though I wonder why, when Goku 'read' me a-after the Supreme Kai helped me, he seemed a bit s-surprised and… happy, like he'd h-had an idea he liked, when he said I was 'pure of Heart'…'

The little girl looked up as Miyako put a hand on her shoulder and smiled down at her, soon smiling back. The two shy girls walked off together, talking about things in their similar calm & quiet voices. Teana and Sarah smiled; Miyako, Erika, and Fluttershy (who was presently busy elsewhere) were close friends who got along wonderfully, to no-one's surprise.

"So, anything else to report?" Homura asked Teana.

"Well, the augmentations and training of the first batch of Spartan-4s has commenced" the redhead replied. "The Infinity's 'Danger Room', as Marie calls it for some reason, is being put to good use. I hear it that the S-2s, Crimson, and Mendez are putting them through the wringer. Also, we heard from the Galactic Federation, the humans from Samus Aran's home realm. It seems that, a couple days ago, something big happened on one of their worlds, called Norion. Samus managed to save the place, but she was injured; she'll likely be out cold for a week, at least. There were three other friendly mercs involved, too; it seems Dark Samus came calling and knocked all four of them for a loop. The GF said they'd keep us posted, and in the meantime they're preparing formal talks with the DDF, maybe even to join the alliance as a new member-state."

"That's good" Aqua replied. "I have a feeling we'll need all the ships we can get when those Reaper things arrive sooner or later in Shepard's realm. …Speaking of which, how's his 'little project' coming along?"

Teana smiled. "The first meeting between Zaal'Koris and Legion went as good as he anticipated. With any luck, we might – just might – be able to solve that old feud without a load of bloodshed; it helps that the Geth are already anxious to reconcile with the Quarians and live in peace & harmony with them and yada-yada, so now we just gotta convince the rest of Tali & Koris' people. Hell, if we're really lucky they'll be on speaking terms by the time Harbinger & his forces show up."

"Any projections on when the Reapers will arrive?" Homura asked.

Teana's smile faltered. "Anywhere between three and seven months; hopefully it'll be closer to the latter, 'cause to be honest we may not be ready if they show up sooner. I sorta doubt we'd be okay with anything less than a year. …Also, we have a bit of bad news from the Z-Group's Earth. You know the Dragon Balls? We just found out Amon's placed a curse on them that renders them inert. The curse is linked to his life; as long as Amon is alive, the Balls are useless. So, if we lose anyone, and it takes more than a year after that to kill Amon…"

Homura and Aqua nodded; the dire implications didn't need to be stated.

"One last thing; it turns out that there are multiple linked timelines connected to this world, and Kaede Kanade & Erika helped clarify it for us. Apparently, the first divergence point is Link's final battle against Ganon; at that point, it splits into three timelines – one where he was killed by Ganon, the second timeline being where he beat Ganon and was then 'sent back' while Ganondorf got imprisoned in the Spirit Realm, and the third timeline being… well, this one. Furthermore, you girls' interference has caused a fourth timeline to branch off from this one; technically, we're in that fourth right now, with the original third timeline being the one where the DDF never found or got involved in this world's affairs. It turns out, there's a point about 100 years down that third timeline that we can access… and may need to, since we have reason to believe Xehanort and his underlings are heading for it as well."

"Wait…" Aqua said. "If it's 100 years in the future, then how can we…?"

"It's complicated stuff involving the fluidity of time flow, slipspace travel, and magic. Best not to question it; leave it to the AIs and eggheads to puzzle out the fine details."

"So we'll be 'departing' for that point in space-time soon?" Homura asked.

"Yes. Supposedly, we'll be showing up shortly after another incarnation of Link – that's something else Erika will have to explain to you – helped thwart an invasion of Hyrule led by 'Zant, the Usurper King of Twilight'. According to Erika and Kaede K, Ganondorf was involved, too. Anyway, if we're lucky we'll get there before Xehanort does."

"When are we ever lucky with that sort of thing?" Homura murmured.

"Yeah, I know. But we can hope. Anyway, though, we have a couple hours. Let's kick back here for a little while first."

"Sounds good to me" Aqua replied. She giggled as she watched Link's five girls follow him wherever he went, and he didn't seem at all perturbed by that.

-CHAPTER END-

Next Time: the Hyrule of Twilight Princess, shortly after the events of the game