Link clenched his eyes in preparation for Ganondorf to swing his leg into him. Nothing came. There was no swift breeze of his foot passing by like his opponent missed. Warm air danced around him. A multitude of voices surrounded him, some of them familiar. He felt the dry grass beneath his hands where he sat. Link wondered if it was possible he was victorious. He hoped it was true and opened his eyes to find out.
Castle servants and civilians, who were dead the last time Link saw them, stood all around him in utter confusion. "How is this possible?" they wondered. "I thought I died," they said.
Link sighed in relief. He had done it. Against the odds, he actually won. The real question was, now what?
He was delighted by the sound of familiar soft laughter. He spun around and practically jumped to his feet, which reminded him of his wounds. He found Zelda, reuniting with her mom and dad. Her sparkling blue eyes located Link after searching the crowd for him, and she gasped. She rushed toward him, and dodged castle servants in her pursuit. He stood his ground firmly, so when she reached him and collided with him, he could stand like a pillar and support her. He held her in his arms and yearned to embrace her forever.
"Thank you, Link. I never stopped believing in you," she confessed, tears streaking her cheeks.
"I am just glad you are safe. I was so worried," he answered. "I thought I would never see you again," he whispered, squeezing her shoulders.
"Oh my goddesses," the servants began to whisper. "Look at Hyrule. Look at our home."
"It's ruined."
Link stepped back and searched Zelda's face. He turned from her and found the destruction caused over the course of the last hour remained. Zelda gazed out at the city as well and wondered, "Did you keep your promise?"
Link nodded, his eyes stuck on the chaos and mess. "Yes," he explained. "I understood what you were saying. Ganondora… she is, well, madly in love."
"And it is clear now that love can be even more destructive than hate," she pointed out.
Link turned his eyes back to Zelda, hoping for a logical explanation. "I guess the Triforce couldn't help put Hyrule back together."
"The Triforce has unlimited power. Why do you think Ganondorf wants it so badly? This is a result of your heart's desire. Why did you leave Hyrule this way?" Zelda inquired, smiling softly like a mother the entire time.
He shrugged his shoulders. "The people of Hyrule have been through a lot, but I guess I thought the rebuilding process might help bring us closer together? It could help us remember, next time, that fairy tales do exist."
She reached out and supportively grasped his hand in her fingers. "It will certainly take some time, and will definitely bring families closer together. I agree. It was a wise decision."
Link turned his eyes to the King and Queen of Hyrule as they came to stand behind Zelda. He thought of his own parents, his sister, and wondered how they fared. "Well, Zelda, I guess you can go back to your birthday party. I didn't mean to interrupt," he said with a soft chuckle. "There is a lot to be done." Link turned to head toward home.
"Wait," Zelda called, making him stumble. He turned back, his eyes and lips forming a somber expression. "Will you be back?"
The Queen of Hyrule rested her hand on her daughter's shoulder, and said, "What Zelda means to say is, once you have confirmed your family is well, why don't you join us for dinner? We will be holding a conference this evening to make a plan for Hyrule's reconstruction."
"That is an excellent idea," the king agreed.
Zelda's smile brightened and Link felt his entire world light up. "I would love to come back for dinner," he said, accepting their proposal.
"Besides, I don't think I need look any further for a suitor," Zelda added boldly.
Link's face immediately burned and became a bright red. "I am honored, princess. I will be back soon." He waved, and turned to search for his family. He could not wait to hug his mom, to pull his little sister's pigtails just to annoy her, and to tell his dad all about his big battle. Link knew he would never be the same, and neither would Hyrule. For as long as he lived, he planned to do everything to make sure no one forgot that evil would one day return, and to not forsake the legend of the Triforce, or the King and Queen of Evil.