Thanks for all the responses over the past few weeks, though I only respond to the reviews (when I remember to) all the favourites and follows are so great to see.
Andrew I'm so mixed about it tbh. I think I'll be happy to see it finished but its weirdly been part of my life over the past few months. It'll be weird to not have to think about it anymore. Thanks, with fight sequences I leave out anything that bores me when I'm writing it. Don't worry about the stress I'm pretty good at coping with it and writing can be pretty therapeutic, I took your advice and spent a little more time on this one but I do want to keep to a little bit of a scheduled with my writing so I don't get too lazy.
RSBCS thanks I've had this final chapter in my mind through pretty much since I started writing this. I considered having Al be possessed by Ganon way earlier but I think he works better as a villain in his own right. I like how he can challenge Link in a way that isn't completely physical. I'm glad you liked the fight it was a little longer in a previous draft but it ended up being really dull, so I cut all the unnecessary parts out. I like your comparison to the Force Awakens, I didn't even think about that when i was writing but now you mention it there are some parallels. And to your last questions... please read on...
Thank you all.
Chapter 29- Acceptance
Link woke with a warm breeze across his face. He held a hand up to his brow, expecting it to burst open. Looking himself over, he looked fine, save for a small headache.
"Is he going to lie there all day?" one Korok clattered away.
"Maybe we should move him to the bed. I didn't make it for nothing you know," another whispered.
He groaned sitting up, sending the Koroks scattering in alarm, stopping to peer out from the trees and brushes curiously.
His muscles seized up a little from the sudden movement and Link stretched himself out. There was no way of knowing how long he'd been lying across the stones for. After this he was really going to have to sort out his sleeping schedule.
A faint light caught his eye. He lifted up the charm, the culprit of all the chaos. Link quietly hoped it didn't mean another wave of memories was approaching.
He stared at it hard but nothing happened. The light within the crystal wasn't fading and it didn't look like it was going to. Link shrugged and put it back beneath his tunic. It felt warm against his chest, comforting him a little.
"You're finally awake," the voice of the Deku Tree echoed. "I thought I slept heavy, but you my child are certainly something else."
Realization hit Link and he turned around to the pedestal. The Mastersword stood tall, just where he had put it. He remembered arriving here with so many questions and, with that image of Zelda he had placed the sword deeply within the stone.
Those visions when he entered the portal to the sacred realm sure were strange. That resonance he felt within him to those green-clad figures was something he'd experienced before. How the whole of time had opened up before him like a drawn curtain, showing the repeated exhausting cycle, the hero and the daughter of Hyrule.
And Ganon, an evil that could not, would not be destroyed. Through pure primal hatred, time and time again, it would return in one form or another. Even if it was defeated eventually Hyrule would always fall. Oddly enough Link was okay with that.
He'd known days before the calamity hit their efforts would be futile, and was completely ignorant that they'd ever get a second chance. Strange that even in the face of that totality Link had still managed to keep going and act like nothing was wrong. Now he finally knew what it was that had kept him going this long.
"Did you get what you came for?" the tree shuffled its branches a little to peer down at Link.
"Yeah…" Link replied, eyes still a little glossed. "Yeah I think I did."
"You recovered your memories?"
Link chuckled, "Not exactly."
The tree had the same look on its face that Link probably did when he returned after one hundred years. Branches were arched tightly upwards above what were probably its eyes. It was hard to tell with the Deku tree being a tree and all.
He was right though there were still some memories left. Along this whole journey Link had been quietly dreading them. The fall of the kingdom, his and Zelda's attempted escape, and his death, they were hard to think about, even with only a few scraps of memory. Now with the full context he could only imagine how unbearable they'd be to relive.
Of course Link had considered not remembering at all. To avoid that pain like he had done for so long but now he didn't want to for a different reason. He didn't need to.
It was hard to remember exactly why he wanted to get back his memories in the first place. Link had forged a new life here, with new friends and great purpose. He'd recalled a few fragments during his journey to defeat Ganon but with each one it was like looking into the life of a different person. It was like spectating a boy's life from long ago.
All those memories didn't feel like his, and with the threat of Ganon overtaking everything he didn't really have time to consider much else.
That changed pretty quickly when he'd woken up in that camp roughed up after his final battle. When he had looked across the campfire into those shining green eyes and felt something stir inside him that had been buried long ago. A mixture of emotions that felt so hard to define, but there was something there, that had been undeniable.
There was no doubting it now he'd known from the beginning.
"There is a great peace to you, the kind I do not see in many Hylians."
"More than I had before at least," Link grinned staring wistfully out to where she'd stood long ago. "I've been such a fool, when I look back over the past few weeks I can hardly believe what I've done. I was so caught up in the past I didn't even bother to look at what was right in front of me, what I was actually feeling… though I never was good at that."
"It's not uncommon for your kind. You creatures always seemed so busy to me, rushing about constantly, so concerned with so many things. All of you are so caught up in your lives. Sometimes taking a step back and looking at it all makes us see the truth in things."
Link's memories had eluded him constantly since he woke up. Over the past few days he'd chased them continuously, he hadn't realised that some feelings never change, no matter what. In the end those images and thoughts did little to stand up to that.
Link laughed a little again causing more Koroks to stare from the bushes. "I'd love to stay I really would but I've wasted so much time already."
The Deku tree stared down confused. Even all-seeing trees could get a little confused sometimes.
"I miss her, I really do."
"Oh…?" the Deku tree mumbled, leaves ruffling in an uncomfortable fluster.
"100 years is a long time, I hope it's just not too long. There's just one more thing I need to ask…"
"What is it my child?"
Riju sat down let out a short huff after her tirade.
Kaneli sat tall, chest puffed out but beak kept firmly shut.
Sidon looked from one side to the other in a fascination and horror.
The other various delegates from the Hylian villages whispered to each other, watching the shambles from the side-lines.
And Yunobo and Bludo just looked a little confused.
It was Zelda though who felt more than ever like everything she had fought for was crumbling like wet sand through her fingers. They all sat at around a crude rounded table each race occupying a different edge, a design made to promote unity, so much for that. Zelda was at the helm of her own personal nightmare.
She desperately looked around for Impa for guidance but as she already knew her kind face was nowhere to be seen. The Elder had fallen ill in her tent and was unable to attend the final day of the conference. Not even Paya was here. Both of the raised cushions next to her were terrifyingly empty.
Zelda was completely surrounded with people she barely knew and who only knew her from wives tales. There was no respect here; they would not listen to a girl with little to no experience with anything like this.
Teba stood up, feathers bristling, "I don't know why we ever came. You Gerudo keep yourselves isolated from the world, thinking somehow you're better than the rest of us when all you do is lie in the sun and drink all day. While we all fish, mine and work ourselves to death you reap the benefits. Now you complain that you aren't getting a good price for your idleness. We could never work with people like you; this whole thing was a mistake."
"Too right it is, I won't make the same mistake again," Riju remarked, folding her arms.
"Friends… friends… there's no need for this," Sidon smiled waving his hands as though he was trying to waft the tension from the room. "I'm sure we can come to some kind of arrangement. Link wouldn't have wanted us to fight. He would've wanted us to work together."
"And where is Link?" Riju demanded.
"Yeah," Teba said, looking slightly confused at the fact he was now agreeing with the fiery child.
"I, Uh—" Sidon flustered going a nice salmon colour and looked directly at Zelda.
Then they all looked at Zelda, probably for the first time in the past hour. Her heart began to twist as the panic boiled up. It seemed she couldn't go a day without thinking about him.
"Link is…" Zelda's voice trailed off.
"We need to talk to him, I need to talk to him," Riju placed a flat palm on the table leaning forwards.
This was all wrong this had to be a bad dream. All she had worked towards falling apart before it had even begun.
Her fists began to clench, "Link has gone off on some… personal errands and he won't be back for some time."
It was a lie. Chances were he was putting himself as far away from the hells he'd endured over his life. I didn't even matter if she lied, without Link she had no authority she was weak.
"Well until he does I think it's fair to say we're done here," Riju called around the table, gaining an answer from no one.
The worst nightmare of this day looked like it was coming true. Her head sagged downwards for a moment and using all her willpower she managed to keep her hands from shaking too much.
This can't be happening
All she had worked for, all she had sacrificed, everyone she had lost. To watch it all end before it had even begun was not something she could allow.
"No," Zelda said firmly. "If you have something to say you'll say it to me."
Riju stared back at her blankly and slowly began to sit down. The room was silent save for a few whispers from the Hylians as they looked her over with great interest.
Zelda looked across the faces of ever delegate and took a shaky breath, "Ganon is defeated and the Yiga run tail back to whatever hovels they can find in the Gerudo Highlands. Soon the roads will open up again and for the first time in over one hundred years people will be able to walk through Hyrule fields without the threat of being decimated."
Sidon grinned at her, waving a fin to usher her on.
There's my support I guess.
Voice getting stronger words resonating around the tent, all eyes on her, "Years ago we worked together in a kingdom of peace, where hostilities came over fishing contests or tournaments. If we need Link to solve all of this for us when all we have to do is sit down and listen to each other, what kind of leaders are we?"
The slimy fish creature next to Sidon called Muzu began to speak up, "Princess we appreciate your words but these matters are more delicate than you—"
"I know these matters are delicate," Zelda snapped, quieting the fish down quickly and leaving her wondering where any of this was coming from. She sure as hell wasn't stopping now though. "Sorting through them will take time, but we must get through this no matter the difficulty... I still see their faces in my dreams. Mipha, Daruk, Revali… Urbosa—"
Even now saying their names felt like hot raw pain. All the other delegates looked down in shame.
"—my father," her eyes closed a little before snapping firmly open. "After all this time and everything I've been through, everything we've all been through. I can't let it all be for nothing. I won't let it be for nothing."
A breeze flickered through the tent Zelda's eyes flicked over to the flaps leading out. He was stood there smiling, her Link, leaning against a barrel arms folded completely at ease. Everything else died out as she stared at him in disbelief, but those eyes were undeniable. It took every sense in her body not to choke on her own happiness as tears began to form around her eyes.
He nodded to her. Go get 'em. Turned and lifted the flap back.
She wanted so desperately to rush out after him, it took almost every ounce of reason to keep her feet planted. There was something about that smile which said he wasn't going anywhere. So Zelda finally caught her breath as she sat down with a steely determination. They were going to get through this.
"Perhaps, I can make a few concessions here and there," Riju said trying to get some form of eye contact from the Rito delegation.
They all looked to the ground before Teba said, "And so can we, without your trade we would not have many of the luxuries we have grown to love."
Teba coughed awkwardly, "And also… Princess… I apologize for making your job so difficult. Without your sacrifice— well none of us would be here."
"I think that's something we can all agree on," Riju nodded respectfully and finally managed to lock eyes with the Rito and then to the Gorons and finally Sidon.
"It's about time."
Everyone snapped to the entrance as Impa hobbled through; making the Shieka monk's eyes go wild with panic. They had all learned the hard way to not fuss too much over the monk.
Impa eventually made it to the centre of the room, watchfully looking from person to person before finally settling on Zelda. Finally she shared with Zelda a slight smile that had more sincerity in it than all the long speeches that had come to dominate the day.
"Now we're all finally getting along I'd like to put forwards a new motion," Impa's face hardened again to not entertain disagreement.
A murmur lay beneath the room for a few moments, until each of the leading delegates nodded.
"The princess is right we are looking at the beginning of a new age in Hyrule. That peaceful kingdom some of us dreamed of and some of us experienced first-hand a long time ago, it's finally possible again. None of it is going to be possible though unless we have someone to unify us, someone to lead us." Impa looked back to Zelda who knew exactly what was coming next.
"There is no one I deem better than the girl who sits before me."
More murmuring, more nodding until finally…
"I accept," Teba said brightly.
"Of course," Riju smiled.
"Count us in!" Sidon winked at Zelda.
The Goron delegate remained silent for a few moments until Bludo hit Yunobo so hard on the head Zelda heard something crack.
"Y—Yeah…" he slurred in a slight daze.
"It's decided then," Impa sat in her raised cushion next to Zelda and closed her eyes peacefully. "Now let's get through all the boring stuff, this day has gone on long enough as it is."
Throughout all the proceedings, through the advice and questions and little bursts of shouting, Zelda had a smile that she could not supress. Not that she even wanted to.
Hours passed and finally with each delegate exhausted and some already snoring, Zelda called it a day. They had actually managed to get through most things and it actually looked like in a few months they might be looking at the rebirth of the kingdom of Hyrule. Of course there were so many things to worry about and so many pains to bear. For one the thought of going back to Hyrule castle made her feel a little sick. With time she could only hope it would one day resemble her home, not the prison she had existed in for so many years.
Soon the tent became filled with laughter and song, as those from all races began to celebrate what had been achieved for the first time.
Despite numerous requests by Sidon for a dance, Zelda stayed sat at the head of the main table, blinking every now and then to check this was all really happening. The rest of the tent was alive with joy and she found herself alone at the table with the monk.
She had spent most of night already trying to shrug off people looking for a little political favour. With Impa by her side she didn't need to, one look from the woman could send anyone sane scurrying.
"I don't know how you didn't end up screaming at them," Impa muttered.
Zelda laughed as quietly as she could manage, "I'm pretty sure I came close to that, but it all worked out okay in the end."
"Okay?" Impa sighed. "My child, give yourself a little credit sometimes. All of this means the world. It means we can finally undo at least some of the damage the calamity has caused to our lives."
"I know you lied to me Impa," Zelda said. "Pretending you were ill? What if I didn't calm things down, the whole kingdom would've fallen apart.
Impa rolled her eyes, "It worked in the end didn't it. A little tough love to make you stop being so timid was all we needed."
"I don't think I have the energy to hear another argument so I'll just stop there," Zelda smirked.
She glanced back towards where he'd stood a few moments ago.
The last few hours of the meeting were particularly painful, Zelda wanted to find him. She'd thought several times in sudden bursts of panic that it was just an illusion, that the smile she had loved so long ago wasn't coming back. It wouldn't be the first time something like that had happened.
"You'll have to get better at this part though my girl," Impa grinned.
"Wha…?" Zelda snapped out of it and flushed up. "I'm sorry I just—"
"Agh," Impa waved her hand dismissively. "No ruler enjoys this part, being respectable at a party sucks all the fun out of it."
"Impa… it's not that I just," Zelda fumbled with her hands.
The monk stared at her for a moment, reading her quickly, "It's the boy isn't it."
"I saw him Impa," Zelda looked back to the flap wondering why she hadn't just chased after him there and then.
"Are you sure it wasn't—"
"No," Zelda said firmly. She knew it had to be him, it had to.
"You disappoint me my girl," Impa said blankly.
"Huh…?" Zelda turned in a shock.
Impa grinned with a mischief that shouldn't have been possible with her age. "What are you doing waiting around here? Sneak out and find him."
"I—" Zelda looked to the exit at the back of the tent. When she looked back to the monk she had already gone, most of the Hylian delegates and Shieka drawing to her like insects around a flame.
When Zelda was sure no one was looking she slinked to the back of the tent and felt its rich fabric drop behind her back.
A sigh of relief escaped her immediately. The evening wind rustled through the grass and in the distance she could hear the gentle ringing from the Shieka tents from the wind chimes. Normally she felt uncomfortable in dresses but after being cooped up in that tent for hours the wind against her legs was more than comforting. There was no sign of Link, but there was no chance she was go back inside.
She grabbed a length of fabric and put the tent as far behind her she felt the chatter and music from the tent slowly fade away, until eventually she made it to the northern edge of the camp. The grass across the field was bathed in a rich gold and the wind swirled through it, flowing like rolling waves.
It was too inviting and already she found herself taking her shoes off and laying them to the side before walking down the slope. The feeling of the cool blades of grass was as freeing as it had always been.
She wondered down the field letting her mind wonder a little but no lingering on one thing for too long. Over in the distance the lights of Hateno were just beginning to turn on, no doubt they had been sleeping easier of the past few weeks then they had done for many years.
A little chill crept over her and she wrapped the fabric around herself a little tighter rubbing her arms. The wind had picked up a little. Through it a sound caught her ear. It was a horse, but that sound didn't come from any beast.
She rushed through the grasses before finally, tied to a tree Epona greeted her with a chuff. Zelda brushed her hands through the steed's hair before seeing the saddle bags and the elaborate blue gold designs of Link's sword.
Crouching down she glided her hands over the length of the Mastersword, wondering if it would ever speak to her again. Since they had defeated Ganon it had fallen silent. In those desperate hours after Link's death the sword had been her only source of comfort and hope. Now it looked so plain.
When she stood back up her eyes were drawn to a figure sat on top of a hill overlooking the camp. He sat there, a dark silhouette only visible thanks to the shining evening light behind him. She grabbed her skirts and walked at her own pace up to where he lay. He wasn't going anywhere this time.
The hill was gentle, and the warm light of the sun felt good against her skin. In these summer days it was always the evenings Zelda enjoyed the most, there was just something in the air that relaxed her.
Link had his eyes closed and was tapping a gentle rhythm with his foot.
"So you came back," Zelda nudged his foot with hers a little.
Link's eyes eased open and he smiled, "Don't you have a party to be at."
It was him, it was really him.
Zelda leapt at him crushing into his arms, feeling that familiar rush as Link wrapped his own arms around her in a warm embrace and snuggled into the top of her head.
When she retracted a little still holding him tightly her vision was blurred with tears, "I'm sorry Link, I wanted to explain everything I really did. I was just so scared, I thought it would push you away. In the end I succeeded in that."
"I'm here aren't I?" Link brushed the tears from her eyes so she could see his shining brilliant blue eyes. "I'm the one who should say sorry. I was afraid too about all the feelings I got when I saw you. I was lost but it was wrong for me to run away. Based on my track record of how I deal with things I'm pretty good at running."
Zelda laughed a little through the tears, "We've both not great at this."
Link's fingers wrapped around hers and he watched her for a while, "I don't think we're doing too badly, all things considered."
When she breathed it felt like she had been holding in air for years. Moving a hand upto his chest she felt the steady boom of his heart beneath the tunic she'd made so long ago, choking again as she reminded herself this was real.
"Sit with me?" Link asked. "Just for a while."
So they sat, talking about nothing in particular, as the lights in the camp come to life wobbling in the distance and watched as the grass peacefully waved over the Opal fields. Even as the sun began to disappear, there was so much life whizzing all around them faster than Zelda could ever hope to keep up with.
As Link talked about his adventures and the strange things he'd come across ever since he'd emerged into a new world, Zelda could only smile. For in what seemed like the first time in forever, that spectre that had clouded over Link for so long was no nowhere to be found.
Next will be the final chapter/epilogue and it looks like its going to be a shortish one. So look out for it over the next few days