~*~
Zelda was beside herself. This past week has been absolute hell. She could feel another headache coming on.
Link had disappeared into thin air and a terrible prophecy had been foretold.
Demise is coming.
Zelda walked down the large corridor that led to her study, with Link on her mind. Ever since she had received the news that Link had seemingly disappeared, he was constantly on the forefront of her mind. Zelda sighed.
With heavy steps, Zelda entered her safehaven and promptly began to review all the notes she and Impa had made regarding the correlation between Link's disappearance and the prophecy that had been revealed before her meeting with Impa later that evening.
Link, looking like the perfect hero, protecting her, Link finally opening his blue eyes, Link exploring the land and finding parts of himself in the process. The memories she had of the hero flashed through her mind in quick succession. Zelda clenched the papers in her hand. Link heroically defeating evil and freeing her, Link's bright smile when he first saw her, camping with Link for a few days, and Link's cold stare he had given her when they last saw each other.
Zelda let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding in.
She had known that it was very difficult for Link to try to pick up the pieces and move on. The trauma of their initial defeat was something that Link had yet to overcome - he could barely even remember it. Zelda was painfully aware that the lame advice she gave him was unwanted, but nonetheless true.
All their friends had kept him company and when Ganon was defeated, they left for good. Link, who lost his memories and heavily relied on the spirits of their dear friends to connect him to who he was, was left alone again. He had lost them twice. He had lost everything.
Zelda wore a pained expression and put her head in her hands. Why couldn't they catch a break?! Wasn't a hundred years of pure damnation not enough?
She felt so tired. Being trapped with her true polar opposite for an entire century had been a very surreal and oftentimes, horrible experience. It wasn't until Link awoke from his slumber that hope had reawakened in her.
With a deep breath, Zelda willed herself to focus. She had to find the knight and prepare for war against Demise. There was a lot of work to get done.
" Link is not the only one capable of taking action, I must do my part as well." Zelda felt tired, but she was determined to fight and win.
"I know Impa and Purah will have answers." She grumbled to herself as she stood up, exiting her study.
\/
Zelda couldn't explain it, but there was something about Kakariko Village that filled her with a sense of ease. It was peaceful, the sound of running water and people milling about made for a wonderful combination. It was hard to imagine that the end of their world was coming.
"I didn't think I would hear these sounds again not even a year ago. I don't want to lose everything again, I couldn't bear it." Zelda thought to herself as she stood by the Goddess's shrine, enjoying the feeling of being outside.
"Your Majesty, Lady Impa is ready to see you now." One of the Sheikah guardsmen informed her, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"Yes, thank you. I'll make my way to her now." She informed him as she walked away, towards Impa's home. As she walked up the stairs, Zelda felt a sense of foreboding like she was about to receive extremely bad news. "Ha! Nothing new there."
As Zelda opened the door she could hear very quiet sobbing coming from upstairs. Paya.
She had been absolutely devastated by the news of Link's disappearance. Zelda was sure that her presence was causing Paya grief, as Zelda served as a reminder for the absence of Link.
Anyone could tell Paya was very much in love with Link. "Poor girl." Zelda knew better than anyone how Link closed off his feelings and wants from others. He took his responsibility as imperial guard very seriously.
"Link, do you see yourself settling down? Now that peace is restored." Zelda asked her friend, they were enjoying a cup of wine in the newly resurrected throne room. It had only been a few weeks since the fall of Calamity Ganon. It was late into the night.
She noticed something flash in his bright blue eyes before answering her question.
"No." Was his immediate and curt response.
"Aren't you tired of fighting? Don't you want to pursue something else in life?" Zelda felt like a nagging mother, but she couldn't help but feel concerned for the knight. They both had been through so much and they were lucky enough to get another chance to live.
"No. Fighting is all I know to do." Link's voice took on a cold tone. She knew it was a… sensitive subject but it was one that needed to be discussed.
"That's not true. You're an excellent cook, you're great with animals and nature, you love exploring. The possibilities are endless for you, you know." Zelda said with a smile even though she felt nervous. She felt like she was poking a sleeping bear.
She took a large sip of wine.
Link looked away from her, his stoic face giving away nothing he was thinking. She would've given almost anything to know what was going through his head at that moment.
"It'd be good to live life and who knows, maybe even find love. I know all our friends would be happy to see you thrive. They'd want you to stop fighting." Zelda knew those were the wrong words to say the second they passed her lips, but she was not going to apologize for saying the truth.
She noticed his blue eyes become dull and distant.
"Zelda, the only thing I'll ever be good at is fighting. It is the only thing that I remember wholeheartedly." Link said as he stood up. "I don't want to forget, so please do not ask me to." He gave her a stern nod before he turned to walk out the door.
Zelda was brought back to reality when she heard Impa calling for her behind the door to Impa's room.
"My dear, Zelda… you look…worried." Impa's sharp eyes looked through Zelda as she took a seat in front of the older Sheikah woman.
"I could hear Paya crying. It makes me worry for Link. It makes me worry for us." Zelda stated as she reached to hold hands with the Sheikah woman.
"Hmph, then you worry for nothing. The young hero is alive." Impa stated simply.
"Link's alive?! Thank Hylia!" Zelda felt her heart expand with hope.
"And no, I do not know where he is." Impa crossed her arms. She knew Zelda well.
"Then how do you know he's alive?" Zelda tried to keep the annoyance and disappointment out of her voice. She hoped she succeeded in doing so.
"Chief Riju could not locate the Master Sword among the items that had been left behind after Link disappeared." Impa stated.
"How does that let you know that Link is truly alive without also knowing his location?" Zelda asked, not seeing a correlation.
"The sword and Link are bound together. He is the only one capable of holding and using the Master Sword to its fullest potential. There is only one Link and and only one Master Sword at any given time." Impa explained.
"So that means since the Master Sword can't be found, it must be somewhere else with Link?" Zelda asked, connecting the dots.
"Precisely." Impa spoke in an optimistic tone.
"But then… where could Link be?" Zelda's heart began to pound, fearing the answer.
Impa looked intensely at Zelda, it seemed like she was trying to form the right words. A long silence blanketed over them.
"…Purah has come to a few conclusions. Firstly, it's possible that Link time traveled, although there is no indication whether he went back or forward in time. It's also possible that he may not even be here…in this dimension." Impa spoke with a steady and slow voice.
"!" Zelda was speechless.
"Purah and Robbie have begun working to possibly locate him. You'll find them in her lab, no doubt you want to speak to them about these recent findings." Impa closed her eyes and gave a small, reassuring smile. "There is still hope, Zelda."
Zelda clasped her shaking hands on her lap. A seed of hope had been planted but she wasn't sure if it was enough.
"Impa, how much time do we have until Demise is upon us?" Zelda asked worriedly.
Impa's small smile vanished. "There is no way to tell. The only indicator I was able to locate said there will be noticeable changes to our physical world."
Zelda resisted the urge to slump. "So we don't know how much time we truly have. All we know is that we're running out of it."
"Will we be able to use the Divine Beasts and other technology we have at our disposal to stop Demise if Link is not found in time? Will we stand a chance?" Zelda asked. She had to know if Hyrule and all its people had a chance.
"We must find a way to Link. The destruction and chaos that will come soon will be absolutely devastating, it will make Ganon look insignificant by comparison. Without the young hero and yourself, we do not stand a fighting chance." Impa's voice held a tone of finality that made ice run through Zelda's veins.
"I see." Zelda closed her eyes in resignation. She reached to clasp the older Sheikah woman's hands once more. "Then we'll find Link." It was now her turn to give a reassuring smile.
"You'll be a fine queen, Zelda. I believe in you and Link." Impa said as she squeezed the young Hylian woman's hand in return.
"I will leave you so you can rest. I'll make my way to Hateno now. We haven't a moment to waste." Zelda stood up and made her way to the sliding doors. She paused before leaving. "Please give my reassurances to Paya."
As Zelda made her way out of the village, toward her entourage, she couldn't help but feel a sense of doom, like she was on the edge of a cliff. She knew that the only way out was forward.
Zelda looked down at the Triforce on the back of her right hand and felt her heart pound. The safety of everyone in Hyrule came down to her and Link all because of this mark.
As she got closer to her guards, she silently promised to keep them from harm. Zelda would never forget how Link protected her until the very end, and now that she had the strength, she would be the protector.
"We are to make our way to Hateno Village, to the laboratory where Purah works. Post haste." Zelda informed her guards as she sat atop her horse.
"Link, wherever you are, please make your way back home." Zelda silently prayed as she raced towards Hateno. Hopefully, towards more answers.
~*~