Author's Notes:

While I stick very closely to the HTTYD movie/TV show lore, I take liberties with the LoZ elements. Please read with an open mind, as if this were a new game.

New chapters on Wednesdays. The whole thing, 30 chapters plus Prologue, is written and will be posted!

Link tugged at the collar of his tunic. It was strange wearing the Hero's Clothes again. Somehow, they still fit despite him growing taller, and yet they didn't feel right. But it wasn't just the clothes. Even with Zelda's encouragement and trust in him, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was a fraud. A simple wardrobe change couldn't solve that. He knew what he was.

The voices that had been arguing since she found him in the alcove apartment resumed in his mind.

You need to get this off your chest. She'll understand.

Understand? She's the king's daughter, the king who is DEAD because of you.

Maybe—

No, you finally have her back. Isn't that what you wanted?

But she needs to kno—

NO. She doesn't. No one needs to know. What would they say if they knew the Hero of Legend was a coward?

That thought was enough to silence any dispute. He stood there numb in the night air. He had gotten this far; he could hold out a little longer. Just seeing her smile again, he couldn't risk losing that.

The rhythmic clinking of metal drew his attention. He followed it around the back of the shrine to the workshop. The glow from the open door shone like a lighthouse in the dark night. Inside Hiccup stood at the anvil, sparks flying as the blocky hammer smashed repeatedly against the glowing metal. Link was impressed at how comfortably Hiccup handled the unwieldy tool. Hiccup whistled a ditty to himself as he set the hammer down on the workbench and plunged the metal piece into a bucket of water. It sizzled for a few moments before he pulled it out, flicking the extra water droplets off.

Turning over the metal piece in his hand, Hiccup muttered to himself. "Alright. Not too bad." He turned and finally noticed Link leaning on the doorframe. "Oh hey!" he said with a cherry smile. "It's not my best work, but it should do."

Link took the newly constructed prosthetic. Though missing the spring coil, it was the same design as the original metal foot, angling backward then curving forward.

Link gestured to the hammer and forge. "How long have you been doing this again?"

"Since I was a kid. My dad decided since I couldn't use a sword it'd be better if I was out of the way making them instead."

Link raised an eyebrow approvingly and took a seat on the bench. "Berk must be invincible."

Hiccup's face glowed with delight, and he laughed, "If Astrid had her way, it would be." The chuckle died on his lips as he took the piece back.

Setting it on the worktable, his eyes fell on the bracer. He twisted his arm. Tiny dots of light reflected from the two remaining amber stones, swiveling around the workshop like fireflies.

"The Sage said I'd be able to use one of these at the Goddess Shrine to get home," Hiccup said, "but how is that supposed to work? Do I just think really hard, and say 'there's no place like home'?"

Link leaned back on the bench. "You have some of the craziest ideas, dragon boy."

"Not as crazy as 'maybe we should shoot a gem to wake up the Princess'."

"Hey, it's worked for other things."

Hiccup squinted at the ceiling. "Maybe if I die, I'll wake up in my own world."

"I strongly advise against testing that theory," Link said. Hiccup chuckled. "I'm not sure how this is going to work," Link admitted, "but we'll figure that out when we get there." The Hero gave him a pat on the back with a reassuring smile. Hiccup returned the smile for a moment before it disappeared.

"You doing okay?" Link asked. "Impa was pretty tough on you."

Hiccup shrugged. "Yeah, I'm just not cut out for this whole 'save the world' thing." Hiccup pushed off the table and walked toward the window. "The only reason I was able to do anything back home was because I had Toothless."

He stared out into the blackness of night. Everything here was so different from home. The dryness that made him twitch constantly, the unbroken reds and yellows of the swooping canyon walls now bathed in moonlight. Glancing at the sky, he frowned. Maybe it was due to growing up in a sea-based community, but he had always found the stars comforting. No matter where you were, no matter how far you sailed, you could always use the stars to get home. But here even the stars were strangers.

He blinked, realized Link was watching, and turned around with what he hoped was a convincing smile. "Well, let's give this a test run, shall we?"

Taking a seat next to Link, he popped off the wooden leg and affixed the metal one. Hiccup stood up and leaned side to side. So far so good. He took a step. As he put weight on it, it twisted. He pitched forward and threw his hands out to break his fall. Link caught him before he hit the ground.

"I guess I need to make a few more tweaks," Hiccup said shyly as Link helped him back to the bench. He took a seat and popped it off.

"Well, I've never seen you with Toothless," Link said, "but your actions, not your dragon's, speak for themselves." Link patted him on the back. "You're a real hero, Hiccup. I'm proud that you'll be going out with us tomorrow."

Link raised his right forearm. Hiccup recognized it as the same handshake he did with Impa.

"To defeating Ganon," Link said.

"To getting home," Hiccup replied with a wry smile. He clasped Link's hand, and the two Triforces glowed brighter for a moment.

Link nodded, then cocked his head. His ear twitched.

Hiccup tensed, his eyes darting around the workshop.

Link stood up, stopped at the doorway, and peered into the dark night. Hiccup tied the wooden pegleg back onto its uncomfortable position and scrambled to his side.

"What is it?" Hiccup whispered. Link was … smiling. Not just smiling, beaming. Then he heard it himself, a delicate strumming wafting up from the darkness.

Hiccup relaxed and grinned. "Go on," he said, giving Link a gentle nudge. "I've gotta finish this anyways."

/

On the edge of the brimming fountain, the princess sat with her harp. The bright moonlight reflected off the pool like a mirror, catching the tiniest tear in her eye. Under her breath, she hummed to herself.

"I don't recognize this one," Link said, stopping by the edge of the fountain.

"Oh!" She quickly wiped her eyes. "That's just something silly."

"You wrote that?" Link asked. Zelda smiled and blushed. "Can I hear it?"

The princess brushed her hair to one side and began wringing her fingers through it. "It's not much," she said.

He took a seat on the edge of the fountain and crossed his legs, grinning like a child about to hear a great story.

The princess sighed. "You promise not to laugh?"

Link put his hand over his heart. "May Hylia smite me."

She took a breath and began to pluck a steady rhythm, her thumb striking the bass as her delicate fingers danced across the higher strings. Link closed his eyes as she began to sing.

Come on, my soul.

Don't you get shy on me.

Lift up your song.

'Cause you've got a Lynel inside of your lungs.

Get up and praise.

The strumming grew louder, and the timid voice grew stronger.

Oh, come on, my soul.

Oh, don't you get shy on me.

Lift up your song.

'Cause you've got a Lynel inside of your lungs.

Get up and praise.

Link opened his eyes. Zelda was completely lost in the anthem as she sang the refrain a third time, her fingers drawing all they could from the ancient relic. There was an intensity he'd never seen in her before, as if she were rallying not just herself but an army before her.

Come on, my soul!

Oh, don't you get shy on me!

Lift up your song!

'Cause you've got a Lynel inside of your lungs!

Get up and praise!

She strummed a final major chord and let out a sigh. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she looked down. "That's all I have."

Link blinked twice. "It's … beautiful. What does it mean?"

Zelda sighed. "My grandmother told me, 'When things are bleakest, it's the best time to sing.'" As her fingers brushed the strings, a tear ran down her cheek. Link knew her father had given her this harp and that her mother had taught her to play. According to her grandmother, now was the perfect time to sing.

She brushed the tear away. "The words came on their own."

Link leaned back. "A Lynel, huh? That's … dramatic."

"Yeah, I guess it is." She began running her fingers through her hair again. "Maybe I should change it."

"No. No, I think it fits." Zelda turned a doe-eyed glance at him. Link felt his cheeks warming and looked away. "You're going to make a great leader one day."

She sighed. "Right."

He winced; he should have worded that differently.

He was wrestling with what to say next when the princess took his arm and laid her head on his shoulder. He almost pulled away but felt her gentle inhale and exhale and understood. In this moment, she was not the Princess of Hyrule nor he the Hero of Legend; they were just two orphans. He rested his head on hers and welcomed the scent of lilac.

She squeezed his arm and whispered, "I'm glad you're here."

Link felt a tug at his heart, and the voices clamored in his mind.

Don't do it.

I need to tell her.

You can't! You'll lose her forever!

I can't live in a lie anymore!

He touched her arm. "Zelda, I need to tell you something."

/

Link fought for breath as tears streamed down his face. It had been easier to say than he thought, but the princess still hadn't said a word. The gaiety that had shone out only minutes before was completely usurped by the gravity of his confession. Was she going to revoke his title? Send him into exile? A traitor deserved all that and worse, but any punishment that separated him from her would be like death.

Finally, she spoke. Her tone was cold. "Thank you for your honesty." It would have hurt less if she had stabbed him.

"I think I need to give this back." Link drew the Master Sword and presented it to the princess. "I don't deserve to carry this."

She closed her eyes and held her breath. The Triforce glowed on her hand. Exhaling, she said, "The goddesses didn't expect you to be perfect." She pressed the blade back towards him.

"They told me, 'Be strong and do not falter.' And …" He rubbed an eye before another tear could escape. "I've done more than falter."

He felt her delicate fingers brush the bangs from his eyes. "You've had to face dangers that no one else did."

He couldn't bring himself to look at her. "Even before that night, before he told me, I knew I wasn't strong enough."

"And you were right." Link's head whipped up, eyes wide and brows furrowed. She continued with a smile. "A fifteen-year-old Hylian with only a few months of training against the Desert King, what were the chances?"

His grip on the sword tightened. "Are you saying the goddesses set me up to fail?"

Her laughter shattered his anger like a hammer against thin ice. "Always so quick to jump to conclusions." She took the sword and set it on the ground. Her eyes twinkled as if she was about to share a secret. "What if I told you, you were not chosen for your courage?"

"What?"

"Well, not directly," she admitted. "When you were training, before fighting Ganon, what propelled you to tackle all those enemies?"

He could have given the easy answers: because he needed to, because it was expected of him, because Impa wouldn't let him progress if he didn't. He searched deeper and found the truth. "I guess, because the goddesses said I could."

She nodded with the warmest smile. "You had faith in their word. Courage is simply faith in action."

"That can't be all there is to it. The other heroes—"

"Link, you're not them, so stop trying to be." He took the scolding, and she continued. "You believed them, more than anyone else in Hyrule."

"Everyone except for you."

She acquiesced with a slight nod. Taking both his hands in hers, she looked deep into his blue eyes. "Trust them. Like you did when you were a child."

Link sighed, his brows pinching together. "It was easier then, before I knew how dangerous it could get."

"And this is the test: can you trust them when things get worse?"

"I trust you." It was her voice that had guided him these long years, and now that she was here again, by his side, her delicate hands folded in his, he would jump into Death Mountain if she told him to.

She shifted to face him directly, and her demeanor grew serious. She spoke not as his friend or even the princess, but as something … more. "Then hear me now: They have never left your side. They've only waited for you to turn around and see them." She cupped her hand around his cheek, and her smile was hers again in all its humanity. "Your fear is justified, but their words are true. What if their words were not meant to erase your fear but to invite your courage into something greater?"

Link knit his brows. An invitation? The exhaustion, the hunger, the fear? He'd never considered his calling a gift. It was a great honor, to be sure, and a severe responsibility to bear the fate of thousands on his shoulders. Not just the Hylians, but the Gorons, the Ritu, and the Zora, too. All who called Hyrule home.

A familiar weight pressed on his chest, making each breath more difficult than the last. So many were counting on him. Save 'm, Hero. Forbes's final words stung like the bite of a viper. So many had counted on him. Ordon, Kakariko, the Lost Woods, all those innocents— Link blinked away the hot tears. Had their trust been in vain?

Zelda touched his hand, and an accusation flared in his heart. He recoiled from it. He didn't want to voice it—he didn't want to spoil the moment—but every moment it grew stronger, and he knew if he didn't ask now, it would consume him. "Why didn't you come back sooner?"

She caught her breath, then looked down. Her brow creased as she rubbed his hand, her thumb running over the Triforce of Courage. Her lips pulled into a tight line. Link knew she already had an answer but didn't want to say it.

Finally, she sighed. "You weren't ready." Link flinched. The princess kept her eyes down as she continued to rub his hand. "Would you have been able to hear this then? No. You would have thought it was your strength or your sword that brought victory. The goddesses needed to remind you who it was that gave you strength."

Link snorted. "So all this was to teach me a lesson?"

"To the wise, all of life is a lesson."

"People have died!" he choked. "How could they be so cruel?!"

Zelda squeaked. Link froze, realizing he was squeezing her hands.

He pulled back, trembling. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I— A-are you okay?"

She massaged her delicate fingers. "I'm alright."

Link groaned and dug the heel of his hand against his eye.

"Link, I'm fine." Gently, she took his hand and cradled it in hers.

Link shuddered. "I— I shouldn't have said that. About the goddesses."

She touched his shoulder. "They wouldn't be divine if they couldn't handle some doubt." He caught her wink before returning to her more serious tone.

"Death is the consequence of evil," she said. How could she be so calm when her own parents had been sacrificed on that very altar? It seemed that she was wrestling with that for it took her a long time to continue her thought.

Finally, she responded. "I don't know how this all works, but I do know that Ganon fears you, and he would want nothing more than for you to give up. So, what are you going to do?" She picked up the sword and presented the gleaming amethyst hilt as she had done all those years ago. "Will you fight for Hyrule?"

Link dropped to one knee. "With my life."

"Then rise, Hero of Legend."

In one swift motion, he stood, grasped the sword, and sheathed it with a flourish. Link lifted his head and felt the familiar weight on his back, not smothering but reminding him of his purpose. He was the Hero and would strive to be so.

The princess grinned foolishly at him.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said, twirling her golden hair around her finger. "I just love it when you do that."

Link blushed and didn't hide his smile.

"Are you going to tell Hiccup?" she asked.

Link looked up at the darkened workshop. Hiccup was probably getting ready for bed. It would only take a few minutes … But it was late, and he was so tired. Did Hiccup need to know? There was a resounding "yes" in his mind.

He released a long sigh. "I will. In the morning."

"That's my Hero."

Zelda grabbed the harp and began to pluck. "Take heart, your story is still being written."

Link closed his eyes as he listened to the introduction. It was the Nightingale's Song, the one Zelda had used to comfort him after leaving the Lost Woods for the first time. Hylia, it seemed like a lifetime ago. Now bearing scars visible and invisible—many by his own doing—he was no longer the hero he thought he would be, thought he had to be. Walking this path was not the exemplary journey he'd imagined, but it was real. Real with fear and pain and heartache … and healing. His story was not yet over. Tomorrow was a new day, and he would face those challenges with courage. But for now, he just listened, breathing deeply, taking in every sweet moment, as Zelda began to sing.

Underneath the stars I'll meet you

Underneath the stars I'll greet you

There beneath the stars I'll leave you

Before you go of your own free will

Go gently

The gentle melody floated into the night.

/

On the other side of the hill, Impa stood at the front doors of the shrine, staring forward into the desolate canyon, her eyes burning. She had recognized the melody as soon as the princess plucked the introductory notes. This was her song—the lyrics so apt it was almost as if the folk tune was written for her—and when he learned what it meant to her, it became their song. Every word, every phrase, stirred a dozen beautiful memories now stained with tragedy.

The music, after yesterday, after seeing him … it was too much. Impa wanted to cover her ears, to bury her head in her hands, to hide—

NO! She was stronger than this. She forced herself to listen, though Zelda's pure soprano voice pierced her heart like a dagger.

Underneath the stars you met me

Underneath the stars you left me

I wonder if the stars regret me

At least you'll go of your own free will

Go gently

Beads of sweat rolled down her face, and she grit her teeth. Memories pounded against her heart relentless as the surf, until one memory forced itself upon her. She could once again feel the dust and smoke clogging her nose, taste the sweat on her lips, feel the ache in every muscle. Fiery wooden beams cracked and snapped. She staggered out of the Castle with Link's unconscious body draped across her back. Hylian soldiers lay everywhere, their young, beautiful faces cold and still. Scores of bulblins and other monsters still trampled the green grasses around the Castle, but they didn't notice her as she crept out. A duel in Hyrule Field held their attention.

The two blades clashed, one silver and one black, red mist streaking from the midnight metal. The Triforce of Power glowed on the Desert King's hand as he easily parried the attacks of his flagging opponent. Faded Shiekah blue, a white beard now streaked with dirt and blood, piercing gray eyes that had trained generations of warriors. Master Jin. Even from so far away, Impa could tell from his sluggish movements he was grievously injured. She swallowed a lump in her throat. Link hadn't been able to stop Ganon; perhaps … Master Jin could.

To the right of the duel, she spied the survivors. It seemed out of all of Hyrule's forces Ganon had only spared the Shiekah. Bulblin spears hemmed in the forty remaining warriors, pressing them together in a tight circle of blue and white uniforms like a morning catch of chillfin trout. Five score of bulblins, a squad of lizalfos, and even a hinox, towered over them, spears and arrows at the ready. The single, gooey eye of the hinox roamed over the prisoners while its meaty hands tapped a battering ram into its palm like a bludgeon.

Where was Kogah? She scanned the downcast faces and prayed that he was somewhere in the back. He had to be.

With a resounding clash, Ganon stepped back and circled around. He called out. "You, renowned Master of the Sheikah, would send A CHILD as your champion?!"

Blood oozed from a gash above Master Jin's bushy eyebrows, and he clutched his side. His other hand could barely hold up his sword. "He is no mere child." Master Jin heaved and swung his blade.

Ganon raised his own with one hand. The blades sparked on impact and locked. His tone was haughty. "That boy fell like the rest. I've defeated your Hero, your king, your armies!" The Desert King stepped closer, and even across the vast field, his deep voice carried clearly. "And you are just an old man."

The Sheikah Master braced against the Desert King's blade. His arms trembled, and his knees buckled. And yet, his voice rang with the strength of a Lynel. "I have spent the long years of my life protecting what I love. I will return to the dust, as will we all, but there are those who cannot die." Ganon's eyes flared, but he remained motionless as Master Jin continued. "You think you will win by cutting us down, and therein lies your mistake. Hylia herself watches over us, her memory revered in every shrine and fountain and statue." Ganon bared his teeth. The Shiekah adjusted his grip, his ancient back straightening. "It is a dangerous thing to seek the ire of the goddess. Stop now while you can."

The Desert King sneered. "Can your goddess save you from my blade?"

"Whether she chooses to intercede in this moment or not does diminish her power."

"What good is her power if she doesn't act?" With that, Ganon slid his blade away, and Master Jin stumbled forward. The Shiekah raised his sword to strike again but stopped abruptly. The black blade protruded through his back.

Impa clasped her hand to her mouth. The captured Sheikah cried out, and the monsters shrieked with delight. Ganon yanked the sword back, and the Shiekah Master fell on his face in the mud.

Yet, the Desert King was not satisfied. He struck him again, and again. Curses and protests burst from the prisoners. Three Sheikah broke through the bulblin's confines. Ako nearly made it to Ganon before he was shot in the back with a volley of arrows. Gryl took a lizalfos spear to the gut. Pakh, the luckiest of them, was grabbed by head by the hinox and thrown back into the horrified crowd.

Ganon did not relent.

Impa couldn't watch. The man who had brought her in, brought her up, taught her to channel her passion into something useful, deserved to live a long happy life with his wife, meet his great-grandchild in just a few weeks, and then, many years from now, be given a warrior's burial.

She tore her gaze away from the carnage and frantically scanned the crowd of prisoners. Hayo fell to her knees, and a bulblin jabbed her with his short blade. Risso's trembling hands helped her to her feet, holding her as she sobbed. The adolescent's face was ashen.

Tears blinded her, but Impa continued to search through the terrified faces, growing more desperate with every passing moment. Kogah, where was Kogah? She wished she had disobeyed Master Jin's order to retrieve Link. If she had been outside with the rest of the Sheikah, maybe she could have stopped all this. Maybe that wouldn't have been his final order.

Ganon finally ceased, stepped back and snorted. Impa swore she saw smoke stream from his nostrils.

Silence descended on Hyrule Field. Even the monsters managed to still their restless shifting.

At length, Ganon turned around. Four more lizalfos brought forth a single prisoner, his hands tied in front with cruel rope.

Impa choked.

Kogah!

He limped badly, his head hanging low, and was forced to stop in front of the Desert King. Ganon sliced through the ropes with a flick of his black blade. His bass voice rumbled, but this time, it was too soft to hear. Kogah's head wearily turned toward the prisoners.

Impa's heart was beating out of her chest. Was Ganon challenging him to duel as well? They had taken Kogah's sword.

Panic struck her; was Ganon going to execute them all? Right here? Right now?!

Ganon's voice rumbled again. What was he saying?!

The Desert King lifted his sword. Red mist swirled around the blade. NO! She wasn't going to lose him too!

Impa was about to drop Link's unconscious body and rush to Kogah's aid when instead of raising it to strike, Ganon offered the hilt of the black sword.

Impa's blood froze. Everything around her faded.

Slowly, Kogah reached forward and with trembling fingers, grasped the black sword. Impa caught her breath. It must be a trick. Kogah would spin the blade around and pierce Ganon with it.

Any second now.

Ganon's eyes gleamed.

Any second now …

To her horror, Kogah—her captain, her friend, her betrothed—dropped to one knee.

Her heart stopped. He couldn't— One by one, the captured Sheikah did the same.

Her heart roared to life, rising in an animalistic scream that echoed across Hyrule Field. Kogah spun around and nearly toppled over. There was relief, despair, and desperation in his eyes. It was the last time she saw his face. In another moment, the monster hoards were rushing to her position. She threw a flashbang and was gone.

Underneath the stars you met me

And underneath the stars you left me

I wonder if the stars regret me

I'm sure they'd like me if they only met me

They come and go of their own free will

Go gently

Go gently

"Hey."

The princess's gentle voice was like a boulder hitting a battlement. Impa turned away, quickly rubbing the tears from her eyes. She hadn't realized the music had ended.

The princess continued. "Link is making dinner. Do you want some?"

Impa started toward their sleeping quarters.

"I know all seems hopeless," the girl persisted, "but have faith. Hylia will save us."

Impa stopped, her fists clenched. "Permission to speak freely?"

"Always."

Impa turned to face the princess. This girl, barely a woman. Her voice was low and icy as each step closed the distance. "While you lived in your ivory tower, Link, the Sheikah, and the Hylian army fought not with our beliefs and our prayers. We fought with our swords and our lives." Her voice rose with her anger. "Where was Hylia when we were pinned down at the Castle? WHERE WAS SHE WHEN GANON STOLE MY TRIBE?"

The shouted questions echoed down the canyon. The princess stood resolute in front of the warrior, cheeks flushed and wide eyed but holding her ground.

Impa brought her voice back under control, though it roiled with resentment. "If you care about Hyrule, I hope you'll actually do something about it." Impa spun on her heel.

"What do you plan to do, Impa?"

Impa paused and rolled her eyes. Without turning, she said, "To do what we failed to do before. And make those responsible pay."

"Revenge won't heal your heart," the princess said tenderly.

"I never said I wanted to be healed."

Author's Notes:

Here I'm borrowing lyrics from two beautiful songs (seriously, give them a listen!). "Come on, my soul..." is from Brandon Lake's "Gratitude", and "Underneath the Stars..." is a song of the same name by Kate Rusby and covered by Voces8.

Thanks to Ari Lewis and Luke for beta reading!