Le vrai n'est pas toujours vraisemblable. (Truth is not always probable.)

- Boileau


"Because I know you," Zelda answered.

His eyes were as blue as she remembered, but dark circles and eye bags made him look so haggard. His eyes were strained by a lifetime of squinting from desert sun, snow-blindness, flames, noxious fumes, sharp winds, and only the Goddesses knew what else.

Long blond hair and a full beard adorned his head, kept clean but was a little messy. How some of his hair hung down either side of his head, and his thick beard, reminded Zelda of a lion's mane. Other than all that extra hair and tired eyes, he still looked exactly as she remembered him: a vigorous man with a cautious, curious, cute face. If there ever could be the apex of courage, heroism, loyalty, and valor, it was him. If adventure itself could ever manifest into a man, it would only be him.

Questions raced through Zelda's mind. Where have you been? How many kingdoms have you visited? How many lost lands have you ventured? How many quests have you accepted? How many people have you saved? How many monsters have you slain? How many nations have you freed? Did you find your friend?

Zelda could not have the faintest clue... She was just glad he was finally back. Yet...he looked unhappy. He held his helm against his waist for convenience, thinking about something.

Sheik and his sister waddled to either side of Mother. "Mom, who's that?"

"Oh!" the queen exclaimed, hand over her mouth. "Zelda, Sheik...this is Link, the Hero of Time."

"So you're not her imaginary friend? You were real after all. Look at that," Princess Zelda remarked nonchalantly, but her brother looked up at Link in awe. His sister just rolled her eyes.

Queen Zelda placed her arms around her kids, giving the princess a little shake to remind her to be courteous, but the princess looked unamused.

"Link, these are my children, Zelda and Sheik," Queen Zelda shyly introduced.

Queen Zelda wondered what could have happened if she had married Link. He must have had that thought cross his mind at least a few times. How would he react to this? Would he feel sad? Betrayed? Like he missed out on something?

Link warmly smiled then nodded. Queen Zelda smiled back at her hero, shoulders lowering. Seeing him happy was more than good enough. It was rare to see Link smile, and his smile gave her hope. She noticed Link's eyes move. Queen Zelda turned her head, her children also turning their heads, the window frame behind them...

Old memories...

"He's still gone?" Link asked with a little humor.

The queen tittered, sliding her hands off her kids, and then clasping her hands. "After I sent you back to your time... I waited. I was so scared. I thought that maybe his banishment failed, or would not apply to the past...but it did. The Evil King remains sealed away in the Sacred Realm, banished from our past, present, future... And then I saw you... again." The queen looked back at Link. "And we were together as children, again, in peace... I cherished every precious moment like there would never be another... Yet for some reason...all of this feels like a dream, as if everything happening now shouldn't be..."

Sheik and Zelda became interested in Mother's words. They really wanted to know about their mother's difficult past.

Mother's pleasant demeanor slowly faded. She became softly remorseful. "After you left all those years ago... I thought I would never see you again. It's so good to see you, Link. But..." She chuckled with some heat. "Where the hell have you been?"

Link answered with silence. He was not a man to show his sadness, but Queen Zelda saw it in his eyes.

"I couldn't find my friend."

"I'm sorry."

"I came back because I sensed the malevolence," Link added, not having to speak anything else for Queen Zelda to know what he meant.

"You had the dream as well?"

Link nodded.

After a few uneasy seconds, Queen Zelda looked worried. "Link, you look exhausted. Why didn't you use the Prelude of Light to return to the Temple of Time?"

For the first time, Link seemed to be keeping something from her.

"Link, what's wrong? There's something really wrong with you, I can feel it."

Link said nothing.

"Mom? What's wrong?" Sheik asked, Mother just stroked his head.

"Link, we need to talk, now." The queen walked off.

Link followed. He would have liked to see an old friend waiting for him at the entrance to the courtyard, but Zelda's guardian was elsewhere faraway. In fact, Link would like to see quite a few friends someday...


Link found himself in the queen's bedroom, seated at her desk, great helm a hat rack.

The prince and princess played chess by the lit fireplace.

Queen Zelda walked around the desk, holding a scroll. The Queen of Hyrule slammed the scroll in front of Link; he flinched in his iconic manner. She sat behind her desk, making herself comfortable. Zelda lifted her legs and placed them atop the desk, one over the other, revealing a pair of long, sexy leather boots. She crossed her arms and stared back at Link, clearly unhappy.

"Before you arrived, that scroll was delivered to me by a Sheikah man who I did not know even existed. I spoke for hours with him. He called himself Ira. I was quite surprised that he happened to have a letter that correlated with my dreams. He told me he was Impa's uncle, in hiding due to the arrival of malevolent forces, keeping himself a secret even from Impa. I thought she was the last Sheikah, but I believed him, for the time being..." Her eyes saddened. "He then murdered several castle guards, kidnapped a Gerudo boy held here, stole a horse, and fled," Queen Zelda sighed. "Link, and..." she hesitated, head dropping. She looked hurt, betrayed.

Link's face remained cautious and attentive, but he said nothing. He did not want to say it, but he knew that the Zelda he once knew was no more. Zelda had changed. They made eye contact.

"As for the Castle Town...things are so different, Link. Many Hylians no longer obey the Royal Family. I have distanced myself from my own people, allowing them to rule themselves, and they established a republic...of sorts. I am not opposed to a commonwealth, but occasionally, riots break out, and citizens faithful to Hyrulean tradition are beaten in the streets. To prevent further civil unrest, I allowed the loyal ones to live along the path to Hyrule Castle, where they are safe with my guards. I even paid for the construction of many mansions...my thanks for their loyalty. Now, many citizens are republicans, some are loyalists, and some remain neutral."

The news was rather surprising for Link. He never would have imagined that the people he saved would defy their own monarch. Memories of that horrible dream rushed through Link's thoughts. There could only be one plausible explanation.

"Legion...they are corrupting the people," Link answered. Zelda nodded. "What do you know about the Princess of Suffering?" he asked.

Zelda shrugged. "Nothing. My dreams, and the letter, warned us of this false princess, but she did not communicate with me. How about you, Link?"

Link did not react. The two remained silent, Queen Zelda expecting Link to say something. The princess and prince knocked over a few chess pieces and bickered.

"No, it's my turn!" Princess Zelda whined, picking up a rook her brother had captured with a bishop.

"No, it's not! You already moved your knight!" Sheik countered, the two grabbing at each other's chess pieces. The siblings noticed Mother and Link staring at them. The children stopped fighting, slowly back to their game in a calm, quiet manner.

The queen looked at Link. "We only have a few leads."

"Ira, Legion, the Apostles, and the Great Deku Tree," Link answered.

Zelda nodded, but she stared at Link with a pair of demanding eyes. She did not forget his silence after her question. Without saying anything, Link stood and picked up his great helm.

"Link?" Queen Zelda asked as he just turned around and took his leave. Swinging her legs off the desk, Zelda jogged after Link, her children watching. She grabbed Link's shoulder just as he opened the door. "Link!" Zelda shouted, the two making eye contact.

"I must return to the forest and protect the Kokiri. The Great Deku Tree will know what to do, just as our dreams foretold," Link stepped out the queen's quarters. Zelda walked after him.

"Link, wait! Let me help you!"

Zelda ran after Link. She grabbed his arm, pulling it over herself and slamming the mail-clad hero back in her room's floor, his helm rolling along. Zelda mounted Link's front, her knees at either side of him. Link's surprised face was priceless. Leaning over to be face-to-face with Link, hair hanging over him, Zelda just narrowed her eyes. "I'm going with you, whether you like it or not."

"Oh?"

The queen nodded. "And you're going to tell me what's really wrong with you."

After a few seconds of silence, Link replied, "Legion is also inside me."

Queen Zelda cocked her head at the unexpected reply. She leaned back, making herself comfortable atop Link's waist. "It's going to take a lot more than a legion of demons to keep me from you."

Link fought off a blush. "You getting off me?"

The queen fixed her hair. "Nope." She let it all hang loose and enjoyed Link's discomfort. "So…where's Epona?"

"After I saved Termina from the moon, I made sure Epona was safe at Lon Lon Ranch. I did not wish for her to be stolen ever again. So I have been on foot ever since."

Zelda nodded. "Why didn't you use magic to just teleport back home?"

"I couldn't risk Legion learning the songs, especially the Prelude... They would exploit everything. Even when I lost myself beyond the Lost Woods... Legion remembered me. I think they allowed me into their world... I traversed the gap between dimensions, the same place Ganondorf banished his Phantom self, I didn't… I should have known better…" Link sighed.

"Just relax, fairy boy." She patted Link's shoulders. "Relax… I'm here for you."

Link became solemn. Yet he maintained dignity. "I thought I could...find her… I couldn't. Even after I saved so many lost souls within the gap between dimensions… Although I defeated so much evil residing there… I sealed away so many malevolent forces wherever the gap led me… So many different worlds, each with so many flows of their time… I just wanted to find a beloved friend…" He took a breath. "I failed. And when I returned through the gap between dimensions, I realized I was followed by so many monsters hidden from me. They learned how to traverse as I did… All these new problems in Hyrule, the danger for everyone, the tendrils of this corruption, the insanity...are because of my doing."

Zelda saddened. "Link, I could have helped… You never had to vanish for so many years."

"I would never drag you into it."

"Link…"

"For ten years I kept them back… For so many more years I traveled through time to close their pathways… It felt like forever. And they still found a way… Not even The Lost Woods could deter them."

"You are only one hero, Link. Not even the Goddesses can do the impossible. You did everything you could. For that, I thank you, sincerely. Now it's time we work together once again."

Metallic footfall echoed down the hallway. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" A royal guard audibly collapsed, though the noise caused Zelda's children to stop fighting and turn their heads.

Annoyed, Zelda rolled her eyes and looked at the door. "Come on in. What is it?"

The guard clankered back up and stepped in. He paused halfway through the doorway, noticing the queen atop a man on the floor… Link set his elbows against the floor, raised his head, and leaned sideways to stare back.

The guard hesitated. "Uhhh... Am I interrupting something?"

"I wish," Zelda admitted. She breathed, reverting to her regal form, and got off Link. She faced the royal guard while her friend picked himself up. "Well, what is it, my boy?"

"Another riot. They've beaten back many guards, we don't know how they did it."

Queen Zelda clasped her hands but kept them low. "The guards were exhausted after rescuing my children from the monsters. The conspirators took advantage of lessened manpower. I blame myself, really… I should have foreseen this."

Link smirked. "So much for possessing the Triforce of Wisdom."

"Link…shut up…"

"Ughh! Sheik! Stop that!" Princess Zelda abruptly whined.

"Stop taking extra turns! Wait for me to move my piece!"

"I would recommend a swift and heavy retaliation against the disloyal fools," the guard remarked.

"Violence only creates more violence. I will meet the rioters, personally."

The guard's eyes widened. "My Queen! Are you sure!?"

Zelda nodded. "Gather the rest of the royal guards. Meet me at the drawbridge in twenty minutes."

The guard bowed and left.

"Riots?" Link asked.

Queen Zelda sighed. "The people of Hyrule have turned on each other, instead of their true enemies… I blame myself, though. If I were a proper ruler, I would have proven to my nation I am a worthy leader."

"It's not you. It's because my naivety allowed malign forces to corrupt Hyrule and its people. You are the rightful queen because you found your place. I'm the one who is at fault."

Queen Zelda shook her head. "No. It has nothing to do with you, don't talk like that. We've been through this sort of problem once before and we won…" She faced Link, hands on her hips. "Do not forget you are still under my permission to save Hyrule!"

Link made a vigorous nod. "If we return to the Great Deku Tree, we'll intercept Ira and prevent what the vision depicted."

"I almost beat you to him. Ira was taken into custody but recently escaped on horseback, with a Gerudo boy whom my guards once disciplined for stealing. All I managed to get from Ira before his escape was his belief in the impending...situations...associated with the vision, though he views there is no fate, only what we make. I do not understand his reasoning. He is a rather capricious, mysterious man, but nevertheless highly skillful."

"What else can you tell me?"

"That's a checkmate!" Sheik squealed, distracting Mother and her guest.

"No it isn't!" the princess squeaked.

"What else can I tell you? Hmm..." The queen pondered. "Ira seems to believe in taking outside forces into our predicament, to reject fate, and by doing this he protects the Royal Family. I told him that the disruption of fate seems to be what got us into this in the first place. Then, I reminded him that he never existed in our world prior to this mess, though he thinks he belongs here…"

"Unusual fellow for sure. He must be able to traverse time and dimensions as well…but only after I came back from the gap. He may be pure of heart, though we cannot trust him."

"As I suspected. However, I honestly do not consider him a major threat, though he must pay for his crimes. My other concern is I feel he is using the Gerudo boy as a political prisoner. The desert tribes can't be happy that their only male was kidnapped right under their noses. Also, isn't his birth rather early? Doesn't it take a thousand years to produce a male Gerudo?"

"Unless you change the flow of time and threads of fate."

Zelda nodded. "Indeed."

"He must be weaving the flow of time to pursue whatever he believes in. Or to adjust multiple timelines to achieve something."

"Quite a busy man."

"Like me. Alright, I'll be heading off soon, I think. I feel much better knowing you are safe."

"And I feel much better you finally learnt to have conversations."

They laughed. Zelda enjoyed seeing Link smile, it was so rare that he did, and she cherished every second of it.

"Thanks for your time, and for your patience...after even a decade of my silence. Oh, and before I forget..." Link took a satchel off his belt and opened it, slowly revealing the Ocarina of Time within. "There was not a single day I did not think about you."

Zelda's eyes kept low as memories flooded her mind. She softly held Link's hand and returned a warm smile. "You are very sweet. Thank you for never forgetting about me… No matter how much time and fate changes, we'll always be friends, right?"

Link smiled. "Always." He looked at the door.

"Aww, you want to go so soon? I like having you here."

"Sorry, I just…"

"Want to go to the Great Deku Tree?"

"Actually, there's one more thing I have to check…but the riot may be in the way."

"What else do you need to do in the Castle Town?"

"Check on an old friend. Someone I haven't seen since we departed from Termina. Maybe he is here, a man of many masks…" Link grabbed his helm, carrying it under his arm, and headed to the door.

"Link!" Zelda slipped around him. "I'm still coming with you." She leaned across him and glared at her children, who sensed their mother's displeasure and paused with chesspieces in their hands. "If either of you sneak out again, Goddesses help me, you're both getting a beating."

Sheik and Princess Zelda stared silently, startled by the unexpected threat.

Mother's eyes narrowed. "Unnnderrsstannnd?"

"Yes, Mom," the siblings replied.

Mother glared further. "You better. I'm telling all the guards to keep an eye on you two." Her kids nodded with widened eyes. Queen Zelda gestured to Link and they stepped out the doorway. "You know Link, you changed quite a bit."

He chuckled. "So have you."

The queen closed the door and walked away with her old friend.

Sheik sighed. "I'm so sorry, Luna… Looks like we won't be seeing each other tonight." He snapped back to attention. "Hey! Stop moving pieces when it's my turn!"

"I'm not!"

"Yes you are!"

They fought over chesspieces.

"You're not paying attention! It's my turn!"

"No it isn't!"

The doorknob rattled. The siblings paused.

"Is that a Castle Guard?" Sheik asked.

"Um, hello?" Zelda called.

No answer.

"Maybe it's the dark forces Mom's friend was talking about?" Sheik suggested.

Silence.

The doorknob clicked and slowly turned. The siblings held their breath and watched without blinking—an albino stepped in, quite proud of herself.

Zelda sighed. "Don't scare us like that."

"Hm? What?" Luna asked as she closed the door behind her. She reared as Sheik suddenly materialized before her.

His bright red eyes and white teeth flashed before her, as if his soul poured out. "Luna!? I...I can't believe you're here!"

The sight of the angelic boy's happiness made Luna smile. "I had a feeling there would be a change of plans."

"You have great intuition! But, but…how did you get past all the guards!?"

Luna blinked once, twice. "I followed a guy I used to see deep in The Lost Woods. He never saw me, neither did the guards."

"Wait... Mom's friend? You know him?" Zelda asked, walking over.

Luna shrugged. "Sort of. He would fight strange creatures there a lot. There wasn't a single time I never saw him at least after some fighting."

"Does he know you?" Sheik asked.

"He's never seen me much, actually. Even when he looked at my direction, well, he never saw me. For some reason, grown-ups can't see me unless very close."

"Well, it's fantastic you're here! I promised to meet you outside like we said, and here you are! Hah-hah! This is so cool!" Sheik's mood skyrocketed.

"Hold on a sec," Princess Zelda chimed in. "Mom's friend was talking about evil forces or something...wasn't paying attention. Do you know anything about that?"

"Hm? About Legion? They're an assembly of piggy demons. They were nice to me. The skull-man who can fly was also nice to me."

"Oh? What did they want?" Sheik asked.

"Not sure. The skull-man wants revenge against the man who betrayed him but also against the young man who slew him. I don't remember his name, tho. I think Legion just wants to find a new home, as their own world is dying. Their son was stolen. They followed the kidnapper into this world, but cannot continue because evil men are trying to kill them. One of them went ahead to find the Great Deku Tree."

"Hmm…" Prince Sheik pondered. "Maybe we should tell Mom?"

"But she wants us to stay inside. Unless…"

"Unless?" Sheik encouraged.

Zelda pondered. "Hmm…ah! Unless we go out to do whatever we want! Then, if Mom catches us, we tell her what Luna told us, say we were looking for her to tell her! Ha!"

"Well, I guess that works…"

Luna found their conversations so strange.

Princess Zelda was excited. "I'm gonna get a new disguise on. This riot sounds fun!"

Prince Sheik also became excited. "Good point! There's gonna be bad people to fend off! We gotta protect our fellow citizens!"

Princess Zelda partly closed her eyes, all arrogant. "Precisely."