Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

So, we're finally going to see Link recover his memories of Zelda and their marriage. Let's get to it.

Chapter 6- Memory

Link walks slowly out of the Hateno Village Ancient Lab. He had just paid a visit to Purah to upgrade the Stasis rune on his Sheikah Slate. This was the last upgrade Purah could perform on the Sheikah Slate. Yet another tool in his arsenal.

As Link walks away from the lab, he suddenly hears a noise from the Sheikah Slate. Link pulls the slate off of its position on his belt and looks into it. As he opens up its functions, he sees something. The Camera option is lit up more brightly. Going to it, he opens the album of photos. As he looks through the photos he has taken, he finds nothing. Then, he goes to the collection of photos taken 100 years ago by Zelda.

As he opens this collection of photos, Link suddenly sees something. A 13th picture he had not seen before. Link feels surprised he missed a picture, certain it wasn't there before. Maybe Purah completing her upgrades on the Slate had caused this picture to resurface from the slate's storage.

Link opens the picture, and instantly freezes. The picture seems to have been taken inside the home of the Kakariko elder. But the only two things in the picture are himself and Zelda. But it is the appearances of them that shocks Link. Link is wearing the blue tunic he remembers in his memories, but somewhat fancy trousers and boots, and decorated with some jewelry. Zelda is wearing her white dress, but with some modifications to make it look more regal and formal. She is wearing a crown of flowers on her head. In addition to their manner of dress, their attitudes in the photo only add to Link's shock and confusion. He has one arm around Zelda's waist, and is smiling a very warm smile. Zelda also has one arm around him, but also has her other hand resting on his chest and is laying her head against his chest, a smile that would light up the darkest cave on her face. As Link looks a bit closer, he sees, on one of the fingers of Zelda's hand she is resting on his chest, a beautiful ring decorated with diamonds.

Link stands motionless, staring down at the picture. His mind is running at a million miles an hour, trying to digest what he is looking at. What could this mean? Deep in his mind, he feels like he knew what it meant almost immediately, but isn't sure he can accept it. But as he continues to look down at it, he slowly begins to accept it. With their manner of dress, and the extra decorations they are wearing, and how close they appear to be…this has to be a photo of a wedding.

But how? Were he and Zelda actually married before the Calamity? This couldn't just be a photo from some royal event, or from them attending another wedding could it? No. Those theories don't explain everything he is seeing in this photo. The only explanation he can think of that explains everything is that this is a photo from their own wedding.

Link slowly lowers the Sheikah Slate, staring off into the distance as he wrestles with his thoughts. How could this be? Even if he lost his memories, how could he forget being married? And then, he remembers something. He looks down at his hand, and sees the gold ring he wears on his finger. For so long since he woke up, he had wondered what was the purpose of this ring. Now, he thinks that this may be the reason why the ring is on his finger. If they were married, did Zelda leave the ring on his finger in hopes that seeing it would remind Link of their marriage.

After several moments, Link finally stows the Sheikah Slate away. If he is going to find out the truth about this, there's one person who may be able to tell him the truth about it. Link immediately runs for his horse, ready to travel back to Kakariko Village, hoping he can get some answers.

Link hops off his horse, Lightning, in front of the elder's home in Kakariko Village, looking up at the doors. Here, he hopes that he might find some answers.

Link makes his way up the steps of the house, reaching the front doors. He reaches out for the front doors, ready to open them. But the hand he reaches out with is the hand on which he wears the ring. As he sees it on his hand as he reaches out to open the doors, he suddenly feels something. A rush within him. And then, he feels it all rush back to him.

Link is standing in front of Alfonzo, fidgeting with the hem of his tunic. He had encountered so many things and fought so many beasts, he had begun to think that there was nothing that can make him afraid or nervous. But now, he has finally found what can. He cannot help but feel nervous at being about to marry Zelda. Not just because of the reaction it could bring from the king and others in the kingdom, but also because he worries about being able to properly provide and care for Zelda.

"You're nervous."

Link turns to Alfonzo, allowing his mask to break a bit and allowing his nervousness to show on his face. "Yes, I am, as much as I hate to admit it," he says.

"Don't be afraid to admit you are nervous about getting married. Any marriage can be nerve-wracking going into, no matter the love involved. And you are marrying the princess of Hyrule. You would be a fool or completely emotionless if you were not nervous," Alfonzo says.

Link nods a bit before he admits, "I do worry about her father's reaction, but I know in the end I can handle it. But I truly worry if I will be able to provide for her…be the husband she needs me to be."

Alfonzo smiles. "And that shows me even more that you are ready for this. What concerns you the most is living up to your responsibilities, and that shows me just how much you love Zelda. Despite what I know the king will think, that is what any bride needs most from her husband, and Zelda most of all." He smiles and says, "The princess is very lucky to have you."

Link is quiet, then begins to smile. "Thank you, Alfonzo. That helps to calm my nerves," he says. He then looks off into the distance, thinking ahead to what his future will be like with Zelda.

Then, Link sees the flutist who will be playing for the wedding taking his position and raises his instrument to his lips. It's happening. Link shifts on his feet anxiously, smoothing out his tunic and clasping his hands in front of himself.

The flutist begins to play a beautiful melody, and everyone takes their positions. Then, the two men standing at the doors open them and step outwards.

As the doors open, Link sets eyes on his bride. Zelda is standing in the doorway, wearing her white dress that has been slightly modified. Though far from the royal wedding dress she would normally have worn, Link thinks that the dress could not be more beautiful. The bouquet of silent princesses and lilies in her hands only completes the picture. She looks like an angel. Link audibly gasps a bit in awe at Zelda's beauty, and tries to prepare himself to receive his bride and finally be bonded to her as her husband.

The memory fades away, and Link stumbles back a bit. He catches himself before he stumbles down the steps and just stands there, eyes wide as he processes the memory he just regained. It…it's true. He was married to Zelda. But, still, some part of him wonders if this was all just a dream or fantasy. But he now realizes that this is not because he doesn't want to believe it. Rather, he fears that he could be wrong.

Link looks back at the doors of the house. He needs a final answer, and the details of what happened. He steps forward again and opens the door, striding into the house. Impa is sitting on her seat, watching as Link enters the house.

"Welcome back, Link. What brings you back here?" she asks him.

"Impa…I have begun to remember some things. Just now, on the steps, a memory resurfaced," Link begins. He pauses for a moment, then says, "I think…I think Zelda I may have been married before the Great Calamity."

Impa looks at Link for a moment in silence, then begins to smile. "At last, you have begun to remember," she says.

Link steps forward and sits down in front of Impa. "Please, Impa. I need to know. What happened?"

Impa smiles kindly at Link. "I will share what I can. But some information you seek, you may only be able to learn from Zelda herself. But I hope what I can share will answer at least some of your questions. So listen well."

Impa pauses for a moment to gather her thoughts and formulate how she plans to explain this to Link before she finally begins to speak. "I am sure that you know by now that the princess was not always fond of you. In the early days of your service to her, the princess saw you as a living reminder of her failures to unlock her power, and she resented you some. However, from what I know from what the princess shared with me that day, that begin to change on the day you saved her from the Yiga Clan in the Gerudo Desert. After that day, the two of you began to become closer, and both of you began to open up to each other. It did not take long for the princess to develop romantic feelings towards you. While I do not know for sure, I believe that you had begun to develop feelings for the princess as well. You were truly dedicated to serving her, and t me, it seemed that it was perhaps more so than just because of your duty."

"The princess knew, however, that your mission had to come first before anything else, and kept her feelings as secret as possible, feeling certain that admitting such would hinder the efforts of the two of you to prepare yourselves and the land to face Ganon. She also feared the reaction of her father should the two of you begin a relationship. And you, of course, were not about to allow your emotions interfere with the responsibilities on your shoulders. And so, both of you kept your feelings secret and went about your duties. Yet, your feelings continued to grow."

"According to what the princess shared with me, it was the day before her 17th birthday that everything changed. As you spoke at the park in the west, the princess, in her despair over failing to unlock her powers, the princess decided not to contain the secret any longer. She feared that she would not be able to unlock her power and the effort to defeat Ganon would fail. And she decided she wished to spend her life with you, especially if it would not last for much longer. She proposed that the two of you marry, and it seems that you agreed with her sentiments, and agreed to marry."

"The two of you came here to Kakariko, and on the princess' 17th birthday, the two of you were married, right here in this house. The following day, you departed for Mount Lanayru together to journey to the Spring of Wisdom. And that was the last time I saw you together. The plan to stop the Calamity failed, and you fell defending the princess on the Blatchery Plain. And from there, you know the rest."

Link sits there in stunned silence, trying to take in everything he has been told. He cannot remember most of what Impa is telling him, but the Sheikah elder has not lied to him yet. And not only that, as he is listening to it, it somehow just feels right to him. And yet, he still finds great trouble in grasping it, that it truly is true.

"How…how do I not remember any of this? If I truly loved Zelda so much, how did I remember nothing?" Link asks.

Impa sighs slightly. "Unfortunately, that is the effect of the Shrine of Resurrection. The Slumber of Restoration, coupled with the length of your slumber, completely took away your memories. Even such strong memories and emotions as your love for Zelda and memories of your marriage were wiped. But, you must not lose hope, Link. The Shrine only erases memories. It cannot erase emotions. I believe that the bond you and the princess share is one strong enough even to last through what has occurred. The princess waits for you, and I know that deep in your heart, the memory of your love for her lies sealed. It is up to you to unseal it."

Impa is quiet for a moment. She speaks up again after a moment and says, "Link, I know you do not remember this. But know this. I have never seen such love in the faces of a living being than when I saw the love on the faces of you and the princess when you two stood here and pledged yourselves to each other in marriage. I have true faith than in time, you will remember it too."

Link looks up at Impa in silence for several long moments. Finally, he nods and says, "Thank you, Impa. You have helped to answer some of my questions."

"Good," Impa responds. She smiles, then says, "Continue on your journey, Link. And when the time comes and you are ready, venture to Hyrule Castle and fight not just for Hyrule, but for your love."

Link smiles slightly. "Thank you. I will take your words to heart," he says.

Link stands up and leaves the elder's home. As he steps out, Link thinks of something that might help him figure more of this out. Link has visited most of the shrines in Hyrule. Among them was the Jitan Sa'mi Shrine atop Mount Lanayru. He knew that was the last place that he and Zelda had visited prior to the beginning of the Great Calamity. If he can recall any last memory or knowledge that can help him work all this out, maybe it will be there.

Link pulls out the Sheikah Slate and pulls up the map. Selecting the shrine, he activates the Slate's teleportation function, sending him to the shrine in seconds. As Link arrives at the shrine, he feels the biting cold of the mountain's peak. Thankfully, being in the cave leaves him a little warmer. Link quickly dons his Snowquill Armor set, shielding him from the bitter cold.

Link exits the cave and walks out into the Spring of Wisdom. Link comes around to the front of the Goddess statue in the Spring. Despite the extra cold of the water of the spring, Link kneels down in the water and clasps his hands. Link looks to the statue and begins to pray aloud, "Goddess Hylia, answer my prayer. I need to know the truth of what happened between me and Zelda. I must regain my memories. Please, allow me to remember what happened between us."

For several moments, he hears or feels nothing. Then, he hears something. Almost a faint chiming. He opens his eyes, and sees a ray of light shining down in front of the statue. Then, he hears a whisper inside his head, "You, with the soul of a hero, fight for love and righteousness. Take now your memory."

Without warning, Link feels that familiar rush, and then a memory comes rushing back to him.

Link looks on as Zelda prays intently before the statue positioned within the Spring of Wisdom. They had been here for some time, Zelda praying intently, desperately hoping to hear the voice of the Goddess or feeling the rush of her power. So far, she had shown no sign of her power, or any sign of communication from the Goddess.

Link tries to to remain quiet, but is worried about Zelda. He knows that Zelda is already under extreme pressure, and worries what failure here might do to her.

The monotony is broken as Zelda slams her hands down onto the stone she is resting on and begins to cry. Link sighs, knowing what this means. He walks carefully through the water until he is standing behind Zelda. He rests a hand on her shoulder before he begins to speak, saying softly, "You've done what you can. You cannot blame yourself."

"I've tried everything I can, Link. And I have failed every time. I have this power, but I cannot use it. Why? Mother and Grandmother never had such a problem. Why can I not use this power?" Zelda cries, tears flowing more freely.

"I don't know. But I do not blame you, nor do the Champions. You have tried, and that is what truly matters. I love you no less," Link says.

Zelda only cries more, and all but collapses to the stone, forcing Link to kneel down. He takes her into his arms and holds her tightly. Zelda turns to him, resting her head against his chest and crying in frustration. Link holds her gently, kissing her forehead, silent as he just listens, waiting for her to speak.

"How can you still love me so, Link? I have failed in every task I have set myself to. I have failed our kingdom and cannot save it," Zelda finally says amidst her tears.

Link is quiet for a moment before he says, "Because that is not why I fell in love with you. I love you for the beauty within you, not for your accomplishments. I have loved you despite your flaws, like I know you do for me. I love you for the amazing soul you have, and the experiences we have shared." He pauses, then says, "And I believe you can still do it. I will never stop believing in you."

Zelda pulls back slightly so she can look Link in the eyes, tears still filling hers. "You truly mean that?" she asks.

"Yes," Link responds simply.

Zelda begins to cry again, and she says, "I love you with all my heart, Link."

Link smiles. "And I you," he says. He then gently takes her face in his hands and kisses her gently. Zelda returns the kiss, and the two remain in their embrace for several moments, a temporary reprieve for the arrow and pressure of their current situation.

Link falls backwards into the water of the spring as the memory fades. The cold doesn't even bother him, so focused is her on what he just recalled.

As he thinks over and over about the memory he just recalled, Link finds himself sitting in awe. He truly loved Zelda. He knew he had to have loved her if he had married her…but what he saw in that memory…the level of love he had for Zelda was far beyond what he had imagined. He felt a truly incredible love for her.

As he sits there in the water, Link feels something returning to him. Something rising within his chest and mind. A burning desire. As he turns his thoughts inward, an image of Zelda comes into his mind again. An image not from the memory he just recalled, but the memory of the wedding. The moment when Zelda first came through the doors, and he first got a look at her as his bride.

At that moment, Link feels something rising from deep within him, filling his entire body and seeming to dispel the cold he is feeling. It takes him a second to realize what it is, as he is not used to feeling it since his awakening. But it doesn't take him long to recognize the feeling.

Love. Overwhelming love. And in this moment, Link truly accepts the truth. He and Zelda had been in love before the Great Calamity, and had married. Zelda had become his wife, and he her husband. It's all true.

It is then that another feeling arises in Link. A fierce drive and determination. Link reaches back and pulls the Master Sword from his back. Looking at it intently, Link firms his face. He has traveled across Hyrule and visited almost a hundred shrines. He has freed all of the Divine Beasts and received the gifts of the four Champions. He has retrieved both the Master Sword and the Hylian Shield. And he has been pushing himself to get even better. He had intended to wait even longer before heading to Hyrule Castle to finally confront Calamity Ganon. But now, as he looks at the Master Sword, and his wedding ring, Link determines that the time is now. He can wait no longer. Now that he knows the truth, he cannot put this off any longer. He must rescue his wife and save Hyrule, and in his heart, he knows that he is ready. He is ready to take the fight to Ganon at last.

And, I'll end the chapter there.

I hope this was a good chapter and didn't seem too rushed. I hope that I did it right. Of course, Link doesn't remember everything yet, but has regained a few memories of his relationship with Zelda. He'll of course remember more as time goes.

Also, I am publishing my second Zelda fanfiction today, so go check that out. I'll be working on it and this at the same time.

Alright, next chapter will being during the final battle with Ganon. I think I'm going to start at the start of the fight with Dark Beast Ganon, but we'll see. The chapter will be up soon. Until it is, please leave a review, and stay tuned!