Hello folks, Chapter 118 is finally here! This time we wrap up Link's backstory, and he has some unfinished business to do...
Edit: Okay, okay! I went ahead and fixed the "Captain Zelda" typo! Stop bullying me and my smolbrain! ;_;
"Once again, you be careful now, okay my darling Link?" Ruto asked, giving Link a kiss on the forehead, "I don't care how long it takes for you to get back to Hyrule, I'll keep waiting for you for return so we can marry!"
"Yeah, make sure you swing by Goron City when you do!" Darunia laughed out, "I wanna introduce you to my son!"
"O-Oh yeah, sure..." Link spoke in embarrassment.
With Ganondorf defeated, it was time for the heroes of the past to return to their own eras. Lana had made the preparations to send them back, with General Link, Captain Zelda and Commander Impa all seeing them off as well.
"Me and Ms. Butterfly will miss you all." Agatha said with a polite curtsy, "But I have to return to tend to my little ones. The termites might get too hungry and start eating my house before long!"
"You wielded the Master Sword beyond projected expectations." Fi said to General Link as she floated in place, "I can only hope my chosen handler can match your efficiency."
"Well I don't get what you mean by that..." General Link said, "But I promise he won't let you down!" he added with a salute to the sword spirit, his obedient dog ears and wagging tail seeming to appear again.
"Did you forget who that floating blue window drape was talking about?" Midna asked sweatdropping.
"Hey Midna." 'Young' Link said, stepping up to the imp, "Thanks again for what you said before. I was nervous about using the mask's power, but you helped me understand what I needed to do."
"Just what happened to that strange mask anyway?" Ruto asked curiously.
"Dunno, when I woke up I didn't have it anymore." Link spoke, "And no one else could find it after the war was over."
"Maybe you exhausted the use of it's power and it was destroyed?" Impa suggested.
"I guess that might have happened..." Link spoke, unsure if it was good or bad that the mask was gone now, "Either way I have no regrets over using it's power to help you guys. I don't know what would had happened if I kept doubting myself."
"Eh, probably would had gotten yourself and everyone here killed by that swine Ganondorf." Midna brazenly said.
"Hey!" shouted Link.
"You little pest, that's going too far! Take that back!" Ruto scolded the imp girl.
"Tsk, still can't take a joke huh? You Hyrule people are so weak-minded." Midna said shrugging, she then looked to Link and grinned, "Just... you know, watch out for yourself out there, alright Brat?"
Link stared up at her for a moment, before grinning and nodding, "Gotcha, I will Ms. Kitty!" he said, making Agatha giggle out. Midna just rolled her eyes, but found herself chuckling a little as well.
"Again, we can't thank you all enough for what you've done." Princess Zelda said to the time travelers, "Even if we never see each other again, don't forget the bonds we shared together here."
"Yes, don't worry about us. We'll handle things here from now on." Commander Impa nodded.
"Sounds good, I don't want to keep my daddy fretting about me again." Ruto spoke, "And as for you Ms. Lana," the zora princess spun around looked to the sorceress crossly, before giving a gentle wink, "Take care of my beloved husband-to-be for now, okay?"
"Of course Princess Ruto!" Lana nodded with a smile as she stood beside Link.
With that, everyone waved goodbye as they all were sent back to their own respective times by Lana. When they were all gone, strangely only 'Young Link' himself continued to stay behind there.
"So just why are you still here young one?" Impa asked.
"I dunno." Link shrugged, "But until the time comes that I have to leave, I'm gonna stay by Lana's side!"
"That's the spirit Link!" General Link said kneeling down to him, "Getting to see the great heroes of the past, it's been an inspiration to me already, but getting to meet my ancestor has inspired me to push myself even more to protect Zelda!" he paused for a second at realizing what he said, and stood up straight and rigid, "Uh, I mean... p-protect the Princess of Hyrule!" he bowed to the princess frantically, "I-I apologize for referring to you so causally!"
"Hee hee hee, it's okay Link!" Zelda giggled happily as she hugged General Link around the arm, "You proved yourself long ago to speak of me by name!" she leaned toward him a little with a light blush, "It honestly feels quite nice to hear you say it..."
"Uh... t-thank you... P- erm, Zelda..." General Link's face turned a bright red at Zelda's touch.
Impa was trying to restrain herself not to separate them, as she realized she was in no place to do that anymore. She had contemplated promoting him to lieutenant, but was now starting to consider appointing him as her princess' personal protector...
Link himself stared up at General Link and Zelda before him. It was clear to him as well that the bond between them now was far closer than merely being a loyal knight and his princess. He took a glance over at Lana, expecting her to be sad like before, but found she was smiling brightly for the two.
"Not to intrude on your moment together," Lana giggled, "But I think it might be a good idea to return the Master Sword to it's pedestal, so it can conserve it's strength for next time it's needed!"
"That's a good idea." Zelda nodded, "Did you wish to come with us Lana? After all, you're an important part of our team too!"
"... ...nah, this is something you two should do yourselves." Lana said, "Go on!"
With that, Young Link, Lana and Commander Impa all waved General Link and Zelda off as they set forth on their journey to return the Master Sword to it's rightful place. As Lana waved, faint tears started to run down her cheeks as she continued to keep her bright smile.
"Goodbye Link..." she whispered to herself.
"Well with that, think it's time to get things ready for their return!" Impa said, "You two coming?"
Without hearing a reply, Commander Impa went off to start the preparations to rebuild Hyrule Castle so Zelda would have a more comfortable place to rest when she returned.
But she would find out too late that Lana, Young Link and Epona had all disappeared without a word. She worried about them at first, but decided they'd be fine together, as she started work on the rebuilding things with the knights.
"Are you sure about staying with me still Link?" Lana asked as the two walked down a path of Hyrule Field together with Epona trotting beside them, "I'm probably just gonna be a total sad sack the whole time."
"Nah, I'd rather stay with you than anyone right now." Link nodded.
"Thanks..." Lana said with a small smile at the kind words of her friend. Lana then felt a strange sensation from the air, but it was too faint for her to know what it was. She just put it out of her mind and the three continued along.
After a while of walking, the two came to a stop at a bench near a crossroad to rest their legs. They leaned back and stared up at the small clouds going along with the breeze overhead. There was a horse trough beside the bench, so Epona helped herself to a drink.
"So where you gonna go to now that everything's over? Back to the Valley of Seers?" Link asked.
"Nah, nothing really back there for me to go to..." Lana said distantly. She brought up her hand and made the Triforce of Power appear, encased in a protective orb to prevent it's misuse, "Maybe I could fix up the Temple of Souls as my home... but that would probably mean getting rid of all of Cia's... uh, unique art."
"Don't want to?" Link asked, recalling all the hedges and statues Cia did of those warriors, including the portraits of General Link, and that one statue of himself...
"I was a part of Cia once, and I know how she felt about General Link..." Lana said, "She really thought he was the hero she could have for herself..." she hung her head down, "But I knew that would never happen... Maybe if I had been there for Cia, I could have helped her understand that before she lost herself to her desires..."
Link took in Lana's words, and found himself thinking about what had happened in Terrensoll. He pulled out the broadsword that belonged to Kaira and looked down at it. He had been unable to bring it to himself to return it to her in the village due to what had happened with the Moblins.
"...and maybe, the two of us would had been able to come back together." Lana said.
"Do you miss being a part of Cia?" Link asked.
"Nah, I think I prefer being my own self now." Lana said, "What I mean is the two of us watching over the Triforce of Power and the passage of time together. Cia may have committed awful crimes that I doubt anyone else would forgiver her for... but if there was a way to see her again, I would give her a chance to make things right, so the two of us can be together not as a single person, but as sisters, as a family."
"You would forgive her for everything she caused?" Link asked.
"Well not right away, but I'm willing to look past what she's done if she choose to go the right path..." Lana said. She started to tear up, before she shook her head, "Oh what am I saying? Cia is gone, I'll never see her again..." she bore a pained smile, "I guess in the end, I'm the one meant to be alone..."
"Alone..." Link spoke, looking up into the sky, "...jees, I remember not too long ago I was saying that exact same thing. After I put a stop to Ganondorf in my own time, the Golden Goddesses didn't leave me with any path to follow. I thought for the longest time that maybe I displeased them for defeating Ganondorf my own way."
"Did something change that?" Lana asked.
"Yeah, I realized they don't really have as much power over me as I used to think, and I don't really wanna follow the path they'd want for me anyway." Link said, "As far as I'm concerned, the goddesses created this world and brought me into it, and I can respect them for that. But I don't have to blindingly obey their every word."
He closed his eyes, thinking about Saria, Darunia, Ruto, Impa... and Nabooru, how they all were forced to become sages as prophesied, and how he prevented that fate by going back in time. He then thought about the promise he made with Nabooru in particular...
"How about... forget that old promise. Instead, I have something even greater in mind for you. Something that will make you truly happy."
"Return to Gerudo Valley in say... seven years. When you do I'll bestow on you my new promise."
"Because I followed destiny, I experienced pain and loss I never want to feel again." Link said, "I was real dumb to think I had to leave everyone behind, but I'm not going to let that happen."
He brought up his fists and smiled, "That's why I decided, when I get back to my own time... I'm gonna fulfill my promises to return to Hyrule. Doesn't matter if I find Navi or not, I'm not going to turn my back on my friends in Hyrule again!"
"That sounds great Link..." Lana smiled, looking to Link. After a moment, she suddenly embraced him.
"Someday, I just know you'll find a family to call your own. And when you do, you'll cherish and love them with all your heart."
"You really think so?" Link asked blushing, "D-Did you just see my new future or something?"
"No, I can't tell you what exactly your future is." Lana shook her head, "Because the future is ever changing, going down many different paths and possibilities, and you're proof of that!"
Lana pulled back and sported a bright smile at Link.
"As long as you don't give up, you can make your own future and find your own happiness!"
"Yeah, that's right..." Link nodded, "So what will you do with your own future then?"
"Well..." Lana trailed off, she felt that strange sensation from before again, but was jolted out of it when they heard someone shout.
"Someone... help... please help us!"
Link and Lana both turned to see a wounded man limping down the road. His arm was bleeding and his leg seemed broken. He staggered a bit, before falling to the ground.
"Woah, what happened here?" Link asked, running up and turning the man onto his back to get a look at him. His eyes widened upon seeing who it was, "Wait, aren't you from Terrensoll?!"
"Kid... is that you...?" the man asked, recognizing Link by his green clothes, he grabbed Link by his tunic and pulled him closer, "Please... the village is under attack by an army of Moblins...! I was trying to find knights to help us but..." he coughed out in pain.
"Hold on and let me heal you!" Lana said, using her magic to try and mend his wounds, "This is bad, the knights are all at Hyrule Castle recovering from the war with Ganondorf, and it's at least a half a day's travel to get out there!"
"Even with me getting there with Epona, I dunno if they'll be able to make it to the village in time!" Link said, "Dangit, how are there monster armies again? I thought we beat Cia and Ganondorf!"
Once Lana was done with the man's injuries, they put him on the bench to rest.
"Link, what should we do?" Lana asked.
"..." Link stared down at the man, he was one of the ones who chased him out of the village before. Regardless, he clenched his hands and looked to Lana, "There isn't time to round up anyone, so we'll help them ourselves!"
"Right!" Lana nodded.
With that, Link climbed onto Epona and rode off, while Lana, contemplating a new magic trick, conjured an electric barrier which she jumped onto, and rode on top of it like a platform to keep up with Link.
The villager could only watch from his position on the bench, as the young lad and his sorceress friend rode off for Terransoll.
"Aaaargh!"
A male villager of Terrensoll fell backwards to the ground, looked up at the mob of monsters before him. They consisted of mostly Bokolins, but there was a number of Moblins as well. They were all brandishing war-torn weapons and bore hungry looks on their faces.
The man clutched at his arm, which was severely wounded by a Moblin having sliced it open with a broadsword, leaving him completely defenseless and in severe pain.
"P-Please don't, I don't want to die!" shouted the man. He was Nusso, the same man who had determined Link was the one responsible for luring a group of monsters to the village many weeks ago, which resulted in the young lad running away. He thought they would never have to deal with monsters again after Link was gone, but now saw he was wrong, and a feeling of guilt was creeping up on him...
"Back off you bastard!" shouted a voice as someone came forward and punched the monster away. It was the village's blacksmith, a good friend of Link's from his time there. The smith quickly hoisted Nusso up and fled to one house in the back of town to get him to safety. The villagers within the house came out to take the injured man inside.
"Take care of him, I'll go help the others!" the smith said before running off.
The people in the house consisted mostly of women, children and elders of the village. The children were cowering in fear of what was going on and some of the mothers were trying to comfort them, while those like the town doctor were trying to mend the wounds of the injured.
"Hey, where's Kaira anyway? We could really use her help here!" spoke one of the women as they were trying to tend to Nusso's injuries.
"Forget it, if not even a monster attack can jolt her out of it, nothing can!" said another villager, "Now forget her and help me with this guy!"
As Nusso laid back cringing from the wounds he had suffered, he took in the words about Kaira, thinking about what had happened some time ago...
"..."
Some distance away in her home, Kaira just sat at a chair bearing an emotionless stare. Once the village's biggest sweetheart, she lost her cheeriness after monsters killed her husband and son long ago, only to regain it sometime after Link had come to the village. He had brought out her maternal instincts and kindness, and thought she could finally learn to love once again...
But after she regained consciousness from helping to fight off the monsters that had attacked the village before, she wanted to see Link as soon as possible, only to find out he had ran away from Terransoll which devastated her. She had made attempts to search for Link, but never found him.
She was even more upset after finding out he left was because Nusso and many other villagers blamed him for the monster attack. She shut herself off from most of the village, and was even more detached from the people than before. Even in this moment when more monsters were attacking the village she couldn't even find the effort to care about anything...
Back outside the more battle-capable villagers were doing their best to fight off the monsters attacking Terrensoll. The village smith proved to be the strongest of them, as he was able to use his smithing hammer to strike down as many monsters as he could.
Unfortunately that didn't last much longer, as a Moblin managed to knock the smith's weapon out of his hand, and he and his allies found themselves surrounded by the monsters. One Moblin came up holding an ax and staring at the smith hungerly.
"This could get ugly..." muttered the smith, he glanced over at the boarded up house protecting the other villagers, "No matter what happens, I just hope they stay safe..."
But as the Moblin was about to bring down it's ax on the smith, the monster suddenly screeched out in pain from an unknown attack. Suddenly waves of strange energy shot across the ground and blasted the Bokoblins, sending them all flying. The Moblin quickly turned to it's attacker, just in time for it to get stabbed in the forehead with a knife, causing it to groan out and fall to the ground dead.
The smith and his allies all looked with surprise to see who it was that had helped them; it was Link, standing alongside a strange blue-haired, violet-eyed sorceress they had never seen before.
"Are you guys okay?!" Link asked.
"What th-, it's you lad?!" the smith exclaimed.
"Link, here comes some more!" Lana shouted, blocking the monsters off with her barrier magic before repelling them away with it.
"Good to see you all again!" Link nodded to the smith, "But we got a situation to deal with!"
"R-Right!" the smith said, grabbing his fallen hammer and going to assist them.
With Link's skill with his Kokiri Knife and his training with General Link, along with Lana's magic powers, the battle was going much better in their favor. Link cut down a Bokoblin, and quickly outmaneuvered a Moblin's attack allowing Lana to blast it.
"Is everyone in the village okay?" Link asked the smith.
"We got a lot injured, most of em held up in a safe-house." the smith said, he paused a bit, "Well, except for Ms. Kaira, she's still-"
"Oh no, look!" shouted a villager.
They all looked over in the direction of Kaira's house; it was starting to be surrounded by monsters. A large bulky Moblin holding a machete was kicking at the door to try and force it open.
"KAIRA! I have to go help her!" Link shouted, only to have to go into defense when two Bokoblins attacked him, "Damnit, back off!"
But then two small arrows went whizzing through the air and struck down the two monsters that had attacked Link. Before the other monsters knew what was going on they to were struck down as well. An aggravated Moblin squealed out as a mysterious figure leaped high into the air and fired down a barrage of arrows on it, before delivering a powerful drop kick onto it's head, knocking it to the ground and destroying it.
"Whew, made it just in the nick of time!" said the figure, who Link quickly recognized.
She was a young lady dressed in a green cloak and tunic. She wore a compass around her neck, and she was gripping two small crossbows. She attached the bows to her boots and put her hands to her sides, grinning widely.
"It's you!" Link gasped out.
"It took a while, but Linkle the chosen hero is at your service! I've arrived at Hyrule Castle at last!" the girl said proudly.
"Hyrule Castle...?" spoke a villager in confusion, "Are you sure about that lady?"
"Uh..."
There was a brief moment of still silence as the girl named Linkle glanced around, seeing the casually dressed villagers, their wooden simple homes and no giant castle, flashily dressed noblemen or armored knights to speak of. She looked over to see a cucco hopping by clucking and stood in deep thought.
"Maybe... this isn't Hyrule Castle...?" Linkle then spoke, before rubbing the back of her head and sporting an embarrassed look on her face, "Must've taken another wrong turn, oops!"
Link, Lana, the villagers, and even all the monsters faulted over in response.
Linkle then noticed Link and Epona and ran up waving to them, "Oh hey, nice seeing you again! Looks like you got your horsey back, huh?"
"Uh, yeah..." Link said, surprised to see the strange girl again, but bowed his head to her, "Thanks again for finding Epona and bringing her to the knights!"
"No problem kiddo, all in a day's work for a hero!" Linkle grinned widely, turning to confront the monsters, "Now leave these bullies to me! You go help your friend!"
Link nodded before running off to Kaira's house with his knife to fight off the monsters attacking her.
"You must be the one Ruto and Midna mentioned to me before." Lana said as she prepared to conjure more electric magic, "Glad to finally meet you, I'm Lana!"
"You two, but maybe we outta leave the greetings for later!" Linkle readied her crossbows as she stood alongside Lana, "Now let's take these creeps out!"
With that, the two of them both charged into battle against the monsters.
Link meanwhile ran at Kaira's house, smacking away Bokoblins as they came at him. Just as he got close, the Moblin managed to bash the door open and stick it's head in.
Kaira's apathetic mood suddenly turned to fear as she saw the Moblin looking hungerly at her. It was holding a machete with the blood from injured villagers dripping off it. The Moblin licked the blood off it's blade as it started to approach the woman.
"K-Keep back!" Kaira spoke. She quickly grabbed up jars and vases from around her area and started throwing them at Moblin, but it shrugged off the houseware projectiles, and grabbed Kaira by her arm to keep her still. She struggled to escape, but just as the monster was about to cut her up someone shouted out,
"LEAVE HER ALONE YOU BASTARD!"
Link ran forward and jammed his knife into the Moblin's side, making it roar out in pain. Link then climbed up onto its back and started stabbing at it as much as he could. He managed to jab the knife into the monster's spinal cord to make it experience severe crippling pain, before stabbing his weapon into it's shoulder.
"L-Link...?" Kaira spoke with wide eyes. She thought she'd never see him again, yet here he was protecting her.
The Moblin tried to grab at Link to pull him off, but he quickly evaded and slashed at the Moblin's arms, before finally jabbing his knife into it's forehead, making the monster groan out and fall over dead. Link let out a gasp and ran over to Kaira to see if she was injured.
"Ms. Kaira, are you okay...?" Link asked.
"Link..." Kaira said with tears in her eyes, before hugging the small lad tightly, "I'm so glad to see you again! Thank the Goddesses you're okay!"
"Na-uh..." Link said hugging her back, feeling nostalgic for her warm embrace, "It's not the goddesses' will that kept me safe... it was because I had a lot of support from my friends. I'm just glad I could get to you in time."
Kaira put her hand to his cheek, "Link... you look like you've been through a lot..." she whispered, then bore a very faint smile, "But you've also grown just a bit more too." she then noticed an adult's broadsword on his back, "Wait, is that-?!"
"Uh-huh, your husband's sword." Link said, pulling it off and handing it to her, "You used it to save me all those weeks ago. I want you to have it back!"
"Thank you Link..." Kaira said accepting the sword.
"Now wait here, while me and my friends stop those monsters!" Link said, turning and rushing out the door.
As Kaira was on her knees hugging the sheathed sword Link gave her, she looked down at it in deep thought...
While the monster army was vast in number, with the combined effort of Link, Lana, Linkle and the stronger villagers of Terrensoll, they were quickly defeated one by one.
One last Moblin wouldn't give up though, and tried swinging out it's warhammer at Link. He quickly evaded the monsters' attacks and slashed it at its weak points using his Kokiri Knife. Lana gave it blast of electric magic, while Linkle leaped into the air and shot down numerous arrows into it, before the monster groaned out and fell to the ground lifelessly, vanishing into purple mist.
"It's over..." spoke a trembled villager, "The monsters have been beaten!"
"Three cheers for our heroes!" said another one gesturing to Link, Lana and Linkle.
The people of the village cheered out wildly over their victory, and Link felt a great deal of relief having been able to protect Terrensoll for real this time.
A celebration was held in honor of the three, and Link was happy to get reacquainted with everyone, such as the children and the villager smith. For the first time in a long time, Kaira even came out of her home to apologize to everyone for her absence.
Speaking of apologizes, Nusso and the other villagers who had scared Link out of the town before found themselves quick to get on their hands and knees and beg for forgiveness from Link for what they had done. Link did admit he felt a bit annoyed at how they only seemed to be regretful now that he saved them all, but that didn't matter too much to him in the long term. The important thing was he was able to help the people that mattered to him.
"Well, I'm gonna go head off to Hyrule Castle now!" Linkle said to Link and Lana just outside the village the next day, "When I do I'll tell them about Terrensoll's situation with the monsters, maybe they can bring some knights here to watch over things."
"Thanks for that Linkle." Lama bowed her head, "And thank you again for helping us."
"Ha ha ha, not a problem for a legendary hero!" Linkle boasted, she then looked down at Link, "You did pretty well yourself kiddo! Who knows, maybe you'll get to be a great hero yourself someday!"
"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind." Link chuckled, "I hope you can make your grandma proud."
"Thanks, and make sure you keep track of your cute horsey!" grinned Linkle, rubbing Link's head affectionately, "Heh heh, you kinda make me think of what it would be like to have a kid brother!"
"Hey, I'm not a kid!" Link protested, as Lana giggled.
"Hm... you know what? You're right. Guess after you saved your friend like that, you aren't just a kid!" Linkle smiled softly, "I hope we can see each other again some day." she stood up straight and put her hands to her sides, "Well with that, off I go!"
As everyone waved to her, Linkle sprinted off out of the village. She stopped at a fork in the road, looking left and right in confusion. She turned back and looked at Link for a moment, before nodding her head and running off in the right direction.
"Here you go you two, eat up!" Kaira said as she had set down bowl of stew for him and Lana at her house. Link immediately tore into his while Lana took some small bites.
"Thanks, it's yummy as it always is!" Link said with sauce splattered on his face. Kaira smiled slightly in amusement of Link still retaining his sloppy manners, and was about to wipe it off for him, but he grabbed a napkin and wiped it off himself, surprising her.
"I'm glad to finally meet you Ms. Kaira," Lana said politely, "Link used to tell me all kinds of things about you when he worked together!"
"Oh really?" Kaira spoke with a smile, looking to a blushing Link, "Has he told you about how much of a heavy sleeper he is, or how he can do an adorable fox impressio-?"
"Hey come on!" Link protested, causing the two women to laugh out.
The three of them spent their time together until late that night, when they all settled in for bed. Lana took a guest bed while Kaira escorted Link off to the same room that he had slept in back when he was living there. However he saw the bed was now missing, along with the rest of the child-sized furniture.
"Huh? Where did the bed go?" Link asked.
"Oh that's right, I gave the bed away to my neighbor because she was taking care of her sister's child." Kaira realized.
"I see. I'll go to bed on the floor then." Link nodded, but was stopped by Kaira.
"Absolutely not, especially after everything you've been through!" Kaira said, she led Link over to the bedroom of her and her late husband, "You can stay here tonight."
"But what about you?" Link asked.
"I-I'll find something else, I just want you to be rested." Kaira said, she went off, but was stopped when Link grabbed her hand with both of his own.
"Wait a second," Link said.
The next thing the two knew, they were laying back together on Kaira's bed. The widowed mother looked to Link laying back on his pillow with both his arms folded behind his head.
"Enjoying yourself Link?" Kaira smiled in amusement.
"Yep, been a while since I've slept on a bed like this." Link sighed out snuggling into the softness of the bed, "Well, g'night." as his eyelid grew heavy and he fell asleep.
Kaira didn't go to sleep just yet, but laid on her side staring at Link. For a brief moment, she thought she had seen her own son in his place. The reality was that she had gotten rid of the child's bed so she could try to put her son, as well as Link out of her mind. But she realized there was no way she could, as they were both so important to her.
"Good night Link..." Kaira whispered, giving Link a kiss on the head before drifting off to sleep herself.
The next morning, Lana came into the master bedroom to get Link awake so she could discuss something with him, but saw Link and Kaira were now hugging each other in their sleep. Lana smiled at the sight of the two, before going off to do something else.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay here Link?" a villager asked.
The entire village were all gathered at the entrance into town as Link and Lana were standing together, ready to depart. Kaira was standing at the front of them with a slight saddened look in her eyes.
"Yeah, we told you we don't hold what happened before against you!" another villager pointed out.
"No, it's not that." Link shook his head, "But I have to get back to my homeland soon. I made a promise to my friends to return someday, and I decided to see that through."
Kaira paused, before getting down on both knees and putting her hands on Link's shoulders, "It's fine Link, I understand. It's sad for me to see you go... but I'm happy I was able to have met you." she then puled out and handed Link a familiar looking broadsword, "In fact, I want you to have this."
"Y-Your husband's sword?" Link exclaimed, "But I can't take this! Isn't it important to you?"
"No, it's okay." Kaira shook her head, "You've grown a lot, and I think I'd be happier knowing this sword was in your hands, using it to protect the people you care about. Okay?"
"O-Okay." Link nodded, he thought for a second, before pulling off his Keaton Mask and handing it to her, "Here, if that's the case, then you can have this!"
"Are you sure?" Kaira asked holding the mask.
"Yeah, keep it to remember me by!" Link grinned.
"Very well." Kaira said with her spirits lifted, she put it on over her face and lifted up her hands, "Kyon-kyon!"
The two burst out laughing at the little joke between them, while the rest of the village were confused at what the hell they were doing.
"Now make sure you keep your face clean and stay healthy, I want to see you come back safe and sound someday as a big handsome adult and introduce me to your wife and children!" Kaira giggled.
Link stared up at her, knowing that since he was from a time so far in the past, that would probably never happen. Regardless, he nodded back to Kaira, recalling what Lana said before,
"I will if I can. After all, the future is full of possibilities!"
The two paused, before they gave each other one last sweet goodbye hug, and Link set off out of the village with Epona and Lana, all waving to the people of Terrensoll.
Kaira just stood there watching until Link walked out of view. One of the villagers saw the sad stare in her eyes as she saw the boy she saw as a son leave.
"You going to be okay Ms. Kaira?" asked the villager.
Kaira hung her head down for a moment, looking at the Keaton Mask. She then turned to the village and sported a great, sweet smile, one much like that which brightened up the village so long ago. She took the mask and put it on the side of her head like Link used to wear it.
"Yes, I'll be fine." Kaira spoke cheerfully, "Now how about we start rebuilding things? The knights should be coming to assist us soon enough!"
The villagers all nodded and cheered out as they got to work on fixing their home.
Link, Lana and Epona were back to traveling down the road together. It was a bright and sunny day, it felt like a new beginning for everyone in the era of warriors.
"Looks like everything's at peace here now." Link said looking around.
"Yeah, it's all I could have wanted." Lana said with a breath of relief, "The evil is gone, the Gate of Souls has been closed up and time's been repaired, now the people of Hyrule can smile once again!"
"Speaking of time though..." Link said, "Why haven't I still gone back to my own era?"
"That's a good question." Lana spoke, "I was expecting you to go back naturally as soon as I had closed up the Gate of Souls. I wonder if..."
As Lana contemplated what was going on, she took another glance over at Link. Maybe it was just after all the time they spent together and the battles they fought, but Link seemed somewhat different now. He looked more mature than before. He was brave and valorous, but understood his own limits. Despite his maturity, he still retained many of his goofy childish traits, but that in itself was a fine quality.
Her thoughts then drifted to when he put on the Fierce Deity Mask and took on it's god-like form. Physically he had been a stark contrast to his current self; standing tall and intimidating, that striking white hair, his bronzed skin, those rippling muscles...
Lana's face flushed at those memories, she recalled back when she was a part of Cia and she had watched his battle with Majora through her visions of the past... and the provocative thoughts they shared of his appearance... Despite the mask going missing after the battle with Ganondorf, for a brief moment Lana considered if Link had wanted to stay with her for good, that he might grow up into a man like that...
The light sorceress snapped out of her daze and shook her head, forcing herself to remember this wasn't where Link was meant to be. He already decided on going back to his home with Ruto and Darunia, and she needed to respect that, just as she respected that General Link belonged with his princess... Despite that, she wasn't sure what to make of these strange thoughts she was experiencing with him.
'I hope I don't end up too much like Cia...' Lana thought embarrassed.
Just then though, she sensed something else different about Link. It was similar to how their friends from the past were just before she sent them all back in time, though up until now she didn't feel that same sensation with Link... she realized his ties to the time he was currently in were loosening.
'Huh? Why is it happening now...?' Lana pondered to herself, she looked him over for a moment, before she realized, "Wait, it's the sword!"
"The sword? You mean the one Kaira gave me?" Link asked, looking back at it, "What about it?"
"I think the reason you couldn't go back to your own time like everyone else was because you had that sword tying you to this time period! I think your desire to give it back to the one that needed it kept you spiritually linked to this place. But now that it belongs to you, that influence is no longer affecting you, and you can get back to your time now!" Lana explained.
"Oh, I guess that makes sense...?" Link spoke in surprise at how the sword had helped him stay here with Lana. Despite doing so much time traveling he wasn't an expert on the subject, so he could only take Lana's word for granted. Maybe it was similar why he lost most of the items he had gathered while on his quest in the dark future... because he didn't want to have any personal attachment to that time...?
"Hmm... but we're too far from a Gate of Souls to just send you back safely..." Lana pondered looking around, "We need to find the right place... Come on."
Time past as Lana led Link and Epona down the path, across the fields, and eventually came to a dense but gentle forest. They soon reached an area with a small clearing, where she placed her hand on the grass and rubbed it, before nodding.
"Here, this is where we can do it." Lana said, "I'm going to create a time warp portal here for you and Epona. It should take right to the location you were before you wound up in this era." she smiled a bit sadly, "Isn't that great? You and Epona can finally go back to your time now."
Link looked up to Lana curiously, feeling a little uneasy about going back and leaving her like this, "So... what are you going to do now then?"
Lana stared down back at Link for a brief time before she looked upwards, and he saw her smile brightened just a little more.
"Well... after what you said before about going out to find your special friend, I think I'm gonna do the same." Lana nodded to herself and said, "I'm going to go out into the world and find Cia!"
"Cia?! But didn't she die back in the battle at the Valley of Seers?" Link asked in confusion.
"I'm not so sure anymore." Lana said, "All I know is I can feel her life force lingering, she still exists somewhere out there, and I'm going to find her."
"What makes you so sure?" Link asked.
"That monster attack on Terrensoll." Lana clarified, "The dark magic I was detecting from those creatures was similar to Cia's, but not exactly. I think there's something else out there drawing energy from Cia's magic. But that wouldn't be possible unless her soul is still lingering here in Hyrule."
"Is it Ganondorf?" Link asked worriedly, "Do you need my help to stop it?"
"No, you've done enough for me." Lana said shaking her head, "This is something I need to do myself. Now here..."
Lana brought up her hand and focused, until a large purple portal appeared before the two of them and Epona. Link could see the image of the forest he had gone into where he had found the warp that took him to this time period.
"This should send you back to your own time." Lana said, "And it'll be safe enough to get you and Epona through without losing each other again."
"... ...I see. I guess this is goodbye after all then." Link whispered, before turning to her, "Well I may be leaving, but don't forget you have others you can count on if things get too rough!"
"Yeah, I know that now." Lana said smiling with faint tears in her eyes, "Good bye Link, I hope you find what you're looking for someday."
The light sorceress then took a breath, before she knelled down and embraced him, making him blush deep red. She pulled away and stared at him, not wanting their embrace to be over. Link meanwhile looked up to her for a moment, before he took her hand and gave it a small polite kiss.
"You too Lana." Link spoke.
"H-Hey, what are you doing?" Lana exclaimed with a bright red face and a nervous giggle, "Since when have you gotten so bold like that?!"
"Well, guess I've grown up more then you thought!" Link grinned, unable to stop blushing himself.
"Yeah, guess you have," Lana said, she stared at him a little longer, before a sensation within Lana made her speak, "Maybe somebody as grown up as you deserves a little something better then...?"
"I-I..." Link whispered.
The two continued to stare into each others eyes in the center of the forest clearing. The light coming down between the trees illuminated the spot they were at. There was no sounds, not even the tweeting of a bird. Epona had picked up on what was going on and turned away to give the two one more moment alone together.
Link stared at Lana's face, her bright violet eyes, her tiny nose, her pinkish lips... he was feeling strange sensations like back when he saw Malon and the Gerudo women in the dark future, only instead of making him ache like before, he felt a gentle warmth from her. Could this really be...?
The young lad slowly leaned forward and brought his lips to hers. After a moment of hesitation, Lana started kissing him back. As his first kiss, Link had never felt something like this before, it was one thing to get a hug or a small peck on the cheek, but this contact between each other was amazing. Her lips felt so warm and soft... and there was something deep down inside of him that wanted more of it...
Lana found herself enjoying it quite well too. She couldn't help herself, she had long ago given up on General Link, but the Link before her had taught her to pursue her own happiness in life, and she couldn't bear to let him leave before experiencing it with him, even if it was just a kiss. He was no mere child in her mind anymore, he was a brave and capable adult, and she wanted him to feel more like one.
The two eventually broke the kiss, panting a little from how long they held it. Their faces were both flushed red, as Link brought up his hand to her cheek and smiled.
"That was really nice..." Link whispered with small tears of his own in his eyes, "I really hope we can see each other again someday."
"I hope so too." nodded Lana, "Stay safe, okay Link?"
"You too." Link said, he took Epona by her reins and walked towards the warp. He stopped and took a look at Lana one last time as she waved to him. It was ironic, he had been searching so long for his place in life, and just when he had the resolve to go back to his home in Hyrule, he almost found a new reason to stay in this era...
But Link remembered the promises he made, and took a breath, and as he turned back and went into the warp with his horse, he knew he had another promise he wanted to keep,
Even if it took his whole life, he wanted to see Lana again, and feel that same soft warmth from her.
Link and Epona disappeared through the warp and it closed up, leaving the light sorceress alone. Lana took a deep breath as she looked up into the trees above.
"Wow, I didn't think that would happen..." Lana said with a sad smile, finding herself kind of wishing Link could have stayed behind. She brought her hand up to her lips, "I guess life really is full of surprises and possibilities."
She nodded to herself, "And because of that, I just know we'll see each other again someday!"
Lana then closed her eyes and detected the energy around her, feeling a strange but familiar presence, and she went off on her way to find the whereabouts of her lost sister Cia.
And that ends the chapter, and Link's backstory. Next time Link and his friend recap everything that's happened, and Link has something important to announce to Impa...
Thanks everyone for bearing through this arc. I know it was pretty long, but there was a lot I wanted to cover and many important details I felt needed to be acknowledged. We're finally going back to the main story next and I promise no ore lengthy flashbacks like this, at least for a good long time.
I hope the Lana fans were happy with that bit at the end, I wasn't sure about if I wanted Link's first kiss to be with her or not, but their interaction together ended up surprising me, so I felt it was a nice conclusion to the story after all Link's been through. I'm also glad I kept Kaira alive after all, as I was able to write this sort of self-redemption for Link.
As always, leave a like, follow, comment or just send a PM at your leisure. Your feedback is always encouraged!