New Author's Note: Hey everyone! Welcome to a new beginning for this story of mine! If you haven't already, I'd recommend reading the update attached to the original version of this story (unless you're a new reader, in which case don't worry about it!). The short version is, this is a retelling of my original posting of this work with some significant changes to the plot. In case you haven't read this already, I won't be spoiling anything here but I wanted to set expectations for anyone who might be rereading.
If you've read the previous version of this chapter, this version is largely unchanged. I fixed two or three wording choices I wasn't happy with and standardized the fact that Link will refer to Zelda as "Zel" when a scene is told from his perspective in order to make it consistent with the rest of the story (aside from the very first mention of her to clearly establish who we're talking about). But the overall content is identical to the original in this first chapter, so if you've already read it, you're not missing anything new by skipping to chapter 2 right now. I'll be very upfront and forthright about what's been changed in these first three chapters so you can decide if you want to reread it or not.
I'll reiterate some information from my original posting next - this story is effectively standalone. It can be read as a true one-off story (albeit with multiple chapters), though this is the same Zel and Link that I've been writing in my Tears of the Kingdom Aftermath Collection (and now Hateno Winters as well). All the events of those stories happened preceding this one, but I wrote this one in such a way that you don't have to read a single one of them to understand it. I don't want to get too bogged down in my own invented continuity, so this is meant to be easily accessible but still give nods to what happened before. Kinda like Tears of the Kingdom itself, I suppose. Speaking of, massive TotK spoilers will be very casually discussed through this story, so fair warning on that one.
As a note for any new readers, I have played every Wild Era Zelda game in Japanese and I'm very used to the characters referring to each other in specific ways (i.e. using Japanese honorifics and some differences in nicknames which will come up later). It's all fairly subtle so it shouldn't affect your enjoyment or ability to follow what's going on in any way, but you'll have to forgive that choice if you aren't a fan of it. I cannot think of these characters in any other way and it just wouldn't feel right to me otherwise.
Finally, I feel the problems that arose from the previous posting and some of the frankly incredible negativity have given me the right to be a touch defensive for just a moment - apologies for it in advance. I write Zel and Link in a very specific way. They are two deeply traumatized people who are scared to death of losing each other again and vocally and obviously support one another basically at all times in order to keep moving forward together. They laugh and joke and have fun, but the second their balance starts to be upset, I don't feel it's surprising for either of them to panic a bit given what they've gone through. I lean very hard into the unwavering support they each give the other following their struggles and do my best to create a mutually supportive and warm relationship between them.
If you've read even one of my stories, you know all too well this is how I portray them and I'd like to think I've managed to keep their characterization very consistent in that regard, even when compared to the characterization they're given in the games themselves. I don't treat Link like the mostly blank slate he's presented as in the games though and I have no qualms about them very actively loving and supporting one another. To me, that's what makes a healthy relationship. All that said, I can appreciate if you don't necessarily enjoy that portrayal of them - everyone has their preferences and opinions and that's what makes subjective art so interesting and great. But I don't need to hear about it if you don't like it.
I welcome constructive criticism and feedback on my writing - it's how I and everyone else that posts here improves as writers and slowly hone and perfect our crafts together. It's one of the best things about sites like these! Things like plotting issues, pacing problems, clarity of details in a plot, characters behaving egregiously in ways they never would, if scenes were too long or too short, fight scenes, environmental details, descriptions, writing habits or ticks, even just spelling mistakes - all of those are very helpful to be told if there are issues with as a writer. But if that feedback is simply "I don't like that Zel and Link behave the way they do with each other" or "I don't like that they support each other so unapologetically and openly," then just know upfront that I won't be changing the way I write them. Zel and Link's relationship is very special to me and my favorite thing about writing and posting stories like these. Without them, I wouldn't want to write these at all. In the grand scheme of things, all of this applies to very, very few responses I got, but it got under my skin enough that I had to say it once before we got started again.
Anyway, that's far more than enough out of me. Please enjoy the rewrite (or your first read if you're a new reader!) and I'll look forward to writing more for you all again soon!
"Nice shot, my love."
Link smiled as Zelda's light arrow made contact with the smallest pebble he'd placed upon a little tower of stones several yards away, knocking it from its perch. He had built that stack of rocks to really challenge her precision and, to his delight, she excelled as usual.
"Thank you, Link," she sang, her Bow of Light vanishing from her hands as if it were the most effortless thing in the world. She crossed the grass towards him, her hood catching the wind and fluttering behind her, her traveling tunic rippling in tandem.
The young couple was practicing – Zel with her magic, Link with his broadsword – just above Hateno Village as they had taken to for quite a while now. In the six months since her return, Zel had taken it upon herself to hone those magical abilities almost daily. She had started with relearning how to conjure the Bow of Light and quickly graduated to using her powers of light to create bursts of magical energy in the form of controlled projectiles. Link had found himself amazed by the creativity she exhibited when wielding her magic – he'd seen many different beings, ally and monster alike, fight in creative ways throughout his lifetime, but his partner was the most inventive he'd ever witnessed.
Nowadays, she was perfectly capable of generating precise pinpoints of light magic or tremendous explosions of energy that could annihilate a camp of monsters with little effort. Her aim with the light arrows she created was impeccable and rarely did she miss a shot unless both she and her target were moving in unpredictable ways. She could even conjure a large shield of that light magic to protect her from harm, both from physical armaments and magical attacks. And of course, her Recall magic was as flawless as ever.
Since the rebuilding effort had restarted in earnest, Purah and Robbie had needed a large amount of Zonaite to facilitate the new method with which they made Purah Pads, and Zel herself was all too happy to personally take their requests for more resources, something Link had gone from being very anxious over to entirely comfortable with. It gave her a chance to use her new abilities and to adventure alongside him, even if it was often only for an hour at a time. Their most recent foray into the Depths had resulted in her effortlessly rewinding a giant club from a Moblin's unsuspecting hand. Of course, because this was Zel, there was even more genius to be witnessed – she had timed it just right so the movement of that club intersected perfectly with an approaching Bokoblin, knocking it out cold before it even realized what had happened. The blast of light magic that had felled the Moblin after that was just the cherry on top.
"You are so amazing, Zel," he murmured, barely realizing he'd said the words aloud. Zel lit up as a lovely pink blush dusted her cheeks.
"Thank you! I'm certainly not done seeing how far I can push these powers – there's so much more experimenting I want to do! But I'm really proud of the progress I've made! I couldn't have done it without you, my darling."
She approached and wrapped her arms around his midsection, squeezing him close. The familiar sensation of her body against his filled Link's stomach with butterflies and caused his heart to skip a beat. Even after six months, it still felt like she had only been back for such a short time. Even after having been together with her for years prior to the Upheaval, she still inspired such giddy feelings in him every day. He just couldn't get enough of being with her.
"You deserve most of the credit," he told her with a gentle smile, his own arms drawing her into a tight hug. "I stopped knowing what to suggest when you figured out how to fire magical light bombs from your fingertips."
Zel began to laugh against him, her adorable giggle washing over his pointed ears like the gentle ebb of the sea. It was one of the most relaxing and reassuring sounds he had ever heard, only matched by the sound of her mellifluous voice itself.
That higher pitch that filled him with warmth each time it reached him, the subtle confidence she spoke with that drew he and everyone else in Hyrule to her, the way her tone grew even higher and became so excitable when she lost herself to new historical research or other scholarly pursuits. Every time she so much as uttered a word in his presence, Link found himself enamored with her all over again.
"It's all because of you I got to work on using my magic, though. Thank you for supporting me." Her shimmering, aquamarine eyes locked with his and he felt his smile stretch even wider. She was just so beautiful.
"You'll always have my support, Zel – today, tomorrow, and every single day for the rest of our lives."
"I couldn't be happier, Link."
"Nor could I."
As Zel brought her arms back to her side, a small glimmer of sunlight caught the ring on her left hand, drawing her attention. A soft smile spread across her lovely face as she ran her thumb across it, a content sigh passing her coral lips. Even six months after Link had proposed to her, she still did that at least once a day. It made his heart swell with joy to see that. She deserved all the happiness in the world and Link was intent on giving her all of it he possibly could. And that replica Silent Princess on her finger was the symbol of his commitment to her.
"You know," she began, that gentle smile nearly stealing his breath away, "I'm really glad everyone is as supportive of our engagement as they are. I always knew our friends would be, but it makes me happy that the people of Hyrule in general support us too."
"Me too, Zel. You know how worried I was about that in the beginning, but I'm very glad to be proven wrong. You give so much to support the people of this Kingdom; you deserve their support in return."
"Honestly, I wouldn't care if none of them approved – it's my life and I'm going to spend it with the man I love." Link felt an overwhelming sensation of bliss well up in his heart. Every time she said something like that to him it made him feel like the luckiest person in the world. Perhaps it was better to say it reminded him that he was.
"At this point, I wouldn't care either. You're all that matters to me. Everything else will work out as long as I have you."
Zel leaned forward and pressed her soft lips to his. Link felt his breath catch in his chest as the magnificent sensation of her kiss washed over him. His body felt light, his eyes fell shut, his arms wrapped tighter around her. The way she kissed him was so delicate and loving. It always reminded him of the intensity of the bond they shared, how irreplaceable they each were to the other.
When Zel finally broke their embrace, her eyes were sparkling. The tiny blush that graced her perfect face was a bit stronger now but it only served to add to her stunning beauty. Link could hardly fathom how blessed by the Goddess he was that Zel wanted to marry him.
"I love you so much," she whispered, pressing her nose to his.
"And I love you more than I can express with words," he assured her, nuzzling her nose in turn.
A strong gust of wind almost snapped Link from his reverie. There were plenty of things they probably should be doing. Zel wanted to keep practicing with her magic, Link wasn't through with his drills, they needed to stop by the Hateno General Store and buy some supplies before they started cooking dinner later. But all of that just seemed to melt away as he gazed into her eyes atop the hillside that overlooked their home.
"Uh…Link? What is that?" Zel asked him, her voice suddenly nervous. Link was torn from his daydreaming by her tone and followed her eyes, glancing over his shoulder.
A large collection of blue and white energy was swirling behind him. It dawned on him that the gust of wind may very well have been caused by this…portal? He turned immediately, placing himself between it and her, keeping an arm behind him to make sure she was still safe.
"I…have no idea, Zel. I've never seen anything like it."
The portal didn't move, didn't open further, didn't give way to some entity emerging from it – it just sat there and hummed lightly, the energy that comprised it whirring in a hypnotic spiral. It didn't seem dangerous yet, but Link had no intention of taking any chances. Not after he'd lost Zel as many times as he had.
"It must be some kind of magic," Zel murmured, having drawn close against Link's back. She wasn't cowering but she knew as well as he did their history of being separated by strange phenomena. She, too, was unwilling to take risks.
"Can you feel anything from it?" he asked, his sharp eyes never straying too far from the portal. Why had it just appeared here on this hillside? For it to do so in such an innocuous place seemed to imply it was meant for them specifically.
Zel reached under his arm and leveled her hand at the blue light, drawing a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Her body relaxed against him and Link remained still and silent, allowing her to focus. Nothing was endangering her at the moment. Everything was still okay for now.
"I'm sensing…time magic from it…" she whispered to him.
Link felt his entire body tense up. Time magic was what had stolen Zel away from him beneath Hyrule Castle. It was what had resulted in her becoming the Light Dragon, losing herself for countless millennia. He responded before he realized it, turning and wrapping her tightly in his arms.
"Stay away from that thing, Zel. I will not let you be lost in time again. If someone comes out of that and tries to pull you through, I'll cut them down where they stand long before they get the chance."
"It's okay, Link; I'm not going into it. I'll never leave you again," she promised him, her arm still pointed at the portal. "But I'm also not sensing anything else within it. It's just…a portal through time. There's nothing trying to emerge from it." Link still refused to let go of her but followed her hand towards the energy again with his eyes.
"Then…why is it here?"
"I'm not sure…but something else about it feels familiar. Not the time aspect, but another part. It reminds me…of the ancient Sheikah technology we all but scrapped seven years ago. It feels similar to the Shrines and the Guardians…how is that possible…?"
When Link really looked at it, it made sense. The swirling blue energy did seem quite reminiscent of the Sheikah Towers he had activated on his quest to save Zel from the Calamity. It looked a lot like the energy the Shrines had utilized too. If this had to do with time travel, though, perhaps it wasn't that impossible.
Just then, a series of small, high-pitched beeps echoed towards them, as if being broadcast through the portal itself. Link drew Zel more tightly against him and she finally dropped her arm, grabbing him again.
"Is something coming?" he asked, preparing to draw his sword if necessary. Zel shook her head, though.
"No, nothing physical. It's almost like the portal is trying to relay a message to us from the other side. Whatever that sound was, it's being sent to us across time."
"Do you recognize it?"
"I don't think so. You don't either?"
"No, I can't say I've ever heard something like that."
"How strange…and fascinating." Link felt his stomach twist into a knot.
"Zel…I know it must be interesting to you but…please…" Zel reached up and placed a hand on his cheek, drawing his gaze and meeting it directly.
"I won't go anywhere near that portal, Link. I promise. Whatever secrets that thing may hide, none of them would be worth losing you again." He let out a sigh of relief he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"I'm sorry if I made it seem like I doubt you. You know I trust you with my life…I'm just really scared of losing you."
"I know, my love. I'm scared too. So I'll never take chances with things that involve time magic. That's the whole reason I don't wear my Secret Stone anymore."
A few more beeps sounded from the portal. Somehow, they felt more insistent this time. Link glanced at the magical opening and back to Zel. She wore a look of similar confusion on her face. They had been confronted with a lot over their lifetimes but this was entirely unlike anything they'd dealt with.
"Maybe…we should leave," Zel suggested, her eyes still analyzing the portal sharply. Link nodded.
"I think you're right. Whatever this is, I don't think it's capable of following us. Putting some distance between us and it is probably smart."
"Then let's go home. I don't think we'll get anything else from staring at this portal. The only thing that will accomplish is giving us new fears and bringing back bad memories."
"I'm with you, Zel."
As they moved to step away, though, another strong gust of wind blew their hair back and the portal vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. There was no sign it had ever even existed. Not even a single blade of grass beneath it was out of place.
"Where…" Zel began but trailed off, glancing around. Link followed suit but saw nothing.
"Hmm…do you think-"
But Link never finished his sentence. All at once, the ground beneath them seemed to vanish, a lurching feeling unsettling his stomach as he felt the familiar weightlessness of being in freefall. Zel cried out in surprise at the same moment and clung to him hard. He held her tight on instinct. She was still with him. Whatever this was, it couldn't take her away from him.
Link forced his eyes open and saw the blue sky and white clouds of the Hateno skyline fading away, replaced instead by the blue and white energy of the same portal that had just vanished. So that was it, huh? Whatever had created that portal had seen fit to force them through it if they wouldn't go willingly?
"Link!" Zel cried out, her grip around him stronger than he'd ever felt it. He tightened his own hold on her.
"It'll be okay, Zel! I swear I'll keep you safe this time, no matter what!"
"I trust you!"
The portal seemed to continue without end, though, and soon he felt Zel's lithe form slump against him, unconscious. The fear and adrenaline must have gotten to her. In the back of his mind, he realized she must be terrified of falling like this; it probably reminded her of the last time she'd fallen…fallen through time…lost herself completely. He pressed her even closer, supporting her head against him and bracing her body.
"I'll be damned if I lose you again, Zel. Wherever this portal leads, at least we'll be together this time. I swear to you," he whispered to her, even though she couldn't hear him. It made him feel more confident. If he said it aloud, he could will it into existence.
"I won't fail you again, my love. Never again."
Zelda slowly came back to reality. She wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep for. She felt groggy and half-nauseous. Her head hurt too. Squeezing her eyes shut a bit tighter against the pain, she reached up and tried to massage her temples. Her hand brushed something though…something familiar. It felt like leather. She ran her hand lower and found that the leather gave way to a sturdy fabric that her fingers recognized in a heartbeat – the new tunic she had made for Link before the Upheaval.
Forcing her eyes open, Zelda saw Link lying on the ground beneath her. It was very dark and she blinked several times until her eyes adjusted. His were still closed, though.
"Link?" He didn't respond.
Zelda felt herself start to panic. Had he…broken her fall? Is that why he was beneath her like this? Was he okay? What if he was hurt? Or…
Tears sprang to her eyes as the last of her tiredness disappeared, replaced by adrenaline and terror. He couldn't be…
"Link!" she shouted, seizing his shoulders and pressing her ear to his chest.
She breathed a small sigh of relief as she heard his steady heartbeat, as strong as ever, and felt her head rise and fall along with his breathing. He was just asleep…or at least he seemed to be. It was possible he was still injured in some way, but it didn't seem life threatening if he was. His body was calm and behaving as it normally did when he slept. Still, she was scared. She had to know he was okay, even if it meant waking him up.
"Link," she insisted, sniffling and trying to banish her tears. She didn't want him to wake up and find her like that. She lifted his head gently in one hand while shaking his shoulder with the other.
"Link, please wake up, my love. Please show me you're okay. Link!"
After another few seconds of persistent shaking, he finally began to stir. He groaned and moved into a sitting position. Before he had even opened his eyes, Zelda threw her arms around him and held tight, sighing in relief and barely keeping herself together.
"Z…Zel?" he murmured, clearly confused.
"Thank the Goddess you're not hurt," she whispered, not trusting her voice to remain steady if she spoke louder. Link's arms wrapped around her again.
"I'm…I'm okay, Zel. I promise. I have a nasty headache but otherwise I'm fine. Are you hurt?"
Zelda simply shook her head against his chest, tears having welled in her eyes again.
"Are you okay?"
She shook her head again, tears falling down her cheeks this time. Link's hold on her tightened.
"Hey, it's alright, my darling. I'm okay. I'm so sorry I scared you." Zelda sniffled and nodded against him. There was no point in trying to hide her tears anymore; he already knew.
"All I remembered was us falling and then when I woke up…you weren't…" she whispered from beneath his chin, hugging him tighter.
"Shh, easy Zel, it's okay. I'm right here with you. You must've been so scared. I was too." She nodded again, feeling the tremendous wave of anxiety she'd been suffering finally start to dissipate as he held her close.
"I'm sorry I panicked like that. I was scared I might've lost you again," she murmured. Link raised one hand and began stroking her hair the way he always did when she needed comforting.
"You never have to apologize to me for that, not after what we've been through." Another nod against his chest.
"Are you sure you're okay, Link? You broke my fall, didn't you?" she whispered up to him. He seemed to take stock of himself for several moments.
"Aside from that headache, I think I'm fine. A little bruised probably, but I can still move and nothing feels broken." Zelda let out another sigh of relief.
"I'm so happy you're okay." She finally managed to sit back and meet his gaze, hers still a little glassy. Link reached out and brushed the stray tears from her cheeks.
"I'm really sorry I scared you like that, Zel."
"It wasn't your fault at all, Link. What…happened to us anyway?" Link ran his hands down her arms and took hers, rubbing his thumbs across the backs of her fingers.
"I think that portal opened again, but it was underneath us the second time. We fell for a while and you lost consciousness but I held you as tight as I could…I just couldn't lose you again…" Zelda leaned in and pressed her nose against his.
"You'll never lose me again. I'll never leave you."
"I trust you, Zel. I'll never leave you either."
"I know. So…we landed here, then?" Link nodded.
"Yeah. We hit the ground pretty hard…though honestly I think I've hit it harder before. I must've hit my head though because I lost consciousness almost immediately. All I remember was it was daylight when we landed here. That and the fact that you were safe in my arms."
"Thank you for protecting me, my love."
"I'll always keep you safe," he promised.
After they both managed to calm down again, Zelda looked over his shoulder. It was dark and she could barely make out trees. They were far below them, however, as if they were on a cliffside of some sort. She was hesitant to move around too much in the inky blackness of the night.
"Link…where are we?" she asked at last, moving to sit beside him. Link's eyes were glued to something on the horizon though, in the exact opposite direction.
"Zel…I think the better question might be when are we? Look." She followed his gaze and saw several things that made her heart nearly stop.
Her eyes fell upon a Sheikah Tower nearby, proud and glowing with that ancient blue energy. Then she gazed past it and saw another off to the left, further away. And another, even further on the right. In fact, she could pick out where several of them were just at a glance. But those Towers didn't exist anymore…at least in their era.
"We really did fall through time…" she murmured, taking his hand and squeezing it.
"It seems like it. But given where that Tower is…I think I know where we are."
"Where?"
"The Great Plateau." Zelda's eyes widened and she gazed around. It was still too dark to make out much. An idea occurred to her at last, though, and she raised her free hand, willing a small orb of light to life in her palm.
The light it gave off was as effective as any torch, lighting the area around them with a subtle, golden glow. Sure enough, Zelda's eyes fell on an all-too-familiar cave entrance, one which let her pinpoint their location in an instant.
"The Shrine of Resurrection…" she murmured.
"Yeah, that's definitely it," Link agreed.
"Are you…okay?" Link gave her hand a squeeze and placed a reassuring kiss on the cheek.
"I'm okay, don't worry. It's been a long time since then. Besides, whatever time period we're actually in, I'm definitely not in there – the door wouldn't be open if I was." Zelda nodded.
"That's a good point. If you're okay with it…should we maybe see if we can spend the night in there? It's awfully cold out here," she noted. As if to mock her, a frigid breeze blew over the cliffside causing her to shiver. Link drew her into his warm embrace, rubbing his hands up and down her arm to warm her.
"I think that's a good idea. And I promise I'll be perfectly fine. We do need to get inside, though; it's much colder than it was in Hateno earlier…it must be a different time of year. I don't want to risk you getting sick by wandering around in the dark without anything better to keep us warm."
"I don't want you getting sick either," Zelda insisted, kissing his nose softly. It was cold, too. Link gave her a smile that was warm enough to keep her cozy all night.
"Then let's get inside for the night, Zel. Let's make sure the Shrine is empty and safe first then I'll go find us some firewood."
"Mm mm," Zelda shook her head. "We'll find it together. You'll be able to see a lot better with my light magic. We're a team, right?" Link laughed lightly before kissing her forehead.
"You're absolutely right; we are a team. I'd love it if you'd help me."
A short time later, Zelda and Link were safely inside the Shrine of Resurrection. Since it was already late at night, neither wanted to go too far so they quickly gathered a few nearby sticks and returned to the cave. Zelda made sure to close the door to the inner chamber of the Shrine itself – she remembered the way to do so even after all this time. Even though the cave was open still, she didn't want to risk the smoke damaging any of the delicate equipment that had saved her beloved's life. The Link of this era would likely need it someday…
Despite the fact that both had passed out upon arrival in this time, both Zelda and Link were fairly tired. They soon realized, unfortunately, that sleep would be rather hard to find that night. The entire cave had, unsurprisingly, been remodeled with Sheikah technology, leaving the ground cold and hard. There was nothing else in the shrine they could use as padding to sleep on, either.
"Looks like it'll be an uncomfortable night," Link grumbled, a sigh passing his lips. Zelda placed her hand on his arm, giving him the brightest smile she could manage.
"We'll get through it together. We can keep each other warm and you can even use me as a pillow if you like." Link laughed at last.
"I would never let you be uncomfortable all night. If anyone gets to be the pillow, it's me."
"But you're always the pillow!" Zelda felt her heart grow light despite their circumstances; all it took was a little laughter with her beloved to ease all her worries.
"With good reason," he teased back, that easy grin she loved so much played across his lips. "You're far too beautiful and wonderful to have me drooling on top of you all night."
"Oh, come now. You don't drool."
"I don't?"
"Not that I've ever seen. What about me?"
"Um…" Zelda raised an eyebrow and leaned in close, grinning.
"Link – what about me?" The way she drew out his name made him chuckle before he rubbed the back of his head and gave her a sheepish smile.
"Only when you're really tired." Her mouth fell open in surprise.
"I really drool when I sleep!?"
"Not all the time! Besides…I always thought it was really cute…" Zelda blushed but felt a goofy little smile spread across her face.
"Well, as long as you're the only one who ever sees, I guess I don't mind that. Still…how undignified of me. What kind of Princess have I become, hm?" Though her words were critical, her tone was laced with mirth as she mocked the old customs her upbringing had forced upon her. It wasn't lost on her betrothed.
"'Your face should be the picture of stoic perfection, even in your sleep. A Princess must always keep up appearances.'"
The deliberately plodding, dopey voice he uttered those words with caused Zelda to break into laughter all at once. She was more than used to Link showing her incredible displays of outward affection since her return, but lately he had even started joking around with her more than he used to. Sometimes he even initiated them. And it made Zelda's heart soar. Tears grew in the corners of her eyes from how hard she was laughing.
"'Why aren't you taking this lecture seriously? If sleep were meant to be solely for rest, you wouldn't have been born into Royalty. You have to look elegant while you sleep. It's the duty of a Princess.'"
Zelda was barely able to catch her breath, gasping for air as fits of laughter continued to overwhelm her. She saw Link opening his mouth to continue, an amused grin on his face, but she placed her finger over his lips, laughing too hard to stop him any other way.
Link dissolved into his own bout of laughter alongside her and the two fell into each other's arms, the sounds of their merriment echoing around the empty chamber. It was the strangest thing…Zelda had fallen through time before but she had never laughed like this while she was lost. Even having Rauru-sama and Sonia-sama by her side, she never experienced joy like this while she was in the ancient past.
Yet here she was, lost in time again, and laughing so hard she could barely breathe. Of course, it was thanks to Link. She wasn't sure if he was making her laugh on purpose to lighten the mood or if it was just them being the way they usually were at home, but in that moment, she was deeply satisfied and happy, even without knowing where or when they were.
When she finally managed to catch her breath and settle down again, Link was watching her with a sparkle in his bright, blue eyes. He reached out and brushed her hair from her face, tucking a loose strand behind her ear before placing his hand against her cheek.
"It's so good to see you laugh like that, my darling. You really enjoyed that one, huh?" Zelda giggled again before placing her hand atop his and nuzzling his palm.
"I did. Those were exactly the types of stupid things I was taught growing up. It really is hard to imagine my life right now if I still had to follow those ridiculous expectations." Link leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers.
"I would love you no matter what life you lead."
"I know you would. And I would love you with all my heart regardless of my station."
"I trust that completely, Zel. I have to admit though, the way we are now is a lot more fun." Zelda nuzzled his nose with hers.
"It really is. At least if we have to rebuild our Kingdom, we get to do it on our own terms and recreate it the way we want it. But, speaking of rebuilding…do you think Purah and the others will panic when we don't show up at Lookout Landing tomorrow? The last time we both disappeared, the world almost ended…" Link took his finger and followed the contour of her jaw to her chin before giving it a light tap.
"Maybe. But no matter what happens from here, we're together. We'll get through it and figure everything out, starting tomorrow."
"You really know just how to make me feel better, Link. I'd be inconsolable if I were trapped here without you…" She felt his arms tighten around her body once more, that exquisite warmth and comfort engulfing her.
"I'd have hurled myself into that portal after you without a second thought if only you fell. But that's why I never let go of you once that thing appeared in the first place. I couldn't take any chances that something might happen to you." Zelda gave him a gentle smile.
"Thank you. I love you with all that I am."
"And I love you, Zel. I'll always protect you and I'll always be here for you."
"Link…?"
"Yes?"
"What if we can't get back home this time?" she began softly, the potential reality sinking in. "I don't have my Secret Stone. Even though I never figured it out in the ancient past, in theory I could have brought myself back to my original time period with my powers. But here…I don't even have the ability to try." Link looked directly into her eyes.
"It was that blue portal that brought us here, right? Then all we have to do is find the source of it and figure out how to make it send us back. We'll start searching around tomorrow."
"But…what if even that doesn't work? What if we're stuck here forever?"
"Then at least we're together," he said with no hesitation. "If we can't get back to our time, then we'll build a life here. You and me." Zelda looked guilty.
"I can't help but get the feeling this is somehow my fault…I'm the one who keeps getting caught up in time travel…you'd really be okay with that? If we had to leave our old lives behind?" Link took her hands and gave them both a gentle squeeze.
"You are my life, Zel. When you were gone, I felt like I'd lost everything. So even if we do have to leave our old lives behind us, as long as I'm by your side, I'll always be okay. And none of this was your fault. Please don't blame yourself. It's not like you conjured that portal." She sighed.
"You're right. It's just…isn't falling through time once enough? It hasn't even been a year since the last time! Or…well…you know what I mean."
"I completely understand. What about you, Zel? Would you be okay? If we had to stay here, I mean." She met his gaze, a somber feeling in her heart.
"I won't lie and say I wouldn't feel like I was letting down everyone back home. I made so many promises that Hyrule would be rebuilt in even greater glory. I'd feel bad for Purah and Impa, never knowing what became of us. I'd miss the children in Hateno and the rest of our friends there. I'd miss Riju and Paya, Sidon and Yona, every one of our friends who have helped us time and time again…
"But…if there is truly no way for us to return home, I'll still get to live out the rest of my days with the man I love. And that would bring me more happiness than anything else in any world could ever hope to. It would outweigh any disappointment I'd feel. And I would still be the luckiest woman in the world to get to wake up next to you in the mornings and fall asleep with you at nights. To get to marry you and call you mine for the rest of my days."
"Zel…I love you."
"And I love you. Thank you for falling through time for me, Link."
"You don't have to thank me, my love; I would never have hesitated even for a moment. Wherever you go, I go. I won't let you be taken away from me again, by anything."
"And I'll stay by your side forever."
Morning came with blessed speed and Zelda and Link left the Shrine of Resurrection at last. Neither had slept particularly well the night before. Link had insisted Zelda lay her head on his lap so she would have something softer than the floor to rest on. Zelda had been hesitant and only agreed once she removed her hood and folded it up into a makeshift cushion, insisting he use it for his own head if he was going to try sleeping upright. They had managed to get a few decent hours of rest and hadn't been cold all night, but neither of their headaches were gone.
The sun was rising steadily into the sky, illuminating the vast expanses of Hyrule Kingdom. Zelda and Link had studied the horizon and attempted to figure out what era of their history they had landed in. The best they had been able to figure out was 'slightly before the Calamity,' but they couldn't be more precise than that. The Sheikah Towers stood proudly on the horizon alongside the Divine Beasts, but the rest of Hyrule also remained intact, including the Temple of Time, Castle Town, and Hyrule Castle itself. Zelda could hardly remember the last time Hyrule Castle had looked inhabitable. Now it sat perpetually on the skyline in her own time, a ruined shell of its once grand self.
Link had taken it upon himself to do a little mining before the left the Plateau. Neither of them had any Rupees on them since they had just been training near their house before the portal had appeared and they would likely need some. At the very least, they wanted enough to buy some supplies to they didn't have to sleep on the floor of the Shrine of Resurrection anymore. Preferably, they could scrounge up enough to get them an inn for the evening. He had managed to find a few Opals and Ambers which he was confident would be enough for at least the supplies they needed.
After that, Zelda suggested they make their way towards Castle Town, hoping someone might be able to shed some light on the specifics of the exact point in history they had wound up. If it was just before the Calamity, was there a purpose to their being here? She had been stolen away to the ancient past and fulfilled a role she had never imagined, but it had guaranteed Link's triumph over Ganondorf. Did it have to do with him? He was still sealed beneath Hyrule Castle in the Depths, wasn't he? Did they perhaps need to stop him from resurrecting in this time period, instead limiting his influence to simply that of Ganon? The beast was destructive enough as it was; if the Demon King had awakened during this time, nobody would have been able to stand against him, not even her.
She had proposed this to Link who had said only one thing to her: "I don't care why we were brought back in time; you aren't ever going to have to sacrifice yourself again for any reason." His love for her made her heart race, even in the face of such uncertainty.
As they crossed Hyrule Field, much more populated than it was even with the rebuilding effort in full effect, a thought crossed Zelda's mind and she quickly drew her hood up. She signaled for Link to do the same. He did so without hesitation before stepping closer to her.
"Did you see something?" he asked, his tone hushed. She shook her head.
"No, but it just occurred to me. If this is right before the Calamity, you and I are also wandering around somewhere in this time period. If the people in Castle Town start recognizing us, we'll have more problems than we'll know what to do with." Link nodded, slipping his hand into hers.
"You're right, we shouldn't let people know who we are so carelessly. Maybe this will serve a practical purpose too," he offered, gesturing to their hands. "Back in this era, the Princess of Hyrule and her personal knight would never be walking through town holding hands like this." Zelda laughed lightly.
"I suppose you're right…though Zelda and Link absolutely would."
"And thank the Goddess for that."
The two finally arrived at the Castle Town gates a short time later, entering the bustling community for the first time in a century…or much longer for Zelda herself. The lively populace was a sight to behold, though. There was music being played by bards on the corners, horse-drawn carriages moving through the roads with vigor, soldiers laughing and relaxing with the civilians everywhere the eye could see. It felt more like a celebration than anything else.
"Love," she whispered, intent on not using his name around people who might recognize it. He picked up on her reasoning immediately.
"Yes, Darling?" Zelda blushed pretty fiercely but decided not to dwell on it just then. There would be time later to remember how incredible it felt for him to use that moniker of affection as a complete stand-in for her given name…
"Doesn't it feel like we've just walked into a big party? This hardly feels like the atmosphere I'd expect from a town bracing for the devastation of the Calamity…"
"I was thinking the same thing," he agreed. "I know I've had some holes in my memory since then, but I seem to recall Castle Town being quite somber before the Calamity. You couldn't walk anywhere without hearing a whisper about it and there was never any music or energy like this."
"Here, let's find out," she insisted, pulling him towards a friendly little bar she remembered.
Zelda had never entered the establishment herself, but the owner had been a close friend of the Royal Family back when she was a child. His name was Vyke, a big man with an even bigger heart. He had been a good friend of her mother's and was something of an uncle to her when she was very young. But he had stopped being invited to the Castle after her mother had passed away. Her father hadn't wanted any distractions during her training to seal the Calamity and had cut ties with the man almost completely…
Shaking the memory from her mind, Zelda and Link entered the bar, a lively atmosphere enveloping this establishment too. People were dancing and singing, drinks were all but flying off the wooden counter, and Vyke himself was laughing raucously as he chatted with his customers. She smiled as she took in the sight; she hadn't seen the man for an impossibly long time and seeing him so happy made her heart light.
"Did you know him?" Link asked softly, leaning close so she could hear. He could always read her so easily. She nodded and met his gaze.
"He was a good family friend when I was a child."
"I'm glad you get to see him be so happy. Was he the one you wanted to talk to?"
"Yeah…I'm a little afraid he'll recognize me though."
"I think there's so much going on he won't even notice who you really are. If you're that worried, I'll talk to him, but…are you sure you don't want to?" Zelda chewed her lip and frowned.
"I do…"
"Then come with me," Link insisted, taking her arm and tugging it gently. Caught a bit off guard, Zelda followed Link through the throngs of people that crowded the bar, arriving at the counter.
"Some new faces!" Vyke roared, laughing merrily. His own face was red as if he'd been drinking with his patrons all day. "Can I get you anything?"
"A-actually, we just arrived from out of town," Zelda began, still trying to get her bearings. She hadn't quite been prepared to speak to the man from her past, but Link must have known she would have regretted not doing it. He was always looking out for her after all.
"Ah, where from?"
"Oh, uh, the Lurelin area," she quickly invented.
"I love Lurelin! Used to go there to fish all the time with my old man when I was a kid! Welcome to Castle Town!"
"Thank you! Actually, while we have your attention, we were wondering – is there some kind of celebration going on today? It seems quite lively." Vyke cheered loudly and the crowd around them joined in, the singing and dancing growing in fervor.
"Every day's a celebration now that Calamity Ganon is dead and gone!"
"Now that…what?" Her mind had ground to a screeching halt. Link's hand, still in hers, also stiffened.
"You haven't heard? I figured news would have spread everywhere by now! Almost half a year ago, the Calamity arrived and threatened to ravage the Kingdom. But our very own Zelda-sama, her chosen knight Link-sama, and the Champions of Hyrule all joined together to annihilate the beast!"
"Wow…that's amazing to hear," she agreed, recovering from the shock of the news. "But is today maybe the monthly anniversary of his defeat?"
"Nah! Just another day in paradise! It's more surprising when Castle Town is quiet the way it used to be these days! Everyone's just so happy! Now! What can I get for you?"
"Um, I apologize but we had to leave our home in a hurry. As a result, I'm afraid we've run out of funds for leisure activities at the moment." Vyke just let out a hearty laugh again.
"The way you speak reminds me of someone! I can't quite place it but it's so familiar!" Zelda chewed her lip. Had she given herself away?
"O-oh? Is that so?"
"Sure is! You know what, I'm in such a good mood today and you've reminded me of something so nice, your drink's on the house! You and your partner there!"
"How kind of you! Um, thank you."
"Not a problem! Just spreading the joy now that we all have a new beginning!"
Vyke poured Zelda and Link their drinks and thrust them across the bar, grinning the entire time. Luckily, he got distracted by a few new customers and the couple retreated to a quiet corner of the bar – Zelda felt a bit too bad to just slip out after he'd given them free drinks.
"Love…this doesn't make any sense," she murmured into his ear once they were far enough removed from the crowd to hear each other. He nodded, staring into his own drink with obvious confusion on his face.
"You're right. We didn't stop the Calamity with the Champions…so how in the world is that the story in this time? And what's more is…people really seem to believe it. I don't think it's just a story." Zelda sighed.
"I don't think so either. But I'm so very confused. We've clearly come to the past, right? The Divine Beasts and Sheikah Towers alone prove that, not to mention the Shrine of Resurrection. Like you said, you weren't in there. But if you aren't recovering in the Shrine…and the Calamity has already been defeated…"
"Darling…you don't think…this isn't our world, do you?" Zelda blinked several times.
"What do you mean?"
"What if this is some kind of alternate reality? Clearly, we went back in time, but what if that blue portal took us to another world entirely? A version of ours where the disaster of the Calamity was averted." Zelda felt a chill scurry down her arms and back.
"H-how…how would such a thing even be possible?" she managed. She thought she had finally wrapped her mind around all the possibilities of time travel after her days in the ancient past as the Sage of Time. This would just upend everything she thought she knew, turn all of her logical assumptions on their heads.
"I don't know," Link conceded, reaching for his drink and swirling it inside the glass, his eyes unfocused. "But I'm starting to think that's the only way any of this makes sense. And if that's truly what's going on here…why are we here? What could you and I possibly have to do here that would warrant some force of nature pulling us not just through times, but across different worlds?"
"I…couldn't even begin to guess, my love…" she murmured, her own mind racing now.
If they really were in an alternate world, did that mean she had succeeded? Awakened to her powers in time to avert the Calamity? If the Divine Beasts weren't usurped…if the Champions had helped avert catastrophe…did that mean their friends were still alive? Urbosa, Mipha, Daruk, Revali? Perhaps even her father…
"You ought to try this, Darling," Link told her, pointing at his drink. "It's surprisingly good." Zelda eyed him in surprise. She hadn't expected him to actually have any.
"I've never really had alcohol before," she admitted.
"It's not very strong if you want to take a sip just to try it. I'm not going to have more than I just did, though; I don't want to take the chance in case something happens and I need to be ready to protect you." Zelda gave him a warm smile, her uncertainties and questions evaporating for just a moment as she gazed at Link.
"I know you'll always be ready to defend me if it comes to it. And I can even protect you now! But…you know what, sure! I'll try it!"
Zelda threw caution to the wind and lifted the glass into her hands, taking a timid sip of the substance. There was a bit of bitterness to it but somehow it was savory too. The flavor was rather nice, all things considered. Far from her new favorite thing, but enjoyable at the very least. She took one more sip before setting the glass down, satisfied.
"Mm, I see what you mean. It was rather good," she admitted, smiling over at him.
"It's a little strange, isn't it?"
"What, the flavor?"
"No," he began, leaning very close to her and whispering. "The Princess of Hyrule having a drink in the corner of a random bar." She giggled and pecked him on the cheek.
"I'd never hear the end of it if I wasn't the last member of the old Royalty."
They remained sitting together for a few minutes more, pondering the world they'd found themselves in, before Zelda spoke again at last, having formulated a plan.
"Well, we won't figure out anything by sitting around here, will we? I think we should try to find someone who can lead us to Purah."
"Purah?"
"Mhm. She was always the most involved with the ancient Sheikah technology, not to mention she's always been brilliant. If anyone can help us figure out what happened to bring us here, I suspect it's her. Especially since that portal seemed to radiate ancient energy." Link nodded and rose to his feet, offering his hand to her.
"I like that plan. Shall we?" She placed her hand atop his palm, rising to her feet with his stalwart support.
"Let's."
Zelda and Link spent the better part of the afternoon looking for anyone who might have a connection to Purah. They knew she would likely be at the Ancient Tech Lab to the west but neither of them would ever be permitted to enter as normal civilians…and they couldn't just brazenly reveal their true identities. So their best bet was finding someone they knew could take them to Purah outside the lab. Perhaps Impa or any of the other Sheikah scientists that worked with her.
Unfortunately, they saw no one in Castle Town that could get them the audience with the person they wanted. Zelda recognized a few of the townsfolk from long ago, but there was no one she and Link knew personally. It seemed their opportunities were running dry for the moment.
At least Link had managed to sell the Opals and Ambers he'd acquired that morning for 300 Rupees. It wasn't a fortune or anything, but it would more than afford them a night at the inn and the supplies they wanted to trek across the Kingdom should the need arise. After tomorrow, they could figure out what to do about more money if they really had to. At least they wouldn't be sleeping in the Shrine again.
Zelda and Link left Castle Town, returning to Hyrule Field to the south for a respite. Link was more than a little overwhelmed by the propensity of the townspeople to be overly friendly and loud. She knew he wasn't used to large crowds like this anymore and wanted to spare him from dealing with them for a while. Besides, they had already learned everything they were going to from the energetic citizens, anyway.
"Thanks for looking out for me, Zel. Crowds like that always tend to exhaust me," Link told her in a soft voice. Now that they were alone, she relished in hearing her name in his sonorous voice once more.
"I'll always keep my eye on you; you're my partner and the love of my life after all." Link's face began to glow a soft shade of red but he pulled her closer, his arm wrapping around her waist and holding her snugly. She delighted in the sensation and did the same, her arm resting against his side. It was a little harder to walk like this, but it was well worth the mild inconvenience.
Soon, the sounds of the bustling town faded from earshot and the two were truly alone at last. It had been a bit overwhelming to see Castle Town again. Zelda had never spent much time there outside of passing through it on one of her many trips to train at the Spirit Springs, but it warmed her heart to see it so active and lively. It also filled her with melancholy. Even if she were to succeed in having Castle Town rebuilt in her own time, there was no cause to celebrate like that every day. Her Hyrule had been annihilated. They were rebuilding it because it was gone, not because it needed a remodeling. The people there had no victory to celebrate. It was all simply a continuance of their survival.
She found herself a bit envious of this world they found themselves in. She had evidently succeeded in sealing the Calamity before it could kill their friends and her father. Before it had nearly killed Link and cost her a century of her existence. Cost her beloved his precious memories and left him all alone. She shook her head and tried to banish that painful thought from her mind. It was because of their shared experiences that she and Link had become so close to begin with. She wouldn't trade anything she'd been through if it meant she wouldn't have ended up being loved by him. But it was still hard not to wonder what their lives would be like without all the pain they'd been forced to endure.
"Stop."
A quiet voice sounded from nearby, demanding their attention. There was a steeliness to it that Zelda couldn't quite place or ignore though. Whoever this person was wasn't used to demanding things of people but was strong enough to do so should the need arise. The couple came to a halt.
Link's arm tightened around her. The voice had sounded from behind them but they weren't under attack yet. Perhaps it was a curious but aggressive bystander or a traveler with a burning question and a terrible lack of social tact.
"If whoever this is tries to attack us, you stay behind me okay? I know you can handle yourself well now but I just can't let you be in danger," he whispered, his voice so soft she could barely hear it.
"I promise I'll stay behind you."
Slowly, Link removed his arm from her waist and Zelda followed suit, both turning to face the voice that had made the demand. When she finished turning and her eyes fell upon the source of the order, however, Zelda couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
It was Link. Not her Link, obviously, but it was clearly his face that stared back at them. He was a little younger than the man next to her, wearing the old Champion's Tunic that had been prepared for he and the other Champions at the ceremony all those years ago, only this one looked new and pristine. He was the Link of this world. Why was he being so standoffish with them, though?
He reached to the scabbard on his back and drew his blade without a word, the Master Sword gleaming in the sunlight. He leveled it at her Link and stared him down, his eyes set. Her partner didn't take the threat lightly, drawing his broadsword and readying himself.
"Wait," Zelda began, raising her hands. "I'm not sure you really understand what's going on here." The past Link just stared her beloved down, though occasionally his eyes would dart to her for just a moment as if he were trying to take in her appearance without leaving himself open.
"Zelda-sama, that is an imposter." She felt her eyes widen involuntarily. Leave it to Link, no matter the era, to recognize her regardless of the situation. Unfortunately, he had seen through their disguises. Link gave a resigned chuckle next to her and removed his hood, shrugging.
"No point in wearing this now; he already knows I look like him. I can see better without it anyway."
Zelda braced herself and removed her hood as well, hoping she might still be able to diffuse the situation. As she did so, the past Link's eyes widened in surprise before snapping back to her partner, staring him down hard. Her Link shook his head and gave a small smile.
"Mind if I confirm a few things before we do this?"
His past self simply nodded. Zelda's eyes widened in shock though. Link never went looking for a fight like this.
"You aren't really planning to duel him, are you? Can't we just explain things to him and avoid this altogether?" Link gave her a resigned grin.
"Not a chance. He'd never let us go now that he's seen you."
"But…there's so much he doesn't understand. If we explained the whole situation…"
"Would I ever let you go with someone I thought was an imposter?"
"Never."
"And neither will he." Zelda sighed and looked between them, worry in her gaze.
"Just…please be careful. There's probably not a more dangerous enemy you could fight. You know each other's every move." Link chuckled.
"I'll be careful. Neither of us will be trying to kill the other; that's not the way I think. That's a last resort. But I wouldn't stop until I had disarmed my opponent, especially if it meant protecting you. He won't back down easily."
Zelda took several steps backwards and the past Link watched them carefully, a wrinkle of confusion appearing on his brow. Maybe he would piece the puzzle together in his mind. Why would an imposter trying to take her away willingly let her go to face him alone? Why would she not run across the field to him if she were in real danger? There was clearly something odd going on here if he looked closely enough. She just hoped he would notice.
"Sorry about that. Like I said, can I confirm a few things?" her Link called out. The past Link just nodded again. He continued.
"You think I'm an imposter and I'm using your face to steal her away, right?"
A nod.
"And you think I cut her beautiful hair off to obscure who she was while we escaped through Castle Town into Hyrule Field, right?"
He nodded again.
"And you won't rest until you've pinned me and taken her back to the Castle…right?"
A final nod, this one curt and confident.
"Would you believe me if I told you I'm actually you from another time period?" Zelda gasped. He had admitted the truth so freely. That was likely the only way to diffuse the situation, though, even if he believed it to be impossible. Would his other self believe him?
The past Link shook his head – no.
"Why not?" her partner asked, curious now.
"You talk too much," was the terse reply he received. Link began laughing and grinned at him.
"Guess I'd think the same thing back then. Okay, I'm ready if you are."
The two Links stared each other down before they rushed forward almost at the same time. The past Link reached to his back and drew his Hylian Shield and Zelda was immediately concerned. Her beloved had no shield of his own. They hadn't been training with it back in Hateno before this all happened so it hadn't fallen through time with them. She chewed her lip as she watched.
Her Link always impressed her though. Even as steel crashed against steel, he danced nimbly around the blade of the Master Sword. When he was on the receiving end of a strike, he parried the blade with his own, deft and certain in his movements. The Hylian Shield blocked a few of his advances, but he didn't seem to be on the back foot even without the extra protection a shield would have afforded him.
The past Link was resourceful, though. After learning some of his opponents attack patterns, he used that shield to trip him up. As a cut from the Master Sword was parried again, he swung the shield forward as if it were a battering ram, causing her Link to leap away, barely dodging the forceful strike. He grinned at his past self and nodded.
"That was a nice move."
No response, as expected.
The battle continued. Their styles and abilities were so similar it was hard to imagine they were anything but the same person. Still, the past Link refused to put any truth to the supposed imposter's words. Zelda could tell her Link had an edge on him in skill. He had many more years of practice and was used to being resourceful while out in the wild from his two quests. Still, though, the Master Sword was incredibly powerful, even in this era, and she gasped as she saw her beloved forced back yet again.
The other Link charged forward, following his swing nimbly. The point of the Master Sword grazed the ground and he brought it up with amazing force as her partner moved to defend again. He wasn't fast enough to stay the Blade of Evil's Bane, though, and his trusty broadsword went sailing into the air. Zelda reacted before the legendary sword could move back into a resting position. Even if this was a past version of Link, she couldn't let the love of her life come under someone else's blade. It didn't matter who it was. She was far too close to losing him if that were to happen.
The Bow of Light appeared in Zelda's hands instantly and she fired three projectiles forward. The bolts of magic struck the ground by her Link, forming a perimeter around him before detonating. She had controlled the magic enough that it wouldn't hurt her partner and would just force the other Link back. With shock in his eyes, he jumped away, glancing towards Zelda in bewilderment. She hurried to the broadsword and lifted it in her hands. A second later, her partner was at her side again.
"Thanks, Zel," he told her softly, taking the sword from her hands. "You saved me just then."
"I know you said he wouldn't kill you, but I'm not willing to take that risk. You mean everything to me."
"I'd do the same for you. You're just the best." Zelda grinned at him.
"You can flatter me more after we clear the air here. What's the best way to do that?" Link considered her words for a moment.
"Probably to disarm him. If I can show him the Master Sword resonates with me too, he might actually believe me." Zelda nodded.
"That's a great point! Regardless of era, the Master Sword is yours. Even this one will respond to you."
"I can try one more thing, first."
"Oh?"
"Hey," Link called across the field to his past self. He raised an eyebrow, still wildly confused as to why Zelda had attacked him it seemed. "Do you really think she'd fire on you like that if I was just a simple imposter?"
"Can't risk it." Short and simple.
"Spoken like…me," Link muttered, sighing.
Before either of them could react, the past Link raised the Master Sword and it began shining blue. He swung it and a beam burst from the blade, lancing across the expanse and hurtling directly towards his future self.
Zelda stepped in front of him quickly and raised her arm, a circular wall of light forming before her. The blade beam splashed harmlessly across the barrier. If he didn't have a shield, Zelda would simply be his shield herself. She was more than capable of that now. Her beloved lowered himself into a combat stance and locked eyes with his opponent once more.
The three ran forward, Zelda deliberately staying behind Link and to his left to block any attacks she could. The Master Sword clashed against the broadsword yet again, a metallic clang ringing out around them. The past Link thrust his shield forward yet again but Zelda was prepared for that trick. She raised her arm and conjured the barrier of light again, blocking his attack. His eyes widened again in shock and he actually spoke over the noise, his voice utterly astonished.
"Why!?"
Zelda dropped her shield as she felt her Link draw back for another strike. The past Link readied his blade as well and the two swung with intense force. But right before they clashed again, an eerily familiar voice called out across the field.
"Link! Please, stop!"
All three of them turned to the source of the voice and Zelda felt her eyes widen in surprise. There were two women standing nearby. One was a much younger Impa, dressed in her Sheikah attire with a look of amazement on her face. That wasn't so surprising; of course Impa was out here. They had been looking for her indirectly, after all. No, it was the other figure that stunned her into silence.
It was as if Zelda were looking directly into a mirror, except it reflected her old appearance instead of her new one. The young woman who had spoken had the same eyes as she did, the same nose, the same ears, almost the same everything. Her golden hair was long though, extending down to her waist. This was her, the Zelda of this world. Her own alternate self.
The past Link looked between the two Zeldas with abject shock in his eyes. The older Link lowered his sword and sheathed it, content that things had hit a stopping point at last. At any rate, it didn't look like he'd need to fight anymore. The younger Link finally sheathed his own sword and looked to the Princess of the past.
"Z-Zelda-sama…? What…?"
"You aren't seeing double, Link. It appears we have much to discuss before the events of this day make sense to either of us."
The future Zelda was still trying to recover from the surprise of being confronted by her other self so suddenly. Luckily, that other self was far more levelheaded about the situation than the past Link had been. The current Princess slowly approached the pair of them, smiling and offering her hand.
"I believe it's safe to say you are me from the future, correct?" Zelda, her short hair dancing in the wind, approached and took the hand of her younger self. It was an incredibly strange sensation.
"That is correct, though to be honest I'm unsure if this is even the same reality as the one my Link and I have come from. It's possible this is an alternate timeline altogether." Her past self merely smiled and nodded.
"Come, then. We have much to discuss and figure out together. You are more than welcome at the Castle with me. It's your home too, after all."
Zelda thought about correcting her. The Castle hadn't been her home for several millennia. Her home was in Hateno Village, surrounded by all the wonderful people there, sharing a lovely house with her betrothed. But now wasn't the time for semantics. She would likely tell her life story later. For now, simply accepting her gracious courtesy was the best course of action.
"Thank you. We are indebted to your kindness."
7/4/2023
Original Post-Chapter Note: Welcome back and thank you so much for reading! So let me give you a little context and explain some of my inspiration for this story.
I've been playing Age of Calamity again because I had never finished it when it first came out and Tears of the Kingdom just made me want more of these characters I love (especially Zel and Link). And as I saw that game play out, I kept wondering what it would be like to do something with some of the themes and topics from that game. Then I figured, since it acknowledges itself as a separate world, how interesting would it be to put the current Zel and Link into that world and have them interact with everyone? And the answer to me was 'very interesting.' So I decided to run with it and I've had an absolute blast writing this chapter.
The rest of this story will effectively involve BotW/TotK Zel and Link interacting with the AoC cast and just having moments with them. There won't be much action, though there will be some drama and conflict. This is a story that's riding on the character interactions first and foremost so I hope I can present them well for you all and that everyone enjoys if you choose to come back for more. And, of course, there will be lots of fluffy Zelink goodness to round out those more intense interactions. My favorite thing about writing these characters is still the way they support and love each other so much.
Also...writing two Links and two Zeldas interacting in the same scenes is way harder than I thought it would be lol, I had to come up with so many different ways to refer to each to specify which one was doing or saying what. Let me know if you got lost anywhere along the way and I'll try to fix it and improve it for the next chapter. Maybe there's an even better way to do it, but it's definitely a unique problem that I'm having fun trying to solve as I write.
Overall, I think this one will run for 8 chapters - I pretty much have all the ideas I want for it figured out at this point. So I hope you enjoy this new little project and I hope you'll come back for more! Thanks so much for reading and take care everyone!