New Author's Note: Hey again! Much less to say before this chapter, but I wanted to give everyone rereading a heads up that Chapter 2 is where the changes really become noticeable. If you've read this chapter before, I recommend rereading it entirely, but especially the last two scenes. The whole chapter has little details changed here and there, but the last two scenes are hugely different. This is where the biggest changes in the rewrite begin.

Anyway, I'll let you get to it now! I hope you enjoy!

"Please, make yourselves at home."

Link stepped through the door at the past Zelda's invitation, following his Zel closely. The current Princess had led them to her room in the tower, asking that they hide their faces with their hoods along the way to avoid any unpleasant questions before she had a chance to understand the situation and explain it to the right people.

The past Zelda entered the room after him, followed by Impa and his own past self. He was curious for a moment if the other Link harbored any ill feelings towards him after their battle but quickly decided he didn't. In theory, they shared the same thought process and Link himself wouldn't have held a grudge towards someone he'd had a simple misunderstanding with, especially not when the circumstances were so unorthodox. Things were probably fine on that front.

Closing the door behind them, the other Zelda gestured to the large sitting area, ornately decorated, and smiled.

"Sit wherever you like. I'm sure you're more than familiar with this room given you and I are the same person," she insisted, her eyes sparkling with wonder as she gazed at her future self.

His partner took a seat on a wine-red sofa, Link following suit and sticking close to her. The others made their way to the other side of the small table that sat at the center of the lounge and Zel offered a tiny smile and shook her head.

"To be honest, I haven't seen this room in…a very long time." The past Zelda eyed her with curiosity as she sat down across from them. Link noticed that his own counterpart remained standing behind her despite Impa taking a chair for herself. Maybe they weren't as close in this reality.

"Ah, forgive me for assuming things," the past Princess began. "And please allow me to apologize once more for what happened in Hyrule Field. Link only meant to protect someone he believed to be myself. I ask your forgiveness on both our behalf," she said, bowing her head deeply. She spoke very formally, though Link wasn't surprised. This version of Zelda hadn't spent years separated from the traditions of the Royal Family. Zel just shook her head.

"Please, think nothing of it. Link and I would have done the same if our roles were reversed. I'm just glad no one was hurt." Link himself offered a smile.

"It was interesting to duel myself, to be honest. I've never been in such a stalemate before." His past self met his gaze and the ghost of a grin appeared on his face.

"Same." The past Zelda allowed herself to laugh at the display.

"It appears no one harbors any ill will towards another then. Wonderful!" Impa leaned forward and spoke, her eyes locked onto Link himself.

"Still, you're a lot more talkative than our Link, huh?" He couldn't help but laugh at her words.

"I used to be exactly the same way. Things have changed a lot for me over the years, though. It's all thanks to Zel…da. Zelda."

Beside him, his partner giggled lightly. On their way to the tower, she had whispered to him that they shouldn't shock their past selves by behaving too much like a couple until they had a chance to bring it up and prepare them for it. He was already slipping up. Calling her by her nickname was so much more natural though.

"It's interesting to see the way you address her so casually too," Impa noted, still studying the two. Zel took it upon herself to answer, a gentle smile played across her pink lips.

"I would never want Link to address me formally. Our relationship has transformed greatly after everything we've been through together. Besides, I'm barely even Royalty anymore." The past Zelda perked up at her words.

"On that subject, would you be willing to tell me about the future the two of you hail from first? That might help me tailor the information you need to understand this world more specifically."

"I would be happy to. Link and I come from a future where the Calamity wasn't prevented. Ganon usurped control of every Guardian in the land and even took over the Divine Beasts with his power. The four Champions, Mipha, Urbosa, Revali, and Daruk…were lost." The faces across from them grew somber but no one interrupted.

"Link took me and we fled, hoping to regroup and fight back. But a swarm of Guardians surrounded us near Kakariko Village. He fought with everything he had to protect me…and it almost cost him his life. I finally awakened to my Sealing magic and was able to banish Ganon's malice from the Guardians, but Link was close to death. The Sheikah took him to the Shrine of Resurrection where he spent the next century recovering from his wounds."

Zel's hand had balled into a fist in her lap. That memory still pained her. Link caught himself before he reached out and took her hand though; that was far too obvious an action and they still hadn't announced the nature of their relationship to their other selves yet. He chewed his lip and let her continue.

"I went to Hyrule Castle alone and pulled Ganon into a state of magical stasis. There he struggled against my hold over him for that century while Link recovered. At last, after his awakening, Link set off on his journey. His memories were lost as a result of the Shrine but he regained them while freeing each Divine Beast and the spirits of the Champions imprisoned within them. And finally, just as Ganon broke free from my hold, Link arrived to destroy him. In the end, we felled the beast together and saved our ruined Kingdom."

Link glanced around the room, curious the reception her tale would receive. The past Zelda's eyes were downcast, an obvious frown on her face. Impa looked sadly between the two, not quite sure what to say. Link's own past self remained stoic and unmoving through, which didn't surprise him in the slightest. The current Princess spoke at last.

"Zelda…you have endured so much all alone. I know I cannot change the history you have lived with my words alone, but please accept my condolences for all you have lost." Next to him, Zel just gave her a smile.

"Thank you. But I wasn't alone – Link has been with me every step of the way. Since the Calamity was repelled, he has been by my side each and every day." Link bit his lip. That wasn't entirely true…

"I was meaning to ask you – the two of you do appear to be older than myself and the Link of this time period, perhaps by a handful of years. How long has it been since the Calamity's defeat at your hands?"

"It's been seven years since then, nearly eight now. During that time, we set about attempting to rebuild Hyrule and restore it to its former glory, but we hit a setback recently that undid much of our progress…a second disaster that blighted our Kingdom."

"Another nightmare befell you?" The past Zelda's eyes were wide with shock.

"Indeed. You see…I have fallen through time once before this…" Link felt his fingers twitch. He wanted nothing more than to hold her hand, to reassure her she was safe with him. To remind himself that she was okay. Every time he remembered the way she had vanished right before his very eyes, he was filled with an icy dread.

"You have?" the Princess continued. "That is truly incredible. How were you able to return to your own time previously? Perhaps a similar method could solve your problems this time as well." Zel shook her head, her smile faltering.

"I…I'm afraid that won't be possible. I was forced to consume an ancient artifact that transformed my body…into that of a dragon. I spent several millennia lost in the skies over Hyrule, not even knowing who or what I was…it was a miracle I returned to myself at all…"

The three sets of eyes across the table widened in horror at her words but Link couldn't bear to hear her like this any longer. Zel's voice had grown small, quivering just slightly. They had both made significant progress in moving forward after the Upheaval, but he knew once in a while she still had nightmares about becoming the Light Dragon. He knew remembering those days filled her with dread even now.

She was losing herself more and more to the bad memories with each passing second; he could tell. The 'cold grip of terror' she had once described to him was tightening its cursed fingers around her heart and mind. And whether or not it surprised or even shocked anyone else in the room, he wouldn't let her suffer alone ever again.

Link wrapped his arms around her without another moment's hesitation. He expected her to protest, snap back into the moment and try to spare their past selves the startling reveal of their relationship, but she didn't. She curled into him and allowed his arms to tighten around her, hugging him back. Her breathing was a bit shallow, but she wasn't as panicked as he'd witnessed in the past. She would be okay soon. He'd make sure of it.

"It's alright, Zel. You're safe with me, always." She nodded against him, taking very slow breaths.

"I know. Thank you, Link. I'm sorry; those bad memories crept up on me again when I started talking about what happened and they got to me somewhat."

"You know you don't have to apologize to me. I'm always here for you."

Link chanced a look towards their audience. Impa's eyes were wide and her hands were clasped together, the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. The past Zelda had covered her face with her hands, a fiery blush having overtaken her if her red ears were any indication. She still peeked between her fingers towards them, though. Even his own past self was blushing lightly, though he had averted his eyes and refused to look at them again. Link cleared his throat, giving them an awkward smile.

"Sorry for the surprise," he began. "We were trying to keep things subtle until we had the opportunity to tell you about our relationship, but…I just couldn't let her suffer with those memories alone, not after all she's been through."

"N…not at all! No need to apologize! I-I'm glad she has your comfort!" the past Zelda sputtered, shaking her head behind her hands. Zel, having mostly settled into herself again, sat back up, turning to face her other self.

"My apologies as well. Link and I have managed to move on together well enough, but sometimes when I think back to what I was forced to do, it affects me quite badly." The Princess across from them lowered her hands at last and met her future self's gaze.

"I cannot even begin to imagine the difficulty of that situation, nor the bravery it must have taken to make a decision like that. But given the fact that it cannot help you in the time you have found yourself, how about we all move on and focus on something else? We need not dwell on such miserable memories."

"Thank you. I'd appreciate that," she agreed.

"In fact…Link? Would you mind fetching our little friend? He's probably with my father at the moment. I'm sure his presence will serve to lighten the mood!" The younger swordsman gave a short hum and bowed before slipping out of the room without looking back. What a different relationship his other self had with the Princess of Hyrule…

"Little friend?" Zel asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Her counterpart lit up.

"Yes! You might even recognize him! As a matter of fact, he, too, crossed the barrier of time to come to us. It was his influence that allowed us to overcome the Calamity." Link's ears perked up at that.

"Wait…there's another being here who can travel through time?" he asked, his mind starting to race. The Princess nodded.

"Indeed. He is a mechanical creature and Purah and Robbie were able to view some of his memories. They indicate a future that was destroyed by Calamity Ganon, resulting in his decision to travel through time to save me from the same fate."

"A future that was destroyed…" Zel murmured next to him. Her eyes shot up and she gazed at her other self with intensity unrivaled, leaning forward onto the table. "Do you suppose he came from our timeline to begin with? Who exactly is this little friend of yours?"

Link stifled a chuckle as the Princess drew back in surprise. He knew she had the same penchant for excitement as his Zel did, but it must be a bit surprising to see it from outside herself. Still, she collected her thoughts with impressive speed and nodded.

"I believe he just might be. His name is Terrako, a little Guardian I once constructed when I was a child. I suppose you did the same in your own time?"

"Hmm…Terrako…? That does sound somewhat familiar…"

"I struggled to remember at first as well. It wasn't until we approached Ganon and nearly lost him that my memories of him returned." Zel pondered this for a long while, her brow furrowed.

"I do feel like I built…something when I was a small child. My memories are still a bit hazy but it feels familiar…" The Princess of the past turned suddenly towards her advisor.

"Impa! Do you suppose…if our Terrako was the one originally built by this Zelda…that he brought her through time to see her again?" The young Sheikah next to her nodded and allowed a smirk to cross her lips.

"That's certainly possible, Zelda-sama. It wouldn't be the first time that troublemaker has caused problems for the people around him…" The Princess turned back towards them.

"Would you mind explaining the way in which you were brought here?" Zel took it upon herself to answer the question.

"We were training together on the hillside above our home when a large blue and white portal appeared behind us. I could sense time magic through it but it also felt like ancient Sheikah technology. We even heard some high-pitched beeping sounds coming through it. But after we decided to leave, it vanished and reappeared beneath our feet. We fell through it and woke up on the Great Plateau last night." Impa scowled nearby as she heard the details.

"That's exactly the way that little nuisance calls people through time," she muttered, casting a glance at the past Princess. She wore a sheepish smile on her face as she twisted her hands together.

"Um…I believe we might have solved the mystery of your arrival here. As you can probably surmise, it was Terrako's doing. Furthermore, I do not believe there to be any greater reason for your appearance here other than his desire to meet you again, Zelda. If he truly came through time from a destroyed world, it is very likely our Terrako and the one you originally assembled are one and the same." Zel let out a sigh.

"I think you're probably right. I can certainly understand his desire if that's truly the case. Still…I wish he had come up with a better way to go about it," she grumbled. Link laughed lightly next to her.

"Does that mean there's just as simple a way to send us back to our proper time?" The past Princess nodded.

"Yes. Terrako can open those portals easily when he has amassed enough ancient energy. Opening two portals to bring you here probably drained his entire battery, but Purah and Robbie in the Ancient Tech Lab should be able to remedy that within a day at most. We can have you sent back to your proper time as early as tomorrow." Link felt a calm smile steal his face.

"That's great. Looks like we won't be trapped in the past after all, Zel." She met his gaze and smiled warmly at him.

"Doesn't knowing that actually make this a lot more fun than it was before? Just think of the things we might be able to witness and experience!" There was that fire of fascination he loved seeing in her. The past Zelda was getting swept up in it as well.

"I think you're exactly right, Zelda! Under what other circumstances could we meet ourselves from an alternate timeline? The possibilities for conversation are truly endless! In fact, you're welcome to stay with us as long as you like! Terrako can open the portal to send you home whenever you so desire. I suspect he can manipulate the time he returns you to as well."

"Hmm…so we wouldn't even have been gone in our own world?" Link pondered.

"I am confident that is that case, especially given the nature of your world's relationship to ours." Zel turned to Link and lit up.

"That means we could stay for a while, couldn't we? Explore a Hyrule Kingdom at its peak without the Calamity to threaten it! We could even model some of our rebuilding efforts after the things we see and learn here!" Link chuckled and took her hand.

"I think that's a wonderful idea. You know I'll be by your side no matter what; we can stay as long as you like." The other Zelda spoke quickly.

"I would be thrilled to accommodate your stay with us! I shall inform Father of the situation later today so there is no issue. And I would be happy to procure a guest room for each of you as well." Link opened his mouth to say something but Zel beat him to it.

"Um, actually…both of us would greatly appreciate it if you were willing to procure just one room for the two of us together. I apologize if that request makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, but after the number of times we've lost each other…we both vowed to never again be separated." Though the past Zelda's face burned crimson again, she gave a firm nod.

"It would be my pleasure to make sure you are both together and happy, certainly after all you have been through. Um…might I ask a very personal question of you?" Impa perked up at her words and leaned in a bit closer.

"Go right ahead," Zel assured her. The Princess lowered her voice to a murmur.

"How did your relationship become so close? When I look at the Link of this time, I cannot envision him behaving in such a manner with me…o-or anyone, truly!" she amended quickly. Zel began to glow from happiness and turned towards Link, offering him the floor. Her question concerned his personality directly, after all. He cleared his throat.

"It took a long time. The Link you see now is exactly how I was back when Hyrule was at its peak. But after I rescued Zel from the Calamity, I was just so glad to have someone close to me who understood me that I found myself opening up to her…really opening up, actually. It took a while for me to express my feelings to her but we got there…only after she confessed to me first." Zel reached out and took his hand, a serene smile gracing her beautiful face.

"But I suppose the answer you're really looking for is this – I fell deeply in love with her after she moved into the little house I owned in Hateno Village with me. Spending every day with her made me realize just how special and important she was to me. It made me realize I always wanted her in my life and by my side." Impa sat forward at once, her eyes wide.

"Wait! Zelda-sama doesn't live in Hyrule Castle? She lives in Hateno Village? Together with you?" Zel just giggled and nodded, leaning forward as she spoke.

"Hyrule Castle is uninhabitable in our time. Ganon ruined it to a state of near annihilation but after the second disaster that struck our Hyrule, the Castle now sits upon a stone perch, floating against the skyline. No one can even reach it anymore." Impa was quite stunned by the revelation.

"Your world…sounds terrifying," she murmured. Link and Zel laughed together.

"It really can be sometimes. But thanks to Link, our greatest enemies have been defeated and we can finally set about restoring our Kingdom to a respectable state."

It was only then that Link's eyes fell on the other Zelda again. She had been silent since having her question answered and was red in the face, staring hard at Zel's left hand. Link nudged his partner and she followed his gaze to her past self before uncurling her hand, presenting the ring to her.

"It's a Silent Princess made from gemstone," she explained, watching as the younger girl's eyes lit up.

"I love the Silent Princess…it's remarkable how similar your ring looks to the real thing. If…if the two of you live together in Hateno Village…and you've made a vow to never leave each other's sides again…am I correct in assuming that your ring is…a symbol of your betrothal to Link?" A bright smile spread across Zel's lips and she nodded, her cheeks turning a bit pink.

"It is! I've never been happier in all my life than the day he asked for my hand in marriage. You know, it's a bit strange – I was so excited to tell everyone the news but I never once imagined I'd be able to tell myself in a different timeline!" The past Princess sat back and gave a bright smile to her future self.

"I could not be more overjoyed for you, Zelda. Nor for you, Link. The two of you are truly the perfect picture of happiness together. The love and support I feel emanating from you is incomparable." Link felt his own face heat up at her words. Strange that Zel's past self was the one making them both blush now.

"Thank you, truly," Zel insisted, lowering her hand again. "I know the same happiness will be yours one day as well."

"I appreciate your kind words. If I can be completely honest with you-"

Just then, the door to the room swung open and the younger Princess wheeled around, her mouth clamping shut. Link's other self entered again, carrying a small, white Guardian in his arms. Was this Terrako?

Without warning, the tiny Guardian leapt from his grip and let out a series of excited beeps, landing on the floor and scurrying across the rug to Zel. Link leaned in protectively, a little wary of the strange creature. He didn't know Guardians could even look like this but he still felt a little on edge knowing this was the being that dropped them through that portal. The past Zelda smiled across the table, though.

"You do not have to worry; Terrako would never harm either of you. He once gave his life to defend me from Ganon. I assure you he is only excited to see his creator." Link relaxed and sat back as Zel leaned forward and lifted the little machine into her arms.

"Terrako…? You seem…so familiar…" A short antenna popped up from atop the Guardian's head and he swayed back and forth. As he did so, a melody began to sound from him. Link had never heard the song but Zel seemed to recognize it immediately.

"That's…Mother's lullaby," she whispered, her eyes growing glassy. Link scooted a bit closer and wrapped his arm around her waist. Zel leaned against him, a smile spreading across her lips as she watched Terrako.

Soon, his singing stopped and he watched her expectantly. Zel lifted him higher into her arms and met his gaze, blinking tears from her eyes. She sniffled before bringing him in for a hug.

"Terrako…I remember now. You were always by my side when I was a little girl…when Mother was still with us. But Father took you away after she passed. How could I have forgotten you?"

The tiny Guardian let out a series of energetic beeps, swaying happily in her arms. Link couldn't help but smile at the scene. He hadn't even been aware that she had built a little Guardian companion as a child, but it certainly seemed like something she would do.

Zel hugged the tiny robot for a while longer before releasing him, setting him on the table before them. Link finally got a good look at it. He really did look like a miniature of the Guardian Stalkers he used to fight out in Hyrule Field when Ganon still controlled them. And he had come from their time to save this world. It made sense that this was an alternate reality then – Terrako's own time traveling had caused realities to diverge from one another completely.

"Okay you little problem!" Impa began with sudden intensity, pointing an accusatory finger at Terrako. "Did you drop- ow!" Terrako swatted her hand away and the Sheikah warrior recoiled before leveling her finger at its eye once more.

"Stop that! I'm asking you a question! Did you- hey!" He swatted her hand again. From the look on the past Zelda's face, this was quite common, but his Zel was particularly amused by their antics. Impa finally resigned herself to just scowling at the small robot.

"Fine, you win. But answer me – did you drop that Zelda-sama and her Link through one of your time portals yesterday?" Terrako considered her for a long moment before very slowly averting his gaze, turning deliberately away. Impa gasped.

"Now you're ignoring me? You're unbelievably guilty! I can tell from that reaction alone!" Zel reached out and lifted Terrako off the table, bringing him into her lap again.

"Don't worry, Impa; I'll get an answer out of him."

"Of course, Zelda-sama." Zel shook her head, her short hair swaying.

"You don't have to address me that way, Impa. I'm hardly Royalty anymore." Her past self spoke up suddenly.

"Zelda, you've said that more than once. Do you not think of yourself as the Princess of Hyrule in your time?" Zel gave her a light smile, still holding Terrako in her hands.

"The people think of me that way. They willingly follow me and give me their devotion. But no, I don't think of myself as a Princess any longer. I'm simply Zelda, the girl who lives in Hateno Village alongside her love and helps teach children at the school she established. I don't want those who devote themselves to me to think of themselves as beneath me. I want to earn their respect, not demand it. I want to stand alongside them and call them my friends, my equals. The Hyrule that Link and I rebuild won't be structured with such rigid formalities."

"I…rather envy that, Zelda."

"Still, though," Impa spoke up again, "it's a bit too uncomfortable to address someone who looks so much like our Zelda-sama so casually. Would you forgive me if I continue to address you that way?" Zel smiled towards her.

"I don't mind at all, plenty of people in my own time do too. I just didn't want you to feel obligated to."

"Thank you, Zelda-sama." Zel turned her focus to the white robot and smiled.

"Now then. Terrako? We just want to understand if we're stuck or if you brought us here. So please tell us – did you use your abilities to bring Link and I here from our world yesterday? We were just outside of Hateno Village when a blue portal sprang to life behind us. That was you, wasn't it?" The little Guardian just averted its eye again.

"Terrako, I promise I'm not upset with you. It's so wonderful to see you again! I couldn't be more proud of the way you saved this world! We just want to know if we should be concerned that we're trapped here forever or if you have the power to send us back. So? Did you bring me here to meet me one more time?" At last, Terrako gave a nod, beeping once as he met her gaze again. Zel just laughed lightly.

"To think the little Guardian we built all alone in our tower as children had the power to save the world and everyone in it…isn't he amazing, Zelda?" It was the first time Zel had referred to her counterpart by name; she seemed to be settling into the situation a bit more. The past Princess nodded her agreement.

"He really is something special. I am sorry he forced you to this world without warning, but I am truly glad you got to meet him again."

"So am I. It's wonderful to see you again, Terrako."

The tiny Guardian beeped happily before swaying in her arms once again, his eye closing as if he were smiling brightly.

That night, Zelda found herself lying in bed, pondering the events of the day once more. They had solved the mystery of their arrival in this alternate timeline which took most of the pressure off their shoulders. Terrako had indeed summoned them because he missed his original creator and wanted to see how she was doing, though nobody was quite sure why. Zelda's other self had assured her the little Guardian had never done something like that before and was quite surprised that he would randomly pluck them from their own era like that. Perhaps that was a mystery that would never be solved.

She sighed, feeling lonely in the large, empty chamber. Link was bathing just down the hallway in the very same room Zelda had used earlier. Both of them felt comfortable enough to do so without fear of being separated. Terrako wasn't going to send them back until they asked him to – her other self had made sure of that personally. It helped that the physical distance between them even now was hardly any more than when they took separate baths at home in Hateno.

The younger Princess had lent them clothing to wear overnight. She was taking wonderful care of them and Zelda wanted nothing more than to return the favor before they left. She stretched out and laughed as the sleeves of the white nightgown she wore rode up on her arms. It was a little too small on her, a testament to the years that separated she and her other self. Aside from that caveat, however, it was quite comfortable. She even remembered this particular nightgown; it was one of her favorites, another kind gesture from the younger girl.

The silence of the room allowed Zelda's mind to drift back to their discussions earlier that day. She and Link had spent the better part of the afternoon with their other selves, figuring out the specific differences between their worlds. In this timeline, Ganon had been sealed away properly and could no longer threaten Hyrule, not for a long time at any rate. But Zelda knew quite well that the story didn't end there, that there existed an even greater threat lurking far beneath Hyrule Castle. And that left an entirely new issue for her to ponder.

Should she tell this world's Zelda about Ganondorf? Rauru-sama's seal wouldn't come undone for another 107 years at least. The odds that she would still be alive by then were low enough, but the odds that she would be in a physical state to do anything about it were almost nonexistent. Somehow, she just couldn't imagine her 124-year-old self venturing below the Castle with an equally ancient Link to take on the greatest threat the world had ever known. It was likely it would fall to the next generation to handle Ganondorf.

If that were the case, should she even mention it to her past self? Would that knowledge ruin the happiness she had earned by her own hand? Would she spend the rest of her life fearing the future? If she tried to handle Ganondorf early…would she wind up falling into the past as well?

Zelda sighed and rolled over, burying her face in the fluffy pillow. Thinking about these things was infinitely more complicated when she had no idea how this world's future would play out. It was possible that Ganon's defeat would cause Ganondorf to struggle even harder against Rauru-sama's seal. Perhaps the Calamity's devastation of Hyrule had allowed it to amass energy that Ganondorf used to break free a century later. If he hadn't been able to draw that energy in this world, what if he didn't wake up for 200 years? 300? She didn't know the answers. Was it worth potential ruining her other self's life when she didn't even know for sure what would happen?

There was a gentle knock at the door before it opened, Link reentering the room at last. His presence alone soothed her anxious soul…but it would help more if she could see him. Zelda turned her head, her hair falling messily over her face as her eyes fell upon him at last.

"You okay, Zel? You look pretty out of it," Link commented, a sparkle of worry in his eyes. She blew a loose strand of hair from in front of her eye and sighed.

"I'm fine. I'm just arguing with myself over whether or not we should tell them what we know…"

"About Ganondorf?"

"Yeah."

"Well, like you said earlier, he probably won't even wake up in their lifetimes, right?"

"Probably not. And it's not like I really know the way this world's future will play out for sure. But I keep wondering…what if there were a way for this world to rid itself of the Demon King without my other self or her daughter or granddaughter needing to sacrifice themselves in the same way?"

Link placed his things back in a drawer before crossing the room and sitting down on the bed next to her, running his hand through her hair. He fixed it for her, brushing small strands back into their proper positions and tucking some behind her ear. His fingers felt even softer than usual after his bath.

"Zel, you have such a good, kind heart. Let me ask you this – if there were a way to prepare for Ganondorf across this century that actually would destroy him when he first woke up, what do you think it would it be?" Zelda pondered his words for several moments, curling her body close around him.

"The Master Sword would need more power, first and foremost. But perhaps…is there a place outside of the Korok Forest it could rest to be imbued with that power?" Link's eyes narrowed as he considered the question.

"I'll be honest – I'm not sure. But if anyone would know the answer to that, it would probably be someone in the Royal Family, don't you think?"

"True…"

"I don't think you'd be ruining the other Zelda's life if you told her about Ganondorf. If you were in her position, would you want to know?" Zelda nodded immediately.

"Of course. Even if I knew I could do nothing about it, I'd want to at least attempt to make a plan for the future."

"And would you dwell on it every day if you knew you couldn't stop it alone?"

"I don't think so. I'd certainly put a lot of thought into it, try to come up with a way to spare the world and the people I love. But I don't think I'd become so consumed by the idea of a conflict that may not even happen in my lifetime, not after what I've seen and survived."

"She'll be the same way, Zel." She chewed her lip for a moment.

"You really think so? She and I have lived such wildly different lives."

"And yet she still has feelings for her personal knight," he quipped, a grin stealing his lips. Zelda felt her eyes widen.

"You saw it too then?"

"It'd be harder not to notice, honestly." Zelda giggled lightly.

"She really did seem quite embarrassed when we told her we live together. Perhaps she's still working up the nerve to tell her Link about her feelings. It took me a while, after all."

"I wouldn't be surprised. I was also dense as a wooden post back during this time, so he probably hasn't noticed anything at all himself." The couple laughed together for several moments.

"I'm rooting for them, though. Especially given the fact that she has to navigate her feelings while dealing with the ludicrous societal pressures of this Kingdom at its peak…"

"She did make a face that looked an awful lot like the one you used to wear when you talked about not being bound by the old customs anymore. Maybe she still feels stifled by her status as Royalty, even after saving everyone." Zelda ground her teeth at that thought.

"I'm glad Hyrule was spared in this world, truly I am. But if Ganon could have wiped out the stupid rules and expectations of being born into Royalty before he was defeated, perhaps that would have been for the best. She doesn't deserve that…to be bound because of her birth. To be restricted in what she can and can't do for her entire life." Link rested his hand on her forearm.

"If anyone can change things, it's her. She's you, after all."

"But what if that change comes too late to make her truly happy…?" Link met her eyes, a warm sparkle in them.

"Do you really think your other self would settle for less than the perfect world she wants to create?" Zelda giggled at last, relaxing.

"No, I suppose not."

"I feel the same way."

"Link?"

"Yes, my darling?"

"I'm going to tell her about Ganondorf. Not right away maybe, but certainly before we leave. But I'm also going to caution her to not let it rule her life. I'll make her promise me that before I ever utter a word of his existence." Link lifted his hand and ran it through her hair.

"I think that's a great idea, Zel."

Another thought had occurred to Zelda earlier that day, one that had slipped her mind until just now. She sat up in bed at last and took Link's hand in hers, squeezing it with both of hers.

"Link. I need you to make me a promise too." He nodded without hesitation. It didn't even matter what it was.

"Of course. What's on your mind?"

"We're going to run into my father at some point while we're here, probably tomorrow. When we see him, I don't want you kneeling before him like you had to in the past. You are not a soldier of his he can lord his station over any longer. You are my betrothed and my equal in every way and I refuse to let him look down on you." Link blinked in surprise a few times. He clearly hadn't expected that but reassured her all the same.

"Okay, Zel. I promise you."

"Thank you, my love."

"Where did that come from? Seems like it's been bothering you a little." She grimaced and chewed her lip.

"It occurred to me earlier, watching the way your other self behaves around mine. He's so stoic and proper, as if his duty to her and this Kingdom defines him. When she makes a request of him, he bows his head and leaves immediately. When he went to retrieve Terrako, I'm sure he was expected to lower himself before my father. I'm not going to watch my beloved be forced to do the same ever again."

"I won't do it then, Zel. We're not from this time or this world. My love and loyalty belongs to you and you alone. Do you think he would immediately look down on me?" Zelda scoffed.

"Don't you remember the type of man he is? 'Soldiers are to be seen and never heard. Princesses are to be proper and never express their own wants and desires.' All the way to the very core of his being, he embodies those ridiculous formalities of Royalty that I simply cannot stand. He behaved exactly that way during our time before the Calamity…I somehow don't expect he'll be any different in this era." Link nodded, placing a hand against her cheek.

"I'm sorry if I upset you, asking that question. Relax with me for a while? Your jaw is clenched so tight you could probably snap a diamond in two with your teeth right now." Zelda blinked several times before realizing how right he was. She drew a calming breath and forced her muscles to relax.

"I'm sorry. I guess I got a little worked up thinking about my father."

"I understand. Here, come lay down with me."

Link clambered over her legs and fell back onto the pillow, commenting on how immensely comfortable the bed was as he sank into it. Zelda laid down next to him, resting her hand on his chest and kissing his cheek.

"I've missed being with you like this. It feels like we haven't had a moment to relax properly in a long time…even though it's only been two days since we last slept in our bed in Hateno."

"It really does feel like it's been a lot longer. But hey, we can return home whenever we like. I was thinking though – would you like to visit Urbosa? You haven't seen her for so long and I'm sure she'd love to see you." Zelda smiled and drew little circles with her finger on his shoulder.

"I would love that, honestly. I never got the chance to say goodbye to her in our world. I'd really enjoy seeing her again. I think we should visit Mipha too."

"Mipha?"

"Of course. She was your childhood friend and she cared so deeply for you. She would be devastated if we visited Urbosa but not her." Link smiled and kissed her forehead.

"You're right. I think it'd be nice to see her again, send her off with all my memories in the right place this time." Zelda ran her fingers through his long hair.

"But you know…we can hardly leave out Daruk and Revali then, right? I would feel far too guilty."

"Looks like we're visiting the four regions again. I wonder if your other self still has the Sheikah Slate since it isn't locked away in the Shrine of Resurrection. She could transport us if she does…that'd save a lot of extra days of travel on our part." Zelda smiled at him.

"Let's ask her tomorrow. I'm sure she won't have a problem with it; I remember being so fascinated by that device before the Calamity that I looked for any excuse to interact with it I could."

As he leaned close and gave her a soft kiss, the last of Zelda's earlier frustrations melted away entirely. It was amazing just how happy Link's presence alone made her feel.

She idly wondered if her other self felt the same thing when she was with her Link…

Morning greeted Link and Zelda with an insistence neither had felt in a long time. It almost felt as if the sun itself were celebrating this new era of Hyrule's history, one devoid of the curse of the Calamity. The daylight was determined to rouse them from their slumber and send them on their way and they could only resist it for so long.

After readying themselves and dressing in their adventuring attire, the two set out to find Zel's past self. She had told them they could meet her in the courtyard the next morning and they would figure out what to do from there. Terrako was already slowly recharging his energy so he didn't even need to visit the Ancient Tech Lab if they weren't in a rush to return home. And given that they had made plans to visit their old friends the previous night, it looked like there would be no hurry.

The couple found themselves walking down a long hallway, hand in hand, their footsteps echoing through the silence. It had been a very long time since Link had experienced the Castle in such a state of tranquility. For Zel, it had been even longer. He would have stolen a look at her eyes but they were both wearing their hoods still; it was easier not to confuse the soldiers in the castle.

"Wait right there. Who are you two?" came an aged but powerful voice from behind them. Link felt Zelda tense up. That voice did seem rather familiar. It only took a moment to discern why.

"As they King of Hyrule, I ask that you lower those suspicious hoods and show me your faces. I was not made aware of any guests in the Castle and I must confirm your identities with my own eyes." Zel's hand gripped his tightly. She wasn't scared of him, he knew that. She was shaking lightly, though. Was it nerves at the prospect of seeing him again…or anger?

Neither needed to say a word to understand what the best course of action was. Almost as one, Link and Zel turned and lowered their hoods. And for the first time since the Great Plateau, Link's eyes fell upon King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule, Zelda's father.

Seeing the man dressed in his royal attire, his instinct was absolutely to snap into that old subservient pose he had adopted back during this era. It had been so ingrained within him that his muscle memory, even still, tried to replicate it. Feeling him twitch, Zel squeezed his hand even tighter. She didn't look towards him but he received the message loud and clear. He had made a promise to her, after all, and remained standing by her side.

It seemed the King had other issues on his mind, though. His eyes widened in surprise as he took in their appearances, pupils darting from Zel to Link and back. He rubbed his eyes and blinked several more times before speaking.

"Z…Zelda?"

"In a manner of speaking," she replied, her voice even. Despite how well he knew her, Link couldn't quite get a read on her emotions right now. That alone was enough to concern him somewhat.

"What…happened to your hair? Did you…did you cut it?" She answered his question with another question.

"I presume you didn't get the chance to meet with me before you retired to bed last night?" The inquiry seemed to confuse the King – why would she ask something like that when she should know the answer, after all – but he soon shook his head and gave her an apologetic grimace.

"No, I'm afraid my duties last night kept me busy until you were long asleep. But…" he trailed off, his mouth falling open as his eyes finally saw their hands, fingers threaded together in a clearly romantic display.

"Zelda…what is the meaning of this?" he asked, his voice low as if he were trying to keep his question a secret.

"Everything will make sense before long. If I tell the story alone, I suspect it won't resonate with you the way it needs to. She'll be along soon and she can clear the air." Link, of course, knew she was referring to her younger self, but the King remained deeply confused if his expression was anything to judge by. He shook his head quickly, pointing between them.

"But…why are you holding Link's hand like that? I…I know we discussed this, but I just don't understand."

"As I said, I'm afraid if I explain right now without the whole context it will only serve to confuse you further. Let us be patient for just a while longer."

Link still couldn't quite read her tone. It was as if she were waiting for something to happen…for her father to give her a reason to lean one way or the other on the emotional tightrope she was currently balancing precisely in the middle of. Part of him began to wonder if she just didn't have the patience to speak with her father long enough to tell the story without becoming angry.

"But this is…we agreed you wouldn't do this so prematurely," he insisted, his voice growing louder now, starting to sound much more like the disapproving man Link had always heard him as when addressing his daughter. Zel's grip tightened again and he actually heard her teeth grinding together.

"Wouldn't do what, exactly?"

"Cause a scandal of this magnitude. I know the system frustrates you, but this is entirely selfish and unacceptable. We must keep some modicum of order, even though the Calamity has been averted." Zelda bristled at his words and tightened her grip again – Link's hand was starting to hurt a little. She managed to maintain a semblance of control as she responded, however. Her composure was as impressive as ever.

"Once again, things will make more sense once she arrives. Perhaps we should wait in silence."

"How can you expect me to simply ignore the callous display happening before my very eyes? We've talked about handling the issue of the nobles time and time again but just because the solution is difficult to reach doesn't mean you can just ignore your image as the Kingdom's Princess," he demanded, his voice rising in volume again. Zel's eye was starting to twitch.

"Are you telling me my being with Link is inappropriate…? After everything he did to save us time and time again…after everything we went through to be together…you're looking down on him? Looking down on us?"

Link got the sense Zel had completely forgotten this wasn't her real father. It seemed as if she were being swallowed up by the frustration she felt in the past when she had spoken with the King of their own world. He wanted to say something to her but her father spoke again before he could.

"I have nothing but respect and admiration for Link and his accomplishments. But I am also well aware of your station, Zelda. Though it frustrates you, you must keep up appearances for now. What would the public think if they saw their Crown Princess behaving romantically with someone seen as socially beneath her before we had the chance to-"

"Most of this Kingdom's public would be dead if it weren't for Link!" Zelda interrupted forcefully, releasing his hand and stepping forward all at once. Her hood billowed behind her from the violence of her movement. The King was stunned into silence but she continued, refusing to back down now.

"I don't care what anyone else thinks! After the unbelievable misery we've both gone through to find our way to each other, you think some stuffed-up, arrogant nobleman voicing his disapproval of me would change my heart? Would cause me to abandon the one thing in this world that brings me more joy than any other?

"What I find truly baffling here is that you can look your daughter in the eye and tell her she should deny herself her greatest happiness! You're the King, aren't you!? It's disgraceful to witness you kowtow and cower to public pressures and opinions as if you aren't the one man with final say over the entire land, Father."

There was so much venom in her voice. Link had never heard her like this before. He didn't even know she was capable of becoming this angry. That a chance meeting with her father in a random hallway of the Castle could affect her this badly after all this time…his heart ached for his beloved. He wanted nothing more than to comfort her somehow.

The King looked shocked by her words and took a step back, his eyes wide and bewildered. Link seized the opportunity and hurried forward. He placed a hand on her shoulder, drawing her hard gaze. It immediately softened when she saw him but there was still an intensity to her eyes that he wasn't used to seeing. He spoke gently in an attempt to get through to her.

"Zel, he doesn't who we are yet. He's not speaking directly to you – this isn't your father." That seemed to break the hold anger had taken over her at last. She took a slow breath and forced her shoulders down.

"Right…you're right…"

"Father! Wait a moment!" came a familiar voice.

The King glanced over his shoulder and his mouth fell open in shock, rubbing his eyes yet again. Sure enough, the Zelda of this era was running down the hall, Impa and Terrako at her side.

"Zel…da…?"

"It's me, Father," she reassured him. The King's eyes turned back to Link and Zel, still standing further down the hall from him. His mouth was agape even still. "Then…who are…"

"Terrako summoned alternate versions of myself and Link from another timeline and brought them to ours. I just met them yesterday and I wanted to forewarn you before bed last night, but I had already fallen asleep by the time you returned."

"Another timeline…?" he repeated, entirely baffled. The past Zelda nodded, gesturing to the tiny Guardian.

"We confirmed it yesterday. The Zelda standing behind you is the same one who created this little one. He came from her time to ours in order to save my life and in doing so changed the course of history. Effectively, he caused two worlds to be born, the one he came from where the Calamity ravaged Hyrule and the one we are currently living in."

"I…but…then you…" The past Zelda laughed lightly.

"Perhaps we should sit down together and I'll explain the finer details to you. It can be a bit overwhelming at first – believe me, I know!"

The King's face finally softened and he allowed himself a light chuckle in response. Link chanced a look at Zel. She was watching the scene before her with a mixture of shock and exasperation. It looked like she was teetering on the edge of a complete meltdown, holding on to her admittedly saintly composure by only a single thread. Link placed a hand on her shoulder and drew her attention.

"Zel, you okay?"

"…yeah. It's just…surprising to watch them together like that." The other Zelda perked up and gave them a smile.

"Isn't it? Things are quite different compared to the way they were before the Calamity. After everything that happened, Father and I have managed to find much common ground." Zel frowned.

"But what about all that 'keep up appearances' and 'Link is beneath your social station' and the like from before? That doesn't seem like common ground to me," she insisted. The King himself answered this time.

"I feel I owe you an apology for addressing you as if you were aware of the entire situation, but you can understand my confusion. I was simply concerned as to why Zelda had suddenly started ignoring the plan we came up with together – to keep up appearances until we found a way to neatly remove the issue of the nobles' opinions from our consideration entirely."

"Remove…?" The past Zelda grinned down the hallway.

"Indeed! The nobility is deeply entrenched in these lands but after the Calamity, Father and I discussed a lot. He doesn't want me to be saddled with these expectations any more than I want to be. And…well…" she trailed off, her cheeks heating up. The King gazed at his daughter with warmth in his eyes as a shockingly playful grin crept across his grizzled face.

"And that way you'll be able to be together with Link without concerning yourself with the opinions of anyoneelse." A scarlet blush exploded to life on the past Zelda's face.

"F-Father! You shouldn't say such things so unabashedly! I-I don't even know if Link reciprocates my feelings or not!" Despite the way she sputtered, she had a goofy little smile on her face.

"Nonsense, my dear. His eyes tell the story his words yet refuse to. His feelings for you will make themselves known before long, I am certain. So we must find the solution to our own dilemma by then, don't you agree?"

"Right!"

The other Zelda and her father continued discussing the idea of freeing her of her proverbial shackles, each sporting wide smiles and excited voices. It was amazing to witness, Link thought. He had never seen Zel smile like that with her own father, much less laugh and joke with him. He had certainly never witnessed the King tease his daughter about her love life as if he were a simple, doting father…

He was suddenly very aware of Zel's shallow breathing next to him. He tore his eyes away from the sight and saw his partner all but seething with rage. She spoke so softly only he could hear but the virulence of her words was unmistakable.

"He never cared to learn a thing about me. He never bothered himself with understanding my feelings, my thoughts, anything that I was going through. He never smiled at me or for me. So what is this then…?"

Link was too stunned to even respond. He pulled her close, hoping his embrace would give her even a small measure of comfort but her murmuring continued with a palpable vitriol, directed more to herself than him.

"That's really all it took? All I had to do was awaken to my Sealing magic in time and he would have suddenly loved me like he did before Mother passed away? I would have been good enough to be his daughter again if I had just lived up to his expectations?"

As an otherwise-comfortable silence fell over the hallway, Zel drew a shuddering breath before speaking again, her delicacy evaporating completely. Her voice was loud enough that everyone could hear her words as clear as day.

"That last diary entry was a lie."

Before Link could even react, Zel spun on her heel and began to walk away quickly, leaving even him behind. Casting a quick glance towards the group behind them, he saw faces of confusion and melancholy staring after her. None of that really mattered though.

Link gave a quick bow of his head before turning and hurrying after her.

Zelda stormed into the courtyard, rage swirling within her heart and mind. She had never felt this way before. She had thought some negative things about her father in the past, but she had never been consumed with such anger, such hurt, such hate, in all her life. She truly hadn't been prepared to feel anything close to that level of negativity when her eyes fell on her father again. But the way he had just behaved in front of her galled her to her very core.

"What a fraud. What a deceitful attempt to be a better man now. Now that he got what he wanted. Now that he doesn't have to care about the hurt he caused her…caused me…"

Zelda was a gentle person. Even at her lowest points, she had always known that was true. She was much happier opening schools for children and bonding with the people of Hyrule than she was protecting them from harm or fighting against evil. It had even been difficult for her to not feel pity for the monsters that plagued the Kingdom at first.

But at that very moment, Zelda found she wanted nothing more than to blast a massive hole through the nearby brick and mortar with her strongest magic. Nothing less would be enough to quell the intensity of her feelings right now.

She never even heard the footsteps that approached her while she was seething, but seconds later that familiar, warm, loving embrace that she relied on so much enveloped her tightly. Of course, Link had followed her. He would never let her be alone, certainly not right now. Even if she had stormed away without him…abandoned her place at his side…

"I'm here, Zel. I've got you."

"I'm sorry Link…I broke our promise…" she whispered, suddenly feeling very guilty for trying to leave him behind. He pulled her in tighter.

"You did not. It only counts as leaving my side if I don't chase after you," he assured her with a gentle voice.

"Still…"

"Hey, it's okay; don't beat yourself up. I'm right here."

"Thank you, Link."

He guided her towards a nearby bench, his comforting embrace finally breaking through the haze of anger that had overwhelmed her. After he lowered the two of them onto the stone surface, he pulled her into a hug and began to stroke her hair in that wonderfully comforting manner he always did.

"Are you okay?" he asked her, her voice so gentle it sent chills down her arms.

"…not really…"

"Do you want to talk about it, my love?"

"I just can't believe what I witnessed in that hallway."

"Your father actually caring about his daughter?"

"Yes."

"I was pretty shocked too."

"It's more than just him laughing with her like that. He knew she had feelings for your other self. He teased her and smiled with her and promised he'd change things to grant her the happiness she wants. That means…he actually spoke to her about her feelings. Cared enough to listen to her when she came to him. Bothered to remember something she told him."

Silence filled the courtyard. She couldn't blame Link for not knowing what to say; she wasn't quite sure herself. A few moments later, though, he leaned against her and squeezed her even closer. The way he held her was always so delightful…so comforting.

"I'm so sorry, Zel. You deserved so much better from your father. He wronged you at every turn he could have. I shouldn't have told you he loved you in his own way back when I did, either. It wasn't my place to make a comment like that and I'm not sure I was even right to begin with." Zelda wrapped her arms around him at last and hugged tight.

"Please don't ever blame yourself for any feelings I have towards my father, Link. You said that to me because you were trying to comfort me and it worked at the time – I agreed with you wholeheartedly then. It's just…seeing that all it took for him to care about her was for her to awaken to her Sealing magic…it's vexing. Infuriating. Enraging like I've never felt."

"I deeply apologize for interrupting, but may I join you?" came that all-too-familiar voice again. Zelda raised her head and saw her other self approaching, a look of guilt clear on her face. Zelda raised her head and straightened up slightly but didn't completely remove herself from Link's warm embrace.

"Of course, please sit with us," Zelda offered, gesturing to the space on the bench next to her. The younger girl took the seat and offered a nervous look.

"I…I couldn't help but overhear. I'm sorry for eavesdropping." Zelda shook her head.

"It's not your fault at all. I wasn't trying to hide my words to being with." She felt no resentment towards her past self.

"Um…I wanted to apologize to you, Zelda. It never once occurred to me that seeing our father again would be so painful for you…that it would open so many wounds."

Zelda wasn't sure what to say but it didn't look like the younger girl was done anyway, so she simply let her continue.

"I asked Impa to explain more to him about what's going on here – how you both came to our time and who you really are. I would normally have done it myself but…I feel I owe you an explanation."

"You don't owe me anything," she promised. "I'm not upset with you at all."

"But still…I feel I should tell you what led to our father actually changing. It took…a lot." Zelda almost scoffed at the comment but bit her tongue. Her other self had seen fit to come after her, to make sure she was okay. The least she could do was not take out her frustrations on the younger girl.

"I'm curious, to be honest. What happened?"

"On the day of my seventeenth birthday, Link, Impa, Terrako, and I set out for the Spring of Wisdom. But before we could even leave the Castle grounds, the Calamity appeared as if from nowhere. We fought our way towards the exit before we were ambushed by Guardians, but…Father saved my life. He attacked the Guardian aiming for me and drew the focus of the others in the area. He demanded Link take me and flee from this place while he held back our enemies…

"I'm sure we had similar childhoods, perhaps identical. He was…never a good father, not after Mother passed away. I don't need to repeat to you all the sadness and neglect we endured because of his actions. But even knowing all that…I still didn't want to lose him. I tried to run back for him but Link refused to let me go. And an explosion sounded from behind us. I thought the Guardians had killed him."

Zelda took in her other self's words but found that she just couldn't imagine the situation. It sounded far too good to be true. The idea that her selfish father would ever have done something out of love for her was too impossible. Perhaps he had simply done it because he knew Zelda's Sealing magic was the key to defeating the Calamity. He had aimed to protect her because she still had to awaken to her powers. That was a far more believable explanation in her mind.

"After that…we moved heaven and earth to get to the Divine Beasts in time. It was only thanks to Terrako that we managed it, but the four Champions were saved. You probably remember from our chats yesterday, but that's about the time I awakened to my Sealing magic at long last. And when we all returned to the Great Plateau to regroup with the rest of the Hyrulean Army…I found my father there, waiting for me.

"He…he apologized to me for the first time in my life. He told me how sorry he was that he had treated me so badly. He apologized for acting so cold towards me. He showed me the device he'd taken from me that I'd been studying – it was actually a shield made from ancient Sheikah technology. It saved his life from the Guardians' attack. He told me I had saved his life because of my desire to learn about and research things like that.

"He called himself a fool. He thanked me. He hugged me. He cried with me. It was as if…my real father had finally returned. The one I had known when I was little…while Mother was still with us. Since then, he has truly bent over backwards to try to make amends to me for how strained our relationship had become. There are still some wounds that need to heal…but I do believe he's sincerely trying to better himself for my sake and I have chosen to honor and accept that effort."

Zelda felt a strange lump form in her throat. She wasn't exactly sad…but she couldn't quite place the feeling properly. Perhaps it was envy. Her own father had never become a better man. Her last memories of him were being sent out to the Spring of Wisdom, his disapproving voice at her back demanding that she produce results this time. That the Calamity was on their doorstep. Reminding her that the weight of the world still rested on her shoulders alone.

"I don't tell you that story to try to convince you to forgive our father. I just…I wanted you to know that he defended me before I awakened to my powers. It wasn't the Sealing magic that made him care. I think it was staring death in the face as Calamity Ganon reared its ugly head at long last. I think that's what finally made him see the truth of his actions." Zelda took a long breath and spoke at last.

"You might be right. People do tend to show their true colors when faced with the end and I suppose your father realized how wrong he was for treating you the way he did for all those years. I'm very glad he woke up before it was too late. Sadly…mine never did." The younger Zelda gazed sadly at her from the left while Link squeezed her hand.

"Zelda…I'm so sorry."

"The last memories I have of him are no different than any of the others. From the time he all but banished Vyke from visiting me in the castle after Mother passed away all the way to the day the Calamity took his life, he never once acted like he cared about me. What you're telling me honestly sounds like a dream I can't fully envision. It sounds so fanciful, in fact, I almost have a hard time believing it. But I've seen it with my own eyes and I don't doubt the truth of your words." Her past self gave her a somber look.

"I wish things could have turned out differently for you, Zelda. I laid awake for a long while last night thinking about you. You've…been through so much misery and heartbreak in your life. When I think that Terrako saved me from that, I could just hug him for hours. But when I think that you saved me from that by creating the Terrako that came through time to us…I just wish I could give some of the joy I've experienced back to you. You deserve it so much."

Zelda was shocked to see her past self nearly succumbing to tears. Link released her at last, squeezing her arm briefly before withdrawing, though his presence never left her side. She reached out and took the younger girl's hand.

"Zelda," she murmured to her other self. "It isn't your fault, the life I've led. And honestly, I'm in such an impossibly happy place now that I wouldn't trade away any hardship I've survived. I am who I am because of the experiences I've had and my happiness is something I've earned. I don't regret the past I've lived because it brought me to such a wonderful present."

There was so much to be grateful for in her own life. Despite everything, she was beside herself with joy each and every morning she woke up next to her beloved. Nothing else really mattered when she looked at things like that. The negative experiences she'd survived, the bad memories, none of it matched up to the elation she felt every day.

Even if her own father had been neglectful at best and harmful at worst, she was glad for her counterpart that her father was becoming a better man. She only hoped that he wouldn't stop here, wouldn't slip back into his old ways. With the Calamity behind them, they had an opportunity to truly be happy together as a real family. She prayed to the Goddess he wouldn't ruin that chance.

"I am truly glad to hear that," her other self finally managed, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

"Thank you for coming out here and making sure I'm okay." She didn't seem to feel any better, though.

"I just…feel so guilty. It never occurred to me that your father is gone and he never had the chance to repair his relationship with you. And back in the hallway…I all but rubbed your nose in that fact. I thought I'd lost Father during the Calamity; I understand that pain even if it wasn't real. And yet…to remind you of that sadness, not to mention the hurt that he left you as the cold man he was…how thoughtless of me…I'm so, so sorry…"

As tears finally fell from her eyes, Zelda reached out and drew the girl into a hug. It was a strange sensation, holding herself in her own arms. She hadn't held anyone but Link in so long that she was acutely aware of many strange feelings. Her other self was soft and delicate, quite unlike the lean yet muscular form of her partner. Was this what Link felt when he held her? Taking a page from his book, Zelda placed her hand against the back of the young Princess's head, steadying her.

"You did nothing wrong. You haven't hurt me in any way and you don't have to apologize to me for anything. I am truly glad that you and your father are mending your relationship. I never had the chance to but I'm incredibly grateful that you do." Her younger self sniffled before raising her head again, guilt shining in her aquamarine eyes.

"Thank you. I'm sorry for falling apart like this. I suppose I must be getting even more emotional thinking about how close I was to never being able to patch things up with Father. But…you must be disappointed in the mess your other self is, especially when it's such a painful truth you actually have to live…I hardly look like someone who can be relied upon right now…"

"Stop that," she chided as gently as she could. "The only thing I've seen since meeting you is someone I respect and admire. I even feel some envy for you."

"You…do?"

"Of course. I may have found my own happiness in my time, but it isn't as if I wished for our Kingdom to be destroyed the way it was. That you get to live your life in a Hyrule that you spared from the wrath of the Calamity is something I cannot begin to comprehend. That's why I can't help but feel a little jealous when I look at you – you've already surpassed me in so many ways."

"Zelda…thank you."

"You don't have to thank me. Who better to understand you than yourself?"

The two girls laughed together. She was glad to hear that gentle laughter from her other self at last. The poor girl didn't need to feel that guilty about having a good relationship with their father. Zelda rather doubted she would ever have managed the same feat, but she certainly didn't want her other self to feel so badly for such an accomplishment.

She wasn't sure she had done a good enough job comforting her past self but she had certainly tried. It helped that she had Link's example to follow. He always knew exactly how to help her. Speaking of Link…

"If I'm not interrupting, do you mind if I change the subject for a moment?" he began, leaning around her and meeting her past self's eyes. She nodded immediately, a small smile on her face.

"Please do. I don't wish to place my foot any further into my mouth than I already have."

"Would you mind if I ask you a favor then?"

"Anything at all. I would be happy to oblige!"

"I was hoping you might be willing to take us to Gerudo Town with the Sheikah Slate. I wanted Zel to have the chance to visit Urbosa." A soft smile spread across the younger girl's lips.

"I think that's a wonderful idea. I would be more than happy to transport you there."

"I appreciate it a lot."

"And before I forget," she interjected, "I think that nickname you use for her is truly wonderful, Link."

"You mean when I call her 'Zel?'"

"Indeed!" Zelda herself giggled and spoke up.

"It's almost exclusively what he calls me these days. It's very special to me."

"It makes me wonder what type of nickname I might receive someday. I only hope it's as endearing as the one you've been given."

"I'm sure it will be," Link assured her, earning a smile from the past Zelda.

"Back to the topic at hand, though – I was in such a hurry earlier to get to Father before he ran into you that I left the Slate up in my tower. Let me go retrieve it and check in with him once more before I return here to meet you. Then we can depart together."

"That sounds perfect. Thank you," Link told her with a light smile, glad to see her mood improved.

"You owe me no thanks; I'm more than happy to help! Oh, and Zelda?" she said, turning her attention back to her future self.

"Yes?"

"Father asked me to pass along his apologies to you both. He was unaware of the situation but he judged too harshly and too quickly, just like he used to. That's what he asked me to repeat to you." Zelda stiffened again and felt Link take her hand again. A heavy sighed passed her lips.

"It…wasn't entirely his fault. I never gave him a clear answer as to who we were…I think part of me was looking for an excuse to get mad at him, to take out my frustrations on him. But regardless, I do appreciate that apology."

"Would you…like to meet him again?" she offered, her eyes swimming with uncertainty.

"Not yet…but perhaps sometime soon. I need to sort through my own thoughts and feelings first, though."

"I completely understand and I'll support you in any way I'm able. You know, he was quite thrown off by your short hair but I love it! I think that look suits us even better than the haircut I currently have! Perhaps I'll cut my own hair like that sometime in the future…" Zelda giggled and offered her younger self a smile.

"I think it would look wonderful on you!"

"Really?"

"Without a doubt!" Link chimed in from next to her and she could just feel the mirth dripping from his words.

"That's a unique way of being self-congratulatory."

"Oh hush, you," she chided playfully, earning a laugh from both he and her past self. After collecting herself once more, the younger Princess jumped to her feet.

"I will go retrieve the Sheikah Slate and return to you soon. I apologize again for interrupting. I shall return to you soon!"

With that, Zelda's past self darted from the courtyard, leaving the two alone again. It was strange, seeing someone who wore her face be so happy when speaking about her father. But it was nice to know there was a version of her that wouldn't have to spend the rest of her life resenting her upbringing and lamenting the father she had been cursed with. No matter how twisted, that thought was enough to make her smile.

"You look a little happier than before, Zel," Link commented from beside her, rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand.

"I am. I'm sorry you had to watch me go to pieces like that earlier."

"Don't be. You're dealing with a lot right now, I completely understand."

"I am so glad to have you, Link. I can't imagine what my life would be like if you weren't beside me. I wonder if I'd get through moments like these at all otherwise…" He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

"You know, if you don't want to see your father again, you don't have to. There's no pressure to pick one option over the other," Link murmured. She considered him for several moments before responding.

"I'm honestly not sure what I want right now. But once I get my head on straighter, I'd really like to talk things through with you, maybe figure out a little better what my feelings really are."

"I'll be right here whenever you're ready."

"I love you so much, Link."

"And I love you, Zel."

"Thank you for being here for me."

"I'll always be here, right by your side."

As the sounds of birds chirping rang across the courtyard, Zelda finally felt fully at ease again. It had been quite a morning. She wasn't sure when or if she would want to meet with her father again…but likely she wouldn't be able to justify returning home without giving it one more shot. Even if all she managed to accomplish was yelling at him for the pain he put her through, at least she would carry that catharsis with her back to her own world. And perhaps there really was more there as a result of his relationship with her past self.

Zelda decided not to dwell on it for now, though. She wasn't looking to forgive and forget, nor was she looking to tear the man apart. None of it mattered in the long run, anyway. When she returned to her own time period, she would again be living her idyllic dream – sharing that cozy little house with the love of her life and restoring Hyrule in the image that she chose to.

And no matter what else may happen, she was beyond happy that she got to share her path in life with Link, something her old life would have made so much more difficult. Something she would never take for granted.

7/4/2023

Original Post-Chapter Note: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed and there's still lots more to come!

There were a lot of ideas in this chapter that I was very interested in exploring, not the least of which is Zel's relationship with her father. This is definitely not the last time she'll cross paths with the King and I have a lot more planned for that dynamic, so don't worry on that front. This chapter wound up being a lot more about the past Zelda than I first planned but it worked out well in the end, I think. Seeing the way the two iterations of Zelda interact and support each other was a very fun character dynamic to explore. They're effectively the same person but they have such different life experiences that they'd respond differently to things now.

I chose the POV characters for each scene very deliberately. The first long scene being told from Link's perspective was important for the clarity of the two Zeldas getting to know each other, I felt. And setting the first meeting with the King from Link's perspective was maybe the most important decision of this chapter to me. I didn't want us to know what was going on inside Zel's head until afterwards. I felt like the uncertainty and ability to watch her react to things alongside Link made the scene far more impactful than it would have been if she told us everything she was thinking and feeling. But then, I wanted to make that relatable and understandable as well, so I set the last scene from Zel's POV so we could fully understand those feelings. I really am happy with the way those scenes played out but the next time we meet the King, Zel's POV will take center stage. I already have big plans for it! Give me some time, though - it won't happen for a few chapters more.

Anyway, I've babbled on for far too long again. Chapter 3 is already up if you're so inclined to keep going! Thank you again for reading and I really hope you enjoyed it enough to keep coming back for more! Take care everyone and I'll see you next time!