In the seven years following the weeks of mourning, Sir Link Outset and Princess Zelda Hyrule, worked hard to rebuild their kingdom. Link placed the Master sword in the Lost Woods once again. Purah and the Sheikah took apart the divine beasts and re-purposed the parts to help build new towers, now called Sky-view towers. That would be immune to the tampering of malicious power. They found a way to bury all the shrines under the earth, and with the spirits of the Sheikah monks gone, the shrines would never appear again. Zelda hired Hudson to create Lookout landing, a small settlement outside of Hyrule Castletown. Bolson also expanded Terry Town. Slowly Hudson construction set out to rebuild Hyrule, setting out piles of materials around Hyrule.
Link spent most of his time fighting and training. No more blood moons plagued the land, so he set out to kill every single monster left in Hyrule. Zelda pointed out that he shouldn't do it alone, and suggested that he train volunteers from all of Hyrule's settlements as protection crews. Most crews could handle your average Bokoblin camp… maybe a Moblin or two depending on the color, and two elite teams that Link knew could handle Silver enemies, Wizzrobes, and a Lizalfos camp. He also trained a team of Gorons to fight stone taluses, and a team of Gerudo on how to take down Molduga. Link tried to go on as many raids as possible. But without the ability to fast travel, he was left with just his horse.
He and Epona spent a lot of time hunting Lynels, Hinoxes and Stall monsters. In the time between fights he was on his own. It felt like he was back, fighting the endless waves of the Calamity's forces but this time he didn't have the pressure of Zelda's life on the line. This time he was sure that he had a place in Hyrule where he knew everything was safe. The fighting seemed free of fear, just Link and the monster, and Link knew he could win.
It was just him and Epona in the night, Sometimes Twilight would join him. Twilight was a wolf he'd befriended before he'd defeated the Calamity. Twilight had been a part of a pack that had tried to attack Link, but this wolf hadn't. Link had met the wolf's eyes and saw bravery and wisdom in them. Twilight had stayed with him and Epona until Link had finally traveled to Hyrule castle to rescue Zelda. Twilight hadn't reappeared until Stall monsters had attacked Link and Epona in the night a year later. Now the wolf only appeared between the hours of twilight, which gave Link more of a feeling that the wolf knew something Link didn't. Twilight usually guarded Link and Epona as they slept and would wake them up when dawn broke, before disappearing into the shadows.
Link had learned that Twilight especially loved 'Midna's Helmet', a treasure Link had found when Twilight traveled with him full-time. Link would take it out and set it where the wolf would curl around it for the night while he watched for monsters.
When Link found himself in civilization, he was usually in one of three places. Lookout Landing, Zora's Domain or Luralin Village. He didn't see Zelda a lot when it was unplanned. She was usually in Akkala, Hateno Village, Lookout Landing, or Gerudo town. Purah explained that Zelda visited Riju so often because of trading. Gerudo town had so little access to anything, that they had to trade with Hyrule often. In the past, the Gerudo plight had started wars between the Hylians and Gerudo, so it was now necessary for the royal family to keep in close contact with the Gerudo tribe, lest the two peoples grow too far apart and start new wars. Her other destinations all had tech labs in them, where Zelda would help Purah and Robbie with their new technology stuff. Apparently they had a really advanced technology in the making.
Link visited Luralin Village because the quaint ocean side village reminded him of home, Grandma and Aryll… somehow. Zora's domain also reminded him of his childhood, but if he was being honest. Zora's domain was where his heart lay.
Prince Sidon of the Zora. He was an entire Hylian taller than Link and still his optimism didn't seem to fit in his body. He had so much love and care to give, and Sidon fully gave himself to his people, his father, and the memory of Mipha. Link liked to think that he had some of Sidon's love himself of course. Their time splashing around in the pools around Zora's domain. Laughing and talking, sometimes wrestling, sometimes just laying together in silence, made Link feel like Hylia was looking down on him.
He also really wanted to kiss Sidon, but he could never reach his lips, both figuratively and literally.
Because Sidon insisted on consistently referring to Link as his "best friend" It didn't break Link's heart but it did poke it a little.
Everytime Link found himself at the Domain, Sidon would drop whatever he was doing to sprint towards him. Scoop him up in a big hug, and say "My best friend, the brave pearl of Hyrule has returned!" Link felt like his heart grew every time Sidon called him "The brave pearl of Hyrule." Sometimes Sidon would actually just call Link "pearl" or "my pearl" when referring to him. Link knew that to the Zora, pearl was a term of endearment used for someone rare and dear to the Zora's heart. That could be to close friends, families, or lovers, but Link chose to pretend Sidon was calling him like he would a lover.
When Link would leave the Domain, Sidon would hold him close, and whisper, "May the pearl return swiftly." which was also a Zoran farewell, still Link liked to think this too was just for him.
On one such visit to Zora's Domain, Link and Sidon found themselves on Polymus mountain.
"The Lynel hasn't reappeared since you killed it last, Link." Sidon was saying proudly, as Link picked up a shock arrow he missed on his last trip here. The mountain was now under construction and Zora carted luminous stone up to the mountain while others hammered the gem into the ground, while still others carved them into traditional Zoran designs. "The Zora are truly indebted to you." Sidon smiled at the workers as he passed them. Link found himself staring at Sidon's easy expression.
"Sidon, you don't have to keep thanking me for that. You have a hundred times and you also saved the Zora. We both carry this honor." Link said, laughing at the boisterous Zora.
"I know, but I do enjoy singing your accomplishments." Sidon laughed and winked at Link. He blushed but couldn't turn away. Instead he walked over to Sidon, took his hand and guided him over to the ledge of the cliff, where the workers hadn't gotten yet. Link knew that both he and Sidon could easily survive the fall, so he wasn't worried about the height. Link hadn't been scared of heights since he got the paraglider. They looked down at the East Reservoir lake in comfortable silence until Link spoke.
"I like this place." Link said.
"Why? This is a place where you fought a shard of the Calamity, right?" Sidon asked.
"It reminds me of the war against the Calamity, yes. But it also reminds me about how much we accomplished. Hyrule is picking up the pieces… and so am I." Link whispered. At that, Link felt Sidon look at him.
"You have done it." Sidon said, sounding awed. Link looked up at him and had to hesitate a moment. His brain reeled at being so close to Sidon's face.
"I-i've done what?" Link asked, stuttering out of both confusion and his overall flustered mind. Sidon didn't seem to notice, he never did.
"You have let go of the past. You have accepted the fact that what happened to you and Hyrule 100 years ago was not your fault. You're allowing yourself to heal." Sidon's eyes seemed to expand with warmth. He pulled Link into a hug, nearly in his lap, and touched his forehead to Link's. All of Link's breath left him in one exhale, as his body exploded in pleasant tingling at every spot of contact with Sidon.
They stayed like that for as long as they dared. And by the time they broke and began the walk back down to Zora's Domain. Link felt more and more that he should have kissed Sidon when he had the chance.