Chapter 7: I will learn to let go... and love

When the next night came, Goliath advised Zelda to have someone with her for a while til she feels alright to be on her own. At first, Zelda didn't want someone to 'babysit' her but then she gave it some thought and considering what happened with Xanatos and agreed.

Zelda sat outside on the railing, thinking of when Link was her guardian and chosen one to protect her. She missed him... all of them. A few tears started to show as she looked up at the stars and slightly cried.

"I wonder if all of you guys are watching over me... and my new friends."

"Wondering who is watching over us?"

Zelda yelped in surprise as she saw it was Hudson. She wiped her tears from her eyes and face before he came to stand next to her.

"Oh... it's nothing, just looking at the stars and wondering is all."

He didn't look entirely convinced but didn't say anything to her about it.

"Ah, I see... but I do want to know how you're feeling."

"I'm feeling okay, but I still feel scared on being alone while flying around."

Hudson nodded in understanding and also looked up at the sky, towards the stars.

"... I'm sure that your clan... your people, your friends... are watching over you las. As our clan is probably watching over us as well."

Zelda smiled fondly at Hudson when he said that. But then changed into a frown.

Hudson noticed this and decided to say, "Zelda, I know that mentioning about your clan causes you grieve and have such sadness... but would they want you to feel such feelings for the rest of your life?"

Zelda's eyes widened in shock, confuse and a bit of realization. She didn't know how to answer him but did eventually nod in understanding

"I... I know that I will have to talk about them, but I feel like that they'll be disappointed with me to talk about our lives and everything."

Hudson smiled lightly at her little confession.

"In my honest advice Zelda, I think they'll be relieved of you letting go of the past and for you to start a new life. But I also think that They'll also be proud of you sharing their stories to others. So, others can have adventures like them almost."

Zelda then started to smile at that. But what he said brought her to tears.

"But most importantly, their spirits will be in peace, knowing that you finally let go of your pain and sorrow."

Zelda started to shake a bit for a few seconds before she hugged Hudson.

Hudson startled at first but hugged her back with a smile.

"You have time to think about it before you decide what to do Las."

Both of them let go of the hug and she giggled as she wipes her tears away.

"Thank you, Hudson, I really need that. I'll also think about what you said."

Hudson nodded and left her alone after he said, "The others except myself, Bronx and Brooklyn went out patrolling. I'll let Brooklyn know that you're alright so you can have some peace of mind alright?"

Zelda nodded as she watched him walking towards the entrance to the clock tower. Once she saw that he is completely inside, she returned her gaze up towards the stars and sighed.

"I hope that Hudson is right. But I KNOW that I must let go of the past that causes me and all you guys pain and me to not find... love."

Zelda then stood on the railing with a smile and new fresh tears falling.

"I never got to tell you all goodbye... So, I hope saying it now will be fine. Goodbye Link, you're my first real best friend that anyone can ask for, even as a brother. A funny and crazy one at that." She giggled at the funny memories of Link.

"Mipha, I wish for you and Link to have peace and that I always supported the both of you being together. You were also a great friend Mipha, always helping me and giving me great wisdom in your words."

Zelda held her hands together over her chest, like she is praying.

"Revali, I admired your courage and... your 'blunt' honest opinions. But I'll miss your mini fights with Link. Both of you sure know how to make all of us laugh sometimes." Zelda laughed at those memories of their mini fights.

"Daruk, you are the kindest Goron that I have the pleasure of meeting. I also thank you for your kinds of words for trying to cheer me up when I'm down. I'll miss that very much. You and my new friend Broadway would've been great friends."

"Urbosa... "

Zelda closed her eyes and sighed heavily with sadness.

"You're like my second mother when Mother passed. Always being for me and guiding me through everything but I'll miss you calling me 'little bird'."

When she came to one, last person, she tried hard not to cry more.

"And Father... I hope that you are with Mother... and that the both of you are not upset or disappointed in me. I... I miss you very much, all of you. But I must let go of the past of pain and to let you all find peace..."

She looked up at the stars again with a smile and said, " ...Goodbye everyone... and find peace as I am going to find my new happiness and... love."

She took a deep, slow breath and started to sing.

To love again (To love again)
To love again (To love again)
I will love again (I will love again)
To love again
To love again
(To love again, to love again, to love again)

Drowning in tears, that won't be in me
I will soon be
Free from these chains of all this pain inside
And though I cry
It won't be long, 'til I regain the strength to know
I can go on

She smiled more, feeling that all her friends and parents are watching her right now. Smiling with happiness and peace.

I will learn to love again
I will learn to trust
Once this heart can start to mend
I will learn to, learn to love again

All of these tears, time will dry them
I will survive, and
And make it through into another day
All of this pain, time will heal it
There'll be a time, sometime, I know, I can feel it

As she singed this part of the song, she thought of her new friends and family but of... Brooklyn mostly.

I will learn to love again
I will learn to trust
Once this heart can start to mend
I will learn to, learn to love again

I will learn to love again
I will learn to trust
Once this heart can start to mend
I will learn to love, again!

I will learn again!

I will learn to love again
I will learn to trust
Once this heart can start to mend
I will learn to, learn to love again

As she finished the song, feeling that someone is watching her, she turned around and saw someone... or should I say some people, watching her with smiles on their faces.

"L-Link? Mipha? Revali? Daruk? Urbosa?" Zelda got off the railing she was sitting on and stand.

They nodded at her question and moved away for two more people that made Zelda gasp and started to cry again.

"Mother? Father?"

They nodded too, with smiles and tears as well.

"Zelda..." said her Mother as she got close to Zelda and caressing her face with both hands.

"We are so very proud of you. For finally understanding to let go of the past and for finding your happiness and love."

Zelda then saw Mipha next to her mother with a fondly smile.

"But we'll always be here." said Link, standing next to Zelda with a big smile and putting a hand on her shoulder.

She looked at each and every one of her friends and family, crying as she hugged her mother and father.

"I'll never forget any of you. I didn't know that I was causing you all to not find peace but also causing myself pain."

Then she heard her father spoke, hugging her tightly, "But you're not... you are letting go of all the pain that you held. And I must thank your new friends and family for this too. Without them, you would have never let go of the pain without realizing it."

Zelda held onto her father tightly as she let go of her mother.

"Yes, I agree. Especially that red one, Brooklyn. He must care for you deeply and you for him." said Urbosa.

"So... is he your boyfriend?" Link teased, making Zelda blush.

"L-Link!"

He just laughed as Mipha told him to stop but smacking him lightly on the chest.

"Zelda, this might be the first step of a new life. Your chance to have happiness and love."

When Zelda heard her mother said that she looked at everyone who nodded in agreement.

"Just make sure that he keeps you safe... probably safer than Link." teased Revali, making Link mad.

"Oh really?"

"Yes really, he probably already has done a better job at it."

"Why you-"

That's enough boys." Urbosa said walking in between them.

Zelda started to notice that they're slowly fading away.

"W-What's happening?"

They started to see that it's almost time, her father looked at her. "Our time here is almost over. We'll be going up with the goddesses..."

"B-But-"

"We just wanted to see you one last time before we go. said Daruk.

"And to tell you goodbye too." said Mipha, walking next to Link grabbing his hand.

Zelda just started, with loss for words but eventually shook out of her trance as she saw that they're fading a bit more quickly, almost completely transparent.

"I guess... this is goodbye."

She hugged everyone in a group hug that surprised them but eventually hugged back with tears of their own.

"Goodbye... and I hope that ... I wish you..."

"We will, my dearest Zelda, my little sweet little bird."

Zelda smiles at Urbosa's words.

"We'll always be in your heart, my daughter."

"Always"

They let go of the group hug and saw that they are completely gone. Zelda heard only one thing from them at the same time.

"We love you Zelda, goodbye and may you have the happiest life in this world and the love that will never be triumph." With that, they completely vanished.

Zelda smiled as he tears finally stopped but still dripping down.

"I will... and that's a promise."

Zelda dried her tears off her face before she walked towards the entrance of the clock tower, seeing Hudson watching TV while Bronx is napping. She then saw Brooklyn sitting down on another set of stairs that lead to the janitor's room of the police station. From her point of view, he was doing some by the way his hunching but couldn't see what it is since his back is facing her.

"Brooklyn?"

He jumped a bit when he heard her calling his name and quickly tried to hide something that he was working on.

"H-Hey! I didn't hear you coming back in. So, what you doing?"

Zelda can tell that he is hiding something by the way he is smiling nervously and his voice as well.

"I actually came to see what you're doing... and what you're hiding apparently."

Brooklyn started to feel a bit of sweat. Knowing that she won't give up on what he is hiding. With a small sigh, he took out something that he was working on and hiding that made Zelda gasp.

A flower, but not just any flower, but a silent princess flower.

"I remember that you told us that you like this type of flower and from what you told us about what they looked like, I decided to craft one from those fake ones from a store."

Zelda was speechless that made Brooklyn nervous that he did something wrong. But those thoughts went out the window when she hugged him.

"Thank you, Brooklyn... but I didn't make or get you anything."

"Your smile and laughs are more than enough for me Zelda." said Brooklyn as he hugged her back with a smile.

After a few minutes passed, they broke the hug. Brooklyn put the flower behind her ear and saw that it made her even more beautiful as she smiled and blushed shyly.

"What do you think?"

"You're... You're beautiful Zelda. It enhanced your beauty but mostly, your bright soul."

Zelda blushed more that she almost looks like a tomato and played with a piece of her hair shyly.

"Thank you."

Brooklyn looked at her fondly when he suddenly had an idea.

"Hey, do you want to go somewhere with me? We can still patrol while were taking a flight around the city. We can go somewhere a bit out of the city where people don't usually go to."

Zelda thought about it before she answered, "Yes, I'll love to Brooklyn!"

He grabbed her hand gently, letting Hudson that they'll be out for a while and will still be patrolling while their out.

As soon as they're outside they took off towards wherever they landed at. Both of them played around while flying, lightly bumping into each other, making tricks and chasing after each other, having a great time.

When they reached some that was a bit far away from the city. It was a camping ground, but people rarely do camp. But what Zelda loves about the place is that there is a lake that had a waterfall with fireflies that are now out, making the scene enchanting.

"Brooklyn... this place is so beautiful."

"I usually come here when I want be by myself and think. But... now I wanted to show this place so we can meet here to talk and hang out or for you to be by yourself if you want."

Zelda turned to look at him with a smile.

"This place is perfect for that... and for our time together."

They held hands as they sat down on the side of the lake, letting their feet touch the water and talking to each other... but they didn't notice two shadows lurking within the darkness part of the trees.

One shadow with glowing yellow eyes looked at the couple with envy and anger.

"Finally found you... ZELDA."