Authors Note: I had the idea for this story a few weeks ago after re-reading "Helsreach by: Aaron Dembski-Bowden" easily my favorite book of all time. This book is gonna be a semi-based off that book but in post TotK world. And before anyone who's read Helsreach or seen the fan-made movie I did copy the names from squad Grimaldus.
Also in this story Zelda and Link have kids one named Zelda so to separate them when I say Zel that's the older one and Zelda is the younger I got the idea for the name from Jrhall2 I highly recommend you go read his stories they're extremely good.
Without anymore delay please enjoy.
"I will die here, I will die in Hyrule. 9 months, for 9 months we have struggled on in this hopeless cause. Ours numbers are depleted, morale is even lower. We will hold the monsters off and hopefully it will be enough time for them to return with reinforcements. He shall not be victorious we won't let him win, the reincarnate Demon King shall not be victorious."
9 months earlier...
"Zelda, where's your brother? We're gonna be late to the reunion." The woman speaking's voice was as strong and commanding as ever. Even in her 40's, Zelda could draw and hold the attention of anyone at any time.
"How should I know mom he's not my responsibility, besides we all know he's probably off with that girl from Kakariko again." There was a hint of annoyance in her voice. Ever since her brother had met the young Sheikah girl, he was rarely around anymore, and though she hated to say it, she missed him.
"Remind me next time I see him to teach him a thing or two about being on time." Both Zeldas spun around to see Link walking down the stairs of their Hateno home in his champion's tunic, which was a bit tight on him nowadays.
"We should just get going if we don't leave now we'll end up being late and I don't want to be the last ones there again. Link I'm sure he'll show up just have faith in the boy."
"You're right besides we shouldn't keep them waiting."
Today was the 20th anniversary reunion of all the sages, including Purah, and up until her death three months ago Impa. Each sage, except Tulin and Yunobo, had a population to rule over. Sidon had insisted on hosting this year's reunion, and there was no changing his mind. This year would be sadder because it was the first time they'd all been together since Impa's funeral. However, it would be nice to meet under less mournful conditions.
Link and Zelda got married a year after the Upheaval and since then have had two kids. Their eldest a girl. Even though Zelda had gotten rid of the monarchy and turned Hyrule into a democratic civilization she still wanted to keep the tradition of naming the first born daughter of the royal family Zelda. 2 years later she birthed a boy and despite her argument with him, Link refused to name the child after himself so he was given the name Garveal. When the kids were old enough Link and Zelda, as hard as it was, told them about the Calamity and the Upheaval.
In the meantime, Purah, who had been elected leader, took over in the rebuilding effort and returned Hyrule to its former glory, even building towers leading to the castle and the other sky islands so that anyone could visit them. During this time, she had also perfected controlling her aging. This made Impa's passing all the sadder because Purah had the ability to save her. She had begged her sister till the very end to become young again but Impa insisted that she die naturally.
"Link! My dearest friend, welcome back. We are so happy to have you in our company again." Sidon had his usual smile on as he greeted Link. The Zora was as energetic and happy as ever to see Link.
"Hey Sidon, it's great to be back in the Domain. Is your daughter around? Zelda has been dying to ask her questions about some stuff I don't think I'll ever understand." Zel couldn't help but smile at this. Their daughter had inherited the same curiosity and joy in history as Link did. Even though he never understood half of it, she loved him all the same.
"She should be in her room, however I can't help but notice Garv isn't here. Is he perhaps on an adventure?"
"Your guess is as good as mine Sidon that boy is like a ghost nowadays."
"Who's a ghost?" Everyone looked up to see the adult Tulin fly down from above them.
The once young hero had grown into quite the respected Rito warrior but he never lost his fun and competitive nature. In some respects he was still more a child than an adult.
"No one's a ghost Tulin calm down. Garv just hasn't been seen by anyone but his girlfriend for weeks."
"Well, that's boring. I was hoping it was Sidon so I wouldn't have a Instruction
"Slow you say, shall we put that to the test in another race."
"You're on!"
"No, you two can't race today. You almost ran into the mountain last time you raced." Yona had appeared out of nowhere as soon as the word "race" had been uttered, as if she knew what was going to happen the whole time."
Over the next 20 minutes, the friends caught up as they waited for Riju, Purah, and Yunobo to arrive.
Once everyone was all together, the food was brought out, and everyone started eating, laughing, and reminiscing about the good times.
As the night ended, people started leaving, Zel pulled Purah aside for a private conversation.
"How have you been holding up, Robbie said that you haven't been talking to anyone since well you know."
"I'm fine, everything's fine alright I've just been, busy."
"Purah you know you can't lie to me."
"Was I that transparent," she was starting to tear up now, "Zelda I could've stopped it. I could've saved my sister, I had everything all the resources why didn't I do anything." Purah was completely breaking down now. She hasn't spoken about Impa since the funeral when she gave the eulogy.
"Oh, Purah it's not your fault she wanted to pass naturally. You can't blame yourself, she lived a long life and was ready to move on."
"But I wasn't, I didn't want to see her die even if it's what she wanted. I just wish I'd spent more time with her than I did with my damned machines and experiments. If only she wasn't so damn prideful she would still be here." Purah collapsed into Zel's arms and began to sob on her shoulder.
"Shh shh, Purah it's ok you don't have to do this alone we're all here for you. We all loved Impa and we all miss her but you can't blame yourself for what happened to her."
"You're right I just I need time but I promise I'll get through this. I just need some time to figure everything out."
"Take all the time that you need but always know we're here for you whenever you need it. You've always been there for me now it's my turn to be there for you."
"Thank you Zelda, if I want to talk I know who I can go to." At this the two hugged and Purah transported away.
"How'd it go?" Link's voice was soft and comforting. Even after all this time it still made Zel's heart skip a beat when she heard it.
"She's hurt badly but I think she'll be ok. She just needs some time to get over it. She still blames herself u know." Zel could feel herself start to frown. Purah is one of her oldest friends and to see her go to pieces like this one of the worst feelings ever.
Link obviously knew what she was feeling as he pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead. Zelda immediately started to feel better. Link always knew just the right thing to do to make her cheer her up.
"Just give her time she's going through a lot right now. Not to mention she's still partially in charge of the entire continent since the Zora, Gerudo, Rito and Goron's joined our democratic government . They may still have their sub governments but Purah still has a big responsibility. You think we should make her to step down until she gets over this."
"No, if we make her step down she'll just get more stressed about needing to get back sooner. It's what would happen to me."
"You're right, again we just need to give her time although I will tell everyone to keep the problems they send from their towns and villages to a minimum to make her life easier."
"That sounds like a great idea I'll send out the letters when we get home." She gave Link a quick kiss and they went off to find Zelda so they could leave.
A few hours later Link and Zel were still up waiting inside the front door for Garv to return from wherever he was. Link is furious because Grav missed the reunion and that was the one thing Link told him he had to be at, he had even said it nicely.
"Link I really think we should just go to bed and talk to him tomorrow, it's already two in the morning."
"If you want to go to bed that's fine but I'm staying up till he gets home." There was a bitterness in his voice that Zel hadn't heard in a long time and it worried her but she trustees that Link wouldn't be too hard on him.
She never gets the chance to sleep however because the man of the hour himself walks in as Link is finishing.
"Well speak of the devil." Links voice was venomous so much so that Garv flinched at it. He knew his parents would be waiting but he wasn't expecting this. In one final ditch to get out of it Garv played it dumb.
"Hey mom, dad why are you two up so late you know you don't have to wait for me to get home."
"Don't act stupid where the Hell were you today, you gave me your word that you would be there and not only did you not show up you didn't even get home til past two." Link was on the verge of yelling never in her life had Zel seen him this mad it was scaring her almost as much as it was Garv.
"Dad I'm sorry I just lost track of time and we were all the way out at the Great Deku tree. By the time I realized what time it was it was too late I tried to get back as fast as I could but we were on horse back so it was hard." This was a poor excuse as they both knew full well that Garv always kept a Purah Pad on him.
"Garv you have one chance left tell me where you were or so help me goddes." Now Link was yelling and it wasn't a quiet yell it was a very loud yell that woke up Zelda Garv knew he was beat and gave up the act there.
"Alright I was just in Kakariko. I was with Ilia again. Yes I knew today was the reunion but I really wanted to be with her today and mom dad I'm sorry that I missed you reunion and I'm sorry for lying but I'm not sorry for what I did. I enjoy being with Ilia and I'd rather be with her than go to your reunion thingy."
Link didn't even know how to react to this. He wasn't sure if he should be mad, upset, disappointed or maybe even happy for his kid.
luckily he didn't have to answer Zel who had been quite this whole time finally spoke up.
"Garv go get in bed now I'll talk with your father and Zelda get back in bed dear."
"mom I'm almost 19 you don't have to tell me when to go to bed." As upset as Link was right now the joke even brought a small grin to his face.
After both kids went back upstairs and they were alone Zel sat Link down. She hadn't seen him this angry in a long time and she was worried about him.
"Link what's wrong?" Her voice was soft and gentle, it was that of a loving mother confronting her child. She was worried for Link and didn't want to come off too strong.
"Am I a bad father Zel?" There was so much hurt in his voice and it cracked as he spoke again.
"Zel did I fail in raising our son?" Zel's heart dropped when she heard this Link had been many things and said many things throughout his life but he never put himself this low and called himself a failure.
"What, of course not Link why would you even say that?" As much as she wanted to Zel didn't really know how to help. She has helped Link through emotional ups and downs but he's never given up like this before she was almost at a loss for words.
"Zel he doesn't spend time with us anymore he even said that he'd rather be with Ilia. I don't know what I did wrong." Zel has to do her best to swallow her laugh. This is Link thought he was a bad father because Garv was spending more time with his girlfriend than his father.
"Link, darling, he's 17 and in love I'd be worried if he was spending more time with us than her. You've done nothing wrong in raising him." Link to Zel's surprise he started to laugh.
"Zel you should've seen the look on your face when he got home I yelled oh it was priceless." Zel was starting to get worried had Link gone crazy he was just crying about being a bad father and now laughing.
"There's no way, it actually worked? I thought mom would see right through us." To her surprise Garv was running down the stairs in a similar fit of laughter to his father's.
"W-what is happening why are you two laughing so much and doing it, together?" Zel was almost as confused as when she fell through time 20 years ago.
"Zel the whole thing has been planned out from the start. Everyone's been in on it for weeks." Link struggled to get these words out because he was just laughing to hard.
"Wait so you knew that Garv would be with Ilia all the time when he met her a few weeks ago." At this the two boys fell on the floor laughing. Garv almost wet himself he was laughing so hard.
"Mom Ilia isn't real she's never been real. Just think about how old are you turning tomorrow."
"145."
"Physically mom how old are you turning physically."
"45 but I still don't see what that has to do with anything."
"I haven't been home at all for weeks but, I haven't been with Ilia cause she's not real." He had a tone as if he was expecting her to catch on to something but Zel just gave him a blank stare.
"Oh for Hylia sake we're throwing you a surprise birthday party." Link threw his hands up in exasperation as he walked over to hug his wife.
"Wait you're doing what b-but I thought we'd agreed no party." Link smiled at her with adoration in his eyes.
"Darling that's why it's called a surprise party because it's a surprise. Garv has been going down to Lurelin every day for weeks now to make sure that everything will be just perfect for your party."
"But then why did you yell at him?" She just looked more and more confused as this went on.
"We weren't planning on telling you till tomorrow but someone came in before you went to sleep so I improvised until I couldn't take it anymore."
"So let me get this straight, Ilia isn't real, you not really mad at Garv, he's been helping organize a surprise party for me at Lurelin and everyone else knew about this." With almost a sigh of relief Link just gave her a nod and yawned.
"Well I'm going to bed now cause today's a big day and I haven't slept at all." With that everyone went back to bed and got ready for the party later that day.
Despite staying up so late Zel got up nice and early because she just couldn't wait for her surprise party that wasn't technically a surprise anymore.
She was especially excited to go back to the water rally. It had been a long time since she had been to Lurelin and she just couldn't wait to do everything there again.
Link, thinking of everything, got their horses and said that they should ride there. Zel always loved a chance to ride her horse again and the weather today was just perfect for everything she assumed Link had planned.
After a beautiful horse ride, Link and taken the scenic route which was longer but gave you a great view of the ocean and the village.
"Link this is all truly wonderful how did Garv manage to get this all arranged." Link smiled brightly he always loved to see Zel so happy.
"Well Garv has been here coming here for weeks to make sure that everything has was just perfect. That's why he took so long to come home yesterday, he was finishing putting everything together."
The family spent the rest of the afternoon doing all the exciting things Garv had prepared. Zel especially loved the water rally and did it multiple times. Towards the end of he day they all headed to the hillside where all they're friends, even Purah, we're waiting for them with food and desserts of all kinds.
The party was excellent and seeing all of her friends together was one of the best birthday gifts she could ask for.
"I still think it's just amazing." Link was sitting next to her on the hillside that over looked Lovers Pond, the place where he'd proposed to her.
"What's that darling?"
"I just can't believe that you guys were able to put all this together and keep it secret from me. Especially Tulin he's terrible at keeping secrets."
"That's exactly why he knew nothing about it." Zel couldn't help but laugh at this.
"Well that's no way to treat your friend keeping a secret from him like that even though he would totally ruin it. Though as I remember it you're the one who spoiled the surprise."
"Ok well it wasn't my fault that Garv can't follow one simple instruction of don't come inside until your mother is asleep." Zel laughed she loved to tease Link about ridiculous stuff like this cause he got so worked up over it.
"Oh calm down you know I'm kidding. Best birthday ever." She gave him a quick kiss but then her eyes shot open and she gasped
Link jumped up ready to fight whatever was there with his bare hands if he had to. "What's wrong who's there Zel what is it." Her face was a ghastly shade of white.
"B-behind you." She managed to get out.
Link turned around to see a giant blue portal glowing behind him. "Get behind me!" Zel gathered herself and managed to summon the Bow of Light while Link drew his broadsword. With all the commotion everyone ran over to see what was happening and they too drew their weapons ready to fight whatever came out of the portal.
"Damnit! The next time I see one of those monsters I'm gonna beat the living crap out of it." The voice came from a person who had fallen from the portal.
They were followed by one, two, no five others. They were all dressed in black beaten up armor with a black emblem of a cross on each other their right pauldrons. Except for one clad in all white armor with his emblems in red. Each of them had a weapon crackling with energy. One of the knights the one who spoke wielded a sword entirely black with purple energy crackling around its blade.
"Who are you! Reveal your identities to us." Zel's voice was shaky but clear and all the knights turned towards her. One in the back wearing a skull mask spoke to her.
"I am Grimaldus reclusiarch of the Black Templar, these are my brothers, Artarion, Cador, Bastilan, the apothecary is Nerovar and the outspoken one Emperors Champion Priamus. We are squad Grimaldus of the Black Templar and the last humans alive, 6 months ago the heretic cult summoned the one you call the Demon King." There was a collective gasp from the group as he said this. The Demon King but how he was dead Link killed him using the Master Sword.
"We tried to fight him but not even the legion of the Black Templar the greatest warriors in this world could defeat him. Any who worshiped him were slaughtered without mercy. In the end we are all that survived he and his army are trapped below the transportation chamber that brought us here on the other side of the world. That will give us at best two months to prepare for devastation that is coming our way."
"Grimaldus we've been over this you can't just tell people the bad news and not give them the plan, tsk tsk tsk." It was Artarion who spoke this time laughing at his own jest.
"No no brother you've got it all wrong Artarion Grimaldus is thinks they already have a plan so he wants to hear it before he gives his so he can tell them how wrong they are and how right he is." All of the Templar now except for Grimaldus broke into laughter.
Finally Riju, having gathered herself before anyone else, spoke.
"How can you joke at a time like this. If what you tell us is true then you've seen the horrors the Demon King can unleash. Do you not see how dire the situation is."
"Oh I like this one Grimaldus can we keep her pleeeease."
"Quiet all of you this one is right we must gather the people of the hidden continent and train an army to fight the Demon King and his forces."
"Right one question if we couldn't defeat them how the hell are normal people gonna do that."
"If Legend serves true they have already bested this foe twice and it was done by one man a hero chosen by the sword named Link."
"Wait you really believe those fairy tales."
"We are here on the continent hidden by the gods and yet you still doubt."
"No but there's no way that Link guy is real he'd have to be a better swordsman than Priamus and no one is better than Priamus."
"But what of the triforce is it not possible that it is real and he possesses part of it." Link shocked by what was happening in front of him finally spoke up.
"Hey Grimaldus or whatever your name is you said you're looking for Link."
"I am do you know of the swordsman and his princess."
"Um ya I know them pretty well as a matter of fact I-"
"Your Link and the one next to you is Zelda we get can anyone other than Grimaldus be direct for once."
"Forgive my brothers they lost their sense of nobility and respect after the Emperor was slain."
"Hey well you know what not all of us took some fancy dancy health potion from the venom of a hydra that makes us immune to aging and sickness."
"Don't forget that it also made him a hard ass."
"Enough! Brothers make yourselves aquatinted as you please I have an Armageddon to prepare for. Any who do not wish to die a terrible death would be smart as to help me fortify this continent."
Everyone followed Grimaldus back to Hyrule Castle where plans were made to fortify the continent.
It was settled that each regions city would be turned into an outpost. Each armed to the brim with weapons and fortified by the hundreds with soldiers.
Hyrule Castle itself would be the stronghold of continent. When all outer fortifications fail and they will anyone left will be transported back to the castle to prepare for the final stand.
This is the plan, it may not work but it's the best shot we have to defend our kingdom from the Demon King and his forces.
2/18/24
Final notes: Thank you for reading this will be part one of my HelsreachxTotK story I don't really have a publishing schedule but I've got a lot of free time so these stories should come quickly.
Have a wonderful rest of your day and God bless.