"You want to head home? Already?" Zelda asked, sitting next to Link as they ate a small breakfast in the dining hall. "I think you should rest a little more. I'm not trying to force you or anything! It's just… You chose not to use the tonic, and you were wounded just yesterday."

"I understand, and that's a reasonable concern," Link laughed after finishing a bowl of food Prima had made for them. "I probably shouldn't be moving yet, but I just don't think I can sit there. I have a few things to think about."

Zelda gave him a worried look but reluctantly nodded.

"If that's what you feel you need to do then alright, but don't push yourself," she said. "Your wounds could get worse. Try and take it easy?"

"I can do that," Link smiled. As Zelda returned a smile back, someone appeared in the hall's entryway.

"Good morning, you dashing couple!" Teli said. "Sorry to interrupt, but Mayor Reede's here. He wants to know if one of you may come to help him make sure everyone is alright. That, and I think Dantz might want a little explanation. No one has gone to update him on what ended up happening yet."

"It's a little strange for Reede to want help with that sort of thing," Zelda said.

"He thinks having the princess or the hero would put everyone at ease," Teli said. "They may have gone home because of the snowstorm, but they did all see what happened during the, uh… Link's birthday."

"I don't mind helping—" Link began as he started pushing himself up from his chair, but winced the moment he was properly up.

He sighed and began stretching himself out, trying to ignore and push past the pain. After a few moments though, Zelda stood and gently placed a hand on his arm. Looking over at her, he noticed the look in her eyes, along with the small grin she had on her face.

"Maybe I could handle this?" she suggested quietly. "You did want to head home to think, yes?"

"That's… Yeah," Link said with a chuckle. "Yeah, that's a good idea."

...

That was over ten minutes ago.

The grin she had given him kept appearing in his mind as he walked through the snow toward the old fork in the road. It could have been his mind trying to make up for all the times he had possibly missed it or had been the reason she hadn't shown it to him in the past few months. But, it was possible he just subconsciously wanted to keep seeing it ever since he was reminded of its charm. Regardless, it was all that filled Link's mind as he made his way up the mountainside and across the bridge, right up until he stood in front of the front door to his house. After taking a quick deep breath, he placed his hand against the wood and pushed, forcing the door to slowly creak open.

The place was a mess. Weapons that usually sat in the frames on the walls were now scattered about. The floor had been stained by each spilling of blood, covering almost every board with spots of red, from small droplets to large pools. The table had been flipped over and all of its decor, silverware, and centerpieces had been flung around or smashed, with all their glass shards sparkling across the stained flooring. To add to the immeasurable number of stains and shards, near the kitchen was more of both. Wine bottles— some broken while others were still intact— laid on the ground where large pools of its contents had re-colored the floorboards entirely.

Link stared at the state of his home with tired eyes before looking at the staircase he chose to walk up. The upstairs wasn't much better. The blood splatters, though still there, weren't as many or as large, but they still were noticeable. The sheets on the bed had been thrown around, the desk had been turned over, and the picture on the wall had fallen off its hinges. Even the nightstand next to the bed had been left on its side. It was a miracle it hadn't broken from the fall.

Slowly walking through the loft, he stopped at the dresser and looked down at the picture now sitting on the floor. Crouching down, he took it by the frame and carefully placed it back where it belonged. With a deep breath, he looked through the faces of those he had lost a century ago. Daruk. Urbosa. Revali. Mipha. All whose deaths were shown to him all those months ago, but were still smiling at him through the picture that hung before him.

"Sorry," he mumbled to the painting. "I wasn't being very champion-like, was I?"

It hurt.

That was what he had to come to terms with. It was painful, being the only champion to have survived the Calamity back then. He wished he could have done more. He wished he hadn't fallen, that he could have taken on the beast then and there when it had first arrived. It was the same emotions he had felt since he learned of his past when his memories had returned, only made worse thanks to having seen it all unfold before his eyes.

Zelda was right.

Maz Koshia had shown him what happened in the past in order to not only test his spirit, but for Link to learn how to keep moving forward despite the pain; to see what there was to keep fighting for. That was what he was trying to teach him, and yet, that didn't mean Link was going about it the right way. In actuality, the trials he had taken beforehand had turned into an excuse to keep being angry. He wanted someone to blame; someone he could take his anger out on. He chose to blame the Yiga, those who weren't even there a hundred years ago, nor were they that much of a threat, all so he could convince himself that it wasn't his own being he was mad at. This too he knew was wrong. Everyone else had told him this was false; even as the hero, he was still only one person. He wasn't perfect.

But, then what was he supposed to do? This frustration, this anger at himself, the guilt in his chest. Even if he knew he had to move forward, how was he supposed to do so? Was it supposed to just hit him randomly, to where he would just be okay? Or were his experiences and Zelda's smile supposed to clear them just like that? Was he just making it more difficult? Why was the pain still here, and so intense?

Unsure of what the answer could be, he continued to comb through his thoughts as he began straightening up the loft. Though his wounds slightly flared, he lifted the writing desk back onto its legs and returned the chair back to its proper place pushed in under it. He picked up the books, papers, and quills and organized them back, not trying too hard as he knew Zelda would probably re-arrange them to how she liked them later anyway. He moved from the desk to the bed where he took the sheets from off the ground and placed them back on the mattress, until finally the toppled nightstand.

After crouching down, he took the stand by the corners and heaved it back onto its feet. Thankfully, somehow the vase with the strangely familiar yellow flower wasn't broken, something he decided to pick up in a moment. Unfortunately, as the stand lifted, the top drawer opened, allowing its contents of clothes to spill onto the ground. Link stared down at the clothing before sighing. Closing the drawer, he pushed the nightstand back into its usual place by the bed before crouching again, now picking up the clothes one by one. With all the clothes in hand, he made to stand, but something caught his eye— a small little thing that was now on the floor that wasn't there before.

Furrowing his brow, he opened the drawer and threw the clothes back in. Making a mental note to refold those later (something he hoped he wouldn't come to forget), he lowered back down and picked up what he had noticed. It was a key, small in size, and now in his fingers. He stared at it for some time before sitting on the floor. He leaned his back against the bed whilst still staring at the little piece of metal, trying to remember what it had gone to until the memory dawned on him.

"This was the key Bolson gave me a while ago, wasn't it?" he mumbled to himself. "He said he hadn't bothered figuring out where it went, but there isn't anything here that it could…"

His voice trailed off as an idea came to mind. Maybe it didn't unlock something in the house, but something connected to it. Pushing himself up to his feet, he crossed and hurried down from the loft before heading back into the snowy outdoors. This was one of the rare times he took the path that raised up and followed the side wall of the house, leading to the backyard where a lone apple tree sat peacefully covered in snow. It was there he believed the key had a purpose.

Sitting in the back was a lone wooden shed, different from the rest of the house. It was crudely made with dark boards in comparison to the bright stone that made up the rest of the building's walls. Behind it was the base of the chimney, where the shed had clearly been designed to connect to. And at its front was a door, made of similar wood to the rest, and from the time Link had purchased the house from Bolson, had always been locked. That was, until today.

After looking the door up and down, he reached out his free hand and glided his fingers across the wood before noticing a hole just above the handle. He slightly leaned down to inspect it further, and sure enough, it was a keyhole. With the key in hand, he placed its shaft into the hole and turned. Without even needing to pull on the handle, the door creaked open slightly, allowing Link to put his fingers through and properly pull the door back.

It was dark, with the only light being that of the outdoor light shining through behind Link as he stepped inside. The floorboards groaned with each step, having not taken any weight in years. Dust had coated every surface— even the walls— but with the light, it was easy to tell what was there. A furnace sat near the back, where it led up into the chimney tower above. Tools were laid around, tongs in a corner, and hammers on countertops, most of which had been rusted to their core.

It was familiar; all of it. It was as if he had been in here before, even if only a few times. He stopped at the counters, gently brushing off the grime that sat on the old tools. As he did, he noticed something leaning against the hidden side of the counter. He leaned over to get a better look. It was a sword— a claymore to be exact— and it was just as rusty as all the other bits of metal in the room.

Furrowing his brow, he grazed the sword's long handle before turning back to the counter. He noticed cabinets beneath its surface, originally hidden by the dust and the darkness of the room. Grabbing the old handles, he yanked them open. The cabinets didn't appreciate the sudden force, and with its mouth now open, it coughed a cloud of dust back into Link's face. Now coughing himself, he waved one of his hands to try and fan the cloud away before crouching down to search the cabinet's interior.

It was even dirtier there. Spiderwebs filled the corners, while the shelves were covered in random old metal parts, such as door handles and more tools that were broken or worn down. There was something else in there though, something that stood out against the brown grim and gray dust. Barely visible through the dust was a hint of blue and red, with the slightest bit of gold peeking out. Intrigued, Link slowly reached in and brushed the dust off the colors. His eyes widened slightly.

It was a neatly folded uniform, with a blue and gold covering over a bright red tunic. It was similar to the one he used to wear, even the gold crest of the royal family had been etched into the chest. He grabbed the uniform and pulled it out of its dirty holdings. He dusted it off even more before standing. While it looked exactly like his own, he could tell it was for a body much bigger than his own. This wasn't the entire uniform though. He remembered there being more.

He set the uniform on the countertop before crouching down again. He knew the uniform had white boots and gloves, but those didn't seem to be anywhere. Maybe they didn't survive, worn down from use by the previous owner. He did find something else though, tucked away in the other corner of the cabinet. A hat, a rounded one with the knight's crest stitched into its brim. Pulling that out, Link stood again and inspected it, until finally he found a name stitched on the inside of the hat in a thin white thread, clearly added by its owner:

Arn.

The moment he saw the forge the idea had appeared in his mind, but this only solidified his thoughts. This was his old old house— his father's house. It was amazing he hadn't realized it until now. He had remembered so much with Zelda, especially with her around so much now, he hadn't realized some of his memories were still a bit foggy. With the hat still in his hands, he walked back out into the snow and looked around. Faintly, memories started to appear as he looked at the scene around him. The snow that covered the small field, the large tree, and the pond that sat at its roots all vanished, revealing the green grass that sat beneath it all. He could see the ghost of an old dark colored-horse grazing near the cliffside, waiting for its master's next orders.

He then looked over near the stables, where he saw hints of two little children, one a girl with long blonde hair and a simple white dress, and the other a boy, with sandy-blonde hair tied up into a ponytail. The two seemed to be arguing, with the boy telling of how horses were the best animals, while the girl protested with a cucco in her arms. Link couldn't quite make out what they were saying entirely. It all sounded muffled; so faded— so long ago. Suddenly, as if realizing they would never come to an agreement, the two kids ran off toward the front of the house, laughing as they disappeared into nothingness the further away they got.

Link chuckled as he watched them run off before turning to focus on the fenced-off yard he stood in. All that stood there was the lone apple tree, and yet, at the tree's base, Link swore he saw something. He had seen something like this before, a faint golden light shining from the ground. He stepped toward it, and as he did, his faded memories grew clearer. Soon, the snow had completely vanished, the tree had fresh apples dangling from its branches, and it even looked a bit smaller. What stood out the most though, was the large man sitting with his legs crossed at its base.

He was a beefy man, with large shoulders and a wide chest. His square jaw was filled with a thick white beard, and his eyes were shadowed by the bandana he had wrapped around his head. The old man hummed a quiet tune to himself as he looked down at his hands. With a knife in one and an apple in the other, he gently placed the blade against the apple's skin before turning the apple in his palm, slowly peeling it to reveal the white flesh underneath. Watching his father work, Link sat down at his side.

He didn't say anything; this was just a memory after all. He knew his father wouldn't hear him, though he wished he could. There were so many things on his mind, so many questions he had. Still, he wondered if his father would even understand. The two sat quietly for some time before suddenly, Arn started speaking.

"It's been quite some time now…" he said. While his voice was gruff, his tone was gentle and calm.

Link's ears twitched as he looked up from his father's hands to his face. Was his father speaking to him? As much as he wanted to believe that, he could see his father's focus wasn't on him. Instead of the apple in his hands, Arn was now looking up at the young tree he sat before.

"Almost a year…" he continued, "and yet, it feels like it's been no time at all."

Link stared at his father before looking up at the apple tree. So, this is when the memory took place. It was the year after Arn's wife—Link's mother— had died. It would only be a month or so before the queen would follow if he remembered correctly. In a month, everything would begin. Everything would change.

"I miss you," his father said quietly. "I wish I could have done more to save you, for you… our kids…"

He sat quietly for a moment before sighing.

"I say that," he added, "and this might even be appallingly selfish, but I may even be saying all of that simply to cover my own selfishness. I just want you here by my side again."

"Papa?"

Both Link and Arn looked behind them to see the small little girl that had been running around the front of the house, still holding on to the cucco in her arms. The feathered beast sat quietly, and even looked almost asleep, apparently having given up escaping the girl's arms. The girl looked nervously at her father, clutching her cucco tighter as she looked on. Regardless, her courage remained as she stepped a little closer to him.

"Are you okay, Papa?"

"Hm? Now what's got you asking that, Aryll?" he asked.

"You look sad again…" the girl named Aryll responded.

The father stared at her for a moment before he patted the grass next to him, opposite to the side Link currently sat on. Much of the girl's nerves seemed to vanish as she hurried over and sat down next to him, crossing her legs to match. After adjusting the cucco to sit in the folds of her legs, she hummed in thought before looking back up at him. With a grunt, he wrapped his large burly arm around his small daughter and gave an even larger grunt to pull her close to him, acting as if she was much heavier than she actually was, something that made her giggle.

"So, you're okay?" Aryll asked.

Her father looked down at her with an almost sad smile. He looked as though he wanted to say yes, but then looked back up at the tree. With a deep breath, he looked back down at his daughter, who remained looking up at him with large, curious blue eyes.

"I am… better," he said, "and I'll only continue to get better."

"Is there only better?" Aryll asked. "Will you ever be all the way okay?"

"All the way, huh?" Arn chuckled softly. He hummed in thought for a moment, before answering, "no. I don't think I ever will."

"You'll always be sad?" Aryll asked with a worried look. Her father gave her a saddened frown and looked back up at the apple tree.

"Aryll… When you lose someone you cherish, they stay with you, in a way," Arn explained. "Your mother was–and is– very important to me. She changed my life… she was my everything at one point in time. Before, it was my sword, and then it was her."

"Then… You can't be happy without Mama?" Aryll asked.

"I can," Arn said. "You see, while your mother is important to me, she wasn't the only thing in my world. It's those who are special to you that allow you to open your eyes. I moved here to this small village because of your mother, and met the townsfolk. I made friends, saw how life was different outside the castle, and gained a new perspective— and a new world. I then had you and Link, both of which are very important to me now. You two are my new everything, and you've been that way since you were born; for me and your mother."

He gave Aryll a tickle on the neck, something that made her giggle.

"I will always be a little sad. I loved your mother, and I will always miss her," he reiterated, "but, I have things in this world that make me happy as well— people I care about— and that will always bring me happiness."

"So, you're happy and sad at the same time?" Aryll asked. "How can you be both? You can't just pick one?"

"No, I can't. The heart is a little more complex than that," her father laughed.

Link's brow furrowed. He lowered his head and looked down at the hat in his hands. So, it was impossible to rid himself of this pain. That wasn't the answer he had hoped for.

"Aryll," his father spoke again. "There will inevitably come a time when you're older that you will lose someone, maybe even many people. It is something everyone will encounter in this world, and instead of trying to rid yourself of the pain that comes with loss, the best thing you can do is remember why you hurt."

"But, that hurts!" Aryll said. "I don't want to be sad…"

I don't either… Link thought silently. I hate this…

"No, one does," Arn said, "but you can't have happiness without sadness. If you aren't sad, then that means you didn't care. Enjoy those around you, and if you lose someone, look back at the time you spent together fondly. If you can do that, then that means you truly cared, and enjoyed the time you had with them."

His shaded eyes teared up slightly as he stared at the apples that were hanging from the tree branches. Allowing his large chest to expand, he took a deep breath to control himself before looking back down at Aryll.

"Just remember this," he said. "Don't let that sadness consume you. You'll fall into a dark place. Remember and enjoy the memories. It's okay to be sad, but it shouldn't consume you."

"Consume you…? Like… when you were quiet?" Aryll asked. "You were quiet for a long time…"

"I was. When you let yourself fall into that hole, it's almost impossible to escape. I fell in, and I apologize for that," Arn said. "I shouldn't have left you two alone the way I did. That is the greatest mistake I've ever made, one I won't make again."

"But, you got happy again," Aryll said. "If it's so hard, how did you get out?"

Yeah… Link thought as he watched the two talk. How did you pull yourself out?

He never knew how his father had pulled himself out of his silent treatment. After their mother died, he had gone silent for months. It was where Link had picked that habit up from; it was a sign of strength in his eyes, to ensure those around him felt secure, that everything would be alright. But, he never knew how his father had come out of that silence. One day he just happened to be better. Or maybe, Link was too young at the time to understand and didn't see what his father had truly gone through.

How did you find yourself again? he asked silently.

"I remembered you two," Arn answered. "The two most important people in the world now. I also remembered the village, those I had grown close to thanks to your mother. There are so many people out there that care for me, watching me from afar, waiting for me to return. I'd be letting them down if I stayed in that place. I'd have continued letting you two down as well. So, I went, and I talked to people. I talked to my friends… enjoyed their company, and they warmed my heart. They encouraged me to do something I loved, something that made me happy, but also your mother happy as well—"

"Your hammer!" Aryll shouted suddenly with a smile, waking the cucco in her arms with a cluck. Arn laughed loudly.

"Yes! My forge," he said. "Your mother loved watching me work, seeing the creations and repairs, and how they helped others. I love my forge and the happiness that it brings others. You see, Aryll, I will always miss your mother, but I can be happy while missing her all the same. Do you miss her?"

Aryll stayed quiet for a while before nodding.

"I miss Mama too," she said. Arn nodded.

"And so does your brother," he said. "And that is not a bad thing. It's okay to miss her. She loved you, always remember that. You'll always love her too, right?"

"Always," Aryll nodded.

"That's a good girl," he said, placing a free hand on her head. She laughed as he messed her blonde hair up a fair bit. Suddenly, he leaned down and quietly whispered, "Keep an eye on your brother, and be there for him. He acts calm and collected, but he's quite emotional on the inside. I know he misses his mother, more than he shows you or I. Make sure you watch over and be there for him."

"I can do that!" Aryll said.

"Good. Sometimes, even the strongest need help. Remember that as well," Arn said. "That's advice your mother gave me long ago, and they're words that I now live by."

"Big brother is really strong!" Aryll said. "I guess I'll have to help him a lot."

"Yes you will," Arn chuckled. "Yes, you will… Do you want to sit with your mother and I for a bit?"

With a nod, Aryll clutched her cucco a bit tighter before scooting closer to her father. The two looked up at the apples dangling from their branches, both supposedly thinking about the family member they had lost. Link sat quietly as well, sitting next to his family. He looked down at the hat still in his hands, thinking about all his father had said. Accept the sadness and remember the good. To move forward, remember those still around, and try living your life again. With all of his responsibilities as a knight and the hero… was it really that simple for him?

Still a bit lost in thought, Link looked up from the hat and looked around. Something was a bit strange. These didn't seem like his own memories, but his fathers, or maybe Aryll's, but they had to be his. If that were the case, where was he? He stood from his spot to get a better view before finally seeing himself, small and young, in the field nearby. He had a bag over his shoulder, one that looked empty, while he petted the horse that was still grazing the grass it stood on. His younger self must've been somewhat listening, or maybe he simply overheard but never truly processed what they were talking about, that was, until just now. He took and instilled some things his father had said, but of course, not everything.

He was such a stubborn person.

With a deep breath, he walked away from the apple tree and across the field to his younger self. The young Link didn't care nor notice his older counterpart come to him. He didn't sense his presence. He simply kept petting the horse, smiling at the tamed beast as it grazed. His older self looked down at the empty bag his younger self carried. He smiled. He remembered taking repaired tools the villagers had asked him to fix down to the town and returning them to their owners. As he thought back to those times as a child, his father's words kept repeating in his mind.

To come to terms with what happened. To do what he loved. To keep his life moving. To find himself again. His father used the forge, and those who were special to him. Slowly, Link turned his head to look over the cliffside he stood next to. He looked out into the mountains and pastures— into the wild. Maybe… Maybe he could find himself out—

"Link?"

The green pastures and blue skies vanished. The grass he stood on was once again covered by the white snow, and the gray clouds above had returned. His younger self and horse had vanished, along with his father and sister, leaving just the tree alone in the backyard. Link turned to see his lover walking through the snow toward him with a kind smile on her face.

"There you are. What are you doing all the way over here?"

"Zel…" Link mumbled before giving her a gentle smile. "Welcome home."

"I'm glad to be back," she said as she walked up to him.

"Is everything alright in the village?" he asked as she stopped at his side.

"Everyone is alright, and Reede is happy we're okay," she replied before lightly taking his arm into her hands. With a happy sigh, she rested her cheek against his shoulder before looking at the hat in his hands. "Is that… is that your old knight's cap?"

"It's not mine," Link answered. "It's… my fathers."

"Your fathers?" Zelda asked. "But, where was it?"

She listened carefully as Link explained, where the key led to his family having lived in the house before. Zelda looked astonished.

"This was your old house…" she said. "Wait, that means you shouldn't have had to pay for it again!"

"Eh, it's fine," Link chuckled. "Bolson did make repairs when I bought it again, so I guess I just ended up paying for those instead. Besides, it helped him retire."

"I guess so. Hm… This was your childhood house…" Zelda said thoughtfully as she looked at the building sitting a little ways away. "I almost feel like I'm intruding, in a way."

"Of course not," Link spoke up. He took her by the waist and pulled her close to him. "You're my family now. You're special to me… and you always will be."

"T-thank you, Link," Zelda said, somewhat taken aback by his sudden sincerity. Her cheeks began to burn. Flustered, she hugged his arm a bit tighter. "You're important to me too… I love you."

"And I love you too," Link said. "I wonder what my father would say if he knew we ended up being lovers."

"Would he not approve?" Zelda asked. "I remember your father being a kind man, from what I remember of him when I was young."

"He'd most certainly approve," Link chuckled. "He's the one who told me how bright your smile was."

"Really? When you were young?" Zelda asked. When he nodded, she added, "well, that would explain a few things. No wonder you always try to get a smile out of me."

"Absolutely," Link lightly teased. The two chuckled before they turned to the house. "It's a mess in there, by the way."

"I guess that just means we have some cleaning to do, doesn't it?" Zelda asked cheerfully. "Shall we start now? I think we can get it done before tonight."

"Is something happening tonight?" Link asked.

"Prima is opening the inn for drinks," Zelda said as they began walking back, still clutching his arm. "I guess she said she could use a bit of normalcy and fun after what just happened. I was actually hoping maybe we could go tonight."

"A bit of normalcy… Keep moving and don't fall into the hole…" Link mumbled. He glanced over his shoulder and back at the mountains. Noticing this, Zelda raised an eyebrow.

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, everything's fine," Link said, turning back to her and the house. "I'm just trying to listen to some advice I was given a little while back. You asked about going to the inn tonight?"

"Yes, I did; I was wondering if you'd go with me…"

"I dunno, Zelda. I kind of killed the mood last time I went to an event like that," Link said, awkwardly thinking back to his birthday. "I doubt many of the villagers would want me there after what happened."

"It wasn't entirely your fault," Zelda said. "But, if you don't want to go, I understand. I just thought maybe you'd like to reconnect with them a bit… I know you care for them. This is our home, after all… But, I do understand if you need your time. I won't force you like before."

"Our home…" Link repeated. After a moment of thought, he nodded. "You know what? Sure. I'll go."

"Really? Are you sure?" Zelda asked. "Truly, I do not want to make you if you—"

"Zelda, I want to go," Link said. "You're right. I need to start reconnecting with people. You're not the only one who says that too. I think it would be good for me, though I might not drink this time."

Happy, Zelda gave a wide smile and gripped his arm tightly as they approached their house's front door. With a gentle push Link opened the door to reveal the mess inside. Both couldn't help but look a little sad at the destruction, but, when they looked back into each other's eyes, the smiles returned.

"Well… Shall we get to work?" Zelda asked.

"Let's," Link answered, closing the door behind them as they stepped inside.