They sat beneath the branches of a large oak tree, atop a grassy knoll. Though a light drizzle fell from the sky, sunlight peeked through the clouds and offered a modicum of light. While the girl watched, the knight practiced swordplay in the rain, swinging his weapon against imaginary foes.
He looked so perfect with that weapon, the girl thought to herself. There was no doubt: he was absolutely the right person to wield it.
"What if…one day…you realized that you just weren't meant to be a fighter?" she asked him.
The swordsman turned, surprised by the sudden conversation.
"Yet the only thing people ever said," she continued, closing her eyes sadly, "was that you were born into a family of the royal guard, and so that no matter what you thought, you had to become a knight." She paused, the words almost painful to think. "I wonder then…would you have chosen a different path?"
Princess and knight arrived at the village as the morning sun broke over the horizon. Light danced over the valley in yellow-white beams, giving the place an ethereal look as the pair passed under the wooden gate.
It was over a month since the defeat of Calamity Ganon, and both Zelda and Link were exhausted and travel-worn. One would have thought that with their foe's defeat, the many minions which made up Ganon's army would have disappeared or crawled back to the caves they came from. Instead, the opposite had occurred: on almost a nightly basis, the pair had found themselves besieged by Bokoblin seeking revenge. These creatures were hardly a threat, particularly now that the princess was improving her archery skills under her knight's tutelage, but the lack of sleep was beginning to have its toll. Zelda's eyes were constantly darting around, expecting a new foe around every corner; even Link, who was normally so stoic, kept one hand on the Master Sword's pommel at all times.
Their emotional state wasn't the only thing that was frayed as they entered Kakariko Village. Zelda's clothes were already weathered from their journey, her tunic tattered at the edges and the soles of her boots withered away. Even the knapsack full of food and water she had been given at the Riverside Stable was falling apart, despite her best efforts to stitch it up after a Bokoblin attack one night had torn open the side.
"And you're sure the village will be all right?" she asked Link as they made their way through a canyon pass.
Her knight nodded solemnly. "The village would be protected from Beast Ganon's assault. We can find refuge with Impa here."
Zelda nodded, but still she worried. In truth, what worried her most was encountering Impa, the Sheikah elder of Kakariko Village. She had known Impa back over one hundred years ago, before the Calamity struck. Then, Impa was just a young woman, no more than twenty. Now she would be over a century, a wise elder. They had been friends then, but would Impa be capable of forgiving Zelda for her failures? She bit her lip and pressed on, worry eating away at her.
They found the village exactly as Link had described it: safe and protected. Nestled between the surrounding cliffs, Zelda was actually surprised by how little had changed from when she last visited. A house or two more had squeezed into the tight space of the valley, but otherwise the structures remained the same. Have times been so hard that the village population stagnated? she wondered. Even here, in this safe place, have they suffered because of my inability to stop Calamity Ganon those years ago?
"Link!" A woman's voice called out to them. They turned. Standing beneath the shade of a tree was an old Sheikah woman. She waved to them, smiling. "Oh, Impa will be so glad to hear that you are okay. After that nasty business in Hyrule Field, we were all…so…" She paused, noticing Zelda for the first time. "My word! Princess Zelda!"
She nodded and smiled. "At your service, ma'am."
The woman knelt before her. "Princess, it is an honor to meet you! I am Nanna. Please, follow me. Impa will want to see you immediately."
She led them over a footbridge and down a path which led deeper into the valley. Zelda was struck by just how quiet the village was: growing up in Hyrule Castle, she had always been surrounded by the sound of hurrying servants, chatting lords and ladies, and the hubbub of the town below. Here, the only sounds she could hear was the clucking of distant chickens, the whistle of the breeze through the branches of the trees, and the occasional twitter of airborne birds. It was so…peaceful. She allowed herself a moment to relax.
The peace was short-lived. As they walked down the path, Zelda noticed faces staring out of the doorways and windows of surrounding buildings. It was as if Nanna had somehow communicated with the whole village telepathically - everyone seemed to know that Princess Zelda had arrived.
She noticed two tiny faces peeking out from around the corner of a house. Sheikah children. The sight made her endlessly happy. Life had flourished, even here. Her failure had not ruined Kakariko Village, or the Sheikah people, forever.
They arrived at a wooden archway protected by two Sheikah men. A nearby Korok, invisible to the guards, floated on a spinning leaf and waved at her. Zelda found a small grin escaping her lips but resisted the urge to wave at it, knowing that everyone was watching her.
One of the men stepped forward and clapped Link's hand. "Champion of Hyrule, good to see you've come back in one piece!"
"You as well, Cado." The knight gave him a wide smile. "Word was that you ran reconnaissance of the field after the battle. Run into any trouble?"
"Nothing I can't handle. Better than herding chickens, am I right!?"
Nanna waved him away. "Step aside, step aside! Can't you see that Princess Zelda walks among you?"
Both of the Sheikah men's eyes went wide with shock. "Princess!" they said at once, bowing.
"We are here to see Impa," Zelda said, nodding politely at them each in turn.
"Of course, princess!" the Sheikah named Cado said. "I am sure she will be most pleased to see you. Go up, right away!"
They walked up the steps to Impa's home, and Zelda felt all of her fears return. She hadn't felt this nervous in…well, in a century. She recalled the first time her father had brought her to court, not long after her mother's death, and boasted about how she was going to be the savior of the kingdom.
"By wielding Hylia's light, she shall ensure that the Kingdom of Hyrule will endure forevermore!" he cried, and his statement was met with wild applause by the assorted crowd of noblemen and politicians.
Back then, she had no power, neither political or magical. Now, at least, she had magic. She could do this. She could face her failures and whatever scorn Impa might have for her.
Link pushed open the double-doors of the house. It took a moment for Zelda's eyes to adjust to the dim lantern-light, but she drank in every detail. The room was exactly as she remembered it: small in comparison with the throne room, but larger than any room in any other Sheikah home. An elevated platform sat in the back and center of the room, a tower of pillows upon it. But it was empty. A young woman stood with her back to them, Zelda was struck by how familiar she looked.
"Impa?" she offered.
The woman turned, and Zelda realized how foolish she had been. "No, I'm…Linky!" The woman rushed forward and wrapped Link in a tight embrace.
Linky? Zelda thought with mild amusement. That's certainly new.
Link gave an awkward chuckle and patted the woman's back. "It's good to see you. Zelda, this is Paya. Paya, this is-"
The woman leapt back from Link and fell to her knees in a deep bow. "P-Princess Zelda! I…I am so sorry. I should…I should have…" She fell into stutters and covered her face.
"It is okay, granddaughter." Zelda looked up at the stairs. An old woman stood beaming down at them, leaning on a cane. "Nobody has seen the princess in a century. You can't be faulted for not recognizing her. Particularly in that state of dress."
Zelda glanced down at her weathered clothes sheepishly. "Traveling has been…difficult."
"Not to worry, my dear, not to worry." The old woman walked down the stairs with surprising speed and stood before Zelda in an instant. "My, my…it has been so long." She stared Zelda in the face, examining her.
Zelda gulped. Was she going to be mad at her? Would she chastise her? Refuse to help?
Instead, what the Sheikah elder said came as a surprise to everyone. "You are so skinny, my dear. Why, look at you - those clothes are practically falling off your bones!" She poked Link with her cane. "Have you been starving the poor girl?"
Link chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head with his hand.
"It's not his fault." Zelda felt it necessary to speak up for her knight. "The wilds are dangerous. We're lucky to be alive as it is."
Impa nodded. "Since the fall of Calamity Ganon, beasts have become especially bold. Our village is lucky to be shielded from such threats, but others are not as fortunate. Come. Sit. I will have Paya get you some food, and you both can tell me of your travels."
They sat with Impa for an hour, filling her in on what happened after the defeat of Calamity Ganon and eating an assortment of delicious foods. The old woman remained silent the entire time, her eyes simply passing from one to the other as they each provided different details. It was hard to read her face, which was a shock. Back when they were nearly the same age, Zelda had always been able to tell what her friend was thinking or feeling. Now, though, it was as if she was an entirely different person.
At the end of it, Impa nodded thoughtfully. "You have both endured much," she said. "If it were different times, I would suggest that you both take a long time to rest, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. But sadly, there is still much work to be done." She glanced up. "Paya, send a message to Robbie and Purah. Tell them to come here at once. I think it best we meet and discuss how best to proceed."
Impa also ordered Link to go find some named Claree who could help repair his Champion's Tunic, because, as she put it, "I've seen squirrels with cleaner coats." Then she led Zelda upstairs.
"I had an inkling that you might return to us one day," the old woman croaked. "I had something made special for you, should that day ever come. Of course, if you had perished in your battle against Calamity Ganon, I might have refitted it for my granddaughter."
The upstairs room was small, with only one bed, two small desks, a chest, and a bamboo screen. Impa hobbled her way over to the chest and opened it, rummaging through the belongings for a minute before springing up with a parcel in-hand. "You might ask Paya to help you with some of the lacing in the back, my dear. I fear my shaky old hands will not be of much help." She paused, seeing the pained expression on Zelda's face. "What is the matter?"
Tears welled up in Zelda's eyes. "I…how can you be so kind to me? After what I did? What I failed to do? How can you forgive me so easily?"
The wrinkles on Impa's face softened. "Oh, princess…do you really blame yourself for what happened all those years ago?"
"Don't you?"
Impa set the bundle of clothes down on top of a desk and sat on the bed, patting the blankets. "Come, sit with me."
Zelda obeyed, wiping tears from her eyes. Impa patted her knee and gave her a warm smile. "You cannot be blamed for what happened, Zelda, no more than Link, Revali, or any of the other Champions."
"But I failed. And the Champions…they all died because of me."
"Link seems to be okay, does he not?" Impa chuckled. "And even so, my dear, you were a child. You could not help that Hylia's power did not come to you sooner, no more than I can help when storms blow in or when the crops grow poorly. If there is anyone to blame, it would be your father." Zelda looked up, surprised. "King Rhoam let grief cloud his judgment, believing that the people needed more hope after the queen's passing, and he put too much pressure on you. Had he considered all of his options - perhaps focused his efforts more on the Divine Beasts, or the Master Sword, or any number of other places, things might have gone differently. Or perhaps not. Perhaps, at the end of it all, this was the will of Hylia. Perhaps you were always meant to succeed now, in this time."
Zelda wiped a tear from her cheek. "You really think so?"
Impa chuckled. "When you get to be my age, princess, you realize that things are never all what they seem. Now go on. You ought to have the look of a princess about you, instead of garbed in those tattered threads. I'll fetch Paya for you."
Zelda grabbed the bundle of clothes and darted behind the bamboo screen. She was glad to be rid of these rags, in truth, though she wished there was time to draw up a bath. No doubt Impa could smell the road on her. She tried on the first garment, a set of black breeches which fit over her perfectly.
"Lady Zelda?" Paya's voice called from the entrance of the room.
"Over here." She threw on the undershirt that was provided. It was thin, and barely covered anything, but she still felt sheepish about anyone seeing her topless. "Impa thinks I'll need some help with the lacing on this tunic," she said.
"Of course, princess." Paya came over and began helping her.
"So…Linky?"
In the mirror, Zelda watched as the other woman's cheeks flushed red. "Master Link has been so kind to me. Since awakening from the Shrine of Resurrection, he has come by often, and…I feel that he believes I can be a good successor to my grandmother. He…he is a good friend."
"You care for him." It was not a question so much as a statement, and Zelda nearly clapped a hand over her mouth in shock that she would say something so bold. Speaking of one's affections had always been a forbidden subject in the castle.
Paya blinked but did not seem fazed. "Of course, princess," she said, her voice cool and collected. "He is the Champion of Hyrule. Our world would have been plunged into darkness were it not for his efforts. I care for him just as I care for you."
Zelda detected a hint of sarcasm in the woman's voice, but decided not to say anything more. It was obvious that Paya had feelings for Link, and, well…why should she not? Link was not only a hero, but he went out of his way to help people. She had seen that firsthand at the Riverside Stable, when he went to help them rebuild without hesitation. He was selfless, caring, a bit quiet, perhaps, but…
Inwardly, Zelda sighed. Her own feelings on the matter were complicated. When she first met the swordsman, she had resented him. After all, he seemed to have everything figured out: following in his father's footsteps, a renowned warrior, and the Master Sword had responded to him almost immediately. He had been everything she wasn't. But over time, as he followed her around the whole of Hyrule, protecting her, she had found herself growing more fond of him. Then Calamity Ganon had struck, and Link had died, and everything was thrust into chaos. Trapped for one hundred years, she had never had the energy to consider romantic implications.
But now…
"There!" Paya beamed at her. "All done. How do you feel?"
Zelda glanced at herself in the mirror. Her outfit was not all that different from the royal outfit she had donned back a century ago: a thick tunic in the royal colors of blue and white, with gold lacing around the edges. There was something a little different about this particular outfit, however, that she couldn't quite put her finger on.
"Impa had it reinforced with fairy magic," Purah said, seemingly knowing what Zelda was thinking. "It should take a lot longer to break down, and will keep you well-protected against harm."
Zelda grinned. "It's perfect."
They made their way downstairs, where Link and Impa were already waiting for them. Link was no longer wearing his Champion's Tunic, instead garbed in a green tunic and brown breeches. He stared at Zelda as she stepped down the stairs, and she found herself blushing beneath his gaze. Was it possible that he might return the feelings she had for him? Was it possible that maybe, just maybe, they had a future together?
She shook her head. Right now was not the time for such thoughts.
"So…Purah and Robbie," she said. "They're still alive after all this time?"
Impa nodded. "And as eccentric as ever. But their insight into the technology of our precursors will be essential for the future of Hyrule."
"And they are close enough to be here today?"
As if on cue, a loud crashing noise sounded from outside. Link and Impa shared a knowing look before the knight pushed open the doors, and everyone filtered into the valley.
At first glance, Zelda thought that a Guardian Skywatcher - one of the flying forms of those great mechanical beasts - was invading the village. But then she noticed the fact that the head of the Guardian was missing, and that two figures - both exceptionally short - were standing on top of it. The machine slowly floated down to the plaza in front of Impa's house, where a crowd was beginning to form.
"DOCTOR ROBBIE IS HERE!" shouted one of the figures, throwing up their hands in a strange gesture. He was a short, older Sheikah man, whom even after a century Zelda vaguely recognized as the eccentric inventor Robbie. She had only spoke with him once or twice at Hyrule Castle, and each meeting had left her baffled and confused.
"Linky!" the other figure, a child, leapt from the machine and hugged Link around his waist.
Zelda raised an eyebrow at Paya. "Does everyone call him 'Linky' now?" The other woman smiled bashfully and shrugged.
"Robbie, Purah!" Impa shouted from the top of the stairs. "It is good to see you, old friends. Come, come, we have much to discuss."
They assembled in the sitting room of Impa's home, with Impa taking a seat on her throne of pillows and the others sitting on the cushions before her. For a few minutes, they merely chatted about current events, with Purah and Robbie wanting to hear Link's story about fighting the forces of evil. Zelda couldn't believe that the small, child-like figure was actually Purah, no matter how many times it was explained to her that the girl had accidentally de-aged herself in an experiment gone wrong.
"We are gathered here today to discuss the future of Hyrule," Impa began, tapping her cane to get everyone's attention. "With Calamity Ganon gone and Princess Zelda returned to us, the kingdom of Hyrule can at last begin the true process of healing. But it will not come easily - with the land in a state of devastation for so long, our people are scattered, broken. We must decide on a course of action, and I believe I know what must be done first. Zelda must take her rightful place as the heir to Hyrule."
This caused some commotion, particularly from Robbie, who shouted, "But the castle is in ruins!"
Zelda stood up. "While I appreciate the thought, Impa, I am afraid that I must refuse."
Impa held up her hand to silence Robbie, who had been on the edge of another outburst. "My dear, it is the best choice. The only choice. Hyrule cannot be properly united without its princess - no, its Queen - on the throne."
Zelda shook her head. "For the past century, the realms of Hyrule have watched the castle be home to the very source of their destruction. They have managed to survive in isolation. Struggled, perhaps, but survived nonetheless. While there might be some who would be happy to see me restored to the throne, I have no doubt that there are some who would much rather continue on their own. If I am to take the throne, I will only do so on one condition: that all of the people of Hyrule want me to be their queen. I will not command a splintered kingdom."
Link nodded in agreement, but Zelda could see that Impa was still displeased. Quickly, she racked her brain. If she was going to deny their only plan so far, she needed to have one of her own.
Putting a hand to her chin, she began to pace about the room, aware of everyone's eyes on her. "The first thing we need to do is to ensure everyone's safety. While Ganon's forces will eventually fade without his presence, they are wild and dangerous, and people need protection." She glanced up. "Impa, would you be willing to take in refugees from nearby areas? People whose homes were destroyed in Beast Ganon's attack, or those who have been forced to flee due to monster activity?"
The old woman nodded, though she was still frowning. "Of course. Kakariko Village will always help those in need."
"Thank you. Purah and Robbie, the two of you understand more about the Guardians and their technology than anyone else in the whole of Hyrule. I would ask that you lend your talents to the dismantling of the Guardians. Though many of these machines still wander the land, I suspect that they will fall once the influence of Ganon's Malice fades from them. Feel free to utilize them for whatever purposes you see fit, but prioritize inventions that will improve people's lives."
Robbie grinned, and Purah raised her hands into a two-finger salute. "You can count on us!"
"Excellent. The more we can understand about the technology, such as why Ganon was able to influence the very machines created to fight him, the better."
"And what of you?" Impa was still eyeing her warily. "What will you do?"
"I think…" She paused, her eyes meeting Link's. He stared at her with his usual level of intensity. "I think I will travel Hyrule, and visit each of the major cities and villages. The Zora, the Rito, the Goron, and the Gerudo…they have endured much in the last century. We will see what we can do to help them, and seek their approval for my ascension. We can also examine the Divine Beasts while we are at it, and determine whether there is any further use of them. That is…" She turned back to Link. "If you'll agree to come with me?"
"Hm." He nodded. "Where you go, the Master Sword and I will follow."
"But how will we communicate with you?" Impa questioned. "I do not think it wise for the princess to go wandering the world, not when so much danger still lurks in the shadows. What if some tragedy should befall you?"
"I can fix that!" Purah leapt to her feet, though she was so short that it barely made a difference. She took out a small tablet from her pockets: a device similar to Zelda's Sheikah Slate. "Even though the teleport functions of the shrines and towers have gone offline, I think I've got it figured out so that they can allow us to message each other. Behold!" She tapped the screen of her device a few times.
Zelda felt her Sheikah Slate buzz. A message reading Hi! flashed across the screen.
"Then it is decided." Zelda clapped her hands together, a smile on her face. "We each have our parts in ensuring that the future of Hyrule is a bright one. Let's get started."