Chapters four and five will NOT be updated as it's not needed for the sake of the story. Enjoy chapters three through five! - Mickey

**UPDATED 01/27/24**

When I get my hands on Del, I'm going to wring his neck for joining the Yiga Clan! Zen mentally growled as he slipped further back into the trees. If Del wasn't his girlfriend's older brother, he never would have agreed to set out across Hyrule for such an exhausting quest.

Gerudo Desert had proven to be more of a challenge than either he or Lyna were prepared for. Her combat skills weren't very strong, but as it turned out she wasn't able to venture out from the stable at all. The intensity of the heat and the sun's rays reflecting off the sand were more than her body could handle, even with her sun protection potions. So Zen was left to cross on his own, laden with as many heat resistance potions as he could carry. And after all the time, the Yiga Hideout was all but deserted. Several foot soldiers remained by the entrances, and one very bored Blademaster in the central room.

But none of them posed a problem for the half-Sheikah. Not when he was able to move silently thanks to his training around Kakariko. And, not that he would brag about it, but his ability to disguise his appearance was something of a legend in his village. Having stumbled on a spare Yiga outfit (that smelled rather suspiciously of sweat and bananas), he was able to walk through the base without anyone blinking twice. Especially if he had a bunch of Mighty Bananas in his arms at the time. The fruit was rather obnoxious, especially with the clan's ridiculous obsession over them, but he could tolerate it now and again.

The uniform went with him when he and Lyna left the region. What better way to blend into enemy territory than with the outfit for one of their foot soldiers? Of course, Lyna insisted on cleaning the garments, a gesture that he very much appreciated. But now, alone once again in northern Akkala, Zen was wishing very much that he had the uniform on. Instead, he was utilizing his knowledge of the native flora to hide himself in the bushes and trees to avoid detection from the clan members surrounding the ancient tech lab.

Natural camouflage came as easy to him as breathing. But he had to unmask the soldiers to see if they were Del– or find someone cooperative enough to possibly give him information instead of trying to kill him for invading their base. And now that he had successfully determined that not only was the Lurelin native not in Akkala, but nobody there knew his whereabouts, he could return to Lookout Landing empty-handed… once he got past the constructs.

Rain pounded against his skin as he rode back down the mountains. Being so far away from the village he called home was a challenge. But the distance from family and his girlfriend made the hours drag on. Reconnecting with Azzy and Hazel brought the wholeness he had been missing. Losing his father wasn't easy, but the loss was tempered by the presence of his twin. And even though Hazel didn't share his father's blood, she still made every effort to ensure that her older siblings had everything they could need.

Night had fallen when Zen reached the Lanayru Wetlands. There was no feasible way for him to make it to the landing that night. So he made the best of things and created a camp in the mouth of a cave, not deep enough to disturb any monsters. He just needed a bit of protection from the rain so he could cook and get a little rest.

His bow made short work of two rabbits, which he skinned and set to roast over the fire he built. While he sat turning it periodically, he had his sketchbook in hand and was carefully drawing up a building. Creating his plans for the future.

Movement out of his peripheral vision caught his attention. A figure was walking in the rain, making no moves to stay on any paths or slow. Zen's brow furrowed as he tried to make out anything discernable about him. Then he came fully within sight, and the Sheikah's mouth fell open.

"Link. Link! Over here!" He called, waving an arm.

The blond turned, changing his course towards the cave. He sat heavily by the fire and wiped his face with his hand in a vain attempt to dry off before he spoke. "It's Zen, isn't it? Azzy's twin."

He nodded in acknowledgment and dug in his pack to hand Link a small towel and his fire-warmed cloak. He eyed Hyrule's hero with a mixture of curiosity and concern. The blond was thinner than he remembered, with a handful of new scrapes and bruises. His blue Champion's tunic was gone, replaced by an odd tunic of beige and green that covered his left shoulder. He had some version of shorts and laced up sandals that went up his calves.

But most unusual of all was Link's right hand. Zen couldn't help but stare. The entirety of his hand through his forearm, all the way above his elbow, was covered in a green sort of glove that appeared to be secured with hard beige braces. The fingers had a strange, otherworldly translucency, yet the same bands across the fingers, with a large circle on the center of Link's palm.

"What happened to your arm?" Zen asked before he thought better of it. "And where've you been for the last few weeks? Everyone's been worried sick about you."

Link finished rubbing the towel over his loose blonde hair and set it aside before settling next to the fire with a faint groan. "It's going to sound ludicrous, but I've been in the skies… in the floating islands."

Zen's mouth fell open. "Hang on. Tell me everything."

He let out a faint chuckle. "I'll do that over a bit of food, if you're willing to share."

"Absolutely." Zen didn't hesitate. He pulled the rabbits off the fire and tossed a couple of apples on to roast. He handed one of the rabbits to Link then laid out his extra blanket as a makeshift bed for the hero. "You're traveling light, so you're welcome to stay with me for the night."

"Much appreciated. I haven't found anything that works for a pack since I awoke on the sky islands." Link pulled a rusty sword off his hip and laid it beside him. "I've been collecting a little food as I find it and roasting it on the fires the constructs have set."

"Constructs?"

Link ripped off a large piece of the meat and ate it before he launched into his story. "As you may have figured out… a great ancient evil was imprisoned under the castle, sealed by a disembodied glowing hand. Zelda and I stumbled onto it, and wound up awakening it by accident. The hand fell free and the monster returned to life. Ganondorf, the Demon King. He's the one who raised the castle into the sky. His attacks were too strong for me to handle. He destroyed the Master Sword with a goo of some sort that dissolved it. It dissolved my arm too." He gestured to his right arm.

"Holy shit…" Zen laid his dinner on his lap. "That's–"

Link raised his hand, clearly not finished. "The ground beneath us crumbled… Zelda…" He paused, his voice choking up. "Zelda fell, and thanks to some sort of tear-shaped stone, she vanished. I would've fallen too, but the arm caught me. I blacked out, and woke up alone in the islands, naked but for my underwear. And the hand had melded with the stump of my destroyed arm."

Zen's eyes had never been more wide. "If I hadn't lived through the Calamity and heard your tales of that event, I would've never believed what I'm hearing."

"Strange but true. Possibly part of the strangest things I've lived through." Link stared down at his food. "I've spent the last… however long… on the sky islands. I had to get used to this. And… the previous owner of this ancient hand had to teach me some abilities I can use. They're connected to my Purah Pad now."

He couldn't take his eyes off the strange new arm that Link casually used to tear off another piece of meat from the rabbit that served as dinner. "How much pain did you endure during–"

"Mental or physical?" Link barked out a laugh.

"Both, I guess."

"I've broken countless bones, lost more blood than any other Hylian, died and been resurrected thanks to the blessings of the Goddess and Sheikah technology… having my arm devoured by what was essentially malice was painful but no more than the deaths I've died."

Zen was once more unable to speak. He had no idea that Link had endured so much. The blond was seen as a quiet companion to the Princess more often than not. Sure, he'd come out of his shell some thanks to the rebuilding effort, but he was by no means extroverted or open.

"Do you have a lover, Zen?" Link asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"Yes. My girlfriend, Lyna. She's from Lurelin."

"Can you imagine her being terrified, needing your protection, then falling just out of reach? I almost had her. If I had just reached my hand a finger's length further, I could have saved her. She slipped away… and I've been terrified ever since." The blond stared unseeing at the food in his lap. "I have this feeling that she's still alive. An assurance that she's near. But I don't have her. At least with the last Calamity, I knew she was holding Ganon at bay."

"And the Master Sword?" That was the final piece that was notably absent.

"Gone. There was a pedestal, and I can't explain it, but a glowing light appeared above it, and I was compelled to place it in the orb. It vanished, like the Princess." He shrugged. "Now I've gotta find Purah and figure out where to start to look for her again."

"Come back to Lookout Landing. Purah needs to see the upgrades that you were given, and I'm sure everyone's been eager to hear what you've just told me. Ack!" Zen yelped when the apples caught fire. He yanked them away before they could fully collapse into dust and ash. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"Don't be. You're already more than generous in offering me rest from the rain, and a hot meal. You and Azzy share that kindness trait. But I'll get out of your hair."

Zen caught Link's normal arm when the Champion stood. "Not a chance. You're tired. I can see it in your eyes. I've got an extra pallet laid out. It's not much, but it's dry and it'll be warm by the fire tonight. '

Link hesitated then gave a slight nod. "I'll accept. Thank you."

"Don't mention it. You need it, and what kind of person would I be if I didn't help those in need?" Zen pointed to the makeshift beds beside the fire. "Take your pick. I'll have the other. I just need to clear up the rest of the food so we don't have wolves coming after us, and then we can both get some rest."

"I haven't slept well since it happened. Too much fear of enemies waking me to kill me or steal my food. Not to mention missing Zelda." The final sentence was spoken barely above a whisper.

"You love her." It wasn't a question.

"More than anyone else. She's everything. My Princess. My lover. My–" Link choked up and looked away while he dragged his left hand across his face. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize. You got nothing to apologize with me." Zen squeezed his shoulder. "I can't even imagine how painful it is for you. You're showing incredible strength by doing all that you are."

"Thanks." Link blew out his breath. "I'm sure it won't be the last time that I tell that story. It's been rumored, but it's not common knowledge that the Princess and I are more than royalty and her knight, and I prefer to keep it that way."

"I won't say anything," Zen promised.

"Again, thanks." He yawned and stretched. "Have you explored the cave behind us?"

Zen shook his head. "Not very deeply, no. I checked about a hundred paces inside, and didn't find any monsters. I had to hunt to get food, so I called it 'safe enough' for tonight."

The blond Champion gave a slight nod. "Good idea. May the Goddess smile upon you and offer you peaceful rest, Zen." He took the pallet closest to the fire and laid down, staring into the flames.

Zen tucked the last items he needed from cleaning up into his pack, then threw another log onto the fire. With any luck, by the morning, the rain would stop and they would be able to travel the remainder of the way to Lookout Landing without further delays.

The morning brought heavy rain and thunderstorms, but even that did little to dampen the spirits of Zen and Link when they arrived at Lookout Landing shortly before midday. The Champion made a beeline for Purah while Zen found his sisters chatting with Lyna down in the shelter.

"Zenny!" Hazel greeted him first. She went to stand up, but was given a look that told her to stay in her seat. She pouted but put her arms up for a hug when he approached the bench where the three young women sat with their projects in their laps.

"Have you been staying out of trouble?" he teased as he leaned down to give her and Azzy both a kiss on the forehead before turning to his girlfriend.

Lyna turned three shades of red when he claimed a gentle kiss from her lips. "Y-yes. We've been staying out of trouble. Hazel was teaching me how to knit. I'm not very good at it."

"You'll learn," Azzy was quick to assure her. "It took me a bit of time, but once you pick it up, it'll come naturally. Almost as naturally as the sewing you're so good at!"

"Thank you. I try my best."

"Well, I have good news and bad news, ladies." Zen settled between his twin and his girlfriend. "Bad news first?"

"Please. That way we can end on a high note," Azzy requested.

"No sign of Del in Akkala, nor any information that might be used to find him. Sorry, love." Zen squeezed Lyna's knee. "We'll have to keep looking."

"That's okay. We knew it was going to be a longshot," Lyna murmured back. She rested her head on his shoulder and let out a soft sigh. "With each place that we eliminate, we narrow down the possible locations he might be. I'm not losing hope yet."

"That's my girl." He stole another kiss, earning him a faint squeak in surprise and embarrassment. "As for the other… Link has returned. I brought him back here myself."

Gasps went up from the trio of girls. "You found him? Where was he? Is he okay?" The questions overlapped and tumbled as the curiosity built.

"He's mostly alright. His right hand is… well, you'll have to see it. But he can still use it. He was wandering across the Lanayru Wetlands without a horse, and only a rusty sword. I gave him food and a place to sleep, then we came back here together." Zen held up a hand to forestall the onslaught of additional questions. "You can ask him yourself when he's finished talking to Purah."

"Zenny? Can we talk for a few minutes?" Azzy caught his hand while Hazel and Lyna chatted about the return of Hyrule's Champion. "It's been too long."

"Sure. It's storming pretty badly. You wanna stay down here, or–"

"Let's go up and wander around the tower. Purah's been doing more modifications in the last couple days." Azzy tugged him towards the ladder up to the surface.

Zen looked over his shoulder at Lyna who shrugged and shooed him away. He blew her a kiss before allowing his twin to lead him away.

Rain poured over their faces when they pushed the cover over the ladder aside and climbed out of the shelter. Zen chuckled when Azzy kept her face turned to the sky and danced in a small circle. If he closed his eyes, he could faintly remember her doing the same thing when they were very small.

Then thunder rumbled overhead and prompted them to dart to the safety of the wooden walkway under the tower. Zen glared at the sky for a long minute, watching the massive sheets of rain coming down. He sighed and shook his head. "Of course it's not letting up. I was hoping we could walk around a bit and catch up."

"It's okay!" Azzy assured him. "We can sit here and chat like we did under the trees outside Kakariko Village."

"The last time, or when we were kids?" he asked with a faint laugh. He took a seat with his back against one of the wooden storage barrels and peered upwards. "At least this offers more rain protection."

"I don't mind. Remember, Zenny, 'a little water never hurt anyone,'" she quipped with a grin. "Isn't that how the saying goes?"

"Something like that. Remember when we wandered up by the fairy fountain and you wanted to hunt for Koroks? The other kids in the village looked like we had three heads when we came back."

"Wasn't that the time we found that giant mud puddle and you covered us both in muddy water? Then we found the Koroks, and you wanted to show them to Mom?" Azzy giggled and covered her mouth. "You had one on your head, as well as two in your arms. None of the other kids could see them, so they thought we were totally bananas!"

"And you had one you were holding like a teddy bear, and the other perched on your shoulders. What were we, like five? Speaking of bananas! You were singing that song Kass had taught us. The one about the adventures of the ol' one-armed bandit who thought he could steal the bananas but instead ended up on a boat out to sea?" Zen shook his head fondly. "That was one of my favorite childhood songs. Do you remember how it ends?"

"Oh! Was that the one where the fish thought him a banana and spat him ashore with the other bananas to live on an island– one surrounded by bananas?"

"That's the one!"

The twins shared a laugh, with Azzy's chortle lasting longer than Zen's. "Oh, Mom was furious when we got home. And the kids stayed away from us for the rest of the week!"

"Maybe they thought the mud was contagious," he deadpanned. "Those were fun times, though. Maybe I can give Lyna some fun adventures when we head out again. She never had a childhood like ours, even if we were separated."

"Where are you taking her next?" She asked curiously.

"I was thinking across Tabantha. Maybe I can take her to Satori Mountain. But I'm not sure if she'll have the same experiences we did. She can't see the Koroks, after all. But maybe Satori is different."

"That one night up on the mountain was magical." Her eyes closed in remembrance. "I'm still in shock that Mom and Dad didn't wake up."

"We were able to stay quiet. For once." Zen exhaled, losing himself in the memory as well. "All the blupees… and then Satori himself. Do you remember what he said?"

"It wasn't saying as much as feeling in my spirit. At least, I didn't hear any audible words. Did you?" At Zen's head shake, Azzy smiled. She hugged her knees against her chest and swayed softly while she watched the rain. The words came out as a hum, nearly musical in nature. "When the ground shakes, and the monsters awake, take heart my sweet child, and aid the Hero of the Wild."

Zen was quiet for a moment before he finally admitted, "I think about that night a lot. About what Satori said. Especially when the Calamity happened. I thought for sure that something was going to happen that would give me a chance to make a difference. But nothing came of it. I thought it was just a fever dream, not the prophecy we used to think it was."

"I helped Link a little when I crossed paths with him. I healed him after he fought a Lynel and was in bad shape. But I didn't know if that's what Satori meant. If it was, then that's fine, I guess. But I've had this restlessness. This feeling in my soul since this whole, Upheaval, started. Something's going to happen. Things are changing. And it kinda scares me, Zenny." Azzy turned to face him, and took his hand like they'd done as children. "I don't want anything to happen to the people I love, and I'm scared that something will."

Zen scooted over and put his arm around her shoulder, tugging her to rest her head on his chest. "Remember who we worship. Hylia won't let anything too bad happen to us… will she? She's a benevolent goddess to us, one who's offered us her blessings. How else would we be able to see the Koroks? Or Satori?"

"And the dwagons," Azzy reminded him with a smile. "There's been a new one recently. Have you seen her? She flies higher than the other three."

"I don't think I've seen her yet," he admitted. "I've been focused on the ground since we're looking for Del. But I'll keep an eye out for her."

"She's pretty. She's smaller than the others, and very pale, more than Farosh. I can't see more than that unless she gets lower, but she hasn't yet." She pouted, huffing while she settled against his chest.

He lovingly patted the top of his sister's head. "Maybe she will soon. You never know."

"I know. But the other dwagons are so pretty. I wanna see her closer too!"

Zen opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by a voice calling through the rain. "Zen! Azzy!"

Purah stood with her hands on her hips, nonplussed by the rain streaming over her hair and face. Beside her, Link was standing, dressed in the same outfit Zen had met him in the day before. He too paid little attention to the weather, keeping his face decidedly neutral.

The scientist gestured for the twins to come closer before leading them down to the Emergency Shelter. Once inside she relaxed and squeezed the water out of her hair. "Now then. Link has decided he needs to go to the Korok Forest for the Master Sword before he can begin searching for the Princess. I'm told that not only can both of you see the little Koroks, but Azzy has healing abilities, right?"

"Yes," she nodded in confirmation. "I've helped heal Link before. I wouldn't–"

"Now hold it right there." A possessive growl came from the table behind them. "Tell me you're not seriously considering sending her alone with Link into the forest where people always get lost. Why can't he just go by himself?"

"Because the Upheaval has brought a new onslaught of monsters, and until Link has the Master Sword, there's no telling if he's going to need backup. Especially with his arm being the way it is," Purah explained. "It's for his safety as much as anything."

"And rest assured, I would do my very best to guard and protect her."

"Like you did with the Princess?" The words were spoken low, but all present heard them nonetheless.

Zen bristled and took a step towards his sister's lover. "Cami, that's fucking low even for you and you know it. You don't know what he went through. Who are you to judge what he can or cannot do?"

"Give me one good reason why I should trust her safety to him right now when you've all but admitted that he's not at his top strength? With all the monsters you just admitted are out there, we have no fucking way of knowing if he'll be able to do any better with her than he did with the Princess. So, no. I'm not going to let her go."

"Cam! That's not your–" Azzy began, her voice full of hurt.

But Zen cut her off. "Then fine. I will go with him. I don't have much healing, but I've got the ability to disguise myself and others, as well as my combat skills with a bow, and some with my Eightfold Longblade. Between the two of us, I'm sure we can manage to get into the forest, retrieve the sword, and then escape unscathed."

"But Zen…" Azzy took one look at his face, then over at Cami's. She sighed heavily, her shoulders drooping in defeat. "If you're sure."

"He's sure," Cami cut in. "You'll be better off here, at the beck and call of the guys clearing debris from under the castle. If they need a healer, you're the best around. And besides, you'll need to be on hand when your sister has her baby. Who knows when that time will come."

"I love you, Azzy, but sometimes your boyfriend can be a real dick," Zen murmured in her ear.

"How long will you be gone?" A soft voice accompanied a gentle touch on Zen's shoulder. "Will it be very long before we can keep looking for Del?"

"I hope not, pearl. I made a promise to you that we would keep looking. And I won't break it." He turned and took his shy girlfriend in his arms, hugging her against his chest.

"You won't be leaving til the morning so you'll have time to gather your supplies and give Link a chance to recover," Purah informed them. "Take torches and extra food in case you get lost."

Link's lips curled in a wry grin. "You mean when we get lost. Unless it's changed since the last time I ventured in, it's easier to get lost than find your way."

"Then I'll plan on it when I'm packing. Meet here in the morning?"

"At dawn," Link agreed.

"Rest well, then. Unless anyone else needs something–" Zen scowled at Cami who dished the look right back. Then he turned a more gentle look at his twin sister and pried himself from Lyna's arms so he could step towards Azzy for a hug.

"Go spend time with your girlfriend." Azzy briefly embraced before she shooed him away. "We don't have space at the cabin, but Leysra might have extra space for you guys to stay dry AND have more privacy than the shelter will offer you. You can find him at the stables."

"Thank you, Azzy. Might see you at dinner. Otherwise, I'll see you in the morning before I leave." Zen pressed a kiss on her forehead.

"Alright, go along now. No need to worry about me." She scolded while Cami pulled her against his chest.

Zen chuckled and waved at the group before taking Lyna's hand and helping her up the ladder. Their traveling pack was shouldered but didn't slow him on their ascent.

The rain had slowed but hadn't fully stopped when the couple emerged on the surface. Zen swallowed a sigh. Storms made creating a camp more challenging when he was on his own, but doubly so with his girlfriend. Lyna was still learning to adapt to life on the road after being sheltered for so long. He wasn't one to criticize but her parents hadn't done her any favors by keeping her entirely away from the world due to her skin condition.

"Are you okay? You're very quiet, more than usual," Lyna murmured.

His gaze shifted from the path to the stables to his girlfriend. She wasn't that much shorter than he was, but her hood gave her the appearance of being taller than she was. The albinism she was born with kept her complexion even more pale than the Sheikah, and gave her the pale lavender eyes that he had loved since the moment he had first seen her.

"Just thinking about the storms and making camp," he admitted. He shrugged it off though. "Nothing special."

"You know I don't mind where we are, long as I'm with you." Lyna slipped her arm through his elbow and pressed her head against his arm. "It's not so bad camping in the rain."

"Camping in the rain? Sounds a little wet." Leysra quipped, meeting them outside the stables. The redhead himself was soaked to the skin. His pale blue shirt clung to his body and water dripped down his forehead and into his eyes from his wet hair. He carried a bridle that looked equally wet, and he held it up to show them. "I don't recommend being out here longer than necessary. Two hours to bring the horses where they needed to go was plenty."

"Oh no! Are you alright?" Lyna asked. Her hand covered her mouth in concern, but her rosy cheeks still shone through at the sight of his toned body.

Zen bit back a chuckle at her blatant staring. She still wasn't used to seeing very many men, let alone muscular, objectively attractive ones like Leysra. "He's fine. He just needs to dry off, pearl. Which is why we were sent to find you. Azzy said you might know of somewhere we can stay tonight that's not camping, and will keep us dry."

"Well, I've got new hay up in the loft. Nothing fancy, but it's clean and dry. Lay out your beds there and call it good. I've spent many a night in a hayloft myself. Long as you don't mind the horsey smell from below, it's not bad."

Zen looked at Lyna who bit her lip before nodding. "It's been years since I've done that, and never with a companion. It would be another new adventure," she declared with more enthusiasm than her soft voice often carried.

"That's my good girl," he murmured in her ear. He relished the faint shudder she gave against him. "You'll have to remind me when that was."

"Just before we met," Lyna said without elaborating. She followed behind up the ladder to the hayloft.

Zen breathed a sigh of relief when he could lay their pack down and sprawl out in the clean hay. The warmth of the heat rising in the barn combined with the raindrops on the roof were a calming combination, immediately bringing relaxation to him.

"Zen? Do you remember the day we first met?" Lyna asked while she took off her hood, then her sandals.

"How could I forget? Prettiest girl I've ever met, alone on the path into my village with hardly a weapon or possession to her name." He rolled on his side and leaned on his elbow, watching her every move.

"The night before I came to Kakariko, I spent the night in a stable because I was too young to rent a room at an inn. I wasn't fifteen yet. That happened a week after I got to the village. You and Paya helped me celebrate." A smile graced her face while she folded the unneeded layers and set them aside. "That was still one of my best birthdays ever."

"We didn't even do that much," he protested. "How is that one of your favorites?"

"It was my first one with you."

He was rendered speechless by the simplicity of the reasoning, and yet, knowing what he did about his girlfriend, he knew her to be sincere. "Even though I didn't have anything to offer you besides–"

"You offered yourself, and a night I will never forget. I got to make a dress like I'd never had before. A picnic under stars, and dancing in the moonlight. And making love… celebrating my coming of age until both of us were spent." Lyna took off her outer dress and peeled off her leggings, leaving her in nothing but a lightweight sleeveless shift that went down to her knees and did little to hide the chest binding she wore.

"I remember that. You were scared that we were going to be caught because of the sound of our cries echoing off the canyon walls. But I knew we wouldn't. Not from anything like that." Zen's breath hitched when she took even that off, leaving her in nothing but her panties and chest binding. Her alabaster skin was stunning, even in the low light of the loft.

"I never wanted to be parted from you, even then. It's been hard to have you leave for a couple days at a time." She worked her binding free, allowing her breasts to fall free. "You're leaving again in the morning."

"I have to," he groaned. His cock strained at his pants, aching and desperate for her. "But as soon as I get back, we'll continue our search for Del."

"I trust you," she murmured in his ear. Her shyness was gone when they were left to themselves, and that showed when she pulled his shirt off over his head and discarded it before freeing his cock from his pants.

"L-lyna," he moaned when her mouth wrapped around his erection. It didn't matter how long they'd been together, or how many times she had lovingly performed the same act. He would never grow tired of feeling her warm lips embracing the head of his cock. The soft tongue swirling around the tip before lapping down to his swollen balls.

She hummed in the back of her throat and eased his pants off his hips so she could cup his balls in her palm. Zen let her and gently thrust into her mouth. This was an intimate dance both of them knew well. Years had developed habits and patterns, for life as a whole and their relationship. And he wouldn't change a thing.

Lyna pulled away and slowly slipped out of her panties so she could move to straddle him. "Shhhh."

He pulled her head down so he could kiss her, lingering with his tongue just brushing the tip of hers when she sank down over him. Her heat welcomed him back in, and he moaned her name again while she began to ride him.

The sounds she made were for his ears alone, and Zen relished that knowledge. Nobody else had ever claimed her. He was the first and only person who experienced what it meant to make love to her. Knew every nuance of what would help her body sing with pleasure. To reduce her to a quivering, pleading mess that would fall apart at the most subtle, romantic caress. And he was the master of it all. Not that he would bring it up to brag, of course.

"Z-Zen. Please. I need you to fuck me." Her voice pulled him back out of his thoughts. "If you're going to leave again for a while, I want to ache as a reminder of how much you love me."

"Anything for you." He rolled them over, pinning her against the hay and wooden loft. "I promise you, Lyna, someday soon, I'll make good on all the ways I want to take care of you and… and show my endless love."

She cocked her head in confusion, but the expression quickly vanished when his pace increased. She moaned and cupped her own breasts, pressing them together and up against his chest. The softness drove him crazy, and had him burying his face into them while his hips drove hard against her. His cock stretched her, while her warmth welcomed him in. Welcomed him home. Home was now wherever she was. Lyna was every bit a part of his world as his sisters.

"Please, Zen! Oh, don't stop!" she begged. Her arms wrapped around his neck, keeping him flush against her body. "Harder!"

Zen complied, sliding a hand down her hip and hooking her left leg around his waist. Her breathy moans were music to his ears. The way her breasts bounced the deeper he thrust within her. And the desperate, needy cries coupled with the tightness of her body around him when she reached her pleasure.

He sighed in contentment when his seed spilled over within her, and her body rested limply against their makeshift bed. The rosy cheeks bright against her pale skin and the content smile were all the thanks and reassurance he needed. Zen was back where he belonged, and taking care of the people around him who mattered most. His girlfriend. His twin. His baby sister. And tomorrow… the Hero of Hyrule… The Hero of the Wild. Maybe, just maybe, this would be the fulfillment of the prophecy Satori had given all those years ago.