A gentle breeze blew through the fields of Hyrule Ridge, causing Link's sandy bangs to flutter before his eyes. Pushing them out of his view with his fingers, he looked up at the evening sky above him, trusting that his dark-coated stallion would follow the path.
"It's getting dark," he said, lowering his gaze from the golden clouds. He looked over to his horse's side, where a much lighter-colored horse was clopping beside them, carrying its own rider. "We'll have to set up camp soon."
"Hm, it is getting a bit late, isn't it?" Princess Zelda mused, looking up at the sky herself. "I hadn't even realized..."
This wasn't surprising for the knight to hear. The princess had been out of it ever since they left the castle a few days prior. Even for Link, it was a tough memory to recall—the day her father had arrived on the bridge to her study. While the king's tone was fairly calm, the gravity of his words were crushing to just listen to. He couldn't imagine taking in such a scolding if those same words had been meant for him the way they had been for the princess.
He gazed at Princess Zelda a moment longer, watching as her long golden hair gently swayed in the light breeze, then spoke again.
"It's a wonder you lost track of time," he said. "You're usually pretty stiff while riding, even after our lessons on horse care. It keeps you attentive; maybe a little too much."
At this, the princess giggled.
"It did, and admittedly, it still is a little nerve-racking; however, your lessons in horse care truly helped," she replied before reaching forward to stroke her stallion's white coat. "'Be sure to take the time to soothe your mount... That's the only way it will know how you truly feel.'"
"You remembered what I said?" Link asked, somewhat surprised.
"Did you think I wouldn't?" Princess Zelda asked curiously. "You offered those lessons in order for me to learn. I wouldn't let them go in one ear and out the other; that would have made it all a waste of time."
"Yes, but...to remember my words verbatim," Link said.
"Do you find that strange?" the princess asked. Her tone took on a slight edge, a change only her knight would notice. Link shook his head.
"Not at all. I'm glad I was able to explain things so well," he answered, a small smile appearing on his usually expressionless features.
"You did, and your advice was quite helpful," Princess Zelda said, the slight change in her tone reverting back. She looked back down at her steed. "I thank you. This little one and I are getting along quite well now."
"'Little one,'" Link mimicked with a chuckle as Princess Zelda continued.
"At first, I wasn't sure if I should outfit him with all of the royal gear," she said, gesturing toward the purple-and-gold jewelry and leather around the horse's neck. "I thought maybe he should have to earn it first, but I decided against it."
"Why the change?" Link asked curiously.
"Well... He's been by my side for some time, dealing with my lack of knowledge and mediocre care for him," she said, gently rubbing the stallion's neck. "Why make him work even harder for something when I was the one who...simply didn't understand."
Her smile faltered, her eyes glazing over for a moment. Link resumed his stoic expression, knowing full well her thoughts had returned to the scene on her study's bridge a few days ago. Blinking, the light in her eyes returned, along with her smile, though it was much less cheerful than before.
"He wears it well," she said, "like a true natural."
"I'm sure he appreciates it," Link said, his tiny smile returning as well. "You can tell by how calm he is. You chose well."
"I'm trying to be a bit more empathetic; benefit of the doubt, you know?" Princess Zelda said, a slightly jocular tone in her words. "In case you haven't noticed."
"I think I picked up on it," Link chuckled. He looked at the path ahead. "So, what is it you wish to do? Should we set up camp now that the sun is setting? We can always visit tomorrow; start our day sightseeing before heading to Lanayru."
The princess hesitated, looking up at the sky again before looking back at the path leading toward their destination.
"No," she answered. "I...I want to go tonight. I know it's getting more dangerous out in the wild—especially with the increase in monsters—but, if I do it tomorrow, I won't be able to take it in."
Sheepishly, she glanced back at her knight.
"Is that...alright?" she asked.
With a hum, Link surveyed the sky before glancing at the purple-winged sword on his back.
"You know, I think I can handle a few monsters if any should appear," he said, returning her gaze with a gentle look, "and I didn't see too many on the way here. I don't see any reason we can't go visit now."
The princess's mood lifted, something Link couldn't help but smile at. The horses continued along the path, climbing higher up the hills until eventually, they came upon an impressive bronze monument depicting a horse rearing up on its hind legs, situated in the center of finely-sanded wooden walkways and ramps, surrounded by intricately-designed stone walls and stairs, metal rails to maintain safety, and a separate, small fountain at the rear, gently burbling its endless cascade of crystal-clear water.
With a gentle tug on the reins, Link brought his horse to a stop in front of the ramp, mimicked by Princess Zelda, who visibly struggled to halt her steed, then smiled when it complied. Dismounting first, he stepped over to the princess and helped her down as well. After comforting and rewarding the horses with a snack, they turned toward the monument.
"I haven't asked yet, but...is there a reason you wished to come this far out?" Link asked as they began walking up the ramps. "Not to state the obvious, but this is fairly out of the way of Mt. Lanayru."
"I wish I could give you a proper reason worthy of such a detour," the princess began, "but truthfully, it was simply for the very reason you just stated; it's in the opposite direction of our destination. I chose to venture away from it, even for just a day. I hope you can forgive me."
"There's nothing to forgive," Link said, and he meant those words. For just a few hours, she wanted to feel as though she were far away from the weight of the responsibilities forced upon her, even if it were just pretend. "It's been a while since we've been here."
"We don't get to pass through this area very often, do we?" Princess Zelda asked. "It's quite removed from our usual travels. But it's such a beautiful place."
"It is. I like the horse statue," Link said with a grin. The princess giggled.
"Of course you do. Would you like it more if it were a piece of meat instead?" she teased.
"Hey," Link threatened. "Don't make me choose between the two. That's not nice."
The princess giggled even harder.
Eventually, they reached the top of the ramp, where they marveled at the monument's beauty up close. Taking in a deep breath of fresh air, Link stepped over to the fountain and dipped his hands into the water. With a splash, he rubbed his wet palms against his face, rinsing off any dirt and ridding him of any potential exhaustion. Lowering his hands and shaking his bangs, he took another deep breath before turning back to the rest of the monument.
"Alright, Zelda, what is it you want to do now—?" he started to ask, yet the princess was no longer there.
He looked around, trying to locate his lost royal, his search taking him up the next ramp toward the horse statue. There, he found Zelda standing on the other end, beyond the statue and near the railing, gazing into the distance. She was outlined by the light of the setting sun, her back cast in shadow, a melancholy air surrounding her. Link frowned as he stepped forward. He could tell she was staring at Mt. Lanayru. Hearing his footsteps, the princess's pointed ears twitched, yet she didn't look back at him.
"Do you know who Mt. Lanaryu is named after?" she asked as Link drew closer. When she heard Link come to a stop behind her, she answered. "The Goddess of Wisdom. Lanayru's decree is very specific: 'No one is allowed, under the age of seventeen...for only the wise are permitted a place upon my mountain.'
"The springs were created to represent balance in the world, the orders of law which created it, but some have given them other meanings. In the library, books have told us these three attributes represent the cycle—our cycle. Power represents the Calamity Ganon, courage represents the hero destined to wield the Master Sword, and wisdom...represents the princess with the goddess's blood."
Crestfallen, she looked down at her hands, where she gripped the metal railing in front of her.
"I've prayed at both the Spring of Courage and Power, yet neither awoke anything inside me. But, maybe up there... Perhaps the Spring of Wisdom, the final of the three, will be the one," she continued. "To be honest, I have no real reason to think that will be the case other than those old legends, but...there's always the chance that the next moment will change everything."
With a frown, she pushed herself off the railing, turning to look at Link. At the sight of her diffident expression, his features slightly fell as well.
"Tomorrow is my seventeenth birthday," she said. "So I shall go, and make my way up the mountain."
Though she phrased her words as a statement, the look in her eyes revealed it to be more of a question. He racked his brain for a suitable response, but one that would raise her spirits evaded him. Saying she'd succeed without a doubt would feel disingenuous and shallow, yet giving a logical answer would certainly sting. After a moment, he finally spoke.
"Yeah...you'll have to go up that mountain tomorrow," Link answered, taking a step forward, "and you may or may not unlock your powers. We'll only find out by going, but no matter if they appear or not, we'll stand by your side."
He held his hand out to her.
"I'll stand by your side," he continued, "and we'll figure something out together. Just as we always have."
The princess looked down at his hand before meeting his eyes once more. With a rueful smile, she placed her hand into his, only to be suddenly yanked forward. Her body had been pressed against his, held in place by his arms.
"I promise," he added quietly in her ear.
Though still somewhat shocked by his actions, Princess Zelda returned the embrace, wrapping her arms around him, her fingers gripping the back of his bright blue tunic as she pushed her face into his neck. The two stood quietly, holding each other as the breeze caressed their entwined bodies. As he held her, Link looked toward the mountain in the distance. While he didn't want to get his hopes up, he wished for nothing more than for her power to finally appear. Not because of her father's words, or the kingdom's safety, or even his own.
He just wanted Zelda to finally be free from this burden.
"Come on. We should get camp set up," Link said, lightly tapping her shoulder. "It really is starting to get dark now. Stalkoblins could appear at any moment when we're this far out."
After taking a few more moments to cling to him, the princess finally nodded. She took a step back, trailing her arms along his body until they rested on his forearms. Link looked down, only to find he, too, still had a grip on her. Neither wanted to let go. It was a strange feeling.
They both felt it. The idea of going to the spring tomorrow felt heavy. Was it because it was the final spring? Maybe it was her father's words, or possibly due to the increase of monsters, or it might have simply been their repressed feelings beginning to burst forth due to the pressure around them. Whatever it was, one fear was shared between them: that something would change depending on the outcome of the next day's venture.
Each could see it in the other's eyes.
"Tomorrow will be fine," Link said finally. He couldn't tell whether he was speaking to just the princess, or to both her and himself. "We...should do something for your birthday."
"You want to do something for my birthday?" the princess asked, surprised at the sudden suggestion. "Link, I... I appreciate the thought, but I don't think now is the—"
"Now is the perfect time," Link said. Making an even bolder decision than his earlier hug, he raised a hand and placed it on her cheek. "Besides, we're meeting the other champions at the base of the mountain tomorrow, right? We can all do something together, forget whatever is coming for a night."
"Link..." Princess Zelda murmured, allowing her cheek to rest in his palm.
"I want to do something for your birthday," the knight urged. "I want to do something for you."
"Are you going to break me out of the castle like you did during the holidays?" Zelda asked, giggling at the memory.
"I can't break you out of the castle if we aren't there," Link chuckled. "We can stop by Goponga Village, or Kakariko, or maybe we can even take a trip to Hateno. You can meet my family."
"Your...family? You mean your sister and father?" the princess asked.
"Yeah. Aryll would kill a bokoblin herself if it meant meeting the princess of Hyrule," Link said, "and there's an inn up there that makes some pretty decent drinks, even for a place so far in the outskirts."
With a gentle smile, Zelda brought her hands up to the one on her cheek.
"Let's see how tomorrow goes," she said. "Depending on what happens...yes. I'd love to."
"Tomorrow it is then," Link said. "Tomorrow...we'll celebrate your birthday."
The soles of Link's boots sank slightly into the sand, the shifting of the grains barely audible in his pointed ears as he stepped onto the beaches of Lurelin Village. He looked around the town, seeing the group of people waving and cheering at him. Confused, he rubbed his eyes, trying to clear them of any lingering exhaustion from getting up so early to ride, yet the sight remained the same. Excitedly, the spirited fledgling dashed from out of the crowd, flapping his little wings toward Link while kicking sand up from beneath his talons.
"Hey, Tulin!" his father called out. "I believe you should let the princess say hello first!Son!"
Unfortunately for Teba, it was far too late. The fledgling skidded to a stop in front of Link, spreading his wings out in greeting.
"Link! You made it!" he said excitedly. "I knew you'd be here soon! We saw you while flying here ourselves!"
"You flew over me? I didn't even notice..." Link said, still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that Tulin was standing in front of him.
"You probably couldn't see us through the dense Faron trees," Teba said as he and a few others came forward. Though he gave Link a grin, he firmly placed a wing on his son's large head, an admonishment for running ahead. "It's good to see you again, Link, even if it's only been a few days for us. I apologize for my son's impatience."
"It's good to see you too, Teba...and everyone else," Link said, looking around to see the Zora Prince, the young Goron, the Gerudo chief, and a few Lurelin fishermen.
"Are you surprised to see us, old friend?" Sidon asked with a sparkling smile.
"You could say that. I know Zelda wanted to start reconstruction so I figured some of you would be here," Link said, placing his hand on Tulin's head the moment the father removed his wing. "It's not surprising to see Kass, truthfully, or even you, Sidon; but...Yunobo? I don't think I've ever seen you leave the mountain before."
"Yeah! The princess invited me to come along! I'm representing the boss!" Yunobo said proudly. "It's all so new to me! I was a little nervous at first, but she really made me feel at home,goro!"
"Gotcha. I'm glad to see you here," Link said, before looking down at Riju. "You too. You must've known I'd see you shortly after I left a few days ago, huh?"
"I sure did. I played it off well, wouldn't you agree?" Riju asked proudly.
"Not really, looking back. You did say I might see you sooner than expected. I just didn't think you actually had a reason to back it up," Link said. "I'm surprised to see Buliara let you come all the way out here on your own though, unless I just don't see her in the crowd."
"I'm here alone. Does it really surprise you that much?" Riju asked, a slight haughtiness creeping into her tone as she placed her hands on her hips. "I may be young, but Iwasthe one who helped you bring down Naboris. I can handle a simple trip alone for a few days—hey!"
Before she could get too far into her own praise, Link had placed a hand on top of her head just as he had done to Tulin.
"You're gonna ruin my braid!" Riju exclaimed indignantly."Excuse me, I am still the chief of the Gerudo!"
"I think you said that last time and it didn't mean squat," Link chuckled.
"Hey! Don't you all think you're forgetting something?"a familiar voice suddenly called from behind the crowd. "Or maybesomeone?You know...like a certain lover of his?"
"I do believe we are blocking the way," Kass chuckled. "Shall we all take a few steps back?"
"I agree," Sidon nodded. "Why don't we let our friends finally have the reunion they deserve?"
Murmuring in agreement, those in the crowd began to move aside, led by the representatives of each race. Soon, Yunobo, the Zoras, Riju, and the Rito had all moved aside, quickly followed by the Hylian villagers of Lurelin. Once everyone had shifted, a path had been cleared to reveal Celessa, a woman he recognized as Traysi of the Rumor Mill, and to Link's surprise, Paya. Celessa was grinning and waving, Traysi looked taken aback, immediately recognizing him as well, and as usual, Paya looked as squirmy and nervous as ever. Refraining from asking questions, Traysi stepped aside, taking Paya's arm and guiding her away as well, while Celessa stepped to the opposite side, finally revealing the person who stood behind them.
There stood Zelda, her short bobbed hair luminous in the golden hour just before sunset, dressed in her old, form-fitting traveling gear. Even from a little distance away, he could see her clothes were slightly dirtier than before; and her hair, while still maintained, wasn't as perfect as she usually tried to keep it. He didn't view these as flaws, merely as signs that she had been working hard, right up until his arrival. What stood out to him most were her large emerald eyes, practically sparkling with suppressed emotion the moment they met his own.
Slowly, he stepped through the crowd, the shifting of the sand the only audible sound among the silent spectators, and stopped just before his nose touched hers. Zelda appeared nonplussed, as if she was trying to determine if it really was Link finally standing before her. Raising a hand, he placed it against her cheek and gently smiled.
"Hey there, Zel," he said quietly, just loud enough for her to hear. "I'm back."
"Link..." Zelda replied quietly, hardly daring to believe he was really there.
Finally, she brought her hand up and placed it on top of his, closing her eyes as she stepped forward. The tips of their noses brushed passed each other as their lips met. The crowd seemed to vanish, leaving just the two of them together at this moment in time. Nothing else existed but their touch—the palm of Link's hand upon her cheek, Zelda's hand covering his, and the gentle, yet firm pressing of their lips together. Eventually, and reluctantly, they pulled apart.
"Welcome back," said Zelda, her voice slightly husky. "I've missed you...so very much."
"And I've missed you. It looks like we have some catching up to do. I'm assuming this isn't all just for restoration meetings," he said, looking around at the crowd. "Is it?"
"It's not," Zelda said, shaking her head. "In fact, admittedly, reconstruction is only a secondary goal for being here in Lurelin. I... I told you before we parted ways in Hateno that I want to do something that would truly help you. So... I invited as many of our friends as I could here to Lurelin, one of the most peaceful places in Hyrule."
"What about reconstruction, though?" Link asked, distress evident in his expression. "That's a big deal, I don't want to get in the way of that when everyone is here—"
"Come on, Link, don't you think just us all being here together helps in that regard?" Teba spoke up.
"Yeah, he's right,goro!"Yunobo agreed. "We all need to get acquainted, don't we? What better way to do that than to have a festival together!"
"The princess organized this so we could celebrate the life of the champions," Sidon said. "Similar to the Champion's Festival we host in the Domain. It's clear you've been dealing with their loss after the trials you undertook with monks last season—"
"—and we're hoping this will help," Riju finished. "What better way to start reconstruction of Hyrule than bonding over the losses we all suffered one hundred years ago and moving forward to a new tomorrow together as one?"
"We learned a lot about what you did during your adventure to save Zelda," Celessa added. "You helped not only Zelda, but everyone. You saved me from a horde of bokoblins once."
"A-and you protected my village from the Yiga!" Paya declared. "You stayed with me throughout the day I was so afraid, and you even managed to find and use my family's heirloom."
"If I remember correctly, you saved me from a Molduking back in the desert a few months ago," said Traysi with her arms folded, "and walked away before I could interview you, by the way. I thought I had heard your name before..."
"Dear friend, you listened to all of my songs," Kass said happily.
"You stopped the Yiga not once, but several times when they were a threat," the Gerudo chief said.
"You helped me with my flight!" Tulin cheered.
"You helped me find my courage!" Yunobo said. "I want to get stronger thanks to you,goro!"
Soon, even villagers and other travelers were chiming in with their own anecdotes of how Link, the Hylian Champion, had saved them in one way or another. Whether it was helping with the Lurelin villagers' fishing escapades, saving travelers from monsters, or simply being kind to them, Link had always been there.
"And of course, let us not forget," Sidon said at the end of the cheer, "you saved all of our villages from the Divine Beasts, and defeated the Calamity Ganon. You brought peace of mind to our fallen family members and heroes, and brought the princess home, who has also done so very much for us these past few months."
"H-hey, this is supposed to be about Link—" Zelda objected, yet Celessa stopped her.
"You wanted this to be a festival for Link, but the plans haveslightlychanged. Sorry, Princess," Celessa said cheekily, moving to stand behind the princess to place her hands on her shoulders. "We're celebratingbothof you."
"What? But this wasn't supposed to be about me—" Zelda disputed, but she was once again interrupted, this time by the elder of Lurelin.
"You've done much for us yourself, Princess Zelda," he said kindly, stepping forward from the crowd. "Prosperity has been brought to Lurelin, more than ever before. You're the one who managed to bring the races together here in one place; a challenge not easy to accomplish."
"And, let's not forget the fact that you kept the Calamity sealed for over a hundred years," Celessa said. "That's pretty significant."
"Everyone..." Zelda said with a frown, though it vanished the moment she felt the familiar touch of Link's hands on her waist. She turned to see the smile on his face had returned.
"Looks like you were caught in the same trap I was," he said gently. "Why don't we both accept it and enjoy ourselves?"
"Hm... I feel a little outvoted here," Zelda mumbled, looking around the crowd again. Finally, she sighed, followed by a giggle. "It looks like I don't have much of a say in the matter, do I?"
"Then, shall we get this festival going?" Celessa asked loudly, receiving a cheer from the crowd around them. "Then... Uh... What should we start with?"
"Well, it's getting pretty late already," Elder Rozel remarked. "Dinnertime is upon us, and we have many barrels of fish in need of preparation."
"Then I'll help cook," Link said, beginning to roll up his sleeves. "It's been some time since I've cooked some fish from Lurelin."
"What? But this festival is supposed to be for you!" said the fisherman who Link recognized as Armes. "Shouldn't we be the ones cooking for you?"
"Maybe if I didn't enjoy it, but cooking is fun for me," Link said, casually holding Zelda close to him again as he spoke. Zelda blushed. "I'd have a really good time cooking with all of you."
"Well, I mean, if he wants to cook, I don't have any arguments," she remarked, still pressed against his chest. "I've actually really missed your cooking..."
"Knowing Link, you all may learn a thing or two," Teba said. "Shall we begin, then? I am quite hungry after my flight here."
"I don't see why not! Shall our festival of fun begin?" Sidon asked happily.
With a grin, Link looked down at the woman still pressed against him.
"Yeah," he said. "Let's get things started."
...
Seagulls voiced their plaintive cries from above as they soared through the darkening sky above Lurelin Village, intrigued by the delectable scent of cooking fish in the air. The source of the aroma was coming from one of the village's cooking pots, which had been filled with choice cuts of the fish the villagers had caught during the past week and various other ingredients.
"Now, the trick is to make sure there isn't too much fat at the bottom of the pot," Link explained, watching as the filet seared. "We don't want the fish flavor to be too overpowering, otherwise your tongue will miss the otherfiner,more subtle flavors in the dish."
The crowd around him—some seated on benches while others simply stood nearby—watched the chef at work, curious to see what was so special about the dish he was currently making. Even all the Zora, Riju, the Rito father and son, and Yunobo were in the crowd watching the event.
"Control the fat, and make sure the fish is cooked evenly," Link continued, pushing and flipping the filet with his double-pointed cooking fork. "Then, if you want add a little spice to the meal, you add in just a little bit of spicy peppers—"
"Spicy peppers?" Numar objected, watching as Link dropped a small handful of diced red peppers into the pot. "I dunno, Link. I know you're a pretty great chef, but don't you think you're getting a little experimental?"
"That's why Iama good chef. I learned from the princess that experimentation can lead to great results." Link said with a confident grin. "Not every attempt goes according to plan, but that's how one learns. This one did come out well, though. I got these peppers from the Tabantha region a few days ago. It'll be new for you since they don't grow anywhere near this village. Here, hand me your plate—"
Spearing one of the well-cooked fish filets with his fork, he took the plate Numar had reluctantly handed over and placed it on its surface.
"Give it a try; see what you think," Link said, handing the plate back.
Hesitantly, Numar eyed the cooked fish surrounded by the tiny pepper cubes. Realizing all eyes were on him, he took a bite. His eyes widened, sparkling with joy before scrunching his face up as the spice hit.
"Well? How is it?" Armes asked, watching his fishing partner struggle for a moment.
"Yeah! Is it good? Is it good?" chorused the few children who had been watching.
The rest of the crowd murmured, watching as Numar took a few breaths, trying to adjust to the heat in his mouth. Finally, he spoke.
"It's amazing..." he said, still collecting himself. "It's spicy, but sweet and tender at the same time. It's unusual...but incredible all at once."
"I told you," Link chuckled. Suddenly, the crowd of Lurelin villagers roared, all eager to try some of the spicy meal. "Hey,hey,everyone will get a plate. Make sure the kids try out small portions first to make sure they can handle it. Those who don't like it, I'll make regular fish after."
"Heh, Link sure does know how to impress people with his cooking talents," Teba said, crossing his wings and grinning. "I didn't know spicy peppers were a luxury in these parts of Hyrule."
"Not where I'm from," Riju chimed in, standing next to the Rito fledgling who seemed entranced by Link's cooking. "They're a common plant in the Gerudo Desert."
"It sounds like they aren't as common inhumidclimates," Laflat, the Zora Royal Secretary said, scribbling on her clipboard as she took notes on what Link was explaining about his cooking process. "It's honestly fascinating to see what one can do with so many conflicting flavors... I'm sure King Dorephan would love to try some of these dishes."
"Oh, can you add spice to crab meat?" one of the women asked Link over the excited murmur of the crowd.
"I can, if we have crab available," Link said, looking up from the cooking pot to see the lady in question lifting up a basket of crabs. While making someone another plate, he said, "Perfect, set them down over here. Any other requests?"
"Is that the spiciest you can make it?" someone who'd already had a plate asked.
"I can't make the fish any spicier without ruining the dish, but Icanmake a stir fry out of the crab that's way spicier," Link said as he continued to make and pass out plates. "That uses something called Goron Spice though, and it's not for the weak, so you'd better be ready."
"Oh, I think the princess picked up some spice when she was back in Goron Town!" Yunobo spoke up.
"It sounds like I'll be able to make that later," Link continued upon hearing Yunobo's words. "But, you'll have to wait until Zelda gets the Sheikah Slate back. I think Celessa took it to make a quick trip somewhere.Okay,does anyone else want more fish before I cook this crab?"
After the crowd responded in unison, Link continued to explain his cooking processes as he cooled and cleaned the pot before preparing and filling it with crab meat. As the festival dinner was being cooked and passed around, Zelda sat on a bench a distance away, watching the fun unfold with a gentle smile on her face.
"You're not hungry?" a familiar voice asked.
Tearing her gaze away from her lover's culinary demonstration, she looked over to see Kass approaching her, a bright smile on his face.
"On the contrary," Zelda answered. "I'm actually quite famished. Link said he'll bring me a dish when he can. I'm just a tad bit tired, is all."
"I see. I was told of your actions this past week in preparation for today. You worked quite hard," Kass said, standing beside the bench where the princess sat. "It's a well-deserved rest, I'd say."
"It's funny," Zelda said, looking back at the crowd. "We worked so hard for a week to prepare, and truthfully, all we've created is an elaborate outdoor dinner. Parties were much larger a hundred years ago—at least from what I can remember when I was little."
"Are you saying you're displeased with your results?" Kass asked, but the princess shook her head.
"Not at all," she answered. "In fact, I believe I find this to be far more enjoyable. Old bonds reconnecting and new ones forming, people being their true selves, and the beauty of the seaside around us... Truthfully, I'm not sure what would make this better—"
"I can come up with an idea!" Celessa's voice called.
Both Zelda and Kass turned to see the pilgrim coming to a stop next to them, having jogged down the village pathways toward them.
"Celessa, welcome back. Tell me, what was it you needed the slate for—?" Zelda began to ask before seeing the heavy crates in her arms."You didn't."
"I—hup...ugh—sure did!" Celessa said, adjusting the crates in her arms. The contents neatly packaged within the crate shifted, the tinkling of glass adding a soft chime to the conversation. "Enough drinks that would usually cover a weekend at the Great Ton Pu Inn!"
"But, it's not possible for Prima to prepare this many drinks in such a short amount of time," Zelda said, standing from her bench to get a better look at the alcohol bottles. "Not unless she was given advance notice..."
Looking up, she caught Celessa's mischievous eyes.
"When did you plan this?" Zelda asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Remember back in Tarrey Town when you sent me to Hateno to get the ingredients for the little girl's monster cake?" Celessa asked. "I asked her to prepare some while I was there."
"I'm surprised she agreed," Zelda remarked, looking back down at the bottles.
"It took some convincing..." Celessa admitted. "Jules was the perfect wing-woman."
"And?" asked the princess. "What did you two agree upon?"
"What makes you think there had to be an agreement? You don't think Prima could have given me these as a congratulations to you for helping rebuild the kingdom?" Celessa asked. When Zelda raised an eyebrow, the pilgrim lowered her head. "I have to work for her as an employee for a few weeks when we get back..."
"To think, that's the same Prima who at the beginning of the winter insisted she didn't need help," Zelda giggled.
"It sounds like dear Prima is quite the friend," Kass remarked, observing the exchange. "A very kind one, if she spent the last few weeks putting these together."
"Yes, she is," Zelda said with a smile. "Prima's a hard worker, and cares much for those around her. She's also not afraid to let you make mistakes and learn from them."
"Speaking of mistakes, I feel like I made one by carrying these instead of putting them in the Sheikah Slate," Celessa said, her arms now shaking from the weight of the crates. She lifted a leg, trying to rest the crates on her thigh, yet this only made her start to lose balance.
"Whydidn'tyou put these all in the slate?" Zelda asked, helping Celessa by reaching out to hold up some of the heft. "You wouldn't have had to carry so much..."
"I'm gonna be honest, Princess, the slate still kind of scares me," Celessa said. "I feel like I'll hit one wrong button and blow up. I already fell off a cliff..."
"Why don't you allow me, dear Celessa?" Kass said, stepping forward and lifting the crates away from the two women.
"Are you sure?" Celessa asked sheepishly. "I'm the one who brought them all..."
"Nonsense, my dear. I'm more than happy to be of use," Kass replied. "Besides, everyone is only a short walk away from here. I might even play a few notes over there while we feast."
"As long as you really don't mind. Thanks for helping me out," Celessa said. Suddenly, she gasped. "Oh, right! Before we head over there, let me just grab a few things here..."
Realizing she needed something from the crates, Kass lowered them, allowing the pilgrim to search through the top one. Finally, she pulled out two bottles before turning to Zelda.
"Prima did make me promise one other thing in order to get all of these," she said. With her mischievous grin returning, she held the bottles out to Zelda. "She said these two are foryouspecifically."
"Me?" the princess asked, reluctantly taking the bottles. "Why? What's so special about these? Did she do something strange to the bottles again?"
The only answer she received was a wink and a giggle from Celessa before the pilgrim removed the Sheikah Slate from her waist and handed it back to Zelda. With that, she and Kass walked away, bottles clinking in their crates as they greeted the crowd, who all roared in welcome and excitement at the sight of the drinks. After taking only a moment to watch the crowd surround Kass and Celessa, Zelda looked down at the two bottles in her hands. One of them had a note attached to a piece of string and tied around the cork at the top of the bottle. Gently, she tugged on the note, pulling it off the string with the quietest of snaps, and read the words that had been quickly scribbled on its surface:
Don't let this slip between your fingers this time.
"Prima..." Zelda muttered peevishly under her breath, frowning at the bottles in her hands.
It was abundantly clear that these were similar to the bottles she had made last time Link had a drink, stronger so Link could feel more of a buzz. While Zelda's initial reaction was disapproval, her features softened the longer she looked at the bottles. It wasn't as though these specifically were the problem back then. They certainly didn'thelp, but they only enhanced the feelings of paranoia they'd been feeling at the time.
With this in mind, she looked back at the crowd and spotted Link, still happily passing out dishes of Goron-spiced crab. He seemed genuinely happy, full-heartedly enjoying the festivities around him. Maybe now that he was happier—and that she herself was far lessfrustrated,to say the least—things would be different...
"Princess Zelda!" a merry voice called. She turned to see the Zora Prince coming toward her, with the reporter on one side, scribbling away in her notebook as she walked, and Kodah the innkeeper on his other.
"Sidon, Traysi," she said, giving them a warm smile and a nod in greeting. "I thought I had missed you both from the crowd."
"I-I'm he-here too..." another voice squeaked quietly. Stepping from behind Sidon was Paya.
"And Paya," Zelda giggled. "I hadn't seen you either."
She graciously omitted that missing Paya amongst a crowd was—truthfully—to be expected.
"She was listening to us chat for a bit," Traysi said, pausing in her writing to gesture between herself, Sidon, and Kodah. "I had a few questions for the prince; more thorough ones now that we're finally able to breathe."
"All details about our lives a hundred years ago!" Sidon said cheerfully. "Mainly about Link more than anything else now that she knows he's the Hylian Champion."
"I had quite the story about time spent with Linny in our younger days," said Kodah, "and about Princess Mipha and Linny as well! Stories even Prince Sidon here couldn't tell since he was so young and wasn't always around them."
"I...w-wanted to hear more stories about Master Link...fr-from before..." Paya added quietly, her face turning a bright red. "Fr-from both K-Kodah and Pr-Prince Sidon..."
"To think, Link was the knight from a hundred years ago. I find it somewhat hard to believe since he doesn't have that special sword on him that I've heard rumors about," Traysi said, tapping the page she was on with her pen as if she were dotting the end of a sentence. Finally, she looked up. "But, according to Sidon and a few others here, he had it a few months ago. I'll have to ask Link about that himself when he's not busy."
Shutting her notebook with a decisive snap, she returned it to her pouch.
"Prince Sidon and I would've conversed longer, but we heard some commotion from the crowd—oh."
The reporter's eyes had found the bottles of alcohol in Zelda's hands. She raised her eyebrows sardonically.
"Huh. I didn't take you for anactualdrinker," she said, nodding her head in begrudging respect. "I expected it from Celessa, but to have two bottles foryourself?That's pretty impressive, Princess, I'll give you that."
"These are not only for me," Zelda quickly corrected.
Her words weren'texactlya fib; technically only one was actually meant for her. She looked down at the bottles for a second longer, finalizing her contemplation from earlier, before using the slate to store them. They vanished into the slate's screen, the blue lights briefly illuminating Zelda's skin before they disappeared entirely.
"Celessa handed them to me when she returned," Zelda finished, replacing the slate on her hip. "They were in the crates full of drinks she brought back from Hateno. They're right over there if you're interested, and there's plenty for everyone. I do hope you enjoy yourself."
"Are you using your waitress voice? You really did work at an inn, didn't you?" Traysi asked with a slight grin.
Zelda blinked. She hadn't realized she had slipped into her work tone, but what was even more surprising was the fact that the reporter wasjokingwith her.
"As expected, a fantastic tone, one Kodah herself would be envious of. The princess was a wonderful help at her inn!" Sidon said cheerily before Zelda could respond to Traysi's light teasing.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't covetous of your tone," Kodah laughed. "Say, Princess, do you want a job at the Seabed Inn?"
"My apologies, but if I were to go back to work, I'd return to the Great Ton Pu Inn," Zelda giggled. "I owe the owner a lot."
"Ah, well. At least I can say I tried. Having a princess work for me would've beengreatmarketing," Kodah shrugged. "That innkeeper in Hateno is one lucky boss if she has an employee like you."
"I'm not entirely sure. I gave her quite a bit of trouble at the beginning...and a little near the end," Zelda admitted.
"Well, I stand by my words," Sidon said with a sparkling smile. "You must've been wonderful help while working there, and you'd be even better help now that you've succeeded in preparing so much, like this festival! Now, if you all don't mind, I shall be having a drink for myself. It's rare I get a chance to indulge in such fun."
"Do you think Laflat will let you drink?" Kodah asked as she and Sidon began to walk away.
"I'm sure she'll have opinions, but I'm confident in my ability to talk her into agreeing!" Sidon said. "Now ifMuzuwere here, that would be a different tale."
"Well, this is an interesting turn of events," Traysi murmured mischievously, pulling her notebook and pen back out of her pouch. "Those two might have more stories to tell while tipsy..."
Eagerly, she hurried after them. Before she could get far, Zelda called out to her, ordering that Traysi didn't pressure or be rude while the two Zoras were intoxicated, only to receive a wave in reply, with the reporter's pen still in hand and without even turning around. The princess watched as the three reached the crowd, searching for the crates of alcohol that had been left near Link's cooking pot. The faint sound of an accordion echoed throughout the village, while the villagers ate and drank happily, most of them having already had a plate of food or even three.
"I–it looks like everyone is having a good time," Paya said, causing Zelda to jolt slightly. The Sheikah had become so quiet, her presence had been forgotten. "Master Link looks happy."
"He does," Zelda replied, surreptitiously collecting herself from the startle.
"I-if I may ask, why aren't you there next to him?" Paya asked. "I know you must be tired from working so hard this past week, and even today, but... I'd assume you'd want to be by his side regardless of the fatigue."
"You'd be right," the princess said. "To be honest, I had an idea while at your grandmother's house earlier today, but Link arrived sooner than expected. I'm unsure if I'll be able to make adjustments to our current plans. I'd have to leave for a little longer than a moment, and I'm sure Link would come find me. It would spoil the surprise if he did...and I still need to talk with him and see if it's something he'd truly want..."
"O-oh! Is it something I can assist with?" Paya asked. "I'd be happy to be of use, if it's something within my power..."
"I wouldn't want to put that on you," Zelda replied. "You worked hard this past week—no, this past month—having traveled with us, and deserve to have a good time just like everyone else."
Though Zelda's words were kind, Paya frowned.
"Y-you could say that, b-but... To be honest, I'm n-not great with these sorts of things," she said, looking at the crowd. "It is enjoyable, and I am happy I'm here, b-but...a break would be nice. P-p-plus, if it helps you and Master Link, then, I'd even prefer to help."
"Paya..." Zelda said reluctantly, yet Paya's gaze remained firm.
"Please, what is it you need done, Princess?" she insisted.
Though Zelda was still hesitant, she couldn't help but feel this was the perfect opportunity. She knew that she herself—not just as Link's lover, but as the princess—couldn't simply vanish at a festival of her own creation, but Paya, on the other hand, was different. It was well known by everyone that she was the quiet type, and if she were to disappear for a while, it was likely no one would notice, except maybe Celessa. Finally, Zelda nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, Paya. Truly," she said. Taking the Sheikah Slate from her hip, she held it out. "Here's what I need you to do..."
After a brief but thorough explanation of what the princess needed done, Paya took the slate into her own hands.
"I'll have them ready, I assure you," she said, bringing the slate to her chest. "Also, Princess...when do you plan to give him your gift?"
"I'm...unsure," Zelda said. "That I'll have to figure out myself."
"I understand. I wish you luck," Paya said. With a slight bow, she hurried off toward Lurelin's ship-shaped inn, leaving Zelda alone once more.
At least, that's what she had thought.
"Still hard at work? I thought you would finally have a moment to rest."
She turned to see Link walking toward her with two plates in his hands. His boots had been removed to make walking in the sand easier, the legs of his trousers had been rolled up, and he wore only the short-sleeved Hylian tunic over his torso. Coming to a stop in front of her, he held out a plate, filled with portions of both the crab and filets of fish, all sprinkled with the spicy peppers he had been using to cook. With a smile, Zelda accepted the dish.
"You arrived a little earlier than I anticipated," she responded, resuming her seat on the bench. "So, there were still a fewsmallthings that needed to be attended to."
"Gotcha," Link sighed, taking a seat next to her.
Zelda blushed slightly. He had taken a seat so close to her, their thighs and shoulders were pressed together. She didn't mind it in the slightest, and welcomed the touch, but it had been so long. Raising her plate, she took a bite of her food, trying to replace the heat in her cheeks with that of the peppers now on her tongue.
"You should take it easy," Link said before taking a bite of his own food. With his cheeks stuffed, he continued. "Technically, this festival is for both meandyou."
"I still can't believe they turned it on me in such a way..." Zelda sighed, fanning herself, unsure which heat she was trying to rid herself of. "This was supposed to be foryou."
"And now, it's forus,"Link said gently. "I can't believe you managed to put this all together."
"It was a bit easier than you might think," Zelda admitted. "Truthfully, it was made possible thanks to Paya and Celessa. I'm not sure any of this would have come together as well as it did without their help."
"That was also surprising," Link said, taking another bite of his food. "How did you manage to getPayaof all people out of Kakariko?"
"That was also fairly easy," Zelda admitted. "Impa practically forced her to come along. She said she needed to get out more."
"That does sound like an Impa thing to do," Link chuckled, finishing the last few bites of food before setting his plate on the sand beside them. Leaning forward, he rested his arms on his knees and looked toward the festive crowd. "This is really amazing, Zelda."
"Do you...mean that?" Zelda asked. "You're really having a good time?"
"Of course I am. How could I not?" Link asked in return. "I'm here, sitting in one of the most beautiful places in Hyrule, surrounded by all of our friends, and all these good people..."
He straightened himself and looked at Zelda.
"And I'm here with you."
Zelda's eyes locked with his, her cheeks becoming a bit warmer than before. She looked away, inspecting the plate she had in her hands before taking a deep breath.
"Link, there's something I need to talk to you about," she said. "It's...rather important.Veryimportant, actually."
"Hm? Uh, okay," Link said, his face becoming expressionless, a sign he was being serious. "What is it?"
"It's about...the future," Zelda continued, trying to keep the nervous tremble out of her tone. "Not just the kingdom's, but ours as well."
"What, like...if we should stay romantic or not?" Link asked. "Zelda, just because you're taking your title back doesn't mean—"
"No!No, I'm not saying that at all!" Zelda quickly corrected. "Of course, I want us to stay together. That willneverchange, title or not. No, I mean...as princess and knight. When I first returned after the Calamity had been defeated, you decided you didn't want to stay as my knight, but simply as my lover, and I'm okay with that—truly, I am; however, I know you. I was a little emotional back then and couldn't put it together, but...looking back at our time together, since then, it's clear to me you never really stopped being my knight at all, and I can't help but feel like that was your intention all along."
"I... Well..." Link said, realizing he had been caught. Smiling awkwardly, he came clean. "Yeah, it's true. I said that, but I just didn't want you to feel guilty thinking I was sticking around because I felt I had to. Impa knew immediately what I was doing, and even called me out on it a little later. In my mind...I've always been your knight. I'm sorry for lying—"
"No, it's alright. In fact, I'm actually glad," Zelda said. "So, if that's the case, then...what if I were to ask you to be my knight again? Not because my father assigned you, or because a great threat is approaching, but because I simply wanted you at my side—?"
"Absolutely,"Link said immediately, the gaze in his eyes strong. "Truthfully, you wouldn't have a choice in the matter, even if you are a princess. I am your loverandyour knight. My sword is just as much yours as I am."
Zelda felt her heart skip a beat.
"Link—" was the only word she could form before both of their ears twitched at Kass's commanding voice booming over the crowd.
"My dearest friends of Lurelin Village," he called to the stuffed villagers and their guests. "I thank you kindly for hosting our event today, and for allowing me to play my notes for you. While I know, in just a short time from now, that there will be another group of musicians set to entertain, I would like to perform my final song of this banquet. It is one that my teacher wrote, expressing the trials, the tribulations, and the very specialbondof the two we celebrate today. I hope you open your ears—and your hearts—for the lyrics I am about to sing to you all."
The crowd clapped, cheering for the Rito bard to continue his playing. In response, he nodded and looked around the crowd before beginning to pull on his accordion.
"An ancient hero, a Calamity appears, now resurrected after 10,000 years.
Her appointed knight gives his life, shields her figure, and pays the price—"
"That's the song Kass played for me before I saved you," Link said, listening to the lyrics.
"You mean the song you heard and somehowstillcouldn't put together how I felt about you?" Zelda giggled.
"Hey,love could have meant a few things. It could have meant friendship, or appreciation," Link argued, making Zelda giggle even more. "I just...didn't want to make things uncomfortable for you. Or...maybe I was just nervous about my own feelings; afraid to accept even the smallest chance you might not have loved me back..."
"Link... I've loved you for so long," Zelda said. "Well before the Calamity struck."
"I... I know," Link said. "I've actually started to remember a bit more about our past."
"Y-you have?" Zelda asked, her eyes slightly widening.
Her heart began to pound, something she considered to be foolish. She already had him, and even now, they were sitting together as lovers, and yet, the old longing for him to remember their closeness a hundred years ago—a need she had believed had been put to rest inside of her after the Champion's Ballad—had returned.
"You really remember?"
"Not everything, but...I remember enough," Link answered softly. "It's no wonder sharing a bed for the first time was so easy for you when we first started living together. We were a lot closer than we should have been a hundred years ago, weren't we?"
"Just a tad bit," Zelda said, her cheeks flushing furiously. "I couldn't say it properly at the time, or even recently, and I understand you know this now, but...living with you, when I was first freed, was a dream come true—a dream I didn't think would ever be possible before."
"And I felt the same way," Link said. "I feel bad that we couldn't save the Champions, and I wish they were here so badly right now. I wish we could have saved our kingdom, your father, my family, and everyone else.I do,but...I'd be lying if I said I wasn't grateful for what we have right here and now."
"I...I feel the same way," Zelda admitted. "I love this. I...love you."
"And I love you too," Link replied softly.
He began to lean forward, the singing and accordion notes echoing around them. The closer he got, the harder Zelda's heart pounded. Just before their lips could touch, she pulled back. Link furrowed his brow, giving her a confused look. Bringing a hand up, she covered her mouth with her fingers.
"The...spicy peppers," she said from behind her hand, still holding her now empty plate with the other.
Link stared at her before chuckling. He leaned in again, reaching out with both of his hands, one of them taking the plate from her and the other taking hold of her wrist. Gently, but firmly, he pulled her hand away.
"I had them too," he said quietly, just loud enough for her to hear over the music. "Now come here."
Their lips pressed together, the slight burn from the peppers sourcing between them. Though her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, Zelda closed her eyes, giving in to her lover's kiss just as the song came to an end.
"The hero, the princess—hand in hand—must bring light back to this land."
As the notes faded and the clapping of the crowd erupted for the bowing bard, she felt Link pull away. Opening her eyes, she met his azure irises, reflecting the glowing embers of twilight. His smile was as warm as her cheeks, his bangs and sideburns gently swaying in the breeze, and his breathing as calm as the clouds above them. He exuded an aura of comfort and safety, one she had desperately missed this past month. Suddenly, his brow furrowed, a confused look on his face. That was odd. Was there something wrong? Something in her teeth maybe? She told him kissing her after eating such a spicy meal was a bad idea—
"—Princess...Princess,"she heard a high-pitched call behind her.
Zelda jolted, twisting her body to face the source while scooting away from it, causing her back to press against Link's chest. There, standing at the end of the bench, was the short, round conductor of the Stable Trotters.
"Mastro!"Zelda exclaimed through her shock, placing a hand on her chest to help calm her breathing. Ignoring Link's inquiry on who thisinterestingindividual was, she continued. "Hello! Yes, w-what can I help you with?"
"Forgive my intrusion!" Mastro said, bowing so low, his bulging stomach almost touched the sand. "Believe me when I say such a wonderful showing of love inspires my musical spirit, but alas, it is about time!"
"About time?" Zelda asked. "About time for what?"
"For our show!"Mastro said, jumping and twirling in the air in excitement. Landing in the sand, he continued. "Twilight is upon us, just as planned!"
"O-oh...oh!"Zelda exclaimed, pushing herself off Link's chest and getting to her feet. She looked up at the sky, which was turning a deeper shade of orange with each passing moment. "Is it that time already?"
"There's still more that you need to do?" Link asked from the bench.
"There is, and it requires that you get ready," Zelda answered, looking back at the crowd.
"Me?" Link asked again. "Am I not already...ready?"
"Not for what I have planned," answered Zelda, her eyes still on the crowd. "I hope Paya had enough time to prepare what I needed. The person I need now is Sidon... I feel a bit guilty since he was just around not too long ago—ah,there he is."
Jogging away, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving Link with Mastro for just a moment before reappearing with Sidon at her side.
"I'm sorry for pulling you away from all the fun, and I hope the changes I made to our plans aren't too much. I know I'm throwing them on you last second—" Zelda rambled guiltily, yet the Zora prince held out a hand to silence her apologetic prattle.
"Nonsense! I wasn't drinking too much in preparation for this part of the festivities. This is the event I've been most excited for; the changes are most welcome," he said as he stopped in front of the bench. Looking down at Link, he gave the little Hylian a twinkling smile. "Link, my friend! I shall be helping you get ready."
"Okay, wait.Whatam I getting ready for?" Link asked, setting the plate down on the bench. "What are we doing?"
"Something.You'll love this," Zelda said, taking Link by the hands and pulling him to his feet. "At least, I hope you will."
"You'll most certainly enjoy it!" Sidon pitched in, placing a large, webbed hand on Link's shoulder.
"I mean, I never doubted that," Link replied. "Okay, well, just tell me what I need to do."
"What a delightful development!" Mastro called excitedly. "Our little troupe will play with all the heart we can—for love and the future!"
The glow of twilight was strong now, glazing the ocean and sand in its amber light. With their stomachs full, and their blood just a little intoxicated from the drinks Celessa had brought, the villagers and guests congregated along the shore. Most were still laughing with drinks or the occasional plate in their hands, others were standing ankle-deep in the surf, relaxing or fishing just for the fun of it, and some were laid out in the sand, watching the orange clouds above drift lazily by. The band was prepping nearby, carrying various empty crates to the beach from the houses they'd been stored in.
"Come! Come! We can use these crates to make a stage!" Mastro said, waving his baton around as he watched the members of his troupe carrying their load. "Hurry, now! We don't have much time!"
"Why are we the only ones carrying these?" the young flutist of the group asked. "This would gowayfaster if you were helping."
"Do you see these arms, Pyper? These legs?This belly?"the conductor asked. "I'd trip in the sand and destroy not only the crates, but myself as well if I were to help! Then who would conduct your music?"
"He has a point," the dark-skinned drummer said with a laugh. "I wouldn't want him to carry anything either. It's amazing we let him drive Breezer—"
"Beetz!Be nice," the violinist scolded, though her voice was so soft and gentle, so it only made Beetz laugh.
"He can say all he wants, Violynne, as long as I'm not the one carrying crates," Mastro said cheerfully.
"But at this rate, we'll be doing this all evening!" Pyper said, setting a crate down on the sand. "Can we really make a stage out of these?"
"We should have just enough crates in order to do so. It was kind of the villagers to let us use these now that they aren't full of fish," the bespectacled hornist said, setting a crate down beside him. "But, Pyper is right. Even if we make a small one, we'll be at this for a while..."
"Yeah, what Eustus said!" Pyper exclaimed. "Why can't we just play in the sand?"
"Because this is a special occasion!" Mastro exclaimed, bouncing around. "Amomentousoccasion! The lost Kingdom of Hyrule, being restored under the guidance of the returned princess Zelda, and she chose us to play! And she didn't simply choose us to play as a mere formality—no, she chose us in order to emphasize her love for her appointed knight! Don't you see?"
He looked around at his troupe.
"She trusted us with her feelings; to turn her intense emotions intosong!"he continued. "Don't you want to make that request come true? Not just in the notes we play, but in theentiretyof our performance?"
"Ugh, I hate when you getmotivational..." Pyper said, guiltily lowering his head. "I do want to do all of that, but that doesn't change how long it's gonna take us to set this up..."
"Hey! Uh...would it be easier if I helped out,goro?"
Lumbering over to the group was the Goron guest, his little feet sinking in the sand, making it difficult for him to walk.
"I—um—have pretty big hands,goro!"Yunobo said awkwardly. "I can help put this together for you guys!"
"Would you look at that!" Mastro said, bouncing on the sand once more. "Fate is on our side! Please,my goodGoron, we need a stage to play on for the event! If you would be so kind and help my troupe make one, that would be most wonderful!"
"Of course! You can count on me!" Yunobo said, his confidence growing as he flexed his strong arms and core. "I'll make sure your stage gets built! I can carry a ton of those crates! Just you watch,goro!"
"Oh, what a helpful Goron," Violynne said, clapping her hands together.
"That's exactly what I want to be!" Yunobo said proudly, pounding his large fist against his chest before turning toward the huts.
The Stable Trotters followed the Goron away from the shoreline and back into the village, passing Paya where she knelt before the lone Goddess Statue, her hands clasped together in prayer.
Her ears twitched, hearing the laughter and fun of the Goron and the musicians as they passed by. Lowering her hands to her thighs, she opened her eyes and looked toward the group, watching as they continued further into the village. Suddenly, her ears twitched, hearing another set of footsteps approaching from behind her. She turned to see Prince Sidon coming toward her.
"He's just about ready if you wish to inspect his outfit and ensure it is suitable for debut," he said, coming to a stop before her.
"I-I would. I tried to clean them up as well as I could, b-but it's been a long time since it's been worn, s-s-so I'm sure there are h-hidden wrinkles," she stammered. "Checking w-would be nice."
"Then let us get a move on!" Sidon said, holding a hand down to her. "May I?"
With a nod in gratitude, Paya placed her hand into his, allowing him to gently pull her to stand. After dusting herself off, she and Sidon walked through the village, watching the lively crowd at the shoreline.
"It's marvelous, isn't it?" the Zora prince asked. "To see such a collection of people from all over in one place?"
"It is," Paya answered. "O-only a month ago, all I knew were those who lived in my own small village. I'm glad I can say I know so many people now, despite my original protest against leaving."
"It's a good thing you came along, too! You were most helpful to not only the Princess and Link, but to everyone here," Sidon said. "Though small, something like this hasn't happened in over a hundred years. All of you made this possible."
"I-I didn't do much, really! Y-you helped far more than I did, Prince Sidon!" Paya objected, looking up at the large Zora. "You helped in so many ways, back in the Domain and here when you arrived. Everyone had a part to play..."
Hearing her own words, she looked at the waves breaking upon the shore as the tide came in once more.
"Everyone..."
"Everyone includesyou,I hope you know," Sidon said with a gentle smile. "Your grandmother will be most proud."
"A-and your father will be proud of you as well..." Paya said, blushing slightly as she looked down at her feet.
They continued on, past fences, benches and the occasional lit torch, before eventually arriving at the entrance to one of the villager's huts.
"It was kind of Elder Rozel to allow us the use of his home. Link would've had to change outside otherwise—not that he would have minded," Sidon said as they walked up the small wooden steps. Coming to a stop at the door frame, he gestured for the Sheikah to go first. "After you."
With a nod in thanks, Paya stepped into the home. The huts of Lurelin were small, but pretty. They were built around tall palm trees, the trunks being the centerpiece of each home. The beds were simple cots, and the floors were adorned with intricately-woven mats depicting sophisticated designs. The space, while small, was perfectly organized, and boasted large floor-to-ceiling windows, covered with well-crafted wooden blinds. While the hut was nice, Paya only had eyes for the person inside.
There stood Link, wearing an entirely different set of apparel from before. His basic, short-sleeved tunic and rolled-up tan trousers had been replaced with clothing far more elegant. He was clad in a short-sleeved red shirt, with a long-sleeved black undershirt visible at the collar and forearms. Over these, he wore a deep blue collared vestment with decorative shoulder pads, lined with gold threading along the seams, and the royal family crest on the chest. Across his torso was a red, rope-like sash, on his hands were a pair of elbow-length white gloves, and long black trousers covered his legs. Paya knew there should have been a set of thigh-high white boots to complete the ensemble, yet he was noticeably barefoot.
"Forgoing the boots?" Sidon asked as he stepped inside, his feet thumping upon the mat.
Link, who hadn't heard Paya come in, turned to see his two friends near the doorway.
"Sidon. Paya," he said with a gentle smile before looking down at his bare feet. "Yeah, I did. It's just gonna be more comfortable this way. I hope that's alright."
"That's not a problem whatsoever!" Sidon said cheerfully. "I believe the princess might do the same thing, isn't that right, Lady Paya?"
Paya didn't immediately respond. Her face was blank as she stared at Link's features, noticing all the little changes he had made, from washing his face to even parting his hair to look a little more neat. The moment their eyes met, she blushed and looked away, only to see Sidon looking at her as well. Finally, her mind processed what Sidon had said.
"Huh–oh—y-y-yes!" she stammered out, a little quieter than she had meant. "She'll be doing the same thing in order to move around more easily."
"So she's getting dressed up too, huh?" Link asked thoughtfully. "I wonder what she's wearing. I hope she's not forcing herself into that prayer dress. I know she wasn't too fond of it."
"I-I don't think you have anything to worry about," Paya said, managing to somewhat collect herself. At this, Link smiled.
"Good. I'm glad," he said.
"We'll be starting soon," said Sidon. "Lady Paya here will be ensuring your outfit is ready before the event. I'll be going ahead, so you'll have to come to the beach yourself. Try not to get too close, otherwise the villagers will spot you."
"Is there something wrong with them seeing me?" Link asked.
"Not necessarily, but it would affect the overall grandeur," Sidon explained with a smile. "You'll see."
"Grandeur? We're on a beach," Link chuckled. "How grand is this supposed to be?"
"I think you'll piece things together when you see how it all unfolds," the prince said. "Trust me, you'll know exactly what to do."
"Whatever you say, Sidon. I trust you," Link said, returning his smile.
"I'm glad you do, old friend," Sidon said. "Well then, I'd best be on my way! It's time to prepare the crowd. Lady Paya, I leave Link in your care."
"Y-yes! Thank you," Paya said with a slight bow.
With that, the Zora prince placed a hand on his chest and bowed back before he disappeared from the hut—needing to duck under the low threshold—leaving Link and Paya alone.
"U-um, I don't need to do much, honestly speaking," Paya admitted. "I just wanted to make sure your uniform didn't have any wrinkles, or need any adjustments made to it... I know it might not be yours, so...does it f-fit?"
"It does fit, thank you, Paya," Link said with a smile. "I tend to find things in my size pretty often, strangely enough. You'd think it'd be harder."
"I-I see! Well, that's good," Paya said awkwardly. "I don't see any noticeable wrinkles either, so... You should be fine..."
Her voice trailed off, noticing Link might've stopped listening. His gaze had traveled downward to his gloved hands, where Paya only just noticed him holding a round hat that matched the uniform perfectly. She observed his softened expression as he reverently inspected the hat, his eyes slightly glazed as he lost himself in thought.
"I-is something wrong?" Paya asked.
"Nah," Link said. "There isn't. I just noticed when putting this all on, that...this is my father's hat."
"Your father's?" Paya repeated. "My grandmother told me your father was a well-respected member of the Royal Guard... You still have his hat?"
"I do. I found it in Hateno in the old shed behind my house," Link said. "It turned out to be my old childhood home. Again, funny how things work out sometimes."
He rubbed his thumb along the inside of the hat's brim, feeling the embroidered threads of his father's name.
"I hope he's proud of me, even after all the mistakes I've made, and I hope he knows I plan to move forward—to do everything I can to protect those I love," Link said. "I really hope he knows that. Aryll, too."
Without thinking, Paya stepped forward. Though she began to reconsider her decision once she was halfway across the room, she swallowed her fear and committed, only stopping when she was just in front of Link. Gently, she reached out and took the hat from his fingers. After wiping off the dust, accumulated through the years in that shed—she lifted it and placed it on top of Link's head. When it was properly placed, she pushed a few strands of his bangs to the side and under the cap before taking a step back.
"Prince Sidon told me while we were on our way here that my grandmother was proud of me," she said quietly, looking down at the floor. "All because I simply traveled around alongside Princess Zelda. If I can make my family proud by doing something so trivial, then... Then your family is most proud of you, that I can say with full confidence, Master Link. Princess Zelda is lucky to have you, and I know you'll take great care of her."
"Paya..." Link said. Though Paya's eyes were focused on her feet, she could hear the lowering tone of his voice. "Um... Hey—"
"You read my diary, didn't you, Master Link?" Paya asked without looking up. When she heard his intake of breath and an awkward shuffle, she closed her eyes. Surprisingly, she felt a small smile form on her lips. "I see."
"I-I'm sorry," Link said awkwardly. "L-look, about your feelings—"
"Master Link," Paya interjected, looking up from the floorboards to meet his eyes. She stood straight, and though every nerve in her body told her to look away, she kept her gaze locked on him as confidently as she could. "Thank you. Thank youso muchfor being the hero I needed. You have no idea how much you mean to me, and how much you helped me."
Clasping her hands in front of her, she bowed deeply before Link.
"Thank you," she said one final time. "I hope I can stay by both you and Princess Zelda, even if at a slight distance."
"Paya—" Link said again, yet the Sheikah furiously shook her head.
"Please don't," she said, fighting back tears. She straightened up again, took a deep breath, and opened her eyes. "Good luck at the event. Trust in Prince Sidon that you will know exactly what you need to do."
"Y-yeah..." Link said. "I will. I'll head out there in a few minutes."
With a light bow of her head, Paya turned and headed toward the hut's entryway, but just as she began to step through it, Link called her name again.
"Thank you too," he said, "for always believing in me. It helped...more than you know."
Unable to control herself, she glanced back at Link, catching the smile on his face for just a second before hurrying out of the hut and down the stairs. The moment her feet touched the sand, she came to a stop, her face downcast, though the moment to herself didn't last long.
"Hey. You alright?"
Looking up, she quickly located the source of the voice. There was Celessa, sitting on a bench which had been stationed in front of a palm tree.
"C-Celessa..." said a confused Paya as the pilgrim stood. "W-w-why—"
"Prince Sidon mentioned that you were here helping Link get ready and I had a pretty strong feeling something would happen," Celessa said as she walked up to the Sheikah. Placing her hands on both of Paya's shoulders, she smiled. "Are you alright?"
Paya reluctantly nodded, humming in answer.
"Y-yes, or at least...I will be," she answered, wiping away the tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes. "A-at least I was able to c-convey how I felt."
To her surprise, Celessa pulled her into a hug. Gasping slightly, Paya looked over, only to see Celessa's brown hair bun.
"You did well," Celessa said. "You're strong. Remember that."
"Th-th-thank you..." Paya replied, returning the hug after collecting herself.
They stood there for a few seconds before pulling away.
"Come on," Celessa said. "Let's go see if the princess needs any help. I'm sure getting into that dress of hers can't be easy."
With a nod in agreement, the two began their trek through the village back toward the inn. Paya listened as Celessa talked during their walk, telling of how Armes and a few other fishermen were being foolish in the ocean after a few drinks, happy to have such a good friend.
Eventually, the inn came into view, along with the goddess statue where Paya had been praying earlier. To her surprise, someone else had taken her place. Kneeling in front of the statue was Zelda, her golden hair released from its braid and hanging straight down, her body clad in the old tan and brown Hylian shirt and trousers she had gotten used to wearing to bed, and a small journal in her hands.
"Princess?" Celessa called out as they drew closer. "What are you doing out here? You're supposed to be getting ready for the event."
At the use of her title, Zelda looked up and over her shoulder to see her two friends approaching. She smiled sheepishly.
"I know, I'm just..." she began, turning back to look down at the journal. From where she stood, Paya could just make out the nameRhoamwritten on its front. "Asking for a little help, I suppose."
"From the Goddess? That's a little surprising, foryou, at least," Celessa remarked, glancing at the goddess statue.
"Well, I did tell acertain someoneI would try to move on from the past the last time I was in front of this statue," Zelda said, glancing back at Celessa. Paya noticed their eyes meet for a second before she turned back to the statue. "I'm unsure as to why she waited to give me my power so late... Honestly, I even wonder if it had anything to do with her and my prayers at all. It might've been my upbringing, it might've been my emotions, it might've even been luck...but right now, I hope she at least gives me a little extra courage and a little extra wisdom for the future."
"And if she doesn't provide?" Celessa asked. Zelda looked back and smiled.
"Then I'll have to make it myself," she said, "and when I need help, I know Link, Impa, Paya, you...everyonewill give me the lift I need."
With a deep breath, she pushed herself up to her feet.
"Is Link ready?" she asked.
"He is," Paya answered, "and Prince Sidon is gathering and preparing the guests as we speak."
"Then I'd better hurry and finish preparing myself as well," Zelda said. "Would you two mind helping me?"
"That's why we're here, Princess," Celessa said excitedly. "Let's get you all dolled up!"
...
"Alright, is everyone here?" Sidon called to the crowd. Looking over the crowd of people, he nodded and clapped his hands together. "It looks like we are, at least from what I can see! Okay, what I want you all to do is make some room there in the center. I want us to form a little semi-circle...Yes,that's it!"
The villagers and guests adjusted, creating some open space between them.
"Wonderful! That gives us enough space for the event to take place," Sidon said proudly. "Now that you're all ready, are the Stable Trotters ready to go?"
He turned and looked at the makeshift stage behind him, built from the village's empty crates. Standing on top of the crates were Mastro and his troupe, who were all either tuning or cleaning their instruments.
"We are most ready! Our music will sound wonderful to the attentive ears of the crowd!" Mastro said cheerfully. "Especially now that we have this stage here!"
"Thank you so much for your help, Yunobo!" Violynne called happily.
"Heh... I didn't do that much," Yunobo called back from the crowd, self-consciously rubbing the back of his head. With a laugh, Teba—who was standing beside him, with Tulin and Riju in front of them—put a wing on his broad, rocky back. "I just moved some boxes, that's all,goro..."
"And it was super helpful!" Beetz called out, tapping out a quick drum riff of appreciation on his hand drum.
"The crowd is ready, and so are the musicians," Sidon said, more to himself than anyone specific. "Now all we need is for—"
Suddenly, his yellow eyes caught sight of Celessa and Paya, who were hurrying from the village huts toward the crowd. Noticing Sidon's gaze, the pilgrim gave a thumbs up, bringing a sparkling smile to the prince's face.
"It looks as though we are finally prepared!" he called happily. Stretching his arms, he took a deep breath before addressing the crowd. "Dear kind guests and generous villagers of Lurelin, today I stand before you as a guest myself, invited to partake in this wonderful festival. Together, we have created an event not only enjoyable and fulfilling to the hearts, but one that signals a special moment in our history: the beginnings of our lost kingdom's reconstruction."
At the sound of his firm, commanding voice, the crowd's boisterous chatter quieted to a murmur as the prince continued to speak.
"I was there, a hundred years ago, when Hyrule was in its age of prosperity," he said. "It was a beautiful kingdom, where our ancestors were united as one under a single banner. I was also there, when we were in our age of preparation—an attempt to prepare ourselves for the prophecy of the returning Calamity Ganon. I watched as the bonds of our unification were fortified, when one outstanding individual of each race was bestowed the title of Champion.
"In order to move forward and grow, we must look back and remember those who gave us the opportunity. Many of us here—myself included —are related to the Champions that fell to the Calamity's evil a century ago. Some have kept the legends in their hearts, aspiring to be just like them, though by now, most others simply smile when a mention of them is made. Regardless of which you are, they have made an impact on our lives, and are even the reason we stand here today.
"Master Kass, I believe you may have a song for this occasion, yes?"
"My dear Prince, I do have a song, if you'd allow me to play it as you speak," Kass said happily. "It's a simple tune—one I believe the Stable Trotters can join in on, if they so choose."
"Well, if you're offering!" Mastro bounced. "Come on stage, good bard! You lead and we'll follow!"
With a nod of gratitude, Kass looked down at Tulin standing nearby. Raising a wing, he brought two feathers almost together, which the little fledgling understood, giving him a wide smile in acknowledgement. Toddling over to Kass, Tulin crouched in front of him, allowing a small amount of wind to burst from his body to give Kass just enough air for him to flap over to the stage. Landing on the wood with a light thump, the boards creaking slightly in reply, he bowed to the crowd and pulled out his accordion.
"This song, written by my teacher and finished by myself in memory of the Champions from a century ago, is titledThe Champion's Ballad.Please enjoy."
With a smile on his beak, Kass looked back at the troupe, who nodded for him to begin. The accordion notes began to echo across the beach, and eventually, the Stable Trotters chimed in after hearing the main melody. Once all the instruments had joined, Kass began to proudly sing.
"Recall Medoh's Champion of flight,
Before he fell to his fateful plight.
Wind's ally soars through the land of cloud,
Medoh's Champion, swift and proud.
Revali's feat was a wonder to see,
So the princess made her plea."
Though the notes continued, Kass's singing stopped. He looked down at Sidon, who quickly understood the cue and smiled to signal his understanding. Turning back to the crowd, the Zora prince spoke.
"Master Revali was the Champion of the Rito, renowned for his archery skill and power of the winds. I refuse to call it talent, for the Rito Champion was known far and wide as one of the hardest workers in the land. Though his tone could be a little harsh, he always cared, especially for those of his village."
Sidon gestured toward Teba and his son.
"To this day, his legacy lives on, inspiring one generation after the next, in the hopes that they can achieve the honor, dedication, and care Master Revali held."
Teba gave him a simple nod of thanks, while Tulin used his gales to jump high in the air, a bright smile on his face before landing in front of his father again. While most clapped at the splendid sight, some close enough to feel the sudden winds buffeting their faces were a little taken aback. Though they laughed it off and even cheered, Teba placed a wing on either side of his son's head and gently rocked him back and forth in admonishment, causing Riju to giggle.
Sidon, after chuckling himself, looked back toward Kass, who understood the sign.
"Recall Rudania's Champion of flame,
Before his fated moment finally came.
Crawling flame on a mighty peak.
Rudania's Champion, never weak.
This is the tale of Great Daruk's task,
And the princess who came to ask."
Sidon gestured toward Yunobo, resuming his speech as the notes behind him continued to play.
"Yunobo's ancestor was the Great Daruk, Champion of the Gorons, who used his mighty strength and heavy sword to defeat the largest of beasts; though, it was his power of defense that kept many safe under his watch. He was a gentle soul, caring and bright, who was quick to make one smile any chance he got. Let's hear it for the Goron Champion!"
The crowd applauded in honor of the Goron Champion, which made Yunobo awkwardly raise a large hand to his head again.
"Aw man,goro...I know the Great Daruk would be really happy to hear this."
As the clapping of the crowd died down, Kass began to sing again.
"Recall Naboris's Champion of sand,
Before she was lost to the land
Lightning king of the desert.
Naboris's Champion, the stalwart.
Chief Urbosa's heart was strong,
So the princess came along."
"The Gerudo Champion, Chief of the Gerudo, Lady Urbosa. Strong willed and respected, with mastery of her scimitar and shield," Sidon said to the crowd. "She was the Goddess of Lightning, commanding it with just a snap of her fingers. She was a leader, and also a friend, to not just the queen, but the queen's daughter as well. Her wisdom was unmatched, second only to her occasional cheekiness. All of these qualities have been passed down to her descendant, who stands alongside us today."
Riju bowed, demure and proper while all eyes were on her, listening to the clapping of the crowd. Teba, still standing behind her, placed a wing on her shoulder, and she smiled up at him in gratitude. She couldn't help but give Tulin a little teasing grin, who folded his wings and rolled his eyes in response.
Chuckling at the sight, Sidon raised a hand to Kass for the next part of the song.
"Recall the Champion of Ruta's wrath,
Before she walked her chosen path.
Reaching skyward from water's blue.
Ruta's Champion a heart true.
Mipha's kindness was known to all,
Which is why the princess came to call."
"The final champion was the Champion of the Zora," Sidon said, his smile becoming wistful. "She was kind and caring, and while her skill with a trident was unmatched, she was well known for her healing art. To me, though, she was my beloved sister, who did everything in her power to bring a smile to those she met. I will never forget her, and as time continues to pass, I hope I follow a path that would make her proud. She did her part well, and I hope she knows just how proud I, my father, and everyone else is of her."
Sidon paused, allowing a short applause from the crowd, before placing a hand on his chest.
"I ask you all now, to give a moment of silence, to not just the four champions who lost their lives, but to all we had lost a century ago."
The music dwindled to a stop as the crowd mimicked Sidon's actions and lowered their heads. After a few minutes, Sidon raised his head, prompting the rest to raise theirs.
"I thank you all for indulging me to talk about my sister, and the rest of the champions," he said. "I am grateful to be given the chance to spread their influence to others who wish to hear. Again, they are the reason we stand here today with a chance to rebuild what was lost; however, it wasn't just the Champion's welostwho gave this kingdom a second chance. We are also blessed with this opportunity thanks to two others—two you know very well at this point.
"One is the final champion, the Hylian Champion, who managed to survive and return after a hundred-year slumber. He rose and fought once again, battling one danger after another, before facing the Calamity itself in a duel of all duels. The other is the Hylian Princess—who I'm sure you noticed was mentioned in every verse of the ballad—who kept the Calamity at bay for a hundred years, before ultimately being given the chance to seal it away. I could tell you more about them, but why hear more from me, when you could hear from the princess herself?
"I introduce Zelda Daphnes Hyrule, the rightful Princess of Hyrule."
"This song I'm about to play is simple," Kass said in an aside to the troupe. "It's a simple lullaby to catch on to. The princess's mother used to sing this to her. I'm sure she'll appreciate the gesture."
"Lead on and we'll follow!" Mastro bounced eagerly.
The musicians began to play, the lullaby echoing across the beaches. Soon, the crowd began to part, allowing the anticipated arrival to walk through. Many gasped at the sight of her, for her dirty traveling gear had vanished, her face had beenthoroughlycleaned, and her hair perfectly arranged. Her locks of gold sparkled in the twilight, the hem of her fine blue-and-gold dress fluttered in the breeze, and her poise was perfect. For those who hadn't lived a hundred years ago—like Sidon and the other Zora—this was a jaw-dropping sight, since for the first time in their lives, they were seeingtrueroyalty before them.
She made her way through the crowd, then through the clearing that Sidon had planned for before stopping in front of the Zora Prince.
"Your speech was wonderful," she said quietly. "Did you come up with that on the spot?"
"I did. I'm glad it impressed you, Princess," Sidon replied, placing a hand on his chest. "Though, if it weren't for Kass, I'm sure it wouldn't have been as memorable."
"I'm grateful to you both," Zelda said with a smile before stepping to stand at Sidon's side, though she gazed upward at the performing bard. "My mother's lullaby... I never expected to hear it this evening."
"I figured it might give you some...encouragement,my dear Princess" Kass said over the notes. "To feel as though your mother is right here at your side, watching over you as you venture into this new era you plan to build."
Zelda's eyes sparkled in wonder before giving Kass a nod and a smile.
"Thank you," she said emphatically.
Kass smiled and nodded in return before gesturing toward the crowd awaiting her. The princess turned and faced them, and everyone went silent, waiting to hear what words she had for them. Zelda looked among them, inspecting each pair of eyes, before closing her own, and taking a deep breath.
"The first thing I want to say, as I stand before you all, is thank you," she began. "When I first arrived here in Lurelin over a month ago, the villagers had no reason to trust in any word I said. I proposed a festival—a large one—and described exactly what my intentions were, and you all gave me a chance. For that, I am eternally grateful."
She bowed and paused for a moment, before straightening herself again.
"I wanted to hold this festival, not just to establish the beginnings of reconstruction. Truthfully, that was a secondary goal," she continued. "My main objective was to give proper thanks and goodbye to the Champions I fought beside—who lost their lives to the Calamity—for they deserve nothing less. I couldn't give them a proper burial, but I was able to give them this. This festival didn't come out exactly as planned, but—in fact—it's farbetterthan I could have ever imagined, and it's all because of you. Again, I thank you all. It's actually for reasons such as this, the people's love of community, that I've made the decision to wear this dress again, something I never thought I'd do.
"While it wasn't my main objective, it wasanobjective to stand before you as I do now. By birthright, I am the Princess of Hyrule; and yet, that isn't why I wish to reclaim my title. For the last few months, I've been avoiding it; simply traveling and living my life as normal as I could...as challenging as being normal is for someone like myself. But, during my travels, and while living in one place, I met so many amazing people, all working hard to do better for themselves in such a wild era. After some time, receiving their kindness, experiencing their struggles, and even failing them, I realized that I had the power to give them a better life.
"It was at that moment of realization I came to the conclusion that I could run from my duties no longer. I can't force anyone to follow me, nor would I want to. You are all welcome to govern yourselves if that is what you wish, and honestly as princess, I don't plan to intervene much at all. In fact, I'm still new to this. I can be stubborn, I get in over my head, and even now, I'm finding it hard to form the words to say to you all at this very moment. However...if you do choose to let me guide you,I swearI will do everything in my power to help you all prosper. That I can assure you."
Zelda closed her eyes and lowered her head as the crowd began to murmur among themselves. Suddenly, the princess's ears twitched at the sound of shifting sand. She opened her eyes and looked up to see Sidon, who had been standing beside her, now kneeling in the sand before her. He was soon followed by Riju, then Teba and Tulin, before eventually, the entire crowd on the beach knelt before her. Even the musicians on the makeshift stage had stopped playing behind her, all of them kneeling toward Zelda's direction.
"Really?" Zelda asked, still looking around. "All of you? Just like that?"
"You say that as though you've done nothing for us," Elder Rozel said, hobbling out of the crowd toward her. "Look around you, princess. Whether you believe it or not, you were the most important piece in making all of this happen. Lurelin, in just a few short months, is thriving more than it ever has before. You've united the leaders and representatives from all over the land here in one place. You've more than earned our respect and trust."
"But, I didn't do this alone, I had so much help—"
"Are leaders not allowed to have help?" Rozel asked. "Is a leader's job to simply do things alone? Or is it their job to ensure prosperity and happiness; to guide and lead?"
"Elder Rozel..."
"If you aren't the embodiment of a leader, then I'm not sure who is," the elder chuckled. "Please, accept our response, and let us help you reconstruct your lost kingdom."
"I..." Zelda hesitated, again looking around at all of the bowing heads in front of her. Finally, she lowered herself to a bow again. "Thank you. All of you. I promise to do my best for each and every one of you."
After a few moments, Zelda raised her head, once again hearing the shifting of sand as the crowd got to their feet.
"There's one more thing I'd like to say," she said once she had their full attention again. "I'm sure you all noticed that I haven't mentioned one last reason why I wanted to hold such a festival. Just as Elder Rozel said—leaders need help, and it makes me glad you all feel as you do because...I need help making this all possible. I'm happy to see all of you are willing to help me in this era of reconstruction, and I'm glad to know I shouldn't be ashamed of it; however...there's one person who not only wants to help me with such a monumental task, but hasbeenhelping me for well over a century now.
"It may be selfish of me, but...he's the main reason I wanted to hold this festival.
"When he was first appointed to protect me by my father, I gave him such a hard time; but as our time together grew, my feelings for him did as well. We grew close, during our time together a hundred years ago, but still kept a slight distance between us, for we didn't know if it would be alright for us to start a relationship. Now, though...being in this new era makes this possible. All of the champions did what they could to mend our relationship at the beginning, and I know they'd be proud to see what we've become, even if we've had some ups and downs these past few months.
"With that being said, there's something I wish to rectify, right here and now.
"It was originally the Great Daruk's suggestion to do what I'm about to do, and we did go along with his plan in the past, but...I selfishly ruined the experience then, believing my father was the foolish one for appointing a knight such as he to my side. This time, I asked him myself to stand by my side, and he agreed without hesitation, by his own will, to do so. The Hylian Champion, Link, will once again be my knight; this time, by my own appointment, for my father's judgment was correct. I wish to redo the ceremony, and give him the ceremony he deserves."
Standing straight, her face confident, she took a breath before calling out to the crowd.
"Will Link, the Hylian Champion, please step forward?"
Just as they did for her earlier, the crowd looked behind them, beginning to part in order to let the approaching knight through. The filaments of gold thread lining his navy-and-red uniform glimmered in the twilight as he walked, his eyes focused and his face stoic. As he walked, the bard on the stage began to play his accordion again, followed soon after by the Stable Trotters.
"The flames crawl, the waters rise,
The lightning strikes, the wind sighs.
A sword beyond the divine four,
Awaits a hero forevermore!
Let not the sound leave horses riled.
Breathe in the breath of the wild."
As the song came to an end, Link stopped in the sand, where he stood right in front of Princess Zelda. She gave him a smile.
"Did they tell you when you would be needed?" she asked as the music became more ceremonial behind them. "I'd be surprised if they did, seeing how much improvisation there's been with this event."
"Sidon said I'd just know," Link said, allowing a small smile to appear on his lips. "I got nervous there for a second. I started to think I was waiting too long, but the moment I heard what your plan was...I knew, just like Sidon said I would."
"I'm glad. You made a wonderful entrance," Zelda said before giving him a serious look. "Just to be absolutely clear... Are you really sure about this—?"
"Excuuuuse me, Princess,but I think I already answered this," Link said with a smile. "I was gonna do it whether you asked or not, because it's what I want to do."
"Are you mimicking Riju? You're such a child," Zelda giggled. "Okay then. Shall we begin?"
"I'm ready when you are."
"Then...would Lady Riju of the Gerudo, Yunobo of the Gorons, Prince Sidon of the Zora, and Teba of the Rito, please step forward."
The four called looked surprised. It was clear that this was also part of Zelda's improvisations. While Sidon was already near, the rest stepped through the crowd, gathering behind Link.
"During the original ceremony, the other four champions were there to witness," she explained kindly. "I believe it would only be right for their ancestors to take their place—if they wouldn'tmind, that is."
"Of course! I'll gladly take part," Riju said cheerfully.
"Yeah, I agree! If the Great Daruk was the one who came up with the idea, then I have to honor him by taking his place,goro!"Yunobo chimed in.
"I believe you already know I'll participate without question," Sidon said happily.
"Um... I'm happy to be included, but I'm not a descendant of Master Revali," Teba said, raising a wing.
"I chose you because you worked incredibly hard to achieve the skill you have with a bow," Zelda explained, "and the dedication you have to your village is second to none. Revali would choose no other to stand in his place."
"I want to be a part of it!" shouted Tulin. Immediately, Teba sighed, turning to see his fledgling running out of the crowd toward the group. "I want to help, too!"
"Tulin!"his father scolded, yet Tulin simply looked at the princess with large, pleading eyes.
"I've been working hard, too," he said. "I even have a power like Master Revali!"
"You do, don't you?" Zelda said kindly, holding back a giggle. "I don't see why not then. How about you stand alongside your father? I'm sure Link wouldn't mind."
"She's right, I don't," Link said, turning to look back at the fledgling with a smile.
While Tulin bounced on his talons in excitement, Teba sighed before giving the princess and her knight an appreciative nod.
"Then, if you all are happy to take part, please, stand behind me," Zelda requested.
In response, the five walked around them, stationing themselves behind the princess, with Tulin standing right in front of his father.
Zelda glanced back at them with a smile before turning back to Link. She held out a hand, which Link gently placed his own into. Resuming his stoic expression, he took a knee—making sure to keep his hand in hers—while placing his free hand over his heart. Closing his eyes, he lowered his head, waiting for the princess to speak.
"Hero of Hyrule, chosen by The Sword That Seals the Darkness, you have shown unflinching bravery and skill in the face of darkness and adversity. Because of your efforts, you have proven yourself worthy of the blessings of the Goddess Hylia.
"Whether skyward bound, adrift in time, or steeped in the flowing embers of twilight, the sacred blade is forever bound to the soul of the Hero. We pray for your protection, and we hope—I hope—that the two of you will grow stronger together, as one.
"Forged in the long distant past, The Sword That Seals the Darkness, the guardian of Hyrule, crafted from ancient steel, forever bound to the hero, in the name of the Goddess Hylia, I bless you and your chosen hero. Over the seas of time and distance, we need the sacred power the sword holds, blessed by the golden power of the Goddess, and hope rests in you, to be forever by the hero's side.
"Again, we pray that the two of you will be stronger, together, as one.
"Please, Link, Hylian Champion and Hero of Hyrule, rise."
Opening his eyes, still gripping Zelda's hand, Link stood, now looking into her emerald eyes.
"This ceremony is supposed to be when you have the Master Sword in your possession," Zelda explained, "but, it's not with you at the moment. It awaits your return in the forest, preparing your final trial. Therefore, I will be using something else.Paya—"
From the crowd, Paya appeared, holding a sword in her arms. It was a beautiful sword, its guard a sparkling gold and its handle a rich purple. While her face was blazing red, she walked through the clearing, stopping next to Zelda before handing her the sword. With a quick bow, she hurried off, disappearing back into the crowd.
"I found this in your collection of weapons in the slate," Zelda said. "I'm sure this will suffice. Now then...ahem—"
As Zelda stood proper and tall again, Link took a step back, placing his hand on his heart again and slightly bowed.
"Link, I officially appoint you as my personal knight, and bestow upon you this sword of my choosing, worthy of use until the Master Sword is returned to you," Zelda echoed. She held the sword out to Link, which he proudly took. "Lead our future soldiers, knights, and guards in battle, and help me protect our kingdom from any future threat. Please, help me rebuild this kingdom and return us to our once-prosperous era."
Holding the sword to his chest by the handle, its sheathed blade pointing downward, Link gave Zelda a nod.
"I will, now and forever, be your appointed knight," he said. "This task, I accept without question."
Zelda smiled brightly.
"Thank you. Then this ceremony...is complete."
At this, the crowd cheered louder than they had previously, calling either Link or the princess's name. Laughing as he strapped the royal broadsword to his belt, he looked around at the crowd before meeting Zelda's eyes again. Giggling herself, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his torso.
"I'm glad to have you by my side," she said, just loud enough for him to hear.
"And I'm glad to be there," Link replied at the same volume.
"Hey, the ceremony might be over, but that doesn't mean the festival is!" the conductor's voice called from the top of the wooden crates. Link and Zelda turned to see Mastro cheerfully bouncing along the edge of the crates. "I believe there's still one more event the princess wanted to have, and that requires us!"
"There's more?" Link asked, looking at Zelda. The princess slightly blushed, but nodded.
"Th-there is," she said. "I was hoping... Well, I was hoping to ask you for a dance..."
"A dance? Like...when we were back in Hateno?" Link asked, his smile slowly widening.
"Just like then," she said. "Except, maybe this time without the milk bottle on my head."
"I dunno, I thought having the bottle there was pretty fun," Link teased.
"Link—"
"Of course, I'd love to dance with you," Link agreed. "Then, if we are to dance, would the musicians do the honors?"
"Absolutely!" Mastro said, before turning to Kass. "Will you be joining us?"
"I believe I've taken enough of your spotlight, dear conductor," Kass said, putting his accordion away. "The stage is all yours."
"Very well! Stable Trotters, our time has come!" Mastro called to the troupe. "It's time to playourmusic! Let's give them something to dance to!"
As Kass flapped off the stage, Mastro stopped bouncing, landing directly in front of his musicians. He waved his baton, prompting the music to start. It was faster than those of Kass's accordion-based notes; tunes Link could swear he had heard before.
"The songs remind you of the castle, don't they?" Zelda asked. "Whether they realize it or not, this music is quite similar to what would play in the castle a hundred years ago—music we would have waltzed to had the kingdom hosted any balls during our preparation for the Calamity."
"Well, we can waltz to it now," Link said, holding out a hand. "Is the dance the same as before?"
"It is. Do you remember?" Zelda asked, taking his offered palm.
The knight grinned.
"I'd never forget."
Link pulled her in close, their chests almost touching. They stood perfectly straight, one set of hands clasped, Link's free hand on her waist and Zelda's free hand on his shoulder. Finally, they began to dance in a square, the sand shifting beneath their bare feet. As they danced, the crowd cheered again, before others joined in, drunkenly mimicking the knight and princess's motions. Neither Link nor Zelda noticed though, for their eyes were locked onto each other, the voices of the crowd mere background noise as they danced.
Eventually, their dance became less formal and proper, laughing and growing more spontaneous as they spun, twisting and turning as they danced along the shores of Lurelin, heedless of the sand and salt water encrusting the hems of their clothes. Their smiles were unmatched by anyone else on the beach that evening.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I hope the wait for ZeLink to reunite was worth it!
Thank you to my editor LokiFan who took so much time editing such a monstrous chapter. She did and AMAZING job.
I'm excited for you guys to see what's next to come.
Also remember! The audioplay for Couple of the Wild now has 5 chapters out if you wanna watch!
Enjoy~!
Kenny
