Disclaimer: Legend of Zelda and all characters associated belong to Nintendo
Traditions and Reflections
The snow was falling heavily over the Hebra Mountains. The frigid winds had thankfully calmed, but the dark of night wasn't less cold.
Link chucked another piece of wood into the roaring bonfire and turned to look out at the vast Hyrule Field in the distance below. It had been about one full year since Ganondorf's demise and a new one was just about to start. With Zelda and every leader across Hyrule working together to bring their world closer to prosperity nearly non-stop for a year it was time to take a moment celebrate what they had achieved and for the lasting peace.
For the occasion Link and Zelda had invited their inner circle of friends – Paya, Impa, and Purah, Riju and Buliara, Tulin and his parents, Sidon and Yonah, and lastly Yunobo – to a large cabin up in the snowy mountains. A bonfire was being fed and food was being prepared along with a proper stash of Spicy Elixirs for everyone who was making a ruckus already as the official countdown began.
Link glanced up at the clear, starlight sky. As he took in the myriad of specks of light above Link reflected on his adventure since waking up for the first time in a hundred years, discovering about the Zonai, taking the fight to the resurrected Demon King, to partially restoring Hyrule over the past year. It had been an arduous journey to recover his memories and free the kingdom twice over in the span of a few short years and going to not have to worry about monsters or a blood moon was a strange and almost eerie feeling.
The Master Sword had been put to rest once more, fully restored and stronger than ever, but its role was over until it was needed once again. Zelda had gathered Hylians across the land to get started on the project of rebuilding castle town and they had all made considerable strides with the aid of the other races. The other regions had recuperated from Ganondorf's terror as well.
But for Link it felt…off. He expected monsters stalking just outside the light of the fires, a bokoblin horn blowing in the distance, a cackling Wizzrobe wandering close. He had donned the ancient Frostbite garb for this reason and the grip on the pommel of his Royal Broadsword – a weapon gifted by Zelda and one he always carried – tightened and he cast a vary glance around the woodland perimeter, but saw only his friends laughing and being merry, and his heartrate slowed down.
Sidon and his wife Yonah were bundled up in protective layers of Snowquill gear while sipping Spicy Elixirs and chatting it up with Yunobo and Impa. Riju, accompanied by Buliara, and Zelda were discussing something by the campire while Paya and the Rito were cooking. Normally he would be all over that task, but Link couldn't help but pretend to be busy with the bonfire while keeping watch. He had promised the King after all and if he lowered his guard now—
"Hey there, Linky," Purah suddenly cooed into his ear and the young man flinched, making the Sheikah giggle. She was a little red around her face despite her added layer of Snowquill. "Why are you here by your lonesome? I know you're not the most talkative person, but come on! A new year is upon us! And you know what that means?"
Link shrugged his shoulders and was hushed before he could utter a reply.
"It's a tradition to kiss someone at the stroke of midnight you knooow," she sing-songed and giggled as she pushed a mug towards him. "Here, try the mulled wine! It's sooo good!"
"Ah…thank you," Link said and accepted the proffered mug. It smelled strongly of sweetness and something spicy as well as alcoholic. Under Purah's intense, expecting gaze he took a swig and heat coursed through his body, different from the Spicy Elixir. "Mm…It's good. But what's this about traditions…?"
"You may not remember it, but it was a popular tradition before the Calamity you know. It's supposed to be a good thing to do to ring in the new year!" Purah explained mirthfully.
"Huh. I see. I don't recall—"
"I heard tales about it," Riju commented as she walked over, and pulled on her feathery cloak tighter around herself. "Some women mentioned it as they return to Gerudo Town. It apparently helped a lot of them to claim their now-husbands," she said with a chuckle.
"I-I-I heard of i-it too!" Paya practically shouted from her seat by the campfire and tucked loose bangs of hair behind her ear.
"Ooh it's a tradition in the domain I come from," Yonah told them and sipped on what Link assumed was also mulled wine. "I think every race in Hyrule has that tradition."
"Gorons don't," Yunobo then clarified. "We don't see the point and we don't work like Hylians."
"I can't say we kiss, but we Rito like to groom each other's plumage," Teba explained.
"I'm just saying," Yonah interrupted. "That Ms. Purah isn't wrong about the tradition. And I'm sure Link here won't have a problem finding someone for midnight, being such a handsome Hylian that he is," she then added with a good-natured laugh, to which Sidon joined in in agreeance.
Link's heart fluttered and he cast a quick look around to see most of the women gathered were either blushing or looking away to his surprise as it dawned on him what Yonah had implied.
"Oh, young love," Impa teased.
It made the upcoming dinner an awkward one, but he nonetheless had fun as the group got caught up in their success for Hyrule's first step to restoration.
x.x.x
With dinner sorted and dishes put away, Link once again stood by the bonfire and kept it fed whilst sipping on mulled wine. He could hear everyone else happily talking and cheering around, but he remained vigilant and quiet. As much as Link loved to sleep in and napping he ironically found it difficult to switch off and relax. As happy as he was for the peace it went against his many years of training and the insane adventures he had prior to said peace and it was…almost like it was too good to be true. Even as the bells down below in Hyrule Field began to toll for the approaching new year – another new beginning to leave your troubles behind and start anew – Link still felt as if he was needed as the silent guardian.
A distant, long screeching noise made his ears perk up and Link sharply turned to the direction of the sound before the sky suddenly lit up with colours that took Link's breath away.
One after another the fireworks painted the night sky with a kaleidoscope of colours. The bells rang loudly and everyone present began to joyfully chant the countdown, but Link just stared in awe. Last year there hadn't been such a huge celebratory display due to the limited resources and lack of social gatherings, but now that Hyrule was a unified everyone went all out.
And for the moment, at least, Link forgot all his troubles and just appreciated the beauty of it all as his muscles relaxed.
"Ten! Nine! Eight!"
He sipped on the mulled wine, gawking with childish wonder, when there was a tap on his shoulder.
"Seven! Six! Five! Four!"
"Hm? Oh, hello—"
"Three! Two! ONE!"
Soft lips pressed against Link's own just as the fireworks flared up in the sky, and the bells officially rang in the new year as people across Hyrule no doubt cheered at the top of their lungs;
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
A/N: Happy New Year everyone. Let's make this year one of kindness and love and acceptance.
Who kissed Link? Eh, whoever you imagine it to be.