A few weeks had passed since the couple returned to Hateno Village, and things had gone relatively back to normal. Just as she had during winter, Zelda awakened before sunrise, tiredly prepared her hair before eating breakfast, then walked to the inn to start her shift. The only difference between then and now was that Link wasn't there in the bed next to her nor was he there to see her off to work.
He had already begun the work given to him by Purah for their reconstruction plans, venturing out of town to collect wood and other materials to take to Central Hyrule. He also worked with the Hudson Construction Company to organize where the heavier, more intricate building materials were going—whether it was for the Central Hyrule plan, or rebuilding the deteriorated ruins scattered about the land. Even without the Sheikah Slate, Link retained his in-depth knowledge of Hyrule's terrain, allowing him to assist the company with where the stone was supposed to go and the best way to get there.
While he was out of the village, Zelda spent her days working at the inn in the mornings before heading up to the tech lab to help with the Central Hyrule construction designs, in addition to brainstorming strategies for reestablishing and reconnecting Hyrule. Today was different though, for Purah and Robbie had decided to travel to see the site progress in Central Hyrule, and while Zelda wished to go with them, she decided it was best to stay behind, reasoning that she needed to stock up as many rupees as possible. She could only work at the inn for so long before her newfound royal duties with reconstruction took over entirely, and a startup fund would be useful in the future. While this was a legitimate reason, her deeper reason for staying behind was that she actually just wanted to enjoy the simple life she had led for some time during the previous winter, before her duties would eventually overshadow it.
It didn't hurt to want to relax a little before things eventually ramped up, right? And with the two Sheikah gone, she could take the remainder of her day to herself to simply enjoy existing in Hateno Village.
Smiling to herself as she swept the inn's dining hall, she wondered what she would do once her shift came to an end. Shopping at Pruce's General Store for home goods? Maybe some stitch work on the new Champion's Tunic for Link now that the previous one she'd been repairing had disappeared in the Slate? Though it was disappointing to know it was gone, it really had been too raggedy for continued use, so it had been time to make him a new one anyway. Or, maybe she would simply relax at home and enjoy a nice book. Regardless, all of these thoughts made her smile, which Traysi saw from the table where she was seated.
"You look unusually happy," she said, placing her elbow on the table and her cheek into her palm. "Especially when you consider that Link isn't here."
"My happiness isn't purely related to whether Link is around or not," Zelda said simply. "I can enjoy quality time by myself, thank you very much."
"I'm not so sure about that," Traysi continued. "Your mood drastically changed when Link returned back when we were in Lurelin."
"That's because I hadn't seen him in over a month," Zelda clarified, "and he was undergoing an extremely dangerous trial, and after joining him in one of said trials, I'd like to believe my concerns were valid."
"Whatever you say," Traysi shrugged. "So why are you so happy?"
"Because I get to enjoy myself today," Zelda said, her smile growing a little wider. "I'm considering my options for later relaxation."
"The princess wanting to relax?" came a voice from the dining hall's entrance. Zelda and Traysi turned to see Celessa entering the hall, still wearing her inn uniform. "I never thought I'd see the day."
"Celessa! Perfect timing—bring me another drink," Traysi said, waving the new barmaid over. "I need another one."
"You're having a good time bossing me around, aren't you?" Celessa asked with a frown, only for Prima to yell from the counter.
"Keep her at it, Traysi!" she called. "Make her work!"
"How much longer do I have to work for you?" Celessa called back while preparing a new drink for Traysi. "It's already been a few weeks!"
"Until I say so," Prima called back.
"That's so vague..." Celessa whined. With a sigh, she walked over and set the mug of ale next to Traysi's notes.
"Are you still planning your story?" Zelda asked, going to peer over Traysi's shoulder. The reporter nodded.
"I've committed to starting a new publication," she explained. "The Rumor Mill just isn't going to cut it. I need people to know this stuff is real— like the Master Sword, and you being over a century old, and Purah being a little girl who's over a century old—"
"I think your first meeting with Purah went well," Zelda smiled. Traysi simply grunted.
"I appreciate her skillful note taking," she finally said, apparently unable to find anything else to say about the researcher. It was clear she was still processing. "Anyway—new publication it is, and that requires a lot of work, so here I am. I'm gonna make sure this is the best publication Hyrule has ever had."
"Thank you for working so hard to assist in our endeavours, Traysi," Zelda said. "I do really appreciate it."
The reporter hummed, waving a hand at the princess as a sign to leave her to her work. With a giggle, Zelda continued her sweeping, working right up until she heard the double doors of the inn creak open.
"Welcome back, Jules," she heard Prima said, "I hope you enjoyed your time in town. You'll be taking over for the princess."
"Let me put my stuff near my bed, and then I'll get right on it," Jules replied.
"Did you do some shopping?" Prima asked, receiving a hum in response.
"Just a few small things."
Zelda heard Jules walk up the stairs, pause, and then her returning footsteps as she came back down. With her own inn uniform in hand, she entered the dining hall and immediately spotted Zelda.
"Hand it over," she said, reaching out her hand. "It's my turn."
"Thank you for taking over," Zelda said, stepping forward to give the broom to her. Jules shrugged.
"It's my job," she said simply. "I'm getting paid to take it over. Good money, too. Do you have any plans for your afternoon?"
"Not at the moment," Zelda admitted. "I was trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to do only a few minutes ago, actually."
"That might be a good thing then," Jules said with a smile. "You enjoy your day, Princess."
"Wait, why is it a good thing?" Zelda asked, but the purple-haired worker simply exited the room and returned to the second level, assuming that it hadn't been swept since morning.
After a curious hum, she said her goodbyes to Traysi and Celessa before exiting the dining hall and entered the lobby, where Prima was currently behind the front desk, flipping through the previous week's check-in sheets.
"Good work today, Princess," the innkeeper said, looking up from her work. "It's going to be a sad day for me when you aren't able to work here anymore."
"It will be, but until then, I'll keep doing my best," Zelda said happily. "Is there anything else you need me to do before I leave?"
"Nope. You're all set to go," Prima said. "I'll see you tomorrow."
With a wave in farewell, Zelda exited the inn through its large double doors into Hateno, the village she had been peacefully living in for the last few weeks. The snow had completely vanished by this point, allowing the vibrant green grass to return and the flowers to bloom, with the warm sun cheerfully beaming down from above. She already felt so at peace and connected to her people while living here through the winter, but now that all of her and Link's inner and outer trials and tribulations had passed, the peace in her heart had only grown.
With a tranquil aura, she took a deep breath of the warm spring air and exhaled before looking down the steps before her, only to pause on the first step. Someone had caught her eye—a person who was waiting at the bottom of the staircase next to a chestnut mare. The visitor looked up and met her eyes with a small smile on his face.
"Link!" Zelda exclaimed in joy. Eagerly, she hurried down the steps, careful not to trip over her long dress, before jumping off the last step into his arms. "Welcome back! I didn't expect to see you for another few weeks!"
"That's what Purah thought too," Link chuckled, spinning Zelda around before letting her feet touch the ground again. "The thing is, she didn't account for how much stronger and faster Epona is than your average horse, so we finished this month's batch of work much faster than anticipated."
"Epona always has been well above all the rest, isn't that right, girl?" Zelda asked Epona with a giggle. She reached out to pet the mare's muzzle and Epona instantly obliged, even pressing it into Zelda's palm herself.
"I think she worked extra hard to see you sooner," Link said, rubbing his hand against Epona's side. "It looks like she missed you."
"Aw, I missed you too, Epona," Zelda giggled again before focusing back on Link, though her hand didn't pull away from Epona's muzzle. "How are things going out there?"
"They're definitely going," Link said. Taking Epona by the reins, he began to guide her back through the village whence they came, with Zelda walking directly beside Link, listening as he continued to explain. "Purah and Robbie are still outlining their plans. It looks like they want to build this thing right outside of Castle Town, and judging by what they drew on the ground, it's going to be huge."
"Knowing Purah, this is only the start," Zelda said musingly. "I can only imagine the end result being a lot larger than originally planned. I was able to see some of the construction plans, but I still can't visualize the true scale of it. I feel bad not having gone to help."
"Don't," Link said simply. "You just traveled around Hyrule, organizing a festival including all the villages and their leaders. We all know you deserve a rest after that."
"I'm not sure it's helpful to hear that from you," Zelda admitted. "You underwent all of those trials, and you're still out there working hard to further Hyrule's reconstruction..."
"Hey, that's not a fair comparison," Link said, taking Zelda's hand. "This is my method of rest. I like being out there. I get to work alongside Epona more than usual, fight the occasional easy monster, and relax in the fields while nothing else is going on. I'm having a great time. You, on the other hand—"
Link gave her hand a squeeze.
"—will have way more to do, mentally and maybe even physically, too. You're gonna be leading this whole thing—organizing, building, and who knows what else. You needed the break before starting on all of that," he continued. "Plus, you're still working here at the inn. In fact, my work is like your job at the inn. It's simple, refreshing, not too much, but keeps the hands moving—and it brings some rupees in. So, we're doing the same thing, right?"
"Okay, when you put it that way, I feel much better," Zelda giggled, returning Link's grip. "I am enjoying the little break. I feel so...refreshed. Especially now that spring has arrived."
"Man, imagine if we'd really started all this work in the winter," Link chuckled. "I probably wouldn't be enjoying myself as much if we had."
"I believe you," Zelda said. "How is the rest of preparation going? Are you faring well without the Master Sword?"
"Preparation itself is going well, but Purah sure is keeping me busy," Link sighed. "I am surviving without the Master Sword, though. I will say, I'm glad to still have the Hylian Shield. Good thing it was on my back and not in the slate when everything vanished."
With a grin, Link looked back at the silver and blue shield on his back. Zelda giggled.
"I'm glad the shield is serving you well, and that Purah and Robbie's plans are coming together," she said before frowning. "Speaking of all the construction happening, I feel bad I couldn't give Hudson those pictures I took on the Sheikah Slate. He'll have to travel around and look for himself to prepare now..."
"Ah, he doesn't mind," Link said. "It's part of the job. In fact, I think he likes the adventure. Sometimes he'll take Rhondson with him, and if he can't go, he'll just send Karson. They're doing well."
"That's wonderful to hear. I hope Karson stops in town to see Sophie every now and then. Did you know they were an item?" Zelda asked. Link raised his eyebrows.
"I didn't! Good for them," he said. Zelda nodded.
"She has a sister too, apparently," she added.
"Really? Seldon never mentioned having another daughter," Link said, thinking back on all the conversations he'd had with the boutique owner.
"He does! Apparently, her name is Cece–" Zelda began to explain, but before she could finish, the two were bombarded by a group of small children.
"Link is back in town!" they called as they ran toward them, "and Princess Zelda is off of work!"
"Hello, children," Zelda greeted, crouching down in order to hug one of them, while Link patted two others on the head.
"How are you all doing?" Link asked. "I hope you're staying out of big trouble."
"Big trouble?" Zelda repeated. "That's oddly specific."
"Link gave us a rule before leaving," one of the boys said, while another raised his finger while continuing. "He said asking to stay out of all trouble is impossible, so we can get in a little trouble as long as it's not too big!"
"I...suppose I can agree with that logic," Zelda said, glancing up at Link, who shrugged in response.
"Kids are gonna be kids," he said. "Better to channel their instincts instead of trying to get rid of them."
"Again, I suppose I agree with that logic," Zelda repeated before turning back to the kids. "What do you kids do all day?"
"Play," the kids chorused in unison, before one spoke up. "Actually, we had a question!"
"And what's that?" Zelda asked.
"What's the Calamity?" one of them asked.
"I told them it was a huge monster!" a girl said. "But they won't believe me!"
"Come on, that's just a story the grownups tell us!" another child said.
"My mama said most of that was made-up stuff just to make you two look better," a little girl named Narah said, whom Zelda recognized as Nikki's child. "I want to believe it's true, though..."
"Wait, hold on... What?" Zelda asked in disbelief. "What do you mean you don't believe in the Calamity? That's important historical information!"
"I mean, it makes sense they'd have a hard time believing it," Link said, placing his hands on his belt. "This isn't like a hundred years ago where the threat was constantly looming. Do they really need to know about it?"
"It's important that they do!" Zelda said, quickly getting to her feet.
"Is it because you want to look good?" Narah asked.
"Not at all, that isn't what's important," Zelda replied to the child. "Those legends and stories are important for preserving information. Our history warned us about the Calamity Ganon's return. It's why we were able to prepare, and why we didn't get—"
"Zel," Link said quickly, gently grabbing the princess by the shoulders. "They're kids. I don't think they're ready for that kind of truth."
"Awww, we wanna hear!" the children whined.
"And they should hear!" Zelda said. "You're right; maybe not now or in such detail, but definitely at some point. In fact, there's so much they need to learn now that Hyrule is being reconstructed properly. Oh dear, there may be more work to be done here in Hateno than I thought—"
"Hey guys, why don't you all go play?" Link said with a chuckle. "When the princess starts brainstorming, she can get really boring. We'll tell you the story another time, alright?"
The kids issued another "awwww", then—deciding the fear of boredom outweighed the need to satisfy their curiosity—ran off in a group, ready to find their next activity. Zelda huffed.
"You didn't need to call me boring," she said with a frown, causing Link to laugh. "Link, I'm serious about this! They need a proper education so we can pass down all the important knowledge we had when the Calamity was a threat. We know the seal won't last forever. Whether in a thousand years or ten-thousand years, the Calamity will return, and the future needs to be prepared—!"
"—and you're right," Link said. Using the hand that wasn't holding Epona's reins, he took Zelda by the waist and resumed leading her down the road again. "But, maybe we should start with smaller things, and tell them the bigger stuff when they're a little bit older. Honestly, I actually like where you're headed with this, but let's start slow."
"Let's start slow..." Zelda mumbled, bringing a finger to her chin in thought. "It looks like I have an important side project to work on now. I have been told I could be a good teacher—"
The princess continued to ramble about her potential plans of schooling the children right up until they reached the fork in the road. Just before they could head up the path that led to their house, they saw two travelers walking under the village's entrance sign—a Hylian with a donkey, and a tall, dark-skinned Gerudo.
"Agus!" Link waved, bringing Epona to a stop to greet the travelers. Zelda paused beside him. "Welcome back! I haven't seen you since the start of winter."
"Well, I done came and went abou' three times now," Agus laughed, taking Link by the shoulder. "You're just never around when I come back! It's good ta see ya, Link. You too, Zelda!"
"Oh, you can call her 'Princess' again," Link said, while Zelda bowed in greeting, clearly unbothered by the use of her proper name. "Sorry, I told you that you shouldn't last time, but now we're rebuilding the kingdom and all..."
"By Hylia, too many things are happenin' all at once," Agus sighed. "Feels like time has started moving a lot faster since you two came here, not tha' it's a bad thing!"
The merchant laughed before giving Link a good looking-over.
"Say... You look like you're doin' a lot better than the last time I saw ya," he said. "You must be doin' well for ya-self!"
"I am, Agus, I am," Link nodded. "Thanks for looking out for me before."
"Anytime, Link," Agus nodded. "I'm always here to lend an ear. You too, Princess."
"I thank you kindly," Zelda said with a kind smile.
"By the way, I see you brought a visitor," Link said. "Is that you, Karsh? I thought you were out traveling to find a husband?"
"I was, but when I returned to Gerudo Town to check in with the chief and Buliara, I was told things went a little wrong," the Gerudo named Karsh said.
"What does that mean?" Link asked, furrowing his brow.
"Are they talking about the Divine Beasts disappearing?" Zelda asked nervously. "I can assure them that the disappearance of the beasts won't jeopardize our safety—"
"The Beasts' disappearance is the cause, but not the problem itself," Karsh explained. "In fact, I'm here to deliver a message to the two of you regarding the issue. Chief Riju assumed you wouldn't be able to visit as often now that the shrines have disappeared."
Reaching into her backpack, the Gerudo pulled out a parchment and handed it to Zelda. Concluding he wasn't supposed to be in on such things, Agus took his donkey by the reins and disappeared into town while Zelda read the note. She gasped.
"What?" Link asked. "What is it?"
"The Yiga..." Zelda said. "They've escaped...and they're...gone?"
"Gone?" Link repeated. "What do you mean 'gone'? Was it that one free Yiga that got away? How could he get past all the Gerudo guards? And would they really just up and disappear like that without any retaliation?"
"They're gone, as in...gone," Karsh said simply. "We've searched the entire desert, and even the outer dunes, but there isn't a trace of them left. The day the Divine Beasts and the shrines vanished without a trace, so too did the Yiga Clan. At least for now..."
The stone-carved walls of the Yiga Clan labyrinth shook upon the arrival of the Divine Beast's wail. Wooden beams vibrated and groaned, stone pebbles and dust fell from the ceiling, and the flames flickered wildly as the noises echoed around the caves, causing all of the Gerudo guards inside to look around in confusion.
"Is that Naboris?"
"Is something happening outside?"
Suddenly, the ground began to shake in a steady rhythm, stopping and starting as if caused by footsteps. Before any of the guards could piece together what was happening, one of the Gerudo keeping watch outside the hideout came rushing into the large room where they stood, hurrying down the stairs toward them.
"Where is Captain Teake?"
"I'm here," Teake answered, appearing through the barricade of guards. "Give your report, and make it succinct."
"The Divine Beast, Vah Naboris," the warrior panted. "It's moving, coming down the mountain, and it looks like Gerudo Town is in its line of sight."
"Are you sure?" Teake asked. "The chief and the Hylian Champion calmed the Divine Beast themselves, and it's shown no act of terror since."
"It's too far away to be sure what Naboris wants," the Gerudo warrior said. "It could walk past the city, it could stop at the city, it could be a threat—we are unsure."
"What do we do, Captain?" one of the Gerudo guards asked from behind. "Most of our forces are here, guarding the Yiga Clan. Can we afford to stay here?"
"But if we leave, these vile assassins will do their best to escape," another guard stated. "There's no way they won't try to escape if we leave!"
"So we're forced to choose between the Yiga Clan and the Divine Beast, huh?" Teake muttered before humming in thought. The steady footsteps of the Divine Beast vibrated the room even more than before. Furrowing her brow in frustration, she clicked her tongue and looked toward her army in the room. "Even if we don't know the Beast's intentions, I'd rather choose to deal with the Yiga Clan a thousand times over than give the Divine Beast even a potential chance at flattening Gerudo Town like it almost did before."
Exhaling in frustration, she turned to her warriors, taking her golden shield from her lower back before raising it in the air.
"We head for Gerudo Town and protect the chief and her citizens at all costs!" she commanded loudly. "Two of you will stay here and watch over the Yiga! The rest will leave for the town."
The Gerudo warriors chanted in agreement. After the captain chose the duo who would stay, the warriors began to head out, but before Teake could follow, one of the chosen two called out to her.
"Captain... What do we do if the Yiga do find a way to free themselves?" she asked.
"Truthfully, I doubt they'll escape," Teake said, looking down the hall to where the Yiga clan were being kept. "If they could have loosened their bindings, they would have by now. But, if they do somehow free themselves..."
The captain paused before turning her back to them.
"Do your best."
"Yes, Captain!" the two guards said, slamming the end of their spears onto the stone floor as they straightened themselves up.
With a nod, the captain hurried out of the room and up the large staircase, disappearing from the fortress with the rest of her army.
The guards stood at the ready for hours, listening to the wails of the Divine Beast in the distance, and the vibrations of the footsteps. Eventually, the rumblings disappeared, and the Beast's cries vanished. Regardless, the warriors stood tall, preparing themselves for the worst-case scenario.
"What do you think?" one of the guards asked. "Do you think the town is safe?"
"I'd like to believe so," the other replied. "I don't think the Beast sounded violent this time, if that makes any sense."
A few seconds passed before the first guard asked another question.
"Those assassins are unusually quiet, aren't they?"
"Well, we didn't exactly tell them most of the army left," the second guard answered. "They might still be under the impression most of us are here. At least, I hope that's the case."
"Should one of us go check on them? Act like we're making the usual rounds?" the first guard asked. "They'll catch on if no one does the usual."
"That's not a bad idea," the second guard said.
"With a nod, the first guard disappeared into the hall, leaving the second guard alone at the front.
Unfortunately, having just one guard at the entrance was not enough to notice the tall, thin figure lurking in the darkness of the hideout. As the guard stood at the ready, looking around the room she was guarding, the figure silently moved through the shadows, creeping behind the guard in order to follow the first one down the hall.
The figure followed the patrolling guard until she entered the small room the entirety of the Yiga clan had been tied and huddled up in. The moment she entered, all the blood-red painted eyes locked onto her, yet no one moved. That is, except for the pudgy clan leader.
"Weeeeeeeell, it sounded like there was quite the commotion going on outside, wasn't there?" Master Kohga asked. "You know, if you need a handsome, agile, and brave warrior—such as myself—I can always send one of my lackeys to take a look for you—"
"Silence, Kohga," the guard said, pointing her spear down at the leader's mask. "Nothing outside concerns you. Our only focus is keeping you here."
"Ugh, but my arms and legs are starting to cramp! At least give us some exercise, won't you?" Kohga shouted, kicking and squirming in his ropes. "Did you Gerudo really need to tie these ropes so tight?"
At this, the Gerudo sighed and shook her head.
"What was I so concerned about?" she mumbled before turning her back to the Yiga.
With that, she disappeared out of the room and down the hall again. Once she was gone, Kohga gave a low chuckle.
"I suppose most of the guards are gone if you managed to sneak in here," he said to no one. "Isn't that right, my wonderful, boundless footsoldier?"
In a puff of smoke, the footsoldier in question appeared in front of Kohga in a kneeling position. His uniform was torn and stitched together in several places and his mask was cracked, but looked perfectly fine other than that. Pulling the sickle free from its place on his waist, he sliced through the ropes that bound Kohga.
"Thank you, though I must ask... What took you so long?" he said in a loud whisper, trying to keep his voice down. "Could you not have found a way to cause any distraction?"
"Forgive me, Master Kohga, but I doubt any distraction I could have caused would allow me to slip by all of the Gerudo," the Yiga said, bowing his head. "I've found that patience is sometimes the most useful tool in our arsenal, so I chose to wait."
The leader grunted.
"I knew that!" he said, rubbing his wrists to try and ease the pain the ropes had brought him. "Which is why we're going to use that exact same tactic for our next move. Free the rest."
"Yes, Master Kohga," the Yiga said with a nod before moving to free the other foot soldiers and blade masters. As he moved, he asked, "what will our next steps be, exactly?"
"Didn't I just say we'll be using patience to our advantage?" Kohga asked violently. "Do you think you deserve to know more about my super secret plan simply because you freed us from the Gerudo's clutches?"
Kohga clicked his tongue and folded his arms.
"You'd better be grateful that I'm a fair leader, so I'll tell you. Listen up everyone!" he said to the freed clan members. "We will be heading... Wait for it... Underground!"
"Underground?" one of the blade masters asked.
"Underground!" Kohga repeated. "You see, when I tactically fell into the pit outside, I saw something mighty interesting down there. At first, I figured it was all nothing but junk, but now that I've had months to think about it, I think we can use that junk to our advantage. So, if you all are done asking stupid questions, we make for the hole!"
The clan quietly cheered, but before they could puff away, Kohga pointed toward the Yiga with the cracked mask.
"Get him a new mask," he said. "Only one person was allowed to have such a cool feature on their uniform. And, for his efforts in freeing us—even if he was a bit late—get him a bundle of mighty bananas—and bring me some too! Now, let's get moving, ha ha ha!"
...
...
...
And that, my friends, is the end to what I'd like to consider the "Breath of the Wild" era of the Couple Series. Clearly, there is a third book, and I will talk about plans for that in just a moment, but before that...
Thank you.
If you've made it to the end of this series, the end of these two books, the end of this epic... Seriously, thank you.
I have been writing this story since 2020. I began posting Couple of the Wild in February of 2021. It's 2025 now, and while this particular book, ACoT, went on for way longer than I anticipated, man, what a journey it was. I know it wasn't perfect, and it probably never will be. I'm rewriting CotW right now, and wow, I wish there were story aspects I could just flat out change because I've evolved so much. But...you guys stuck with it regardless of that.
Couple of the Wild was my first real book. Sure, I wrote that MHA story but that was truthfully a practice story for so I could feel confident writing this one, the actual story: the story I consider to have the real story arcs and character development.
I know it was different, but I hope you guys enjoyed what basically boils down to my take on the Champion's Ballad and Trial of the Sword DLC. Yeah, that's a very big understatement to what this story ended up being filled with, but that's what it is at the core lmao: a what if the DLC had Zelda tagging along.
So yeah, thank you guys for sticking around my first series. Side note, I'll be combining some of the early chapters. Some of the chapters in the beginning of the book should just be one chapter, so Chapter count for ACoT will go down. No cut content, just readjusting the chapter formats.
What now? Well, as you saw, there's a new book coming!
This is the beginning of what I'd like to call the "Tears of the Kingdom" era of the Couple Series! I currently plan to have this split into two books, just like the first two books were. Now, a few key things:
This will be a continuation of this series, so everything that happened in the "Breath of the Wild" era of books did happen. However, we are following a huge timeskip, so much of what happened in CotW and ACoT won't really be referenced.
It's going to be written in a way that a new reader could pick up the Tears of the Kingdom Era books, and they won't need to read CotW and ACoT to know what's going on.
Basically, if you read CotW and ACoT, you will now completely understand why I write the characters the way they do. You'll understand why they are characterized in certain ways, how they got to be who they were, and how Zelink formed.
In the TotK books, new readers are gonna pick up the books and just see that they are together. I hope that makes sense! So if you don't see huge references to CotW and ACoT, that's why. Canonically, you can just say its been so many years, there's just no reason for Link and Zelda bring up specific events.
Now another thing, if you haven't already noticed... We aren't starting the two books where the game starts! The Tears of the Kingdom era of the Couple Series will not start underneath the castle.
TotK...needs work lmao. It really does, there's so much there and its all so...disconnected and jumbled. So I will be completely reimagining it. Things will be different, I will be making creative changes, etc etc. It won't follow the TotK game to a "T". I would hope after reading these two books, you guys would expect me not to follow totk perfectly. That would be boring.
Nope, I'm starting my TotK era off with a massive change already: The Reede and Cece Hateno Election quest will take place before the events of Tears of the Kingdom, and Zelda will be present for it! The election quest, and a few other quests that won't fit randomly in the middle of the TotK drama will be put in this new book to reintroduce the characters, and give the story a natural start.
I hope that is an approved change that shows how much I plan to reorganize and change this story, hopefully for the better. Am I starting off on the right foot?
So, that's next! I will be taking some time to get the proper outline down, maybe get ahead of some of the chapters, and I plan to try and start some of those new stories I had ready. I hope you look forward to when the book releases!
Thank you again for reading, keep a look out for the new book release and other releases, and I hope to see you guys soon!
Kenny