To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 13 – Recollection

Zelda awoke with a start as thunder roared overhead. She took a deep, tense breath as she sat up and glanced around the dark corners of her room. She had been in the middle of a restful slumber, and she hadn't expected to be awoken so suddenly.

It was currently the dead of night, and Zelda was lying in her bedchamber. She wore nothing but her nightgown, and her long brunette hair fell loosely down her back, free from the neat braid that she usually kept it in. As Zelda glanced out the windows, she noticed that there was a thunderstorm happening outside, as evidenced by the rain constantly pattering against the glass, in addition to the crackling of thunder that had forced her awake.

Zelda sat up and stretched a bit before rubbing her eyes. Now that she was awake, she felt rather alert, and she had a feeling that she would have a hard time drifting off to sleep again so soon. Moving her blankets aside, Zelda chose to swing her legs out and rise from her bed. She then walked towards the nearest window, before settling down in a cushioned chair. She stared out at the night sky, content to watch the rain in silence. She hoped that sitting her for a while might help her relax enough to fall asleep once again.

As she sat there, random thoughts drifted through her groggy mind, most of them only barely capturing her attention. They were important topics that she dwelled on often, like Hyrule's reconstruction, the Roundtable, and her father's condition…She took a moment to ponder each of these thoughts loosely, wondering what the future might hold and how quickly things would improve. Hyrule still had a lot of healing to do.

But this wasn't all. Zelda's current atmosphere consisting of darkness, rain, and eerie silence reminded her of other things as well. Things like the Twilight Realm, Midna, Link…

Her mind lingered on this final name, unwilling to drift on.

Link…The Hero of Twilight.

With a slight frown, Zelda released a quiet sigh. Here she was, thinking of the Hero clad in green once again. It seemed that lately, in spite of his lack of presence around the castle, he was a force that still threatened to plague her every thought.

A month had nearly passed since the first official Roundtable meeting. During that time, Link had returned to the castle only a handful of times, and he never seemed to stay for long, always hurrying off back to Ordon Village at his earliest convenience. His first return had only seen him travel to Castle Town, having found the missing man, Dolen, and returning him to his worried family. Zelda had hoped to thank him for solving this matter, but she heard that Link departed quickly after that, not even bothering to stop by the castle and say hello. After that, Link took infrequent trips to the castle, coming and going only when his assistance was needed with something. Zelda only saw him once during this time, and the conversation they had was brief before they both had to move on to other things. Zelda wished to converse with him further after that, but by the time she had freed up her schedule, he had already departed for Ordon once again.

This saddened Zelda, as it meant that they didn't get to see each other very often. She was honestly starting to miss their interactions together. Something as simple as seeing each other, smiling, saying hello and catching up. She always enjoyed their talks, even if their recent encounters somehow managed to bring about a consistently awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere for the Princess.

Yes, it was true, Zelda still experienced issues whenever she was around Link. Even in their single brief encounter during the last month, Zelda had felt nervous, her heart became jumpy, and her words stuttered out of her mouth a few too many times for her liking. And of course, she was still far too wary of meeting the Hero's gaze, choosing instead to glance at whatever nearby scenery her eyes could latch onto. The Princess couldn't deny that this encounter had been a struggle, but even then, she thought of it fondly all the same. That was just how much she enjoyed sharing Link's company.

However, this wasn't the only time that the Princess experienced these issues. Zelda had started to notice that she felt strange even when Link wasn't around. In the weeks he had been away, Zelda often found herself daydreaming about the Hero, wondering where he was, what he was up to, and of course, when she would see him again.

For Zelda, these thoughts sprung up without warning and usually far more frequently than she would have liked. Fortunately, the daydreams didn't have quite the same effect as the one-on-one encounters with the Hero, although they were still enough to make Zelda feel out-of-sorts. She felt far too distracted most of the time, and thinking of the Hero made her heart ache a bit, although not in a painful way. The feeling was strange, and almost filled her with a sense of hope, like she was truly looking forward to the day that they could see each other again. Which was true of course, but it felt weird to think of such a thing so constantly, almost as if she was longing for the Hero…

But that certainly wasn't true, was it? There was no way that the Princess would be pining after someone out of the blue like this, right? And surely not in such an awkward and pathetic manner as this?

Zelda shook her head. No, surely her issues were the result of something else entirely…Something else…Anything else…

You fancy him, don't you?

Zelda forced her eyes shut and shuddered as the question repeated softly in her mind. In addition to her frequent thoughts of the Hero, the words of a certain Knight had also haunted the Princess throughout the last month…

Zelda couldn't help it. She constantly found herself recalling the accusations that Ashei had made against her. The conclusions that she had drawn about Zelda's behavior around Link. The possibility that the Princess had fallen for the Hero. These things repeatedly echoed around in Zelda's mind, threatening to force the girl into a sudden blush of embarrassment at any given moment.

And of course, Zelda's mind wasn't the only thing tormenting her either. No, there was still Ashei, the devious little Knight herself. After their conversation in the hallway, Ashei had taken it upon herself to taunt the Princess wherever they met. She often greeted Zelda with smirks, smug looks, and playful snickers. As promised, she never breathed a word of their previous conversation out loud, but Zelda was still able to determine what all of this was about. Ashei had dirt on the Princess, and she knew it. And not only that, but she was all too willing to tease the Princess about it at every opportunity she had.

Gestures like this only made Zelda feel embarrassed. She tried her best to simply ignore Ashei, but she had to admit, it was hard to do so when the Knight's words held such a tight grasp on her mind. While her accusations were irritating, annoying, and (probably) untrue, Zelda couldn't deny that they offered an answer to the issues she currently faced. A conclusive reason behind her recent irrational behavior.

Maybe the Princess did fancy the Hero…

Zelda leaned back in her chair and sighed. She brought some of her long hair to her side, loosely running her fingers through it while she continued to watch the rain fall against her window. She wanted to shake her head. To vehemently deny this thought, as she had done so many times already, but she knew that it wouldn't help. She had already spent the past month trying to deny these claims, and what good had it done her? She was still nervous around Link, her heart was still a jumpy mess, and her mind was still a haze of daydreams centered around the Hero. Hell, even now, Zelda could feel a spark of heat rising into her cheeks.

Zelda took a deep breath as she continued combing her fingers through her hair. No, she shouldn't just outright refute such claims just because they embarrassed her. To respond in such a way would be childish, needlessly dismissive, and completely unwise. On the off chance that there was any truth in these accusations, shouldn't Zelda seek it out? Shouldn't she try to get a definitive answer, and find out how she really felt?

Zelda paused, going still as the low sound of thunder rumbled overhead…

In order to get her answer…In order to address these accusations that had been made against her, Zelda would have to sort some things out. She would have to sift through her thoughts, acknowledge her feelings, and find an answer to a difficult question. A question that had slowly been burning away in the back of her mind throughout the past month…

What was Link to Zelda?

Zelda sighed again. Yes, this was a very difficult and complicated question, but she had a feeling that solving this conundrum might allow her to resolve all of her other issues. She didn't necessarily want to do this, but she knew that she would have to for her own good. Reluctantly, she attempted to think of a suitable response to the question that had been posed.

Was he the Hero?

During the Twilight Invasion, Link had done more for Zelda than he could have ever known. He had saved her Kingdom. Her home. Her people. Her family and friends and everything else that she held dear. Without him, all of it would be in ruins, crushed beneath Ganondorf's ruthless reign, with the people she loved being forced to suffer in pain and misery. Yes, Link had saved them all from a terrible fate, and Zelda would forever be thankful for that. He had earned her respect, her admiration, and above all else, her gratitude.

But at the same time, Link was so much more than just a Hero. He wasn't some far-off figure of legendary status that swept into Hyrule to save the day only to then disappear just as suddenly as he had arrived. No, Zelda's relationship with Link was much more personal than that…

Was he a friend?

Zelda couldn't say that she had known Link for a lengthy amount of time, but in the time that the two of them had known each other, she felt that they had become somewhat close. As a person, Link was very friendly and personable. It was just as easy to get close to him as it was to get along with him. To Zelda, he was someone that made her laugh and smile and even feel encouraged just by being around him. Yes, she would certainly consider Link a friend of hers.

And yet, once again, Zelda still felt like he was more than that. He wasn't just a friend; he was a trusted ally. A companion. Someone that she always felt she could rely upon. He was humble and caring and brave and…

Zelda paused, her gaze returning to the rain falling against her window. She felt like she had more to say, but she wasn't quite sure how to express it. Things were already difficult enough for her as they were, as she was trying to summarize everything that she felt towards an extraordinary person using mere words. But even so, Zelda still felt like there was something more to it. Something that she hadn't fully recognized yet.

Zelda took a deep breath, trying to sort through her thoughts once again. She was determined to recall what she seemed to have forgotten. She soon began reminiscing, thinking back on all of her experiences, especially those involving the Hero, and how she had felt throughout each of them. It was honestly difficult to do such a thing, especially when it felt like she had known Link for so long…

Zelda soon smiled, suddenly recalling the first time that she had ever met Link. Back then, she hadn't even learned his name, or met his face for that matter.

It was back when Zelda had been imprisoned in that old tower room, forced to do nothing but gaze out and look upon her Twilight-paled Kingdom. Those were the darkest days that she had ever known. She had been separated from her allies, as well as her poisoned father, who for all she knew was currently lying on his deathbed. Zelda was so lonely, and so guilt-ridden too. After all, she had been the one to decide that Hyrule would surrender to Zant and be subsequently plunged into Twilight. She had been trying to save lives, but in the end, all she had really done was subject her Kingdom to its inevitable doom. At that time, Zelda was helpless. All she could do was wear dark robes, and mourn the passing of what had once been.

That is, until a small spark of hope had presented itself before her. The yet unknown hero had wandered into the room that she was being held in, in the form of a large black and white wolf, with Midna riding on his back to boot. Upon seeing him, Zelda had instantly been filled with sorrow and regret. She immediately realized that a terrible fate had befallen him. This was no ordinary wolf, but rather a human turned wolf against his will. And it seemed that he had been imprisoned in the castle before Midna had found him as well. He was just another soul who was suffering because of her decision.

Zelda felt that she owed the man-turned-beast an explanation, as she knew that he must be quite confused about the sudden collapse of the world around them. Zelda was filled with shame as she had to tell him about the moment of Zant's invasion, and her decision to surrender. She basically had to admit that she was responsible for his current predicament. Just another sin for Zelda to feel remorse over.

But as Zelda told her tale, she stared into the deep blue eyes of the wolf. Eyes that did not belong to a ferocious animal, but rather a kinder, gentler spirit. And even as Zelda explained her involvement in everything, those eyes never betrayed her. They never looked at her accusingly, or showed any contempt or hostility. If anything, they almost looked…a little sad, just like her own. She wondered, was it possible that he pitied her? Empathized with her decision?

Zelda wasn't sure, and she didn't have time to find out. She knew that the guard would soon be making his round to check up on her, and she needed to keep this wolf and Midna out of the enemy's clutches. She soon sent them on their way. This only filled her with sorrow, as she didn't even get the chance to discuss half of what she would've liked to, but it had to be done. Zelda watched from her window as Midna and the wolf safely departed from the castle.

As she watched them go, Zelda allowed herself to smile for the first time in ages. She had finally found what she had been looking for: a spark of hope. She knew not where Midna would take the nameless hero or what plans she had in store for him, but Zelda had faith that Midna would properly use him to aid in the battle against Zant and his army.

From that day on, Zelda stopped mourning her Kingdom. Instead, she began praying to the three Goddesses morning, noon, and night. She constantly sent her wishes out to the Kingdom's divine protectors, praying for Midna and the wolf's success. Zelda had a feeling that if anyone could save them now, it would be those two.

Her time of imprisonment in the tower became easier after that. She still felt worried and found herself constantly wondering what Midna and the wolf were up to as the days passed by, but her mindset wasn't completely negative. She now had something to believe in, and she was feeling much more optimistic about the future of her Kingdom. All she had to do now was wait for good news to come in, as well as her own opportunity to strike. Zelda knew not when the chance would arrive, but if one were ever to present itself, she would be more than willing to join the fray. She wanted to help fight the Twilight in any way that she could.

Unfortunately, the trickle of news was incredibly quiet. Being a prisoner in the castle, Zelda wasn't told anything of what was happening in the outside world. She had no way of knowing if Midna and the wolf were making any progress or not, and she would soon start to feel herself growing anxious. At times like this, Zelda would kneel and pray once again, hoping that their journey would be blessed with good results.

Eventually, a night came where Zelda received a vision while she was sleeping. It originated from a monkey-like spirit that went by the name of Faron, and it gladly informed the Princess that the entire region of Faron had been freed from the clutches of the Twilight. It had now been restored to its former state, and the denizens of the forest were safe once more, all thanks to the Twili imp and the hero clad in green.

When Zelda awoke from that dream, she had the biggest smile on her face. She had been right to believe in the two of them. They had actually been making progress towards saving the Kingdom after all! And then, just a few weeks later, Zelda received another dream, this time from the owl-like spirit known as Eldin. He announced that her allies had since freed the Eldin Province from the clutches of the Twilight. After that, Zelda awoke and immediately thanked the Goddesses for aiding her heroes in all their endeavors.

Some time after that, Zelda received her final dream from Lanayru, the serpent-like spirit, who revealed that yet another province had been restored to normalcy. Upon waking up, Zelda quickly looked out her window to see that the veil of Twilight had been removed from the castle as well as the town below. Zelda was nearly brought to tears when she saw that. They had done it; the two of them had completely repelled the Twilight from their Kingdom. She once again bowed her head in prayer to offer the Goddesses her overwhelming feelings of gratitude.

After that, Zelda tried to stay patient as she awaited Midna and the wolf's return. She wanted to discuss with them and possibly formulate a plan of action for defeating Zant once and for all. She hoped that they would return to her side as quickly as possible.

However, the next time Zelda saw the two of them, she almost wished that she hadn't. She remembered that dark and stormy night very clearly, when the wolf wandered into her chambers once more, drenched from the rain and covered in wounds. The look in his eyes was sad and desperate. Zelda was surprised to see him like this, but she truly gasped once she spotted the weak form of Midna resting on his backside. Something was terribly wrong with the imp. Her whole body had been dyed a pale shade of white, a color that Zelda found to be most disturbing as she gazed upon her. The wolf soon set the imp down on the floor, where she softly moaned and gasped for breath.

Zelda had knelt down next to the imp and tried to comfort her, but Midna insisted that she try to help free Link from his wolf form instead. Link…That was the first time that Zelda had heard the name of her hero. To her surprise, it sounded somewhat familiar, but Zelda didn't bother to ponder it. The imp's critical condition and sudden request occupied her thoughts before anything else.

Unfortunately, Zelda's magic was unable to aid Link in any way. Zant's shadow crystal was too powerful for her to simply dispel it. The only thing she could really do for the hero was tell him to go to the Sacred Grove and seek out the Master Sword, a holy blade capable of banishing evil. Zelda knew that only a true hero sent by the Goddesses would be able to wield such a blade, but by this point, she had the utmost faith in this wolf named Link. Just as she had been granted power by the Goddesses, she knew that Link was also capable of achieving great things.

But Zelda…wished that she could do so much more. Link and Midna had been busy traversing the Kingdom, slowly saving each province from the threat of the Twilight. Meanwhile, all Zelda had done was remain imprisoned in her tower and pray for their success. It was incredibly frustrating, not being able to help them in any substantial way. And in the end, look at how her two allies had ended up. One was imprisoned in his shadow form again, and the other was lying on the floor, incredibly injured and on the verge of dying. And yet all Zelda could do was point them in the right direction?

No, Zelda was determined to do more for them. She was certain she could. Midna didn't deserve to die; not after all she had done to help Zelda and her Kingdom. In this moment, Zelda suddenly insisted on reviving Midna, no matter the cost.

Zelda ended up calling on the Goddesses' power, and began performing a powerful spell. A spell that would completely heal Midna and fill her body with life energy once again. And in exchange, Zelda's own life would be sacrificed.

It was a big decision, one that she did not intend to make lightly, but in this moment, she was determined to see it through. She promised herself that she would save Midna here, no matter what she had to give up. If anything, her life would be a small price to pay for the safety of her allies and her Kingdom. She had done nothing but squander her time away in this tower anyway. At least now, she would finally prove herself useful in the fight against Zant by providing her precious allies with the ultimate gift. The gift of life.

At some point, Midna began screaming for Link to stop her, but Zelda refused to relent. She held no regrets; only the desire to save her friend. Midna's body was soon enveloped in light, and before long Zelda felt her own consciousness begin to fade. As her vision eventually went to black, Zelda prayed to the Goddesses one last time, wishing that her final sacrificial act had been successful.

Zelda's memory became foggy after that. She wasn't exactly sure what had happened to her.

It almost felt like she had descended into a long, peaceful slumber. At times, she would awaken, but she was only ever semiconscious, as if she was still dreaming. Whenever her mind started to become active, all she was aware of was the fact that she was surrounded by darkness. She was never sure where she was or how much time had passed since she had entered this place. Was she dead, and this was the afterlife? Or was it something different? A state of being in-between life and death, perhaps? Zelda wasn't sure, and she often found herself losing consciousness again before she could ever truly take the time to assess her situation.

However, her semiconscious state didn't consist of silence, at least not all the time. Occasionally, Zelda would hear voices, sounding distant yet familiar. Yes, she was certain that she could hear Midna's voice from time to time. And a man's voice as well. Someone who was conversing with Midna. Could it be Link?

Zelda tried to listen to their conversations, but it was hard to make out their words. Their voices were so distant, usually coming across as nothing more than whispers. And Zelda was so tired too, always on the verge of falling back into her never-ending cycle of sleep. She could never focus long enough to actually hear what they were saying.

But over time, the voices became louder, and clearer too. And not only that, but Zelda would occasionally catch a glimpse of her allies, wherever they were in the world. They were brief visions, sometimes appearing for no more than a single second, but it was still enough for Zelda to spot the duo and see what they were up to. Riding across the plains, exploring the desert, climbing a snowy mountain…

It was around this time that Zelda became aware of a warmth radiating from beside her. A warmth that seemed to be coming from her right hand, if she even still had hands. Truth be told, she actually felt formless during her time spent in this dark void. Just a mind without a body. But now, that was beginning to change. Suddenly, she felt like she could feel her hand, as well as her fingers. She was able to close her fist and open it as well. She was starting to regain some of her bodily control. And all the while, she continued to feel the warmth coming from said hand.

For the first time, Zelda felt conscious enough to formulate a theory on what was happening. Could this warmth be originating from the sacred mark of the Goddesses that was inscribed on the back of her hand? Was this the reason why she still seemed to be tethered to the world of the living?

In addition to the warmth, a small golden light began to shine amongst the darkness as well. For the first time, Zelda felt like she and her surroundings were illuminated, although she still couldn't see anything substantial. Her body appeared to be reforming and coming back under her control, but she couldn't see it at all. And the part of the void that had been illuminated by the light was nothing more than empty space. Still, this bright golden light was enough to set her heart at ease. Anything was better than drifting amongst the darkness.

With each passing day, the light grew stronger and brighter. In addition to this, the visions of Link and Midna began to appear more frequently as well, allowing Zelda to get a more detailed glimpse into their adventure. It was around this point that the Princess was able to see a clear image of Link in his human form for the first time. Oddly enough, he was younger than she expected, and a bit handsome too. He appeared to be around her own age, with a strong but slim build. He had blond hair and the same kind, blue eyes that she had noticed in his wolf form. He wore a green tunic, the classic garb worn by Heroes of the past. And in his hands, he wielded the Master Sword, the legendary blade said to banish evil.

Zelda just gazed upon him with admiration. This was her hero. This was the man who would surely save Hyrule. She had the utmost faith in him. She knew that the Goddesses had entrusted him to save the Kingdom, and she would gladly do the same.

Zelda continued to watch, day by day, as the duo adventured across the Kingdom. As the visions became longer and more visible, Zelda was slowly able to piece together what her allies were up to. It seemed that they were collecting the pieces of the shattered Mirror of Twilight, so that they could travel to the Twilight Realm and confront Zant. Upon realizing this, Zelda began praying to the Goddesses for their success, just as she always did. She wasn't even sure if her thoughts could reach the Goddesses from her current semiconscious position in limbo, but she figured that it was better to try than to do nothing at all. If there was even the smallest chance that Zelda could aid the heroes in their quest, then she wanted to do it.

Fortunately, the Goddesses must have heard her plea, for Link and Midna were soon successful in collecting the Mirror shards. Once they were all in place, they traveled to the Twilight Realm, where their final battle with Zant awaited them. By this point, the visions were extremely vivid, and Zelda was watching every moment with baited breath. Whenever they encountered an obstacle or an enemy, Zelda would pray once again, requesting that the Goddesses offer their aid to the duo. Without them, Hyrule would succumb to darkness. Without them, all hope was lost.

Eventually, Link and Midna came face to face with Zant, and their battle against him began. Zelda wished to watch and root for her chosen heroes, but it seemed that it was not meant to be. The vision of her allies soon faded away to nothingness. Their voices, as well as the sounds of battle, also fell eerily silent. Zelda immediately knew that something was wrong. Suddenly, the sphere of golden light that surrounded her and had been growing day by day, now began to shrink. The Princess attempted to raise her hand that was marked by the Goddesses, hoping to feed the golden light with her power, but it was no use. The golden light continued to dim, and Zelda was suddenly being encompassed by darkness once again.

But this darkness…it was different than what she had experienced before. Zelda shivered when she felt it approach her. This darkness had a presence to it. A presence that was unknown and yet somehow familiar. A dark presence that contained anger, hatred, and greed as well as a twisted sense of satisfaction. A presence that Zelda recognized as having plagued her family for generations. Before long, a single voice, terrible and wicked, rang out as the darkness swallowed her whole.

"Ha ha ha, I have you now, Princess Zelda!"

That was the last thing Zelda heard before the presence subjugated her will completely, and forced her back into her original semiconscious state. Although this time, her dreams were no longer tranquil. Zelda was now subjected to multiple nightmares; terrible dreams in which she was slaughtered and Hyrule was burned to ashes. Whenever she awoke, she was only greeted by the cold darkness that surrounded her. Once again, her mind became a haze. She was often tired and restless, as well as (she hated to admit it) afraid. Zelda didn't care what happened to herself, but what about her people? What about her father? What about Link and Midna? Would anyone be safe from this terrible evil? Those were the only thoughts that Zelda was able to produce before she inevitably succumbed to her horrible nightmares once again.

Fortunately, the nightmares eventually ceased. Zelda was forced to awaken, and for the first time since succumbing to this dark presence, she felt like she was aware of her surroundings. She was in the throne room at the castle, suspended in the air by the giant statue of the Triforce and three Goddesses. And yet while Zelda's spirit seemed to have awakened, her body was still very much asleep, unable to move or respond to her commands.

Nevertheless, just being aware of her surroundings had made Zelda feel much more alert. This, in addition to having been freed of her constant nightmares, left the Princess feeling refreshed and even somewhat hopeful. She no longer felt alone, but why was that?

A second later, Zelda's heart leapt a bit for she could sense that Link and Midna were close by. No, not only could she sense them, but she could hear them as well! They were here, in the castle, having come to rescue her! They had come to oppose the great evil that had tortured her. An evil that went by a name that Zelda now knew all too well, having heard it whispered to her amidst her horrible dreams.

The Dark Lord, Ganondorf…

The darkness soon descended upon her once more, subjugating her and wresting away what little control she had. She was confused as to what was happening. Was she possibly being possessed? Somewhere in the background, she heard Midna shouting, trying to defend her. Zelda tried to fight the foreign presence, but it was no use. In her current state, her power was far too weak to defend herself against the tyrant.

Zelda's eyes were then forced open, and she could now see the scene clearly. Midna being forced away from her body; Link running to help her. Zelda's body soon began to move, but the movements were not her own. She was being controlled by the foreign presence, acting in accordance with his will. Zelda was now nothing more than Ganondorf's puppet. And it seemed that the Dark Lord was insistent on using her body to fight against her allies.

It was torture for Zelda, having to see and feel everything that her body was experiencing, which included attacking her own allies. All the while, she had no control over any of it. She was simply forced to watch as Ganondorf used her body to hover around the room and fire off numerous spheres of magical energy at Link.

Zelda cursed herself. Was this her fate? To be nothing more than a hindrance to her allies? To stand in their way and prevent them from saving Hyrule? Meanwhile, Link was hesitant to even fight back, too concerned for Zelda's safety and hoping for some chance to rescue her.

Tears flowed from Zelda's eyes as she inwardly cried out, screamed, and did anything she could to try and speak to the hero. She wanted to tell him to stop holding back. To destroy Ganondorf even if that meant destroying herself. Didn't he understand that her life would be a small price to pay in exchange for the safety of the Kingdom? She had cast it away once already and she would gladly do so again!

Fortunately, Link did end up fighting back, by reflecting Ganondorf's own magic back towards him. Zelda's body twisted with pain as the tyrant cried out. Zelda also felt that intense pain, but she didn't care. She was already resolved to give up her own life if it meant that everyone else could be spared. She would endure whatever pain was necessary to make sure that this tyrant was defeated for good.

However, Zelda soon found herself thinking that she should have given her allies some more credit, for it seemed that her demise was not the only solution available to them. Before long, Ganondorf's hold on Zelda began to loosen, and it was at this point that Midna joined the fray. Using magic, she managed to force the dark presence out of Zelda's body, freeing her of the evil completely. Finally, Zelda felt like she was at peace once more.

Zelda remained semiconscious for a few minutes after that, and she wondered if she was going to drift off into the land of dreams once again. Fortunately, a feeling of warmth soon enveloped her as she felt a familiar energy pour into her. It was the same life energy that she had originally lent to Midna, now finally being returned to her. With a small smile, the Princess managed to open her eyes, having the chance to gaze upon her two heroes at last. This is the sight that she had been longing for. The hope that she had clung to throughout the Twilight Invasion. She was finally able to stand side by side with her allies, and face the great evil that threatened to destroy them all. Zelda silently thanked the Goddesses for guiding them all to this moment in time.

The rest of the battle felt like a blur. Midna had teleported them out of the castle, but Ganondorf did the same, chasing them on horseback. From here, everything happened so quickly, with Zelda choosing to act as her instincts directed her. She remembered calling on the Light Spirits, firing numerous arrows at Ganondorf while riding on horseback, and praying for Link's safety while he dueled with the tyrant one-on-one. And in the end, she remembered the relief she felt, when Link finally plunged the Master Sword into Ganondorf's chest, finishing him off for good.

However, the rapidity of the events certainly didn't diminish their impact, at least not for Zelda. She clearly recalled Link extending his hand to her, showing the trust he had placed in her. She also remembered trusting him in return, as he steered Epona close enough to Ganondorf for Zelda to get a good shot. In that moment, the two of them had shared the utmost faith in each other…

Back in the present, Zelda paused, suddenly ceasing her reminiscing as the realization came to her. Only after reliving all of her experiences during the Twilight Invasion, as well as recalling the feelings of standing alongside Link and placing all of her hope in him, did she realize what the Hero truly meant to her. He was something more than just a Hero. Something more than just a friend.

Link was an inspiration to her.

No matter what they had experienced and no matter how much darkness they had endured, Link had always stood strong as a pillar of hope. He was bright, strong, and courageous. Zelda knew that she could always rely on him to come to her rescue and save the day. And it wasn't because he was the Hero chosen by the Goddesses or because he was the Princess's friend.

It was because he was Link. Just Link.

Zelda smiled a bit as she closed her eyes and conjured an image of the Hero in her mind. She had always admired him for all of his positive qualities, but she also aspired to find those qualities in herself. She wanted to be strong and brave, but also gentle and kind. She wanted to be someone that others could rely on. Someone who filled others with hope, no matter how dark the situation may be. And Link had provided her with the perfect example of all of these things, simply by being himself.

But Zelda digressed. She had decided that her feelings towards Link were complex enough that trying to describe them with words was pointless. Besides, she would be up half the night if she insisted on continuing. And not to mention, she felt like she had already found the answer that she had been searching for…

Zelda continued to smile as thoughts of the Hero plagued her mind once again. However, this time she chose not to push them away, but rather embrace them. She blushed a bit when she remembered his friendly smile. Her heart beat a little faster when she recalled his deep blue eyes. Her smile grew wider as she replayed his cheerful laugh. She couldn't help but feel happy when she thought back on the numerous encounters that she had shared with this man.

Link. Her Hero, her friend, and her spark of hope when all things seemed lost.

Perhaps she did fancy him, if only a little bit…

I wanted to give a bit of a retrospective here showing Zelda's take on the events of Twilight Princess, specifically her time spent with Link as well as her developing thoughts about him. I hope that I did the story of this beloved game justice.

Also, I have a small update. Up until now, I've managed to keep up with weekly releases (yay, go me!), but the next few weeks are going to be rather busy for me, so I'm planning to take a break for a short while. However, once I return, I aim to produce weekly chapters once again. It's a bit of a shame, since I'm right on the cusp of a big reveal, but I'm afraid that you'll all just have to be patient.

Until then, take care, and thanks for reading.