Author's Note: Welcome back everyone, I hope you've had a wonderful week!

We're here - the finale of Book II! I left you all with many questions at the end of the last chapter and I'm happy to report that *some* of them will be answered today! Just like the end of Book I, even though this chapter is the conclusion of this arc, it isn't necessarily meant to be entirely standalone from Book III that will come after it. And also like last time, there won't be any gap between this chapter and the next one that will mark the beginning of the new arc - it'll go up next Friday evening just like always! In fact, I've already started working on it lol!

Otherwise, I don't have much else to frontload you with this time, so I'll leave it at that. Thank you so much for reading and coming back for more and I'll see you at the end! I hope you enjoy the chapter!


Book II – Family

Chapter 9 – Dark Clouds

"Hmm, that's not good. Looks like a storm's coming and I've still got a long way to go till I'm home…"

Glenne was riding his family's horse, Willow, along the road towards Hateno Village. It was a little later in the day than he'd meant it to be, but he was sure his trusty steed could get them back before the rain started, much less before night fell. She was a good horse – reliable and energetic. Sometimes a bit too energetic. And she startled easily. But a good horse all the same.

The young warrior had ridden out to Fort Hateno earlier that afternoon to visit Melo. He was still locked up there but was allowed visitors while carefully supervised by the Hyrulean soldiers. Apparently, the Castle hadn't seen the need to expend resources moving a few helpless Yiga grunts to the Central Hyrule Prison so they would remain there for the foreseeable future. That was nice, though.

After hearing Melo's tale, Glenne had been conflicted for a while. He wasn't sure if he should feel angry, hurt, disappointed, or otherwise. But in the end, he had found it in his heart to try to forgive the man. He had always been like an older brother to himself and the other boys in town. Plus, Melo and Ira had lost their parents a long time ago; it made sense that he would have done anything he possibly could to protect his sister, especially back then. Even if it led to him making some bad choices

Having lost his own father and now wanting nothing more than to become a man who could protect his mother from anything, Glenne could understand some of what drove Melo. And so, he had decided to make frequent visits out to the fort in an effort to try rebuilding their relationship. Ira had even dropped by once or twice, but her trips were far less often…and they seemed a lot more difficult for her.

Glenne let out a sigh.

"Maybe I'm just too soft on people. Even though he betrayed Miss Zelda and Master and all of us…I just can't bring myself to hate him. I'm not okay with what he did but…"

He let out a second enormous sigh and fell silent. Glenne had a habit of talking to himself when he was alone. Maybe it was the fact that his mind was always racing, working faster than even his mouth could keep up with sometimes. Maybe it was because he didn't like silence – it reminded him a little too much of the months right after his father had died.

But whatever the reason, it still didn't stop people from giving him strange looks when he did. He had quickly decided to only think aloud when he was completely by himself, not just without company at his side.

He and Willow were getting closer to home now – they had just arrived at the edge of the large forest that spread out to the northwest of Hateno. That forest held a lot of fond memories for Glenne. After he and his mother had first moved to the village, he had gone foraging there quite a few times. Since their new home grew vegetables, it wasn't really necessary…but it sure was fun.

A dull rumbling echoed over the horizon, drawing his eyes skyward. Black clouds were settling over the Necluda region, the remnants of the setting sun being blocked out behind their dark masses.

"We'd better hurry, Willow – seems like this is gonna be a big storm."

Things went well for another few minutes before a tremendous crash of thunder tore through the heavens. It sounded like an explosion had rocked the very world itself. Willow, though a good horse, panicked and bucked wildly in response. Glenne wasn't prepared for such sudden movement and found himself sailing off of her back, crashing painfully to the ground.

"Willow!"

It was too late, though. The startled horse had run off into the forest, whinnying loudly as she fled. Glenne grimaced and stared after her.

"She's a good horse…she's a good horse…but she's such a coward. Just a big ol' chicken on four legs…"

This wasn't the first time Willow had run away. For as flighty as she was, though, she always made her way home eventually – she was almost as smart as she was easily alarmed. As Glenne forced himself to his feet, the rain started. It wasn't all that heavy, but one look at those clouds was all it took to know that far worse was coming. And soon.

"I should go look for her…she's never been lost in a storm before. It's better to search now before it gets too dark than to hope she just makes it home by herself this time."

Glenne left the road and wandered into the forest, doing his best to keep his sense of direction. For the number of times he'd explored this particular area, it shouldn't have been that hard. But his worry for Willow combined with the growing intensity of the rain eventually threw him off enough that he had no idea where he was.

"Ugh, what am I doing, getting lost in here? Mom's gonna be so mad at me…she's probably already worried that a storm's coming and I'm still not home. I'm really gonna get an earful later…but if I don't find Willow, something bad might happen to her…"

Glenne wandered for a while longer, occasionally calling his horse's name over the storm. Darkness hadn't fully enveloped the world yet and he could still see fairly well. If he was lucky, he'd be able to hear fairly well too. But as the thunder and lightning picked up, followed closely by what he could only describe as a nearly torrential deluge, he gave up on making his voice heard over the noise. It was surprising just how hard the rain was coming down; he was already soaked, even with the canopy of the forest blocking a good deal of it.

In an effort to get someplace quiet enough that he could yell for Willow again, Glenne proceeded deeper and deeper into the forest, this time searching out the silence he usually avoided. Even if she couldn't hear him, maybe he could hear her whinnying – there weren't many horses this close to the coast and even less in this particular forest. It wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to track down that half-chicken, half-horse klutz.

Glenne continued wandering through the woods for several minutes more. By the time he realized where he was, most of the noise of the storm had vanished. Well, he didn't know exactly where he was, but he was close to the heart of the forest. The canopy cover was thickest here, drowning out the crashing of the thunder, obscuring the forks of lightning, and even physically blocking a good amount of the rain.

"Maybe I can start yelling for Willow again."

But before he could utter a word, a heavy thudding rang out ahead of him. Glenne stopped and listened closely. It continued, repeating rhythmically.

"Footsteps?"

Indeed, the footfalls of something enormous seemed to be echoing around the forest. His heart beginning to beat faster now, Glenne crouched low to the ground and crept forward. It might just be a bear or something equally at home within the thick trees and lush foliage – even the largest animals in this forest were quite docile, he'd learned over the years . But it might be something worse, too, and it wasn't smart to wander around without knowing what lurked in his surroundings.

That was something Master Link had taught him for years.

Glenne stayed low and continued onward, following the sound of the heavy footsteps. Eventually, they stopped, but they had been at their loudest just before he'd lost them. That meant he was likely moving in the right direction. He just had to keep going…carefully.

He soon found himself at the top of a steep slope that led down into a large clearing. He had a bird's eye view of the area from here and was pleased to realize this was a place he'd been to before. Finally, he was back in familiar territory. But a moment later, he gasped as his eyes fell on something that absolutely shouldn't be in this forest, no matter the weather or the time of day.

A massive, gold Lynel stood proudly in the center of the clearing. It had an enormous club fastened to its back as it surveyed the area, facing away from him. That was a stroke of luck – if that beast had seen him, there was a good chance he'd already be gone. Glancing around quickly, Glenne found a large bush nearby and dove into it. It wasn't quiet enough in the clearing that the sound should alert the Lynel to his presence…at least he hoped. The rustling did cause the beast to glance around curiously, but it never turned towards him.

He made a mental note to thank the Goddess for that later.

At least he was hidden from sight for now. With the storm, there was little chance a Lynel would be able to smell him; they weren't known for the strength of their noses anyway. He could just wait until the creature wandered off and run in the exact opposite direction of it when the time came. Until then, he would just stay right here in this bush and assess the situation like Master Link always said to do.

Calmly.

Quietly.

Without talking to himself.

But…why was a Lynel in the forest? They had never before been seen in this area; it was part of the reason Hateno had been established in its current location. Sure, it was nearly impossible to avoid every monster in the world, but Lynels were something Hylians always took great care to avoid building settlements near. Those beasts were usually quite territorial and rarely wandered aimlessly, which made the process easier. So to see one here, where one had never been before, was very concerning…

Gently pulling the leaves apart, Glenne gazed down into the clearing again. He had a good line of sight towards the golden creature…but it wasn't just gold that his eyes fell on this time. He hadn't noticed before in his panic.

There was a figure sitting on the Lynel's back.

They were wrapped in a robe as black as night, a large hood draped over their head. It was impossible to distinguish any features at all. He couldn't even see a single strand of hair peeking out from beneath the covering, much less any distinguishing features.

He almost rubbed his eyes in shock as the realization sank in. Someone was…sitting on the Lynel? Who would dare to even try something like that? And more importantlywhy hadn't the powerful beast ripped that person to shreds yet? It seemed entirely unconcerned that it had a passenger…

"This should do nicely," came an eerie voice.

It was emanating from the hooded figure, a woman from the sounds of the voice. Glenne felt chills scurry down his arms and back. Her voice was…deeply unsettling. Unnerving.

Why…?

When Glenne saw what happened next, he really did let go of the bush and rub his eyes. The woman in the black robes had begun to levitate, floating from the Lynel's back and down to the ground, landing softly on her feet. That…wasn't normal. Or actually possible, he'd previously thought. But how could he deny it any longer when he had witnessed someone basically fly right before his very eyes?

He peered back through the leaves and branches, watching as the mysterious figure paced the clearing, an arm pointed towards the ground.

"I feel the restless souls of many monsters in this place. Perhaps a battle once occurred here."

Glenne shuddered again. Something about her voice…bordered on frightening. It felt like some terrible power emanated from her that he couldn't see or comprehend…but that he could instead feel. Every word she spoke radiated through him like nails against the chalkboard of his mind, his body begging him to run away in response to the ominous tone.

"Stand back, my pet. I wouldn't want any harm to come to you."

At those words, the Lynel took several steps backwards, almost at the edge of the clearing now. The Lynel…had responded to her. It had listened to her words and done as she said without hesitation. Glenne was at a complete loss. Nothing he was witnessing made any sense. Nobody should be able to command a Lynel like that, much less float onto and off of its back.

The unsettling woman raised her arm fully, a deathly pale hand emerging from beneath the pitch-black robes. A second later, a magenta flame appeared in her palm, dancing in the wind. Though errant raindrops fell against it and sizzled away, the flame never decreased in size.

"Hear me, spirits of the fallen. I cannot return the life that was taken from each of you – I do not command the Blood Moon nor the true resurrection it imparts. However, I can grant you a second chance at life, even in death. Take now these vessels and be reborn as my undead children. Let your wandering souls return to this mortal world!"

Glenne had no idea how magic worked – that might've been an incantation or it might've just been an unnerving speech. But whatever those words had been, when she finished speaking them, the magenta flame exploded outwards. A second later, a thick, black mist descended upon the clearing, covering it almost entirely. The Lynel was outside of its borders watching carefully but the woman who had conjured it waited at its very center.

The dark fog dissipated and, a moment later, Glenne's left hand shot to his mouth to keep him from audibly gasping. Several skeletal arms burst from the ground before the robed figure, more and more following a second later. The young warrior watched in horror as no less than fifty monsters clawed their way out from beneath the mud and dirt. There were two types that he observed – Lizalfos and Bokoblins – but none of them were what you could truly consider alive.

They were all Stalfos.

The creatures held clubs and boomerangs in their hands, turning and observing the area around them. Several began hissing at one another and some even pushed those nearest them. Glenne felt a pulse emanate from the clearing, as if an intense pressure had briefly settled over the entire area…and then it was gone.

It had certainly drawn the focus of the monsters, though.

Every Stalizalfos and Stalbokoblin in the clearing stopped in their tracks, turning their attention to the woman in black. She raised her hand and silently beckoned the Lynel forth. Once again, it obeyed her every whim without a shred of hesitation, stepping forward. It really was subservient to her…

How…?

Upon its arrival at the center of the area, the Lynel turned to its side, standing parallel to the undead horde. The woman began to float again, levitating from the ground up onto the golden beast's back once more. She stood upon it this time, closing her left hand around its horn to steady her footing even as she gestured to the small army of Stalfos with her right.

"Hear me, my servants. I am the one who has called you back from the dead. You will answer to me now."

Several monsters tilted their heads as if waiting for her to continue, but none tried to run or even attack. Not a single one made so much as an aggressive sound towards her. For how many Stalfos had suddenly filled the area, it was eerily silent.

"Excellent," she continued, a cold laugh escaping her.

It was short, barely a second, but it chilled Glenne to his very core. It was as if every sound that came from her mouth carried that same indelible pressure she had filled the clearing with just moments before.

"I have summoned you here to fulfill a purpose," she called across the clearing. Her voice resonated off the trees effortlessly. "As the one who has returned the gift of life to you, I have but one demand and I will see it granted before daybreak."

The Stalfos all watched her carefully, some even going so far as to nod. They…understood her words? Or was it her magic that commanded their obedience?

"To the southeast of this forest rests a small hamlet that the holder of the Master Sword calls home."

Glenne's eyes widened and he stifled another gasp as several irate hisses filled the air. She…was talking about Master Link?

"As former soldiers of Calamity Ganon, you no doubt understand the significance of that particular weapon. For years, he tried to rid the world of it. I, too, wish to see it buried."

All of the Stalfos were hissing in anger now but another intense pulse from the terrifying woman quieted them in a heartbeat.

"Your task is this – kill the man who wields the Blade of Evil's Bane."

Glenne felt his heart freeze in his chest. This person…wanted Master Link dead? She was clearly an enemy…but what could he possibly do to stop her?

"Fear not," she continued, her voice even louder now, "for the cover of night and this fortuitous storm shall mask your approach and afford you the element of surprise. You may also take solace in the fact that you will not be alone in this endeavor. This Lynel will lead the assault, serving as your commander – with its already-impressive strength augmented further by my own magic, it will be a stalwart ally nigh impossible to bring down unscathed. And I will be watching the situation through its eyes, acting as your tactician."

Not a single sound emanated from the clearing. The figure lowered her arm and spoke in a quiet voice, one Glenne had to strain to hear.

"Hm, perhaps you still doubt your chances. I shall bestow upon you a gift, then."

The woman raised her arm and another mist descended over the Stalfos, this one red in color. They looked around in confusion before the fog dissipated, their attention returning to their leader.

"I have granted you the same magical augmentation I previously gave to my loyal steed. Your bodies have been strengthened by the Malice at my command. You should find your speed and strength enhanced as much as the body of a Stalfos will allow. But make no mistake – these shells are still fragile. The might of the Master Sword will rend you asunder should you allow it to make contact with you; do not forget that its cursed power is only augmented in the face of the Malice. That is the last gift I can impart upon you before your mission."

With that, the robed figure began levitating again. Glenne watched in awe as she rose higher and higher into the air above the clearing, refusing to stop until she floated well above even the Lynel's head. She spread her arms before her, her chilling voice resonating from every surface.

"Now, my servants, go forth! Make this wish of mine a reality! I, the Witch Queen, command you!"

The Lynel gave a powerful roar and the small army of Stalfos joined in, hissing and rattling loudly. The massive golden beast began stomping through the forest again, towards the southeast, the horde of undead creatures following closely behind it.

Glenne chanced one last look towards the sky where the so-dubbed Witch Queen still floated. She gazed after her army until they disappeared completely into the darkness. There was a flash of magenta…and she was gone.

Vanished.

As if she had never been there at all…

Glenne panicked for several moments, going over everything he had just heard. An army of monsters was on its way to Hateno to kill Master Link. He would never get home fast enough on foot; he had to find Willow quickly and get back to warn him…

But…by the time he found his horse, it would still be too late to get in front of them. And if he ran into them along the way, they would likely kill him, just like the Yiga would have done had he pursued Miss Zelda alone that day. And even if he did make it back to aid Master Link…what good would he ever be against a Lynel…?

"What good would any of us be against a Lynel…?"

They wouldn't be. Not a single one of Link's students could help him fight something like that. Only their teacher could ever hope to fight that beast. Well, only their teacher and…

"Aryll! I should go get Aryll. She could help Master fight off that Lynel. I'm only a little further from Lurelin than I am from home right now. If I hurry and find Willow, maybe I can still help…or at least get someone who can."

Glenne leapt from his hiding place, charging back into the forest again, intent on finding his skittish steed as quickly as possible. Of all the times for her to be gone…

"Stay calm, Glenne; Master will be okay. He'll kill that Lynel no matter how strong it is. But I can still bring him some backup just in case he can't protect the entire village at once. Hang in there everyone; I'm coming!"


Link hadn't been able to chase the frown from his face for most of Glenne's story. It was concerning…worrying. It was a feeling he hadn't felt since the days of the Calamity – uncertainty about the future.

"Anyway…that's what I saw in the forest tonight," Glenne finished, his voice subdued. "I did eventually find Willow and we raced down to Lurelin just as fast as she could carry me there. Then I found Aryll and told her what was happening. Your sister's pretty amazing – she didn't even ask questions. Just threw on some armor, grabbed her weapons, jumped on her horse, and followed me. She trusted me completely…I need to thank her for that later."

Link finally shook himself from his reverie and forced a small smile to his lips.

"She has good reason to trust you, Glenne. You did the right thing tonight – you wouldn't have made it here before those monsters and I was this close to being taken down by that Lynel. Ari was the best person you could have gone to."

"I'm…glad you're okay, Master."

"It's all thanks to Zelda. She saved my life."

"I really am grateful to her for that."

"Me too. Glenne?"

"Yes, Master?"

"You haven't told anyone else this story, right?"

He shook his head emphatically.

"No, I've only told you. Like I said…I don't think I was meant to see that and I'm not sure what to do about it. But…that woman…that 'Witch Queen' was out in the middle of nowhere during a terrible storm. She was trying to keep her existence a secret…at least that's what I think. So I figured I shouldn't go running my mouth off about her without talking to you first."

Link nodded, his frown returning.

"You have good instincts; I'm thinking the same thing. And if that's the case, I want you to make me a promise."

"Sure, anything."

He fixed Glenne with an intense look.

"Don't repeat a word of this to anyone else. Ever. Understand?"

Glenne blinked in surprise for a few moments before nodding.

"Um, sure, Master. How come?"

"If this Witch Queen is as cautious as we think she is, then there's a good chance she keeps her ear to the ground for her own name. If she starts to hear it without having been the one to reveal it, odds are good she'll trace it backwards. And if she finds out you're the one who saw her in the forest tonight, she might see fit to eliminate you…and I don't want you in danger. So just keep her existence entirely to yourself, okay? You don't have to worry; I'll handle everything from here."

Glenne's face was conflicted for just a moment before it settled into a familiar smile.

"Okay, I promise, Master. If there's anyone in the world who can deal with a situation like this, it's you."

"Say that to me when I'm not lying in bed with my arm in a sling," he scoffed.

The laughter that descended over them lightened the mood considerably. And after a few moments more, Glenne rose to his feet.

"I probably shouldn't keep Miss Zelda from you any longer – I'm sure she's worried sick about you. Besides, I should go tell Mom I'm okay. I never came home before the monster attack and she's probably real scared and upset…"

Link gave him a much more genuine smile than he'd managed earlier.

"You did well tonight, Glenne. Now go find Anya and show her you're okay."

"I will! Thanks again, Master! And I promise I won't repeat a word of what I saw to anybody but you!"

With that, Glenne turned on his heel and bolted out the door. Link listened as his energetic footsteps grew fainter the further down the hallway he went. Soon, he couldn't hear them at all.

'He's a good kid. Thank the Goddess he wasn't found in that forest tonight. The Witch Queen, huh…?'

Link leaned back against the pillows Zelda had so sweetly prepared for him and stared down at the bed. Glenne had given him a lot to think about and it lined up with his own suspicions from earlier that evening. It was almost disconcerting how much…

'Glenne saw a being who claims to be able to wield Ganon's Malice magic as if it were her own. And I don't think I can refute that claim – the Master Sword reacted to both the Stalfos and the Lynel just like it used to in the days leading up to the Calamity. And that would explain why that Lynel was so resilient, even for being gold; it felt exactly like the beasts Ganon infused with his power just before his revival. If someone out there can utilize that same power…then how did they learn to control it? And more importantly, how can they even manifest it? Isn't the Malice gone…?

'Everything else Glenne said lines up perfectly with what I saw, too. The Lynel was commanding the Stalfos and every monster was far more focused on me than anyone else. Nobody in town was even injured that badly by comparison. It felt like their mission was to keep the others out of the way, not to massacre the village. Why? Was it simply on a whim? Or was there more to it? Was my death such a priority that it was worth ignoring everyone else in the village that could aid me? Or did this Witch Queen already know the caliber of warriors that live here? Is she that careful? Just how much does she know…?'

Link frowned, his eyes wandering to his broken arm. Even before the tower had begun to fall, he had been on the back foot. Ambushing him at home had proven an effective choice…

'This person is smart…and dangerous. She hid herself from me and sent an army of monsters to do her bidding. But she also used magic to control the situation rather than leave it entirely to them. No wonder their tactics felt so advanced. Invading the house, attacking from both the inside and outside at the same time, the Lynel stepping back to recover when its allies arrived, pinning me and dropping a massive tower I could never hope to dodge or deflect…all of it feels so much more like the planning of a clever tactician than a herd of undead beasts.

'The Witch Queen…who are you? What are you? Why can you wield Ganon's Malice freely? Why can you use it to control monsters and resurrect the souls of slain creatures? And why, six years after the Calamity was sealed again, does the Malice still linger in you…?'

A gentle knock at the door broke Link from his thoughts. There was a lot to dwell on…but he'd have to spend far more time sitting with this than just these five minutes if he was going to come up with an answer. Shaking the thoughts from his head for the moment, he called for his guest to enter.

And the sight of her left him breathless.

Zelda had returned to his side just as she'd promised she would. She carried a small tray with her, on it a bowl of what seemed to be steaming hot vegetable soup. She still wore the same white tunic and loose brown pants that he did, but somehow she made it look so much more dazzling than he could ever manage. It was her hair, though, that enamored him completely.

Since the day he'd met Zelda, she had always had that long, golden hair. His first impression of her hair was that it made her look like someone out of a storybook. Though she had tried to hide it a few times, he'd managed to convince her that she should never feel ashamed of it. And she had slowly seemed to grow into it over the last few months, her previous reservations about it having vanished almost entirely.

But now, that long hair was gone. Instead, it now ended just above her shoulders, an even, fine cut courtesy of Aryll. That familiar, golden hair looked light and almost fluffy now. He was nearly overwhelmed by an urge to run his fingers through it…though she probably would have blushed terribly and asked him what he was doing if he ever gave into such desires.

Somehow, that haircut made her look even more beautiful than he'd already thought she was.

'I think…I'm falling in love all over again…'

"I brought you some soup," she explained, easing the door closed behind her before crossing the room. "Toren and the others told Ira what happened to you and she insisted she prepare some food. I would have done it myself but…our kitchen is mostly buried, I think…"

Link tried to shake the butterflies in his stomach and give her what he hoped was a warm, steady smile.

"Don't feel bad – I'm the one who blew the house up."

She sat down on the stool at his bedside again.

"Only because I suggested it…"

As she helped him situate the tray on his lap, a more natural smile grew on his lips.

"Hey, it was a great plan. Against anything lesser, it would've worked perfectly."

"Really?"

"Really. And I have to say, it was pretty amazing that you were the one to suggest dropping the roof on that Lynel."

Her cheeks darkened just a bit but she managed a small smile.

"It just…seemed like it might work."

"Well, you were absolutely right. Hey, um, Zelda?"

"Y-yes?"

"Your…uh…your hair…"

He blushed and hesitated. It wasn't like him to freeze up with Zelda after all these months; he had become quite comfortable around her. And yet, here he was, wavering and stammering like he'd always done when he'd met someone new as a boy.

"D-does it look…strange…?" she murmured, averting her eyes.

That snapped him out of his daze.

"N-not at all!"

Her wide eyes turned back to him, surprise evident on her face.

"N…no?"

"No. In fact…it looks…beautiful. Stunning, even."

A fierce blush bloomed to life on Zelda's cheeks, spreading up the lengths of her ears.

"O-oh…um…t-thank you…"

"You're…welcome."

Link decided to drop the subject there, lest both of them pass out from the blood rushing to their faces. Turning his attention deliberately to the soup, he lifted a spoonful and waited for it to cool before tasting it. Unsurprisingly, it was delicious.

But despite the fact that Ira was at the level of any of the Royal Family's chefs, Link still found he preferred the taste of Zelda's cooking to anyone else's.

"I-is it okay? Do you need any help? I can brace the bowl for you if you're worried about it spilling."

"I'm perfectly fine, thank you, Zelda. Have you eaten?"

"Y-yes. Aryll made me have some soup downstairs after she finished with my hair. Glenne was still talking to you so I had time."

"I'm glad you aren't neglecting yourself. Thank you for taking such good care of me tonight."

"O-oh! Of…of course. I…want to."

Link ate another few spoonsful of soup, delighting in the warmth and flavor of it, before Zelda spoke once more.

"Um, speaking of Glenne…is everything okay? He seemed…worried about something."

Link hesitated again. This time, it wasn't out of embarrassment.

"I…would you mind if I explained everything later?"

Zelda immediately started backpedaling.

"O-of course not! I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't be pressuring you after what you've been through tonight-"

She stopped short as Link placed his spoon back in the bowl and took her hand in his. She met his gaze with timid eyes. He gave her a gentle smile and shook his head.

"I'm not upset with you at all; please don't apologize. And I promise I'll tell you what's going on soon. I just…want to make sure I have a better understanding of things first, that's all.

"I…can understand that."

"And besides, we've both been through a lot tonight. What do you say we just let go of all this monster attack business and relax together for a while? Just you and me."

Zelda's nervous demeanor slowly faded away, replaced instead by a calm joy the likes of which he had once believed he'd never see on her.

"That…sounds perfect. And please, take all the time you need."

"Thank you, Zelda. Do you want to come sit with me again?"

"W-won't I be in the way while you're trying to eat?"

Link gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"When have you ever been in my way?"

Though her face flushed scarlet yet again, her smile turned bright.

"T-then…I would love to."

As Zelda slipped off her stool and joined him on the mattress, he took in the sight of her once more. Short hair or long, she was the most beautiful person he had ever laid eyes on. She was kind and selfless. She was devoted and determined. She was brilliant and passionate. She was seizing her life, something that had once been so far out of her control, and making it into her own again.

And she was absolutely radiant as a result.

"Everything else will still be here tomorrow," he reiterated, his voice soft and calm. "For right now, I just want to focus on being with you."

It was probably good that Zelda was sitting down. Link was genuinely worried she might pass out because of that comment if she were still standing on her feet.

In truth, he was worried he might've done the same.


The bright sunlight cascaded down onto the open cart as it made its way towards Lurelin Village.

Zelda sat in the back, watching the passing landscape with delight. She had never been to the small fishing village before and was thoroughly enjoying the abundance of nature that served as their path to the south. Her now-short hair danced in the breeze, her neck feeling unusually cold. She hadn't ever worn her hair short like this. But Link seemed particularly fond of it; much to her embarrassment, he had complimented her on it many more times since last night. It was more than enough to make her glad she had chopped away her own hair with a hunting knife. Even if it might take some adjusting on her part, the sparkle in Link's eyes she noticed every time he looked at her filled her stomach with butterflies.

The man in question sat at her side, occasionally resting his mended left hand atop hers. It still sent her heart fluttering away when he did that, even more so after the previous night's conversation. The fact that he was still sitting beside her in the first place filled her with overwhelming happiness. And while they hadn't brought up their confessions of love again just yet, there was no way she could possibly forget hearing those words from him.

Something she had once thought impossible was hers and it filled her with unbridled joy.

Across from her was Mipha, who was currently turned away from them, chatting with Aryll. Link's sister was riding her horse alongside the cart, staying close enough so she could hear and respond to the Zora Princess. They had thoroughly discussed the events of the monster invasion already and their conversation had turned to lighter topics hours ago. Somehow, they still had plenty to talk about together.

Glenne sat on the front bench, guiding his family horse, Willow, down the path with impressive deftness. This was the same cart and horse she and Link had borrowed for their own trip out to Kakariko Village weeks ago and yet it still felt familiar and comfortable. The rest of the day, by quite the contrast, had been a whirlwind the likes of which she had rarely experienced before.

The morning had started with Aryll flagging down the kind Zora patrol that passed by Hateno Bay each day. She had sent word to Mipha, asking her to come heal Link and his students after the fight the previous night. The Zora Princess had, of course, arrived as quickly as she could swim to them after hearing that. Even hours later, Zelda still found herself amused by Mipha's gentle admonishment to Link.

"If you're going to keep getting hurt like this, I might just have to move here. At least I wouldn't have to worry about my friends so much if I were closer."

Link had promised to be more careful.

With their home home in a state of ruin, Zelda and Link didn't really have anywhere to live for the foreseeable future. Karin very kindly offered to let them stay at the inn, but neither of them were too thrilled by the idea. Long term borrowing of the spaces that were usually meant for a simple overnight stay wouldn't make them feel very comfortable or relaxed. That was when Aryll had suggested they come stay with her in Lurelin until their house could be repaired.

Though she had been extremely hesitant to impose at first, Aryll had insisted again and again until all the fight was drained from Zelda's body. She had to admit…it was a decent plan. Link's sister had a guest room so she could host their father when he came out for visits and they would be markedly more comfortable while they attempted to relax and recover after their harrowing battle. The prospect of living by the sea, at least for a short time, was enticing, too. Zelda had never been to the beach before, much less vacationed at the seaside. And while this wasn't really a vacation, it did rather feel like one.

She was a little surprised that Link had so easily accepted his sister's offer. Sometimes, he scoffed and teased her over certain things, but it seemed his gratitude for her support during a tough time was far more powerful than any desire he might have to play the flippant older brother.

The rest of the day had been spent preparing for the trip to Lurelin. Ira, who was slowly starting to become the de facto leader of the village, had found them and promised she would hire Bolson Construction to come and rebuild their house while they were with Aryll. She had even gone so far as to joke about asking them to open a Hateno branch office:

"Between Syd and Celene's place going up in flames and you two blowing up your own house, they really do have a lot of consistent business out here, don't you think?"

Aryll and Mipha offered to help Zelda and Link gather up their possessions from the house after that. Though the den and kitchen were mostly destroyed and buried beneath an incredible amount of rubble, their bedrooms had mostly escaped the disaster. At least their possessions were rather easily accessible as a result and they wouldn't have to put Aryll out any more than they already were by requesting clothing or the like from her.

Zelda had been extremely grateful to find the Sheikah Slate also unharmed. Beyond her own fascination with it, that artifact was a gift lent to her by Impa and her grandmother, the Elder of the Sheikah Tribe. She would have been beside herself with guilt had something happened to it while it was in her care. To find it in one piece had been a huge relief.

With Mipha and Aryll's help, packing their clothing and personal items had been fairly easy. And just as they were starting to discuss transportation, Glenne had arrived and insisted on being the one to take them down to Lurelin himself. Zelda still wasn't entirely sure what had been on his mind the night before, but whatever it was seemed to have vanished completely from his focus thanks to his chat with Link – the young man's bright smile was back in place and his excitable demeanor had returned in full force.

Between his good mood and Aryll's boundless energy, the trip had been wonderfully enjoyable.

It wasn't much longer before the seaside village of Lurelin came into view at last. Zelda gazed around in wonder, her eyes large. The first thing she noticed was how very different the construction of the buildings was when compared to Hateno. There were huts of various sizes with thatched roofs dotting the landscape, their bodies made of a brighter shade of lumber she wasn't familiar with. Many fishing boats sat anchored off the docks to the east and several tall trees that matched the houses in color danced in the ocean breeze nearby. A few villagers meandered along the sand, waving to each other and turning curious glances towards the cart of approaching guests.

It was more quaint than Zelda had expected when she'd heard about the fishing village; she had thought it would be bustling with trade and other maritime ventures. But in truth, it felt more like Hateno than anything else – peaceful and quiet.

Glenne brought the cart to a stop by the entrance to town, unsure if it would be able to cross the sand. Although Zelda and Link had brought several bags between them, Aryll promised it wasn't a far walk to her place and everyone began disembarking.

She and Link began to gather their things and Mipha quickly came to help, a warm smile on her face as she met Zelda's eyes. Willow seemed to have been startled by something and Glenne was trying to calm her down again, muttering under his breath as he did so.

"Good thing you're tied to this cart today so you can't get away from me that easily, you giant chicken." His good-natured smile never faltered, though.

Aryll, after she had finished securing her own horse, was just about to join them in collecting the luggage when an aged voice called out from nearby.

"Is that you, Aryll?"

She perked up and scanned her surroundings until she found the person in question – a shorter man who wore his many years of life proudly upon his face. His grey hair had streaks of white within it that danced in the breeze as he approached.

"Elder Armes! I'm home!" she sang with a bright grin.

"Indeed, I'm very glad you're back safe and sound. And you've brought company! Link, it's always a pleasure to see you."

Link gave the man a smile and a nod.

"You as well, Elder. Thank you for taking such good care of my sister."

"Oh, nonsense – if anything, she's the one who takes care of us. I recognize the young man tending to his horse from last night, but I don't believe I've ever met the rest of your group; please forgive my impoliteness."

It was Mipha who spoke first, her relaxed confidence shining through her words as if she had made a thousand greetings just like this one.

"You have nothing to apologize to us for, Elder Armes; it would be arrogant to think you should know who we are without ever having been introduced. I am Mipha, close friend of Aryll and Princess of the Zora. I also wish to thank you for your kindness towards her."

The Elder's eyes widened.

"The Princess of the Zora? Here? I am quite honored to make your acquaintance, Your Highness. You are welcome here in Lurelin whenever you so desire and we are humbled that you have chosen to grace us with your presence."

Aryll waved her hand and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Ah, lighten up, Elder. Micchan doesn't want you to do that to her."

"She's right," Mipha added with a demure smile, "I would much rather you just treat me as any other guest that might visit without any of the formality. I like to leave my title at home whenever possible."

"A-as you wish, Mipha-sama."

Aryll shot an amused grin at Mipha from behind the Elder before speaking again.

"Oh, and this is Zelda! She's my brother's fiancée, the one I told you about before. She and Link are gonna be staying with me for a while until their house gets repaired."

Zelda was extremely glad Aryll had omitted the fact that she, too, was a Princess. She didn't think she could handle being bowed to and treated with the same respect that Mipha had just been shown. Displays like that always made her very uncomfortable when they were directed at her.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance as well, Zelda. Anyone important to Aryll and Link is of equal importance to us here in Lurelin. Please make yourself at home while you're here and let me know if you need anything at all."

Zelda bowed her head and forced her words forward – it was the first time she'd met somebody new in quite a while.

"T-thank you for your hospitality. And it's very nice to meet you as well, Elder Armes."

"Oh yeah," Aryll interjected again, "and the one you recognized already is Glenne. He's one of Link's students. He's a good kid!"

"You told me you wouldn't call me 'kid' anymore after last night!" Glenne huffed.

Aryll just laughed and shot him a toothy grin.

After chatting with Elder Armes for a short time, Zelda, Link, Mipha, and Aryll gathered the luggage and said their goodbyes to Glenne. The young man promised to keep Hateno Village under his watchful eye while Link was gone, then he and Willow set off towards home again.

After that, it was a quick walk down the beach to Aryll's place. It was located on the outskirts of Lurelin, notably further away from the other houses, but she explained that she hadn't wanted to crowd anyone when she had first moved there. Nowadays, she was friendly with everyone in town – something that didn't surprise Zelda in the slightest – but at first she had thought of herself as an outsider and didn't want to step on any toes.

That certainly wasn't the case anymore, though.

Aryll's home was very nice, Zelda noticed as soon as they were led inside. Perhaps a little smaller than she was used to in Hateno, but very warm and welcoming. The main room was circular, the kitchenette and sitting areas almost melding into one. There were a few doors along the back third of the house that likely led to the bedrooms and bath she had mentioned before.

Link's sister had a much more natural touch for interior decorating than he did and her furnishings proved as much. The couch and chairs she had were covered with multi-colored pillows and her circular dining table had many bright accents upon them, not the least of which was an adorable fruit basket with the face of a cat engraved on its handle. There were even two area rugs, one peach and one turquoise, to offset the tan wood flooring.

It felt very cozy and Zelda found herself immediately enamored with the place.

"A-Aryll, your home is…very lovely."

She lit up and turned an enormous smile towards Zelda.

"You really think so? Oh, I'm so happy! I know it's not as big as your place in Hateno so I was worried you'd be uncomfortable."

She shook her head quickly.

"N-not at all! Thank you again for welcoming us into your home."

Link spoke up from beside the table, where he had just finished placing the last of the bags on the floor.

"Yeah, thanks sis. We owe you."

"Nah, you don't owe me anything. You'd take me in if my house fell down around my ears; the least I can do is open my door to my own brother and soon-to-be sister!"

Zelda blushed at her comment but her smile never faltered. Mipha, meanwhile, was studying the decorations leisurely.

"For all the years we've known each other, I just realized that we've only ever spent time together in either Castle Town or Hateno. I have to say, Ari – your home is beautiful and you have quite the eye for the adorable!"

Aryll's smile grew brighter still and she stepped close to the Zora.

"Thank you! If it's even half as beautiful as you are, I think I did well! It's at least more colorful than a certain someone likes to keep things, don't you think?"

Despite the light blush that had crept across her porcelain cheeks, Mipha nodded knowingly.

"Indeed. I only hope our poor Zelda won't experience any sensory overload since she's become so used to a certain someone's bland decorating."

"I can hear you both clear as day, you know," Link muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, we know!" Aryll sang.

"Still, though," Mipha continued, "how have I never seen your home before, Ari?"

"Ah, I only moved here about a year ago and we usually just spend time in Hateno with Link. But I'm sorry I never invited you before!"

"Oh, I'm not upset, don't worry. But it's certainly better late than never! I really like the cat on your fruit basket, too."

"Thanks! That was a gift from my grandma when I moved out here! She mailed it all the way from Castle Town!"

Zelda watched in amusement as Aryll and Mipha continued to chat animatedly. They really were quite the pair when they were on the same page…sometimes to Link's chagrin. As if her thoughts had called him, her fiancé appeared at her side again, squeezing her shoulder and drawing her attention.

"How're you feeling, Zelda? Still doing okay after everything that's gone on since yesterday?"

"O-oh, I'm doing just fine. T-thank you for asking. Mipha's healing was incredibly refreshing and I'm excited to stay here with Aryll for a while."

A teasing grin spread across Link's face.

"Don't count your Cuccos before they hatch – spending a month and a half with Ari might leave you more exhausted than even Mipha's healing could ever restore."

"I heard that!" came his sister's aggressive voice from nearby.

"Oh, we know," he echoed.

Zelda couldn't contain her amusement anymore and dissolved into a fit of laughter, Mipha joining in right beside her. It wasn't long before Link and Aryll fell victim to the episode of mirth themselves. Until recently, she could never have imagined laughing so comfortably like this with anyone, no matter the situation. And yet, here she was, sharing this delightful moment with the most important people in her world.

Everything was so much brighter now thanks to Link, Aryll, and Mipha.

"Well," Aryll began again after everyone had calmed down, "now that we're here, we should probably figure out room assignments so you two can unpack, huh?"

"Room…assignments?" Zelda repeated.

"Yeah! I only have the two rooms, after all. So that leaves us with a few options for pairing up."

"That…makes sense."

"Probably the easiest one would be Link and I share my room like we did when we were little kids. That'd leave Zel-chan with the guest room for herself and give her a bit more space to be comfortable in."

Link frowned a bit.

"Don't you think we're a bit too old to be sharing a bed, Ari?"

"You think so? Well, if you insist. Then that leaves two other options – does Zel-chan get to share a bed with me? Or does she get to share with you?"

Aryll had a devilish grin on her face as she asked that question. Whether she was teasing or not didn't really matter and Zelda felt her face catch fire, averting her eyes quickly. She noticed that Link had shifted awkwardly as well, his own head turning away from his sister.

"T-that's not a fair comment to suddenly spring on us like that."

"Sorry! But hey, you two never tell me anything about your relationship anyway so how am I supposed to know what you're comfortable with!? Maybe that second bedroom in Hateno is just a storage room these days, hm?"

"Ari, you're teasing poor Zelda too," Mipha whispered, gesturing towards her. There was no way they couldn't see the intense blush that had made its way up her ears and down her neck.

"Ahh, sorry Zel-chan! I got so caught up messing with my brother I forgot I was embarrassing you too! Forgive me?"

Zelda still couldn't form words yet, so she just nodded several times.

"If it's an issue of everyone being comfortable in their own spaces, I could just stay out here on the couch," Link offered.

Zelda immediately felt the same protectiveness she's experienced after the battle last night well up within her.

"I d-don't want you to do that," she insisted, turning towards him again at last. His eyes had widened in surprise as she spoke up. "If we're really staying here for more than a month, t-then that couldn't possibly be pleasant for you."

"I really wouldn't mind. I just don't want you to feel forced into sharing if you're uncomfortable with that."

"I'm not," she insisted, shaking her head. "I don't mind sharing at all."

Link hesitated for a long moment.

"W…with Aryll, right?"

Zelda's heart began racing and her face caught fire again.

"O-of course! A-and besides, I used to share a bed with Hilda! If Aryll and I w-want to become real sisters, then this is a good first step!"

Across the room, Aryll gave her a wistful look.

"Zel-chan…you're just so sweet! I'd love to have you stay with me! But only if Link's okay with that too. Are you sure you want to share your adorable fiancée with me, big brother? She might decide she likes me better since I'm willing to cuddle with her all night and you aren't."

"C-cut that out, Ari!" he chided, his face flushing badly.

Aryll dramatically hung her head.

"Micchan, he's so mean to me!"

Mipha reached out and placed her hand atop Aryll's head, patting her and ruffling her hair.

"There, there, Ari. I'm afraid you might've brought that one on yourself, though."

A mischievous smile spread across the previously-dejected girl's face.

"I did, but it still got you to comfort me!"

A light chop greeted Aryll's head next, Mipha's gentle smile having morphed into one of amusement.

While the two girls dissolved into a playful argument across the room, Link stepped closer to Zelda.

"Hey…I, uh…hope assuming that you'd sleep with Aryll didn't make it sound like…I don't want you around me or anything like that…"

Zelda shook her head quickly.

"N-not at all! I…also assumed I'd stay with Aryll once she brought it up. It's just…that would be a pretty big step for us right now…"

Link checked to make sure Aryll and Mipha were still at it before leaning very close to her ear, his voice dropping significantly.

"I…hope maybe we can take that step someday…w-when we're both ready, of course."

Zelda's face grew even hotter but she managed to nod all the same.

"I…t-think…that would be n-nice…someday…"

Link's own face began to glow at her words.

"Hey, what are you two talking about over there?" Aryll's energetic voice interrupted.

"Nothing!" they both blurted out at once. It wasn't convincing in the slightest.

"Hoh?"

Mipha came to their rescue a moment later, though, briefly locking eyes with Zelda before she spoke.

"Ooh, Ari, where did you get that pillow? I've been looking to bring some more home with me from outside of the Domain recently. I sort of collect them. Honestly, if you ever get to see my bedroom back home, you'll probably think I have too many, but I just feel like I can never have enough!"

Aryll's attention immediately snapped away from Zelda and Link as she wheeled around to follow Mipha's finger.

"You can never have too many pillows! I'll tell you where I got every single one of them if you want! And I'd love to see your bedroom someday, but only if you're also okay cuddling with me all night, gorgeous."

Mipha blushed rather deeply and Zelda said a silent thank you to the Zora Princess for her sacrifice.

Perhaps there had been a small bit of truth to what Link had said – Zelda wondered just how well she really would be able to keep up with Aryll for an extended period of time. Their personalities were very different, after all. But even with that small doubt in the back of her mind, she was very grateful to have a place to stay following the attack on Hateno, much more so that she would still be with two of the most important people in her life.

And besides, it would be very nice to have the chance to get more comfortable around someone who actually wanted to be her sister.


"What are you still doing up, big bro?"

Link, sitting on the couch in the main room, glanced over his shoulder as he heard a door closing, his eyes falling on Aryll. It looked like his sister should absolutely be in bed, wearing a pale green nightgown, her hair untied like it almost never was outside of sleep. She rubbed her eyes and stretched lightly before crossing the room and sitting down in the chair near him.

"Sorry, did I wake you?"

"Nah, couldn't sleep and I was worried all my tossing and turning would bother Zel-chan. She's still out cold though, don't worry."

"I'm glad she's resting. She really went through a lot last night."

"She did. So did you."

"Yeah…"

"You're worried." It wasn't a question.

"…I am."

"Not about Zel-chan, though, huh?"

"I'm always a little worried about her…but no, that's not what I'm worried about tonight."

"Is whatever's on your mind the reason you're sitting out here alone in the dark?"

"I don't think as clearly when I'm lying down and there's a lot I need to sort through still."

"Why not sort through it with me? If it's a secret, you know you can trust me with it."

Link gave her a half-grin.

"Yeah, I know. No matter how much we may get under each other's skin, I'd still trust you with anything in a heartbeat."

"Hey, you don't have to butter me up, I already said I'm happy to listen," she insisted with a warm smile.

"Thanks, Ari. Maybe you can help me figure out more than I've been able to alone."

"Lay it on me, then. I'm all ears."

He recounted Glenne's tale to Aryll in a hushed voice, including his cautioning that she shouldn't repeat it to anyone lest it come back to haunt the young man. His sister listened intently, her sleepy eyes sharpening the moment he had begun speaking. After he was finished, she considered things for several long moments.

"The Witch Queen…" Aryll murmured, frowning. "And this person somehow uses Ganon's Malice magic?"

"Seems like it. I don't doubt what Glenne told me but…it just sounds so impossible, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, it really does…"

"I keep coming back to a thought."

"What's that?"

"According to the history books, Ganon used to be known as the 'Demon King,' a dark beast who held dominion over evil. Do you suppose someone calling herself the 'Witch Queen' has some kind of tangible connection to him beyond just that magic?"

"Connection? What, like she's his wife or something?"

Link laughed lightly.

"Probably not that on the nose, but maybe something like that, yeah."

"A connection to Ganon, hm? Do you think maybe a small part of him escaped his main body and possessed someone before you and the others defeated him? Is that even possible?"

Link considered his sister's words for a moment before frowning.

"I'm not sure, to be honest. There's no record of something like that ever happening before, but…for how little we actually know about his abilities, it could certainly be possible. I guess the question is if he really did possess someone, can he use that person to break his seal?"

"Hmm…the seal is placed on him by the Royal Family's magic, right?"

"Yeah. And according to some of the scholars who specialize in that branch of history, Hilda's Sealing magic was stronger than anyone else who's ever gone up against Ganon. I don't think even a small part of him would be able to break that seal so quickly, certainly not when he lost to the two of us just six years ago. He has to be extremely weak still…"

Aryll leaned back in her chair and stared out the window, the silver moonlight illuminating her pensive face.

"Maybe he's not trying to break that seal at all. Maybe he just wants revenge. That might explain why only you were targeted last night."

"That's certainly possible and it might even make sense. But there's another possibility I'm even more worried about…"

"What's that?"

"It could be that this 'Witch Queen' is entirely autonomous and can simply control the Malice with her own abilities. And if that's true, then I can't even begin to gauge how powerful she is."

"Everyone could be in just as much danger as they were six years ago and not even know it this time…"

"Yeah…"

"So what do we do about her? Do we hunt her down together?"

"I wouldn't know where to start looking without asking around…and that would mean endangering Glenne," Link sighed. "And I wouldn't even have known about her existence in the first place if he hadn't stumbled upon her in the middle of the forest. She's gone to such lengths to make sure I don't know about her and that concerns me. She must be planning something more than just a monster attack…"

"If she takes another shot at you, I'll be right by your side this time," Aryll promised, her face set and determined.

"Thanks, Ari. That really does make me feel better."

"Always. The whole situation seems so strange, though, doesn't it? Why would someone with Malice powers suddenly appear six years after the Calamity? Where has she been until now?"

"That's what I can't figure out. With Ganon, there was at least an expectation of when he would be revived. But for his power to persist so long after his sealing and for someone who can control it to appear…I can't help but get the feeling that something much bigger might be going on here. Killing me can't be the only thing she's after. She wants me gone because I wield the Master Sword. And if she wants the Master Sword out of her way, then there's a much bigger reason for that than just revenge on Ganon's behalf."

"I think you're right. So…where do we go from here?"

Link chewed his lip for several moments.

"I don't know. I'm worried I might be putting anywhere I stay in danger as long as this Witch Queen is out there…"

"I don't think you have to worry about that," Aryll offered.

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, even though we already know about her, she has no way of knowing that. And she wants to keep the element of surprise, yeah? If she launched the same attack twice, you'd start getting suspicious – the last thing she wants is the man she fears most sniffing around for the person attacking him. And her plan to deal with you without having to reveal herself already failed once.

"The way I see it, she'll lay low for a while and wait for things to calm down, make it seem like the attack on Hateno was just a coincidence. Then she'll start moving with a different plan in mind once she feels like it's safe. At least that's what I'd do if I wanted to keep myself hidden but still win in the end. But hey, at least that might give us a chance to start planning to take her down in the meantime."

Aryll's logic was pretty sound, but Link was hung up on one particular comment she'd made.

"You think she's afraid of me?"

"Of you and the Master Sword, I'd bet. She wants you gone for a reason and that reason is probably because you can ruin her plans and cut her down with your blade. Everyone calls you the strongest man in Hyrule for a reason, you know."

Link considered his sister for a long moment.

"You may have a point. And in that case, I'm even more concerned about things in the long run. If she wants me gone because I'm the biggest threat to her, then she must have something particular in mind. What in the world is she planning to do?"

"I can make guesses about as well as you can but we'd both just be throwing theories at the wall."

"True. But…talking about all this does make me feel a little better, Ari. Thanks. And if something does happen to endanger Lurelin next, I'll fight with everything I have to protect your home, just like I did mine."

Aryll gave him a smile.

"I'll be right there with you."

"A-and me, too."

Link and Aryll turned quickly towards the source of the voice and found Zelda standing in the doorway of the bedroom, her hand clenched into a determined fist before her.

"I'm sorry, Zelda, did we wake you?" Link asked, his voice gentle.

"N-no. I just happened to wake up for a moment and noticed that Aryll wasn't in bed anymore. Then I heard voices and I…got curious. I'm sorry for eavesdropping…"

"Please, don't be sorry. Come sit with us," Link offered, beckoning her to his side.

She hesitantly crossed the room before lowering herself onto the couch next to him. Link reached out and placed his hand atop hers. Most other times, Aryll would've teased him for that, but tonight she remained quiet and contemplative.

"You heard a bit of what we were talking about, right?"

"I…did…" She looked guilty.

"I'm sorry for hiding it from you."

Zelda's eyes widened and she shook her head.

"Y-you don't have to apologize to me. I understand why you would keep things quiet."

"I know you do, but I never want to keep secrets from you like that. I just wanted you to have a few days to recover and settle in here before I gave you something new to worry about, that's all. Forgive me?"

Zelda turned her wrist and threaded her fingers between his, giving his hand a comforting squeeze of her own.

"There's…nothing at all to forgive. Thank you…for worrying about me and going so far to take care of me."

"You've got a good man there, Zel-chan," Aryll chimed in, her voice relaxed and genuine. "And by the way, I'd feel a lot better having you and your fancy new magic backing us up!"

Zelda's face reddened slightly.

"I…still have to figure out what I actually did last night if I ever want to be useful in a situation like that…but if I can manage that, I'd love to help if it's ever necessary."

Link squeezed her hand back and shook his head.

"I'd rather you be far away from any fight we ever have to be in unless we absolutely can't avoid it. I never want you in danger."

"T-then I promise I won't endanger myself…even if I have to fight again someday. B-but you have to promise me you'll be more careful too…"

Link laughed lightly.

"How could I ever say no to that? I promise you I'll be careful."

"Thank you. Um…can I ask you both a question?"

"Sure, what's on your mind?"

"What is…the Witch Queen? I didn't hear your whole conversation from the beginning, but I did hear you say that name and…I don't recognize it at all. Is that…what Glenne was telling you about last night?"

Aryll shot a grin across the room.

"Give it up, big brother. Like you've always told me, she's just too clever."

Link laughed lightly.

"It's true."

He turned toward Zelda again. Her face was filled with curiosity and a bit of nervousness…but if she was so determined to hear the answer tonight, then he didn't want to deny her wishes, certainly not when she had gathered the courage to approach them and ask. There had been a time not that long ago that she would have cowered before him and apologized profusely for overhearing even a word of his conversation with Aryll, but now she wanted to support him with everything she had.

She really was starting to view herself as his equal and partner; it filled him with a deep sense of happiness.

"I'll tell you everything I know for sure and everything we've considered tonight, too."

"Thank you…for trusting me."

"I'll always trust you, Zelda. Brace yourself, though; it's a bit hard to believe."

She drew up her confidence and nodded.

"I'm…I'm ready."

Link couldn't hide the small smile that stole his face. Even in the face of the uncertain, she was now so determined to be by his side…exactly where he wanted her to stay.

It really was the most wonderful feeling in the world.

Book II – Fin

11/17/2023


Post-Chapter Note: Welcome back everyone! I hope you enjoyed the finale of Book II!

So, lots going on in Hyrule even six years after the Calamity! I hope you're intrigued by who or what the Witch Queen is. Gotta tell you, I've known about this little development since the beginning of Book II and I've been very excited (and a little impatient) to finally write that name in a chapter and introduce the concept to you all! As a side note, I hope the dark, creepy atmosphere of her introduction in the forest was vivid enough - I spent a long time crafting that scene in particular and tried to make it as unsettling as possible. Fingers crossed it worked!

As far as the rest goes, it was nice to have a return to the four major characters goofing around and having fun again, especially at Aryll's house. We'll definitely be seeing a lot more of at least Aryll considering Link and Zelda are staying with her for the foreseeable future while their house is repaired. I've said it many times already but Aryll has swiftly become one of my favorite characters I've ever written and I can't wait to keep sharing more of her with you all!

As a quick note about the last conversation - I learned as I wrote this that Ganon/Ganondorf has only been referred to as "Demon King" a few times across the series, the most recent time, of course, being TotK. I thought that was a more ubiquitous moniker for him to be honest, but it's common enough that I don't think it's a weird continuity error to have old history books use the phrase "Demon King" when referring to Ganon (even though that this takes place before TotK). Plus, I just really liked the line where Aryll joked about the giant pig-like incarnation of hatred having an evil wife lol! Anyway, just wanted to touch on that briefly.

Another fun fact - a Sheikah in Kakariko Village makes a comment in BotW that a Cucco that couldn't fly would just be a glorified chicken, implying that both exist in Hyrule somewhere! That's why I decided to double and triple down on Glenne calling Willow part chicken LOL, even with Link mentioning counting Cuccos at Aryll's later.

So what that, this brings us to the end of Book II! What did you think overall? To me, I'm quite pleased with the way events played out and I'm proud of a lot of things I wrote during this arc, but it definitely feels like it has "middle part of a trilogy" syndrome (even though this story is going to have at least four Books before all is said and done). I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing by the way, but I do wonder if the finale especially felt a little lacking to anyone given that it didn't have a clear-cut conclusion that neatly wrapped up all the loose ends the way Book I ended after the Yiga kidnapping. I *do* think I managed to take Zelda through a lot of the concepts of "Family" though, so I'm very happy to have that payoff in the end and that it was the overall focus this arc. Let me know what you think if you feel up for it!

Oh, one more housekeeping note. I think this weekend I'm going to go back and change around some chapter numbers, but only for the bodies of each Book II posting. What I mean by that is - when I started Book II, I kept the same numerical place in the chapter numbers at the top of each one (i.e. Book II, Chapter 10 for the first chapter of the arc) but I don't think that's accurate or all that intuitive to follow. While it is Chapter 10 *overall,* it's only Chapter 1 of Book II, as opposed to the 10th chapter of Book II. That's been bothering me the last few days and I think delineating the chapters starting from 1 for each new Book will help a lot with clarity. Since the Chapter Index/Table of Contents will preserve the total chapter number we're on anyway, I think I'm going to change the numbers in Book II to reflect that it's another arc of Chapters 1-9, as opposed to starting with 10 and ending with 18. And starting from next time, I'll post Book III, Chapter 1 instead of Book III, Chapter 19. But you'll still be able to see that we're on Chapter 19 overall! Plus, this will help me organize something I have planned a bit further down the road in terms of numbering and such. So I hope that doesn't throw anyone off!

Anyway, that's about enough out of me I think. Like I mentioned at the top, Book III will start next Friday at the usual time - I'm not airing a TV show here with seasonal breaks! Besides, I'm far too excited to keep writing, especially this next chapter. It has two of my favorite scenes I've come up with and I hope you're looking forward to it. For one last fun little teaser, I'll tell you the name of the next arc:

Book III will be called "Storm."

Thanks so much for reading Book II of 'Stars in the Darkest Night' and I'll see you Friday for the start of the new arc! Take care and I'll see you all in the next one!