Chapter Text
Where was he?
Everything was hazy, like a thick fog hung over his head. Above, the ceiling was dark, little points of cold, blue light giving what little illumination there was.
Water dripped, dripped, dripped somewhere, echoing ceaselessly against the walls of the chamber. Above, below, and around him, there was the muffled humming of machinery, always working on something.
He was lying inside a chest, encased within high metal walls. He looked down and found himself naked save for a small pair of shorts. His skin glistened with moisture, goosebumps erupting everywhere that wasn't covered in scars, puncture marks or healed burns.
Where was he?
He sat up, the world swaying around him, still refusing to come into focus as he glanced around the chamber. Water continued to drip; machines continued to hum.
The chamber was empty, and dark save for him and his...sarcophagus?
No.
No, no, no!
Not here, not again!
He crawled out of the coffin, falling to the floor in a graceless heap as his limbs refused to move as they should, feeling like they were moving much slower than the rest of him. He touched the metal floor with his fingertips, but the feeling of it was...distant. Like there were several degrees of separation.
He found his feet and managed to climb into something that approached standing, his posture hunched as he desperately tried to find something, anything that could explain this.
This wasn't where he was supposed to be.
He glanced back at the sarcophagus, chest tightening at the sight of it.
This couldn't be!
But even if it were...where was everyone?
He was alone.
Why? Why was he alone?!
He couldn't breathe—air was moving in and out of his lungs, but he still felt like he was choking. The very chamber felt toxic to be in.
He stumbled towards the wall, where there was supposed to be a door. Nothing but smooth metal, no cracks to be seen, nothing for him to grab. He tried anyway, his numb, useless fingers sliding helplessly against the wall.
Somewhere else, then. He circled the chamber, his head drifting as if on a cloud, searching for a door.
But there was no door.
No way out.
He was trapped in the chamber.
Tomb.
This was a tomb.
His tomb!
The one he'd feared since...since...
He screamed, but there was no sound that he could hear. His voice echoed silently in the chamber, louder and louder, beating against his eardrums, an unheard cacophony, a hellish choir of despair, louder.
Louder.
LOUDER.
Link opened his eyes, vision blurry and bleary from sleep. For a moment, he feared that the roof above him was that same cold, blue-tinged one...but it was wood. Normal wood. Creaky and dusty and ravaged by woodworm from years of no neglect.
But wood, nonetheless. Not metal, not rock. The room around him wasn't dark, either, but bathed in the warm, bright light of morning shining through the window, the shutters open.
Something buzzed in his ears, but he ignored it. He needed to make sure he wasn't back in the Shrine of Resurrection, taking a moment to just...feel.
He wasn't lying in a metal coffin, but on a straw mattress that, despite its solidity, felt like a cloud given what he'd just dreamt. Or had a nightmare about, at that.
The buzzing grew louder, but still he ignored it. He needed to centre himself properly.
He was warm, and comfortable. Relieved, he turned to his side, reaching out. His hand found only more straw mattress and soft but unmistakably cold bedding. No warm body beside him to snuggle up to, to keep him grounded and remind him that he did not lay forgotten inside a mountain.
He sighed, disappointed. He'd forgotten again.
He kept doing it, without meaning to. It was disrespectful, and he hated himself for it.
He shuffled onto his back, staring back at the ceiling. He should have sent someone to get him. Kept himself conscious until someone could get them, tell them to climb into the pit in the castle and retrieve Sheik before he could...before he...
The buzzing was at its loudest now, so insistent. Finally, he let himself hear the sound, letting it wash over him like a wave.
A very loud, very screechy wave.
"Are you deaf, or what?!" Sheik shrieked from the nightstand, Sheikah script scrolling very fast across the screen of his temporary container, the little tablet doing its best to display his anger and annoyance. The speaker was hastily put together, and tinny. "Wake up! It's past ten in the morning and we've got work to do!"
Facing the music, Link rolled to his side and grabbed the tablet off the nightstand, holding it closer to his face so Sheik could see his face properly.
"Th-Thank you," he said. "I was h-having a bad d-dream."
"No shit," Sheik said with a scoff, the speaker giving a slight buzzing sound at the frequency of it. "Why do you think I decided it was time to wake up?"
Link smiled. "S-So you were g-going to let me s-sleep in even longer?" he asked.
Sheik paused. "No," he said, sounding far from convinced of his own lie. "I was going to wake you anyway. You may have most of the day off, but that doesn't mean you can just sleep it all away. Won't do for the Hero of Hyrule to appear lazy."
"W-Won't do at all," Link agreed with a nod, wiping the cold sweat off his brow with the sleeve of his sleeping tunic and placing Sheik back on the nightstand. "I'll g-get dressed."
"You do that," Sheik said. "And comb your damn hair—looks like a rat's nest."
"G-Got it."
Link managed to crawl out the bed somehow, muscles still aching and protesting even a week after the battle.
Stretching, he retreated behind the curtain that preserved his modesty as he went about his morning ablutions, putting on his Champion's tunic and the Sheikah trousers, completing the ensemble with a pair of comfortable sandals, his feet still aching too much for boots.
He brushed his hair to the best of his ability, but the rat's nest in the mirror had him sigh and tie it back.
"Passable," Sheik said with a sniff when Link emerged from behind the curtain. "How do you feel?"
The tone left no wiggle room or patience for the entertaining of lies, and Sheik would know the moment Link tried to play it down.
"Everything s-still hurts," Link confessed. "B-But it's getting b-better," he added.
"To be expected," Sheik said, script still scrolling across his screen.
Link wished he could see Sheik's face, but unfortunately the tablet's screen was too primitive for those sorts of graphics...at least according to Sheik and Purah, who'd been the one to quickly adapt the tablet to house her little nephew.
"You pushed yourself hard, and you were already nearing your limit before the battle even started. At least you've got time to recover now. Someone else can handle the next disaster."
Hylia above, Link wished they would. He wasn't sure if he had it in him to handle another catastrophe just now, no matter how miniscule. Even the struggle of getting dressed had been nearly unmanageable the first couple of days after he'd woken up.
He stretched again, wishing the tightness in his back and shoulders would leave him soon. Maybe he'd have to ask nicely for another aquatic massage, once everything had settled down.
He reached for the Master Sword, silent in its scabbard, and strapped it to his back. The silence was odd; he'd gotten so used to having her opinionated voice in his head. He'd tried talking to her, but she was not answering. Hadn't since Ganon's defeat. Link had no idea how to interpret that—but he hoped she'd perhaps gone to sleep.
A well-earned rest after a century of waiting for him to get his act together again.
He shook his head and banished those thoughts as he grabbed the tablet, giving the camera a smile.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ready," Sheik confirmed.
Link clipped the tablet to his belt and opened the door, stepping out into the morning light.
Castle Town was barely recognisable now. Where the streets before had been quiet save for the occasional bokoblin trampling over the cobbles, they were now a veritable beehive of activity as the survivors of the allied army made themselves at home for some rest and recovery after the battle.
Ganon's destruction hadn't been the end of the struggle, as small pockets of enemies continued to hold out in the far ends of the city, but the allies were slowly taking out the pockets, securing Castle Town street by street, building by building, fortifying the sections they'd retaken thoroughly.
As he walked along the reclaimed streets, Link saw that the alliance was still holding strong, with Hylians, Sheikah, Zora, Gorons, Rito, and Gerudo all working together to make the ruined town just a little more liveable for everyone—fixing roofs, shoring up columns, cleaning rubble out of rooms so they could be made temporary homes.
In the distance, towards the northern end of the city, there were sounds of battle, but the skirmishes were short and usually ended with a decisive, loud boom.
"S-Stabby's busy t-today too," Link said.
"Three pockets eliminated so far. One was a group of wizzrobes cooking up some magic bullshit near one of the cisterns containing the drinking water."
Link nodded. "G-Ganon's g-gone, but his w-will lives on."
"We'll stomp it out, sooner or later," Sheik said. "The Network has most of the city mapped out in detail by now, and we'll soon be able to root out every last enemy."
They reached a crossroads, where a field kitchen had been set up in what had once been an impressively sized stable to feed the army. Link had missed breakfast, but one of the quartermasters spotted him on his way past, whistling to get Link's attention.
"Master Link, good morning! Are you hungry?!"
He didn't really stop to give Link time to answer, tossing Link a wrapped parcel before returning to his work.
"Th-Thank you!" he called back, unwrapping the greasy paper to find a healthy serving of sausage, bread, and an apple that wasn't entirely fresh. It was a little shrivelled up now, but otherwise seemed fine. Link wondered where the hell the man had been able to even find it.
"A snack?" Sheik asked from his belt, unable to see what it was.
"M-More than that," Link said.
"Show me!"
"S-So bossy," Link muttered, holding the parcel up to the tablet's camera.
"Hm...hardly a feast," Sheik said, but his tone spoke of hunger.
Of all the things he missed about having a body, the ability to eat was apparently at the top of the list. It even ranked above being able to touch Link and Sidon. Link wondered if he should feel insulted by that, but then he himself tried to imagine never being able to eat again and...well, he really couldn't blame his Sheikah.
"It w-works," Link said as he withdrew the parcel and began to munch on his breakfast, continuing on his way, waving to and greeting nearly everyone on his way.
Usually, this amount of attention would make him very uncomfortable, but now that Ganon was gone, it was as if a great deal of the pressure had been lifted off his shoulders. While he'd never be truly comfortable being the centre of attention, at least now he didn't feel like running away.
Most of the time, anyway. He still had to turn tail and flee when, at dinner two nights before, someone had brought up the matter of marriage and the whole table had delved into the subject of finding Link a suitable wife.
And there'd only been one suitable candidate, in their minds.
Link had excused himself before they could really get going.
So had Zelda, in fact.
It was good to know that they were of one mind on that matter.
"Head's up, goro!"
Movement from his left automatically made him duck, barely avoiding getting his head caved in by a large plank swinging through the air. It crashed onto the cobbles next to him.
"Sorry, brother!" Yunobo called from the window of a tower currently being demolished, its base leaning dangerously close to its collapse, head poking out. "Are you okay, goro?"
"I'm g-good," Link called back, waving. "J-just be c-careful with th-those, okay?"
"You got it, goro!"
Quite a few of the old structures of the city were far too dangerous to leave standing. The Gorons, being excellent builders, had begun to survey and go about the demolition of these structures for the sake of everyone's safety. Them also being made from mostly also made them the best candidates for the job, as a falling rock wouldn't cave their heads in unlike, say, a passing Hylian.
"Has he gotten more confident, or is it just me?" Sheik asked as they continued on their way.
Link hummed happily. There had definitely been a change in Yunobo since the battle. The young Goron seemed more comfortable in his role as a Champion, far more willing to give orders than before.
They passed a group of Zora standing around an open manhole cover, having a debate on how to best clear a blockage in the sewers which, along with the city's buildings, were in dire need of repair. The Zora had volunteered to take a look at it all, in a great show of generosity.
The idea of explosives was apparently being discussed. Link made it a point to hurry past before Sheik could announce his interest in the conversation.
They finally reached their destination as Link finished his breakfast, entering the large square where the biggest melee fight in the city had been fought. The bodies had been cleared away, and a command central set up in the remains of what had once been a grand inn. This was the brain of the allied army and its reclamation efforts.
The very heart was a big tent in the middle of the square, where a map of the city was stretched across a canvas, needles and pins marking various points of interests, such as areas where repairs were desperately needed, pockets of particularly resistant enemies were still holding out, or potential housing sites.
The allied leaders were constantly near this map, giving instructions to runners and coordinating efforts with their counterparts.
To Link's surprise, however, most of the usual suspects were not here this morning. In fact, only Impa and General...what was his name? The Hylian general, sporting a bandage across his throat where a lizalfos had tried to cut it open, were present today, deep in conversation in front of the map.
Link froze.
What the hell was his name?
"Sh-Sheik, what's th-the general's name?" he asked quietly as he approached.
"No idea," Sheik said, voice gleeful.
The little shit definitely knew!
"Ah, Link," Impa said upon spotting him, her face lighting up, smiling at him. "Good morning."
"G-Good morning," Link said, smiling back, and nodding to the general.
Damn it, how could Link have forgotten?! This was not the sort of thing a Hero did!
"General Kato and I were just discussing our progress," Impa said, unwittingly saving Link's dignity as she gestured to the map. "We are making good progress."
"Indeed," Kato said, gesturing to the western side of the city. "At this rate, the western quarter will be under our control within the next two days. That will free up troops to help with the eastern quarters, which is still a hive of enemy activity."
Link nodded. "A-Any way I c-can help?" he asked.
"No need," Kato said kindly but firmly. "We've got it handled. Lady Riju and her warriors are making short work of whatever resistance they encounter. It's just the damned volume that's slowing them down."
"Ichigo's Guardians are more than capable of keeping them safe as they work," Impa assured him, her gaze landing on the tablet on Link's belt. "Good morning, nephew," she said.
"Good morning, Aunt Impa," Sheik replied dutifully, his tone entirely different than with Link. "Stabby says good morning as well."
"Tell Ichigo thank you for all the good work he has been doing," Impa said, nodding. "Does he have a status report on Robbie?"
Sheik was silent for a moment, presumably communicating with his little brother. "No resistance encountered so far," he said. "Should reach the Plateau within a week at their current pace."
"Good," Impa said with a nod. "We'll have you up and about again in no time, Sheik."
"Can't wait," Sheik said. "The gnome better keep his filthy hands to himself, though. If I wake up and find something plugged into me that's not supposed to be there, he's dead."
"I've very much impressed upon Robbie the importance of bodily autonomy, nephew," Impa said, shaking her head. "He will not defy me. He knows better."
A shiver went down Link's spine. He kept forgetting that Impa was really fucking scary sometimes. Was probably the whole point of her kind old lady persona.
"H-How long d-do you think it will t-take?" Link asked.
"Impossible to say," Sheik said bitterly. "The Shrine isn't exactly very communicative across the Network thanks to Ganon's fucking around with it. The gnome will have to establish a local connection to even get an overview of its capabilities. But it spat out Stabby pretty quickly, so..."
There'd been no way of saving Sheik's body. The damage done had been too great, and he had bled out as he'd focused on keeping Ganon out of the Network. That would've been the end of him, if Stabby hadn't been quick-thinking enough to start a transfer process that completed just in time as the body shut down for good.
Link still needed to find a way to thank Stabby properly for that.
Sheik had not been amused to find himself waking up inside Purah's hastily modified tablet, once again confined to a slate, but when confronted with the fact that he'd be dead otherwise, he'd...well, he hadn't calmed down, exactly, but he'd stopped shrieking loud enough to break the speakers.
The plan was for Robbie to bring Sheik's broken body to the Shrine of Resurrection and see what it could do to repair it. Hopefully it would work.
Link didn't dare imagine how Sheik would react if it couldn't.
"He will find a way, nephew, regardless of what happens," Impa assured him. "Robbie is one of our finest minds—despite appearances—and I know he'll consider it his greatest challenge yet."
"I am so relieved," Sheik muttered. "Maybe I should listen to Stabby and take control of the Guardians with him, ruling the plains with an iron fist."
"P-Please don't m-make Stabby a w-warlord," Link said.
"Power corrupts, Link," Sheik said. "And Stabby currently wields more than most."
"Indeed," Kato said, "which must be why I saw one of his Guardians playing fetch with some Gorons yesterday. Frightful stuff." He chuckled.
"He's just biding his time, general. Just biding. His. Time."
Link shook his head. If anyone was liable to go mad with power and conquer everything, it was Sheik. Which was why Link was immensely relieved when Stabby had been placed in charge of the now reclaimed Guardians, using them to help the allied army in their construction and fighting efforts.
The army had been hesitant to receive help from the giant machines that had been the greatest threat to them on the battlefield, but Stabby quickly proved their worth by being nothing but helpful. Some still preferred to keep their distance, naturally.
Link still felt his stomach roiling a bit whenever he saw a Guardian looking at him, expecting a targeting laser to paint him soon after, but they never did.
Further proving that Stabby was just a good boy. So good he'd sent no less than three Guardians to escort Robbie and his squad of Sheikah across the plains to the Plateau, wanting to make sure his brother's body arrived in one piece.
"S-So," Link said, deciding to jump to a happier topic, "where is everyone?"
His fellow Champions usually spent their time coordinating their people's efforts and generally being there as symbols of inspiration to an army that had weathered a great storm and been dealt heavy losses. Today, however, they were conspicuously missing.
"Lady Riju is off fighting, as I said," Kato said. "Along with most of her warriors. Master Yunobo is taking an active part in the demolition efforts."
"Master Teba is performing aerial recon of the areas surrounding the city in anticipation of his people's arrival," Impa added.
Ah, right, Link thought. That's today.
"Sharky's off playing in the waterways," Sheik added.
"I do believe he's clearing them out to improve the flow," Kato corrected.
"Playing," Sheik repeated.
"And th-the princess?" Link asked.
"I believe she is helping with clearing rubble from the streets," Impa said, smiling fondly. "She was quite fed up with sitting around doing nothing, and decided to get her hands dirty, despite certain people's protests."
Link couldn't help but smile at that. That definitely sounded like the Zelda he'd been reacquainting himself with over the past week. She'd slept for two days straight after the battle, but after that she had been a never-ending spring of energy, always working on something.
Kato huffed. "She is a princess. She has better things to worry about than manual labour."
"Given her kingdom is currently a pile of rubble, what else can she do? Besides, a royal who's not willing to pull their own weight is not worth serving."
Kato glared at the tablet. "She's held off Ganon for a century, Master Sheik," he said stiffly, torn somewhere between agreeing with Sheik's words and defending his princess' honour. "Was that not pulling her own weight, as you say?"
"Oh sure," Sheik said lightly. "But what has she done lately?"
"Been an inspiration," Impa interjected, sensing a brewing argument and deciding to nip it at the bud. "But I believe she felt the need to move about, which is understandable. You will find her a few blocks to the north, Link, if you were thinking of meeting with her."
"I th-think I w-will," Link said, nodding. "Th-Thank you."
"Oh, nephew," Impa said before they could leave. "Purah asked that you see her as soon as possible. She needs your help with something related to the Network."
"Oh, what a pity I have to go with Link, then," Sheik said faux-sadly. "We have that important thing to talk about with the princess, right?"
His tone left no room for argument. Link gave Impa an apologetic shrug. She maintained her friendly smile, but Link knew that still waters ran deep. She was no doubt planning an exciting punishment for Sheik's open defiance.
"A pity indeed," she said, nodding. "Later, then, when you have the time, nephew."
"If," Sheik repeated.
"Y-You won't g-get away with that," Link noted as they left the square, heading for the block Impa had indicated.
"I'm stuck in a slate again, Link," Sheik said sourly. "What could she possibly do to me that's worse than that?"
"I d-don't think encouraging her c-creativity is a g-good idea."
"Eh," Sheik said dismissively.
"Don't c-come c-crying to me when th-this bites you in th-the arse," Link said firmly. "I w-won't help you."
"No worries, Link," Sheik said brightly. "Sharky will be more than happy to help, I'm sure."
"I'll t-tell him not t-to."
"...cruel, Link. You are a cruel man."
Link just laughed. "You s-sow, you reap," he said.
"And out comes the farming metaphors," Sheik groaned. "You're a knight, Link, not some country bumpkin. Have some pride in your profession, and come up with some better similes, and..."
Link let Sheik drone on, letting the words wash over him as he continued on his way, smiling and nodding to the people he passed. Ahead he spotted a small group of Sheikah—younger warriors, those who hadn't been allowed to join the actual fighting on account of their age—being led around by Pikango. He was gesturing this way and that, pointing out what appeared to be weaknesses in their defences. He noticed Link and jogged over, leaving his squad to watch curiously.
"And good morning to the sleepyheads," he said brightly, holding out his hand.
"G-Good morning, Pikango," Link returned, shaking the man's proffered hand. "H-How are you?"
"Much better now that my poor back's gotten some rest," he said with a laugh. "Just taking a little time to show the little sprouts around, introducing them to the people they'll be working with in the coming months."
"You sure you're qualified for that, old man?" Sheik asked. "Finger painting seems more your area of expertise."
"Hah! Maybe I'll get around to that if we have some spare time later," Pikango said, laughing. "You're welcome to join when you're done baking in the Shrine, kid. Might do your coordination some good. Or colour coordination, at least. I saw some of your knitting work."
"Are you criticising my knitting?" Sheik said coldly. "Just you wait, old man. I'll make you regret those words when I'm back in my body!"
"Far from it," Pikango said with a grin. "I'm just saying you have an...unconventional palette."
"You're dead, old man."
Pikango laughed again. "Ah, you youngsters and your death threats. Like mewling kittens. Oh, that reminds me—thank you!" Faster than Link could react, Pikango reached out and plucked the tablet off his belt, sticking it under his arm like a book. "Purah requested Sheik's presence at his earliest convenience. Do you mind if I borrow him for a bit?"
"Yes, I do mind!" Sheik shouted.
"N-Not at all," Link said. "He's all y-yours."
"Traitor!"
"I'll have him back to you as soon as Purah's done with him," Pikango promised. "Who knows, maybe he'll even be unharmed."
"P-Please do."
Link waved as Pikango waltzed off with Sheik under his arm, the younger's voice tinny as he shrieked about the terrible vengeance he would wreak upon all those who'd wronged him. The group of younger Sheikah looked very excited to have their angry cousin with them again. For some reason, they didn't find Sheik's temper very intimidating or annoying. If anything, they were delighted by it. Entertained, even.
Link could relate.
Even more when Pikango playfully tossed the tablet to one of them, who then tossed it to another. Link had a feeling they would be playing hot potato with Sheik the whole way to Purah's lab. Luckily, they were going the opposite way, which meant Link wouldn't have to listen to Sheik's outraged screaming.
A few minutes later, and he spotted the work site where Zelda had decided to lend a hand. It wasn't particularly hard to spot, for a few reasons.
For one, it was one of the broadest streets in the city, where an overhanding column had collapsed from disrepair, the rubble blocking one of the biggest arteries of Castle Town. Clearing it would allow supplies and troops to be moved much faster and easier to wherever they were needed, rather than manoeuvring through the narrower, less straightforward streets or alleys.
For the other, it was the only worksite where a group of Hylian soldiers in full plate armour were working diligently alongside their charge, their princess, in the collective effort to clear the road.
He studied Zelda as he came closer, noting that she was not wearing the white dress she'd appeared in during the battle, having switched to a far simpler, more practical outfit consisting of good boots, trousers, and a navy-blue shirt. Her hair was braided back to keep it out of her face as she worked, the sleeves of her shirt rolled up.
She looked tired and was covered in dirt from lugging bricks and stone plates around. And yet, she looked no less majestic than she had when putting down Ganon for good. Regal and proud, but not afraid to lift a finger when necessary. She also looked...happy, a big smile on her face as she helped one of her guards lift the remnants of a stone gargoyle.
Content. Pleased to be doing something.
It was a good look on her. The shape of her smile had been a rare guest in those memories Link had managed to recover.
She and the soldier heaved the broken bust onto a pile of debris on the side of the road, and they exchanged a few words, the princess wiping her brow with the back of her gloved hand. As she did so, she happened to spot Link, her smile growing just a little wider.
It made Link's chest grow warm with affection. Even if he couldn't remember their time together completely, couldn't truly recall everything, their friendship remained strong. It was a little odd—it was like meeting someone for the first time, but also feeling like he'd known them his entire life.
He'd decided not to dwell on it too much, and simply enjoy the feeling for what it was.
"Link!" she called, waving. "Over here!"
He waved back and picked up his pace a little. "G-Good morning," he said.
"Good morning," she returned, still smiling. "Slept in, did we?"
He scratched his neck nervously. "A b-bit," he admitted.
"You always were late to rise," she said, laughing. "A terrible grump in the mornings, too."
"I'll t-take your w-word for it," he said, chuckling.
"Your Majesty," the soldier she'd been working with said, saluting awkwardly. "Will you require any further assistance?"
"Ah, no, thank you, Garon," she said. "You and your men can return to your regular duties now. I am sorry for dragging you into the heavy lifting."
"We are happy to help," Garon said, saluting again before turning to Link. "Master Link, I leave Her Majesty's safety in your hands."
Link hesitated before nodding, watching as the armoured soldiers marched off to Hylia knew where. It was strange, how they were so confident in Link's ability to protect her. He was only one man, after all.
Zelda dusted her gloves off before removing them, waving to the other workers before linking her arm with Link's, tugging him away from the rubble, heading for one of the little canal streets.
"I hope you don't mind going for a stroll with me," Zelda said. "It was time for a break, anyway."
"Of c-course not," he said.
She smiled. "Thank you."
The very model of a princess—beautiful and the appearance of goodness itself.
If only the people of Hyrule knew it was just that: the appearance.
"So," she said once they were out of earshot, following the winding canal, "Master Sheik isn't with you? Did he finally earn himself a time-out?"
Her grin was nothing like the gentle smile from before. It was one she only showed around Link, and only when they were alone. Link had quickly learned that there were two sides to Zelda.
There was The Princess. The hard-working, gentle, all-loving persona she showed the public. It was not insincere—she truly was all these things, but it was a persona purged of those qualities that were perhaps not as...acceptable in the public image of Hyrule's princess. This was the side Link remembered the most.
And then there was The Gremlin. He really didn't have a better name for it than that.
This was Zelda when she was at her most relaxed, when she was surrounded only by close friends rather than the public. When she truly let herself be herself. It had been a surprise to Link at first, but he'd quickly gotten used to it, the feeling of it very familiar.
The most prominent thing being that she really, really, really enjoyed the role of Awful Big Sister who loves torturing her siblings.
Link found himself on the receiving end of this persona most of the time.
"He w-was needed at th-the lab," he replied. "Important b-business."
"Indeed?" Zelda said, humming thoughtfully. "Well, gives you a little break, I suppose."
He sighed. "He's not th-that bad," he said, knowing fully well that Sheik was that bad.
Worse even, if he was in a mood.
"He made one of the soldiers cry," Zelda pointed out. "Something about the way he handled his sword in the ring being just as bad as in the bedroom?"
Link's face reddened. "Th-That's not—"
"Though from what I hear he has a fiancée back in Hateno who is decidedly not disappointed with his fencing skills," Zelda continued, heedless of her knight's embarrassment. "Perhaps she and Sheik could compare notes?"
"Argh," Link groaned, hiding his face in his hands.
Zelda laughed. "Oh, come on, Link, that was funny!"
Awful Big Sister, and a terrible gossip. And a big fan of dirty jokes. Link wondered how Hyrule would feel if they knew the true person behind the princess' mask.
"But in all seriousness," she continued mercilessly, "I always wondered what your type would be, Link. You were always so quiet and mysterious, and never really showed interest in anyone we met. I suppose if we had met someone like Sheik—loud, rude, a general pain in one's behind—the mystery would have been solved." She stopped, turning to face him. "He's good for you, that much I can see."
He hesitated. "Th-Thank you?"
"Now, Prince Sidon on the other hand, that I did not expect," the princess said, an evil grin appearing on her face. "Tell me, is it true what the rumours about him say? That he has two—"
"Let's move on, shall we?!" Link exclaimed, marching ahead, ignoring Zelda's giggles as she followed.
"Hey, Link, you didn't stutter that time!"
"Argh!"
They reached the end of the canal, near one of the larger waterways that further north met with the river that served as the castle's moat. From here, they could see the ruins of the castle itself. Zelda's laughter died down a little as she watched it, leaning on the stone balustrade.
"I can still remember what it looked like, before the Calamity," she said. "It's odd. It happened so long ago, yet it also feels like it was simply yesterday."
"Hm," Link hummed. He didn't have a good reply to that.
"Have you heard from them?" she asked, looking at him. "The Champions, I mean."
He shook his head. "N-No," he said. "N-Not since the b-battle."
"Neither have I," she said, nodding slowly. "The Divine Beasts have gone inactive. I suppose...I suppose that means they've gone. Finally at peace, after so long." She sighed. "I miss them."
"Even R-Revali?" Link asked.
She chuckled. "Even Revali," she confirmed. "He brought you out, you know? You tended to keep to yourself, at first, very introverted. Mipha was the only one who could draw you out at the beginning. And then Revali started needling you. I don't think I ever saw you angry, other than the times you two were stuck together. Urbosa and Daruk found it highly amusing."
"He w-was an ass," Link said.
"He was. But also a good friend, despite the hiccups. A loyal companion."
"I s-suppose."
They watched the castle in silence for a moment.
"You speak more," Zelda said suddenly. It almost sounded like an accusation.
"Eh?"
"You are less hesitant to articulate verbiages," she said in a deadpan voice, as if that clarified it. At his questioning look, she sighed. "Before the Calamity, it was difficult to get you to talk at all. You usually let your actions speak for you. Mipha told me it was because of your stutter—that you felt embarrassed by it."
"She w-was probably r-right;" Link said, nodding.
"That has changed, though, hasn't it?"
"I d-didn't have a ch-choice," Link said. "Sh-Sheik had n-no mercy."
She giggled. "I'll say. I watched you, you know. When I felt my strength waning, I looked to you and your quest. Seeing you and your companions make progress...it gave me the renewed resolve to keep Ganon at bay. I must admit, I was unsure of Sheik at first. He was so...abrasive. But then I saw what he managed to coax out of you. Reactions at first, then your playful side. That's what I meant when I said he's been good for you."
Link blushed again, looking down at the water running quietly past them. "He's g-good," he said quietly. "P-People just d-don't realise it."
"He hides it well," she corrected. "And Sidon...well, he too has been a good influence on you. He and Sheik made a good team, drawing you out of your shell again." She giggled again. "You're getting quite popular, Link," she teased. "It seems I'll have some competition in the future."
His face was red as a tomato now. Before he could ask exactly what that meant, she pushed on with her final blow.
"Perhaps I should ask them for some tips," she said, looking remarkably innocent as she stared out across the water. "Some of the things I've seen...I feel as if I'd need a diagram to understand them."
Wait, what?
"Um," he said intelligently, "d-did you...w-watch?"
She gave him a coy look. "Whatever do you mean, Link?" she asked. "I watched a lot of things. You will have to be more specific."
His mouth moved, but any sound refused to come out. The thought that this...this gremlin had been watching them while they were...were...expressing their aff—oh Hylia, no, he couldn't even describe it in his mind!
Before his mind could break down further, however, there was a splash below. Link barely had time to look down at the unbroken waterway surface before the water exploded, a blur of red shooting out of the water, high into the air, droplets of water catching the sunlight in a dazzling display before the blur hit the ground a few feet away from them.
And then unfolded.
Sidon's height never failed to impress Link, even now. There was just something about letting one's eyes trail upwards from his feet, to his legs, to his hips, his chest... His scales shone from the water dripping off him. His golden eyes looked down at Link, his smile incandescent like the sun.
"Ah-hah!" he said, laughing. "I knew it was you, Link. There was no mistaking that head of hair!" He then looked to Zelda, his bluster faltering a bit. "A-And Princess Zelda!" he added, bowing his head. "Good morning—my apologies for my rude interruption of your conversation!"
"Prince Sidon, good morning," Zelda said with a laugh. "No apologies needed. I was simply telling Link that I look forward to hearing more about your adventures together, and the good your friendship will do for our domains' diplomatic relations."
She put an odd inflection the word "relations", and Link had to fight the urge to smack her upside the head.
Luckily, Sidon didn't seem to notice, simply nodding eagerly, his tail waggling excitedly.
Like a great big puppy.
"Indeed!" he exclaimed. "Father will be thrilled to see you again, and I'm certain we'll be able to cement our peoples' partnership once more!"
"In more than one way," Zelda said cryptically, giving Link a smug look.
She was fucking with him. There was no other explanation to it. And yet Link felt the need to move himself closer to Sidon, as if staking his claim on the prince. Zelda's eyes lit up with amusement.
"Ah, but that is a heavy conversation for another day," she said. "How goes the repair work on the waterways?"
"Progressing at an excellent pace—at this rate, we will have all the canals and rivers flowing properly again by the next two weeks."
"That is good to hear—I cannot thank you and your people enough for your help in this endeavour, Prince Sidon," Zelda gave a slight bow. "I will forever be in your debt."
Sidon's cheeks turned a little red. "Ah, no thanks necessary, princess," he said. "We are allies—we assist each other when we are in need. I'm certain the Domain can count on your help should we ever need it."
"Of course."
The polite conversation continued for a little while, Link not failing to notice that Sidon had moved a little closer to him as well, close enough to touch.
Oh, how he wanted to reach out and take that big hand with his own.
"I don't mind, you know," Zelda said suddenly, eyes locking on Link's twitching fingers. "It's not like it's a secret."
Cue the pair of them suddenly finding words very difficult to articulate, looking anywhere but at each other and Zelda. The Princess herself laughed like the evil witch she was.
Link decided it was time for a little payback.
"S-Sidon?" he asked.
"Yes, Link?"
"H-Have you seen P-Paya today? Z-Zelda wished to s-speak to her."
In front of them, Zelda suddenly went very stiff, ears twitching. "Link, I don't think—"
"Ah, I have not, unfortunately," Sidon replied, smirking a little as he caught on. "But I did see a Sheikah contingent further down towards the market, heading this way. Perhaps she will be among them? I'll go look, excuse me!"
"Wait, Sidon, don't—"
"I'll be right back!"
Another red flash and a loud splash, and Sidon was gone, the water below rippling in his wake. Zelda watched it, her outstretched hand going limp and falling to her side.
"You will pay for that, Link," she said quietly.
"Sh-Sheik also t-taught me the v-value of r-retribution," Link replied.
The tension between Zelda and Paya could be cut with a knife whenever they were near each other. Even Link, blind as he considered himself in these matters, could see it. He decided it was time for a little push.
Zelda disagreed.
"Well, I suppose I should head back to command and see what is going on," she said, making to walk away, but Link's hand shot out and grabbed her arm, locking her in place. "Link!" she hissed.
"Zelda," he said simply.
She stopped resisting, head hanging low. Then she straightened up, giving Link her most innocent smile yet. It made his blood run cold.
"So," she said cheerily, "how do Zora scales feel upon one's skin?"
Link considered throwing himself into the canal and letting the current take him away.
Princess Gremlin, indeed.
Sheik's image flickered slightly as the current going through the projection stone took a moment to steady itself. His image looked annoyed, arms crossed, glaring at the stone until he stopped flickering, giving it a satisfied nod.
"That's better," he said.
"Hah!" Purah said, jumping excitedly. "And Robbie said I couldn't restore it on my own without his help! Shows what he knows!"
"I cannot overstate this enough," Sheik said, looking down at Purah with a most serious expression on his face. "Never believe anything that comes out of Robbie's mouth. He is a lying pervert whose power grows when we do not acknowledge his evil."
"You got it, Sheiky!" she said.
Around them, the celebration had already started and was well-underway. It was one of the things the allies had been working toward for the past two days. The battle was over, but there was still a lot of work to do, and tensions still ran a little high, which was why high command had decided a party was in order.
It had been envisioned as a dignified banquet, but it quickly devolved into a massive feast and drinking binge instead.
Link couldn't blame anyone for it. Burying the dead and mourning them had taken a heavy toll on the soldiers, and they needed an outlet. And that was why Stabby's Guardians had been tasked with holding the defensive line for the night, allowing the squishy fighters some time to unwind.
And drink themselves silly, based on what Link had seen. It wasn't even eight in the evening—the sun had barely set.
But that was how he found himself sitting at a large table in the middle of the square at the inn, surrounded by his friends, eating and drinking. He'd been missing Sheik until Purah came along, lugging with her a huge, broken-looking projection stone that she'd eagerly hooked up to a battery.
He'd gotten so used to seeing Sheik with his...artificial enhancements that his regular projection was a bit odd, but it was such an immense relief to see his face again that it didn't matter. It did make his chest hurt a little, wishing he could actually reach out and touch the Sheikah. His bed always felt empty these days—Sidon had too many duties to attend to join him, to the point where Link wondered if the prince was even getting any sleep at all.
He'd make it a point to drag Sidon back to his little house at the end of the night.
For sleeping.
And possibly cuddling.
And maybe, probably, conceivably...other things.
"It's good to see you again brother, goro!" Yunobo said, waving to Sheik's image. "You look different!"
"'Good' is the word you're looking for, Roly," Sheik said, posing dramatically.
"Oh great," Riju said from her seat next to Link, her cheek covered in bandages where a moblin had gotten a lucky cut. "He's back. How I missed that ego."
Her tone suggested anything but joy.
"Tiny, life without me ain't worth living, and you know it."
"I don't know, Sheik," she said, lifting her flagon. "I was actually starting to enjoy the peace and quiet. That constant ringing in my ear had finally gone, too."
"I'll get it back, no worries."
They laughed. No one said it, but Link knew the Champions and other allies had been worried when they'd brought back Sheik's lifeless body from the castle. Link himself had been inconsolable until Purah and Robbie revealed they were talking to Stabby on the tablet and learned the truth.
Seeing him up and about (of sorts) like this put their worries to rest, finally.
"A toast!" Sidon announced. "To Vah Sheik!"
Everyone raised their cups, but Sheik huffed.
"To the new Champions, I'd say," he said. "This was a team effort."
"Th-The Champions!" Link corrected.
"The Champions!"
The toast rang out, and soon the tables around them joined in too, adding many names and individuals to the toast. Somewhere, someone started to play a flute, and a couple of other instruments joined in soon after, the atmosphere growing lighter and lighter by the minute.
Link took a moment to look at the faces around the large table. Friends and companions, all those who'd helped him on his journey. He felt infinitely grateful to them all, and wished he had the words with which to express it. Sidon, Bazz, Riju, Buliara, Ayla, Teba, Harth, Yunobo, Sheik, Impa, Purah...almost too many to count.
Two were missing, though.
"If you were wondering where the princess is," Riju said quietly next to him, "I think I saw her walking around with that Sheikah girl a little while ago. Paya, was it?" The Gerudo's face was screwed up with delight. "Something's going on there, right?"
"That's the p-plan," Link said conspiratorially. "I'd appreciate s-some help."
"Oh, I'm always up for a good conspiracy," Riju said, laughing as she clanked her glass to Link's. "And some good gossip."
Link wondered if he'd made a mistake introducing Riju to Zelda. The more he thought about it, the more he realised they were a little too much alike for his comfort, and that if the two were to combine their powers they'd be unstoppable.
The last thing he needed was two Gremlins making his life miserable.
"Speaking of gossip," Riju continued, lowering her voice a little, "I hear Prince Sidon has been talking to Zora armourers. Something about wanting to make a pair of suits. What do you think that means?"
"Y-You're evil," Link muttered as his face grew hot and took a deep drink from his cup, unable to look at Sidon.
Riju giggled. "Hero of Hyrule and you still blush like that. It's adorable!"
"Q-Quiet!"
"Never!"
"Link."
Teba's large, feathery hand was on his shoulder, the Rito looking down at him with a smile. "I just received word that my people have been spotted. They'll be here in a few minutes—I'll be going to greet them. Hold down the fort while I'm gone?"
"S-Sure," Link replied, smiling up at him.
"And make sure Sheik doesn't do anything stupid?" Teba added. "He's a hologram but knowing him I'm sure he'd find a way to cause trouble anyway."
"We'll watch him, Bird Dad," Riju said, laughing.
"Thank you, my lady," Teba said, not even reacting to his nickname as he walked off.
"Oi, what are you two talking about over there?" Sheik's image said, pointing his finger at them accusingly. "Share with the class, please."
"Oh, nothing much," Riju said, waving her hand dismissively. "Just discussing some arranged marriage stuff. I'd like to cement our alliance with Hyrule as soon as possible, so I'm talking to Link about which of my girls he'd like to marry."
The reaction was three-fold. Sheik erupted in a blazing volcano of anger. Sidon looked like a kicked puppy. And Link wondered if he could use Urbosa's Fury on himself.
It took a few minutes for the outrage (and laughter, on the account of everyone else) to die down. Link kept drinking until he saw the bottom of his cup and refilled it.
"Ah, I do love stirring up a little trouble," Riju said, patting Link's shoulder. "Excuse me, I need to talk to Ayla about something. Come on, Bul."
The seats to his left were left empty, but they were soon occupied by a pair of silver and golden heads.
Zelda and Paya looked very guilty, their faces red. Link gave Zelda a grin, to which she responded by punching his arm. Hard.
Something Sheik did not fail to notice, his face lighting up. "Well, well, well," he said. "Good to see you, Princess, Paya-nee. Where have you two been?"
The pair had clearly not rehearsed their story, either, based on the panicked widening of eyes on both of them.
"Er...Paya was wondering if I could show her something in the gardens nearby!" Zelda exclaimed at the same time that Paya stuttered "I-Inspecting th-the defences!"
"Oh, I'm sure something was inspected, all right," Sheik laughed.
"Nephew, please do not be crass," Impa said from the other end of the table, watching Zelda and Paya with a friendly smile. There was a strange glint to her eyes, though, which had Link suddenly imagine the matriarch rubbing her hands together eagerly. "Although I am happy to see my granddaughter and the Princess of Hyrule getting along so splendidly."
Link couldn't suppress his snort of amusement, especially not when Zelda and Paya both talked over each other in a weak attempt to deflect the veiled accusation.
He really was gaining a newfound appreciation for retribution.
The celebration continued. At one point Stabby made an appearance as well, his projection earning plenty of coos from everyone. Zelda in particular.
"He looks just like Sheik!" she exclaimed, watching the images standing next to each other. "Only cute!"
"Hey!"
"Th-Thank you, Your Majesty," Stabby said uncertainly, uncomfortable with so much attention being drawn to himself.
"Oh please, just call me Zelda. Or Zelly, if you wish."
"O-Oh...excuse me, there is a hacking attempt I must attend to."
His image flickered out again to everyone's disappointment. Sheik shook his head.
"There isn't one," he said. "He was just embarrassed."
More cooing ensued.
"Too cute, goro," Yunobo said, clutching his chest. "The littlest brother."
The table agreed loudly.
"The most precious little nephew," Impa said, humming.
"What about me?" Sheik asked.
"You are precious too, Sheik, in your own way," the matriarch replied, to more laughter.
Link stumbled a little over a stray piece of loose cobble as he and Sidon walked into one of side streets off the square, where the noise wasn't quite so loud, and they had a little privacy.
Sidon had been feeling the same way as Link, it seemed, judging by how quickly he leaned down, kissing Link softly, then insistently. Link could only sigh happily and kiss him back, his arms wrapping around the prince's neck. He felt Sidon's arms wrapping around his middle in return, gasping a little when he felt himself being lifted off the ground, held securely against Sidon's chest.
"By the gods I've missed you, my sapphire," Sidon said when they separated, staring into each other's eyes. "Even seeing you every day, I miss holding you like this."
"I m-missed you t-too," Link replied, touching his forehead to Sidon's.
"Haven't missed this," Sheik muttered sourly from Link's belt.
"Oh, my ruby," Sidon said, adjusting his hold on Link so he could grab the tablet as well. "I apologise. I did not mean to make you feel left out."
Sheik sighed. "It's all right, Sharky, I know you didn't. This just sucks, is all."
"Agreed," Link said, nodding. "I m-miss you a l-lot."
"...I miss you too. Both of you," he said after a moment. "But! This is only temporary, got it? Soon the gnome will be back with my body, and then...there will be no mercy."
"Is that a promise?" Sidon asked cheekily.
"Promise, vow, oath, however you want to name it, Sharky."
"C-Can't wait," Link said.
"All right, enough mushiness, back to snogging. Go on."
They didn't need to be told twice. It was only typical, then, that they were interrupted by the bells going off, heralding the arrival of the Rito.
"Tweety has the worst timing, I swear," Sheik sighed.
"Ah, duty calls again, I suppose," Sidon said, regretfully putting Link down, his expression suggesting he'd rather carry Link around for the rest of the night. "Perhaps, Link, if you don't mind, I could...accompany you to your house tonight?"
"Y-Yes! D-Definitely!" Link said a little too quickly and too loudly.
"Subtle," Sheik said.
"Sh-Shut up!"
By the time they returned to the party, the Rito had assimilated into the party quite a bit already, having brought more supplies which included a great deal of food and some of the strongest booze Link had ever tasted.
A large group of the avian people had congregated around Zelda, the princess greeting them one by one, thanking them for the help and supplies, praising their warriors for their brave participation in the battle.
Link spotted the familiar mix of white, pink, and grey feathers that was Teba and his family, and he pushed his way through the throngs just as Zelda was about to greet them.
"Princess Zelda," Teba said, gesturing to Saki and Tulin. "This is my mate, Saki, and my son, Tulin."
"A pleasure to meet you both," Zelda said with a big smile, taking her time to crouch down and shake Tulin's feathered hand solemnly. "Your father is one of the bravest people I have ever met."
"I know, right?!" Tulin said excitedly, vibrating with excitement at everything he saw around him. It was probably his first time out of the village, and everything was new to him. Probably itched to go exploring. He spotted Link as he emerged from the crowd, waving. "Hi Link!"
Link waved back, trying not to interrupt the formal greeting too much. Teba gave him an affectionate smile.
Zelda laughed and turned to Saki, taking her hand as well. "I cannot thank you and your people enough for your help, both in Link's quest and in battling Ganon. I am forever in your debt."
"We were only happy to help, Your Majesty," Saki said, looking confused at the handshake. "Pardon, but might I try giving you the traditional Hylian greeting? I think I have it mastered now."
Zelda looked confused. "Traditional Hylian greeting?" she parroted.
"Yes," Saki said happily. "Link taught it to me when we first met. I was quite pleased to learn it."
"Well, I...suppose?" Zelda said hesitantly giving Link a confused stare, to which he could only shrug, just as confused as she was.
That is, until Saki grabbed Zelda's shoulders and leaned closer...and down.
The images flooded back to his brain in a screaming train of horror.
Oh no.
Oh no!
It had been embarrassing enough when all Saki's beak hit was Link's flat chest. Zelda had a little more...mass there. And when she moved it back and forth, there was considerable...movement.
Zelda's face was bright red, the princess frozen in place as her bosom was assaulted in the name of diplomacy.
On the other side of the crowd, Paya looked outraged, jaw dropping.
On his belt, Sheik whispered, "This is the happiest moment of my life."
Saki withdrew, giving Zelda a bright smile. "How was that, Your Majesty?"
"I...er..." Zelda stuttered, trying to find something to say. "It was...fine?" she ended up saying, apparently drawing a blank.
"Oh, good," Saki said, smiling and gesturing to a small queue of Rito that had formed behind her. "I taught the others too, and they were quite excited to finally get to do it!"
"Wh-Wha—?!"
It really was par for the course, the disastrous direction Link's life had taken at this point. He could only watch as, one by one, the Rito gave Princess Zelda of Hyrule a traditional Hylian greeting each, and wonder if maybe this was just how things were going to be.
As Sheik cackled loudly from his belt, and Zelda gave him a look that promised nothing but pain in his immediate future and a death that would probably stick, and Paya surely plotted to roast a few fowls in the next few minutes, Link couldn't help but smile.
Despite it all, life was good.
The End