Archive of Our Own

               It wasn’t instant but creeped up the further they traveled into the depths beneath the castle, the air became heavy and difficult to breathe. Not like the dry heated air in the Gerudo desert, but similar to an infirmary where the air is thick with illness. The deeper the pair went down the destroyed and decayed stairs the easier it was to see the malice like vines swirl in the air.

               “I never imagined this was all deep beneath Hyrule Castle. Link!” Zelda paused, “The Master Sword… it must be sensing something! I knew we had reason for concern. Ever since the end of the Calamity, the castle has fallen into neglect. But I never could have imagined anything like these tunnels were hiding here. We must be careful as we move deeper.”

               Link stayed only a step behind the princess as they descended. The two of them had been working hard the past 5 years to slowly restore Hyrule together. Despite him trying to get the princess to rest after her 100 year battle the other was going stir crazy after only a few days under Impa’s care. Since then, they traveled to the different areas of Hyrule, introducing the Princess to not only the few people but also to the ones who helped Link in freeing the Divine Beasts and the spirits of their dear friends. In no time at all they set up areas all across Hyrule with supplies for anyone to rebuild their homes and towns. They established more Stables to assist people and establish a simple mailing system. In addition to structural repairs the princess also built a school in Hateno, a special garden near the Wetland Stable for special flowers and plants, an animal reserve near the Lakeside Stable, cooking classes to teach recipes from before the Calamity, and so much more.  Everyday she gave her all for the betterment of the Kingdom.

               “Link! Look here!”

               Link jogged forward to meet the Princess, she had knelt near what looked like a fallen pillar. “These are ruins from an ancient civilization. Wait… something is written here. Might these ruins be… from the Zonai?”

               Link shrugged and followed as she moved forward, looking at a carving in the wall. “Link look at this! These carvings… I’m sure they’re Zonai in origin. I’ve seen designs like this in my studies.” At his blank look she continued, “The Zonai are said to have lived long ago, in the time of earliest legend. They possessed godlike powers and had a prosperous civilization in the sky. Many history books tell us about the Zonai, but none gives us the full picture. Much is still unknown about them.”

               Link nodded, following her as she went to the other side of the room with a gasp, “Those statues there! Is this what the Zonai looked like? They seem so different than us, and such large ears… How did the ruins from a civilization in the sky end up here beneath the castle? It looks like the path ahead goes even deeper. Let’s continue, Link. We still need to find what Purah asked for.”

               It was on one of the princess’s projects that they received word from Purah to hurry back to Lookout Landing. Zelda didn’t hesitate to drop everything and hurry over.

               “The strange gloom keeps getting thicker…” Zelda’s soft voice echoed off the stone walls as they turned a corner, pulling Link from his thoughts. “We’ve been descending for a while now… these tunnels are deeper than I thought. What could be down here?”

               Link shook his head, knowing the princess would understand.

               And she did, nodding at him before turning back to the tunnel that goes deeper into the darkness. “People have been falling ill after coming into contact with the gloom drifting through these caverns. Though here it seems almost misty and not concentrated enough to harm us… We’ll keep going. With it coming up from beneath Hyrule Castle…”

               Link stayed silent as the princess paused, keeping his eyes on the darkness ahead until Zelda turned to him.

               “We do not know what waits below, so we need to be ready for anything. But I Know I’ll be OK with you, Link. Let’s go solve this mystery.”

               Link nodded, meeting Zelda’s determined gaze with one of his own. He stayed just half a step behind her as they descended once more. Together they were able to defeat Calamity Gannon, no matter what was causing the gloom beneath the castle, as long as they worked together, they could defeat it.

               The Master Sword was warm against his back, they had retrieved it just before heading to the castle. Despite the Calamity being defeated neither of them were ignorant to the fact the gloom they now investigated was similar to the malice that infected the world until only 5 years before and they had wanted to be prepared. The Great Deku Tree had greeted them warmly and allowed them to take the fully restored Master Sword, having been restored by healing itself with sacred power. The Deku Tree had also eased their minds by telling them the sword itself could have limitless potential and grow ever stronger if allowed to bask in sacred power. Neither of them had plans nor hoped to fight something like the Calamity again, but it was a comfort to know that even if the castle walls crumbled, the Kingdom pushed to the brink, the sword would be their constant companion in the darkness.

               “Oh!”

               Link was once again pulled out of his thoughts by Zelda, the princess running forward and him sprinting to keep up. There was a large room ahead, a pitched squeaking sound urged Link ahead of the princess, putting a hand on her arm to have her pause. He went forward, side stepping a Keese swipe and swinging with the Master Sword to take out the few Keese hanging around.

               “You’re not hurt are you, Link?”

               Link put the Master Sword back in it’s place on his back and shook his head.

               Zelda knew him too well and looked him over anyway, despite the enemies being fairly easy, and she nodded with a smile when she deemed him alright. Her attention was shifted as she looked behind him, on the wall, partially damaged, was a carved mural.

               “Look at these murals…” Zelda held up her torch, examining the walls with wide eyes.

               It was his favorite, after years of suffering at Calamity’s hands, after the feeling of failure being so hard to shake, it was his absolute favorite thing to see the princess’s eyes light up the moment something knew to learn came across her path. The passion for education and learning and the love of discovery that truly made Zelda the person she was. It eased his sense of failure and worry, to see her excited and still eager to learn.

               He followed behind her as she went to the different murals, raising her torch and examining each one. “The written histories of the royal family include stories of a great war fought long ago. It was a conflict between allied tribes and someone only ever referred to as the Demon King.”

               Link raised an eyebrow, looking at the murals. Monsters like boboklins and moblins surrounded one side like a hoard of ants ready for war. Perhaps not stronger than their enemies but easily outnumber them.

               “Is it possible? Do these murals depict the same legend?”

               He followed Zelda as she ran to the next mural, a figure with larger ears than a Hylian sat atop a platform with arms held out. Hovering around him there seven upside down tear drop like stones. Underneath the platform the figure sat on were a group of people that more closely resembled the Hylians.

               “This is similar to the statues we saw earlier- a Zonai! And these figures look like Hylians.” Zelda took a step back, “This depiction certainly suggests that the Zonai descended from the heavens.”

               The next mural was a figure similar to the figure from before and a Hylian with long hair standing facing eachother, arms crossed and hands forming a circle between them. Floating above them were two of the upside down tear drops almost forming a heart. Lines in the background making it seem as if the stones shone like the sun.

               “It is said that my ancestors, the first of Hyrue’s royal family, were born from a union with gods who had descended from the heavens. These murals tell a similar story, and if they are accurate, then the gods mentioned were the Zonai. They must have forged a relationship with the Hylians of that time, working together to establish the Kingdom of Hyrule!”

               Link looked over the mural again, deciding it was his favorite. However the next one struck a cord in his heart. A tall figure held a hand up, an upside down tear stone hovering above him seemingly being infected by a blood red power. A figure bent in the air as if mid knock back was in front of the figure, as if the stone had been ripped from them.

               Zelda’s voice turned from wonderous to troubled, “This figure… He seems to be stealing something of incredible power from the young kingdom. This all aligns with what I’ve read during my studies.”

               She ran to the next one, Link following a step behind. A huge angry figure surrounded by the blood red power commanding bokoblins, moblins, and some flying creatures also surrounded by the blood red power. Worse yet, laying sideways were soldiers. Similar to the Hylians with the Zonai the soldiers were laying as if dead on the battlefield with the Demon King, surrounded by blood red power. The power looked as if it creeped along the mural to the other side where only a corner remained free of the blood magic, rows of Hylian soldiers stood, ready to fight. “And then this… It shows the Demon King! And a fierce battle against him. If the creature depicted here really does represent the Demon King, then…incredible! This mural must be the great war recorded in the royal histories!”

               Zelda spun in a circle taking in the murals again, her voice excited once more. “This is the Imprisoning War and the events that led up to it!” She turned to him almost jumping in excitement, “Link! This is a huge discovery!”

               Without her needing to say so, he stepped forward and took her torch for her. The princess reaching for her Purah Pad at her hip. “All right, then. Now to use this invention of Purah’s. I’m glad I didn’t leave it behind. It’s so easy to record. You point it and click.”

               Link nodded, keeping to himself the fact the Sheikah slate did a similar thing with pictures. It’s not like the princess didn’t know, but once the Calamity was defeated the Sheikah slate, towers, shrines, and Guardians all powered down. No matter what they did none of them would activate again. Purah had done wonders in not only the Purah pad but also in utilizing the towers. Although the towers themselves weren’t active yet.

               Zelda turned to the other part of the murals… large rocks had crumbled and blocked the carvings and the princess frowned. “Oh, It looks like the rest of the murals are obscured…” She handed him the Purah Pad and took the torch back. He clipped the pad into the slot the slate used to rest. “Just what is this place? Maybe we’ll find more answers farther ahead. Link, let’s keep moving deeper.”

               He nodded and followed her just a step behind. She turned to him as they walked “I cant tell you how excited I am! The murals down here- their images support so much of what historians have written about.”

The further down they went the thicker the air got, the black tendrils that had wisped around their feet seemed to grow and turn red as they went down. They were definitely getting closer to whatever had caused the explorers to get sick. Strangely the further they went down, the less destroyed things became. The walls no longer chipped, the stairs no longer half missing, and only a few scattered enemies that were easily defeated. Cave walls turned into purposefully carved walls as they approached a new area. In the distance, a blue green magic swirled slowly up to the ceiling.

“What is this place? Let’s continue, Link. But we must be extremely careful.”

The Hero stayed closer to her, as they went closer to the swirling odd magic.

               “What is that?”

               The gloom was now like red ashes in the air, thick and difficult to breathe, even in the large room they found themselves in. In the center on a platform was a… body? Or it was a body, now long decayed it was bent backwards with a glowing hand stuck on the chest. Pure white and blue power, swirling from the heavens cut through the oppressive red malice into the hand holding the long dead corpse. A sense of wrong hit Link in the gut as Zelda moved forward and deeper into the room. He followed closer to her as she approached the corpse, the strange arm pulsed with power.

               They both paused as the arm twitched, still glowing, and fell to the ground. A crystal falling from the arm and clanking to fall in front of the princess. She reached down tapping it before he could stop her. She looked back at him curiously when he grabbed her arm gently, moving forward to pick up the crystal for her. They both looked at it with wide eyes as it began to glow in his palm.

               Before he could pass it over a pulse of power surged in the room, followed by a creaking sound. They both looked up to see what they had thought was a corpse jerking. The decayed muscle snapping and creaking as the body moved from it’s bent over pose, a large gloom red hole in it’s chest. Suddenly like it’s strings were cut it bent back over even further than before as if it’s spine was broken. Link released his hold on Zelda, ready to grab the Master Sword from his back.

               The head jerked once more, snapping to turn to them with a wide-open mouth. It’s eyes snapped open with malice and gloom surging from the yellow and red eyes. In an instant the room was flooded with huge surges of black and blood red gloom, splattering the floor and swelling like giant limbs. A burst of gloom surged towards them, directly for the princess, Link leapt in front of her the Master Sword in hand as he deflected the gloom.

               Recovering quickly the gloom surged and swallowed the sword and his arm in a painful grip. Link struggled and grunted as his arm was consumed with pain, what felt like thousands of razor sharp teeth digging into his arm and shredding the limb as the gloom surged and clung to it. The Master Sword’s light bright in the gloom struggling to destroy the blood red ilk. He bit back a scream as it felt as if his very life was sucked into the dark magic, he gripped the Master Sword tighter as the magic surged to rip it from his hand.

               Zelda’s light came from behind him, a short burst that knocked the gloom away from him and the Sword. Murky red residue stained the sword, his arm similarly covered in the black and red residue as if still sapping his energy. Keeping his arm steady took all his willpower and even then the sword still shook in his weak grip.

               Before he could step back or recover the glooms surged again, aiming for him this time. He grit his teeth and raised the Master Sword again, slashing down with all his remaining strength as the gloom came for him.

               It shattered on impact.

               Still glowing a brilliant light the sword shattered into pieces where the gloom had clung, the tip of the sword shooting forward and cutting the evil being’s face causing the gloom to retreat.

               Link staggered at not only the pain spreading from his now numb arm, but at sight of the remains of the Master Sword in his blackened hand. The sword that seals the darkness, shattered in a way the Calamity never managed to do.

               “Link!”

               “Was that the sword that seals the darkness?” A bone chilling raspy deep voice came from the evil being, twitching with every word it spoke, it’s decayed muscles twitching to move the body to stand straight. “A blade that shatters so easily against my power cannot save you from me.”

               It faced them, still twitching. “Link… You, blessed with the power to dispel darkness… are Zelda.” Link grit his teeth at the princess’s name coming from the source of gloom.

               Zelda gasped behind him, Link focused on staying standing as his vision blurred slightly.

               “Rauru placed his faith in you…” The cut the Master Sword left of the being healed with a touch of blood red magic, another glowing gemstone embedded on the being’s forehead. He looked down at them with a gnarled grin. “… and that was all you could do?”

               “How do you… know our names?”

               Link wanted to beg Zelda to run, to not speak to whoever this was but the pain spreading through his chest silenced him even more than normal. He briefly wondered if the Shrine of Resurrection would save him twice.

               Gloom surged from the being’s chest, gathering into a ball between his hands. The gem on his forehead surged with a sick light. He raised his hands and sickly blood red gloom surged from his hands, flowing against the ceiling above them as the room all around them shook and trembled. Rocks fell as the ground shuttered and the very earth seemed to open up above them. The platform the being was on raised up in tiers before crumbling and falling into the depths, the gloom being falling with it.

               Link fell to one knee, grabbing his arm with a grunt as the pain finally became too much.

               “Link! Ah-!”

               Link spun as the ground crumbled beneath the princess, her torch falling as she reached out for him. He didn’t hesitate to throw himself off the edge, reaching out as they both fell. Time seemed to slow as they reached for each other, his black and red hand barely brushing hers.

               Not again.

               He pushed himself off the stone beneath him, grabbing her hand, ignoring the flare of pain that surged through his body at the contact as if he was touching an active flame. Using every ounce of his strength he twisted, flinging her above him and his back now to the bottomless chasm below. He just barely saw her scramble on to the edge a bright blue glow holding onto her arm, crying out for him, before he slumped allowing the darkness to take over.

               “LINK!”

               Instead of darkness, he was surrounded by a comforting golden light.

               Link gasped, fear gripping his heart as the princess’s desperate call pulled him from the fitful sleep. He moved to sit up, ignoring the pain in his chest, when a gentle touch on his shoulder pushed him back down.

               “Oh, oh dear!” A soft voice next to him exclaimed.

               Link looked over to see a beautiful woman, toned skin contrasting with familiar golden hair. Her ears were longer than a Hylian’s and adorned with beautiful orbs. Her face was painted along with her neck. On her head rested a circlet and around her neck was a necklace with another glowing gemstone. Her shoulders and arms were similarly painted with beautiful patterns. She watched him with concerned green blue eyes, practically projecting a worried and loving atmosphere, despite himself Link relaxed in her presence. She smiled when he finally met her eyes once more.

               “Where?”

               His voice sounded rough even to him only now realizing how dry his throat was, but the woman didn’t flinch at all. “I didn’t mean to startle you, I’m sorry. It’s ok, My name is Sonia.” She passed him a small cup, helping him to turn to drink from it.

               “Link.” He struggled to speak but desperate to know what happened to Zelda. “Zelda?”

               “Who?”

               “Zelda.” He insisted, sitting up with some effort and Sonia didn’t stop him this time. “Daughter of King Rhoam of Hyrule. Princess of Hyrule.”

               A new voice spoke up, Link snapping to look towards the doorway of the small room he was in. In the doorway stood an odd person. Taller than either Sonia or him by more than a foot, long furry ears, deep blue eyes. His clothes were odd but beautiful, and his ears, hair, and arms were adorned with jewelry. He seemed like a creature from a different world but Link didn’t feel any fear. “What an unexpected answer. We are the King and Queen who founded Hyrule, after all. Or at least we were the last time I checked.”

               Link looked over the man who claimed to be King. Recalling he looked extremely similar to the figure in the mural they had found. “Rauru.”

               The man seemed pleased, “Yes. King Rauru of Hyrule.”

               Link felt nausea build up, Sonia seemed to pick up on it and helped him to lay back down. If this were real, and these people were telling the truth, that means he must have traveled back in time. Back to Hyrule’s beginning. He closed his eyes, how did he travel back in time? Why him and not Zelda or the evil being?

               The gemstone!

               He reached into his pocket and pulled out the stone, freezing at the sight of his arm. The dark black was still there, but now armor covered portions of his arm like an external support. It was similar to the arm they had seen holding the evil being in place before falling down, and similar even more the armor on his arm had a faint blue glow.

               “We couldn’t get rid of the gloom completely.” Rauru stepped up behind his wife, “The blessed armor will keep it contained as we slowly purify it, if you wish.”

               He nodded, it wasn’t the worst situation he supposed. Much better than loosing his arm completely. He held up the stone to show them. “Time?”

               “Ah, a secret stone. It must be what brought you to us.” Rauru smiled as Sonia touched the stone around her neck gently.

               Link clenched the stone in his hand, Send me back! I cant leave her to fight that thing by herself!

               Nothing happened.

               SEND ME BACK! SHE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO FIGHT ALONE AGAIN! SEND ME B A C K!

               The other two startled as Link threw his legs over the side of the bed he was on, stumbling he accepted their help in standing up straight. Fighting back the dizziness he held the stone out to the King with a frown. “Back.”

               “You want me to take it back? It’s not from our ti-“

               “Send me back!” He grit his teeth to hold back the frustration and tears building in his eyes, he knew he was being rude and Zelda would be furious with him if she were here. But she wasn’t. She was in a time with an evil being, no Master Sword, and no knight. “She shouldn’t fight alone, not again. Send me back.”

               Rauru frowned, Sonia reached out to hold Link’s clenched fist in her own hands. One hand reaching out to brush his cheek, “Link…”

               “Please.”

               “I can not.” Rauru sighed, “If I could, I would, please know that. The only person who could send you back now, would be you.”

               “I left her.” Link forced himself to explain, desperately. Ignoring the pitting looks both were giving him. “In the far future, in my time, A…demon… an evil being was beneath the castle. It destroyed the sword, my arm, it attacked her. Princess Zelda. She’s there alone, I can’t let her fight alone again. Please.”

               They were both still just looking at him with pity.

               “I don’t have… magic, power. I couldn’t have used the stone. I need to go back, she shouldn’t have to fight alone. She’s your descendant! However far down the line she’s your family! She needs my help, please send me back! Please!”

               Sonia wiped his tears, Rauru stayed at her back but watched Link sadly. “I am sorry, Link. The only one who could send you back would be what brought you here. If your story is true, if you are from so far in the future, the only one who could send you back is you. Whether you think you have magic or not.”

               Link fell back to sit on the bed,  the wind nocked out of him as he clenched the stone in his fist.

               “I can show you how to use the stone, once you are healed enough to use it.” Sonia said sadly. “I would not want to leave our descendant Zelda without her loyal friend.”

               He bit back his frustration and fear and nodded. Neither of them seemed to believe him, maybe Sonia is slightly swayed, but Rauru hummed. “How about we take a short walk outside, you’ve been asleep for a few days now so some fresh air will do wonders for you.”

               Sonia smiled, “Rauru always paces outside to clear his mind, I think it’s the fresh air that helps.”

               Link nodded, unable to speak anymore past the pain of failure in his chest. He had left her again, to fight a horrible being all alone, again. Sonia took his arm in hers, supporting him as well as guiding him out of the room he was in and through the small house. Link tried not lean too much on the Queen as they made their way through the tiny house until he could smell the outside air. Warm after a full sunny day, the familiar smell of incoming rain on the wind.

               He broke away from them, stumbling forward out the door to a wide open area. A large cliff that looked over a familiar but unfamiliar Hyrule. In the distance he could see Death Mountain actually spewing spoke and heat, the lush forest and small towns laid out before him. He knew this land, but didn’t in an achingly familiar way.

               It was like walking out of the shrine of resurrection all over again. A land his body and heart knew but his mind had forgotten. Forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes he had explored and relearned until he could read the earth as easily as he could read Hylian. A land he could navigate with ease even after the Sheikah map disappeared. A land he had fought and died and came back to life for. A land Zelda and he were working so desperately to save. It was so similar to the land imprinted on his heart.

               But it wasn’t.

               This was not the land he knew, torn by strife and held together by courageous and hearty people. This land was still young and teeming with magic that was untapped, its people strong but untried. A time so far back in the past, it was a legend to the legends of his home. He had gone back all the way to the time of Hyrule’s founding.

               Zelda would have loved this.

               He pulled out the stone again, it glistened and glowed uselessly in his palm.

               Rauru walked up to stand next to him with a peaceful smile, “Your presence here is just as strange to us, Link. But if you, like Sonia, have a secret stone and are able to manipulate time, then your being here makes sense.”

               “Oh? I believed him right away.” Sonia stood on his other side with a sweet smile. “You needed the secret stone as proof, Rauru? I can feel a power within him, not quite like either of ours, but strong.”

               “In any case, Link, you said you need to return to your era as soon as you possibly could…” Rauru seemed reluctant to ask now that he had calmed down.

               He had spoken more today than in the past month, but he needed to explain. “In my time, something terrible is happening.”

               “The… demon… you mentioned?”

               “Yes, I need to get back there to Zelda, but how do I do that?” He looked out to the unfamiliar woods below him, clenching the secret stone in his fist. “I don’t even know how I got here in the first place.”

               He felt Sonia nudge Rauru behind him before placing her hand on his arm once again, “Link, dear, You don’t need to solve your problems all at once. Why not come back to the castle with us?”

               “No, I-“

               “We’ll tell everyone that you’re… a distant relative of ours. We’ll get your fresh clothes too.” Sonia smiled at him kindly, “I’m sure an answer will come to you. Courage and persistence will help you in time.”

               Despite not having a solution he felt himself calming, “I don’t know what to say.”

               Rauru hummed behind them, “I wonder… Mineru… she may have some idea of how to get you back to your era.”

               Link snapped to look at him, hope blooming in his chest. “Mineru?”

               “Yes, she knows far more than anyone about our people. And like us, my older sister has a secret stone. We’ll call on her. But you must come with us, at the very least until you heal and get used to the arm properly.”

               Link nodded, looking at both of them. “Thank you.”

               “Of course, dear.” Sonia supported them as they walked back to the small house, “Mineru will be so excited to meet you and I know you’ll enjoy your time here.”

               Rauru watched them with a smile before gesturing them back towards the small house. “I insist you rest while we get some clothes and food for you. After that we can travel back to the castle.”

               “Far?”

               “Yes, but no.” Sonia held his arm all the way to the table in the house, helping him to sit. He wanted to point out he wasn’t that weak but it was nice to have someone concerned and taking care of him. It made him miss Zelda. “The Castle is far, but we were here to set up a…”

               “The best name we have thought of is Shrine.” Rauru said as he left the room back into the room Link woke up in.

               “They are special places with small blessings of Light.” Sonia patted his shoulder as she pulled ingredients from around the kitchen space, “We are hoping once they are complete that they can be used to travel quickly across the kingdom, so far the few we have work well, we’ve set them up in places to help us travel to people easier and make connections.”

               “They are spread through all of Hyrule. We can visit the citizens but also the Rito, Gorons, and Gerudo with ease. Hopefully there will be even more active ones in the future, so our people will always have assistance when they need it.”

               He nodded, the Sheikah map used it’s own shrines to make travel easier. Perhaps… these shrines worked the same, could they also be utilized in the future? But the Sheikah slate sto-

               Link patted his side, hope flooding his chest as the Purah pad was at his side. Yanking it off he turning it on, hoping for… something. The blue Sheikah eye stared back at him before the limited features powered up.

               “Yes!”

               Rauru and Sonia both looked at him curiously, he quickly pulled up his favorite picture, and he turned the pad to them. On the screen was Zelda and him posing with wide smiles, in the background was a small cavern of silent princess flowers. They had found the hidden cove of flowers in a small cave, He had immediately wanted to pick them all but the princess refused to let him. She had wanted to keep the magical place growing for other explorers to find and cherish, so they settled for a picture. Although, she had picked one to braid into his hair, which he proudly displayed in the picture.

               “Zelda.”

               “That’s your Zelda?” Rauru smiled, “She is lovely.”

               “Hm, a perfect descendant for Hyrule.” Sonia placed a hand on Rauru’s shoulder. “You’ll return to her Link, I know you will.”

               He nodded and looked back at the pad, pulling up the map. It was frustratingly blank, but a small yellow triangle displayed his location in the void of the map. Perhaps he could still mark the shrines? At least ones that were near him.

               “Put it away, It’s time to eat.”

               Link obeyed as a meat and rice bowl was placed in front of him. It was tastier than his own cooking by a long shot and he didn’t realize how hungry he had been until he scarfed down the first bowl. Sonia and Rauru ate slower than him and kept a pleasant conversation of their travels and small stories. Once his bowl was empty for the second time, he sat back happily.

               “Thank you.”

               “You’re very welcome dear.”

               “Link, if I could ask… sometimes you seem to not want to speak?”             

               He frowned and shrugged, “It’s hard, sometimes.” He tried to think of what Zelda had called it almost 105 years ago. “Mute? Selective mute.”

               “Ah, is there an easier way for you to communicate?”

               Link nodded, signing ‘this is easier’ with his hands but both King and Queen looked at him without recognition. “Signs.”

               “Oh! It is different from ours, perhaps you could teach us some?”

               The night passed quickly, Link teaching both of them some signs he knew, and in turn they taught him the older form of the signs. Not completely different but different all the same. It wasn’t until his eyes felt dry and heavy that Sonia urged him to go to bed in his new clothes. He fell asleep clutching the secret stone and dreaming of returning home.

               The next morning was cool and crisp, Link woke before the others, changing into the new clothes left for him last night. The shirt was more of a shawl with a dragon depicted in the center and left most of his chest and mid exposed. It was similar to Rauru’s clothing. The bottoms were a wrapped skirt with shorts under them and a section that hung in the front and in the back. (electric dragon outfit). They had also left him sandals that laced up to just below his knee. The clothing was different than what he was used to, and more exposed than anything but his Vai clothing, but it was comfortable. He only wished it had some sort of sleeves to cover his gloom infected arm. The Hero went outside to not wake the others and had tested his arm by climbing to the top of the house to watch the sunrise. He could see the shrine, it’s green blue glow reaching for the sky just below the cliff he was on yesterday, and marked it on his blank map. He considered testing out the arm with a tree branch as a sword, but didn’t want the King and Queen to wake up to him reinjuring himself. Queen Sonia’s disappointment seemed like the type to sting, similar to Zelda’s. Perhaps when they got to their castle he could try, after meeting with Mineru of course.

               He looked at the secret stone again, still glowing. He tried thinking of Zelda, of his home, of Sidon, Teba, Riju, and Yunobo. He tried thinking of the forests, mountains, the dragons, of anything in his time. Even the calamity itself but nothing worked. He tried to imagine himself traveling through time but similarly, nothing.

               He was clenching the stone thinking of his time on Ruta with Mipha when the door below him burst open and the King rushed out looking around. He was dressed and ready for the day but look frazzled as he looked around.

               “Link!”

               Oh, “Here.” He called. He had forgotten to leave a note.

               Rauru turned quickly, seeing him on the roof and taking a deep breath. “You worried me!”

               He signed ‘Sorry’ in the ancient Hylian and moved to drop from the roof. The King didn’t look mad but relieved.

               “No, it’s alright. You aren’t a prisoner or anything. I just went to wake you for breakfast and you weren’t there. You can ask Sonia, I do tend to worry.”

               Link smiled and followed the King back inside to Sonia sitting at the table. They ate a peaceful meal together and Sonia painted his face, shoulders, and stomach similar to hers. She also managed to get his wild hair into some sort of order, with a circlet resting on his forehead, before packing their stuff up and heading out. Rauru kept a hand on Link’s shoulder as blue and green magic swirled around them, only to fade a moment later to show stone walls.

               “Link, dear, would you like to come see the castle a bit?”

               He did, but he shook his head and signed ‘Mineru’.

               The King nodded, “I’ll take him to Mineru first, it would be too much to ask for him to wait even longer.”

               Sonia sighed but smiled, “I can show you around later, if we have the chance then.”

               Link bowed to her, making her chuckle, before following Rauru through the stone halls. The castle wasn’t like the one he knew from before the Calamity, but some of the style was the same he noted. It was interesting to see what survived the test of time and what hadn’t. He hardly noticed when they arrived to a library room.

               “Brother. You’ve returned early, I thought you and Sonia would be gone a few days?”

               “Something came up, Mineru allow me to introduce Link.”

               Link stepped forward and bowed, not on one knee as he would Zelda but still deep enough to be respectful. Mineru was seated next to a table, still she seemed as tall as Rauru if not a tiny bit shorter than him. Her clothing was the most elaborate he had seen so far and her ears were pointed up versus Sonia or Rauru’s side facing ears. On her head rested a mask that was similar to an owl face that had two dangling earrings. Around her neck was an elaborate necklace, it sort of looked like a mouth, that spanned her whole neck and held a blue glowing secret stone.

               A machine similar to the Guardians came close to her, handing her something before gliding away. It was like several pieces of a robot held together by magic but they seemed more intelligent than the Guardians ever were.

               While Link was looking her and the machines over Rauru had filled her in on the basics. He only focused on the conversation when they looked at him expectantly. “Mineru asked if you were ok with her looking at the Purah Pad.”

               He nodded and handed it over.

               The Zonai looked it over for a few minutes. “It is quite an interesting device… this is definitely not from this era. That said, I believe there may be a way to get some of the functionality working here. I’d like to tinker with it a bit. Would it be OK if I borrow it?”

               Link signed ‘Yes, whatever you need. I appreciate the help.’

               “Then I’ll hold onto it.” Mineru passed it to one of the robots that drifted close and gingerly took the pad away.

               ‘You believe my story? That I came from the future?’ Link signed.

               Mineru looked at him oddly for a moment before turning to Rauru, who shook his head. “I do not know some of these signs Link, I apologize.”

               “You believe me?” Link’s voice was strained, but it was important. “I came from the future?”

               Mineru’s smiles weren’t as calming as Sonia’s or kind like Rauru, but it was soothing in its own way. “I never doubted you for a moment.”

               “Mineru, do you know of a way we could help to return Link back to his time?”

               “I suspect you were right in thinking it was the power of your secret stone that allowed you to travel through time. To put it simply, secret stones amplify the power their owners possess. I am able to separate my spirit from my body. Rauru can repel or destroy evil with his power of light. And Sonia, she can control time. As for you, I can sense… a power, yet not time or light from you. Yet it had to have been the time power that sent you here. It is rare, but possible, the power amplified a power you needed in a time of crisis. Even then, the secret stone wouldn’t grant mastery and control. That’s still up to you. That means… if you don’t already know how to get yourself home…”

               Link clenched his fists, wanting to scream or cry.

               Mineru continued, “There are stories about the secret stones and a forbidden act called draconification. ‘To swallow a secret stone is to become an immortal dragon, one blessed with eternal life.’”

               He blinked, reaching in his pocket to grab the stone when Rauru’s voice stopped him. “Interesting. Another way to reach the future… though not a very quick one. So you think these stories could hint at a solution to our dilemma?”

               “Yes, but there is still more to those tales. ‘To become an immortal dragon is to lose oneself.’ That is why it is forbidden.”

               Link still held the stone in his hand, in his pocket, aware of Rauru’s eyes on him.

               “I thought maybe this could lead to a solution- some way to transcend time… but if you have to sacrifice your heart and mind. Sacrifice what makes you- you…”

               He would do it. Link knew without having to think about it. If it meant getting back to Zelda at all, he will do it. A dragon would be effective against the Demon beneath the castle.

               “I’m sorry. I wish I could help more.”

               “Ah, back where we started.” Rauru turned to him, “There’s still hope! I think the answer, the answer to this problem lies in study and learning more about the nature of your unknown power. I’m sure Sonia would be happy to help you.”

               Studying old texts and practicing magic, Zelda would have loved it here, Link thought longingly. He released the stone in his pocket, becoming a dragon would be his last resort he supposed.

               ‘Ok.’ He turned to Rauru, ‘I want to prepare.’

               “Prepare?”

               He nodded and signed, ‘Paper.’

               Rauru and he bid Mineru farewell before going along winding and confusing halls to an office with open walls overlooking the vast Kingdom. It was similar to a sunroom they had seen many people building onto their homes after the calamity. Sonia was sitting at one table sipping tea peacefully, smiling when they came in.

               “Oh, how did it go?”

               Link took the paper and ink Rauru handed him, allowing him to explain everything Mineru said to the Queen. His writing was always subpar, especially compared to Zelda, but he could get by. He drew plans, rugged and half thought out in order to get all the thoughts out as quickly as he could.

               Since he was in the past, he could prepare the way to keep Zelda safe. First getting her out of the depths where the demon was, to a safe place where she would be able to practice surviving without worrying about the evil interrupting her, practice on how to complete the shrines. A temple, one that could be a haven for her.

               He pushed that paper aside, What next? She had watched him during his journey so she would have some idea of how to scrape by, the people of Hyrule would help her. She would need to contact allies, Sidon, Riju, Yunobo, and Teba would help her without question, but they would also need to be prepared. What could he give any of them to help them against the Demon?

               He tapped the Secret Stone in his pocket, they had said the stones enhanced powers not granted them. If he could get the Secret Stone to Zelda would it amplify her Goddess given power enough to help her destroy the Demon? How to get it to her?

               He could become a dragon, holding the stone for her until she could retrieve it.

               Link shook his head, last resort. Zelda would need the secret stone. She would need a way to utilize the Zonai, the Purah pad maps with Shrines, and she would need the Master Sword… but she couldn’t wield it. Only he was able to utilize it’s power. Would it be possible to give a Secret Stone the power of the Master Sword? He would have to think about that more.

               What next? She would need to find him, but her focus should stay on saving Hyrule. He will find her.

               “Link?”

               He turned to see the two royals staring at him, he passed over his notes and watched as they read over the sporadic writing and drawings. Sonia smiled as she read it all, “Oh Link, You’re preparing for Zelda.”

               “I have to help her.” He looked down at the paper. “Even if I cant get to her, She wont be alone.”

               “She is lucky to have a friend as loyal as you.”

               He shrugged, knowing if the princess had ben sent to the past that she would do anything to help him on his journey.

               “The temple is doable.” Rauru looked over, “Some where away from the evil, you stated before the evil fell into the depths, so the safest place would be the sky would it not?”

               “Good thinking, A temple in the sky with training grounds for the shrines and for some of the Zonai weapons.” Sonia nodded along.

               “We can instruct some of the constructs along as well. They will be able to guide her.”

               “Power.” Link willed himself to speak again, “Stone?”

               “I’m not sure how we would get a secret stone to her without it being stolen. Perhaps there is a way we could transfer power… hmm. Do you remember where the demon you mentioned awakened? Could you find it here in our time?”

               Link nodded confidently, and his next few days were busy.

               He would wake up early, go outside watch the sunrise and stretch, practice with a tree branch, then he would go inside and find Mineru where the two would work not only on the Purah Pad’s functionality in this ancient time but also his stone and how he can use it, the afternoons were spent with Sonia exploring the castle and the lands around it where he found the Temple of Time and immediately decided it would be the perfect Temple to help Zelda, the evenings were  spent with Rauru making plans and trying to put them into action. The late evenings, despite not being productive, were some of his favorite times. Relaxing with the King and Queen, sometimes Mineru, talking over many different things or telling stories. He even met two of the Sages, as Rauru called them, others from the different races that were chosen leaders to help protect their people and swore themselves to the Kingdom to Hyrule. They wore masks so he couldn’t get what they looked like but the masks were almost exactly the faces of the Divine Beasts he loved and hated, so he warmed up to the Rito and Zora sages quickly.

               The Rito sage was quiet, like him, but good company. He found himself seeking the Rito out to eat with on quiet evenings as well as early morning bow practice. Something that got him a stern talking to once Sonia found out he had dared to use a bow while his arm was still technically healing. After that the Rito refused to let him use the bow, but would still show him techniques. He was incredibly talented, much like Revali had been, nowhere near as boastful but he had every right to be. He didn’t hug the Rito as he left, but did have a new feather- given in friendship- tucked away in a safe place.

               The Zora sage was kind, an ache settled in the Hero’s heart when near her since she reminded him so much of Mipha. Her power over water was fascinating, and she had a knack for healing. Although nowhere near Mipha’s ability. She insisted on examining his arm each and every time they were together, and fussed over his old scars at the same time. She helped him practice with his Secret Stone along with Mineru, a constant and steady presence. When she had to leave, he hugged her, holding on tightly. She indulged him, making him promise to come visit her soon.

               The peace weighed on his heart as much as it healed him, he fell asleep clutching the Secret Stone tightly, begging to return to his home and to Zelda before it was too late. He prayed to the Goddess, begging for the same. But he woke up each morning in the castle of legends.

               The peace was shattered one day, as Rauru and he were working together on how to keep islands afloat, when a soldier ran into the study frantically.

               “Your Majesty! Quickly!”

               Rauru stood and ran, Link only a step behind as Rauru met with the frantic soldier just a short way away from the castle. It was what seemed like would turn into the great plateau in his time, with a sheer cliff accented by sturdy columned walls. The Temple of Time was at its base on one side, and two shrines within eye sight. Link came here a few times while practicing with the tree branch in the mornings and had come to like the peaceful place.

               He spotted Sonia standing towards the edge looking over towards the path the Gerudo desert lie. Link walked up next to her, nodding when she smiled at him. Rauru walked up between them going closer to the sharp edge with a frown. He tilted his head at Sonia, who looked sad.

               “We heard the faint echoes of the music just before the rumbling started.” The soldier informed them, “then it was like the very earth started to move!”

               Link looked back towards where they were looking, he could barely make out what would either be a group of people, or jagged stones, the distance made it difficult to tell. As they watched, almost as if carried by the wind, they faintly heard music before the earth rumbled once again. Despite the distance Link knew these enemies, he had to pick them out from further away in the dizzying desert heat before. He had only ever seen one, maybe two very far away from each other. Never a herd of Molduga!

               The soldier behind them called out to the others, “Molduga are approaching our position! It’s more than we thought! It’s a swarm!”

               Rauru braced himself, stepping closer to the edge, as if magnetized both Sonia and he stayed just behind him at his sides. Link looked over the rolling earth with confusion.

               “There’s so many of them, but why would they…” Link shook his head.

               Rauru stood tall in front of them, raising his hands in front of him and holding his hands together to a point in front of his eyes. His Secret Stone began to glow with a brilliant light that Link often associated with Zelda’s goddess powers. Sonia turned to him and held out a hand towards the King, nodding towards Link. Link took the Secret Stone out of his pocket and held it up, matching the way the Queen was holding her hand.

               Brilliant light surrounded the two of them, gathering in a glowing powerful orb in their hands towards the King’s back. Link watched amazed as the King’s light surged between his hand in a huge cloud of light and shot forward like a beam from a guardian! Like a beam from 10,000 guardians the huge ray of light shot forward, blasting at the ground and brushing the Molduga aside like ants swept away by rain. What looked like a hundred Molduga that could level a kingdom in mere days were laying around defeated and still in less than a minute.

               The soldiers around them cheered, but Link looked forward. The figures were indeed people, once the Molduga were defeated and the King’s brilliant light faded to its normal hue, they shifted and moved. Retreating.

               “How are you feeling?” Sonia placed her hand on Rauru’s arm, looking up at him.

               “Just fine!” Rauru patted her hand, “Thanks to the two of you.”   

               Link turned to them and nodded, knowing they would understand what he meant.

               “Link, excellent work with your Secret Stone!” Rauru praised him easily, “Allow me to speak with Mineru and we can get something for you to wear it instead of hiding it in your pocket. How are you feeling?”

               He shrugged with one shoulder and looked back to the downed Molduga. A feeling of wrong was nagging at him, “Molduga, they like sand.”

               “They do.”

               Link raised his hands and signed, ‘Why come here? Why in large number?’

               The King hummed in thought, “I am not sure, we will find out nonetheless.”

               ‘I need a sword, please.’

               Both Royals looked worried at that but Link didn’t have the signs nor the words to explain. He had been working hard with the arm, it was still rough and nowhere near the smooth practiced feel of before, but he could hold a sword. The Zora sage had complimented his healing before she had left. He needed to hold a sword. He knew what to do with a sword in his hands, he could protect with a sword in his hands, he needed some weapon.

               “How about a training sword to start?” Sonia compromised, “Still sharp and can be deadly in the right hands but not as damaging or heavy as the soldier’s swords, once you’re comfortable with those we can get you a proper sword.”

               His daily routine changed slightly after that, his mid mornings were now split between training with the soldiers and Mineru. Mineru insisted he kept the revealing but apparently dragon honoring clothing he was given earlier, but instead of a dragon adornment in the middle of his chest it was replaced with the Triforce. In one, one of the bottom triangles, held the Secret Stone. His time with the Queen was split now as well, between exploring she now helped him with the Secret stone and learning new signs to help his communication until he returned to his time. Some mornings Rauru would join him in watching the sunrise, and he’d speak of Zelda and her strength. He mentioned the others, the Champions of old and new, in passing. Of Beetle who Rauru laughed and desperately wanted to meet. He spoke longingly of the harsh storms of his home where the lightening seemed to seek out metal and you would have to be careful to not travel with any, of the vast forests and animals that lived in abundance, and of the Hylians who were strong and persistent.

               It was one morning, when Mineru had notified him the day before she was working on a construct- not robot- project and would have to delay their time until tomorrow, that he was wondering around before meeting with Sonia when he heard a familiar sound. Like wooden jingles. He chased the sound to a small bit of trees with a large puddle of collected water from the rain during the night, in the center of the puddle standing on a rock was a Korok magic. At least he thought it was, the white sparkles accompanied by leaves swirling around was similar to the Koroks he would have to chase in circles before catching them.

               “Link?”

               He spun to see Sonia approaching him with a smile, he waved happily. 

               “What are you looking at? Did you find something fun?”

               He waved a hand, and signed the individual letters ‘K-O-R-O-K’

               “Korok?” Sonia peaked over his shoulder confused, “What’s a Korok? A puddle?”

               Link shook his head as he looked back at the small bundle of woodland magic, he had forgotten not everyone could see Koroks. ‘Nothing, difficult to explain.’

               The Queen laughed but nodded, “Very well, I’ll remember to ask later. Rauru sent me to find you a little earlier than usual. We have a guest requesting audience and wanted you to join us. If you wanted to.”

               Link nodded and walked next to the Queen as they made their way back to the castle, ‘Sage?’

               “No, not a Sage. A group from the Gerudo desert, they wanted to speak with Rauru urgently.”

               ‘About the Molduga?’

               “I’m not sure yet…”

               They had arrived at the rarely used throne room, Link had been in here when he met the two Sages but that was the only time he had seen it used. The room was decorated with white and blue tapestry and drapes that displayed something in ancient Hylian. A stained-glass window shone light on the two stone thrones at the end of a long red and white carpet. There were tables and lamps off to the sides but the center of the room was solely for audiences.

               “Link, I am glad you joined us!” Rauru stood from where he had already seated, and took Sonia’s hand as she went up the few stairs and sat on her throne. “If you wish, you can stand here to my side as an advisor and friend.”

               He nodded and took the place indicated, he signed to Rauru, ‘Worried?’

               “No, I don’t think so.” The King rubbed his chin, “The only information we received is they wished to speak with us, which isn’t an odd request. We have requested to meet with the Gerudo leader many times, as we have the other races. We will hear them out with clear minds and hearts.”

               Link nodded and took a resting stance he was used to 105 years ago when accompanying Zelda as Rauru nodded to the guards to allow their guests in. Ice cold fear and flaming anger slammed into his chest at once, his hand flying to the training sword at his side as a nightmare come to life walked in the room.

               The last time he had seen the demon was thousands and thousands of years in the future, when the muscle and skin had rotted and dried into a husk of a corpse. This man was no corpse. A Gerudo male, easily double Link’s size in height and in muscle, walked in the room sure of himself. Adorned with jewelry Link remembered, except his forehead stone was missing. Followed by rows of Gerudo warriors, they entered and paused at the center of the room. Link tried to will himself to relax but couldn’t as the demon’s eyes roam over the King and Queen before him. The hero wanted nothing more than to cut him down, before he could doom his Hyrule in the future.

               The demon went to one knee, “Allow me to offer you my deepest apologies…” The warriors behind him knelt as well, “On behalf of the Gerudo for taking so long to accept your repeated invitations. It is our desire to be accepted into the protective embrace of your kingdom. To serve it faithfully.”

               “A welcome appeal, Ganondorf, I will accept your vow of fealty to the kingdom of Hyrule. I understand that a single male is born to the Gerudo every one hundred years.” Link held back sharp words as he noticed Ganondorf looking at each of them instead of paying attention to Rauru’s words. His gaze settled on the Queen for a moment longer than the rest of them. “Receiving such an appeal from you, a hero to his people and a king by birth, well, it is truly reassuring.”

               The demon chuckled, and Link took a deep breath around the fear and anger settled in his chest. The man wasn’t looking at them, he had to be looking at their stones.

               “It is my honor. When your Zonai ancestors first descended upon these lands long, long ago, they must have seemed to be gods. And now you rule as king and have taken a Hyrulean woman as your wife.” Rauru tilted his head just slightly at Ganondorf’s words, “Your Majesty has certainly risen above your admirable lineage. Most impressive.”

               Perhaps, if he had been honest, if he had been sincere, Link could forgive what Ganondorf would become. Perhaps he could see a way to prevent this person, who had so much potential and ability, from falling and being consumed in darkness and hatred. But a man obsessed with power and control could not change. He may be swearing to the kingdom of Hyrule, but stated his true intentions with just a few sentences.

               The man apparently wasn’t done. “It is unfortunate that the noble Zonai no longer grace this world with their presence.” The man looked up at them without raising his head, a chilling smirk on his face. “All except you and your sister, that is.”

               Rauru’s voice was calm as he spoke, “Even if something were to happen to me, both my Kingdom and the peace it brings, those will endure for generations to come.” Ganondorf seemed to huff, but Rauru continued. “Your actions today are appreciated, Ganondorf. I look forward to your future endeavors. You may leave.”

               “Your Majesty.” Ganondorf bowed his head before grabbing his sword from the ground. Link held his gaze as he looked over them once again, raising an eyebrow at him, before turning with a flourish and walking out of the room.

               The moment the door echoed shut Link turned to the King, “King Rauru, that man’s heart holds many dark ambitions. Just his name… even that…”

               “I am well aware of his evil nature. For that reason, and others, I want him close. It will be easier to keep an eye on him.” The King turned to him with a small smile, “There is nothing to worry about.”

               Link wanted to cry, if he is who I think he is- then he will be your end. He frowned, “Ok.”

               “Have you eaten this morning?” Sonia, ever ready to ease worries and pain, stood up. “How about we have tea in the garden together? All three of us?”

               “That sounds lovely! Please join us Link.”

               Link wanted to go train, motivated by the sight of Ganondorf, but nodded. He would feel better if they all stayed together at least until his mind slowed down. He followed the two of them back into the castle out towards the castle gardens, a place he and Sonia had explored quite a bit. Link desperately had wanted to take pictures of some of the plants and flowers growing, Zelda would love them. Especially the sundelions.

               The gazebo was already set up, two constructs waiting on either side as the three of them came and sat at the table of food. There was also a porcelain tea set out that Sonia picked up and poured for each of them.

               “Link, I’ve been curious.” He smiled at Sonia knowing what her question would be. “Korok?”

               “I’m not sure what they are really,” Link smiled at the construct that placed a plate of fruit in front of him, not sure if it even knows or can tell. “They protect the Great Deku Tree, or it protects them, I’m not sure. They are little guys who wear leaves as masks and play jokes on each other. They live in the Lost woods and only a few people can see them. Well, as far as I know Zelda and I are the only ones.”

               “And you saw one, here?”

               “I think so.” Link finished his tea and sat the delicate cup down. “They hide and like to be found, like a game. I saw their magic.”

               “Interesting, would you be able to draw one of them? I’d love to see one.”

               “I can try.” Link looked down, “Zelda would really be the best perso- “

               She was still waiting for him. He tried every day making the stone respond to him, with nothing happening. Mineru was even confused at how if the stone brought him back in the first place, how it couldn’t respond to him at all now.

               Should he return as soon as he found out how? The time of the Demon King’s awakening is in the future, if he learned how he could send himself forward before Zelda even realized he had traveled back in time. But this time, this era, if he was right and Ganondorf was the Demon King then the severed arm holding him sealed had to be Rauru’s. Could he send himself back to his time and just leave them to their hopeless fate? Zelda would help them; she would stay and form a plan to help them and then return to him afterwards.

               He liked Rauru and Sonia, he could see the best of Hyrule in them.

               Link gasped as his hand brushed the teacup he had set down and it tipped over the edge of the table. Before he could react, he heard an odd click, a bright light coming from Sonia’s hand as the tea cup floated gently back on top of the table. With another click the teacup sat in the place it was previously and the light in Sonia’s hand went out.

               The Queen looked at him with a soft smile, “Are you well? You seem a bit distracted.”

               “I apologize. I keep getting lost in my thoughts, how to return home, it’s all weighing on my mind.” He looked at her hand, “Your power over time… how did you learn that kind of control?”

               “I see… The secret is to think of it like drawing out the object’s memory. You ask the object where it was, how it arrived where it is now, and then you coax it back to that original moment in time.”

               “The object’s memory…” The Hero frowned, picking up his cup.

               “I’m sure it will come to you almost like a second nature and you will be able to find your way home.” Sonia propped her head on her hand, “But, Link, there is more on your mind than just that.”

               Link looked at her with wide eyes, putting the cup down.

               “You, of course, want to get back to your time. But you desperately want to help us out in this era. Am I close to the truth?”

               “How did you know?”

               Rauru laughed, the sound easing some of the fears in Link’s heart. “I do not believe it is possible to keep anything secret from Sonia.”

               Sonia chuckled as well, “Oh, your concern is very sweet, Link.” She took both his hands in hers and held them gently. “But listen, you can focus your attention on returning home. You have the fire of courage inside of you, a kindness to help others, and a loyalty that is not easily broken. All of this will help you return to your own era.”

               “Queen Sonia…”

               “And of course, you must make it home safe to put Zelda’s mind at ease.”

               “And to protect her.” Rauru nodded.

               Link shook his head slightly. “She is the princess, blessed by the goddess and beloved by all. She doesn’t need me to protect her, but at least if I’m there I know she is protected. She gets caught up in the discovery sometimes, runs into danger.” Link smiled at Rauru, “I was appointed her knight for her protection before she awoke to her powers. Later, we defeated a great evil that freed her and Hyrule.”

               Rauru hummed, rubbing his chin. “Sounds like you are both heroes.”

               “She is very dedicated. She refuses to back down form any challenge, always doing what is right and best for Hyrule. She’s very strong. Her heart is good and true.”

               The King looked understanding, pleased, “Ah, I can see you have absolute faith in her. Hearing you speak so highly of Zelda; I find myself wanting to meet her as well!”

               “Indeed, I would also like to meet her. She must be quite the kind, capable princess. What a picture you paint of her!”

               Link smiled at the both of them, “She would love to meet the both of you as well. She would have thousands of questions for each of you.”

               They parted after the meal, Link requesting time to train by himself. He also managed to convince one of the soldiers to give him a proper sword to run through drills and practice with. He worked until the sun had long set and his muscles ached with the work out. His black and infected arm with its new armor and support became smoother and smoother each day. Until it responded just as it always had, as if his injury never happened.

               He missed the Master Sword, wondering if he were able to find the Lost Woods if the sword would even be there. Perhaps it hadn’t been made yet.

               Days passed once more, Link training in the mornings, Mid mornings with Minera- she had given him the Purah Pad back with shrines marked and camera functional, lunch and exploring with Sonia, dinners all together, evenings with Rauru preparing for Zelda just in case, and practice again in the evenings. At night he still laid with the Secret Stone clutched in hand, praying, begging, and crying for the power to send him home to his era. He begged the Goddess to protect Zelda, to let her know that he would return.

               He met another of the Sages, the Goron made his heart ache for his long-passed Champion friend Daruk. The sage wore a mask just like the others, but was still open with him. He had found Link practicing with the sword late into the night and laughed as he fumbled with the practice sword. The Goron gave him the large sword strapped on his back and cheered when Link lifted it with some strain. The Hero and Goron practiced for a few hours until the sun started to peak above the mountains and Sonia found them. The Queen scolded the both of them but the scolding was lessened by the feast she prepared for both of them for breakfast.

               The second night they stayed up in the forest practicing together the Queen showed them a safer area to practice, a hidden cave prepared for emergencies that would keep them safe from any monster out at night and also save the towns and castle people from the rumbling of their sparing. The Goron and Link practiced for hours, truly testing the limits of the space, until the Goron had to return home. But not before getting a promise from Link to come to Death Mountain for a feast at some point.

               The days both drove Link up the wall and calmed him, he made no progress with the Secret Stone but improved with his arm. Ganondorf didn’t make another appearance but Link couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, of a calamity hovering just over them waiting for them to be even slightly unaware. Rauru and Mineru tried to ease his worries, but he couldn’t shake the feeling.

               It was a few days later when Link was on his way to the practice grounds one evening that one of the normal guards looked at him with an odd look. Out of place enough for Link to pause and tilt his head at the guard, knowing they would pick up the question.

               “Link sir, didn’t you just go with Queen Sonia to speak alone at the great balcony?”

               The sense of wrong twisted in his stomach as he spun on his heel, running towards the great balcony. The balcony overlooked a large part of the open Hyrule field, it wasn’t used often and only had one entrance outside of the large drop off the castle itself. It would be the perfect place to catch someone alone and unaware.

               Link burst through the doors, sword at the ready to see… him standing with an amused smile. A scimitar like dagger at his feet and Queen Sonia standing a few feet away. Black and red gloom surrounded his body- the fake his body. Link rushed forward, throwing himself into a ready stance between the Queen and the gloom that slowly bubbled and faded, nothing there. Link kept a hand on the queen, waiting with sword at the ready.

               The wind shifted only slightly.

               He spun the two of them, keeping the Queen at his back, as the hulking figure of Ganondorf appeared almost out of thin air. Gloom surged at their feet, Sonia gasped behind him, as if the air was stolen out of her lungs. Link pushed her back as Ganondorf’s hand reached out, as if time slowed just for him, and grasped the stone around her neck yanking it away from her. Link spun the sword in his hand, slicing the arm shallowly before the Gerudo pulled away with a flourish.

               The hero was aware of the queen on the ground behind him, standing between her and the laughing Gerudo male with his training sword at the ready. His face was stretched into an evil sneer unable to hold back laughter that echoed off the walls.

               Queen Sonia’s Secret Stone glistened and glowed brilliantly in his hand, as if begging for release. Link gripped his sword, rushing forward to slash at the Gerudo again either to get him to back away from the hurt Queen or to get the stone whichever worked. The evil laughter never stopped as Ganondorf backed away dodging his attack easily. He swung with the scimitar like dagger, allowing Link to dodge with a back flip and surge forward quickly slashing several times before the other could react.

               If anything, his laughter only got louder, “What an interesting technique for a Hylian.”

               With a pulse of darkness gloom surged from the ground, grabbing the Hero’s weapon and casting it aside, gripping his legs and arms until he couldn’t move. Wrapping around his neck tightly and causing him to choke as he focused on breathing. His arm felt like it was burning, newly healed the gloom was easily tearing into it once more.

               Ganondorf turned away from him chuckling as he struggled. Link could only watch helplessly as the evil one lifted the Secret Stone, its bright brilliant golden light becoming infected with a dark haze. “Finally, finally it is mine!”

               The stone pulsed in his hand before bursting with a blood red magic, floating just above him before shooting at him. The stone sealing its place on his forehead, the Demon King Link knew and hated.

               “Haaah… I can feel my strength surging!” Blood red gloom surrounded the Gerudo, the tendrils tightening around link as the Demon King screamed with surging power flowing from him. Like a tornado of gloom surrounding him, the skies turned red like a blood moon, malice and gloom polluting the air around them. Link struggled with the tendrils holding him as the rising moon turned a dark blood red, highlighting the nightmare of a Demon King at full power glowing with gloom.

               The gloom slithered away from him, dropping him to the ground gasping as the Demon King turned, half of his chest torn and shredded with powerful malice. His very power was thick in the air as Link struggled to his feet, picking up his sword and standing in front of the Queen once again.

               The Demon King raised his hand, a pillar of gloom shooting towards the sky, shooting orbs all around them as monsters appeared in hoards. Bokoblins, moblins, lizalfos, hinoxes, and several monsters he couldn’t identify roaring in the distance. The unmistakable stops and roars of Lynels echoing around the castle itself. Link fought back the nausea at the unmistakable parallel from the Calamity’s bursting forth and destroying the kingdom. He gripped his sword tighter; the Kingdom would survive this time.

               Link rushed forward, the Demon King still focused on the red sky, the sword in his shaking hand felt like paper compared the magic in the air but he slashed anyway.

               “Sonia!”

               The Demon King shifted back into the air before Link could land a blow, laughing. “You are too late Rauru. You took for granted the godlike power you had in your hands. Do you now see the potential you squandered? As for her, she is merely the first victim of your arrogance. You tried to control me, Rauru, and you will die knowing you failed!”

               Link was still facing the Demon King, so he couldn’t see Rauru’s reaction but the growl he heard hurt his heart. “Ganondorf!”

               The Hero reached out as the King rushed forward, breathing hard, stopping him. “Queen Sonia needs you.” He croaked.

               Rauru looked at him, third eye open, in pain. Ganondorf took the opportunity raising his hand and shooting gloom directly at them. Rauru pushed Link back, quickly raising his hands to make a brilliant light shield. Link huffed, moving through the haze of pain to get Queen Sonia into his lap and pulling out the Purah pad. Transporting the three of them away from the castle.

               He had picked quickly but he knew of one space that was safe from the Demon King. The training grounds that he and the Goron Sage had practiced in would be safe enough for now, then they could regroup at the Temple of Time.

               The moment the blue magic of teleportation faded Rauru was on his knees next to Sonia. Link staying still with the Queen on his lap as he looked her over. “She’s alive, barely.” Rauru’s voice was as small and quiet as Link had ever heard it. “She needs a healer, the gloom sapped so much of her life force…” Rauru took his wife in his arms, brushing her hair back.

               Nodding, Link moved to stand, barely getting off the ground before collapsing again. Adrenaline leaving his body in their safe place, pain and aches setting in a painfully familiar way in his bones. He rested his forehead on the cool stone beneath him, willing his body to move.

               “Stay, Link.” A gentle hand brushed his hair, “I will call for help. Rest.”

               He didn’t drift off, despite wanting to, the pain shooting from his arm, legs, and now his neck jerking him from falling asleep. He could only barely hear Rauru whispering to Sonia until the sound of feet were heard. With strength he didn’t know he still had Link shot up, sword in hand, to block the King and Queen from the entrance.

               The Hylian guards were surprised at the hostility but relaxed when Link fell to his knee once more. Rauru directed the guards and the healer that came into places, Link shaking one off to point them to the Queen. He sat with his back against the wall and listened at the report the soldiers gave.

               “It came out of nowhere.” The captain shook his head, “Like a storm of gloom in the middle of Hyrule field, and then hordes of monsters led by the Demon King have been razing different areas of the Kingdom. Monsters like we’ve never seen before!”

               “We’ve lost a number of men.” Another spoke up, “Every time we’ve figured out how to take down one of the beasts three more pop up in its place. The Demon King seems to be amplifying their power.”

               “We will gather the sages. Gather our forces to focus on protecting the people and using the Temple of Time as a haven for them.” Rauru ordered and the soldiers bowed before going to follow orders. The King turned to him, frowning when he saw Link sitting with no one helping him.

               “I sent them.” He waved towards where the two healers were knelt over the Queen. “I’m alright.”

               “You aren’t. I will get a potion from one of the soldiers.” Rauru turned to do so before Link could object, when he returned it wasn’t with a bottle but with a plate. “Mineru had prepared the soldiers apparently. When you were healing your arm before we found the sundelions helped with the darkness. This should help more than a potion would.”

               Link nodded and took the food gratefully, eating it slowly. The greens on the plate were unappetizing but he could feel the pain in his throat easing with just the first bite. The more he ate he could feel the ache leaving his bones, the stinging pain of the gloom easing everywhere except his arm. Rauru sat by him as he ate, nodding at him pleased when he finished.

               “We will gather the sages at the Temple of Time. It will help Sonia to heal there as well.”

               “I will gather them.”

               “Link you- “

               “You can’t leave her.” He insisted, pulling out the Purah pad, “I can get them quickly and meet you at the Temple.”

               Rauru seemed conflicted, thinking it over as he watched the healers work. “I… will be selfish this once, and stay with her. Get a proper sword from one of the guards. Be safe Link.”

               The Hero placed a hand on the King’s shoulder as he stood getting a broadsword from a nearby guard as well as a solid shield.

               “Link.” He looked back to Rauru, “Thank you.”

               He bowed before selecting a shrine on the map and leaving.

               It took about two days; the shrines didn’t stop time from passing even while traveling but they did save him about two weeks of travel. He started with the Zora, having met the Sage before he knew her healing would help the Queen’s recovery. The Sage agreed quickly, insisting to be taken to the cave so she could travel with the Queen to the Temple of Time. Link teleported her quickly. The Goron and Rito Sages were just as easy, both ready to meet him the moment he appeared and going with him to the Temple. The Gerudo sage was more difficult. He had not met the sage before, only knowing she had to be careful to avoid Ganondorf’s ire and greed. Rauru had set up a meeting place with her previously, just outside of what Link knew would become Kara Kara Bazaar. He did not expect the sage to be there waiting for him, mask in place.

               “It was him… wasn’t it?”

               Link nodded.

               “We cannot waste time. To the Temple.”

               When Link arrived at the Temple of Time with the Sage, Rauru and the Rito sage were waiting. “I’m glad you made it; come we are all ready.”

               Link followed as the group moved deeper into the Temple, the other sages waiting in a semi-circle for them. Mineru looked him over and nodded as he entered. Once they stopped walking the Gerudo sage spoke first.

               “King Rauru, the last free village in the Gerudo Desert has fallen.” She took a deep breath, “At this rate, the Demon King’s army will overwhelm us.”

               “I understand.” Rauru looked down before looking them all in the eyes one by one, “Our only hope is for me to defeat the Demon King.”

               “Rauru, the Demon King, he is not someone you can stop by yourself.” Mineru’s voice was stern, Link had spent enough time with her that he could detect the hint of fear in her tone. Rauru looked at her, pained, but she continued. “But… you are not alone. You have the Gerudo, Goron, Zora, and Rito leaders, as well as Link. And of course, you can count on me.”

               Rauru closed his eyes, looking down as he thought it over. A moment later he lifted his head, “There’s something I’d like to show you all. “

               He led them a short distance into the temple to a sealed door, opened only by his hand where in the center of the sealed room hovered four Secret Stones. The King turned back to them, “Stand with me, I need all your aid.”

               Rauru guided each of them into the room, Mineru standing with Link to the side, as the four remaining sages approached the floating stones. They lifted their hands to the stones, each one landing in their hands and pulsing with bright light. The Zora stone turning a brilliant blue, the Rito a stunning green, the Goron and fire red, and the Gerudo a shinning yellow. The stones then shrunk, attaching themselves to the sages. An earing on the Gerudo sage, an anklet on the Rito Sage, a belt on the Goron Sage, and a vambrace on the Zora Sage. Mineru guided Link to stand on one of the platforms before taking her place on the other side of Rauru.

               “We all,” the sages all said in unison, “gathered here swear on our lives to serve Rauru, the King of Light.”

               With the Sages, hope blossomed in the survivors. They only had a short time to prepare before fighting the Demon King. Weapons and armor were gathered, food found and prepared, and citizens came for refuge to the Temple. The Sages helped as much as they could, the Goron helping moving heavy supplies and the Rito scouting safe hunting places and healing herbs. The Gerudo assisted in training the soldiers and organizing homes and beds. And the Zora nagged Link into resting and looked over the healing process of the Queen.

               “She’s alive.” The sage assured both Rauru and Link the next morning, “Physically she is uninjured, however the gloom was a lot for her. I cannot say when she will wake up, but her and the child are fine.”

               “Child?” Rauru gasped, “The child?”

               “Oh, I am sorry if you didn’t know yet.” The Sage bowed her head slightly, “It is early stages, but the Queen carries a child.”

               Link and the Sage rushed to catch Rauru and help him to sit on the bed next to Sonia’s. The Zora placed a hand on Link’s arm and tilted her head to the door before leaving.

               “Sonia…” Link placed a supportive hand on Rauru’s shoulder, “Oh, Link.”

               “King Rauru,” It was now or never, “Before you face the Demon King tomorrow, there is something I must tell you. I came… I came to this era after Zelda and I found a man underground.”

               “Hm, the demon you mentioned, go on.”

               “Yes. I had a feeling, meeting Ganondorf… and then when I witnessed what the secret tone did to him. At that moment I knew for sure. What we found underground- that was him! He was still alive… still powerful… he continues to live on... all the way until my time! In tomorrow’s battle we won’t be able to defeat him. No matter how strong we think we are, he’ll survive!” Link glanced down at the Secret Stone secured on Rauru’s wrist, fear gripping his heart. “And you... and you will…”

               He stopped as Rauru’s hand covered his on the King’s shoulder, “but it is my duty to try, as I’m sure you know well Link.”

               He did, the Hero did, how despite knowing the outcome would end in gut-wrenching failure that you had to keep trying. The calamity and the guardians, freeing the divine beasts, freeing Zelda from the calamity, and now a Demon King.

               “It was my hubris that set us on this path. I must atone for my error in judgement.”

               Link frowned, wanting to say he couldn’t see how any of this was the King’s fault but Rauru continued.

               “And above all else, I remain the king of Hyrule. As with any leader, it is my duty to safeguard and protect my people. Even if I must risk my life.”

               “Rauru…”                          

               “And if it proves impossible for us to defeat Ganondorf… we will rely on your princess, her power, and the legendary sword. Our last line of defense will be Zelda.”

               He wanted to cry; she shouldn’t be. Not because the princess couldn’t handle it, but she was already the last line of defense for Hyrule. She didn’t deserve to go through it again!

               If not Zelda, then who?

               Zelda would, without anyone asking. Even if the only thing she wielded was the power of light given to her from the Goddess she would face the Demon King without fear.

               He had to get to her.

               “But remember, that was a future where you never appeared in this world. And you are here now. Link, I believe there is a reason you were sent to us. It has to mean something.”

               Link stayed seated with the King for a few minutes before nodding, bowing to him quickly and leaving the room.

               “The reason… I am here…” He thought over.

               Mineru and he had worked for the length of time he had been here and unable to get the secret stone to respond to him at all. Perhaps, he hadn’t used the stone at all? Zelda had also touched the stone, had it simply obeyed her will despite being on his person? She was the one who was originally going to take the stone. Maybe if she were sent back instead of him, she would already know how to solve the problem. If his secret stone was useless, would he be able to use it to seal the Demon King and save Rauru? Rauru seemed sure that this was a past where he had not been before, but what if he was and just never carved into the murals? If so, what could he do to help them now and in the future?

               He wished he had the Master Sword, even in it’s damaged state.

               “Link.”

               He turned to see the Gerudo Sage and nodded to her.

               “I have this for you, the soldiers said you were deadly with a sword.”

               In her hands was a sword made of gleaming metal, nowhere near the shine and allure of the Master Sword but stronger than any of the broadswords he had fought with. He took it, swinging it in a few test swipes before putting it in it’s place on his back.

               “Thank you.”

               “You should rest, only a few hours before we face the Demon King.”

               Link nodded and she pointed him to a small but private room set aside for him. He laid on the bed, sword and shield next to him. He laid on his back and pulled the Secret Stone out, turning it over in his hand.

               If you won’t send me back, he willed towards it, allow me to save the King. Allow him to live.

               Like every other night, the stone did nothing.

               In the morning, which was really late afternoon, the Sages met together with the King. Rauru looking them all over and making sure they were armed and prepared. “I thank you all for standing up for Hyrule and the people. This will not be an easy fight, but together we have a chance.”

               They all nodded, weapons at the ready.

               The Rito sage would be the one guiding them to where the Demon King was, they followed him outside the temple and Link turned to Rauru. “Sonia?”

               “Still fighting, still sleeping.” Rauru smiled sadly, “We will win. For her.”

               Link was able to use the Purah pad to teleport them, in a few trips, just above where the Demon King waited. A place that Link knew like the back of his hand, even in this distant past. He walked forward into the caves just behind Rauru, mentally mapping the path he had taken with Zelda leading to the sealed Demon King in his time. The closer they got to the chamber, the more tense he got.

               The Demon King Ganondorf was waiting in the center of the room, on a platform Link knew well. An aura of red surrounded him, his hair like molten lava down his back as he looked at them with a smug sneer.

               And the battle began.

               The Goron sage rolled forward in a burst of fire, Link hopping on top of him to propel himself in the air next to the Rito, already firing off arrow after arrow. He brought his sword down, easily blocked and knocked aside by the Demon King, but distracting him just enough for the lightscale trident of the Zora sage to hit his side with a burst of purifying water- the gloom hissing in response. Rauru’s light flashed behind them, holding back the tendrils of gloom trying to sap at their lifeforce. The Gerudo sage slid next to Link, scimitar crackling with electricity that they could see travel up the Demon King’s body.

               Link flipped back, avoiding a swipe from the Demon King, rushing forward again in a flurry of blows but still barely scratching the surface. The Sages worked together, elements swirling together to chip at the evil being. Rauru’s light constantly holding back as much of the gloom as possible.

               It almost felt like they could win, that they could chip away at him working together.

               With one swipe of his arm, the Demon King knocked them all to the ground with sickening cracks. Gloom seemed to seep from the very walls as the Demon laughed, eyes glowing red. Gloom vines slashed like whips dragging them to the ground, draining them of energy and life with every hit. The red haze around Ganondorf only became stronger and none of them could get any closer to him. No one could land a blow, anyone who got close was swallowed by the gloom and thrown back in a heap.

               Link was on one knee, gasping in pain after hitting the wall behind him with a sickening crack. They could not withstand his strength; the Sages were all breathing heavily and leaning on their weapons for support. Mineru had already collapsed and Rauru was at their center, as hurt as the rest of them but standing tall. Link watched as Rauru bowed his head for a moment, before raising his arms.

               The Sages, as one, threw their weapons at Ganondorf. The Demon King dodging easily, but allowing Link to jump up and get close enough to swipe at his side. The Demon King batted at him with a powerful arm, allowing the hero to dodge to the other side and attempt a flurry of blows once more.

               “Hah! I’ve seen this before!” Having learned, the Demon King blocked and threw Link into the wall and away from him. “And now, Rauru!”

               The Demon King looked around as Rauru shouted, “That pride will be your downfall, Ganondorf!”

               With horror, Link watched as Rauru’s brilliant light shone just behind Ganondorf. The demon turning to face the light as Rauru’s pure blue green magic surged. Ganondorf tried to meet the blow but failed as Rauru ‘s hand plunged into his chest with a magic snap, his arm glowing a blue white as the sealing magic took hold on the evil being. A swirl of pure power, blue and then fading into green, surged from Rauru’s back in a powerful blast.

               “You bind my heart and steal my magic… You plan to hold me here…what a clever way to solve your problem… but are you ready to pay the price for this?”

               “Don’t be so smug. I know exactly what it will cost me.”

               Link struggled to his feet, falling as he tried to get closer, to help in any way he could. “Rauru!”

               Ganondorf laughed, “Thousands of years will pass in the blink of an eye. You only delay the inevitable.”

               The magic storm coming from Rauru slowed into a peaceful swirl, similar to the shrine’s lights. “You’re wrong. Years from now, someone will appear with the power to dispel darkness. A princess blessed with the power to defeat you- Zelda. Remember… this name.”

               Ganondorf jerked in his hold. “Zelda…” He jerked as Rauru’s power pulsed, bending backwards as his body and power were sealed away. “Interesting… I look forward… to meet… ing… her…”

               Link watched with horror as red slowly faded away and the air became clearer, as hair like flowing lava turned to stone, as Rauru stilled like a statue, as the light faded from both their eyes. He collapsed, tears falling from his eyes as hands grabbed his shoulders. The Zora Sage looking over his head where it was steadily bleeding. Steady drops of tears coming from underneath her mask.

               He had failed… again.

               Sometime later Link followed numbly as the Sages limped out, securing the chamber so they could come back and ensure no one could stumble upon it before going back to the Temple of Time. He leaned heavily on the Zora, heart aching as he was taken to the infirmary where the Queen still lay sleeping. He could hear Mineru talking, probably to the people to inform them of what happened, but couldn’t focus enough to hear the words. His tears started to dry as the healers looked him over, helped him clean and change. The food and potions they gave him tasted like ash in his mouth.

               He just felt numb through all of it, his mind stuck on the light fading from the First King of Hyrule’s eyes.

               Once the healers cleared him, slightly unwillingly, he left to the upper floors. Places where he and Rauru had built chambers and seals to protect Zelda in the future. He had spent so much time here with the King, talking and getting to know each other as they worked on their project. The kind heart and dedication to the people of Hyrule echoed Zelda’s own that he had come to view Rauru as a dear friend. Another dear friend he had failed. He stood before the dais, defeated.

               He failed again.

               What would Zelda have done? Would her powers have helped them?

               “We managed to restrain him somehow…” He spoke to no one in particular, “but, Zelda… I’m not sure you’ll be able to stop him. You can’t wield the Master Sword even if it wasn’t broken. And without a Secret Stone, you don’t have amplified power.”

               The stone on his chest pulsed, startling him. A small golden orb shot from the stone and out the top of the temple. He chased after it, ignoring his tired and injured muscles as he went to the top floor of the temple out to an unused altar. Hovering above the altar the golden orb was pulsing. He approached it cautiously, the world turning grey like when Sonia uses her time powers as he approached. Before him the broken Master Sword formed, and dropped into his outstretched hands as the golden magic disappeared.

               “How is… the Master Sword… You’re telling me… Zelda is safe?” The sword pulsed in his hands, “You traveled through time to find me and recover your strength.”

               Link clutched the sword close, “Perhaps… the reason I am here…”

               He turned on his heel, invigorated by the Master Sword returned to him, no matter what state it was in. He had to find Mineru, he had to make sure all precautions were in place first. Rauru and he had already worked on setting up places for Zelda to be safe and fight the Demon King, she couldn’t fight with the Master Sword but if she had a Secret Stone… He would speak to the sages as well, getting their word that they would pass their power down to assist the Princess in defeating the Demon King once and for all. And then, when he was sure everything was in place, he would fix the Master Sword and return to Zelda. The hard way apparently.

               He found Mineru in a small study they had set up for her in the Temple of Time, she was still roughed up from their battle but gave him a small smile as he entered, turning confused as he presented the broken sword.

               “It had to be Zelda, sending the Master Sword back to me.” Link held it in both hands, “I think the same way I did. Zelda had been able to do some damage to the Demon King with her light, however, in my time, the Demon King was vulnerable to even the smallest piece of this sword.”

               Mineru nodded, “Even someone like him has vulnerabilities. Although I wish it had come a bit sooner.”

               Link shook his head, “It’s recovering, even if I had it before the battle… it wouldn’t have changed. Not in the state it’s in right now.”

               “Then… what exactly are you suggesting we do with the sword?”

               “Overtime the Master Sword is able to absorb sacred power. It can heal itself, and even grow stronger!”

               “Curious, if we are able to empower it in that way, it could be the key to defeating the Demon King. But… it could take centuries for that sword to grow strong enough. The power the Demon King wields… I do not see how this can be done. It would be impossible for you to provide it with sacred power for so long.”

               Link shook his head, “I can think of one way.”

               Mineru stood up, “You mean?”

               “Yes. I can do it. I have to.”

               “I’ve told you! That act is forbidden for a very good reason! It would mean throwing yourself awa- “The Zonai started coughing, Link helping her to sit back down and breathe.

               “Mineru!”

               She leaned back in her chair, weak. “You… won’t be able to change back.”

               The Hero nodded, “When I got the sword, I knew what I had to do. Why I am here. I set up all I can here to help Zelda, now I must return. I want to restore the Master Sword and deliver a Secret Stone to Zelda!”

               “A secret stone?”

               “It’s useless for me.” He touched the one resting on his chest, “Zelda has goddess powers, and is a descendant of Rauru and Sonia. With her powers amplified by the Secret stone and the future Sages at her side she will defeat the Demon King.”

               “And the sword?”

               “She cannot wield it; the Master Sword only responds to me.” He gripped it tighter in his hands, “I will repair it and return it to her.”

               “Have you really thought it through? Link you’ve said several times that Zelda is blessed by the Goddess, not you. Are you sure that if you follow through with the forbidden act that the sword will even be able to draw power from you?”

               “It has to, there’s no other choice.”

               “There…. May be one.” Mineru sighed and sat back, looking upset. “I spoke with my brother about it once, but he rejected the idea immediately.”

               “One that could get me to my time?”

               “Yes, although no faster than the forbidden act. With my power over spirit and Sonia’s power over time, we may be able to put you into a frozen sleep. If we can secure a safe space, we might be able to essentially freeze you in time, while time still passes.”

               “So, I’d wake up in my time?”

               “We wouldn’t have control over that, but we can design a temple to where only those who succeed in the trial can awaken you.”

               “Do it.” Link nodded, “I basically slept 100 years before, what’s another hundreds of thousands?”

               “We don’t know enough, something like this has never been attempted before. I call it a sleep but we don’t really know. I can’t guarantee that you wouldn’t have any damage afterwards,” Mineru rested her head on her hand, “There’s no way to know how it will feel, will you be asleep, will you be frozen but aware? Will it wear off when we pass or perhaps over time? If it does will you awaken just to die in the place created to keep you safe? All of these were questions Rauru had that I could not answer, and he would not risk your life.”

               “There’s no other choice.” The Hero said firmly, “I understand the risks, I’ll take them. Rauru knew the risks when he faced the Demon King, I know my risks now.”

               “Link….”

               “Besides,” Link put his hand on her arm, “I know I’m in good hands.”

               “You… are impossible. I will need time to recover, so will Sonia.” The Zonai gave him a stern look, “She will most likely have to wait until after having the child. If I promise to dedicate myself to this plan, do you promise to be patient?”

               “I do, I know this is hard for you Mineru.”

               “It is not easy to lose a brother, even if I thought I was mentally prepared, and then think I’m dooming a friend. However, I understand. You really… have made up your mind?”

               Link nodded.

               “Very well, then... as a Zonai, I bear my share of blame for these events. So, I too will devote myself to this goal… and to this princess of yours. For the Princess Zelda, I will do everything I can. Even if my body should perish, I will still be with you in spirit.”

               Link nodded, grateful. “I will speak to the other Sages; I’ll inform them of my plan as well as gain their promise that they will help Zelda in the future.” He waved the Purah Pad. “I’ll hold onto this for a little bit longer, then I hope you will guard it once I am asleep. Rauru and I were preparing the Temple of Time as a safe place for Zelda from the Demon King. It’s important she receives this pad before she leaves.”

               “I understand, I have the notes from your preparations.”

               “We could use the Temple of Time for the place where I am resting.” Link tapped his chin, “Rauru made a statue of the Goddess for me there, perhaps if I could rest under it the Goddess will heal the sword.”

               “That may work! I will look at the floor plan and prepare.” Mineru smiled, “I am sure your Zelda will be comforted to know you were there for her the whole time.”

               “She would never doubt it.” The Hero said firmly before frowning again. “I am sorry Mineru, if you need someone to talk to…”

               “I will find you. Thank you Link.”

               Link nodded and bowed before leaving the room with a new but no clearer plan. He checked with one of the guards to find where the Sages had gone, and with the exception of the Zora Sage all of them had returned home to heal and mourn. He decided to save the Zora for last, knowing she would be with Sonia.

               He started with the Gerudo Sage, back not far from the main city in the desert she was in her temple directing her people into gathering resources and riding the city of the Ganondorf supporters. When she noticed him, she directed the Gerudo soldiers to continue and came to greet him.

               “I did not expect to see you so soon.”

               Link shrugged, “A hero never rests. How is it going here?”

               “Not bad.” She watched the people working together with him, “Ganondorf had many supporters, those who wanted to expand Gerudo territory further than the deserts we thrive in, but they also saw the people of Hyrule and the peace they brought. They were not difficult to convince. Now the guilt remains.”

               “Guilt?”

               “Ganondorf was one of ours, it is hard to not feel responsible.” She gestured to the crates that were being packed up. “We are sending food, armor, and other supplies to the castle town. I intend to keep the friendship between Hylians and Gerudo strong for many generations to come, despite what has happened.”

               “I am sure you will.”

               “I am guessing you came here for a reason, more than just seeing me?”

               He nodded, “Can we speak somewhere private?”

               “This way.”

               Link followed her deeper into her temple. Carved out of rock was a beautiful room stories high. The Sage led him to a back area, the wall carved with who he guessed was- or would be- Vah Naboris and a carved-out section of the wall with green and tan stones making a mosaic art wall. It was beautiful. The Sage stopped at the wall and spoke without looking at him.

               “We can speak here.”

               “The magic restraining the Demon King will eventually be undone. When that time comes, you must help Zelda. She is a Princess blessed by the Goddess who will fight that monster. So please… she will need your assistance. Lend her your power… the Gerudo’s control of lightening!”

               Link watched as the Sage stared at the wall with a clenched fist, he knew what it must feel like. To sacrifice a friend just to hear their work would be undone. The Gerudo sage spun, authority in her voice he had only heard so clear from Urbosa herself. “We wish nothing more than to eliminate the Demon King. We are responsible for his very existence in this world, and for that we must make amends. I swear to you that when the Demon King returns, the Gerudo Sage of Lightning will awaken once more. The Gerudo sage and her people will fight alongside your Princess.”

               “Good. Thank you.” He smiled at her, “The Gerudo are strong and resilient, and noble people. They will remember that under your leadership.”

               “Thank you, Link.” She nodded to him, “That means a lot, from you.”

               He headed to the Goron’s next, knowing the Sage would be easy to ask. He was also in his temple with a large group of his people, but they were feasting.

               “It’s to honor the late King!” The Sage explained as they walked deeper into his temple to speak privately. “We mourn him, but first we celebrate his life.”

               “I like that.”

               “You are welcome to join!” The Sage laughed, “But I know you well by now! You aren’t even healed and running around already, I won’t be able to get you to sit for very long.”

               Link smiled, “There’s always something to do!”

               “And there always will be!” They arrived at a room deep into the Sage’s temple, the heat licking at Link’s skin was borderline painful but he wouldn’t be here too long. “What did you need to talk about, little hero?”

               “The magic restraining the Demon King will eventually be undone. He will return. When that time comes, a Princess blessed by the goddess named Zelda will oppose him. But Zelda will need help, Lend him your power… your fire… the Goron’s mastery of fire!”

               The Hero paused as the Goron stared at him, he thinks with the mask on anyway, before the Goron laughed. His laugh loud and boisterous just like Daruk’s. “I’d like nothing more than to smash the Demon King. I swear that, when the Demon King returns, the Sage of Fire will awaken again. The Goron sage and the Goron people will fight alongside your princess.”

               “Why did you laugh?”

               “Ha! You were so stern little Hero! I never hear you talk so much!” He hit his chest, “Even if you hadn’t come to ask, the Gorons will always help the Hylians. That’s what friends do!”

               “Thank you.” Link threw his arms around the big guy, the Sage laughing in response and almost crushing him in a hug.

               “Of course! Now at least stay for one plate! I don’t believe your story before of eating rocks, Hylian’s are always so picky about it!”

               Link stayed only briefly, for the second time in his memory eating rocks as Goron’s cheered him on and laughed. They were all very kind, giving him thanks and condolences in the same breath. It was a comfort to know that no matter how much time passed that the Gorons would stay the kind people he knew and loved. He bowed out before they could rope him into staying the night, insisting he had to go to the Rito village soon.

               The Rito village was calm, eerily so compared to the Gorons, but the Rito greeted him warmly. When he asked the Head of the village where the Sage was, he was directed to the sky, another Rito helping him reach the Sage’s temple.

               He found the Sage looking over the edge of the giant ship like Temple. Watching the sun slowly make its way past the horizon. He watched as Link dropped off the other Rito and approached.

               “I did not expect to see you so soon, I thought the Zora would have kept you in the healers.”

               “I escaped before she finished with the Queen.”

               He scoffed, “Of course you did, you’ll send us all to early graves worrying about you.”

               “What about you, friend? It couldn’t have been easy to fly up here.”

               The Rito shrugged, “The air is different here, almost like it wants whoever is here to feel weightless and fly easily. It didn’t hurt… too much. It’s quite out of the way for you.”

               “I needed to speak with you.” He took a deep breath, “The Demon King will return. The magic binding him will be undone. When that time comes, a Princess blessed by the Goddess named Zelda will oppose him. But Zelda will only succeed with the Rito’s help. Summon the winds, and support the Princess!”

               The Sage nodded, not needing anytime to ponder. He may not boast like Revali had, but that did not mean he wasn’t sure of his ability. “I swear to you that when the Demon King returns, the Rito Sage of the Wind will awaken once more. And you can count on the full support of the Rito!”

               “Thank you.”

               “If this Princess is half the person you claim she is, I have no problem promising such a thing. Not only to rid the world of such evil, but a person you hold in such high regards. I wish I could meet her.”

               “I wish you could too. Revali and Teba, Saki, and Tulin as well.” Link smiled when the Rito placed a hand on his shoulder, “I think you’d like them a lot.”

               “I would love to hear more stories of them, I plan on returning to the Castle in a few days. I just… needed the quiet.”

               The Hero nodded, “I understand.”

               “You’re always welcome Link.” The Rito turned back to the skyline, the sun still faithfully taking it’s path. “Rauru was a dear friend of mine and I will mourn with the others properly soon, I just needed some time.”

               “I don’t blame you. I should return to check on the Queen and get scolded again.” Link hugged the Rito, who was surprised but hugged back after a moment. “If you need me, I’ll come right away.”

               “You will, won’t you.” The Sage chuckled, “Go on, I won’t be responsible for keeping you away from the healer.”

               Link made it back to the Temple of Time in record time, only pausing to ask a guard to let Mineru know he returned before making his way to the private room the Queen was resting in. It was small but had an open window so plenty of light could get in, two beds- one for Sonia and one that was previously for Rauru, a table that was typically full of medicines and teas, and a few chairs for whoever visited. He entered to see the Queen still lying prone, and next to her sitting in a chair fast asleep was the Zora Sage. She was bandaged and clean but clearly exhausted. Link made his way next to her quietly, gently lifting her up while being careful of her fins. Zora, despite their delicate look, were mainly muscle. Something he had learned from Mipha, who was small for Zora standards. He placed the sage on the empty bed, laying the blanket over her before taking her seat.

               Taking a deep breath, he found oddly enough he was feeling slightly better. The sting of failure and pain of loss still in his heart, but the traveling and kind words he had with his friends was a soothing balm. Rauru would be proud of them, separate people but working together for the betterment of Hyrule. Working together to make a peaceful and prosperous Kingdom.

               Link wasn’t sure if Rauru could see him like the Champions had after they passed, if he could watch them on their journey, if he could watch his child grow from whatever heavens he was in now, but he hoped so.

               He hopes Rauru gets to meet Zelda somehow in the future, she would love him.

               “Link?”

               The Hero jerked, looking down in shock at the dazed blinks of the Queen. “S-sonia!”

               He rushed to grab a small cup of water, carefully helping the Queen sit up to take a few careful sips. “What happened?”

               The Queen’s voice was soft but still rough with sleep. “I’ll wake u-“

               “No, it’s ok, please, what’s happened? Ganondorf was here, where’s Rauru?”

               Link took her hand, holding it tightly before looking her in the eye. “You’ve been sleeping for a few days; a lot has happened. Ganondorf stole your Secret Stone and used it to raise an army of monsters across the Kingdom. Rauru gathered the Sages and gifted them each a Secret Stone in order to fight him.”

               Sonia knew what was coming, he could see it in her eyes before the tears even began to fall. He took a deep breath before he could continue. “The Demon King was too strong; everyone gave their all. Rauru realized that the Demon King’s power was just overwhelming, and chose to end the battle by sealing the Demon King…”

               “… Sacrificing himself in the process.” Sonia’s voice was weak through her tears. “Oh, Rauru.”

               Link held her as she cried, a flash of a memory of doing the same for Zelda a few times came and left as he brushed her hair down. “There’s more, it’s important. The healers, the Sage included, looked after you while you healed and confirmed. You’re pregnant.”

               Sonia didn’t stop her tears nor responded, and Link didn’t expect one. He held her as she cried, patting her hair and apologizing. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she calmed slightly. He grabbed a bandage cloth off the table for her to wipe her tears.

               “I want to see him.”

               “I don’t thi- “

               “Please.” She looked up at him, determined with tears still welling up in her eyes. “I know the healers wouldn’t advise it; I need to Link.”

               He sighed and looked over at the Zora Sage still sleeping. “If you start to feel sick, we return immediately.”

               “Ok.”

               Link helped the Queen stand, stiff from being in bed for so long but luckily the healers had been careful to not let her body weaken as much as they could. While she stretched Link wrote a quick note and left it on the bed, hoping they’d be back before the Sage woke up but just in case. He also grabbed some more cloths and a few apples. Once she was standing and leaning on him, he pulled out the Purah Pad, teleporting them to what he would know as the Castle.

               When the blue magic of teleportation faded, he insisted Sonia rest for a few minutes, taking in the cool night air and sternly asking her to eat one of the apples he brought. Her small smile was worth it. Once she was a little less pale Link helped her to stand, helping her down the descending caverns and stairs until they reached the barrier and seal the Sages and he had put up.

               “We didn’t want anyone wandering down here.” He explained as he held up his secret stone, the seal glowing before opening. “It’s temporary, we can make a better one in the future.”

               Sonia nodded, leaning on him as they made their way deeper. He held her tightly as they entered the chamber. The Demon King still looked like frozen stone, Rauru’s glowing green hand clenched in his chest. The King was less stone like and looked more like he was frozen in time, the blue to green magic still swirling peacefully from his back.

               Seeing the scene again, the guilt swelled in his chest until it threatened to choke him. He should have done something, anything. Rauru had done so much for him, and in return he did nothing at all. He bit his tongue to keep the tears at bay, he was here for Sonia.

               Link helped Sonia onto the platform before taking a step back, “I’ll be over there if you need anything. Take your time.” The Hero went towards the entrance, leaning in the doorway where the Queen was still in his sight but he couldn’t hear her words or cries. He wanted to give her more privacy but didn’t want to risk her collapsing or falling.

               He was lucky, in some ways, when he had woken up from the Shrine of Resurrection that he had no memories. He couldn’t imagine waking up to expecting to see friends and family only to realize they had all died. He couldn’t imagine waking up with a child, only to find the love of your life had died. Once again, he almost wished Zelda was sent back instead of him, she was much better at comfort and sympathy than he was. Words just didn’t come to him as naturally as they did for her.

               If she had been sent back, Rauru would probably be alive. Link thought bitterly, touching the stone resting on his chest. Zelda would have had more than just a sword; the stone would activate for her and perhaps a super powered goddess princess was just the thing to save Rauru.

               “You did all you could.”

               Link did not jump at Sonia’s voice at his elbow, the Queen looking at him with a tear-streaked face but a small smile. He signed, ‘Sorry, was in my head.’

               “No need to apologize. I could hear your thoughts from Death Mountain I believe.” Sonia took the cloth he offered and cleaned her face. “I think you need to hear it, from me, from Mineru. There was nothing more you could have done, Link. The Demon King was more than we were prepared to handle, more evil than we thought.”

               They both looked to the two still figures, Link’s heart thumping painfully at the sight of the King.

               “You gave your all, as I am sure all the Sages did. Rauru spoke with me, a few days before Ganondorf… the Demon King attacked me. He felt something was coming but wasn’t entirely sure what. We had a long conversation about our future, the Kingdom… it was scary but it was nice. I’m glad we did, although… I wish we hadn’t needed it.”

               “I’m sorry.” He tore his eyes away from the two in the center of the room to look at her. “I should have- I could of- I don’t know. I can’t help but feel that I failed again. Now you…”

               “Have friends and family still.” Sonia’s voice was calm. “There was nothing more you could have done Link. Rauru would be proud, I am proud. I’m sad, but I still have Mineru, the Sages, and you. Hyrule, and our bloodline, will thrive into the future, as you well know.”

               Link couldn’t hold his tears back, Sonia pulling him into a hug as they both cried. What felt like hours passed with the two of them sitting by the door comforting each other. It was only as the Queen’s stomach started rumbling that they shook off the dirt, said goodbye to Rauru and left. Link making sure to redo the seal before teleporting them both back to the Temple.

               The blue magic hadn’t even fully faded from their eyes when something hit Link in the head causing him to cry out. Sonia chuckled as he rubbed his head and the Zora Sage stomped up to them.

               “You are the ONLY person who would take the QUEEN WHO HAS BEEN ASLEEP FOR DAYS OUT OF TEMPLE AND AWAY FROM ANY HEALERS!” She picked up the apple she had thrown at him, ready to throw it again before the laughing Rito Sage took it out of her hand. “You left a NOTE! ‘Gone with Sonia, be back soon.’ IS NOT ENOUGH CONTEXT!”

               Link pouted as the Zora fussed over them both, pinching his arm- lightly- before taking Sonia back into the Temple. The Rito Sage’s laughter finally dying down as they followed the two. “You two worried her a lot, she was about to send the army out to search for you I think.”

               ‘I left a note!’ Link signed, ‘Sonia wanted to see… I couldn’t say no.’

               “I wouldn’t have either, but I definitely would have been back before sunrise, did you sleep at all?”

               The Hero shook his head and the Sage sighed, “Don’t tell her that, You’re already in hot water. Go on and rest for a bit, she’ll want to fuss over you once the Queen is taken care of.”

               Link obeyed, going to his room and falling into the bed. Just like every night since being sent back in time he held the stone tightly, but this time his prayers were different. ‘Protect Zelda until I get there.’ He prayed to the Goddess or whatever power was in the stone. ‘I have some things to finish here, Zelda will understand. I’ll be there soon so watch over her.’

               The next thing he knew he was been shook awake by the Zora Sage, not as gently as she usually would but no apples were thrown. He groaned as he sat up signing, ‘How long did I sleep?’

               “Most of the day, It’s almost dinner.” Her voice was stern as her gentle hands looked him over. Once she was satisfied, she sat on the bed next to him. “The Queen has been awake most of the day, the Sages all visited her and I think it helped. Mineru is with her now since she just woke up from a small nap. How did she take the news?”

               “I told her about the pregnancy, she took it well.” Link shrugged, “She was more focused on Rauru, of course, and wanted to go see him.”

               The Zora nodded, “I would have done the same. Not that I think anyone would lie to me about that, but I would feel that I needed to. I’m sorry I threw the apple at you.”

               “Sometimes we need an apple thrown at us, sorry I worried you.”

               “You live just to make me worry, I’m pretty sure.” She nudged him with her shoulder, “I have been warned you may have something to ask of me.”

               “The magic restraining the Demon King will eventually be undone. When that happens, a Princess blessed by the Goddess named Zelda will oppose him. We must help. Lend her your power… she will need the Zora’s control over water!”

               “It would be our honor to aid in defeating the Demon King. I swear to you that when the great evil returns the Zora Sage of Water will awaken once more. The Zora people and their sage will fight alongside your princess.”

               “Thank you.”

               She laughed, “Were you nervous about asking me?”

               Link shook his head, “I’ve learned to never doubt the friendship of the Zora. I knew you’d agree.”

               “Don’t think being sweet will get you off the hook, your on dish duty for at least a week.”

               “Ok, as long as you forgive me.”

               She pinched his arm again before standing, “The Queen wants us all to have dinner together, so be ready in about ten minutes.”

               “I’ll be there.” He stood up from the bed and stretched.

               The Sage paused in the doorway, “And Link?”

               “Hm?”

               “I’m glad you were there.” She calmly, “I know Rauru’s sacrifice weighs on you, despite it not being your fault in any way, but I fear our losses would have been much greater had you not been there along side of us. Not only the distraction you provided in the end, but the courage and power you’ve displayed since being here. I’m glad you are one of us and I’m glad you were here.”

               Link stared at the door stunned as she left. A swirl of emotions raging in his chest as he changed clothes, attempted to brush his hair out, and put the stone back in it’s place on his chest. Link took a deep breath, sword strapped on his back, and left. Making his way to the dining hall he greeted and waved to the guards he passed, who were happy to see him. Passed the Hylian citizens who were preparing to travel back home, each loaded with travel food from the Gerudo.

               Perhaps… even if he couldn’t have saved Rauru… he did make a difference here.

               When he arrived to the large dining room Queen Sonia waved at him, gesturing for him to join her at the table. The long table was already set up with Sonia sitting in the middle of one side, the Zora Sage on one side, and her other left open. Across from her sat the Rito Sage and the Gerudo sage who were watching the Goron sage at the end of the table in horror. The Goron was munching on rocks happily, waving at Link as he passed. Mineru sat at the other end of the table, now cleaned from the battle with a few bandages. Link patted her shoulder as he passed and she flashed him a rare smile.

               “I’m so glad you all are here.” Sonia said once he sat down. “Much has happened, good and bad, and united together we will handle each problem as they come. For now, eat and celebrate for Hyrule is safe.”

               Mineru nodded, “It is important to celebrate our victory, even if not in the means we had wished. I hope we all, all across Hyrule, take this as a time to celebrate Rauru and work together for a future for Hyrule that he had always hoped for.”

               The Gerudo Sage lifted her cup, “For Rauru and Hyrule!”

               “FOR RAURU AND HYRULE!”

               “I heard you got a rude awakening.” Sonia chuckled as everyone started to eat and talk among themselves.

               Link looked her over, color returned to her face although her eyes were still red rimmed. Her natural calming presence was still there although he felt as if the sadness hung around. “I did, although there were no apples this time.”

               “I apologized for that!”

               “Apples?”

               “Oh!” The Rito Sage laughed, “You two missed it! So, Link had the great idea to take the newly awakened Queen from the Temple!”

               Link watched as the story was retold, the Sages all laughing while the Zora Sage stood her ground. Sonia watched with a sad smile, although engaging in conversation when anyone spoke with her. Soon the topics shifted to different stories of their homes rebuilding after the surge in monster attacks and what to do with the remaining monsters. Food was served by the Constructs, plates and cups staying full as they enjoyed their time together.

               “Queen Sonia,” The Gerudo sage spoke up after the Goron Sage retold a story of the Lizard Lakes. “How is the child?”

               “Healthy! All the healers worked very hard while I slept in making sure the baby stayed healthy.” Sonia rubbed her stomach, “They think they will be born in the spring.”

               “We will all be here.” The Rito Sage said with a nod, and the others agreed.          

               “I think regular meetings would be beneficial,” The Gerudo Sage continued, “not only to meet with each other but also for reporting on the monsters.”

               “That works for me.”

               Mineru nodded, “We can hold them here or at the Castle. However, I hate to cut the evening short but I must sleep and I think Sonia should as well.”

               “Yes, it has been good to be with all of you. My heart feels lighter after our time together. I hope you all stay the night so we can meet again in the morning and can discuss the meetings further.”

               “I’ll help you to your room, your highness.” The Zora Sage stood, helping Sonia up. “Good night, everyone.”

               “Good night.”

               It wasn’t until the 3 left that the Goron Sage turned to him with a wide smile, “It’s been a while since we spared.”

               “You two spar?” The Gerudo Sage sounded surprised, “I wouldn’t think a Hylian could spar with a Goron.”

               That’s how Link found himself with the Gerudo, Goron, and Rito Sages sparing in the open field by the Castle well into the night. They matched each other well, practicing one on one before mixing up teams of two.  It wasn’t until the Zora Sage came out with her hands on her hips that they even realized how long they had been out there. It didn’t take much convincing to get the Zora to go a few rounds with them.

               “Come on,” Link smiled, tired but his body still thrumming with a good workout. “You threw an apple at me; this is your chance to get all your anger out.”

               “You!” The Zora stomped over to pick up her spear and stood next to the laughing Rito Sage. “Fine! And then will you all please rest!”

               Link fought hard, but he and the Gerudo Sage still lost but he didn’t mind.

               It was a few days before he was able to meet with Sonia and Mineru privately, they saw each other of course since they all ate at least one meal together but the Sages were there as well and it didn’t feel like appropriate conversation while everyone was so happy. Sonia just had her check up with the healers, Link accompanying her, and she decided that this was the best time to meet. He guided her to Mineru’s study where the Zonai was tinkering with the Purah Pad.

               “Ah, is it time?” Mineru looked up at a construct who nodded, “Please bring tea. How did the appointment go?”

               “Well!” Sonia patted her still flat stomach, “The baby is healthy and the healers ae expecting a growth spurt soon. I’m supposed to eat more as well, Link took notes I think.”

               He nodded and passed over a few papers that Mineru looked over as they were served tea and fruit. Sonia waited until Mineru put the papers down and nodded to speak again. “The baby will still be born in spring as far as anything can be told.”

               “That is all good news, I’m glad it’s going well. Do you want these back Link?”

               The Hero shook his head signing, ‘I took them for you. I’ll remember.’

               “Thank you. Now,” Mineru set the papers in a safe place, “I told Sonia of the plan, Link, and much like Rauru she isn’t happy.”

               “It’s so risky. There is so much that could go wrong, that is unknown. We’ve never used two powers on one person like this before.”

               “I have to.” Link said sternly but not angerly. He knew Sonia wouldn’t like the plan based on the risks alone. “The only other way to return to my time is to become a Dragon and then Zelda would not get the Secret Stone.”

               “We can take some precautions to increase your odds. You’ve worked with the Zora and I with the Secret Stone and your spirit is definitely stronger for it.” Mineru sighed, “You have a strong spirit anyway, if anyone were to do this successfully it would be you, Hero.”

               Sonia looked between the two upset, “Is there truly no other way?”

               “None that we have been able to come up with. We can still look for solutions until the child is born, since you should not use so much power while carrying.”

               “Very well.” Sonia took Link’s hand in both of hers, “We will look for alternatives while we work on this one. If by the time I’ve recovered from having the Child there is no other solutions… I will do it.”

               “Thank you.” Link squeezed her hand, “Thank you both. I know this isn’t easy.”

               “You’ve been patient here, and I know you miss your Zelda dearly. I couldn’t ask you not to return to her.”

               Mineru nodded, “The only thing left is to tell the Sages. They deserve to know.”

               “We are training together today; I can tell them then.”

               The three moved to lighter topics of having a nursery verses the baby sleeping in the room with the Queen, the progress of the murals depicting their story of the imprisoning war, and Sonia’s personal project of the Rauru gardens. Mineru laughing over the two of them bickering, Sonia was fussing over where in the garden to place the memorial stone the citizens of Hyrule had gifted her and carved as a grave for Rauru, asking Link for advice only to laugh when he stared at her blankly. It wasn’t until a soldier came to tell him the Sages were asking for them that he bid them both goodbye until dinner.

               The group of Sages and He had claimed the open field as their own training grounds, the soldier’s training grounds were usually busy and none of the soldiers were particularly eager to spar with any of the heroes. Sometimes one or another would challenge the Zora or Rito Sage thinking they were the weakest of the group and were quickly proven wrong. None of the soldiers ever challenged Link despite him going through morning drills with them occasionally.

               “You’re late!”

                Link smiled at the Gerudo Sage, “Sorry, I was with Sonia and Mineru.”

               “Oh, how did her appointment go?” The Zora Sage came to look over his arm as she does before every session (that she knows about).

               “It went well, they expect a growth spurt soon so she should show soon.”

               They all smiled or laughed at the news, the addition of the child has helped them all during the rough time and they had taken turns caring for Sonia despite the Queen insisting she wasn’t far enough along to be fussed over so much. Link was sure once the prince or princess was born, they would take a while to learn how to walk since they had so many people waiting to carry them.

               “I have something to tell everyone.” Link smiled at them all. “Some of you, I’m sure, have already suspected that… I’m not really from here.”

               The Rito sage nodded.

               “I can’t fully explain… Rauru, Sonia, and Mineru were the only ones who knew. I come from a time in the future, when the Demon King has awoken once more and threatens Hyrule.” He looked down at his arm, “I stood against him with my Princess.”

               “Zelda, the one you asked us to help in the future.”

               “Yes.” He smiled sadly to the Goron. “Zelda is strong and blessed by the Goddess, she could handle the Demon King with the Sage’s power and her own. But she shouldn’t have to fight alone, not again, not when I’m supposed to be there with her. When he awoke, he shattered a very powerful sword and infected my arm in the process.”

               “The Sword in your room?” The Zora Sage asked, “I wondered why you never used it.”

               “The blade is shattered, it can heal and become more powerful over time if bathed in sacred power. Its… one of the reasons I think I was sent back here. Also, for this,” He tapped the stone on his chest, “I can’t use it as you all have seen. I think I was sent back here to prepare the way for Zelda.”

               They stood still around him, watching him and processing the information he had just gone through. When the Rito spoke next, his voice was cautious and perhaps slightly angry. “How… are you returning to the Princess?”

               “I was originally going to use the forbidden act.”

               “No!”

               “You cannot! You’d lose yourself!”

               “That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard in my life!”

               “Originally?”

               He nodded to the Gerudo Sage, “Mineru has an idea that may be easier, get the stone to Zelda, repair the Master Sword, and return me to my time intact. It would require both Sonia and Mineru’s combined powers essentially putting me to sleep for a long time. Mineru has been working on constructing a safe place in the Temple of Time that only Zelda would be able to access when the time comes.”

               The silence was deafening, only the slight breeze and the birds could be heard as the Sages processed the new information. Link felt bad about dumping it all at once, but he had come to care about the Sages deeply. Not because they were so like his dearly missed Champion friends but because of who they were. People without legends to build their courage upon still standing for their beliefs, their people, for Hyrule, and for Rauru. He would miss them like a lost limb when he returned to his time.

               “I…” The Rito Sage shook his head, “I need a moment.”

               The Hero watched sadly as he took off, flying towards one of the castle towers. The Zora Sage patted his arm, her voice thick as if holding back tears. “Give him time, he likes you a lot.”

               Link nodded and turned back to them once the Rito was out of sight.

               “You came back in time, leaving your home and family, only to be thrown into our war to which you helped with without a second thought… only to have to return and fight the same enemy again.” The Gerudo summed up, “Do you ever rest Hero?”

               “Of course, he doesn’t! Little Hero, you helped us defend our home, without being able to use a Secret Stone, when you didn’t have to.” The Goron sage laughed, “You are something else.”

               “I wish you could stay.” The Zora sniffed, “You’ve grown on all of us. You’re one of us. But I can’t imagine how you’ve felt, being out of time and the thought of the princess fighting without you… I couldn’t ask you to stay despite how much I want to.”

               Link bit his tongue at the similarities, he was well used to being in a world out of time with Zelda waiting for him. He wouldn’t burden them with the story of their first journey.

               “When will Mineru put the plan in action?”

               “We are waiting until after the Prince or Princess is born, neither of us want to strain Sonia while carrying.” He smiled at them, “Plus I’d love to see the future King or Queen of Hyrule before I go.”

               “Only a few months…” The Zora sighed, “You have to come to the domain, at least for a day or so! I have so many swimming spots to show you! There are hidden caves everywhere.”

               “And to Death Mountain! You missed half the feast last time!”

               “You have to visit Gerudo town… however…” The Gerudo Sage put her hands on her hips, “you’ve been slacking.”

               “Slacking?”

               “You are going to fight the Demon King again, and have only been training once a day?”

               “I wish he did.” The Zora laughed, “he trains with the soldiers in the morning, on his own in the afternoon, with us before dinner, and then either by himself or with his two partners in crime at night! I wish he would slack off for just one day!”

               “I like training!”

               “When you visit each of us,” The Gerudo said firmly with authority, “When you visit each of us at our homes, we can train you better. Nothing strengthens the legs better than fighting in the sand.”

               “Or helps your endurance like the heat of the mountain!”

               They looked at the Zora who sighed, “Swimming is excellent exercise; however, the King would love to train you with the Zora spear.”

               “The Demon King won’t know what hit him!”

               Link looked at each of them, taking them in, “Thank you.”

               “Like she said, you’re one of us.”

               The others stopped holding back against him in training, he knew they had to be before since he could hold his own against them even with their stones, but this was a step beyond. They teamed up two against one, Link facing two of the Sages as they worked together like a well-oiled machine. They decided on best two out of three, with Link barely scraping a win with the first group- Gerudo and Zora, but loosing the second- Gerudo and Goron. The third was the roughest, since they were all tired, they all wanted to secure a quick win but Link quickly found out the Zora and the Goron were a dangerous team together.

               He accepted his loss with grace and only minimal pouting.

               They ate dinner together with the Queen and Mineru, the Rito Sage still hadn’t returned. Sonia checked with Link after the dinner but he assured her that he was alright. She briefly mentioned a craving for the wild berries that grew in the Hebra mountains, but made him promise to not go alone once she saw the look in his eyes. When he got to his rooms, he pulled out his warmest armor, given to him by the Rito Village Elder when he had visited last. He made one last stop at Mineru’s study for the Purah Pad before going to find the Goron Sage, neither of them slept well so he wouldn’t mind a quick trip for the Queen.

               The Hero paused when he left the castle, the Goron Sage usually at their training grounds waiting for him, but in his usual place stood the Rito Sage. The Rito tilted his head after he looked Link over and huffed. “Running away?”

               Ah, now he sounded a lot like Revali. “No. Supply run.”

               “Supply run?”

               He shrugged one shoulder, “The Queen wants wild berries.”

               “I’ll accompany you.” His voice was softer, kinder. “Want to fly there?”

               He waved the Purah Pad, “We can teleport faster.”

               “Very well.”

               The Rito approached him, standing at Link’s side stiffly. The Hero swallowed around the lump in his throat and selected the correct shrine in the Hebra Mountains. When the blue magic of the teleportation faded the bone chilling cold sunk in, just held off by the warm clothing he had chosen. The Rito next to him was unaffected as they trudged through the snow looking around for the berry bushes.

               They had found a good amount when the Sage spoke up, “I’m sorry, for my reaction.”

               “It’s alright, I understand.”

               “No, it isn’t,” He dropped a handful of berries into the pouch they brought. “You are my friend, and I left before hearing you out. I… You’ve become a large part of our lives. Not just us Sages, but the Queen, the soldiers, and the Kingdom. There was a future in our heads where you stood next to us the whole time, and to learn that won’t happen. It felt a lot like loosing Rauru again. You were… are both dear friends to me so to lose him and then learn I will also lose you. And to learn you were suffering so much more than any of us realized, to be away from your Princess and your time while helping us in ours. I failed you as a friend.” He waved a wing when Link started to protest, “Whether you think I did or not, it feels as if I had. I just needed time.”

               Link nodded, bumping his shoulder against the Rito’s.

               “So, fill me in on what I missed. What’s the rest of the story?”

               As they foraged for berries Link told him about the training and his upcoming visits to the other’s homes for training and for fun. He found himself talking about his home again, speaking of Zelda and her research, Purah, Beatle, all the things he had once told Rauru coming easily to his friend. The Rito took it all in stride, laughing and asking questions when appropriate. It wasn’t until the sun was peaking along the skyline and they had several bags of berries that they returned to the Castle.

               Sonia greeted them at breakfast with exasperation at the amount of berry dishes that covered the table. She gave them both a fond look, the other Sages laughing as they ate. The conversation was light hearted despite the heavy emotions the day before, the Sages made plans for their day as well as when they planned to return to their homes. Most of them would be returning the next day, Link offering to take them all home using the Purah Pad so they wouldn’t have to rush home or travel for a long time. The Zora Sage would be staying a few days longer and planning monthly visits to check on Sonia as she progressed. They discussed when Link should visit each place, sooner rather than later so he could guard and take care of Sonia as she progressed, and ignoring any input he had about it.

               “I’ll miss you.” Sonia sighed as he walked her back to her room at the end of the night, “I’d never ask you to stay, I know your Zelda is waiting for you. But you will be very missed.”

               “I will miss you all too.” Link said with a lump in his throat, “I’ve accidentally made a family here and I will miss them all.”

               Just like that the days and seasons passed. Link visited each of his friends, experiencing their homes and cultures in a way that was fulfilling but also made his heart ache for home. The Gorons held a feast for three days, with games, food (some real food for him), competitions, and gifted him with a huge gleaming sword (briggoron’s sword) when he left. The Sage formally declared him a brother of Gorons and told him he’d be welcome at any time. He was late leaving and returning to the castle because the Sage kept him in a tight hug.

               “I can’t fight the Demon King in person by your side in the future.” The Goron Sage sighed with a smile, “but this sword will remind you I am by your side!”

               When Link returned to the Castle Sonia was waiting with a smile, her and Mineru having tea and listening to his story. The Queen had started to show, a small bump that seemed to grow and grow each day. The day she woke up with the slightest bump she raced to jerk Link awake, asking to visit Rauru, to which of course he took her. She demanded to go once again when her morning sickness increased, making her miserable most of the day unless she ate some very specific dishes. Link and Mineru worked hard to get the cravings as fast as possible so she could eat without throwing it back up.

               “You are amazing!” Sonia practically sang as Link returned with several hearty bass hanging on fishing line. “I knew you’d be able to find them! Thank you so much Link.”

               Hyrule had mainly healed from the imprisoning war, groups of soldiers had been tasked with finding the aggressive monster nests and taking them out. Several villages were selected for their rich farming land to grow extra food and help others to learn how to grow their own as well. Buildings were repaired and new cities popped up.

               The Gerudo welcomed him warmly and spent the three days putting him through intense trainings until he could easily take on several of them at once. The last day they spent early morning into the late evening celebrating, eating all sorts of foods, playing games, and making swords together. The Gerudo Sage walked him through the lightening temple, explaining the traps and tricks she had placed so only worthy warriors could make their way in. At the end of their time together she gifted him a special pair of earrings, gleaming with bright diamonds and powerful protection magic. He had teared up a little, the Sage allowing him to hug her.

               “I can not train you anymore than we have,” The Gerudo Sage squeezed his shoulder, “I hate to burden you and Zelda with cleaning up the mess the Gerudo are responsible for in part. However, I hope these remind you that we stand by you, the entire way.”

               As the child grew, so did Sonia’s cravings and mood swings. Link struggled to keep up some days, waking up a happy and laughing Queen to have her sobbing at breakfast, to angry at lunch, and then apologetic, and in an instant starting all over. She would yell at him, demanding something like voltfruit or hydromelons only to sob when he returned, upset that he left her alone for a few hours. Only to return to anger saying she meant splash fruit. He never complained, simply wishing to ease the pain the mood swings caused.

               “I don’t even know why!” Sonia sobbed on his shoulder, he patted her back amused as they sat with Mineru watching the sun set and drinking tea. “The sun sets every day but I’ll never get this day again!”

               Sonia and he worked hard on organizing treaties and trades, many other Kingdoms wanting to trade with the young Hyrule for their diverse resources. Farming became more popular for not just food but flowers as well. The people were content enough to start celebrating once again, making holidays for each season as well as holidays to celebrate their friendships with the other Kingdoms, and for the late King.

               The Zora domain was every bit as welcoming as in his time. The Zora’s were kind and fun loving. They trained him hard in the morning until he was sore, in the afternoon they’d take him to swim in the cool waters, and in the evening, they feasted with music and dancing. On the evening of his third day there the Zora Sage led him to the Water Temple in the sky, they’d see each other more than the others as the Zora Sage came to check on the Queen but she still gifted him a silver ring with three small sapphires. The ring would offer some minor healing when in water, she explained to him as he hugged her tightly.

               “You’re too reckless most days.” She patted his blackened arm once he released her, “I won’t be there to patch you up after you and Zelda defeat the Demon King, but this will help in my stead. I’ll be right beside you.”

               Like magic Sonia’s mood and cravings eased, they still happened although rare and much tamer. She was much bigger now, the child growing healthily which made all the healers very happy. She still insisted on staying active, bypassing the healers and always asking Link directly. He would take her on walks through Rauru’s gardens, the woods near the castle, the Temple of Time, and the catacombs anytime she wanted to. The fresh air was doing well for her and the sun always made her happy. The Sages all came more frequently as the pregnancy progressed as well. Getting together once a month, to once a week.

               “I love them all, truly, and I’m grateful for their presence.” Sonia sighed as they walked through Rauru’s garden, her hard work earlier in her pregnancy causing the flowers to bloom brightly even in the rapidly cooling weather. “I love their visits but the quiet is good too. Thank you for taking me out here again.”

               Mineru and Link worked together to utilize the constructs and the newer Zonai devices they made; anyone could use them with special power cores that had to be made from an odd ore that was in abundance deep deep down in the earth. Mineru did most of the work, creating fans, flying machines, spikes, carts, hydrants, and so much more. Link was tasked with testing them out, the way Mineru meant for them to be used first and then however his brain thought they’d be better used. Mineru was always impressed and horrified at the many creations he would trust enough to just jump off the plateau. The devices helped the Kingdom heal and flourish even faster.

               The Rito Village welcomed him with fanfare only they were capable of, feasting, flying, games, and group dances. They celebrated on the Wind Temple soaring through the sky as easily as a boat would in the vast ocean waters. Link danced with the adults, chased the children in their games, and ate so much food he was pretty sure the Rito Sage carried him to bed that night. The next day was spent at the archery range, a group of the finest Rito warriors judging and adjusting his shots. They had a less active feast that evening, filled with stories of legends, of hope, and of the future around the fire. The last day was an archery competition, all of them loosing to the Rito Sage with grace. The Rito Sage stood at the highest point of the Wind Temple with Link at his side, looking at Hyrule below. The Sage gave him a Rito bow, at first glance not too different from the Great Eagle Bow but upon closer inspection the engravings seemed to shimmer. The bow was enhanced, each arrow fired from it would pierce like ice.

               “If I could,” The Rito Sage patted his head as Link clung to him, “I would follow you to the future to fight the Demon King with you. I will have to trust your Zelda I suppose, the two of you will save Hyrule once again. Rauru will be very proud.”

               Sonia glowed in her last months of pregnancy. The winter melted into a sweet and colorful spring, Hyrule itself blossoming in the rainy but beautiful season. Sonia was active in the Castle, Mineru and Link at her side helping her as the castle was aired out and cleaned, new trade routes established, and numerous visitors stopping by. The baby was active with all the extra activity, kicking at Sonia’s stomach as if it knew the open green fields were waiting for it to run and play in.

               “You know the baby can hear you.” Sonia nudged Link, “One of the healers told me the baby can hear us and recognize voices.”

               The Hero raised an eyebrow, looking at the Queen’s stomach. He knelt slightly, “Hello little one, be kind to your mom, ok? I know there isn’t a lot of room in there but be patient. If you behave, I’ll teach you how to hold a sword befo-hey!”

               “Do not teach them those things!” Sonia laughed and pushed Link away, who was also laughing. “Oh, I guess they liked your idea.” She pulled Link’s hand to hold where the baby kicked, two solid hits one after the other.

               Link was asleep when it happened. The Sages had all come the day before for the spring celebrations Sonia and Mineru insisted be done for the people, a large feast, flower garlands, flower crowns, and joyous music filled the castle and the surrounding town the entire day. All the Sages joined in, Mineru included, and Link after Sonia insisted, he dance at least once and no she wouldn’t move from her seat she couldn’t walk far on her own anyway. They had celebrated late into the night until even the fireflies had gone to sleep. So, Link slept well into the afternoon, only waking with the harsh shaking of the Rito Sage.

               “The baby is coming!”

               Link was up in an instant, rushing out the door after the Rito towards the room the healers had prepared for them to wait, just outside the birthing room. All the Sages except Mineru and the Zora were there waiting, all different stages of nervous or inpatient.

               “How long?”

               “Her water broke in the night,” the Gerudo Sage was pacing, “The healers are hopeful for a short labor.”

               “The Queen is strong! The prince or princess will come out healthy and strong do not worry!”

               The Rito nodded at the Goron’s words, “The healers have checked her every day for the past two weeks, if anything was wrong with the baby they would know.”

               The other sage nodded, “Gerudo pregnancies are much simpler, but the delivery… is much harder.”

               Link went and sat near one end of her pacing, “I’m worried too. Sonia is strong and stubborn; she and the baby will live.”

               The tense silence in the room lightened a bit at his words. The Gerudo Sage sat next to him, still bouncing her leg anxiously. The four of them sat in silence for a bit, breaking only for bits of small talk as time crawled by. A construct came by with a few plates of food, all of them only nibbling on it as they waited. They all froze when after ages and ages of waiting a child’s cry broke the quiet, the room holding their breath as they listened to the healthy cries of the first prince or princess of Hyrule.

               They all jerked like they had been hit by lightning when, what felt like days but was probably only an hour, the door opened, the exhausted Zora Sage peaking out. “Come in quietly, everything is cleaned up. They are just both very tired.”

               The Gerudo Sage practically ran for the door, the others following slowly. In the room two healers were working on the sides cleaning blankets and dumping dirty water. In the middle of the room on a special bed lay the exhausted Queen, Mineru next to her, and the Gerudo Sage now on the other. In her arms was a wrapped bundle, a baby head just peeking out and laying on her.

               Sonia smiled at them all, waving her free hand to urge them forward. “Everyone, may I be the first to introduce the first prince of Hyrule.”

               Link took a few hesitant steps forward, next to a teary eyed Mineru, to look down at the bundle. The baby was small and wrinkly still, his ears were small but lower than a Hylian but more like a Zonai. His sparse hair on his head was like sprinkled gold matching his mother. His eyes were closed in peaceful sleep but his lashes were long and seemed white, or gold like his hair it was hard to tell. The prince looked more Hylian than Zonai but those who knew Rauru would definitely see his features.

               “He’s the first Hylian and Zonai child, it’s hard to say what features he will grow.” Mineru’s voice was soft and fond. “Rauru didn’t get his horns until he was around six, so the child may grow some. Too bad there is no third eye… yet.”

               “Perhaps he will get the claws.” The Goron Sage cooed at the baby, “They wouldn’t grow until later, I’m sure.”

               The Zora Sage was at Link’s side, leaning on him slightly with droopy eyes. “He’s much bigger than the Hylian’s I assisted deliver in the past. Not in weight but in length. He may have the Zonai height.”

               “He has the hair of the Royal family.” Link smiled at Sonia, “Zelda’s hair is golden, as was her mother’s I’ve been told.”

               “It’s a noble color.” The Rito Sage nodded, “Your Highness, congratulations.”

               “Yes, you handled the pregnancy and birth so well!”

               “He’s a beautiful child! Congratulations.”

               Link nodded at her, Sonia beaming at all of them. “Thank you all, I am glad you are here.”

               “Now we must let the both of them sleep. We can coddle and fight over who gets to hold the child first tomorrow.” Mineru looked at each of them, “We can spread the word that the Queen and baby are healthy and well, but please hold off on announcing a prince until the Queen and Prince recover enough to be presented to the people. Link, if you’ll stay for a moment?”

               They all agreed and left the room, the Rito Sage helping the Zora as exhaustion seemed to take over. Link stayed by the Queen’s side staring at the prince as Mineru let the healers leave as well. Once it was just the three of them and the baby in the room Link smiled at Sonia.

               “He looks kind of like a potato.”

               Sonia chuckled, “All babies do I think, he’s a pretty cute potato.”

               “He is.”

               “I wanted to ask you something, nothing bad. I’d like, tomorrow morning after I’ve recovered a bit and before showing him to the people, to show him to Rauru.”

               “I’ll take you as soon as you are able.”

               The Queen relaxed at that, “Thank you.”

               “We can even sneak out no- “

               “Link.” Mineru’s glare made him chuckle.

               “What’s his name?”

               “I will tell Rauru first, then everyone else.” Sonia’s blinks became longer and longer. Link moved to grab the baby bed to sit next to the bed as Mineru took the prince from the now sleeping Queen, placing him gently inside of the soft bed.

               “Six months.” Mineru said as they watched the prince. “In six months, he will be strong enough to withstand sickness and Sonia will be fully recovered and at full power to help you return home.”

               Link nodded, looking over the prince. “Six months.”

               The Sages, minus the exhausted Zora, spent the remainder of the day spreading the word of the healthy Queen and child to their people, getting the Queen’s usual rooms cleaned and ready for the child, and celebrating. Link made a trip to the Zora domain to spread the news as well as assure them the Sage was fine as well just exhausted. He spent time taking the other Sages to and back from their homes, including all their gifts for the child.

               Early the next morning he waited outside the birthing room Sonia rested in. He heard the prince cry a little bit ago, most likely for food, and couldn’t help the smile spreading on his face. When the door opened a construct looked at him as if it were surprised to see him there… at least as far as he could tell.

               “The Queen is waiting for you.”

               Link nodded and entered the room, The Queen sitting on the bed looking much better from yesterday. Her hair was still slightly wet but her and the prince were dressed warmly and ready to go. He supported her with a hand on her arm, to stand.

               “Good morning, Sonia, good morning potato.”

               Sonia laughed, “You cannot call him that!”

               The Hero shrugged but laughed with her, “I’ll have a new name for him soon enough.”

               The teleportation went easy, Link insisting they rest inside the caves due to the cold morning spring air. While the Queen sat and rocked the prince, Link prepared a torch for extra light and warmth. They made their way to the sealed chamber, Link undoing the seal and going into the room to set up a small area to hold the torch. Sonia stood next to it, looking up at Rauru’s frozen form and Link bowed his head.

               “I’ll wait just out the door. If you need me, yell and I’ll come.”

               “Thank you Link.”

               Link bowed again, going to lean on the outside frame of the stone door. He was far enough that he wouldn’t be able to hear Sonia speaking softly, but still close enough he could get to her and the prince quickly. It was too personal a moment, too special a time, for him to intrude upon. He wasn’t sure if Rauru could hear them or was watching over them, but Sonia felt he was. At least that he was watching over them. She had said as much to him before during one of the rougher days of her pregnancy.

               “I know he isn’t there, in that body anymore.” Sonia wiped her tears with the tissue Link passed to her. “I can’t say why but I am sure he is watching over us in spirit, cheering us on, crying with us, and guiding us. I know he isn’t in that body anymore, but it’s one of the last physical connections I have to him. At least for now…”

               Link smiled as she rubbed her stomach, “The stone…”

               “Doesn’t hold his body. It’s a great monument, a lovely gesture, and a great addition to the garden. But his body is there, I know it probably doesn’t make sense, but thank you for indulging me every time.”

               “Anytime.”

               Sonia called out to him, Link moving instantly to jog to her side. She had tear streaks drying on her cheeks, Link immediately handing her a tissue he had gotten used to carrying. She shifted the baby around to wipe her tears.

               Link looked up at Rauru, ignoring the Demon King completely.

               I won’t be here for long, he thought or prayed to Rauru, I have to return to Zelda. But while I’m here I will watch over them. Rest easy, friend.

               “Rauru.”

               The hero looked down to the Queen smiling at the prince, the baby wiggling and blinking bright blue eyes just like his father’s.

               “His name, Rauru the second.”

               Link bit back tears, reaching over to place his finger in the prince’s tiny hand. “Hello Prince Rauru the second, I am Link.”

               Prince Rauru the second was received with cheers, parades, feasts, visitors, gifts, and songs when he was presented to the young Kingdom. Mineru announcing his name with pride to the castle town overflowing with visitors from all corners of the Kingdom. The Sages did fight over who got to hold him and when, unless Sonia wanted him and then he was handed over immediately.

               He stayed a year.

               Little Rauru was the charm of the kingdom, charming people with his first smile (Sonia was singing to him) and his first laugh (the Goron Sage doing silly dances for him). The Zora Sage was his favorite, other than his mother, to hold him but Link was his favorite to play with. The Gerudo sage was the only one who could put him to sleep when he was fussy and the Rito Sage was the best at getting him to eat or try new foods as he grew. Mineru was the only one he would babble with, but the Goron sage was the one who made him laugh the easiest.

               He started crawling one day when he was playing on a blanket in the grass in the Gardens dedicated to his father, Link and Sonia debating over the new flowers being added to the new section of the garden when the Queen felt a tug on her dress. The young prince sitting by her foot and tugging on her dress with stern blue eyes.

               Rauru’s first steps were when Link was watching him, Sonia and Mineru meeting with the new recruits and the clanging swords and armor still scared the small child. Link was playing with him on the floor, making the child laugh and drool, when he stood to exchange the once clean rag he used to wipe the drool for a new one he turned back to see the prince take four or five unsteady steps towards him with arms outstretched and a wide smile. Link swept him up and spun him, both of them laughing.

               He didn’t tell anyone that though.

               His real first steps were one of the peaceful evenings the Sages spent together in the garden, the Goron, Gerudo, and Link arguing over different weapons while the Zora, Rito, and Sonia drank tea at the garden table. Mineru was on the ground with little Rauru, trying to get him to babble or speak. The young prince watched her and laughed at the sounds she made before pushing himself into and unsteady stand and walking to his mother, babbling the sounds the Zonai had taught him. Sonia swept him up cheering.

               Link wanted to paint the memory.

               They, including the Sages, all argued when his golden hair grew as fast as a Zonai’s. Sonia wanted to keep it shorter during the warm months and letting it grow in the cold. Mineru insisted it stay long as tradition typically said. The sages took different sides and they debated with each other almost as if they were in a royal court decision. Link watched amused as he played with the prince’s hair. He had chased the prince around the castle, letting him play with a tiny toy sword until the Zora Sage caught them so he was using the time while the prince was tired to carefully braid his hair. He had helped Zelda braid her hair hundreds of times, Riju and Teba had taught him a bunch of different braids as his own hair grew… not that he had the patience to do them on himself. While the sages argued he did three braids on either side of the prince’s head that all blended with one bigger braid. While braided the prince’s hair only reached his neck, at the sight of the new hairstyle the argument was put on hold for a few more months.

               Rauru the second visited the different races when he was almost one. Link and Sonia taking him to each domain to play and explore while also showing him to the other citizens of Hyrule. Everywhere they went the prince charmed everyone, each of them cooing and cheering at his every smile or laugh. It was returning from this trip that little Rauru said his first word. His babbling had gotten much more defined, almost saying ‘Mama’ to Sonia’s pleasure but Link insisted ‘Mamamamamamamamamamama’ did not count. The teleportation magic had faded to show the Castle and Mineru waiting for them, Rauru reached for her and in a clear and loud voice shouted… something that made Mineru and Sonia tear up.

               “What?”

               “Aunt.” Sonia explained with teary eyes as she passed the babbling Rauru to Mineru. “He said Aunt in Zonai, Mineru’s been working with him.”

               Rauru was an early riser, and luckily so was Link. The prince was nearing his first birthday and Link deemed him old enough to explore a bit. In the early dewing mornings he would wrap the child up warmly and take him to the woods near the castle, watching him and cheering him as he chased butterflies and the occasional fairy. Link would hide sweets he brought with him and help the prince hunt for them.

               The hero carried the prince to the edge of the plateau. “This is Hyrule’s land,” Link turned as the prince looked out unimpressed at the wilderness. “This Kingdom, its people, will be your responsibility one day. Your father, Rauru the first, founded the kingdom. He was strong, kind, and noble and you are already following in his footsteps. You will be wise and kind, and the kingdom will flourish under your rule.”

               Rauru babbled at him, pulling on his hair. “Ik, Ik!”

               “I know, but I won’t be here. I need to go protect someone. You’re surrounded by people who love you and want the best for you. I’ll remember you in the future, ok?”

               “Link!” Mineru was awake it seemed, He smiled at her as she stormed out of the castle. “Stop stealing him so early!”

               “Ik! Ik!”

               Link kissed his head before handing him to Mineru, “We were just talking! I didn’t even let him near a sword or bombs… this time!”

               “This time?!”

               For his first birthday Link and Sonia visited Rauru without the young prince. Neither of them wanting to subject him to the sight of his father frozen in time until he would be able to understand better. Mineru watched him as the rest of the Sages and half the castle set up the main party in the castle. The rest of the day was spent in celebration all across the Kingdom, the young prince enjoying every minute of it.

               Link danced with each of the Sages, even dragging Mineru along, Sonia, and the prince. Rauru giggling and yelling “Ik!” every time he slowed down. The prince had recently gotten steadier on his feet but was still unable to run without toppling over. It made some of them very nervous and some of them laugh. It wasn’t until the prince practically passed out, most of the guests going home to do the same, and the Sages remained around the head table together when Sonia spoke.

               “Link, you’ve done so much for us.” She placed her hand on his, “We couldn’t have done half of what we’ve accomplished without your help. I know Mineru asked you for six months and we’ve well went past that. If you still wish, we can continue with the plan tomorrow.”

               The Zora sage gasped, “So soon?”

               “Do you need time to prepare?”

               Link shook his head, “We’ve prepared all we can, the only thing left is to sleep.”

               The Sages fell silent all of them rolling the information over in their thoughts.

               The Hero smiled, “I think I gained more out of our time together than I have given, it’s been an honor to meet each of you, to fight alongside you, to meet Rauru the second. I have a family here that will remain in my heart for the rest of my life. I have a family waiting for me there too. Zelda waiting for me. If there was a way to have both, I would. But being here, seeing Hyrule’s start and how even in the beginning our Kingdom and people rise from the ashes every time, how we gather as friends to fight evil and unjust, we gather to celebrate…. I want this in the future too. To see the Hyrule here flourish so my Hyrule can as well. I will miss you all so very much, but I think it’s time.”

               “Rauru will miss you.” Mineru said sadly, “You’re the only one he calls by name.”

               “It’s because we are always yelling at him.” The Zora sage was definitely holding back tears, “Every time we turn around, you’re taking him to the woods or to the river.”

               “It’s important for a King to know the Kingdom!” Link threw his hands up, using the distraction to stop himself from tearing up.

               “He’s one!” The Gerudo laughed, “Even our children can’t explore outside the cities until they are seven or eight, and even then, they have guards!”

               “I think Link is right,” The Goron Sage nodded with a wide smile, “Kid has to learn sometimes!”

               “Thank you, see! It’s important he can find his way back to the castle by himself!”

               “He can do what?!”

               Link dodged Sonia’s hand, reaching to pinch his ear, as he laughed. The Rito Sage spoke up, “We will miss you brother. Despite you not being from this Hyrule, you are one of us. One of the Sages, one of this Kingdom.”

               “Agreed.”

               “Was that even up for debate?”

               “He’s more Goron than Hylian but I suppose!”

               Mineru shook her head as the Sages debated if Link was more of one race or the other. “We will meet at the Temple of Time in the morning, Sonia will use your secret stone and then put it in the place dedicated for Zelda to find it when she is ready. I will make sure the Goddess statue is placed correctly to, hopefully, empower the Master Sword with enough sacred power to strengthen it and repair it. I will handle the Purah Pad as we’ve discussed before.”

               “I trust the both of you, I know this isn’t easy to ask, but thank you.”

               “Ik?”

               Rauru the Second had woken up as the Sages argued and made his way to stand next to the Hero sleepily. Link picked him up immediately, setting him on his lap and letting the prince rest on his chest.  The Hero took a moment to soak in the room, The Sages, the Queen, Mineru, a warm fire, lots of food, and the young prince. Hyrule was at peace and flourishing after such a devastating loss and destructive war. His Hyrule would flourish in the same way once more, he would be sure of it.

               “Ik.”

               “Potato.”

               “Link!” Sonia laughed, “You can not call him that we’ve talked about this before!”

               Link held up the now laughing prince, “I don’t know he’s kinda like a sack of potatoes now.”

               The group spent a few hours together, laughing and eating, allowing the prince to stay up past his bedtime on his birthday. Link was the one who put Rauru the Second to bed that night, kissing him on the forehead.

               The Zora Sage was waiting for him outside his room, pulling him into a hug the moment she saw him. He patted her back as she cried, cursing him and begging him to stay safe the whole time. It was only a few minutes after he convinced her to go to sleep that the Rito Sage found him, spending the late evening together in his room telling stories before they couldn’t share them anymore. When the Sage left, Link snuck out to visit Rauru one more time. It was late in the evening, probably early morning, when the Goron and Gerudo Sages pulled him out of bed to train and spar. Wanting to test his form and assure themselves he was prepared before crushing him in hugs.

               In no time at all he was standing in the Temple of Time in front of the moved Goddess statue, holding the decayed and broken Master Sword. The Sages were a few feet back, Rauru fussing in the Rito’s arms and trying to reach for Link who had carried him on their way to the temple. Mineru and Sonia were next to him, both solemn.

               “It’s never too late to back out.” Mineru said quietly, “No one would say anything.”

               “I can’t.” Link smiled at her. “Thank you, both of you, all of you. I’ll miss you.”

               Mineru hugged him, Sonia did as well barely holding back her tears. There was an area cut out just under where the statue of the Goddess will be placed, Sonia insisting on cushioning it, was where he would sleep. He stood on the edge before turning back to them and bowing deeply.

               “Thank you all.”

               Mineru and Sonia held his shoulders with glowing hands as they guided him to lay on his back, Sonia brushing his hair back out of his face and Mineru moving his arms and hands to hold the Master Sword on his chest.  

               I’m coming Zelda, stay strong. He thought in a prayer to her, don’t forget how strong you are. I hold Hero in name but the title is yours in your own right. I will pour my power, loyalty, courage, and heart into the sword and the secret stone. Use them to defeat the Demon King!

                Warm power rested on both his shoulders, he closed his eyes so he wouldn’t have to look at the two crying friends. The power was bright like Rauru and Zelda’s light and it felt like it was consuming him. Covering him completely in a soft warm embrace.

               I’m coming Zelda!

               The power burned slightly, prickling at his skin, the Master Sword warming in his hands. His damaged arm felt as if it were on fire, burning from his body by holy light rather than gloom.

               Zelda! Be strong!

               In a snap it was like the light settled, the pain completely gone.

               And so, he slept.