[Image Description: a 11 panel page of Legend of Zelda au Linked Spirit comic. Panel 1: Rinku and Bloom walk along a path through Hateno Village. "This is incredible!" Bloom says brightly, gesturing with one hand, "Genuine Ancient Sheikah!! I have so much to ask about- Did you help craft any Divine Beasts or- Well I suppose that depends on HOW ancient you are. Language development takes several years I-" Rinku follows her with a slight frown, "I'm not here for fun." Panel 2: A close up of the Wind Fish's eye. Rinku narrates "Usually, a god is what pulls me into a new era." Panel 3: A warping backgrounds from Oracle of Ages and Seasons, as OoA Rinku holds out a hand to the segmented Triforce teleporting them. Panel 4: Botw Zelda holding out her hand with the Triforce glowing. Rinku asks "Is there anything that may be of concern?" Panel 5: "Ah." Bloom says, her back to the viewer. "If a goddess did bring you here..." Panel 6: She turns to look over her shoulder, "She answered my prayer 100 years late." Panel 7: Rinku stares, stiffly, brows furrowed. "Relax. Link and I defeated the Calamity." Bloom continues. Panel 8: She holds out a silent princess flower to Rinku, who frowns at it. "Hyrule is in bloom. We can manage anything fate throws at us." Panel 9: A close up of their hands, Rinku's hand hovers over the flower petals. Panel 10: Rinku pushes her hand back gently. Panel 11: Bloom smiles nervously, holding the flower to her chest. "You are welcome to visit. I'd love to learn from our history, for one." End ID]
masterpost
First-
Timeline 1- Era of the Wild: Previous (52) - 53^ - (54)
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[Image Description: a 10 panel page of Legend of Zelda au Linked Spirit comic. Panel 1: Purah shouts "Click!", holding the Purah Pad out. Panel 2: Rinku stands next to Bloom, with a small smile and a v hand pose. Bloom smiles brightly and gasps "Oh! You finished the Camera feature?" A note on the bottom reads "*Rinku understands none of this, they're speaking Modern Hylian.*" Panel 3: Purah holds up a hand sign to her eye, saying "And your new friend knows how to pose!" Panel 4: Bloom holds the Purah Pad, smiling. Rinku looks over her shoulder, curious. "It's missing some things the Slate has. But until Link comes back with it, The Purah Pad's ready for you to explore with!" Purah explains. Panel 5: "Now who's this? Are you from another tribe?" Purah waves, looking up at Rinku. She looks nervous. Panel 6: Bloom leans in excitedly to Rinku, hand on her shoulders. "She's Ancient!" Panel 7: She covers Rinku's ears, apologetic, "I mean. Time Travel." Smaller, whispered text reads, "She only speaks Ancient Sheikah." Panel 8: Rinku holds out her hand, "I'm Rinku... Hero of Legend." a note reads "*now we're in Ancient Sheikah.*" Panel 9: Purah looks at her wide eyed, "Hero of Legend. Decendent of the First Sheikah Knights?" Rinku smiles uneasily, hand still outstretched, "Yes?" Bloom watches in the background. Panel 10: Purah takes Rinku's hand. Bloom holds up the Purah Pad with wide sparkling eyes and an "eeeeeeeee" End ID]
So, I'm gonna trial not coloring, because I've been busy and one way to like, actually get things done is to not do as much lol. I may or may not come back and color stuff when I have time, but until then, this is the new method ig
masterpost
First-
Timeline 1- Era of the Wild: Previous (53) - 54^ - (55)
[Image Description: A cartoony mini comic of Linked Spirit AU's Rinku & Bloom. 1st: Rinku faces forward, and bloom asks "Hey Rinku, can you turn your head plz?" Rinku says "K?" 2nd: Rinku turns her head to the left. Bloom says "... and the Other way?" 3rd: she turns her head to the right, her hair part flips directions so it's perfectly mirrored. She has 2 question marks over her. 4th: Bloom grabs Rinku's bangs and shouts "What kid of physics does this operate with?" Rinku's face is scrunched as she shouts "Hey!" End ID]
It's in-universe canon that Rinku's bangs auto-flips directions to make her face visible, not just a shorthand for myself. It's a effect of albw art-magic
[Image Description: a 6 panel page of Legend of Zelda au Linked Spirit comic. Panel 1: Rinku (ALttP & ALBW Link), walks through Hateno Village, while two young girls run past her, laughing. Panel 2: One of the girls says something in BotW Hylian then "Zelda!" Rinku looks over, surprised. Panel 3: The girl gives BotW Zelda (Bloom) a Silent Princess, who kneels to take it with a small smile. Panel 4: Off screen, Rinku asks something in her era's Hylian ending with "Zelda?" Bloom asks "Sorry, what was that first part?" "Eh" Rinku says something in Sheikah text, and Bloom looks surprised, eyes wide, almost awed, "Ancient Sheikah? Panel 5: Rinku raises her hand to showcase the triforce symbol, translated from Sheikah, she says "I'm Rinku. I expect I've been called to you, somehow?" Panel 6: Rinku offers her hand to Bloom, who takes it. End ID]
masterpost
First-
Timeline 1- Era of the Wild: Previous (51) - 52^ - (53)
[Image Description: A character lineup of the Zeldas of the Linked Spirit AU, each labeled. Lady, Hero's Zelda, she/they/he: She is tan with a blond braid and the hair in front of her ears is wrapped in a dark purple ribbon. She wears purple pants and fingerless gloves. He wears a blue corset and a pink dress with ruffled sleeves and a split skirt. He wears dark blue boots with gold diamond patterns on the side. Zelda, Skyward Sword, she/her: She's tan with blond hair with straight bangs, her side bangs tied with ribbon and a red and blue feather. She has a teal beret and vest. She wears a white shirt, and magenta skirt. On one wrist, she wears a goddess bracket. She wears a wrap under her belt that has a light purple bird symbol. Princess, The Legend of Zelda, LoZ Cartoon, she/her: Dark skinned with curly red hair in a large bun. She wears a gold tiara and pink bow in her hair. She wears a purple shirt with princess sleeves and pink pants, with a light blue vest-skirt. She wears brown boots that go above her knee. Briar, Adventure of Link, she/her: She has a warm-light skintone, with red hair and a silver tiara. She wears a red puff-sleeve bodice and a red-orange bell skirt. Twilight, Twilight Princess, she/her: She is pale, with brown hair tied in a bun and ponytail. She wears a dark purple dress with a pale purple bodice. She wears long white gloves, and golden shoulder armor. The skirt banner has the triforce, the Hylian symbol, and simplified shapes of the light spirits. She wields her sword in front of her. Bloom, Breath of the Wild, they/them: They are pale with chin-length blond hair. They wear a white shirt and blue vest, with a thin ribbon tie. They have black pants, brown boots and a wide decorated belt. Lantern, CDi: Wand of Gamelon, she/her. She is tan with light blond hair and blue eyes. She has her arms folded, wearing a purple cloak and light purple dress. She wears a blue vest over her dress. She has a magic lantern on her hip attached to her belt.
Sheik, Ocarina of Time, she/he: The adult Sheik matches Sheik from Ocarina of Time, holding a golden lyre. Next to him is Kid Zelda, who is tanner, and her dress is collared, with pink lines in the skirt, otherwise, she matches Kid Zelda from Ocarina of Time. Tetra, Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass, she/her: Tetra has dark skin, and light blond hair in a bun. She has a roc and a white feather in her hair. She wears a blue vest with gold trim, a red scarf and sash, and her light purple tunic-shirt has a long end with the triforce symbol and blue wind waker spiral patterns. Her shorts are white and baggy, and she wears sandals with straps up her calf. She has a tattoo on her bicep of crossed swords. Phantom, Spirit Tracks, she/her: A dark skinned 12 year old, with long curly blond hair with a white streak of hair. She wears a crown with horn-like spikes and white feathers behind her ears. She wears a pink dress with a purple bodice with pink spiral patterns. She wears gold jewelry on her belt and neckline with dark purple shoulder pads. Her hands are covered with long white gloves. Her dress banner is dark blue with a gold wing design and triforce. Sunflower, A Link to the Past, Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, she/they: She is tan skinned with blond hair. She wears a light purple dress with gold shoulder pads and bracers. Their apron is a deep pink with a red triforce and triangle patterns, and her belt holds two golden tassels. She wears a white cape. Art, Link Between Worlds, she/her: She is light-skinned and she has blond hair with center parted bangs. She wears a white dress with blue trim and a white cape. Her pink apron is decorated with gold patterns and triforce. She has golden shoulder pads and bracers, and gold tassels hang off her belt. Mini, Minish Cap, Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, she/her: She has tan skin and red hair in a high ponytail framed with white feathers. She wears a light pink dress with a white cape clasped with gold. She wears pink gloves and tan boots. She wears a pink bodice with white trim, and a banner is attached to her belt. The banner has the trifoce symbol and a gold kin-stone like symbol surrounded with the Minish Cap Element symbols. End ID]
Zeldas!! I lowkey needed a reference for myself. SO, here's the girls! And yes I did name TP Zelda Twilight to be confusing :P (But mostly because I think the one who got called The Twilight Princess by Midna deserves to have the name Twilight)
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Summary: Zelda and Link return to the Hateno house after defeating the Calamity. Exhausted. Zelda wants to relish in the pure fact that they are both alive, but Link seems to keep pulling away...
Warnings: lowkey kinda unresolved angst (I'll get to it in the comic dw), canon non-perma death mentions/discussion, Zelda used they/them but uses she/her at first, magic exhaustion
Ao3
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"Do you really remember me?" Zelda had asked. Impulsively. She had justā¦ wanted to know. Did he understand what he meant to her? Did he remember they were friends, after it all? Or had she thrust him back into the same role of Hero that had forced him to quiet all those years ago, and he hadn't understood what was beyond that duty.
Link's expression flickered between a few, subtle options. A nervous glance. A sad smile. A gentle sympathy. Link looked at her a moment longer, and took a few careful steps closer, as if she was an illusion that would vanish if he touched her. He nodded "yes" but she wasn't sure he actually noticed he was doing it.
Zelda sighed, looking up at the castle beyond them. Looming. She looked at him. Her body and eyes were heavy with exhaustion. "Can we go?"
Link nodded, pulling the sheikah slate off their hip and grabbing her hand. Enveloped in a swirl of blue.
She swayed and stumbled on her feet at the teleportation. Link gasped, grabbing her arms. Zelda blinked a few times, registering the cliff and the spread of Hateno before them. Link frowned at her, then picked her up. She yelped as he hoisted her around onto his back. "Link!"
He laughed lightly, which made her giggle as well, despite feeling silly and flustered. Link started climbing down the slope. Zelda snuggled against Link's back, feeling a hazy sleepiness overwhelm her senses. Once they were on solid ground, Link gently put her down, hands framed on one shoulder and an elbow. Steady. They crossed an old bridge this careful way. Zelda considered the house ahead of them with a soft hum. She leaned her head on Link's shoulder while she read the sign.
"Link's House"
Zelda smiled. They showed her the house with a light wave of their hand to the interior and a small smile. Zelda sighed in relief. He had a house. He had found somewhere to rest in all the chaos and pressure of Destiny. She leaned against him heavily as they walked inside.
Sparsely decorated and horribly utilitarian. Zelda, exhausted as she was, was already considering ways to help Link find himself in the decoration of the house. She knew they needed it. Link looked at her questioningly and pointed. Bed or table chairs.
She was already feeling the pull for sleep. After decades of fighting. She just needed to truly rest. "If you don't mind, a rest sounds wonderful, please." Link nodded, helping her up the stairway carefully. Their hands so gentle on her shoulder. Steady and warm.Ā
Link guided her to the bed and stepped back as she settled into it. Zelda considered him. He stood beside the bed, turned to look at the stairway, glancing occasionally back at her. It was almost like he had designated himself her guard once again, but it came with a nervous air, uncertainty. ā¦She couldn't quite figure out where it lied for Link, but she understood. Their roles of Princess and Knight weren't quite the same anymore. Zelda wasn't sure she wanted to return to it anyway.Ā
She shuffled to make space in the bed for him and reached, offering. Link stared at her hand. They stepped forward and took her hand gingerly between their own. Briefly, Zelda wondered if their reaction was connected to how she was finally physically present with them. No longer a voice. She wouldn't blame him. Part of her was bewildered too. That she could touch and be touched.
She smiled, soft, "You should rest too," she whispered.
Link's brows knit together. He slipped onto the bed, on top of the blankets, shoes still on. She rolled her eyes lightly and curled in against his chest. Her eyes shut as she listened to the beat of their heart. Steady and present and strong and real. She swallowed thickly. Alive. A tear rolled down her cheek unbidden.
She hid her face against his chest. He was alive. She had grieved him so much already. She wouldn't grieve him any longer- he was alive. He was here.
Link wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Soft and warm. His nose brushed against the top of her head. The knight curling around her. She swallowed down the old pains and snuggled in. Sleep taking her away soon enough.
The drum of Link's heart became a pattern of hooves on soft earth in the world of dreams. A hazy world bathed in warmth and light. Then water slipped through her fingers, cold and quiet. The horses were gone. She rose from the edge of the pool. Behind her, a guardian bathing her in an ominous red light. She reached for Link's hand to run. As she had every time she relieved this memory, this dream. His hand was always cold and ghostly. And when she looked back to check on him, he was gone.Ā
Zelda flinched awake. Her arms were empty. ā¦her arms were empty. "Link?" She croaked out, grabbing at the blankets as if she could find him hidden in them. "Link?" She called a little louder. She sounded more desperate and scared than she had hopped to. The dream was just a dream. She knew it. It was only logical. They were likely nearby- Link had always been one to wake early. She was not. He wouldn't just leave.
He didn't answer either. She fumbled with the blankets and crawled out from the bed. Her body protested, lightheaded and dizzy. The world swirled for a moment as she steadied herself. She carefully walked down the stairs. Bare feet padding against hardwood. She looked around the lower level of the house. Empty.Ā
Humming. She frowned lightly and opened the door of the house. Then she could smell it. Warm aromas of fresh eggs and bread. With frightening urgency, she recognized she was starving. She walked out onto the grass, feeling like a newborn fawn fumbling down the slope. Blades of green tickled the soles of her feet, wet with morning dew. Link was clearly absorbed in his cooking, humming happily as he expertly flipped an omelet.
"Link" Zelda breathed out, halfway to a whisper. As if speaking louder would break the illusion and he and his joy would disappear.
He jerked and looked up, eyes wide. "Oh!" He smiled, looked back at the omelet, and slipped it onto a plate. He added a garnish, and carefully arranged the elements of the plate as if he was her royal chef. She frowned lightlyā¦ was he just doing this for her? He held up the plate with a broad smile. His eyes met hers and the smile dimmed.Ā
"...don't like it?" He asked quietly.
Zelda blinked. She shook her head frantically, trying to erase the frown from her features, "No no! It smells absolutely divine, I- It's just- you didn't have to do all this work and I don't want you to think you must do all this for me, I will eat anything currently, it doesn't have to be so gorgeous- and it is gorgeous- I hadn't realized you had such skill in cooking-" Link tilted their head, watching her ramble awkwardly. She cut herself off. "...Thank you." She said.
She sat down in the grass next to him and took the plate. She tried to forget the embarrassed blush in her cheeks in a bite of bread. And as soon as she had one bit, she had to devour it all. She scraped as much off the plate as she could by the time Link had finished his bread. He was smiling at her again. Was he amused?
"I'm- I was positively starving. I- honestly can't remember the last time I ate." Zelda looked down. "Sorry-"
"Why?" Link asked, simply. He never used to ask that. Questions, she realized, must have been forced out of him 100 years ago. He hadn't fought against the sentiment against their curiosity like she had...and she hadn't thought to fight for him too. She stared at him. She swallowed, she'd answer his questions. She'd answer any question he ever had again.
"I- I was not entirely material, when I was holding back Calamity Ganon- I had- I'm not sure. It was like being trapped in a crystal, present but not. I- I couldn't have had food if I wanted."
Link was quiet for a moment. Processing this. "But what are you sorry for? I made it for you."
Oh. Zelda frowned. "Becauseā¦ It wasn't veryā¦ladylike of me? Just then?"
Link shrugged. "Perfectly human of you, though."
She stared at him. Impulse demanded she defend herself- no, her background. But it wasn't even a critique. It was just simple wisdom. He was always so full of it. Perfectly human. She could stand to replace Ladylike for Human. She laughed, "I suppose it is."
Link smiled, finally moving on to eating the rest of his plate. Zelda sat back and watched. When he set the plate down, she scooted closer. When he leaned one arm on the grass, as subtle as she could, she shifted to let her arm brush against his. Her fingers sought his wrist, feeling for the thrum of his pulse against her skin.
Then he slipped through her fingers again. He stood, collected the dishes, and with a smile and an analytical glance around their surroundings, went inside. She sighed at the failure to capture the closeness she sought. She stood and followed him.
Link washed the dishes. She briefly considered offering to assist, but her body felt heavy and sore. As if walking around the house was the equivalent to a hike. Zelda sat herself in a chair, kneading her temples. Rather than lose herself to exhaustion built up from 100 years, she watched Link work. He finished the dishes quickly, and soon enough, he was on to the next chore, grabbing a broom to sweep.
"Do you usually do all this in the mornings?" Zelda asked.Ā
Link nodded as he brushed the dirt and dust back out the door. He whacked the broom against the edge of the door frame once, then moved upstairs. Zelda shifted to look up at him. "Did you rest well? I apologize if I woke you at any point-"
"I slept," Link responded. Simple. Vague. Unsatisfying. Zelda frowned.
Link looked over the edge of the loft at her. Considered. "Do you want new clothes?"
She looked down at herself. Her white dress was ripped and stained. Covered in terrible memories. She frowned at it. She had nearly forgotten what she'd been wearing. Then she considered the slight hazy, heavy feeling in her body. "I don't think I could make a trip to town, honestlyā¦"
Link nodded, "I'll get you something." They rushed down the stairs, and put the broom away. Link took out a hood and clipped it around their shoulders. "Anything specific?"
Zelda sighed, looking at him. "Anything comfortable."
They nodded firmly, as if it was an order, not a vague idea. It settled oddly. But they smiled again, seemingly excited about going out, so she tried to let the feeling go. He would be back.Ā
Link took her hands in his and spread their arms together. Zelda blinked, eyes wide. "What are you doing?" She squeaked.
"Measuring!" Link explained simply. Then, with a gentle wave, he left. Slipping through her fingers.
She let her arms drop to the table. With little else to occupy her, and feeling tired regardless, she stood and crawled back into Link's bed.
She returned some time later. Zelda had woken up, fiddled with Link's sparse decoration, and returned to bed already when Link came in. She was wearing a dress, twirling the fabric back and forth with a swish of the hips in each step.
"I never thought of you as one for dresses." Zelda commented, tilting her head. She'd always been a touch jealous of Link's clothing options, neutral and practicalā¦ Why would she change that?
Link looked at her like a deer in headlights as she stopped at the edge of the landing.Ā
Oh. This was a fragile, new thing, wasn't it? "It looks beautiful on you!" Zelda amended quickly. "You clearly enjoy it."
Link smiled shyly and nodded. The nervous moment dissipated. Link immediately laid out clothing options in front of Zelda.
A tunic exactly like Link's Hylian Tunic, but in purple. A light dress and leggings. A hood that just nearly matched Link's, but distinctly her own anyway. A smart shirt and pants. A caplet and warm dress shirt and layered skirt. A loose dress Zelda assumed might be a nightgown.
Zelda looked at all the options with a blink. Link hesitated for a moment, then took out a blue tunic that looked exactly like she remembered it to. She gasped. "Where did you get this?"
"Found it in your old roomā¦ had it fixed up."
"How- just now?"
Link shook her headā¦ Something sheād prepared for, then. ā¦It was a sweet idea, that sheād known she might want her old research gear.
She touched the fabric and looked it over. "Thank you Linkā¦ Iā¦ I assumed it was all gone."
Link shook her head almost frantically. "I have a good bit under the stairs. I can grab it-ā
Zelda placed her hand on Link's shoulder. "No, we donāt have to sort through it all now. Later, maybe?"Ā
Link nodded.
She looked down at the fabric. Her old tunic shirt was something of a chore to put on. She picked up the Hylian Tunic instead, "I'll wear this right now. Where can we keep the rest?"
Link quickly took up and neatly folded the outfits, and placed them in a drawer by the bed. She smiled, gesturing at the drawer.
Zelda giggled lightly, "Perfect, thank youā¦ now mind uh, going downstairs so I may change?"
She blinked, wide-eyed, then nodded repeatedly, leaping down the stairs. Zelda shook her head. Silly.
She descended the stairs carefully, old white dress hooked under her arm. Link was busying herself with the sheikah slate, clicking through pictures. She turned and looked at her with a soft smile. Zelda returned a nervous smile in response.Ā
"Ah, where should I put this?"
Link offered a hand. She placed it in her hands. Link tilted her head. "Do you want it fixed?"
"No," Zelda said before she could really think about it. It came out frustrated and angry. Link looked at her wide-eyed. Zelda closed her eyes and huffed a breath. "I would rather not wear or see it again, it- it's stained with far too many terrible memories."
Link frowned, looking at the fabric. "Make something new or destroy it?" Link offered.
Zelda blinked. Options. She had so many options, now that Link had given her some to considerā¦ she wanted to rip it apart. She wanted to make it unrecognizable. ā¦But she didn't want to lose any more history than she already had to the calamity.
"I want- I need it to be something new." Zelda decided, "can I rip it up? Then you can do whatever you see fit with the pieces?"
Link smiled. "Deal."
Zelda sat next to her, grabbing the white fabric back and tore it at a seam. The fabric made a satisfying rip. She found another seam and tore that apart as well. A methodical destruction of the rich fabric. Zelda put all her remaining strength into breaking apart the last symbol of her anger and pain. Growling and scratching and tearing.Ā
Sheā¦ no that didn't feel quite right. They? felt exhausted. They felt renewed.
Zelda huffed as they shoved the remainders of the torn white fabric to Link. She admired a piece, and nodded. Link folded the sections up and placed them in a pocket.
They sighed and rested their head on the table. Satisfied and exhausted. Link scooted the slate into their view. They shifted to look at the picture shown. It was a seemingly random pair of rito.Ā
"Who's that?" Zelda whispered.
"Teba and Tulin, his son. Teba helped me get to Vah Medoh."
Zelda looked at Link and smiled. "It's a very nice photo."
Link nodded and flicked to another photo. Then another, and another. Mentioning the people or event depicted. Many were landscapes or animals or monsters, but everything had a new memory attached.
They smiled warmly at Link as she got to the end. "We should have some of these printed. Hung up on the walls."
Link hummed. She offered the slate to them.
"Oh- you want me to pick?"Ā
Link nodded.
Zelda blinked, fiddling some with the slate until they could see the overview. Andā¦ placed in such a manner, they realized just how many new memories Link had compared to the sparse few that had survived from 100 years agoā¦. Zelda smiled.Ā
They picked one of each of Link's new friends, descendents of the champions. "How about these?"
Link smiled and nodded.
Zelda had lulled their head on the table while Link cooked something for dinner. He had changed his outfit again. His championās tunic still fit him well, they noted idly. It looked over-soft from use and age, carefully patched new edges and mending blended well in color but oddly rough against the old fabric. An interestingly seamless clash of new and old. They looked around the house. The house was mostly old.
āWhat else do you think youād want in your house?...ā Zelda mused softly.
"Itās not mine. ...Itās yours." Link said.
"What?" Zelda sat up. Suddenly they registered what exactly Link had placed inside. Their old roomās salvage. The championsā old weapons. Their new clothes were the only things in those drawers. He asked them to pick the photosā¦ Linkās personality didnāt show very much because he planned for it to be Zelda's the whole timeā¦
"Iām giving it to youā¦ā Link said, eyes focused on the pot they were stirring. āThe construction crew, uh, never actually asked me what I wanted on the signā¦ I didnāt know how to ask them to change it." he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"You bought a houseā¦ for me?"
Link nodded.
Zelda stood, feeling wobbly on their feet, āLink-ā
He turned at his name and rushed over to them. He took their hands in his, steadying them.
āIām okay,ā Zelda whispered. They frowned softly, āBut you canāt really just- give this house to me entirely?ā
āI travel too much to keep it properly.ā Link smiled, but something in it was strained, unsteady. āYou deserve your own space.ā
Zelda glanced at the house. They could already imagine every opportunity to make the space Home. More photos. Books. Everything. They couldnāt deny the gift. āIām honored, genuinely. Thank you.ā They looked back at him. They looped their arms around his neck and hugged him.Ā
Link sighed in relief. Zelda clung to him as long as he allowed. Which, unfortunately, was short, because he gasped and ducked away to return to his cooking. Zelda settled back to their chair, watching him with a soft smile.Ā
They ate together, Zelda speaking of all the old and new friends they hoped to see and meet. They rambled for at least an hour, before Link finally took away forgotten plates and washed up.
Exhaustion settled back into their bones, and Zelda made their way back up and changed before Link would have to be forced downstairs anyway.
"Oh, good night," Link called from downstairs. Voice strangely quiet and far awayā¦ Perhaps it was an illusion of their exhaustion.
Zelda hummed. "Good night, Link." Sleep pulled them away quickly, and they dreamt of walls of photos and the smell of fresh food and finding several more excuses to hug Link.
They awoke to Purah's goggles in their face. Zelda shrieked, "Purah!"
"Hey Zell-zu!" chirped a voice younger than they recalled.
"Purah?!" They gasped. "You're- you're a child!"
"Well now you sound like my sister. Look at yourself Missy. Not a day over 100"
"But you-"
"I knew you'd come back. I saw the aftermath of you and Link defeating the Calamity. Hadn't figured out where you vanished to, until Linky said you'd be here." Purah continued on without paying mind to Zelda's questioning. Much to their ire.
"Where is he? Cooking outside?"
"Hm? No, he gave me an absurd stash of food to give you though. As if you can't feed yourself." Purah shook her head.
"What?" Zelda sat up, "Where did he go?"
"...uh, I didn't ask. He's a big boy." Purah said with a frown, "Should I have?"
"But- I thought- ā¦" Zelda shook their head. "Nevermind."
"Well." Purah hummed, "Maybe he's just going his rounds across the realms to tell everybody you're back."
"...I suppose. Wouldn't that take some time? Why not a letter?"
"The postal system is dead, Zell Zell." Purah humphed. "Why all these questions about Link! I'm here, aren't you happy to see me?"
"Oh sorry Purah, I am, but Link-" Zelda found theirself choking on his name. They frowned, clinging to the blankets.
Purah looked at them softly and understandingly. The ache in their chest and throat only solidified. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have teased. I know why." Purah said quietly.Ā
"We lost him. Not- not almost- we did. And I- If I can't see or hear or feel him it just sits here in my chest like a specter-" Zelda whispered.
Purah crawled up onto the bed with them and hugged them. "It's okay, he's okay. You aren't alone."
A dam broke. Zelda felt tears well in their eyes and they sobbed and screamed as Purah's too-small hands and arms cradled their head. Her too-young voice whispering soothing sounds. Yet she felt so much older and wiser all at once.Ā
Eventually, the tears settled into something manageable. Purah rubbed their shoulder. "Come on now, let's get that care package from Linky warmed up. I also want to give you a looksie do"
"...huh?" Zelda croaked as they found the strength to sit up.
"I want to check your physical condition." Purah said with far more seriousness this time. Zelda was suddenly self conscious of the way their legs shook from exertion to stand.Ā
They swallowed and nodded. "Food first?"
"Food first." Purah agreed, hopping off the bed and taking Zelda's hand. They walked down the stairs. Zelda felt vaguely like a babysitter and the kid all at once as they followed Purah.
Purah easily distracted them with chatter about her research of the guardians, details about Impa and Robbie, the state of the world after the Calamityā¦ Zelda barely noticed their "exam" had finished by the time Purah announced it.
"You seem very weakened, physically. Even just the stairs seemed taxingā¦ A toll from fighting the Calamity sustaining only off your own magic, I assume?"
Zelda nodded softly. They closed their eyes with a sigh.
"Good news is, if we treat some of the depletion of magic, I think you'll be feeling better in no time! But you have to be careful while you're still weak." Purah pointed her recorder at them. "And you should exercise, to build up your strength again."
"I will." Zelda promised. They smiled at Purah, "Thank you."
"It's nothing, you're my friend."
"I still can't believe you de-aged yourself for Link and I."
Purah whacked them in the arm. Zelda laughed. "What I can't believe is that I suffered walking through town to see you."
"Children ask you to play?"
"Worse, they hid behind things and whispered."
"People always did that around us" Zelda giggled softly with a shrug. "You'll survive. Maybe you'll have fun with the kids if you try, too."
Purah shook her head, "Trying to lure me out of the lab more huh? How about you go visit me. The walk might be good for you."
"I don't know if I can make it to that labā¦"
"...Weāll table it for a little later, then. Start with walking around the house."
Zelda nodded, "For nowā¦ more rest." They chuckled lightly.
"Okayā¦ fair enough. I'll be back tomorrow. Okay?"
Zelda smiled, "That would be wonderful, thank you."
"Take care." Purah said. Purah gently pushed them along to start back up the stairs.
"I shall," Zelda affirmed.
They settled back into the blankets with a sigh. Idly, they hoped, wherever Link was, he was okay.
-
Wolf was watching him from the edge of the woods. Link walked up to the beast of a wolf and ruffled his fur. The wolf huffed, giving him an indignant glare.
"What?" Link asked, walking deeper into the forest, grabbing a mushroom off a tree as he walked.
The wolf trotted after him with a gruff growl-huff.
"I'm not leaving her alone, I told Purah first for a reason." Link reasoned.
The wolf snorted.
"Sassy today?" Link muttered as he looked back at him.
Wolf "smiled", which was more of a threat to wolves, as Link had learned from unfortunate experience. But it still seemed more like a sarcastic or vindictive grin than an actual warning sign with his Wolf.
Link humphed and rolled his eyes.Ā
"Ouuf"
He sighed heavily. "Whaaaaat? What am I supposed to do? You didn't feel what I felt with those memories-"
A soft single-note whine.
Link stopped walking. He closed his eyes. "Zelda hated me. For the longest time. I- I have no idea how we became friends other than just- talking, I guess. Maybe. I don't remember that part!"
The wolf rested a paw on his leg. Link slipped to sit on the ground. Letting the wolf wiggle up into his lap. Link buried his hand in the thick fur.
"All I know is that she got mad specifically when I followed her everywhere. So. I just- have to not do that. Right?"
The wolf looked at him. Intelligent eyes questioning.
"It's so- it was so hard not to. I just- every second of the day I just kept wanting to grab her hand and never let go. Never let her out of my sight just in case something happened. I had to leave. She's safe there, I know she is, I just- ā¦ I can't ruin it if I'm not there.ā
Wolf heaved a mournful sigh and Link rather agreed to the sentiment. He leaned down and buried his face into the wolf's fur. They stayed there for a moment. Silent.
"Well." Link muttered quietly. He nuzzled his cheek against the fur before leaning back up. "I think we should go to Kakariko first, then Zora's Domain, Gerudo, Herba, then Death Mountain. Yeah?"
Wolf stood up with an agreeable "boof".
Link nodded lightly. Clicking through the slate map. "Sorry it's so many townsā¦ I'll take us just outside and meet you back there. Okay?"
Wolf let out a soft huff. "Fair enough" is always how Link interpreted it. Wolf bumped against him and Link giggled softly. "Yeah, you're welcome."Ā
