12Disclamer: I don't own the rights of The Legend of Zelda.
Chapter 1: Unified Timeline
Origin
Hundreds of corpses of allies and enemies lay around her but Hylia had only one thing in mind. She had to meet as soon as possible with that being that had awakened unknown feelings inside.
Demise had been sealed away in Sealed Grounds and humans would live in the sky, protected by a barrier of clouds. There were still many things to do and solve but there would be time for it.
Hylia had wounds all over her body, her blood stained her until a few days ago white clothes and she was very tired. Even so, she kept walking through the sea of bodies until she finally found what she was looking for.
There, before her, was the inert body of the chosen Hero.
"... Link," she whispered in pain as she reached down and picked it up in her arms.
She stroked his face carefully. Tears came out of her eyes, without her being able to do anything to avoid it.
It was cold. She kiss his lips, even though they were unable to convey anything of that love they felt for each other. His beautiful blue eyes no longer emitted any light. His soul had left his body long ago
"It's not fair, it's not fair..." Hylia repeated those words over and over again, as if they were a mantra. "After all that the gods have made you suffer, after all the tests we have imposed on you... You deserved to live, you deserved to know happiness..."
Next to the goddess suddenly appeared a tall woman with white hair and a firm gaze.
"... My lady" Impa said in a broken voice when she saw her in that state. Hylia barely caught her presence, all her attention was directed to her beloved.
Memories slowly appeared in Hylia's mind. Memories of when she met the hero a year ago. From the first moment she thought she saw something different in him. Something that made him stand out among the others.
ooOoo
She had always been interested in non-divine beings. Even so, most of them seemed the same and she really didn't know much about them and their lives. Being chosen as messenger of the gods was the perfect opportunity to satisfy her curiosity. He never thought that being among them would change her so much.
Link, that was the name of the person with whom she discovered a different love than she felt for her sisters and fellow gods. Love, a beautiful feeling that made her feel like the most important being in the universe. She was sure Din would tell her that it was nothing but nonsense but she didn't see it that way.
At first she and Link didn't get along very well since the young Hero didn't seem to trust the gods much and had a lot of anger inside. Besides how difficult it was to make him talk.
"I'd like to ask you a question, Hero," Hylia asked once.
Link nodded, giving his permission.
"Why have you agreed to help your comrades in arms so easily? None doubt to betray you when Lord Dagianis slandered you and locked you up."
"I'm going to be honest with you, my lady." At first I seriously thought about eliminating them all," Link confessed, leaving her surprised. But it was at that moment that I realized how low my soul had fallen. My kingdom, my people... If I hurt my companions, nobody could protect them. People are weak and easy to manipulate, I no longer blame them for being fooled by Dagianis. As long as everyone can be happy, I don't mind having to suffer. I have no family or friends. Protecting others at the cost of my life is the only thing I can do.
"You are strange," Hylia said as she smiled slightly. Link looked at her as he raised an eyebrow. "Any other would have plunged into revenge and pain, but you are still forward without looking back for a moment. You are even able to forgive your enemies. I never thought I would have someone as admirable as my partner."
Link blushed slightly at that comment.
"Is something wrong with you?" Hylia asked when she saw the red covering her face.
"No, my lady," Link replied quickly.
"You're red, maybe talking so much has made you feel ill?"
"I-I'm perfectly fine, my lady."
ooOoo
"Hero! Have you seen how beautiful twilight is?" Exclaimed the goddess.
Link looked at her smiling. They had been living together in separate rooms for two months now, and he was fascinated to see how Hylia behaved like a child. Everything surprised her and she always wanted to know more about what she saw.
"It is not necessary that you continue calling me Hero, my lady," he asked as they sat together on the meadow, contemplating the horizon. I'd rather you call me by my name.
"Why?"
"I don't feel comfortable when you call me that," Link said."I... don't consider myself a hero. I have spent years imprisoned and have had many dark thoughts. My soul is too stained."
Hylia looked at him for a while and to Link's surprise she put a hand on top of his.
"You are very wrong," she said very seriously, not noticing the warrior's accelerated pulse. "A hero is not someone perfect who never makes mistakes. A hero is someone who, despite everything he has suffered, continues to maintain his willpower and hope. Someone who can collapse before the tests put by the gods but still gets up and surpasses them. You are a hero, Link."
Link stared at that beautiful face that for some reason filled him with happiness. His words made the fire of his soul, which he believed extinct, become more intense.
"... Thank you, my lady," he said finally. Hylia, without letting go of her hand, smiled even more. Link thought he had never seen such a beautiful smile.
"Link, you can call me Hylia," she said. "When you say "my lady" you make me feel very old."
"If I remember correctly, from the point of view of my people, you are very old."
A menacing aura covered Hylia's body at that moment.
"What did you say, Link?"
"N-nothing, my la... I mean, Hylia!"
The goddess laughed when she saw the face of pure terror that Link had put on. Soon he also laughed.
ooOoo
Hylia didn't know that happiness could be such a wonderful thing. She felt that her life was full of color and that everything acquired a new meaning. She could barely contain the urge to cry with pure joy. Link had kissed her.
Seven months had needed to realize that they felt something for each other. Something deeper than mere fellowship or friendship.
Just three days ago Link and she had dined together near a lake. There, time had stopped for both. At first, they had talked about anecdotes and curiosities of their lives. Until little by little, without realizing it, they had shortened the space between them and kissed.
After separating, Link had become frightened and knelt before her imploring her forgiveness. What would be his surprise when Hylia took his face in her hands and kissed him again. For her it was a new experience that she wanted to continue sharing with Link, her hero, the person she had fallen in love with.
ooOoo
"Hylia, I won't let you!" Exclaimed Din, goddess of Power. "What you want to do is madness."
"No, madness would be to continue living with this terrible pain that I feel in my chest," she replied very seriously.
"The Others won't let you and neither I, please reconsider!" Din insisted.
"You can't stop me, sister," Hylia assured him. "I plan to give up my immortality and I will reincarnate with him."
"No, you won't," Din threatened her as she increased her aura. "I knew that living among humans for so long wouldn't be good."
"Are you going to stop me?" Hylia asked, raising her aura too.
"Yes. I hope you don't hold a grudge for what I'm going to do, I swear it's for your sake."
"I was going to say the same thing"
For some reason, Din trembled slightly as he contemplated Hylia's aura.
"W-what is this feeling?" She thought somewhat surprised, although she hid it very well. "Her power is much greater than before..."
"That's because now her feelings have given her a strength that the gods usually ignore," Nayru explained, who seemed to have read Din's mind.
"How is that possible?" Farore asked, looking curiously at the dispute between his sisters.
"Her love for that human has made her... more human," Nayru replied. Even she, the goddess of Wisdom, seemed to have difficulty explaining herself better. "Humans become stronger the greater their desire to protect someone or something. In this case, Hylia wants to protect her bond with the Hero by wanting to get rid of her divinity."
"Don't say nonsense!" Din roared furiously, her flaming aura rising at times. "Nayru, do you know what the Others will do if they hear your words? Hylia, forget that human! He will reborn again and will have a happy life, what more do you want?!"
"To be with him" was Hylia's answer. Her golden aura emitted a light that would be blinding to anyone who was not a divine being. "
Before they released their powers one over the other, Farore got in the way using her own body as a barrier.
"Enough! Have you all lost your mind?"
"Yeah, Hylia has completely lost her mind," Din snapped. "Is that Link so worth it to leave everything for him?"
"The day you know love as I have done, you will be able to answer that question yourself," said Hylia.
"I know how you feel, little sister," Farore said in a conciliatory tone. "But you must think about it. I've told you before, that I'm going to allow Link to reincarnate. He will have another chance to be happy in life, but what you want to do... Don't you think it's too drastic?"
"Hell yeah, well said Farore!" Din said very satisfied.
"Although if I am honest, I will end up helping you in this madness. I don't mind too much making the Others angry."
"Farore!" Din shouted, scandalized by his sister's words.
"… Thank you, Farore" said Hylia. Her eyes showed strength and determination that they had never seen before in her.
Nayru approached Hylia and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Perhaps there is a way to fulfill your wish without making the Others angry."
"Nayru, would you really be able to go against the others?" Farore asked, surprised as a mischievous smile appeared on the face of Nayru. How much courage! Count on me for anything!"
Hylia looked at her two sisters and for the first time since Link's death, she smiled.
"What about you, what are you going to do Din?" Hylia asked. "I don't care if you tell someone this, but please, don't tell them that Nayru and Farore have helped me."
"I don't care if you say it," Farore said with a shrug. Nayru had to endure the urge to bang her forehead at the careless attitude of her sister.
Din looked at her sisters with stupor. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"From Farore I could expect it, but you, Nayru, since when are you like that?"
"Always rushing into your conclusions, Din," Nayru sighed. "I don't do it just for Hylia. In case you have forgotten, the Triforce cannot be used by the gods. If our little sister loses her divinity she will be able to access that power and protect it, with the help of a hero.
Seeing the, somewhat sinister, smile of Nayru, Hylia noticed an important detail.
"But there's something else, right?" Hylia told him. "When Farore told me that he would manipulate Link's soul so he could be reincarnated, neither you nor Din took the opposite. Why?"
"Because finding a person with a noble and pure heart in each new era would be too complicated," Farore replied with a bored gesture. "It was Nayru who suggested me about reincarnation. Din didn't object, because Nayru gave her about a hundred reasons why that was a good idea.
"I see," said Hylia thoughtfully. She knew that deep isnide, Nayru loved to test her intelligence by manipulating other gods and sometimes demons. She couldn't help it and Farore, Din and she were among the few able to see through her innocent smile. Of course, Nayru would never do something that would harm her sisters.
"Damn Nayru... always thinking about everything," Din said, sighing. Manipulate the gods, take away divinity from Hylia, give her the ability to reincarnate a Hero... I would lie if I said that all this does not excite me at all. Okay, fools, as the big sister I'll help you!"
"Thank you, Din," Hylia said with tears in her eyes. "Thanks everyone."
"Don't give them to us yet," Din replied. "This is the worst idea you've had in your entire existence. I hope it's really worth it."
The four finally gave each other a big hug. They were sisters and they would support each other no matter what.
ooOoo
Hylia had to tie up many loose ends and leave everything ready for when she and Link were reborn. It wasn't easy but knowing that she would be with her beloved gave her the strength she needed. Her faithful servant, Impa, was a great help when it came to performing those tasks.
"Your soul and the hero's formed a powerful red bow when your bodies joined," said Nayru. Hylia blushed a little but kept paying attention. "Generally, ties like this do not usually disappear even with the death of one or both individuals but your case is exceptional. That iss why we will bless that bond with our powers. That way nobody and nothing could break it."
"You'll still have to be very careful," Din warned. "If the Others find out, I am sure they'll do the unthinkable so that there are lives in which you couldn't be happy, no matter how strong your love is.
"Don't worry so much, Din," Farore said as she stroked Hylia's head. "Just enjoy being able to meet him. Ah! And don't forget to save the world, Ok?"
"Thank you very much, everyone," Hylia said to her sisters. "I can never thank you enough for everything you have done for me."
"Anything for my favorite sister," laughed Nayru.
Hylia then closed her eyes while having her last thought as goddess.
"Link, we'll be together soon."
Skyward sword
"You fight like no man or demon I have ever known. Though this is not the end. My hate... never perishes. It is born anew in a cycle with no end!"
It was a miracle that Link woke up without shouting. His body was bathed in sweat and his breathing was agitated. After looking around and realizing he was in his room, he calmed down. At his side, his wife was sleeping soundly.
It wasn't like that before but lately Zelda slept more than he did, which was strange indeed. Maybe she had enough with everything she had suffered at the hands of Ghirahim and his master, Demise. Link didn't want to add his nightmares to her list of concerns.
With some effort and without making noise, he got out of bed and went for a walk. Before him, there was a beautiful meadow that stretched beyond what his eyes were able to see.
He didn't know how long he was looking at the horizon but he could sense the presence of Zelda behind him.
"Are you all right?" Zelda asked. She hugged him and they exchanged a short but affectionate kiss.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Link asked, pretending ignorance.
"I know you have nightmares lately," Zelda said very sadly. "And it hurts me that you don't want to share them with me."
"Honey... Having worries is the last thing you need right now," Link said, stroking her head.
"We're a team, remember?" Zelda said looking into his eyes. "And we promised to be together in everything, both good and bad."
"I know," Link said softly. "But I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Why would something happen to me?" She asked confused. "Demise and his minion are gone, we are free Link."
Link separated from her.
"Link?"
"Do you remember the last words of Demise?" The Hero asked suddenly. A chill ran through Zelda's body.
"Yes…"
"I'm afraid, Zelda. I'm afraid that curse will haunt us forever," Link confessed. "I, unlike you, have no memories of my past life. I don't know how much you had to suffer but everything you sacrificed when... I died."
"I know, honey," said Zelda, approaching him. "And I want you to know that I don't regret the decisions I made. I could never."
"Are we doomed to reincarnate and go through great suffering always?" Link asked sadly. "Am I doomed to be reborn without memories of my previous life? ... Without memories of you?"
Zelda took him by the left arm. Without warning, she took Link's face in her hands and kissed him. It was a long and deep kiss in which she transmitted all her love for him.
The young hero soon corresponded with the same fervor. Finally, they separate a few millimeters due to lack of air.
"The curse already existed before you and I met in our past lives. Good and evil have always been in conflict, the only difference is that now it is you and I who represent the forces of good." Zelda joined her front with Link's. "What you and I have will never disappear for more centuries to pass. We will always be together, okay?"
Link couldn't help laughing a little when he saw the great conviction in his wife's eyes.
"Sorry to be so stupid," Link apologized.
"Fay would say that your stupidity has increased by one hundred percent or something," Zelda laughed.
"Surely," Link said. Both laughed as they remembered the spirit of the Divine Sword.
"Zelda, I promise I will never doubt again," Link said very seriously. "I don't know what the future will hold, but I am sure that together we will overcome any adversity."
"Is there something that a goddess and a hero can't do together?" She asked with a mischievous smile on her face, which turned into an expression of absolute shock as she put a hand to her gut.
"Zelda, honey! What's happening to you?" Link asked, taking her in his arms and carefully placing her on the floor. The Hero was scared to see that his wife did not respond and had her eyes closed.
"... Link," Zelda finally said as she looked at him with a happy face that the young man had never seen. "The baby... has give me a kick."
The Minish Cap
"Giaah!" Link shouted as he threw a powerful horizontal pit. His rival tried to stop with his shield, but Link's strength was too much and he fell off the battlefield. The audience roared at the strength demonstrated by the young man in green clothes.
"I proclaim Link the absolute winner of the Fight Tournament!" Exclaimed the referee. Many applauded, while others watched incredulous what happened.
Link had defeated more than twenty knights in one afternoon and he wasn't even tired. And of all the participants of the tournament he was the only teenager.
"I knew my grandson had potential," said his grandfather Smith, very excited.
"Undoubtedly very soon the student will surpass the teacher" Tesshin, teacher of the fencing school.
Link helped his rival get up and then bowed to the public and to King Daphness and his daughter, Princess Zelda. The girl greeted him from afar, which made Link's heart skip a beat. He didn't know why, but for a while he had problems with his childhood friend, as if a thousand butterflies were fluttering in his stomach.
When the ceremony arrived to reward Champion Link, he got a little nervous. He didn't like that kind of thing.
"Ezlo would be angry if he knew that it still makes me nervous to be in front of so many people", Link thoughts with nostalgia.
Link climbed stairs decorated with a red carpet. Above all, the king and the princess were waiting for him. As he approached, all his nerves dissipated when he saw his friend. Her warm smile made him almost forget that he had gone there.
"Link, Smith's grandson, destroyer of Vaati, savior of Hyrule and now champion of the Wrestling Tournament," said the king, causing Link to blush a little. "As you know, the prize for winning this tournament was money and being able to be part of the Hyrule's army. However, since you were a child, you have a higher level than any of my soldiers. Tell me what you want and I will grant it to you."
Everyone was speechless. What the king did was something very unusual.
Link didn't even look at Zelda. If they did, they knew they would both laugh. Pretending that everything that caught him by surprise, Link stared the king in the eye.
"My king, I don't want money or a high position in your army," the young man replied. "I just wish I could be your daughter's bodyguard."
ooOoo
"Have you seen their faces?" Zelda laughed. The party was over a few hours ago. The only ones left in the streets were the drunks and what they couldn't move due to drunkenness.
"For a moment I thought your father was going to kill me," said Link, somewhat scared. He and Zelda were sitting on the balcony of their room in the castle. Luckily, neither the king nor Secretary Impa knew that the two friends had been meeting there for a few years.
"My father would never hurt you," Zelda said. He loves you very much, especially after what you did for Hyrule and me.
It was true. At first the king's face had acquired numerous shades and expressions but in the end he had smiled at Link and told him.
"Of course I accept that you are my daughter's guardian!" He exclaimed happily. I don't think there is someone more capable than you to protect her.
"Perfect!" Thought Zelda as she winked at Link.
Zelda sat next to him and rested her head on Link's shoulder. He did not try to push her away. Although he pretended it wasn't like that, he loved it when the princess did that.
"Link, do you miss Ezlo?"
"Why do you ask?"
"It's that sometimes I see you looking sadly at the hat he gave you, before he left."
"Why would I miss someone grumpy, stubborn and without a hint of patience?" He asked. Zelda looked up and placed a hand on her right cheek.
"Nothing happens because you miss him. The portal to the minish world opens every hundred years and surely ... we won't see it again."
Link looked at Zelda and slowly hugged her. She immediately reciprocated her hug. For some reason, every year he felt he wanted to be closer and closer to his friend. Being with her filled the gap he sometimes felt in his heart.
"Today, during the tournament, I remembered what happened five years ago," Link confessed. "Yes, I miss it. Thanks to him I was able to discover a wonderful world and meet beings of all kinds. However, that was when you were turned to stone. Next time I go to such a magical place, I would like you to be by my side."
Zelda separated from him and looked at him with an expression that mixed joy and surprise.
"I would also like to be able to accompany you, Link."
"Well, now that I'm your guardian, it's you who decides where to go, princess," Link said with a wide smile.
"While you are by my side I don't care about the destination I should choose, Minish Hero", she replied.
That night, only the stars and the moon witnessed how the red thread that united them since ancient times, began to be more and more visible.
Four swords
Being divided into four was not a pleasant experience. Your consciousness disappeared as such. It was divided between four people who were identical to you but only retained one of your traits as the main personality. Be it intelligence, anger, pride or optimism.
Yes, thanks to the fact that it had been divided into four and with Zelda's help, he had been able to defeat Vaati. Even so, he didn't wish to repeat such an experience in his life.
"Link, is it true that you want to form a personal squad?" Zelda asked somewhat surprised. "I thought you liked to work alone."
"In my last adventure, I teach myself that it is not bad to trust someone else when you are in the middle of a battle", Link confessed.
"It seems that the magic of the Quadruple Sword has served well," laughed Zelda. I am glad to see that you are no longer so contrary to the idea of teamwork.
The two were holding hands as they walked leisurely through the Citadel. They had already visited several stores and even a circus that had recently arrived.
The further the day progressed, the more Zelda could tell that Link seemed very nervous about something.
"Zelda, do you want us to eat something?" Link asked suddenly. His face was more serious than normal.
"...Ok", she replied. Would Link be fine? She knew that if he asked directly he would dig his heels in and it would be impossible to get the truth out, so she decided to be patient.
To her surprise, Link took her out of the Citadel and led her to the meadow. The guards who guarded the gates didn't seem worried and didn't do anything to stop Link. That was strange.
Upon reaching an area near a river, Zelda looked surprised as there was a tablecloth on the floor and on top food served in several dishes along with several cutlery. There were fairies hovering around the place, giving the scene a magical look.
Zelda couldn't help putting her hands to her mouth.
"Did you prepare this?" She asked excitedly. Link blushed a little and scratched his neck.
"Well, let's say I had help," he replied.
"The great Hero of Hyrule asking others for help?" Zelda asked jokingly.
"I already told you that I changed..." Link got even redder.
"I know, and you don't know how glad I am for that," Zelda said as she hugged him by surprise. "You better thank everyone who has helped you, the guards at the entrance to the Citadel as well."
"S-so have you noticed?" Link asked stunned. Zelda simply smiled and sat down to enjoy the picnic.
After an hour eating and talking about several funny anecdotes, Link stood in front of Zelda and took his hands.
"… Link?" Zelda was red and didn't know why but she felt that something important was going to happen.
"Zelda, you and I have been friends since we were five," Link said firmly and affectionately. "Over time our friendship has evolved and thanks to the goddesses I can say that I have the most kind and beautiful girlfriend of Hyrule."
Zelda's heart was going a thousand an hour. Was Link...?
"After Vaati, I realized that if I lost my life it would not make any sense, so a year later I gathered the courage to start courting you." continued the Hero. He released one of Zelda's hands and took a small box from his pocket. "And that's why now, three years later, I ask you to be my teammate in the greatest adventure of my life ... Zelda, do you want to marry me?"
Without giving him time to finish the princess pounced on him as she repeated the word "yes" constantly as if it were a mantra. No doubt that was going to be a memorable day in the history of their lives.
Ocarina of Time
OoT: Adult Timeline
"Thanks Link ... Goodbye. Recover your lost years ... Enjoy the life that was taken from you", those were Zelda's last words to the Hero of Time when he used the ocarina to send him back to his timeline.
Zelda had promised not to cry. But it was hard not to do it when the person with whom you had shared so many things, disappeared forever from your life.
"I mustn't keep thinking about that," she said to herself. "I must see the bright side of things, just as Impa taught me."
Link would be happy in his timeline, neither Hyrule nor anyone would suffer seven years under the demon fist of Ganondorf. And in this timeline the following generations would know freedom.
Zelda knew what she would do from now on. She would restore her kingdom and compensate her people for being in a living nightmare for seven years. Then Hyrule would have a new golden age. To maintain the royal lineage she would marry a nobleman, whom she would compare all the time with Link. A nobleman whom she would never truly love. A nobleman with whom she would share a bed until there was an heir to the throne. Then both would sleep in different rooms the rest of their lives. Maybe they will be friends.
Zelda smiled slightly. She wouldn't be happy but the others would. That was enough.
"This timeline may not be ideal but Hyrule a golden land again," said Zelda trying to cheer up.
However, her steps stopped when she realized something very important.
"Timeline ... Timeline ..." She murmured agitatedly.
If she had sent Link to his timeline, along with his Zelda and his Hyrule ... That meant, what in this timeline there was also a Link?
"It makes sense," Zelda thought, putting a hand to her mouth as she tried to reason with those new ideas and theories. "There must be a Link, a Link that is not a hero or carries the Triforce of Courage ... Here, in my Hyrule or somewhere else."
A wide smile began to form on the princess's face. Maybe she was wrong and if not, his Link might not be a kind, noble and responsible young man. Maybe she was looking for a Link that no longer existed in that world.
There were many variables and factors in that problem, even so she couldn't and wouldn't give up. Something inside told her that after having sacrificed her rank, her identity, her health and her own soul, she deserved to be happy. Something told her that she should be like the chosen Hero and leave reasoning aside in this case. For once in her life, she was going to follow the designs of her heart.
"Link," she said, looking at the bluish sky. "I don't know how you will be or if we can be friends or maybe something else ... But I swear if you exist in this world, I will find you."
OoT: Child Timeline
"Thanks, thank you very much Link," Zelda said sobbing as she hugged her friend.
After Link returns to his timeline, he had gone to Hyrule Castle. At first, with fear. He didn't know if Princess Zelda would know him.
His joy was capitalized when he saw that Zelda, for some strange reason, possessed the memories of the other timeline. She knew who he was.
Between the two, they convinced the king that Ganondorf only sought to appropriate Hyrule and the Triforce. In the end, the king decided to investigate and after several weeks, it was shown that they were right.
Now the king of evil was imprisoned, waiting for a trial. The gerudo had abandoned him and since the rest of the races no longer trusted them, they were leaving Hyrule.
"I'm glad I prevented Ganondorf from getting away with it," Link said. Then he took an object out of his pocket. "Here, this is your ocarina, it has helped me a lot."
"No, you better keep it," Zelda replied with a sweet smile. "Something tells me that you will need it."
Link nodded and kept the ocarina.
"What are you going to do now?" Zelda asked curiously.
"I want to find Navi."
"Your fairy? It's true, I haven't seen her anywhere!" Zelda exclaimed when she realized. "I thought she always accompanied you."
"She's gone," Link said sadly.
"… Why? "
"I don't know," Link confessed worriedly. "She disappeared just when we returned to the Temple of Time. I have to find her and know if she's okay. "
"I understand," said Zelda. "I only ask you to be very careful during your search. Unfortunately, Ganondorf is not the only evil force in this world."
"I'm the chosen Hero, remember?" I'm invincible," he said jokingly. "I promise that I will return with you safe and sound."
Zelda blushed at his words.
"Is that a promise?" She asked shyly.
"Of course!"
"Then, it doesn't matter how long it takes Link. I will always be waiting for you."
"When I return, we can escape through the Citadel," Link said in a mischievous tone. "I will also show you my home, the Kokiri forest."
"It will be a pleasure to see where the greatest hero of all Hyrule grew up," Zelda said very sincerely, causing Link's face to turn red. That only caused Zelda to laugh.
"N-not funny!" Link said pretending to be furious.
The two spent the whole day together, enjoying the strong friendship that united them. None realized how Impa watched them from afar, watching with her wise red eyes how that friendship had the potential to become something more.
OoT: Downfall Timeline
Ganon laughed as he watched as Zelda cried and hugged the hero's inert body.
"W-wake up p-please," Zelda whispered between sobs. "Link!"
"Ha ha ha! Your tears won't help him, princess!" Ganon shouted cynically. "With that stupid offside and with the Triforce in my possession not only Hyrule, but the whole world will be mine! Your father, your kingdom and your hero have fallen. Kneel before me!"
It was a mistake on his part to say that. Zelda looked up and for the first time in his life, Ganon was afraid. The teenage girl's eyes and aura shone with unparalleled strength.
"I feel a great power…B-but how? You don't have the Triforce of Wisdom anymore!" Ganon roared confused.
"You made the mistake of underestimating me, Ganon," said Zelda coldly. She no longer looked like the same Hyliana princess.
"N-no! It is not possible!" Ganon roared in fright. "Y-your soul is like the soul of…"
"A goddess?!" Zelda shouted furiously as her aura intensified so much that Ganon had to look away. "Sages of Hyrule, lend me your power!"
Some portals appeared around Zelda and from them came Saria, Darunia, Ruto, Rauru, Nabooru and Impa. Zelda had telepathically connected with them so they already knew the tragedy occurred.
"Link!" Saria and Ruto shouted in tears, seeing the corpse of the chosen Hero.
"For the goddesses…" Rauru murmured in horror.
"Brother..." Darunia whispered very hurt.
"Concentrate, all of you!" Impa scolded. "When we are done with Ganon we will mourn his death!"
Despite her words, everyone could see that the sheikah was making efforts not to look at Link's body. She had met him when he was a child and trained him when he saw him again as an adult. For her, Link had become a friend and apprentice.
"Ganon!" Nabooru said furiously. "Wasn't it enough for you to be a tyrant, cheat your people and enslave Hyrule? How far will your disgusting ambition go?!"
Ganon regained his courage and laughed at the Sage of Spirit.
"Nabooru, damn traitor!" The beast snapped. "You could have been my queen but fate decided you were my enemy. I will kill you the last and in the most tortuous and cruel way I can think of."
"No, you won't", Zelda's emotionless voice produced chills in everyone present, especially in Ganon. "You will never hurt anyone else. I'll have you locked in hell itself, Ganon!"
Zelda raised her arms and numerous golden chains appeared in the air. Chains of different colors came out of the body of the other sages, who squirmed in pain but did not falter. That pain was nothing compared to the sacrifice made by Link.
The chains enveloped a surprised Ganon, who had to drop his swords when he saw that they were useless against those things.
"S-stupid! Do you really think that the seven of you have enough power to imprison me?" Ganon scoffed as he used his huge claws to get rid of the chains. "Without the pathetic chosen Hero you are nothing! You will die drowned in your own blood just like him!"
He shouldn't have said that. Zelda's eyes then emitted a strong glow. The number of chains and their strength increased in such a way that Ganon was imprisoned in a matter of seconds, meanwhile a huge portal opened behind him.
"Don't think you won, princess!" Ganon roared as he was dragged into the portal. "I possess the full Triforce and when I leave here I will turn your kingdom into a wasteland infested with demons! You and the land of Hyrule will be nothing more than legends for future generations!"
Zelda fell to the ground just as Ganon disappeared through the portal.
"Princess! Are you all right?" Impa asked worriedly.
"Take me with Link, please," she murmured. She barely had the strength to move. Impa nodded and fulfilled her wishes.
Once she was close to the hero, she stroked his face carefully. For some strange reason she felt that she had already lived something similar. Maybe, in a past life.
"Princess, what should we do?" Impa asked. The other wise also awaited instructions from Zelda.
The young woman was breathing hard. Her eyes weren't closed by pure willpower.
"W-we must stop ... Ganon, whatever it costs," she said after gathering some strength. Her skin was very pale and she was breathing hard.
"How?" Rauru replied. "Our power has barely served to contain him. Now that he has the full Triforce, he is practically unstoppable."
"He still ... haven't asked for ... a w-wish."
"What if he does it while he is locked up? How are we going to stop him?" Ruto asked in anguish. "Without Link there is nothing to do..."
"We can't lose hope! We must avenge Brother Link!" Darunia said very seriously.
"You're right," said Impa. "We will not allow neither Ganon nor his demons to step on our sacred land. We will gather an army."
"And then what?" Nabooru snapped. "We have no chosen Hero and therefore neither Master Sword. And without the Triforce we are completely lost."
"And what do you suggest, we must give up?" Impa asked him angrily.
"Perhaps running away from Hyrule would be the best."
"Is that what the gerudo tribe do, obey a tyrant or run away when things get ugly?"
"I won't allow you to make fun of me and my sisters, damn sheikah," Nabooru said, getting very close to Impa. "Unlike your clan, we don't hide in the shadows. We always attack head on."
"Right now you didn't seem very willing to attack Ganon "head-on."
"Enough!" Saria shouted, surprising everyone. They had never seen her like this, so depressed, sad and decayed. "Link is dead. Out of respect for him and his sacrifice, discuss at another time and place, please..."
Impa and Nabooru looked at each other, both ashamed of the behavior.
"... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lost my temper so easily," Nabooru told Impa.
"No, it's me who should apologize for my words. All this ... has overtaken us." Impa said sighing.
"D-don't lose the h-hope," said Zelda suddenly. Her gaze was still fixed on Link. "Even if someone make a wish, the Triforce will only fulfill the desire that really hides inside your heart. But that desire is always in exchange for something," Zelda explained. "Ganondorf wants absolute power. In return, its appearance will deform over time until it becomes a powerful beast without memories or will of its own. His only thought will be the destruction of everything and everyone in order to be the most powerful."
"His freedom, his personality and his soul in exchange for power," Nabooru said thoughtfully. "That pig deserves it."
"Princess, how do you know all that?" Rauru asked, marveling at the information given by Zelda.
"They ... they told me."
"They?"
Zelda didn't respond and turned her tired gaze on Impa.
"There are still distant relatives of mine around the world, Impa. You must find them so that the royal lineage is not lost. In order for me to return to this world, I will need someone who possesses the blood of the Hyrule royal family.
"What are you saying, princess?" Impa asked confused and worried at the same time. Something in Zelda's words transmitted very bad vibes.
"I thank you all for helping me and Link. Follow your instincts to overcome the wars that lie ahead. Your descendants will be key in the victory of Hyrule." Zelda said looking at the six Sages. They listened to her words without fully understanding them. Still none dared to interrupt her. "Goodbye, it has been a pleasure to be your princess, despite having failed you all..."
With those last words, Zelda's soul left her body to meet Link's soul in the sacred kingdom. Waiting for their next reincarnation.