Restoration

Chapter 1: All This Time

Zelda's POV

I heard Link's voice as he made the final blow on Calamity Ganon, I reached out to him, hoping he could pull me out of this hell that I was trapped in, although, I’m sure of it that he couldn’t have seen me, but soon after he struck the beast, I felt a release, I had been yanked out of my prison finding myself in the center of Hyrule Field…after 100 years…no time to think about that now…he’s depending on me. After all this time, after all the sacrifices that were made to get to this moment right now, it was up to me. I stared into the soulless eyes of Calamity Ganon with fury in mine. I feel my power coursing through me, though it has been after all this time, it’s as if I’m having a second wind. I raise my hand, seeing the glow of the Triforce on my hand glow brightly. I can do this.

My power grows as it engulfs everything around me, and sealing the beast. “Ganon…I will seal you away with everything I have…all the pain you have put upon the land of Hyrule, all of the death…I will never forgive you for this. Disappear…forever…”

I hear the ear shattering sound of the beast, as it screeches in resistance to my power…what an ungodly sound. The sound rests in my mind for a moment until everything starts to fade away, slowly echoing away into the wind. The sky slowly fades back to normal, as Ganon's malice disperses throughout the sky and within Hyrule castle. It felt as though the land of Hyrule itself had been purified from a long borne curse. For the first time in 100 years, I feel the warm rays of the sun beaming down onto me, and take in the fresh air. I no longer see the Calamity, nor any trace of it. My hand slowly falls down, and I look longingly at it, the sign of the Triforce, what was moments ago burning brightly in its godly power, now slowly fading away on my hand. I then remember, he’s here. Link. I hear his voice, he sounds like he is trying to regain his senses. Followed by the sound of his soft footsteps that I know all too well, creeping closer and closer to me. I freeze, what do I say…? When there’s so many things I want to say at once. I feel myself choking up as I foolishly wait for him to say something first… I wonder…what is he thinking? If I look at him now, I will surely lose my composure. I must fight the tears of…everything that I am feeling right now…the relief, the loss…the uncertainty. I…I have to face him.

"I-I’ve...been keeping watch over you all of this time...I’ve witnessed your struggles to return to us as well as your trials in battle,” his footsteps stop, I can feel his eyes on me, carefully taking in my voice.

“I always thought…no, I always believed that you would find a way to defeat Ganon. I never lost faith in you over these many years…” I keep my head lowered, as I slowly turn to face him, keeping my eyes onto my intertwined hands, I hold them close to my chest, like a cork for a wine bottle, keeping my feelings in. Even if he doesn’t know me anymore, or doesn’t care, I still have to show my gratitude. At this moment, I am…so happy…just to see him again.

“Thank you Link…the hero of Hyrule,” finally finding the courage to slowly pick my gaze up to him, looking into his ocean eyes, I can’t help but give him a faint smile. I feel my chest tightening up, my eyes beginning to sting, looking at him like this, asking him…is harder than I thought. “May I ask...", I take a deep breath and prepare myself to articulate the words that I don’t know if I want to know the answer too.

“Do you…really remember me?” A soft breeze gently flows through my hair and my dirtied sacred dress. I am enamored by his now ruffled honey blonde hair gently blowing softly with his eyes never leaving my gaze, he…looks the same…after all this time. If…if he doesn’t remember me…then what? Will this be the last time we ever see each other? After all the loss we have endured together…it’s…it’s probably best if he weren’t to remember me. All of the burdens, all of the pain…but I…I don’t want to accept it, I know I am selfish for thinking so but…if Link were to go…then I would truly be alone. The stinging in my eyes begins to become unbearable, waiting on Links answer, I cannot control the overflow of tears pushing through my eyes, they won’t stop running down my face, I must look so ridiculous, I try to maintain my smile, but I can feel it slowly crumbling, please…just say something…