Lost in Time- A Zelink Story

Chapter Sixteen

That afternoon, after Link is discharged, we go to visit Queen Sonia. She's been moved out of the infirmary and into her own bedroom, and her windows are open when we walk in. She is looking out of them at her kingdom, seeming content as the summer breeze warms the room and disturbs the curtains. She smiles as we enter, small in the huge bed, but at peace.

"How are you feeling, Queen Sonia?" Link asks as he and I take two seats by her bedside.

"I am well," she says, taking a deep breath, "in truth, there is something I've been meaning to talk to you two about." My stomach sinks a little bit. These kinds of conversations don't usually lead to anything good. "I believe there is a way for you to go home now."

"What?" I ask incredulously, and Link looks similarly shocked beside me. "How?"

"I'm afraid you won't like it," Sonia replies, looking away, "but it is what must be done for the good of Hyrule."

"What do you mean?" I say warily.

"Well..." she starts, looking sad but determined, "I believe that now, with our secret stones and our combined power, it may be enough to send you back to your own time. You have a connection to that place on a fundamental level, having lived there almost your entire lives, so you should be able to travel there far more easily than any other time period. It will take a lot of power, from both of us."

"That sounds great, but... Sonia, you're not strong enough for that," I say, "something like that- it could kill you."

She smiles sadly, and I know. I pale visibly, and my hands shake slightly.

"Sometimes, a sacrifice for those you love is the most powerful and pure form of magic that there is," she says softly.

"Queen Sonia, no," I plead, "your people need you. Bringing us back to the future shouldn't cost your life. We can find something else!"

She shakes her head. "Zelda, bringing you two back to the future where you belong is what will save Hyrule, and we both know it. Together, you will defeat the demon king, and for good. And I am- and always was- prepared. Rauru and I... the prophecy stated that both of us would die saving our kingdom. We always knew we would die earlier than our time, but we still made the best of our lives. Rauru certainly did his part, and I intend to do the same. Arrangements have been made with Mineru until Soleil comes of age."

"Mineru knows about this?" I ask, heartbroken, "and she wont stop you?"

"No,'' Sonia replies quietly, "she won't. She, and possibly her girlfriend, Risa, will raise Soleil to be a wonderful queen. She knows it is what is best, as do I. I have made peace with it, the same way I made peace with my death when we first translated the prophecy. Besides, I- Ganondorf, he infected me with his dark magic when he stabbed me. There is nothing we can do. It won't be long now."

I shake my head again, squeezing my eyes shut as they blur with tears. There has been too much death.

"There's no other way?" Link asks at last with gravity.

Queen Sonia says nothing, and a resounding "no" echoes through the room. Ignoring my protests, she takes Link and my hands in her own.

"Zelda," she says softly, "for this, you must summon all the power you have. Think not only of your magic of time, but also your magic of light. There must be an immense amount of power for this to work."

Tears fall from my eyes, dripping on Sonia's soft white bed sheets, small spots appearing on the pristine surface. Link squeezes my hand, and I feel his sadness even though he, too, knows this is the only way. A small golden light begins to glow from Queen Sonia's hands, and she starts to breathe heavily.