Brave Maiden - The Legend Of Zelda

CHAPTER 31 - THE CHOICE'S DILEMMA, PART 2

I seldom forgot that I was the daughter of Urbosa, chieftain of House Naboris. As soon as I landed at the entrance, the two guards greeted me with great warmth. They didn't hesitate to show their respect and admiration with embraces. I welcomed the gesture. As they let me enter Gerudo City, people instantly recognized me, and cheered me on. Many of the children ran to give me more embraces. I was guessing that the story of my heroics spread like wildfire across the kingdom.

"Come on, people!" My sister managed to disperse the growing crowd around me. "Let her breath a little, for Goddesses' sake!"

"Riju!" I was happy to see her as it was my turn to give an embrace. "How have you been?"

"Me?" She sounded surprised. "I should be asking this to you, sister! Do you know how worried I was for your sake?"

"S-Sorry..." It was true that I didn't make much time to visit home in the past weeks.

"Think nothing of it." She cupped my faced. "You're well, and that's all that matters. But next time, I will be fighting by your side."

"I wouldn't have it any other way!" I nodded.

"So," we started walking in town, "I have to ask, how did it feel? To be awakened as the hero of legend?"

I sighed, remembering the event, "It was quite the bizarre experience, if I had to put it in one word."

"Bizarre?"

"Perhaps not bizarre," I continued. "But deeply nostalgic."

"Those two terms are widely different, Zelda."

"To be more precise, I was experiencing memories of different lifetimes. Those that belong to the previous Brave Maidens. Their pasts, their struggles, their feelings, everything about them."

"Even their favorite food?" I knew she was jesting.

"Surprisingly, yes."

"Wow..." she was taken aback. "Is this what brought you here?"

"Oh, right!" I almost forgot. "Have you seen Mother? Is she here?"

"No, alas. You just missed her. She left for the province of Nabooru."

"I see..." I was disappointed for a moment, yet gazing at my sister Riju, I hummed in reflection. "Riju?"

"Yes?"

"May I ask for your counsel? I have something delicate to ask of you."

***

We went back to the palace. Her bed was as wide and comfortable as I always remembered: covered with lovely sheets and edged by a row of stuffed toys in the shape of sand seals. She really loved them. We laid on the bed letting our heads cuddled by the comfort the stuffed sand seals offered. I addressed Riju about the news regarding my health. She jumped to my neck, holding me tightly out of happiness and joy. While I returned the affection, I didn't show the same enthusiasm.

"What's wrong? You don't seem to be happy about such news."

"Don't get me wrong, I am truly happy. And yet..."

"Yet?"

I sighed. "With everything that is happening, and the looming of Calamity Ganon, is it the right moment for this, I wonder..."

"But you and Link would make such gorgeous babies!"

I laughed at her pleading, "I won't deny that. Yet I feel like I would be selfish in prioritizing my own happiness over the wellbeing of the kingdom—"