Legend of Zelda: Divine Vessel

- Epilogue -

Link slipped on his silk, black rope.  It was by far the fanciest clothing he owned, and he preserved it for only one day of the year, and this was the day.

He could remember the event as though it had just happened the day before.  He remembered crying out in longing, reaching for the shattered pieces of the one he loved.  He had remembered that he hadn't cried so much before, and that his eyes had been red for a month straight from all the tears.  He remembered wanting to jump from the platform in the sky, though his friend had encouraged him not too.

And after much persuasion to move on, this day was used to remember that one person he gave his heart to.  The one day where his heart painfully recalled the incident of five years ago.

The time he had spent with Nova had been the best and worst days of his life.  In such a short time, Link was able to fill his heart with adoration and love, and then had it wrenched from his soul.  Yet, he lived on because he knew that she would want him to.

When he woke up every morning, he was filled with hope, expecting to see the girl laying her head on his shoulder, peacefully sleeping with him guarding her.

But she was never there anymore.                                         

When he walked the cobblestone roads of the Hyrule Castle Town at night, he could vaguely see her walking ahead of him with a confident stride.  He felt as though he could reach out and stroke her soft, brown hair.

But she would then disappear from his sight.

He would occasionally hear her singing the song she sang at the festival, and he would fling open his windows, expecting her to be standing there, crying out in the rain.

But she was never actually there.

And today, Link walked to the circular area in front of the Hyrule Castle, standing before an elaborate fountain.  Before long, Princess Zelda emerged from the doors of the massive castle, standing beside the blonde boy.  She was also adorned in dark colors.  Appearing from the shadows, the elegant Twilight Princess joined them, also staring at the fountain.

After Nova left her cruel life in this world, Zelda had a stone statue be made in her heroic honor.  It was the clear image of her as the true Divine Vessel, as Link had described her.

On top of the fountain, her gown flowed in the elaborate carving, and the designs covering her body were delineated.

Although her image was presented in a statue, Link had always felt that this statue looked directly at him, and he could imagine her warm golden gaze when he looked into the hard eyes of the rock.

About an hour or so passed in silence.  The three of them communicated outside of this annual engagement, but when they were all gathered in front of this statue, they were silent.  They were unable to speak while they thought about how she honorably sacrificed her life for Hyrule.

Eventually, Midna disappeared into the rising shadows as the colors of the setting sun painted the sky.  Soon after, Zelda also returned to the Hyrule Castle, leaving Link alone with the sculpture of his beloved before him.

He looked to the sky, watching the colors change.  However, when he squinted, he could see something approaching the ground.  It fell slowly, swaying from side to side lightly, and eventually, he was able to see that it was a bird feather.  The young man held out his hands to catch the object, which landed directly in his palm as though it was meant to fall there.

He pinched the pure white feather between his fingers, and then looked to the sky again.  There were no birds or feathered creatures in sight.

Upon further examination, the blonde noticed a small spiral of paper wrapped tightly around the quill.  With much effort, he slid it from the place where it was fastened and unrolled it.

Teardrops splashed onto the small strip of parchment when Link read the tiny golden letters inscribed.

"Because I love you... ~Nova"