Zelink [One Shots]

| Time

It's gone.

After one hundred years filled with terror, fear, hopelessness, Calamity Ganon is finally gone.

Not forever, they know, but for now it's enough.

Seeing the Princess alive, well - a little bruised, but so is he - and free of any evil is enough for now and it will continue to be for the time to come.

After making a stop at the front gates of the castle to bid a final goodbye, both Princess and Knight make their way towards Riverside Stable, where they plan to stay the night to finally have a moment of rest.

Nobody recognizes Zelda as they approach the stable, something they both have had on their minds ever since their reunion. There are a few Hylians who were alive when the Calamity struck, and they were probably too young at the time to even remember the Princess of Hyrule.

Surprisingly, Zelda is fine with that.

"I've been thinking..." Link starts after he pays 80 rupees for two soft beds and boards his horse in the stable. "Maybe we should make a stop in Kakariko Village. There's people there who would like to see you."

Zelda stops on her tracks as they enter the deepest area of the stables where the beds are positioned, her eyebrows furrowing in thought. Link, sensing her confusion, places the Master Sword on top of his bed before facing her.

He witnesses as her eyes go wide with hope.

"Impa..." She speaks, a mere whisper leaving her lips. "Impa... is she still alive?"

A cocky smile forms on his lips before he can stop himself. "I'm sure that woman wouldn't give death the pleasure of taking her before seeing you once again, Princess."

The statement that leaves his mouth feels like a wave of fresh air on her face. She starts giggling before she knows it, and soon they're both laughing quietly to each other.

It's weird, in a way, feeling something so futile as giddiness after so many years in darkness. But like the Moon always gives her place to the Sun, darkness doesn't last forever, and Zelda has just now come to that realization.

Having Link next to her feels like the comfort she'd never had, not even when surrounded by her castle, her family, her few friends. Zelda has never felt so many mixed feelings like she the ones she is now feeling, but before the sorrow and grief take over her once again, she wants to cherish these moments while she can.

"Of course. I'd love seeing her again." She concludes after their laughter dies down. "Is anyone else from our time alive?"

Trying not to shudder at the idea that he's past one hundred years old and that he's lived in a long time ago, Link manages a genuine smile. "Purah, Robbie. They're still alive. Purah is in Hateno and Robbie in Akkala. We can visit them sometime if you want."

Zelda smiles so big that her cheeks start to hurt "Yes, I would love to!" Sitting on the side of her bed, Zelda gazes down at her hands on her lap as Link sits across from her on his own bed, facing her. Her voice takes on a lower tone. "I never thought they would still be alive... I always hoped that Ganon wouldn't reach them because after everything that happened, they wouldn't deserve it. But I never had proof of whether they had survived or not."

"They did." Link starts, voice gentle. "They escaped in time."

Zelda nods, and beats of silence passes between them as the sun outside starts to descend to the horizon. Link decides then that he should start preparing dinner, so he stands up with a small jump before heading for his supplies.

"Link?"

"Yes?"

Upon hearing the insecurity in her voice, Link is quick to approach her sitting figure, crouching down in front of her.