Fight of the Champions

Epilogue - Aadil

Aadil's eyes flickered open. When he was met with more darkness, he sighed and started to concentrate on seeing. He was in bed, comfortable under all the blankets. It was still dark outside. It couldn't be later than 6 in the morning. He groaned and slid out of bed, and stood before his city. Gerudo Town has yet to wake up.

All his life, Aadil prided himself on being able to sleep in late, it was a small thing, but he loved and cherished every second of sleep he got. Ever since he'd come home, though, he started having problems sleeping. He didn't know if it was because he slept for three days straight, or if it was because of the Triforce.

The more he sat there, watching over Gerudo Town, the more tiring it got. He went back to bed and lost sight of everything again and laid there.

Hours later the door opened.

"Good morning, Aadil," Kesair said, he felt a thump as she laid clothes on the foot of his bed.

Aadil got up and stretched again, "Good morning,"

He regained sight and caught Kesair frown at him as she left.

He sighed and got changed. They were black robes today, gold embroidered the edges, the hems of the cloth tightened around his wrist and ankles. Laying on top of it was his usual headpiece. Afterward, he washed and shaved and headed to leave, freezing at the sight of a black ring on his dresser. He grabbed it immediately.

He went downstairs and was caught in a hug, Miko had already gotten up. Aadil had gone back to Zora's Domain yesterday and brought them both back. He looked so weird to be dressed not like a prince, with a simple leather belt, leather arm cuffs wrapped around his forearms, as well as around his ankles, a leather armor bit around his neck, and today he wore a black sash across his chest. Then, of course, the tattoos that stretched over his right arm. Despite all the changes, Aadil didn't care, not really, if this was what Miko wanted, then of course he wasn't going to stop him.

"Hey, are you ready for today?" Miko asked, pulling out of the hug.

"Yeah, I think so,"

Today was the funeral. It wasn't going to be anything special. Nobody was going to be there except him and Aadil. He'd already dug the grave, and he'd gotten him an unmarked gravestone.

He sighed, he could only imagine what the gossipers were talking about.

They both made their way outside to the back of the palace walls. There was a grave for every Gerudo Chief, starting with a vai named Nobooru, and ranging all the way down to the last Chief, his mother, Saiota. And today, he would bury his father next to her.

Finally, they reached the spot. Sitting right next to the gold shine of Saiota's grave, the unmarked stone slab looked unappealing. It sat right next to the grave, where the body Ganondorf's body lay mummified.

He felt Miko grip his shoulder in support.

Aadil took a deep breath, he knew there wasn't any kind of formality to this, but he wanted to say a few words, "Dad, my entire life I kept wondering how I was supposed to feel about you. I've only ever been surrounded by people who hate you, with good reason. When I was a kid, I was ashamed to be your son, and yet..." he voice hitched, "You were the only true parent I've ever known,"

His throat tightened even further. He looked at the body, wrapped tightly in cloths. He couldn't do this.

He looked away, turning to Miko. He hugged him again, and while Aadil was deep in the hug he waved his hand and filled the grave with sand and then covered it with the stone slab.

"I know I've already said this several times, but I'm sorry," Miko murmured.

Aadil said nothing. He turned back to the grave, the slab, admittedly, made it so much easier to look at.

They stood there together, watching as the new sun rose over the grave, until finally the sun had begun to take its toll on Miko. They both went inside, hand in hand.

It was strange, how powerful the funeral had been. In the month that had passed since he died, Aadil had started to move past his grief, ignoring the pain of thinking about it. And yet, standing there, saying his goodbyes, burying his father in the sands, finally he began to feel a little bit of relief. He fingered the ring resting on his middle finger, it was technically the only thing of Ganondorf's that he had left.

As soon as he came inside, Kesair was there, waiting for him. He let go of Miko and wrapped her arms around him. They stood there for a long time before Kesair let go.

"Are you good to work out some business?" she asked, "There's been some recent territorial disputes that need figuring out,"

Aadil looked back at Miko, standing in the back awkwardly, "If it's alright with you, I was going to take the day off,"

Kesair looked at the two of them, nodded and walked away.

Aadil tried a smile at Miko, "You mentioned traveling the world, so, where are you thinking?"

Miko blinked at him, "What?" He obviously hadn't processed it yet.

"If you could choose a single place in all of Hyrule, where would you want to go?"

He started to think on it, and then looked up, excitement in his eyes, "You know I've heard rumors of a rainforest south of Necluda,"

Aadil held out a hand, Miko took it.

Seconds later, they stood surrounded by trees and waterfalls, humidity thick in the air. Miko's eyes widened as he looked around.

"Whoa..." he muttered, looking around at them.

They both stood above a lake, standing on a long bridge, the lands around them covered with tropical trees, a long waterfall stretched out before them, along with several smaller waterfalls. It was quite a beautiful sight, the way that the sun made the water glow around them. Miko's face broke out in a smile. His awe at their surroundings, coupled with his joy to be there, made him absolutely glow.

He looked back at him, and his face radiated his happiness. Miko took a step forward, wrapped his fingers through Aadil's hair and pulled him into a deep kiss.

As Miko kissed him, Aadil let go of all of his worries, all of his responsibilities, all of his regrets and guilts, all of his grief, he let go of everything, focusing solely on how ecstatic he felt to be here and how much he loved Miko.