Book 1: The Couple Series
The Calamity Ganon no longer plagues the land of Hyrule, at least, not that the hero, Link, or the princess, Zelda, is aware of. After defeating the Calamity, our heroes consult with Impa, who informs them that due to the e...
Link sat on the edge of the rock-made mattress, slowly twirling a long weapon in his hands. It was silver, with three elegantly crafted points at its top. Small teardrop-like jewels dangled from the bottom of the trident's forked shape, slightly waving back and forth as he continued his now rhythmic spinning. He watched as the trident sparkled, shining brightly even though it was indoors. He was so entranced by the weapon, that he almost hadn't heard Zelda step into the inn while beginning to speak to him.
"Well, that was an uncomfortable conversation. Bludo was not too happy that I disappeared without a trace a few weeks ago," she said, carrying a few empty bottles in her arms. "I thought he would be upset that I didn't convey my findings of Vah Rudania to him, but no. He wanted more of the Fairy Spice that I created. I guess his painkillers just aren't the same now that- Link, are you alright?"
Link slowly nodded without taking his eyes off the trident's tips. Zelda raised an eyebrow before her eyes traveled from her beloved's face to the tips of the weapon as well.
"That's the Lightscale Trident, isn't it?" she asked quietly as she came to a stop in front of the bed Link sat on. Once again, he nodded. Zelda bit her tongue as she eyed the weapon in his hands. Memories of their time in Zora's Domain a few months ago had begun to resurface, a reminder of her worries about Link's feelings. She looked down at the empty bottles, adjusting them to ensure they wouldn't fall, before sitting on the bed next to him. She took a barely audible breath.
"You really miss her, don't you?" she asked.
"I miss all of them," Link answered immediately. "But..."
The twirling of the trident came to a stop as his gaze fell from its silver tip to the light blue straps of the handle visible through the spaces of his fingers. Zelda watched as he took a deep breath before closing his eyes.
"Do you remember our conversation on Ploymus Mountain?" he asked without opening his eyes. Zelda nodded, however, she soon realized that Link wasn't looking at her.
"Yes... I do," she answered in a small voice.
"Well, I said that I wasn't sure if I ever had love for her," he continued. "And I meant that. Even now, I still feel nothing but strong friendship towards her. But... now I have to confront that; I have to actually see it for myself. Not only that... but I have to watch my best friend die right before my eyes."
Link opened his eyes just barely, now looking sadly back down at his fingertips. He began to lightly tap the handle of the Lightscale Trident with his forefinger as if ensuring himself that it was real.
"It's been on my mind this entire time," he said. "Knowing that I'd have to witness it; that I'd have to watch it and to be there for it. Yeah, I care for the rest of them. They were all friends to me in their own way. It's just... Mipha was-"
"Close to you," Zelda finished, scooting closer to press her shoulder against his own. "The others were like mentors, rivals even if you think of Revali. But Mipha was a real friend, someone you could say you grew up with. It's a special kind of friendship."
"Y...Yeah," Link said, looking over at Zelda for the first time. "How did you-?"
"Did you think I didn't have any friends back in the castle?" she asked as she caught his confused gaze. Link blinked.
"I mean... would you be surprised if I said that's exactly what I thought?"
Zelda glared at him before giving off an audible huff.
"I'll have you know, Impa and I go back to when I was a small child," she said. "She's always been a good friend. Still... professional in many regards, but it was something. Sure, maybe not as close as Mipha and yourself, but I can get a good idea of your friendship."
"Right... that must've been Impa on the bridge that day..." Link muttered quietly, reminiscing back to when he had first met little Zelda on the bridge all those years ago. The current Zelda sitting next to him furrowed her eyebrows.
"What are you murmuring about?" she asked curiously. Realizing Zelda was still there, Link slightly shook his head.
"Nothing, don't worry about it. But... you are right," he continued. "Mipha was important to me. It's just kinda hitting me now that I have to confront what happened to her now."
"Well, understandably, you've had other things to think about," Zelda responded, reaching over to take the Sheikah Slate from Link's hip to put the bottles in her arms away. "You've had to witness everyone else pass. It makes sense that it would only hit you now."
"No..." Link said slowly as he looked back at the trident in his hand. "I've always known. Right after Urbosa, it was one of the first things that I thought of. If anything this is my punishment. I've focused on everything else, the trials and the Yiga... I've done my absolute best to not think about Mipha's death, and here I am now with it coming right up. It just... feels like I have to go do this now for how afraid I've been to see it."
"Link..." Zelda called quietly, now placing her free hands on her thighs. "You've been bearing so much these past few months. I wish there was a way I could understand. I want to understand your pain so I can sympathize with you..."
"There is a way," Link said quietly, strengthening his grip on the trident in his hands to the point his knuckles were now white. "But I shouldn't tell you because I want sympathy or even understanding. I want to tell you this... because you deserve to know."
"Know... what?" Zelda asked.
"You deserve to know... exactly what I saw back in those trials," he said, looking over to meet Zelda's eyes. "All of them. What I saw and how they died. I kept it to myself because I thought I was protecting you. Looking at it now... I was just protecting myself. But, I'll only tell you if you want to know."
Zelda seemed a bit taken aback by the sudden offer. It was true that she wished to know the extent of what her friends were put through; to understand the possibly horrific scenes that Link had to witness. Despite her desires, however, she also couldn't help but feel afraid. To her, she was the one that was mainly at fault for their deaths. She was the one who couldn't unleash her powers until the very last second. She couldn't help but show a bit of fear in her features. She hadn't expected to truly be offered a chance to be made aware of their fates. Link, taking notice of Zelda's worried look, closed his eyes as he turned his head away.
"It's okay, you don't have to force yourself," he said. "It's heavy stuff. It may even be for the best-"
"I'm ready," Zelda cut in. Link opened his eyes and looked back into hers. What once was full of fear was now filled with an unwavering stillness. "It's my burden to bear just as much as yours. If anything, it may even be more mine than yours. Please... tell me, if your okay to openly tell their stories."
"You're sure?" Link asked. She nodded in assurance. "Well... who would you like me to start with?"
Zelda looked down at her hands momentarily before looking back into his own.
"You started with Urbosa... so it's probably best we start there."
"Alright then," Link said quietly. He slightly began to twirl the trident in his hands again before taking a deep breath. "Well... before seeing the Calamity, I was shown a time from before, one from when we were in Gerudo Town. You had snuck out and while you were gone, Urbosa gave me quite the run for my rupees in training..."
