A Hero's Spirit

Chapter 22: The Hero's Festival

A/N: Whooooo!! What a RIDE this has been guys! This is the last chapter before the epilogue (keep an eye out for that in the next few days). Can you believe that when I started this story a year and a half ago, all 140k+ words were smushed into 14k words and 8 chapters? Yeah, this thing just kinda took on a life of its own. But that's fine, because we've all gotten an wonderful story out of it!

I can't say how proud of myself I am for finishing this. Fun fact, this is only the second longfic I've ever finished. Yay me~! Let's keep this up with my other stories too, yeah? I'll save the sappy thanks and all that for when I post the Epilogue, but I really appreciate each and every one of you guys sticking with this story and supporting me! Next book will be Linked Universe, so keep an eye out for that one!

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Link grinned as he walked into the dining room. He'd insisted that Sidon and the others stay in the mansion—what was the point of having so many rooms if he couldn't have his friends stay?—so the table was quite full this morning.

"Someone looks fancy today." Riju grinned as she casually leaned on her fist. "Dressing up for the festival are we?"

Link tugged at his shirt a bit. It was his Official Royal Garb from the Gala. "Zelda and Urbosa teamed up on me this morning." He sighed. "They said that since today's such an 'important celebration' I should look the part."

"Well, you certainly do look the part." Sidon beamed.

"I'm telling you, I did not look this good when I fought Ganon." Link cracked a smile.

"Oh, I'm sure." Yatir nodded sagely. "But I'm sure Ganon looked worse."

"Debatable." Link shrugged. "Hard to tell when he was already so ugly." Zelda let out a decidedly unladylike snort, and Urbosa gave a loud laugh as Link distributed the food.

"So today's the first day of the festival. I hear it's going to last three days. What're you gonna do for the first one?" Yunobo asked.

Link hummed in thought. "Well, there's a ton of food to try... Vendors have been saving special products for the start of the festival, so there should be some new stuff on display today as well." He tapped his chin a bit. "And Kass has a special performance tonight that I don't want to miss. Something to do with the unveiling of that thing you guys sent."

He'd been surprised when the four of them sent a mystery object that they insisted should be placed in the Town Square. He was under strict orders not to peek, so even Link had no idea what it was.

"Well, the main celebration is tonight anyways." Sidon nodded. "Though I must say, New Castletown is magnificent! I never thought I'd see anything like it!"

"Indeed." Riju glanced out the window. "A town of Mythos and Skythos... We've actually started trading with a small lizalfolk clan near the Gerudo Highlands."

"I'm horrible at Lizal Common." Link admitted with a small groan.

"It's not that difficult." Sidon grinned. "The Zora have also started speaking with a local lizalfolk clan, so I'm getting the hang of the language. If you'd like, I could tutor you!"

Link flinched lightly at the word 'tutor', recalling the horribly boring lessons of Zelda and Urbosa. He had a feeling that lessons with Sidon would be a million times better. "I would appreciate that." He took a breath to say something more when he heard his front door open with a mighty bang.

"LINKY! WE'RE HERE!"

Yatir instantly started massaging his temples. "Why her?" He grumbled. Of all the people Yatir dealt with following Link around Hyrule, Purah was one of his least favorites. Namely because she often zeroed in on him for any experiments that needed someone to test them out. After one memorable incident which involved Yatir, a rogue Guardian and an angry swarm of electric keese, he'd sworn to never again help Purah with her experiments.