After The Tears

Chapter 3: The Sword And The Pedestal

The Master Sword, a legendary blade wielded by past heroes had spoken, it was time for it to be returned to its pedestal. A parting that has happened time and time again has never been easy for the hero and his blade. Link stands before the Lost Woods with a heavy heart wishing this time hadn't come. At Link's request Sidon and Yunobo accompanied him and Zelda to the Lost Woods as Link was about to surrender his blade.

Zelda: Are you ready?
Link: No, but time has never been on our side.
Zelda: Do you...want me to go with you?
Link: This is something I need to do myself.
Sidon: We will be here waiting for you.
Yunobo: Be careful goro.
Zelda: Here's a torch, please don't get lost.

With a deep breath, Link enters the lost woods like he had done before. As Link makes his way through the lost woods he hears voices calling to him, voices of long-lost friends. Whether it be a curse or a protective charm, the force protecting korok forest is not kind to those who would enter. Haunting apparitions and beckoning voices are enough to deter most but the woods do not relent easily.

Link:(thought) I hate this part, taunted by things I can't fight. I've got to stay calm, I can't let it get to me, I can't stay here.
Mysterious voice: But why, why can't you stay?
Link: This is...just a trick...no one's there.
Mysterious voice: That's not nice, treating your friends like that.
Link looks closer into the mist and begins to make out figures
Link: This isn't real.
Mysterious voice: Why can't this be real, you could stay here with us.
As the figures draw closer they take the form of the deceased champions
Champions in unison: You can stay here with us.
Mipha: You can stay with me, we can be together now. There's no need to go back to that bothersome princess who would take you from me.
Link: These illusions will not trick me, my old friends passed on a long time ago.
Link with a scowl: And the real Mipha wouldn't try to force me away from Zelda. I may not be able to attack you, but I know my friends, living and dead, that's all I need to push past you.

A few hours later

Yunobo: Should we go in after him?
Sidon: I have faith that Link will return, still he has been gone a long time.
Zelda: He'll be back, I know it.
Sidon: Not to sound rude, I'm glad to help when I can, but why did he ask for us to be here?
Zelda: It probably had to do with the Yiga attack.
Sidon: Yiga attack?
Zelda: The night after you and the other sages left a group of Yiga disguised as travelers attacked lookout landing. It was a surprise attack so the guards were knocked out before they could react leaving Link to fight alone.
Yunobo: Well everything went fine didn't it, you and Link are still here.
Zelda: Everyone was okay after the attack, apart from the Yiga, they never returned to their hideout. Link won over the kids and their parents, one kid even asked for Link to train him.
Sidon: Did Link agree to train him?
Zelda: He did, but only after he grew up a little, "Learn all that you can" as he put it.
Sidon: What does Link plan to do with the Yiga, surely he won't let their attack go unpunished.
Link suddenly appears out of the mist
Link: To crush them.
Zelda: Your back, what took so long?
Link: The woods went for a low blow, It used the faces of our old friends to try to trap me. But that isn't what took the longest, the Great Deku Tree had a word of advice for me in regards to a new sword.

Earlier in the Korok Forest

Link: Finally, I'm out!
Great Deku Tree: Ah, Link, brave hero, I have been expecting you.
Link: You have been expecting me?
Great Deku Tree: I knew you would be returning the Master Sword, it was a matter of time. Parting with the sword is difficult though, as you have grown attached to it.
Link: It's like separating with a piece of myself.
Great Deku Tree: The Master Sword's destiny is to rest here, but you, your next sword will be like no other, forged darkness with an edge of energy from the past. This blade will not fail you like those of today, but you will not find it on the surface, you will have to delve deep below the kingdom to a mirrored world to find the pieces. Do these words help?
Link: A little, but I'm ready now. This is not the first time I've lost a piece of myself.

Present

Zelda: "Forged darkness", "energy from the past", "delve deep", "mirrored world"?
Yunobo: What does it mean?
Link: Forged darkness and energy from the past sounds like zonite.
Zelda: And the depths are mirror to the surface. Wait, zonite swords are not dark like in the Deku Tree's riddle.
Sidon: Perhaps it's an older sword?
Link: Or the sword hasn't been made yet, enough speculation, for now, let's head back.
Yunobo: I'd like to offer a place to rest before you return to Lookout Landing but beds are full in the village lately.
Zelda: That's okay there's no need to worry.
Sidon: It will be dark soon, I can't have my friends wandering around at night, especially since Link has returned the Master Sword.
Zelda: We wouldn't want to impose.
Sidon: Since when has it been imposing to take a friend's offer, come let's be off.
Yunobo: Well I hope you can come by soon, we've uncovered some amazing quality gems, I confess that's why the beds have been filled.
Link: We'll be by soon.
Zelda: Yes, I'd love to see these gems, they must be fantastic.

Link and Zelda are welcomed back to Zora's Domain with open fins. They are given food and a place to sleep, and for Zelda it was restful but Link was in pain. His trek into the lost woods was more taxing than he would admit and though he bore no physical scar from it, his mind bore the brunt of the lost woods onslaught. Link's mind was aflame with images of the champion's death agony, the lost woods played dirty with Link and he was paying for it. Suddenly, at the peak of his pain, a calming presence fell over Link startling him awake.

Mipha: You are in pain that is not your own, I wish I could take it away.
Link: Is this-
Mipha: I'm not an illusion as you saw in the lost woods, it seems you have friends in high places. I've been allowed to return to ease your suffering, though I must admit this is painful for me too.
Link: I'm sor-
Mipha: Link, you must believe me, our deaths were Ganon's fault, none else, don't take the blame for someone else's actions. Link...I'm glad you were able to find someone to love, even if it wasn't me. My hesitation is my biggest regret, set your relationship with Zelda in stone, let her know your true feelings. If you are stuck Yona might have some suggestions on proposals.
Link: you said you were in pain, how can I help you?
Mipha: You haven't changed a bit, be happy and not be held back by the past, that will put my soul at ease. My allotted time is up, please don't live in regrets.
Mipha's spirit fades away back to the afterlife rejoining the other champions.
Link looks over to Zelda: No regrets, no hesitation.