𝐊𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐎𝐑- a zelink fanfic

azure

(CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR LEGEND OF ZELDA BREATH OF THE WILD! I always thought this story/game was SOOO sad because we know what could've been/what-if from Age of Calamity... It crushes my heart but I have a good feeling their relationship ends up the same either way. Enjoy the story!)

The morning after Link and the Princess had sealed Calamity Ganon away forever. Princess Zelda, bearing her sacred power, walked out of the Hateno Village Inn and stretched a tremendous stretch, yawning like a bear who had just woken up from hibernation. She took a stroll around Hateno Village, at the crack of dawn. The golden sun barely peeked over the horizon as she trotted over the bridge leading toward Hateno Lab. She was extremely traumatized- knowing that what had happened was all her fault. Everyone had died for the kingdom she was responsible for- Mipha, Revali, Urbosa, Daruk, her own father... 

She pushed the awful thoughts out of her mind.

Anywhere except some fields on the outskirts of Hyrule and Hateno Village had been affected by the Calamity's rampage. Of course, there was still the matter of monsters and Yiga Clan, but other than that, all of Ganon's assistance in the battle was deceased. They now had Guardians and any other Sheikah technology Ganon had taken control over on their side. Zelda was almost certain the fate that lied in the prophecy wouldn't take place- but she had been wrong. But this is where they could prove the prophecy wrong. Something had taken place that changed Hyrule's destiny forever... it was one of two things, or both- Link, Zelda's appointed knight who wielded the sword that seals the darkness with whom she had a complicated friendship with, or Zelda's sealing power. Zelda swallowed the lump in her throat.

It would be difficult, but with Impa, Purah, Robbie, and of course, Link, she was sure it would not be too much of a challenge to rebuild Hyrule. Just as Link crossed her mind, she spotted him, sitting on a cliff near a farm just below Hateno Lab. Zelda found this odd, and although she didn't always particularly enjoy his company, she would never pass up a chance to comfort or talk to him. She owed him her life. 

Link had his feet hanging over the edge of the cliff, his skin glowing in the light of the sunrise, his golden hair blowing in the breeze, most of it pulled back but his sideburns and bangs flowing freely. His eyes were deep in thought, almost as deep as the azure they were. He looked so... masculine, chiseled, daring... dare she say, perfect? Zelda pushed these ridiculous thoughts out of her mind. He was fanciable in the golden hour, so what. Isn't everyone?! Plus, she knew nothing of his personality, besides the fact that he was brave enough to save her life multiple times and would go to extreme lengths to protect her, but also listened to her and comforted her when she needed it. So what?!

Zelda walked over to Link and sat down next to him. He jumped and sighed a sigh of relief to see it was only the princess. Zelda usually had to start the conversation with him, as she had only heard small noises or shouts from the brave, silent knight. He would occasionally speak when he absolutely had to. It made him mysterious, so Zelda didn't particularly mind it. Link looked at his feet as he swung them over the cliff. He tried to ignore Zelda's presence, as he knew she was going to ask him what was wrong or what was on his mind. He kept his mind to himself, and he should be comforting her, not the other way around. He had to keep his walls up and protect the princess at all costs. Any sign of weakness and it's all downhill from there.

"What's wrong, Chosen One?" Called it! Link stared at the sun and took a deep breath. Zelda tried to ignore his pure perfection as she continued to question him, even though she knew she would get no answers. "Did you sleep well?" she asked, trying to lock eyes with him. Link finally gave in and looked at her, and he knew once he met her emerald green eyes he could never lie to her. He slowly shook his head no. Link had not slept at all. 

Zelda noticed that lack of sleep was not the problem. She stared at Link, trying to work out what could be going on with him. As if Zelda could read his mind, she reassured Link- "Link, how could you possibly think you failed Hyrule?! This was the best possible outcome and I know you may believe otherwise but you were part of this! If it weren't for you, neither of us would be here right now. Neither would this village. I don't care if you don't believe me, it's true!" Zelda's slightly outraged words lead to her gesturing her hands, only to place one of them on top of Link's left hand. They both went crimson and looked away, fidgeting. 

After a long while, with the sun now a bit more in the sky, and the people starting to stir awake, Zelda turned back to Link and cleared her throat, finally having recovered from her rookie teenage crush mistake. "Do you understand my orders, Hero? I order you to understand my orders." She said efficiently. The power she tried and failed to enforce couldn't help but make Link smile and audibly exhale, the closest thing Zelda had ever heard to his laugh. He turned to her, looked her in the eyes, and nodded sympathetically. And he wasn't lying, he couldn't help but listen to the princess. Not when she was acting so 'authoritative'. 

"Don't you laugh at me!" Zelda said, forcing back a smile. Link looked at her, one eyebrow raised, and looked her up and down as if to say 'Woww so feisty!' Zelda huffed. "We will begin our journey to Mipha's Domain today. I'm going to go check out of the Inn..." Zelda stood up and scrunched her eyebrows at Link. "Don't do anything childish while I'm gone!" She stamped her foot. Link saluted mockingly and grinned as she walked away. There were some things, he supposed, he would like to say to her... just... not yet.