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Chapter Text

A Princess and her Knight, who first failed to keep the Calamity at bay a century ago. The princess, mourning the near loss of her precious knight, sent him in the hands of trusted warriors to heal in a special temple as she left to face the devastating darkness that had ravaged her kingdom. Desperately, she sealed herself with it in the castle, using her newfound powers gifted to her by the great Goddess herself.
So a century passed, the people living in the kingdom using the time to work over their loss.

And then the Knight rose once more, practically reborn, no memories of his previous life, and yet ready for the task set before him. The Princess guided him from her self imprisonment through battles of the sword and the soul. She helped him find a way to remember precious moments long past, to gain the mighty blade he'd wielded before, and to free his friends' spirits from within corrupted machines that they'd tried to bring to bear against the Calamity.

Finally, the Knight approached the very castle the Princess had sealed herself into, armed with courage and determination, his quest to free her highness nearly complete. The Princess released the darkness that was now driven to be so power-hungry it had lost all thought. The ancient calamity fought the challenger as the princess watched desperately.
But victory was not to be.

The evil that had rested for so long brought its full powers to bear against the knight, who was not strong enough to prevail. It struck him down with a fierce blow, but as his body crumpled to the ground and the evil rejoiced, hatred washed over the princess so long imprisoned within this vile being. She let herself flow with her feelings, bringing the full powers of the Goddess against the dark being, crushing it with the divine light she had access to. But the flow was too strong, not meant to be wielded by a mortal.
So, as the darkness fell away before the everlasting light of the Goddess, the princess used the last of her life to dispel Ganon forever.

Not one of the ancient heroes was left, nor the evil they'd finally defeated, but. . .
They had friends. Friends who'd waited a hundred years to welcome them back, only to find them gone. New friends who'd known the knight was entering the castle and waited anxiously for more word. Those friends were devastated when they learned that the princess and knight were no more. And they mourned.

Chapter Text

Falling rain.
I open my eyes and look up as I hear the Sheikah man and Yunobo lifting the stone plates to be set into the grave they'd just dug. The grave for the greatest hero I'd ever known. Link. All of Hyrule should have been mourning his loss too, as he'd helped so many people improve their lives. But nobody else knew the truth about him, so they were out, celebrating that the castle was free from its dark prison. Even nature seems to mock the fact that this is a funeral, with the trees of Korok Forest around us bursting into bright blooms. The grass is especially dark green, and the Great Deku Tree towering above us even has flowers in his mossy mouth.
Tulin grabs my hand tighter, and I look back again to the grave, now finished and waiting as eight koroks slowly walk Link's resting body to the box of stone set in the earth. Each little body is trembling, but from the weight of the Hero or the loss of him, I can't tell. Link had told me stories of a few of his Korok friends. Behind the Koroks strides a very old woman, shriveled with age and holding a bundle covered in pure white cloth.
Tulin pulls on my hand, and I lean down to pick him up, like a good father, but instead of setting him on my shoulders, I simply grasp him in my arms. His warmth comforts me, though I know he truly misses our friend as well.
The Koroks finally reach the side of the grave and set down the fallen hero's body on a decorated wooden panel before moving to position at the panel's sides. The older lady approaches and kneels to do a work I can't see from where I'm standing at the back of the group of mourners, so I try to lift Tulin higher so he can get a glimpse of it. After a minute, the lady steps back, and what she was working on comes into view. Beside Link's body, which is dressed proudly in his Champion's tunic, lays a white sleeveless dress, leather sandals, and two golden armbands, set as if a woman were laying beside the Hero.
Zelda.
Yunobo and the Koroks move forward, the young Goron picking up the head of the panel and the Koroks taking the sides. Slowly, they guide their burden into the stone coffin and then gently set it to rest on the bottom. A Gerudo teen at the front of the group of mourners lifts her black sleeves to her face, dropping her head into her hands. As Yunobo and the Sheikah man gently place the last stone plate on top of the others in the ground, watery tears begin to gather in my surprised eyes. I set Tulin down, quickly taking a handkerchief from my pocket and rubbing my irritated nose with it. Blasted allergies!
Two more men move forward to help replace a few inches of dirt over the coffin, and Yunobo walks off as they begin. Once they finish, Yunobo comes back with a stone grave marker and gently sets it at the head of the freshly turned earth. He steps back and lowers his head, clasping his hands together near the ground. The younger Gerudo begins to sob into her sleeves as the other of her race beside her pats her back gently, and the old, old woman steps forward once more to address the group attending the funeral.
"Thank you all for attending the funeral of Princess Zelda Hyrule and her knight, Link. I'd like to say a few words, about how they lived and passed, before we continue the services."
The lady waits, taking a deep breath as everyone waits for her to continue. After clearing her throat, she does.
"When I was young, I didn't have many friends. I started working for the Kingdom of Hyrule and the Sheikah at a rather early age, so naturally, I was too intimidating for anyone to get to know me. Except for the princess. She -"
The lady breaks off when her voice cracks. After quickly lifting a handkerchief to her face, she wipes her eyes and tries again.
"She was struggling emotionally as much as I was, or worse, and there's no better way to get a friend than to help them with difficult things. When I heard she was trapped in the castle, I wanted to help her as much as I could, so I waited for the person she'd told me would arrive: Link.
"I waited for him an entire century and soon grew as impatient to meet with him again as the Princess. And finally, he came.
"He was ready for anything, bright-eyed and determined, and though it took time, he finally prepared himself enough to go to battle against the worst enemy this kingdom has ever known: Ganon. So he left for the castle and his princess - his- his Zelda."
Here, the old lady dropped her head into her handkerchief, sniffing, and a very young Sheikah girl stepped forward to comfort her. Finally, the lady composed herself and continued.
"Though he met his end at the hands of the very enemy he'd prepared to defeat, he was still determined to bring the Princess home. It was an honorable way to pass on.
"When the Princess saw her knight fallen, she used her powers to destroy Ganon but sacrificed her life to save the kingdom from his reign. Her body was not found, but tattered remains of her dress and her golden bracelets were found laying over the fallen hero. I believe she was happy when she fell. Now, she can finally be with her chosen hero forever."
I bowed my head along with everyone else, and many more water drops hit the forest floor than the ones falling gently from the sky.

Chapter Text

"Come forward." The Great Deku Tree's words echo through the forest, over the many people in black standing before the pedestal of the Sword. They wait as I step forward. Buliara nods to me from the crowd, and I lift the Sword that Seals the Darkness above its pedestal before the Deku Tree as he speaks.
"May this sword rest in peace, knowing it served its master faithfully to the very end. You have done well."
I hold the sword as steadily as possible despite the tears slipping gently down my wet cheeks. Slowly, I lower the sword into its pedestal, and when it rests against the top layer, I push harder. As the sword presses against the bottom of the supportive slot, a wave of gold and blue magic washes over the forest, and I close my eyes, taking in the glorious feeling. It was... filling. I finally felt complete, like I could let my friends leave for their happy afterlife. And so I did.

Chapter Text

Rain falls rhythmically on the roof of my laboratory as I adjust the energy output of Cherry. She's been using too much ancient energy flow to run, so I have to increase the resistors on either side of her liquid drawing. I twist the screw in for the first replacement resistor. Not that this machine is of much use anymore, now that -
No, no, no, no, no. I can't do this anymore, he's gone and there's no way to change that. Yes, I should have done this before so he could have excellent weapons once he was about to face the greatest foe Hyrule has ever known. So now it's my fault for both of the times Link was killed. How great, what a bragging privilege.
You're doing it again.
I know, but what do you expect me to do, stay silent?
Leave. Stop making people unhappy.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Ugh, sadness is at it again.
Why do I do this to me.
Who knows. Maybe impulse could tell you.
Why do I even name you?
It's natural.
Stop it, please just stop-
No. We're gonna do whatever we want, and you don't get a say, innocence.
Just listen to me, for once, you're hurting him!

Tears are pooling in my eyes and blurring my vision as I begin to unscrew the second resistor.

You shouldn't have turned off the power. Just zap yourself already, get it over with.
It was useless to try, you should've died from that snake bite years ago.
You're worthless.
I'm a fool.
Just give up.
STOP.

Stop it.
I'm not going to give up, even if I made some mistakes. So just listen to me and be quiet for once in my life.
. . .
Yeah, guys. Leave him alone.
Thanks, charity.
"Robbie, are you alright?" Jerrin asks behind me, and I turn to look up at her.
"I'll be fine, I just need a minute outside. Fresh air and all." I lay down my tool and rise, walking to the door as Jerrin makes her way to the staircase that leads to upstairs.
I open the door and walk out, breathing in the scent of the clean air. The rhythmic drizzling of the water hitting the roof and the soil is calming, and I step out under the opened sky. After taking a wet turn around the lab I return to the front steps and sit, looking out over the sea. Nature's wonders do calm the soul, just as Hartrick the Thoughtful wrote in his only book, Observations of Life. There was a chapter on grieving in there, too, though it was mostly about lost animals and choices. Perhaps it would be worth reading again.
This is something Link would enjoy doing.
I drop my head down into my hands and cry.

Chapter Text

I walk up to the grave marker, the smooth gray stone arching over the flowering earth in Korok Forest, and crouch to once again read the words I'd memorized long ago.

"Here lies the greatest hero ever known to Hyrule, one who gave his very life twice for the Princess. She lies with him as well, eternally resting by the side of her chosen knight. They fought bravely for Hyrule and fell as they bested the great Ganon. May they forever be a part of our history and memories. May they never be forgotten"

I trace the letters of forever, wishing with all my might that I won't forget either of them. Yes, they were gone, but their loss had given the Kingdom of Hyrule hope for a better future. Their sacrifice had not been in vain. I turn my head to look up at the bright sky shining above me as the light rain slowly drizzles down from the cloudless blue above. A rainbow shines in the sky to the south, gleaming brightly over a fresh landscape.

"The Hero and the Heroine,

 Separated by failure and time,

 reunited once again

 beneath the bay and forest pine.

They fought the foe, but he prevailed

 And took the hero's life in bail

 In desperation the Heroine sought

 To finish the work our Hero wrought

Alone, she conquered Calamity

At the cost of her mortality

So here her lonely jewels and robe

Lie next to her passed 'Only Hope'

 Were it not for their valorous deeds

 All of Hyrule would never succeed

 And that evil foe they kept

 From damaging us ere we slept

 Together now, and side by side,

 Our Hero and Heroine do lie

 Resting from the aches of life

 No more to have those pains and strife."

I smile as my head turns to look at the glory of the shining sun, bursting through the green leaves and lighting the forest below it in wondrous, warm splendor. It was a good day.