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“LINK! SAVE THEM ALL!” Zelda screamed, her eyes flew open, felt herself slip away, and… Suddenly, she was in a white void, holding the sword as her light flowed endlessly into the blade. Am… Am I awake? Alive? Neither? She looked down at the sword, shining as the blade slowly regrew. This is what it’s going to be, huh? Thousands of years of nothingness. She blinked back a few tears. I miss Link so much already… no wonder the dragons don’t talk– I’m sure they’ve long since stopped thinking.
How long will it be until that happens to me? A hundred years? A thousand? When will I suffer ego-death in place of my actual body dying? What a choice– to live my life out in the past and die, having never seen Link again, or to sacrifice all that I am to heal the Master Sword, and never see Link again. Zelda leaned her head against the hilt of the Master Sword, sobbing. “It’s not fair! We’d already done our part! Why? Why did this have to happen to us? Haven’t we had enough pain in our lives already?!” She called out into the void, hearing no response.
“Of course there’s no response…” Zelda sighed, falling onto her back, the sword laying across her chest. “I’m a fading ghost in the mind of a dragon. When I see Link next, I won’t even recognize him. I’ll be gone, forever, unable to even reincarnate. I ended the bloodline of the goddess and the reincarnation cycle all in one go.” She laughed bitterly. “Looks like you were right, father! I was Zelda– heir to the throne of nothing!” She laughed again, quickly fading into a choking half-sob. “I’m the princess who failed everyone, and had to die for it. But at least Link’s going to be able to beat Ganondorf.”
Zelda put her arm over her eyes, crying heavily now. “Link… I’ll pour my power into the sword… so just make sure that you win! Make my life worth it…” She sighed deeply, overcome by her own despair. “I wish we could have had a life together– I’m sure you would have been a great father…”
“In many lifetimes, he has been.” A new voice broke into Zelda’s thoughts, causing her to sit up in shock. Another figure was there with her, appearing to be a girl made out of crystal, a cloak around her neck, and elegant, dancer-like legs. “It is a pleasure to meet you at last, my princess. I am Fi, spirit of the Master Sword.”
“Um… I’m… Zelda. Spirit of a Dragon, I guess.” Zelda held out her hand for a handshake, noticing Fi had no hands. “Oh, I’m sorry…”
“Think nothing of it.” Fi replied, her cloak reaching out and taking Zelda’s hand as well as any regular hand. “I am here to keep you company during your long journey.”
“You don’t need to do that…” Zelda said, sadly. “I’m afraid that I won’t be very good company.”
“That is alright. I am made to support the hero and the princess on their journeys, and you need support right now.” Fi wrapped her cloak around Zelda, embracing her softly. “Please, if you feel the need to cry, let yourself cry. You have undergone an incredible emotional trauma.”
Zelda needed no further encouragement, falling against Fi and sobbing uncontrollably. “I died to bring Link the sword… I knew I was killing myself to do it– I just didn’t think I’d be awake for it!”
“You did not die, Princess Zelda. You are asleep. Your draconic form travels the skies even now, while you– your soul– rests here, waiting to reawaken.” Fi responded.
“But I’m not GOING to reawaken! I’m never going to be Zelda again! I’m a dragon forevermore. That’s what Mineru said!” Zelda sat down, hugging her knees to her chest, the sword carefully cradled in her arms the whole time. “I cast aside all that I am to become a dragon, knowing what it meant. I lost myself forever.”
“Were you a normal person, that may be true. But you are a daughter of Hylia, reincarnation of Hylia herself, and a soul who bears the weight of destiny.” Fi bent down to look Zelda in the eyes. “When the Demon King is felled, you WILL be Zelda again. I promise you this– I will allow no other outcome.”
“Thank you, Fi. I hope so– I really, truly do.” Zelda hugged Fi close to her. “And at least it will be easier, having you here with me. How long has it been?” She asked, expecting it to have been a few hours.
“Six thousand, nine hundred and fifty one years.” Fi responded. “Time is not as linear here as it is in the physical world.”
“It barely feels like any time has gone by…” Zelda mumbled, shocked. “How much longer will it be until we reach our original time?”
“Fifty-three thousand, six hundred and ninety-five years.” Fi answered quickly. “Rest assured, though, it will not feel like that to you.”
“That’s good, at least.” Zelda sat down, the sword never leaving her grasp. “The concept of becoming an immortal dragon was daunting enough, but facing the reality of it… well, it’s overwhelming.” She looked over to Fi. “I miss Link so badly.”
“He missed you too, while I was in the future.” Fi answered, sitting next to Zelda. “He has a great amount of love for you.”
“I love him, too. I love him so much!” Zelda hiccuped and sobbed again. “I really wish… I wish we’d had children before all this happened! I wish he had something to remember me by!”
“When you return to him, you will have that chance.” Fi responded, confidently. “In the meantime, be assured– he remembers you. He could never forget you.”
Zelda sniffed and wiped her eyes. “I know that’s not true. He’s already forgotten me once.”
“He may have forgotten your name and your face, but he remembered YOU. He feels you inside his soul, beyond mere memory, like you know him.” Fi replied evenly. “Certainly you remember when he was assigned as your knight?”
“Yes. I was angry and frustrated, and I thought he hated me for so long.” Zelda managed a small smile. “It turned out he was under just as much pressure as I was and I was really just self-centered.”
“Perhaps. But you were in a very unique position, and Link never blamed you for your anger and frustration.” Fi reached up and placed the end of her cloak on Zelda’s back. Zelda could swear she felt a hand on her shoulders where Fi’s cloak rested. “Indeed, it actually made him even more fond of you.”
Zelda smiled, thinking of her beloved, separated from her by such a great distance. “Fi? Have past heroes and past Princesses ever had happy lives together?”
“Many of them have, in fact. The very first of your incarnations lived a long, happy life together with Link’s first reincarnation and started a large family. Sonia was a descendant of them– I believe she was their great-granddaughter.” Fi’s voice sounded comforting.
“Hmm…” Zelda looked up into the void, happily thinking about Rauru and Sonia. “And the others? Were they happy?”
“Almost every one of them, yes. One or two ended up in a professional relationship rather than a romantic relationship, but those that did end up romantically connected had happy lives.” Fi would smile at Zelda if she could. “You are truly meant to be together.”
“A shame that I broke that trend, then…” Zelda mumbled.
“Other Zeldas have come back from worse. They’ve been turned to stone, imprisoned in crystal, some have even given their lives during the hero’s journey, but the hero has ALWAYS saved them. Trust me– you will be no different. Link WILL find a way.” Fi hugged Zelda closer. “Trust me.”
“Really? They were even returned from death?” Zelda asked, feeling the first pinpricks of hope within her.
“Oh yes. The first Zelda had her very soul consumed by the Demon King Demise, and the Hero saved her by slaying him, against all odds. She also slept for thousands of years, just like you. Princess Zelda of the Downfall Era was transformed into a small crystal, and she sacrificed herself to allow the Hero to take the fight to Ganon, shattering herself into dust as she did. Her hero made a wish on the Triforce to restore her, along with all the others whose lives were lost. Princess Zelda of the Era of Twilight gave her soul to the Hero’s companion, the Twili Princess Midna, and was only restored after he forced Ganon’s influence out of her lifeless body.” Fi recited as though reading from a book.
“So… I’ve suffered tremendously in previous lives… I’m supposed to be a sacrifice, no matter what.” Zelda sighed. “That’s a sad thought.”
“Not necessarily. Zelda of the Twilight aided her Hero in defeating Ganon, as did Zelda of the Great Seas. And I’m sure that you will aid your Link by restoring and empowering me.” Fi looked up in surprise. “Oh…”
“What is it, Fi?” Zelda asked. “What’s happening?”
“We have arrived in your original time. Link is attempting to retrieve me at this very moment. Your draconic form is currently protesting and attempting to throw him off.” Fi stated, already being drawn away.
“Ooh, I’ll have to apologize for that one…” Zelda mumbled, not even noticing that she was now taking it as a given that she’d see Link again as herself. She looked at the sword in her arms, shining brightly and fully restored, and held it out. “Go, Fi. Help Link once again… and I’ll see you shortly.”
The Master Sword hovered in front of Fi as though taken by gentle hands. “I shall. Farewell, Zelda. I will greet you anew when you wake.”
Zelda smiled as Fi faded away. “Goodbye, Fi. I’ll see you again real soon.” She sat alone for what seemed like mere minutes before the void she was in began to collapse in on itself, the void cracking and crumbling. Fi was right, after all, wasn’t she? Zelda smiled and shut her eyes as she became herself again.
“And that’s all I remember. It felt like a couple of hours, not thousands and thousands of years.” Zelda said, taking a bite of the food Link had prepared for her. “I really owe Fi, though. I was in a really bad place at the start.”
“She helped me, too, especially after I found the last tear.” Link took a sip of his tea, leaning back in his chair. “She acts like she’s emotionless, but she’s really quite caring.”
“She really is.” Zelda looked out the window at Hateno. “So… you made a new house for us, huh? I’d love to see it.”
“Yeah, I needed something to take my mind off of everything. It took me a good month to put myself back together after I found that last tear.” Link admitted, dropping his head a bit. “I’m not as strong without you.”
“I can’t believe we missed a year of our lives together.” Zelda sighed, staring down at her hands. “There’s so much I wanted to do by now!” Staring down at the table, a few teardrops hit the wood. “It’s not fair! We did our job, and then we had to do it again!” She stood up, walking over to the window.
Link walked up next to her, putting his arm around her shoulders. “I know.” He kissed her cheek softly. “But you’ve done so well.”
“Link…” Zelda clenched her fists and squeezed her eyes shut, drawing out all of the courage she could from within her. “Link, I’m…” She paused, taking a deep breath. “I don’t want to wait any longer! I want to start a family!” She pulled out a small band from her pocket. “Please, Link. I want us to get married! I want to be your wife and the mother of your children!”
Link stood still for a moment, staring at the ring for a few moments. He took the ring and drew a ring of his own from his own pocket. “Well, I guess you beat me to it.” He laughed, slipping the ring onto Zelda’s finger and putting on his own. “Let’s do it, Zelda.”
Zelda threw her arms around Link in a tight hug. “Link, thank you! I love you so much!”
“I love you too, Zelda.” Link answered, his hand on the back of her head as she clung to him. “We can have a ceremony in Tarry Town and ring the bell.”
“We can do whatever you want, Link! I just want to be with you!” Zelda laughed, hugging Link closer. “I want to be together with you forever!” She leaned down slightly and brought Link into a deep kiss. “And I want to spend a long time alone with you right now...”