Standard disclaimer: I don't own any of these people, places or things. Heck, even most of the verbs belong to someone else. :-) All characters and settings © Nintendo. Hey, they've earned it.

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Chapter Seven: Serenade of Hearts

"Hello, Father," Zelda said, kneeling in front the royal tombstone and laying flowers before his name. The princess felt Link's ever-comforting presence to her right, while Impa stood, all but invisible, behind and to the left. A cool, gentle breeze seemed to embrace them all. "It's hard to believe it's been a month since...the battle. Sometimes, it feels like it just happened, and all of it hits me again." Link squeezed her shoulder kindly, and Zelda touched his hand, gratitude filling her. "Other times, it's like a distant dream, something that happened in a story or another life."

She chuckled. "You wouldn't believe the new Castle. They're finally working from the blueprints you drew up before I was born." Zelda shrugged, fingers running lightly over his name. "With all the damage, we're building Castle Town anew. It'll take years, but we finally have the time. A silver lining, I suppose. Oh, that reminds me. Zuko survived the battle, can you believe it?" The princess shook her head, smile growing. "Senza's family adopted him after a fashion. Zuko whines about having those 'accursed children' following him everywhere, but he's become a second father to them, and Senza's wife swears he's the gentlest soul alive. Zuko!"

Zelda sobered. "Ganondorf's execution is tomorrow. It's so strange. All my life, he's been the Dark Enemy, the Great King of Evil, but now I feel bad that it's come to this." The princess sighed, and Impa put her hand on Zelda's other shoulder. "He's been almost jovial about the whole thing. It's bizarre. He thought he was going into the Twilight Realm. Honestly."

"Oh, one more thing -- the new constitution. Half the nobles are up in arms, of course, but they're coming around." The Sage of Time traced the Triforce on the ground. "Link's popularity is helping there. The 'commoners' -- gods, I've learned to hate that word the last few weeks -- love him, and they're excited by the idea of the parliament." She rolled her eyes. "There are already opportunists working on that, but the Sheikah are keeping an eye on them. Veran is up to her usual tricks, but I think she's finally learned her lesson." Zelda stood and caressed the tombstone one last time. "Be happy, Father." She let a flicker of a glance touch on Link briefly before looking away, smiling shyly. "I think I will be, now."

#I am grateful for that, my beloved child.# Zelda gasped and looked up -- Father?! -- and for a moment, she saw the mighty Daphnes, looking thinner than she'd ever seen him, next to a blonde woman of almost unimaginable beauty, her muscled frame not detracting from her grace or femininity in the least. He was in magnificent courtly garb, and the lady wore a dress much like Zelda's own, though she held a strange orange helm beneath one arm.

They smiled at her, and the woman winked. #Be good, Zelda. Just not too good.# With that, they faded slowly away.

"Mother...?" she whispered. Thank you.

"Was...was that..." Link gasped.

Zelda spun, eyes nearly as wide as her smile. "You saw them too?" Link nodded mutely. She hugged her Hero, then led him across the graveyard. "Let's go home."

Impa glanced behind them one last time, then followed the princess into Kakariko. "There is still much work awaiting you, Zelda. The Council has considerable power while you remain princess, and all the kingdoms of Hyrule are still recovering."

"Impa, we defeated Ganon himself," Zelda replied with a smile, the bustle of the growing town flowing around them in an almost comforting way. "I think we can handle logistics and politics."

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

So this is how it ends. Ganondorf stared at the strange constructs of Light that faced him. Chained to the great slab that served as half of the gateway formed by the Dark Mirror -- the Mirror of Twilight -- he stared defiantly at the Light Sage's avatar. "You still cower in the Sacred Realm, Rauru, that I have come to expect and accept, but now you reduce your colleagues to the same cravenness?"

"Ganondorf Dragmire, Demon Thief," the Light Sage replied coolly and formally. "What you see now are the essences of the Sages, placed here to serve Hyrule for all time." The mask was unmoving, but Ganondorf could sense the satisfaction radiating from the figure. "All your defiance merely ensured that the Arbiter's work -- my work -- would be completed. The lives of the land's great protectors will end, but their knowledge and wisdom shall live on." He looked on the Sages' Sword, which hovered near the Mirror. "You, however, will not."

"We give you one last opportunity," the Spirit Sage added quietly, "to repent your mistakes and return to the cycle of reincarnation shriven of your sins. Whatever else you have done, you acquitted yourself well against Ganon."

Ganondorf laughed. "Ganon? All that is impressive about that fool comes from his sad attempt to copy me." He shrugged. "End this today. Tomorrow, I shall live again, and your precious land shall tremble before my might!"

The Water Sage -- or at least, her 'essence' -- took the central position, and the remaining Sages moved to watch from either side of her. Of course. Ruto has the right and the fortitude, something most of these weaklings lack. He half-snarled, half-smiled at the ghost-like mask, almost seeing her eyes through the emptiness behind it. Ganondorf briefly considered saying something to her. No. It doesn't matter. I only desired her. Love was something I was taught not to know. Strangely, images of Nabooru and Aveil flickered through his mind. The past? The future? The sword floated in front of the Sage of Water. Who cares? My present ends here. All that matters now is that I die like a Gerudo. He bared his teeth defiantly. The sword snapped upright, the Sages' stares unmoved. It flew into his heart. Everything flashed bright, then went dark.

#Ganondorf...#

What? He had no body, but Ganondorf straightened. He had no head, but the Gerudo King looked about him. There was only emptiness, save for the golden glow he'd known all his life. He'd only felt it in its true form for barely a week, but even that was worth his fate. In spite of the Twinrova sorceresses, he'd been whole, if only briefly.

#...you do not die yet...#

From a great distance, he felt his body. There was a fissure of light, indeed of Light, torn in his armor and his chest, yet something moved within it. A heart that should have been no more was beating. Lungs that should have been torn apart pulled in air.

#With the Triforce of Power...#

It was Ganon's voice. Mandrag was dead after a fashion, as Zelda had sworn, and the creature that had replaced it was something greater. Nevertheless, King Dragmire was not fool enough to trust it.

#...you cannot die from any force...#

Slowly, his feeling returned. Fingers twitched. Arms moved. His head obeyed, and his senses came back to life.

#...less than the Master Sword itself...#

Ganondorf chuckled. Then he laughed in truth, standing upright with a surge of strength. Yes. Yes! I will avenge this defeat, and bring these fools to their knees! Straining against the chains, he felt a remnant of the Triforce of Power give him strength beyond even the Hero's. As the Sage-shards watched in horror, he broke his right shackle, the Triforce more than its match. He showed the Sage of Water -- and, he hoped, Princess Ruto -- the symbol, and the Sage's mask came to life, eye fields widening in terror.

With a single, final surge of might, he shattered the remaining manacle and rushed forward, blasting the embodiment of the Water Sage's essence into motes of energy with one implacable blow. The remaining Sages recoiled in fear. Cowards, Ganondorf thought contemptuously, his gaping smile leaving the fools shaking. Typical. Realizing he had a weapon immediately at hand, he grasped the Sages' Sword and, with no regard at all for the pain, ripped it from his body. Indeed, the satisfaction had him laughing with more vindication than ever. Now. To destroy these sad constructs of the Arbiter, and then to find the Hero!

The Forest and Spirit Sages looked to the heavens. Praying? Ganondorf shook his head as they reached up. Fools...wait, what is...what are they doing? The Mirror of Twilight lit up, but tilted away from him. Hah! Too little, too late. He watched with derisive amusement as the many symbols and forces within the Mirror emerged as constructs of Light. His amusement vanished with a shock, however, when he felt its power grip him.

No! They cannot! Struggling, then looking behind him, he saw the huge stone form the gateway in its enchanted carvings. Curse Lenzo and his Din-seared charm-science! The power ripped the sword from his grasp.

Then it turned him into living Shadow energy and cast him into the Twilight. In his mind, Ganondorf laughed again. Ha! Even greater fools than I ever dreamed! Though he could not resist the force thrusting him into the alien Realm, the King of Evil felt almost victorious. Already, he could sense the powers of Light and Shadow slowly bending to his will, and a sea of anguish that fed him from the moment he arrived. They have made me one with the fundamental elements, the dolts! It may be a year, it may be a millennium, but with power like this, I will escape, and then I will fulfill my destiny!

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Ruto!" Impa wrapped her arms around the Zora princess, keeping her from hurting herself in her thrashing. Gods! This wasn't supposed to be possible! the Shadow Sage thought, nearly frantic. "Darunia!"

The Goron leaped to her side, gently pinning the powerful Water Sage in his grip. Beneath them, the Chamber of Sages' platform flickered ominously. "What happened?" He turned his head to look at a stunned Rauru. "Light Sage! How can this be?"

"I...I do not know," Rauru admitted, horrified. "Perhaps she invested herself overmuch in the Sage projection. She had reason," he said quietly.

Saria and Nabooru slumped, panting. "He's gone," Nabooru said dully. "Ruto?" Looking up, the Gerudo's eyes widened in fear for her friend. "Gods be good -- Ruto!"

"Can you do something?" Saria asked the Light Sage, who shook his head, still staring. Impa snorted. Then what good are you? she thought uncharitably, but Saria merely nodded. "Then I think I know someone who can." She called forth her Fairy Ocarina and played Zelda's Lullaby.

Impa raised an eyebrow. "I suppose there's no point in asking where you learned that."

"Who do you imagine taught Link to play?" Saria said with a gentle smile. Zelda appeared in the heart of the chamber, its Triforce symbol glowing briefly when she arrived.

"Ruto," Zelda breathed, rushing to the still-convulsing Zora's side. "Nayru help us." She placed her hands on her fellow princess' head, grimacing. "How?"

"A parting gift," Nabooru said bitterly, "from the King of Evil."

The Sage of Time drew in a hissing breath. "And I actually felt something for that despicable -- Ruto, please, come back," she said suddenly, and the Shadow Sage felt Zelda call on both psychic delving and mana's power. "Nayru's Heart," the Hylian princess whispered, mana flowing into Ruto in a rush.

Ruto froze instantly, eyes flying open. She took a deep, gasping breath, then went limp. "uhn...uhn..uhn...ohhh..." she grinned at Zelda. "Well. That was far from my best showing ever."

Zelda exhaled and slumped, leaning on Impa's arm. I know how you feel, the Shadow Sage thought in relief. Saria threw her arms around Nabooru and cried openly, the Spirit Sage hugging her Forest counterpart with clear discomfort. Rauru walked over to Darunia and Ruto, peering down at the Zora princess. The mighty Goron scooped Ruto into his arms, cradling her tenderly. "How are you, child?" the Sage of Light asked, his eternal calm shaken.

"Well, aside from not being a child," she said with quiet amusement, "I'm going to be weak as a tadpole for a time, I think, but otherwise I seem more or less intact." Ruto grinned at the Princess of Destiny. "I suppose I'll have to let Mikali dote on me. Perhaps you can tell me what it's like to be helpless in a man's arms?"

Zelda blushed. Nabooru and Ruto laughed. "Figure it out for yourself," the Time Sage retorted. Impa put on her Sheikah 'mask,' but inwardly she grinned. She's fine. As soon as she thought it, however, something about the words felt wrong. Before even the High Sheikah could react, though, Zelda stopped in the middle of turning to face Rauru, looking back to stare into Ruto. "Are you sure you're all right?" she asked with concern.

"You mean aside from barely being able to move?" Ruto drawled in a whisper. After a moment's consideration, however, the Zora frowned. "Odd. Now that you mention it, I do feel like something's...missing."

Zelda turned away suddenly. Impa couldn't hear the conversation, but she felt her student contact someone across the divide between Realms. Without an Enchanted Ocarina, there was only one person she could possibly be 'pathing to. After several tense moments, Zelda mentally returned and sprinted to the Water Symbol engraved in the Chamber. "It's cracked," she whispered.

"So?" Ruto quipped, though her smile was weaker than she was. "That's what everyone says about me."

Rauru, however, nodded gravely. "Yes. The essence of the Water Sage is...not gone, exactly, but dormant."

Zelda looked stricken. "Ruto, I'm sorry...I tried so hard..."

Ruto laughed. Her voice was weak, but Impa could tell that her spirit remained strong. "Will you stop, Zelda? I'll be fine. So I'm not the Sage of Water. I'm sure something can be done about it, when it needs to be done." She wiggled her feet helplessly, frowning. "I'm more worried about my father's reaction, thank you. He'll probably have four brutes of nursemaids sitting on me until I can swim up the waterfall again."

"Indeed," the Sage of Light agreed. "I will arrange for Ruto to be returned to her people. Most likely, the rest of you should return to yours."

"I'll bring her back," Nabooru said quickly, grinning. Impa stared at her meaningfully. "Hey, I'm not going to get her into any trouble. At least," she added, grin broadening, "not until she's fully recovered."

"Hey," Ruto objected. "Who's going to get whom into trouble?"

Zelda sighed and shook her head, but was unable to resist a smile of her own. "Okay, you two, you figure it out. I was in the middle of a Royal Council meeting, and gods only know what Veran's up to while I'm here."

"I believe I will accompany the Sage of Time," Impa added. I don't know what that sudden impulse was, but I mean to follow it. I dislike what I just felt. Zelda just nodded gratefully, and together, they vanished.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Link paced half-wildly, barely able to contain his panic. Something went wrong! I know it! He looked up, grimaced, and returned to his pacing. Gods, why do they just leave me like this?

#Because you're a big boy and you can take care of yourself?# Navi quipped, alighting on his nose.

Brushing her off irritably, the Hero resumed his attempt to wear a groove in the stonework of the castle hall. A part of him imagined the portraits of ancient Nohansen nobles staring down at him disapprovingly, but he was so used to such stares even his perverse self-doubt couldn't make much of that. "Oh, you're hilarious, Navi. It's not me I'm worried about!" He reached into his fairy pouch, hand trembling, and once again pulled out what he'd already seen. The four pieces of the Water Medallion glittered back at him, mocking his powerlessness. "Ganondorf did something to Ruto. I know it." He thrust them back into the pouch savagely.

"Link..." Navi's teasing tone had vanished. "Whatever happened, happened. You can't do anything now."

His hands clenched into fists, then unclenched, repeating the motion as he resumed pacing. "That doesn't make it any easier..." Zelda walked briskly towards him, Impa by her side. "Thank the gods. Zel, is everything all right?"

"No," Zelda admitted, "but Ruto will be fine." Link sagged against the wall, and the princess hugged him. "She's going to be weak for at least a month, I think, but she's otherwise unharmed." She grinned at the Hero. "She'll be her old nosy self again before you know it."

"I never thought I'd be glad to hear that," Link admitted.

Zelda nodded a bow to the Hero, and he jumped nervously. The princess giggled. "You're cute when you do that."

"You think everything I do is cute," Link replied defensively.

"I suppose I do at that," Zelda said, smile turning sly, "but that's only because it's true." She kissed him on the cheek. "I have to hurry. The Council."

Link touched her arm quickly. "But...what about the Medallion?"

Zelda bit her lip and looked away. "Impa will have to explain. I must hurry." She hiked up her skirts and walked quickly, not quite running, but it was a near thing.

"Hmmph." Impa stared after the Princess of Destiny, crossing her arms.

"Impa, please," Link said, walking half in front of the Shadow Sage. "What happened?"

"You know about the Light constructs at the Arbiter's Grounds? The Sage 'essences' we were to transfer?" Link nodded. "Well, the process was not complete, and Ganondorf...refused to die."

Link listened to the tale, eyes wide with horror. "No. Gods, no. He's still alive, and there's no Water Sage?"

"It's not nearly that bad," Impa said reassuringly. "The Twilight Realm has never been escaped. While I imagine Ganondorf will be the first, it will most likely be a very long time from now."

Twilight...oh. Sighing and nodding, the Hero slumped to the ground. "Then it really is over, at least for us." Impa nodded. "We'll have to leave a complete record. We must be sure that future generations are ready for him when he does emerge."

To his surprise, Impa laughed. "Gods be good! Hero of Time or no, your quest is done, Link. Take some time to appreciate your victory. When you haven't been helping the Ranch rebuild or the Castle Town project, you've been training with Renato, Lenzo, me, Zelda..." she snorted. "Farore, Zelda's the only one who can make you stop for five minutes."

The tips of his ears warmed. "Rather more than five minutes," he muttered. Impa laughed again. Link glanced at her wryly. "I'm glad I'm so good for your mood, Impa. You don't laugh enough. But gods, am I really that funny?"

"You're a joy, my pup," she said, hugging Link with a ferocity that amazed him. "And Sheikah don't bother with the reserve among family."

"Family..." The Hero blinked back tears. "Saria's been my only family for so long..."

"Well, now that the war is over and Zelda is finally courting you properly, you're going to find that you have rather more than Saria, worthy as she is," Impa replied firmly. "Though..." she continued, voice dropping as she looked away.

"What?" Link asked, perking up again.

Impa smiled wryly and shook her head. "You seep well." Confused, he just stared. Finally, almost seeming shy, the High Sheikah continued. "Thanks to you, I have my son back, a debt I can never repay -- and that on top of rescuing Zelda in the same moment." She stroked his cheek with two fingers. "Before that, though...I found another son."

Link's eyes bulged. He swallowed. His body wouldn't respond. Then, all at once, he did, hugging Impa desperately and sobbing. "Sh, sh, it's all right, Link," she said, holding him as he shuddered.

Somewhere in the heart of the castle, there was a loud bang. Link and Impa leaped into ready stances immediately before realizing that the sound was not an explosion, but simply a door being slammed by someone with strength to shame a Goron. They looked at each other for a second, then with the same thought, raced down the corridors as one.

Zelda. Link didn't know if Zelda was the source or simply the cause of the sound, but it didn't matter. If she needs me, I have to reach her.

Both skidded to a halt at the sight of Hyrule's princess, eyes flaring, hair wild and untamed, a faint hint of lightning crackling around her fingertips. "Z-Zelda?" Link asked.

The transformation was dramatic. In less than a second, the wild figure, seeming a goddess of the storm, turned into a sheepish, demure figure. "Link! Oh, I didn't worry you, did I?"

"You nearly panicked us both," Impa replied dryly. Zelda bit her lip and looked down, then shook her head, her expression changing to determination.

"Impa, if you would accompany me?" Zelda asked, waving for her protector to join her. Humor vanishing, the Shadow Sage flowed to the princess' side. "We must talk in private." Link nodded and moved to follow, but Zelda held up her hand. She shuddered when she looked at his face -- I didn't look mad, did I? -- but took his hand and smiled strangely. "Please, Link. I swear, I'll explain soon. Just...let me handle this?"

Link breathed in to object, but there was a desperation in her eyes that struck into his soul. He bowed and kissed her hand. "As you wish, my princess," he said, and hoped the shudder wasn't frustration or guilt. When he looked up, he suspected it was the reaction he'd wanted. I think I'm starting to get the hang of this stuff. He dropped to one knee, emboldened suddenly. "I am the Hero of Time. No matter when, no matter where, for the sake of Hyrule, and you, Princess Zelda...I shall fight."

Again she shuddered, her breath quickening, and he hid a smile behind his lowered head. #That's my boy!# Navi exulted. For once, he didn't mind.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Zelda closed the door to her room carefully, bolstered every ward, and increased the sound baffles. Tied to the wards, any breach in the barriers would not only remove the baffles, but alert Ashei and Rusl immediately. Then, eyes narrowing, she formed a ball of force in her hand and threw it at a chair. It shattered. How dare they? she thought, taking a roughly intact leg and slamming it against the wall, cracking it. Then she threw it at the ground, looked at the ceiling, and screamed wordlessly. How DARE they?!

"Difficult Council meeting?" Impa asked evenly.

"They forbade me to marry Link. Forbade!" Zelda clenched her fists, trembling in outrage. Even her mentor stared in surprise. "Technically, the Council has Regency powers until I am crowned, never mind that they leave most of the work to me when it suits them!" She threw her hands into the air and paced. "According to some ancient, decrepit law that was never quite repealed, a Crown Prince or Princess must have the permission of a reigning monarch or, in the absence of a monarch, the Regency, to marry anyone who is not a citizen of Hyrule! This is Veran's doing! I'd have her flogged through the streets naked if I didn't think she'd enjoy it!" Impa coughed politely, bringing a hand up to her mouth.

Zelda spun on the Sheikah then, eyes flashing. "You know what most drives me to distraction? The councillors who vote with her and Onox! Veran's power-hungry, it's almost an honest emotion, and Onox is Onox," she continued, waving in frustrated dismissal, "but Lady Pompie says 'it's for your own good, dear,' and Jovani lets Veran do his thinking for him when it comes to anything besides money, and that empty-headed drone Mila lets Veran think for her, period!"

Zelda sat on her bed forcefully, then slumped, rage spent. "The councillors who voted with me were a relief, at least. Only Potho didn't erupt at the scheming sow, but at least he respects my right to make my own decisions." The princess smiled wearily. "Agitha and Lenzo bent Veran's ear almost in half, but you should have heard Uli!" Zelda chuckled. "Sweet, gentle Uli! I almost blushed four or five times at the language she used!"

"She is married to a knight, even if he is Rusl," Impa pointed out reasonably. "Besides, ever since that winter, she's thought the sun rises and sets by the Hero. Did you think she named her daughter Lina on a whim?"

"At least someone feels some gratitude toward him, then," Zelda hissed, fury returning. "You know what? I am mad at Onox! Who saved him from Ganondorf's curse?! And that part about my father being part of his 'plan' was such an obvious lie -- oooh!" She sprang to her feet to pace again. "I'll have him arrested for High Treason!"

"You'll do no such thing, at least not yet," Impa said firmly, taking Zelda's hands and guiding her to a stop. Zelda glared at her mentor, but Impa's gentle calm brought the princess back to herself, ashamed. She tried to look down, but the Sheikah's eyes locked with hers, and the princess relented. "That's better. Now, I'm sure you can handle those fools on the Council if need be."

"'If need be?'" Zelda asked, eyebrow going up. "I know that I can wed him when I am queen. Veran can make her insinuations about abdicating all she wants, but she needs a two-thirds vote to deny me the crown, and Saria will kiss Ganon before that happens." She frowned. "But that's at least ten years away, and I'm done leaving my Hero to wait on a bed of needles!"

"You're not going to have to wait for him until you're 27, daughter of my heart," Impa said gently. The Shadow Sage's eyes twinkled almost mischievously, and Zelda was unaccountably reminded of Nabooru.

"You have a plan," Zelda said suddenly. It wasn't a question.

Impa nodded, smiling slyly. "I have a plan." She draped an arm over Zelda's shoulders in a manner more sisterly than motherly, and the Sage of Time felt pride that nearly brought tears to her eyes. "I was going to do this anyway, as much for you as him, seeing how you've wanted him to be rewarded according to his worth -- or at least, as close to it as mortals can manage." Impa leaned closer. "Here is what I have in mind..."

Zelda's smile grew with each word Impa whispered in her ear. A worthy reward, indeed.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Link paced outside the throne room, lips pressed together in frustration. #What are they doing?# he wondered 'aloud' to his fairy companion. #Everyone's been acting weird since yesterday.#

#Beats me,# Navi replied, pacing on his scalp in time with him. #All I know is that Impa was acting more like Nabooru than herself last time I saw her. She had a ridiculous smile on her face, and she was acting like the world's worst conspirator, except of course this is Impa -- I didn't hear a thing before she vanished.#

#Impa. What in Farore's name could Impa possibly have to do with me being called before the court?# Link glared at a particularly sour-looking queen in a portrait. She looked like she'd eaten a raw lemon whole. He stuck his tongue out at her. She continued to glower disapprovingly. So what else is new? Link thought, returning to his pacing.

Sir Rusl opened the door, smiling broadly. "Master Link, Hero of Time, you are summoned before the Council and the Princess Zelda."

"Finally," Link muttered, walking forward.

Rusl leaned close as Link passed. "Don't let those cretins get to you, lad," he whispered, and Link felt a bit lighter. His heart nearly soared at both the smile on Zelda's face and the clear effort she was making not to let it split her face in half.

Veran, however, only seemed slightly discomfited by Zelda's satisfaction. She was watching warily, Onox standing imposingly behind the Lady, but she did nothing more. The Hero resolved to ignore them. He had cleaned up to the point where he smelled of lavender, and his white mail gleamed in the light streaming through the stained glass windows. He dropped to one knee and bowed before his princess, placing his hand on his heart. "As always, Your Highness, I am yours to command."

"We shall see," Zelda said cryptically. Lady Marie, the herald, was playing a gentle tune on her harp beside the princess for some reason, and Link couldn't help but smile at the memory of another harpist. Peeking to the side in spite of himself, he caught Veran raising an eyebrow at that. "A matter of some import has come before the Royal Council, Hero of Time, savior of Hyrule, Ganon's Bane," she said, her rattling off of titles -- particularly the new one -- making him blush, "and you, as it happens, are at the heart of it."

"Have I been some trouble to you, Princess?" Link asked quietly, suddenly worried as he looked up.

"Not directly," Zelda replied. "However, it turns out that a technicality in the law is causing some trouble with a project of mine, and I was hoping you could help."

Link bowed his head again. What is Zel up to? he wondered. "As I said, Your Highness, I am yours."

Even with his eyes down, he could feel Zelda's smile broaden. The Hero felt oddly like he'd just walked into a trap. Her eyes caught me long ago, he thought pleasantly, dismissing the feeling. "Excellent. First, however, we must hear from the Sages." She stood, and everyone rose, Link included. "Sir Rusl?"

The noble knight grasped the door handle. Link followed Rusl with his eyes, catching him nod happily to his son Colin. Malon turned from looking at the younger knight to meet his gaze. She bounced on her toes excitedly and waved at him, smiling more widely than his Zel. She doesn't have to keep up the same decorum, he realized. What are they up to?

Rusl opened the door, and Link stared goggle-eyed at the sight of Mido in livery, wearing a superbly tailored knight's garb with a tabard that bore the Kokiri symbol on it, vivid green on white. He carried the staff the Deku Sprout had grown for him, and his fairy swirled around it excitedly. Link felt Navi boggle as well, but immediately, the Hero sensed the staff's power sustaining the Kokiri 'boss' outside the forest. In a sense, it was the forest, or at least enough of it to count. "If it please the court of Hyrule and Zelda," Mido said with a cultured voice more shocking to Link than his fine appearance, "now comes Saria, Sage of the Forest and Queen of the Kokiri."

"Queen?!" Link blurted in spite of himself. A moment later, he realized the only reason he hadn't heard Navi say the same thing was because they'd spoken in perfect time. Zelda gestured idly, an air of quiet triumph about her, that he step to the side, and Link leapt to obey.

Then Saria strode in serenely, a smooth, graceful effect marred solely by the beaming smile that reached from ear to ear. She wore a robe of rich forest green, a crown of emerald and gold adorning her coiffed hair. The Sage carried a rod of office, the top a glittering miniature replica of the Spiritual Stone of the Forest. The rod radiated the same power and living energy as the Stone itself, and most of the court clearly felt it. Saria walked up nearly to where Link had been, then curtsied formally to Zelda. "Your Highness, thank you for seeing us on such short notice."

"Oh, it is a greater pleasure than I can say, Your Majesty," Zelda replied, bowing in kind.

"If I may ask," Lady Veran cut in quietly, "when did the Kokiri crown a queen?"

"Last night," Mido said curtly, sounding far more like his old self. Link suddenly felt better. Okay, I didn't fall into another parallel world yesterday, he decided with relief. "Do you mind? The royals are speaking." Veran gave Mido a sour look that Link found familiar for some reason and leaned back, folding her hands at her waist.

"Thank you, Sir Mido," Saria said brightly, and Mido beamed. "However, Lady Veran, I must apologize for my Lord Champion's abrupt response, as your question is quite valid. You see, we Kokiri have never seen the need to formalize our leadership. Mido has always been all the military commander we needed, and I have advised him on civil matters." She glanced fondly at Link, then nodded to Zelda. "However, the recent crisis has taught us the value of alliance and unity, and so we have chosen to formalize what you might call the chain of command." Again, she curtsied. "I have come in the hopes that you would recognize the Kokiri as a part of greater Hyrule, and accept our offer of friendship."

"That is a wonderful idea, Saria," Zelda replied brightly. "Is there any debate on the matter from the Council?" she asked, sounding far too innocent to Link.

Veran quivered in place, some realization hitting her, but she said nothing. Jovani seemed almost excited, his pen flying across a sheet of paper. Of course. We reap rupees from the land. The exchequer must be as close to passion as he ever gets. Onox snorted, however, and Zelda glanced at him with deceptive mildness. "Have you some objection, my good Lord General?"

"No, Your Highness," Onox replied bluntly.

"Very well!" Zelda stepped down and took Saria's hands. "By universal consent, the Council is in agreement. We are honored and overjoyed to recognize the Kokiri and their monarch, Queen Saria." She kissed the diminutive Sage on each cheek. There were scattered cheers. Shad was bouncing excitedly on his toes, making Malon look positively staid. I'd better warn Saria. He'll bend her ear for hours, Link thought, though not unkindly. Ashei tossed the scholar a fondly exasperated glance.

"Then you have my gratitude, and the loyalty of the children of the woods, Your Highness. That leaves but one more matter to attend to," Saria said, glancing at Link and looking clever. "As it happens, I have no progeny of my own. We Kokiri reproduce rarely, you see, as we do not age." The Forest Sage's eyes flickered to Veran quickly, but the Lady noticed, and her helpless outrage redoubled. "However, there is one whom I have raised as my own. Though he was not present, he was declared Crown Prince unanimously by the Kokiri people entire." She walked over to Link, her smile returning as wide as before. "Get down here, you giant," Saria whispered happily. Link swallowed. Trapped, indeed, he though with a quiet chuckle, and dropped to one knee, bowing his head. She summoned a coronet from her fairy space and placed it on his head, arranging it carefully around the rim of his hat. "I ask that the court recognize Link, Crown Prince of the Kokiri."

"Hail!" a full third of the court cried triumphantly.

"My people, please," Zelda said mildly. "Such internal matters are for the Kokiri to decide, of course," the princess said, unable to keep her smile from spreading. "We are more than happy to make your prince welcome in our castle." She curtsied to Saria. "I hope I have Your Majesty's permission to court your son."

"Oh, I was quite aware of your courtship, Sage of Time," Saria replied, a twinkle in her eyes. "Rest assured that the forest people approve entirely." Scattered applause responded to her.

Veran strode to Zelda's side, bowing shallowly to the Kokiri Queen. "Congratulations, Your Majesty." Link frowned as Veran leaned closer to the Sage of Time. With his Sheikah training, he focused his senses to hear them past the harp music. "Well played, Your Highness," she whispered quietly, even Link barely able to hear the sorceress. "Peasant or prince, however, he is not a citizen of Hyrule proper."

"Oh, I know," Zelda replied lightly, though as quietly as the noblewoman. "I imagine the possibility of alliance might sway a vote or two, mind you...but Veran? Saria is just the first Sage we greet today." The princess waved dismissively, and Veran retreated, gritting her teeth. Saria glided to Link's side, beaming at him. Only the first? What are they up to? And what's this about citizenship and swaying votes?

#I'm sure they'll tell us when they're ready, Your Highness,# Navi teased gently.

#Gah! Don't do that!# Link blurted mentally.

#Now you know how Zelda feels,# the fairy retorted gleefully.

Link rolled his eyes. #I meant the surprise 'pathing too, genius,# he shot back, then looked at the door nervously.

Rusl let Link's Goron namesake in, floor shaking slightly with the lad's every step. "If it please the court of Hyrule and Zelda," Goro-Link said with his strange mix of gravelly voice and childlike tone, "now comes Darunia, Elder Brother of the Gorons." He bowed clumsily and stepped aside, the floor shaking more determinedly as Darunia strode through the wide-open double doors -- opened wide specifically to let the massive Goron hero through. The Elder Brother rubbed his son's head proudly, then stepped forward. Goro-Link waved excitedly to the Hero, who waved back timidly. Now what?

Darunia bowed once he reached the same invisible line Saria had. "Greetings, Keeper of Knowledge, Sage of Time, Princess of Destiny," the Fire Sage said with skillful formality. Zelda held a hand to her face and bowed in kind. "Though the Goron people cannot offer the same wonder of novelty that my delightful colleague Saria has, our long friendship is a bond to be treasured in itself."

"Noble Darunia," Zelda replied sentimentally, "Hyrule owes its existence many times over to the Gorons' great strength, loyalty and honor, each mightier than the last."

Darunia coughed humbly. "You do us honor beyond our station, great princess," he said, deep voice belying the friendly spirit behind his words. "We, too, have come to pay our respects to the leader of Hyrule..." he straightened then, and flashed his massive smile at Link, "and to show our gratitude to the Hero, who has ever denied all reward for his great deeds." Link's blush felt burned forever into his skin. "This time, though," he continued, wagging a mighty finger at the young Hylian, "you don't escape!" The Fire Sage boomed with laughter, then returned his attention to Zelda. "When we first became allies, your great father forging the peace that would come to settle across the lands of Hyrule, he granted us the power to declare any we chose Lords of the Mountain, that they might be honored among all who acknowledged the High Crown. I thought is a strange gift at the time, for we Gorons are all Brothers, with only some small recognition for those whose achievements or skills mark them as Elders or Masters of a particular craft."

He turned his gaze back to Link, chuckles echoing throughout the throne room. He didn't.

#He did,# Navi chuckled.

"The Hero's service to my people, however, is singular, meriting an equally singular accolade. Three times has he saved us from extinction," Darunia insisted, freezing Link before he could object, "from the terrible Dodongo plague, cruel Volvagia, and the shadow-king Zant. To properly recognize this heroism and nobility, my people have chosen to grant Link, Hero of Time, the title of Goron Lord, with a tithe appropriate to his rank and station."

Finally, Link found his voice. "tithe?" he breathed. Well, I found part of my voice, anyway, he thought half-hysterically.

"Indeed!" Darunia laughed. "Eating rocks as we do, few of us need money, aside from our Masters of the crafts. However, we find many minerals that Hylians consider precious, yet which do not agree with Goron stomachs." Goro-Link laughed at that. Goron humor, probably, Link guessed. "Such materials, we sell, and sometimes give as gifts to Sworn Brothers who can make use of such things. Great Daphnes received such a tithe, may the gods forever bless him." Jovani jerked up at that, staring with wide eyes at the Elder Brother. "Our gift to Link is of equal measure -- a full percent of our bounty."

The Court Exchequer reeled. Even Zelda took in a stunned breath. Link's mouth worked for a few moments before he could speak again. "Um, how much bounty are we talking about, Brother?"

Darunia laughed again and pointed at Jovani, who jumped in alarm. "Ah," the exchequer stammered, "I imagine the actual numbers would mean little to you at this time, Hero, but this, I imagine you can fathom: you are now the second wealthiest person in Hyrule, after Zelda herself."

"Wow!" Navi blurted. "You're rich!" Link felt her grin. "Can I have an allowance?"

The Hero swayed, but kept upright, conscious of his beloved friend -- and Queen, -- he realized with another shock -- at his side. It'd be bad to fall on your monarch, I'm sure.

"A most generous gift, equaled only by its recipient, Elder Darunia," Zelda said, turning her sly, triumphant look on Link once more. Veran's fingers rippled, but she otherwise didn't react. Darunia bowed one more time, then stepped next to Saria, the two Sages sharing a fond, friendly look. Okay, the citizenship thing didn't change. I'm 'just' a prince and a lord. A mind-bogglingly rich lord. What next?

Rusl opened the door again, and a fantastic-looking Mikali, dressed 'to the nines' as the courtiers said, stood proudly. Link swallowed, knowing exactly what the Zora prince was going to say. "If it please the court of Hyrule and Zelda, now comes Ruto, Crown Princess of the Zoras!" Yep.

Four massive Zora warriors carried a litter into the room, and Ruto lounged invitingly on it. "I trust," she said as she approached, "I will be forgiven for not managing a proper bow."

Most of the court laughed at that. "Your courage, heroism and sacrifice do us all more honor than any physical gesture could equal, royal cousin," Zelda replied, bowing herself.

"As silver a tongue as always, eh Zelda?" Ruto quipped with a grin. Then she cleared her throat. "We of the Zora Domain have long been friends and allies with the Hylian people. Hyrule's might and wealth have been blessings to us all. We, like our most noble ally and friend Darunia, come to offer our respect to the Princess of Wisdom and Destiny...and to provide our own gift to the Hero of Time." She winked at the Hero in question. "You turn any redder, Link, and someone will think you've been boiled."

Link ducked his head at the renewed laughter. "I think I've been rewarded enough, Your Highness," he squeaked.

"Oh, but how can I let the Zora people be left out of this noble endeavor -- Your Highness?" Ruto replied, rolling towards him and leaning insouciantly on one arm. "Which reminds me!" She leaned over to look at the bearers. "Lower me a little, okay?" They did, allowing her to look Link in the eyes. "There. Now. My people's gratitude is as deep as the sea, but none feel this debt more greatly than my father, for saving his only daughter," she leaned back then, placing one hand delicately on her collarbone, "from unspeakable fates on many occasions, including demonic shadows and the foul attentions of the mighty Ganondorf himself." A few courtiers gasped. "For such heroic deeds, it is his wish that you be adopted into the Zora court, to be a Prince of the River and a Champion of the Lake."

Link stammered wordlessly for a moment. Ruto leaned forward again, almost touching noses. "As my brother," she whispered, eyes dancing playfully, "even Zora morals would blanch at me flirting with you. On the other hand, marriage alone hardly forbids--"

"I am honored to accept," Link blurted. Twice a prince! Farore!

"Wonderful!" Ruto beamed at him, then threw a shameless, furiously blazing glare at Veran. "I certainly hope that no one would insult the Zora people, then, by interfering with the courtship of our prince by the Sage of Time." She turned back to Link, ignoring Veran's naked outrage. "You're only next in the line of succession until I bear children." She patted her belly. "So don't hold your breath."

Link gasped, then threw his arms around Ruto, decorum forgotten. "Congratulations!" He released his 'sister' when Ruto wriggled weakly. "How--?"

"The usual method, what did you think?" Ruto laughed. Link quirked an eyebrow at that, folding his arms. "Oh, you mean how did I know? Fertilized eggs start moving right away. Zoras know in hours, not months." She waved feebly. "We can talk more later, 'brother.' My bearers need a break, Impa's probably about to explode, and don't even get me started on Nabooru."

Link swallowed and nodded, and the bearers set their princess down next to Darunia. Mikali sat beside her, doting on her mercilessly. Ruto squirmed a little, but smiled in a manner Link didn't recognize for a second. She's being -- demure? Ruto?! He looked around. Maybe I did wake up in a parallel world.

Again, Rusl opened the door. This time, Renato veritably flowed in, wearing traditional Sheikah garb. "If it please the court of Hyrule and Zelda," Impa's son said with quiet strength, "now comes Impa, the High Sheikah."

Wearing what Link remembered Impa describing to him and calling a kimono, the Shadow Sage glided in with grace that made Link feel clumsy just looking at her. He found himself a bit thrown to be unsurprised at the open stares she received from many of the courtiers. Though she still had the short hair and severe face of the warrior she was, Impa's undeniable beauty drew the entire court's attention. Taking tiny, dainty steps, she reached the throne and moved to bow. Zelda reached her before she could, though, taking the High Sheikah's shoulders and looking at her firmly. "You, mother of my heart," she said, just a hint of emotional quaver in her voice, "will never bow to me."

"Unless you command me otherwise, my beloved princess," Impa said, gently guiding Zelda's hands off, "I will indeed, and with pride." With a grimace Link sympathized with, Zelda relented, and Impa bowed formally. "The Sheikah humbly do homage to the Princess of Destiny, Zelda Nohansen Hyrule, and beg leave to return to the service of the royal family and the great kingdom it guides."

"That, High Sheikah, is an authority granted to me personally," she said with satisfaction, throwing cold glances at several Council members, "and I welcome you home gladly, with all my heart and soul." Zelda sniffled, and threw her arms shamelessly around her mentor, friend and surrogate mother. The cheer that followed came from nearly the entire court and shook the hall.

They released one another, sharing a smile for a long moment. Then Impa looked at Link with such triumphant cunning he wondered if he'd just been declared lunch. The feeling of being a rabbit overwhelmed him briefly. Pink...why pink? "Which reminds me. Hero, you can evade this reward least of all. By accepting my tutelage, you embraced a position in the Tribe as one of the Trained. As such, you will simply have to accept being a Sheikah Lord as my decree and command."

"Your -- a what?" Link said, voice normalized by having long passed shock.

"It is a long if erratic tradition," Impa said with satisfaction. "Few Sheikah have earned such an honor, but to be a Sheikah Lord...is to be recognized as nobility by the Court of Hyrule, and to have the right to live openly, no longer bound to the secrets and shadows of the land. You are still expected to serve the royal family," she said, voice thick with irony, "but somehow, I doubt greatly that such duty will be a burden to you."

She walked up to Link and pressed two fingers to his cheek. "You've earned this, my son." Renato waved secretly to him from the other side of the room, grinning.

Link looked at the great Sheikah hero, feeling both numb and electrified at once. "You arranged all this, didn't you?"

"That was my intent," Impa chuckled, "but once I brought the matter to the Sages' attention, well, every one of them surpassed my greatest expectations."

The Hero glanced at Veran briefly, who was looking away, a calculating expression writ large on her. He returned his attention to Impa. "What does all this have to do with the Council or citizenship?"

"Later," Impa said, "though I must point out that the Lordship I've granted you assumes citizenship, and thus technically does not grant it." She slid away gracefully, tiny steps taking her to Ruto's side. The pair glanced at each other and smiled yet again.

#I don't understand any of this,# Link 'pathed.

Navi shook her head, and he felt her reeling. #Don't look at me, Hero. I mean Your Highness. They're up to something, though, no doubt about it.# She brightened. #But I'll bet you'll stop being all 'I'm not worthy of Zelda' finally!#

#I gave up on worthiness a while ago, Navi,# Link replied, #but if I make her happy, that's enough.#

#Well, at least you've gotten that far.# The tiny fairy tapped his scalp with her foot. #After everything you've done, though, and now with all the money and titles and stuff, you think maybe you're up to it?#

#Sh, Rusl's at it again,# Link 'pathed quickly. Both quieted mentally and watched the door open. Eight Gerudo warriors literally danced in, swords swirling. No one reacted foolishly, but a great many hands rested on hilts. Farore. That's just the Gerudo Crown Dance. I've got to explain their traditions to these people, if anyone'll listen to me. A thought flared to life within him. Hey, maybe I can do that with the whole 'princely diplomacy' thing. Gods know if it prevents another war, it'll count as diplomacy. One pleasant note was quite literal -- after a brief pause, Lady Marie resumed playing her harp in time with the dancers.

Ilia floated in, head held high as she rode a carpet into the room. A flying carpet? What a great idea, Link thought. "If it please the court of Hyrule and Zelda," the Gerudo sorceress said, amusement rippling through her voice, "now comes Nabooru, Great Chief of the Gerudo." Ilia snorted. "And if it doesn't please the court, we all have a problem."

Nabooru strode in proudly to the laughter that responded. With a grand flow of her body, she bowed dramatically before the throne. "Your Royal Highness, it is an honor to be here, especially with the distinct lack of people trying to kill each other."

More laughter rippled at that, Zelda joining it. "Nothing pleases me more than that, Chief, Spirit Sage and friend," she replied kindly.

Nabooru looked at Link saucily and winked at him. "Gods be good, I hope that's a polite fiction!" she said, laughing herself that time. Gerudo humor, Link thought, wondering if it were possible to blush even more than he was. "Anyway. We're here to pay our respects to you, of course," she continued, turning a blatant look at the Hero, "and to do our best to top my most magnificent colleagues among the Sages." She looked at Link. "You didn't just save our lives, Hero of Time. Thanks to you, we Gerudo have our honor, our spirit, even the very soul of our tribe."

Turning serious in an eyeblink, Nabooru bowed more deeply to him than she had to Zelda. "Long have we considered men the weaker sex, a pleasure at times, a bane in others, but never as equals. In you, we have seen the best not only of manhood, but of all that is human." She straightened then, approaching him with a strange formality. "Like so many others, we owe you everything." Her smile softened. "Yet because of you, the Gerudo now lack one thing."

Link's eyes bulged. He couldn't breathe. Crown...Dance. ...eep. Nabooru quirked an eyebrow at him. Finally, he could speak again. "You can't be serious."

Nabooru held out her hands, and a pillow with a crown appeared on it. "You were welcomed into our tribe long ago, Link. Now, you are the only man of our people." She winked. "A curious loophole, but our lawmistresses assure me that while there is no precedent, our tradition is clear."

He stared at the crown as if it were a viper. "Do I have to accept?" he croaked.

"No," Nabooru drawled, "but I will have to apologize to the tribal elders if you don't. The apology ends with me impaling myself on my scimitars."

Trapped, he thought, snatching up the crown as if the viper were about to strike Nabooru. She fell to one knee and dropped her head, every Gerudo in the room following suit. "Hail, Link, King of the Gerudos!" Nabooru cried.

"Hail Link!" her people echoed.

She stood, noticing that Link was still holding the crown warily. Carefully taking it from his hands, Nabooru placed it on his head, careful to thread his hat through it and situate it behind the Kokiri coronet. "It's largely a formality," she whispered. "I know you'll take the job far too seriously, you being you, but we're not going to take you away from your true home." She stepped back, bowed again, then walked over to face the throne and the court's most prominent nobles.

#Wow, another promotion,# Navi noted. #Hey, does this mean you outrank Zelda?#

Link felt like his eyes would pop out. #Din, Nayru and Farore, Navi, do you mind?!# Returning his attention to the Spirit Sage, he blanched at the towering wrath emanating from her, just barely held in check.

"Incidentally," Nabooru said, her voice quietly menacing, "I am given to understand that the Hero, the Hylian we all owe our lives and freedom to, a man who has given of himself selflessly and endlessly since childhood, is being shown the most outrageous disrespect by some members of this court." Her eyes flickered across the tableau of nobility, and Pompie, Mila and Jovani turned nearly white. Mila swayed as if about to faint. Veran glared back, ice into fire, and Onox didn't react at all, but Link easily followed her gaze to the councillors she picked out for her fury. "Is there some reason the Gerudo should tolerate such behavior towards our king in the future?"

"Nabooru," Link said quietly, striding up to the Gerudo Chief and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, "enough." Nabooru stared at him in surprise. "If I really am a king," he said wryly, "I'd rather not start my reign by reigniting a war we just managed to end."

The Spirit Sage shook her head and smiled. "I should've known. I hoped I'd at least have a few moments of shock to work with."

"Nabooru," Link chuckled, "I went past shock to outright denial about three Sages ago."

Veran stalked forward. "Have we endured this farce for long enough?" she hissed.

"You forget your place, Lady Veran," Zelda said quietly, smiling coolly.

The sorceress flashed a cold stare at the princess. "Do I, now? Does the Royal Council have any real power, or is it all just a sham, and you the absolute ruler you say you wish to prevent?" Zelda's smile vanished, and she gestured for Veran to continue. Link growled and stepped forward, but managed to check himself -- barely. Lady Veran responded with a smile colder than her gaze. "And you, Gerudo King, twice a prince and twice a lord, richest man in the land...you are still a barbarian, a wolf who thinks the beauty can love a beast." She took one step closer. "And for all your titles, you are still no citizen, and forbidden by Council decree to wed the princess, a woman far beyond your...nature."

Link took a step back. "So that's what this is all about," he whispered.

Veran chuckled. Nabooru bared her teeth, but the noblewoman ignored her. "Oh, so she didn't tell you?" She glanced surreptitiously back, then gazed on the Hero again. "Perhaps I'm not the only one who sees the truth here." Despite himself, Link winced at that, and Zelda gasped faintly.

Impa, however, flashed a predatory smile. "We're not finished," she said quietly.

"Oh, so?" Veran whirled on the Sheikah. "Did you bring the Sage of Light himself?"

"Indeed they did!" Rauru boomed, the doors flying open to permit him entrance. The entire room went silent, even the harp going still briefly. Bowing from the back of the room, he moderated his tone. "If it please the court of Hyrule and Zelda, I, Rauru, keeper of the Temple of Light and its Sage, ask leave to enter."

"That, Sage of Light, is an honor you never need ask for," Zelda replied, her triumphant smile returning, redoubled. She glanced with almost open contempt at Veran. "Though perhaps the Council would like to say something on the matter?"

Veran recoiled from the Light Sage, backpedaling until she was in the corner she'd occupied with Onox. Rauru glared derisively at the noblewoman, then strode to the throne and bowed again. "The Sacred Realm itself pays its respects, Princess of Destiny and Keeper of Knowledge, honoring your wisdom and bravery." He stood and regarded the Hero impassively. "And you, my boy...you, with a humility that cannot hide a noble soul to outshine the sun...you have one final reward yet to receive." He smiled in an almost fatherly way then. "And even you, I think, will make no attempt to refuse this one." The Sage of Light held his hand out to the double doors, and two glowing Hylians walked in, a man and a woman. Both wore simple, sturdy yeomen's garb, the man strong and graceful with hair like gold, the woman lithe and crimson-haired, with a gentle smile and eyes that hinted at deep intelligence. Saria gasped.

Link turned. "Saria?"

"I know that woman," the Kokiri queen whispered. "But that's impossible. She's..."

"Dead?" Rauru asked gently. "Yes, I suppose she has endured the transition this world knows as death." Link's eyes widened then, his breath catching. "Simple farmers, but with strong spirits and a love of both learning and magic, they made a life on the edge of Hyrule...but within its borders, make no mistake about it."

Veran trembled. "Prove it," she hissed fearfully.

Mistress Agitha strode forward. "As it happens," she said calmly, as if discussing the weather, "I was informed of this...unusual procession...earlier. These good folk are Bo and Sera Ordon, names recorded in the census some two decades ago. They sent the paperwork to register their son, Link, but it was filed away when their lands were overrun during the first Gerudo War." She gazed placidly at Veran, who fumed. "The listed birthdate is, interestingly enough, exactly seventeen years from the day the Hero drew the Master Sword. It took some digging, but rest assured I have all the proof Hyrule's law requires."

Link heard the argument near the throne as from a dream. He stumbled towards the smiling figures before him. "M...mother? Father?"

"Link," Sera whispered. "We're so proud of you."

"A Hero," Bo added quietly. "How about that?"

Trembling, he reached out and touched Sera's face. It was solid. He threw his arms around them and hugged them tight, sobbing quietly. The entire court went silent then, almost vanishing from the Hero's world. "Now now, lad," Bo said warmly. "We're glad to see you too, but your true parents are the ones giving you the gifts, not the gifts themselves."

"I know their value," Link whispered hoarsely, "but you are my parents, too. Saria told me what you did to save me."

Sera patted him on the back. "It's all right, m'dear." After a moment, she extricated herself from his embrace, Bo following suit reluctantly.

Link rubbed his eyes. "Can't stay, huh?" He chuckled sadly. "I guess this is a miracle in itself."

"Well, about that," Rauru said with a smile. "Certain functionaries are permitted occasional travel into the Light World."

Veran and Zelda exhaled very different gasps. "Functionaries," Zelda whispered.

"Indeed," Rauru replied agreeably. "While Bo and Sera were of the general populace -- that is the correct word now, I take it?" Zelda nodded, dumbstruck. "At any rate, they were good yeomen in life, but in death, after giving their lives to save the infant Hero, Farore Herself has taken them into her service as guardians and messengers." He looked at Veran and Onox for a moment, eyes glittering, then laughed and regarded Zelda happily. "To use the better-known term for such spirits, angels."

"And it's back to work, then," Bo said cheerfully. "I know you can't visit much, and neither can we, more's the pity, but the occasional prayer wouldn't be amiss, you hear, lad?" Link nodded mutely, and his parents floated away, dissolving into beams of light.

"So." Rauru placed his hands on his ample belly and regarded Veran with a casualness that surpassed contempt. "This Council of yours can insult, oh, the Kokiri, Gorons, Zoras, Sheikah, Gerudos, the Sacred Realm and Farore Herself in an attempt to defy your own laws, or you can surrender with what good grace remains to you. Which reminds me." He held his hand out at them, and a shaft of light struck the pair. Onox grunted as flickers of Dark Fire flashed away from him, but Veran screamed and all but erupted in the fouled mana. When the flames vanished, she was physically unharmed, but she staggered from the purge of power. "You are going to have enough explaining to do on your own accounts to have any time for scheming against the Hero. Good day." With that, the Sage of Light faded away as well, briefly morphing into an owl perched on an invisible roost, then a mysterious cloaked form, and finally disappearing entirely.

Link stared at the empty space where the Light Sage had been, then at the other five Sages (well, one former Sage, Link corrected mentally) lined up and favoring him with varying smiles, all broad and happy, and finally to Zelda. She strode over to him, both of them only vaguely aware of the guards suddenly surrounding Veran. "Well," she said quietly.

"Well," he replied brilliantly.

"It appears there's just one Sage left." She smiled beatifically at him. "Link, my Hero...king, prince and lord, champion of Farore and savior of us all...I can finally do something I've wanted to do for a long time, and you can't stop me." She dropped to one knee before him, and the whole court followed suit, even Veran and Onox. "I cannot offer you any accolades greater than those you have already been given. None of us can honor you more than your deeds and sacrifices have already done. I have only one gift I can give." She looked up at him, eyes alight with joy. "Myself."

He held out his trembling hand. She took it, and he easily helped her to her feet. Zelda felt light as the air itself. "You've outdone them all," he whispered. "You're all I ever wanted." They kissed, and in spite of the cheering, hugging and general outpouring of joy and triumph, there was nothing in the pair's world but the princess and her Hero, together at last.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Zelda sat in the field outside the castle, the road bustling behind her, watching the castle slowly change color as afternoon gave way to evening. The white stone turned a magnificent shade of golden orange this time of day, and the princess usually loved the sight.

Today, though, her final fear stood before her, looking at her with silent, accusing eyes. Her own eyes. And now we find out, the Sage of Time thought, her fingers twitching, if all our battles and sacrifices in the Temples were worth it. She bit her lip and waited. From the clear sky, dark clouds began to form overhead. Guards looked up and muttered nervously. The suddenly massing storm seemed to be coming from nowhere to others, but the princess knew exactly what it was. Almost time. It had been less than a week for Link this time, from drawing the Master Sword to facing Ganon, but it had taken much longer in the other 'stream,' when he'd had to cleanse every Temple after his imprisonment in time.

Zelda smiled as Link returned to her thoughts. Three weeks, and he still jumps at every 'Highness' and 'Majesty.' Her smile faded quickly. He'll be here soon. The Hero of Time would sense this as inevitably as its Sage, if not moreso. She leaned back, letting herself sink into the grass, and closed her eyes. Soon. She could feel Time flexing, weaving, healing after all Ganondorf had done to it. The Arbiter's work was nearly complete. All that remained was to see it through, literally. Her counterpart, the sister-self that had given her and this entire world birth, was stirring. They were about to catch each other up, and then they would flow in parallel as they were meant to.

With a start, she realized that someone was breathing next to her. She opened her eyes to find Link watching over her, smiling with a depth of love that set her heart pounding. "Well," she whispered.

"Well," he replied, stroking her hair gently. "It's so good to finally feel it when I do that. After so many times..."

Zelda's heart clenched. "So many times?"

"Huh." Link chuckled, for once not catching her mood. "I never told you. I dreamed for those years," he said gently, running his fingers through her hair, "training, learning...watching. Watching over my friends, my family. Over you." He smiled wryly. "Still never caught on to Sheik, mind you. Probably explains why I saw you so rarely near the end..."

Zelda sat up, looking away to hide the sudden flicker of doubt in her eyes. He was aware all those years? Farore...what does that mean? She forced her voice to remain calm. "Not me, Link. Not any more."

He slid to her side, his hand resting on hers. "Zel, what...?"

"It's almost here," she whispered, looking up. "That's why you've come, Hero of Time." Zelda felt ghost-like, distant. The woman was swallowed up by the duties of the princess and the Sage.

"I don't...oh," Link said, realization thundering through him. He gripped her hand and pushed himself around to lock eyes with her. Zelda returned to herself, pulled forth by a power to shame his mightiest wonders. "I am yours, Zelda. Yours, and no other's."

"You are Zelda's," she breathed, barely even hearing herself.

With a growl, he gripped her shoulders. The princess felt like a leaf in a storm. "I did love her, that other Zelda. I suppose a part of me still does. But she sent me away, Zel. You've claimed me. Nothing can change that, and nothing ever will." He kissed her, and the gathering storm felt like a mild breeze by comparison. She whimpered desperately.

Link sat back up quickly, releasing her. "I -- I'm sorry, Zel, I --"

"You apologize for that again," Zelda rumbled back, "and I'll..." She sat up and chuckled. "You're contagious, you know that?" Her eyes darted to the castle as the sun sank below the horizon, the black clouds blotting out the moon and stars entirely. Twilight had an eerie, almost unearthly glow then. "It's starting," she whispered, and it was.

A field of tiny golden motes appeared, forming the familiar circle in the air. The circle expanded with each passing second, growing far wider than any such field before it, to obscure Hyrule Castle entirely and reveal the ruins of Ganon's Tower. The artifacts all glowed with the same golden light, gathered in front of the Zelda Link had known first. Her feet were frozen a mere inch above the ground, caught in her descent. As they watched, she gradually returned to life and motion, slowly at first, but soon reaching the same speed as their world. The glows faded. The devices touched the ground.

Zelda -- the first Zelda? the Sage who watched wondered. Zelda-A? That'll do for now, I suppose. Zelda-A looked around sadly, caressing her Ocarina. "It's over, then," she sighed. Not quite stumbling, she walked over to the Fairy Slingshot and picked it up. "Link...tell me I did the right thing," the other princess whispered. Zelda's resentment for her counterpart vanished. That could have been me. She bit her lip. That was me, until she sent me Link. Zelda-A hugged the slingshot to her and started to cry. "Did you want to go? Did you want to stay? Gods forgive me, why didn't I ask you?" Link trembled, but held Zelda's hand more tightly.

A swirl of golden light formed above the ruins. At first, it looked like another artifact appearing, but the Time energy didn't become a gate or a window. Instead, it gathered with increasing size and force, becoming a ball. Zelda-A looked up at it with desperate hope. Zelda looked at Link with confusion, but he was staring at the field of Time energy, hypnotized. She gripped his hand more tightly then, but he remained solid. Trembling with relief, she followed his gaze back to the strange ball of Time.

Both Zeldas gasped as one. The energy was taking a shape, forming stubs, flexing, shifting...the similarity struck Zelda at once. Like a baby growing! Arms and legs appeared, a head stretching out from a rapidly widening body. Zelda-A clasped her hands together, the slingshot still held between them. "Of course," Zelda whispered. "There couldn't be just one of you."

"There couldn't?" Link asked absently. "Isn't that what the Arbiter's been saying all along, that there's just me?"

"But there must have been a Link here. Even if that Zelda sent you 'into' your counterpart, that would double you, after a fashion." She chuckled. "We have the paperwork, love." Then the princess bit her lip. "Maybe...maybe it's the Law of Sympathy. Maybe you would have, I don't know, merged with him if we hadn't sent all those connections, what would have been his, to her world." The Time magic was now clearly in the shape of the ten year old Link, complete with a long hat of golden light drooping behind him. Zelda-A's tears were now tears of joy, a smile dominating her face. "It doesn't matter now," Zelda whispered happily. The light burst free, and young Link, the boy Hero, floated to the ground. A Navi exploded from his hat and swirled wildly. "It's been set right."

Zelda-A approached the lad nervously. "L...Link?"

Young Link looked up in amazement. "Whoa. Are you...Princess Zelda?" Zelda-A nodded. "Are you a goddess?"

"Ah ha ha ha ha!" Zelda-A laughed half-hysterically and threw her arms around the boy. He squirmed. "No, honey, I'm not a goddess." She let him go.

Young Link looked up at the princess and rubbed the back of his neck. The watching Zelda smiled and hugged her Link. "Well...okay, but you kinda feel like one." He looked around. "What the heck happened? I was just starting to sneak through the castle, but then I fell asleep, and..."

Zelda-A reached down and pressed the slingshot into his hand. Young Link jumped in surprise and reached into his fairy space, probing with alarm. "I have a story to tell you," she said, happy tears still trickling down her cheeks, "of a foolish princess, a terrible villain, and the bravest Hero I've ever known." She kissed the lad gently on the cheek, and young Link blushed. "You."

"Me?" Young Link looked up in amazement. "Um, Your Highness, I fought this thing called a Gohma, but that doesn't exactly make me the bravest Hero ever." He looked around oddly. "It's funny, though...I feel like I've had a really long dream. Like I can remember stuff that didn't happen...that almost happened?"

Zelda-A took his hand, looking toward Death Mountain with relief as five spheres of colored light -- their Sages -- flew towards them. "It's a very long story," the exhausted princess explained. As she began to tell him the tale, young Link's eyes slowly lighting up with recognition, the field of Time faded. The two became increasingly ghost-like themselves, until after several minutes, they vanished entirely.

"And they lived happily ever after," Zelda chuckled, hugging Link tightly.

"He's ten," Link pointed out.

"For him, she'll wait," Zelda replied immediately, standing and smiling down at her Hero. "I, on the other hand, don't have to." She moved to guide him to his feet, but lightning crashed suddenly, and the skies opened up. She gasped at the feel of the downpour. Link blurted something incoherent in surprise and leapt to his feet, throwing his shield over her in a chivalrous gesture.

A fey, wild mood struck her then, joy and relief and desire surging through her with a power and speed to shame the lightning above. She stalked into him, sliding her arms around the Hero while he was preoccupied with her defense. Link's eyes bulged. "Uh, Zuh-Zelda? Wh-what are you doing?"

"You're not that innocent any more," she breathed, leaning up until her lips were just shy of his. Zelda let him feel her breathing, holding herself still in spite of the need bursting through her. Her Hero quivered, caught between chivalry and hunger. No, indeed you are not, she realized happily. She leaned forward and pressed her cheek to his, lips now just brushing against his ear. "You said you're mine." He nodded mutely, entire body shaking. "And I am yours. Remember what I once told you was the hardest thing I ever did? Telling you to take off the Oni Mask?"Again, Link nodded, his free arm gripping her waist suddenly. "The mask didn't create any feelings, did it?" she whispered, deliberately touching his ear with her lips again.

"N-no," Link stammered, holding her more tightly.

Zelda's eyes fluttered closed for a moment. Oh, gods. She pressed herself against him. "What I want, and what is right, aren't different any more." The princess leaned back and looked into his eyes. "Let it free, my Hero." Her chin quivered. "Please."

He threw the shield away savagely, pinned her in his arms and kissed her with a ferocious growl. Mine, she thought, tears mingling with the rain. Mine, and no other's. Her mind fell away as he scooped her up in his arms and bore her off, the princess clutching possessively at his tunic. And I am yours, my Hero, heart and soul.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Thunder boomed in the distance, the mountains separating Hyrule from Altea dimming in lightning's wake. Link grinned at them, tugging at his forest green robe. Wow. Leaning on the balcony railing, he let a shudder take him, then whistled the Royal Melody happily. Wow.

The clouds had broken up, and the bright moon was shining down on the kingdom. Link hummed Saria's Song then, feet tapping in memory of a rather more boisterous dance. Wow. Chuckling, he sighed, a daffy smile fixed indelibly on his face. I didn't know there was that much joy in the -- the universe!

Something fluttering and chime-like echoed in his mind. The Hero blinked. Navi? He looked around, realizing that he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his fairy companion. #Navi?#

#Oh, you're done?# she sent with some relief, and something else Link couldn't place.

Rubbing the back of his neck, the Hero sent a sheepish grin. #Um...Zelda's asleep. I just thought I'd get some air and...Navi, I'm still trying to figure out which way is up.# He exhaled, leaning more heavily on the railing. #I...I can't even try to describe it.#

He felt Navi nod, a faint laugh echoing through their connection. #That's okay. Fairies bond to innocence, but we're not, how shall I put this, ignorant of such things.#

Link chuckled and raised an eyebrow. #Oh really? Have you been seeing fairy men behind my back or something?# he quipped.

The Hero's smile faded. A sorrow Navi had been holding back trickled through their bond. #Never,# Navi replied emphatically. #We're best friends, right?#

#Right,# Link 'pathed slowly. #So what aren't you telling me now...# The Hero's eyes widened, and his breath caught. Fairies bond to innocence. Oh, gods. #Navi? Navi, where are you?#

Navi paused reluctantly. #Link, you have Zelda now.#

#No. No, don't do this to me, Navi.# Link gripped the railing, fingers white with strain. #Where are you?#

She spiraled up to him, appearing from the garden below. He couldn't see her with his eyes, but the Hero could sense her twisting her hands together at her waist, tiny teeth playing at her lip nervously. #Link, our bond was always special,# Navi 'pathed, fighting off a sob. #A fairy can bond to any child, but we usually bond Kokiri because they never grow up.# She flew to his cheek and touched it gently. #You were always more pure, more innocent, than you ever gave yourself credit for.#

#What, and, and that means I'm not, now?!# Link shot back desperately, pointing at Zelda's bedroom. #For the love of Nayru, I've never known anything more pure than that!#

Navi smiled, true happiness shining through her grief. #I know, Link, and nothing says more about the goodness in your heart than that.# Link shook his head in confusion. #No, Link. I'm not going to try to explain that. Gods grant that's an innocence you'll never lose.#

"Link?" Zelda moaned sleepily.

"Sh, Zel, it's all right, go back to sleep," he called back quietly. That was a searing lie, he thought painfully, but turned his attention back to Navi. #So what's going on, or can't you explain that either?#

#Link, purity isn't innocence,# Navi said wearily. #You've been saying it yourself for years. Our bond has held through thick and thin, through joys and horrors, because you were always the courageous, kind-hearted Kokiri boy I bonded, no matter who gave birth to you.# She alighted on his shoulder, folded her wings, and leaned against his neck, crying quietly. #But, but now you're a Hylian in your heart, a grown man. You have Zelda. You don't need me any more.#

"That's not true," Link said hoarsely. "Who says I have to choose one of you? Why should I have to?"

"It's not about choice," Navi whispered. "This was always going to happen, Link. I'm just glad it did...the way it did."

"Link?" Zelda called, stepping onto the balcony. Even in his current state, her beauty struck him dumb, robed as she was in silver-white silk. She all but glowed in the moonlight, her golden hair shining. "You're upset. I could feel it." Her eyes met his when he turned, careful as he was not to dislodge his fairy partner. She gasped and ran to him, fingers touching his cheeks. "You're crying! Navi, what's..." Her eyes flickered down to the fairy, Navi's size unable to hide the truth from a wizard trained in Sheikah arts. Zelda's hands flew to her mouth. "No. Oh, no, no, no."

"Don't you dare blame yourself, Zelda," Navi insisted, folding her arms firmly. "I just got through telling the thick-headed Hero here, this had to happen."

"But, but there has to be another way!" Zelda insisted. Impossibly, Link loved her more then.

Navi chuckled sadly and shook her head. "Noble Zelda. There are some things even you and Link can't change." She flew from Link's shoulder, hovering between them. "There is one last gift I can give you both, though."

"Navi," Link said desperately, "if I've lost this innocence you're talking about, why hasn't the bond already broken?" Farore, please!

"It's always been strong," Navi replied fondly. "You've always been strong. Please, Link, let me give you this." She spread her hands out, and azure sparkles of fairy light wafted to Zelda, surrounding her. Link could feel his princess through the bond, her depths and heights, her insight and compassion, and the love he felt from her nearly knocked him off his feet.

Zelda reeled as well, gasping in time with the Hero. She reached out to him, and he caught her, the Sage providing as much balance as she received. "You...I thought I knew how much...gods, who could deserve..." she looked up at Navi suddenly. "Wait. Navi?"

Link's eyes shot up then as well, frightened for a moment, but he could still feel the connection. Indeed, it was stronger than ever. "Navi?" She hovered there, all but paralyzed save for her wings. #Navi?#

The fairy looked at her hands incredulously. "This...it's not possible. I was giving my bond to Zelda, but..."

From somewhere beyond, a voice familiar to Link and Navi chuckled lovingly. #Didst thou think thou art a typical fairy, bending Time itself as thou dost to protect thy charge? Didst thou believe that the legendary Hero would have any lesser partner than a legendary guide?#

#Great...Deku Tree?# Zelda gasped mentally.

There was the sense of a nod through their minds, a paternal love rippling across Time and Realms. #Though I perished long ago by the standards of those who walk and fly, the great deeds and sacrifices of the Hero and Sage of Time have been noted even in the Sacred Realm itself.# His mighty face of wood and bark appeared in their minds, smiling with vast and secret knowledge. #Just as Link was the Boy Without a Fairy, thou, beloved child of wind and Time, were the Fairy Without a Child.#

Navi nodded, though she still felt confused to Link. #Sure, but I thought you were just waiting for the right...child...oh.#

The Great Deku Tree laughed. #And so I was! Though few Hylians will ever retain the qualities necessary to maintain such bonds into adulthood, it is not impossible. Who could better hold such wonder and nobility in their hearts than Link, Hero of Time, and Zelda, Princess of Destiny?# With that, the mighty spirit's presence faded.

Link, Zelda and Navi looked at each other for a long moment. Then as one, they laughed with joy and relief. Link hugged his Zelda, and with their mana and love, they flowed their embrace around their fairy partner as well.

After a long moment of peace, however, Zelda shuddered, and Link held her tight to avoid stumbling from his own shiver. Navi giggled. #Now this doesn't mean I won't be making myself scarce at, um, 'certain moments,' all right?#

As one, the Hero and Sage of Time laughed. "I think we'll all be happier that way, Navi," Link agreed wryly. "Come on, Zel. I think we'd better sit down before we fall over."

"The fairy tales never mentioned this part, either," Zelda muttered wryly. Link watched Navi flit off across the garden again, catching a glimpse of a very satisfied-looking Impa before they rounded the corner.

Now there's an odder couple than I would've imagined, he thought with a chuckle. "So Zel, how is the fairy tale supposed to go?" he asked with a smile and a kiss on her cheek.

Zelda grinned and hugged him tightly. "Well, we're almost at the end. The villain's been vanquished, true love has conquered all...there's only one part left." At Link's quirked eyebrow, the princess laughed. "The wedding, of course!"

 

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