Chapter Text
“So, are you nervous.” Impa glanced at her friend a gleam in her eyes .
Zelda glared at her friend playfully, admonishing, “Impa.”
The Sheikah warrior held her hands up “I’m just making sure. I mean this is a big deal, your going to ask your knight and friend if he wishes to court you. I want to make sure you’re ready.”
Zelda blushed, wringing her hands. “Well to be frank... Impa I think I’m more terrified than I was on the day of the Calamity.”
“Your Highness, you can’t be serious.”
Turing to her friend, as the birds in the garden chirped in the nearby trees. Blushing, she confessed what had been weighing on her.
“It’s just I trained my whole life to fight the Calamity, and I was highly aware as it grew closer that I hadn’t awakened my power. When it came and my power didn’t come i wasn’t shocked, it was just the inevitable at that point, and then well you know the rest. I wasn’t scared any more. But this- I mean I knew at some point i would have to marry, but the Calamity took up most of my time, and well... I have no control over this, Link could say no... And then it will be awkward and I just– Impa, what do I do! What if-”
“Zelda,” Impa grabbed her shoulders, stopping her rambling. “Link wouldn’t hurt you, and even if it is awkward, he would still be your friend. I mean he’s friends with Revali.”
Zelda snorted remembering the Rito’s face when Link confirmed he thought of him as a friend. It was the most taken off guard she had ever seen him.
“I just wish there was some way to know for sure.” She trailed off as the air seemed to warp. She whipped her head around, hair standing on end as the air became charged.
Impa must have sensed the change too as she pulled out her Kodachi and stood in front of the Princess. A light appeared in the small grove of trees to the side of the path, before disappearing as something fell from it hitting the ground with a thud. A gleam of metal shot from the bush before coming to an abrupt stop, stabbing the dirt in front of the them.
“Impa! Look.” Zelda pointed to the object, having just seen that very weapon just yesterday. “Isn’t that-“ They both exchanged stricken looks as they gazed at the shattered Master Sword in front of them, before booking it into the brush. Zelda scooped up the sword on the way by.
The object that had landed heralded just what they feared.
“Link!” Zelda skidded to a stop beside her knight. It was definitely him, even without seeing his face, the familiar champions tunic, scabbard, and ponytail was enough to give it away. However unlike the day before when she had seen him off as he went to visit family, he was injured. His entire right arm was charred and almost looked necrotic with how shriveled it was.
She pulled him over and felt tears well at the pained expression on his face. Link wasn’t as expressionless as they said. She knew that well; you just had to look closely sometimes, but this was the first she had seen such agony written there.
A gasp sounded over her shoulder, but too caught up in despair it went unnoticed until a tug from Impa shook her. “Zelda! Look!”
She tilted her head over wondering how on earth Impa could be worrying about anything but Link being so horribly mutilated. She was so distraught it took a moment to see what Impa saw, thoughts stopping in their tracks for a second before whirling, her distress momentarily forgotten as the analytical part of her mind took precedent. “What, but-“
A groan came from the other person that Link had been lying on. Holding really, Zelda now realized, his left hand still clutching the fabric of a hood in a white knuckled grip even in the troughs of pain.
The lady clutched her head as she sat up, opening her eyes before gasping as both parties took the other in. Green eyes widened as clarity returned, then fear.
“Wha- stay away from him!” The other Zelda with short hair—because really that is what they were seeing—demanded as she all but threw herself over the injured knight, causing the longer haired princess to scoot back toward Impa, broken master sword clutched to her sternum. “Is this some kind of sick Yiga ploy!”
“What- your high- err... Zelda?! No!” Sputtering for words, Impa clutched her head, “Actually I will admit I’m confused as to what is happening.“ Impa floundered, especially at the accusation. The Yiga, while annoying had become much more important allies and she didn’t really see that changing anytime soon.
“Please, we’re not Yiga, I-“
“Don’t think for a moment I would believe that, although why you would choose such outdated disguises I don’t know, but I will not allow you to hurt one hair on my knight!” She raised her hand, and both Impa and Zelda prepared to be blasted back by sacred power, but instead nothing happened. The girls face twisted in panic before falling in anguish. Zelda felt her heart break a little for the girl in front of her. She knew intimately the pain and hopelessness the inability to use her powers had caused.
A new thought took hold.
What if this is the Zelda from the other world? The one Terrako is from.
After all nothing said that the two worlds were a one-to-one copy. And they only had pictures of destruction, none of people. Glancing at Link, his champions tunic while a similar design had differences. A silvery burn scar worked it’s way up the left side of his face that their Link didn’t have. Her thoughts whirled at this new possibility, and she wondered if Impa thought much the same as they shared a glance.
“Stay back!” The short haired girl glanced around before her eyes finally landed on the sword in Zelda’s hands. Confusion entered her eyes, “How-“
“There! See, no one but the Princess or the Hero can hold that sword, right.” Impa took the opening, “Therefore it’s only logical that somehow, she’s also the Princess.”
“But that not possible!”
“It is!” Zelda jumped in, eager to assuage the situation. “There is one possibility that you haven’t thought of. You’re in another world! In fact it’s not the first time that we ourselves have had visitors from another time.
“Another world?” They could see as she thought through the possibility, her gaze taking in the castle gardens and stone walls. The fierce look in her eyes eased the longer she stayed silent.
“So you are actually me? And Impa?” The skeptical look was slowly being replaced with dread.
“Yes!” Zelda enthusiastically confirmed. “In fact-“
A groan cut them off.
“Link!”
Turning around at once to her knight, she leaned over him just as his eyes opened a sliver. They roved over the trees above before locking onto the shorter haired girl.
“Zel-“ A cough cut him off, turning quickly into a fit that stole his breath entirely. Both Impa and Zelda wanted desperately to help, but left it to his Princess. She took charge, turning him on his side, rubbing his back. Soon the fit ceased as fast as it started, Link flopping gracelessly on his back, face flushed, his eyes soon finding her, exhaustion bleeding through. “Ugh.”
“Shhh, don’t worry Link, I’m here, you’ll be just fine...” She reached up and brushed his sweaty bangs away from his forehead. “Just rest for now. I’ve got you.”
He reached his undamaged hand up and grabbed the hand in his hair, bringing it to his heart, lacing their fingers together. “Foolish man, I don’t need comfort. You’re the one injured.” A wan smirk was her only answer before his tired eyes closed.
“Um- You’re highness?” Impa said after she broke from looking at the almost intimate display, looking to her Zelda, “Princess?”
“Hmmm,” Face heated, she turned to her friend.
“We should probably get... Link..?” Her face showed uncertainty with the name. The last time they had otherworldly visitors they had unique names. Well except Sidon, but it wasn’t like little Sidon was following them into battle. Zelda shrugged, not sure how to address this, so Impa continued with a breath, “We should probably get Link to the physician.’
Impa took off to inform the royal physician of a coming patient, and returned not long later with a stretcher. They were able to lift the injured knight onto it and were about to take off when the other princess brought up something very important.
“Wait! People will recognize us.”
“Princess if I may?” At her nod, Impa continued, “I think it is inevitable that your presence here will be known, there will be no hiding you or Link. We were already going to have to report your presence to the king anyway.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” She whispered it, a fist clenched to her breast. Stealing herself she nodded. “Very well.”
Walking forward she grabbed the end of the stretcher nearest Link’s head. Impa and Zelda shared saddened glances, it was obvious that this Zelda hadn't yet had her father apologize.
If he even could anymore.
Impa grabbed the other end, her Zelda leading the way to the infirmary.
***
“I’m sorry, this is like no illness I’ve seen. The closest is some of the burns during the Calamity from Malice, but it was nothing like this.” The elderly physician held Link’s arm delicately, poking and prodding in various spots. The knight laid unconscious, his armor having been removed for better accessibility. It gave Zelda a more clear view of the scar she had spied on his face earlier. It tore down his throat and splayed out on his chest. She wondered what could have done that. It was reminiscent of- “His arms looks almost necrotic! I would almost say it was too late and that amputation would be necessary.”
Zelda’s stomach churned, surely there was another way.
That’s his sword arm.
The shorter haired girl pursed her lips listening intently to the man as he examined her knight. Zelda wasn’t sure how she could keep her composure, she was already filling ill at the thought of someone who was very familiar to them having their limb removed. He may not have been her Link but he was similar in all the ways that mattered. “But he has feeling in it, so blood is still reaching where it needs... Hmm, I’ll have to look at my books for further consensus.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course... Princess?”
“Just Zelda is fine.... I’m not your princess.” She took the hand that wasn’t damaged holding it tenderly.
“...But you are a princess.” The physician raised a white bushy brow as he gathered his things to be put away. The other princess barely glanced his way before tending once more to Link, fluffing his pillows and pulling the blanket over his bare chest.
“Of a sort... may I stay here with him?” Zelda exchanged a glance at Impa, what could she have meant by “Of a sort.”?
“Of course let me get you a chair, and you may use the cot next to you for sleeping if you want.”
“I’m most gracious to your generosity. Truly.” The elderly man having gathered his equipment walked to another area, carefully putting them away. The shorter haired princess continued her fussing, going as far as to fix Link’s bangs, causing Zelda to blush at the familiarity the other princess gave her knight. Her face nearly exploded when Impa flashed a knowing smirk in her direction.
A knock sounded at the door, a knight walking in, halting in surprise only for a moment at the scene before him. He probably had some idea of what to expect, considering they weren’t subtle running down the halls. “Your Highness.”
Zelda turned to the door, “Yes, what is it?”
“His Majesty requests your presence in his study.”
“Oh! Of course.” Turning to her companions, “I guess it’s time to face the music. I’ll explain the situation, no worries... Zelda.” Chuckling at the strangeness, and seeing the same expression on the other girls face. We’re going to need someway to distinguish each other. Turning to Impa. “Will you wait here with them until I get back with news.”
“Yes Princess.” Impa nodded, turning back as the other princess took a seat in the newly acquired chair.
Taking a last look at the two visitors, she closed the door to make her way to the King’s study.