Chapter Text
Link's breathing was laboured, muscles quivering with the excessive adrenaline coursing through his veins. He stared at Ganondorf, heart hammering in his chest.
Was it really finally over?
And if it was, would it mean anything? After all, Ganondorf had made it explicitly clear that Midna was gone. Midna, the Twilight Princess, Link's companion, somebody both himself and Zelda had cherished, was gone.
Maybe that's why, instead of relief, Link felt hollow, empty, indifferent. Maybe even a little anxious and sick now that the realisation was hitting him.
Midna, the woman he'd fallen in love with, was gone.
Ganondorf stumbled to his feet, breaths ragged, pained. Link instinctively reached for the Master Sword before realising it was still lodged inside Ganondorf's abdomen. Ganondorf staggered a few times, and mustered up the strength to spit out a few sentences about how this wasn't over before his eyes turned milky and he collapsed in a heap on the ground.
Link let out a breath he didn't realise he was holding.
It was over. It was finally over.
A blinding light from behind captured both Link's and Zelda's attention. Link squinted, partially to shield his eyes from the intense glow of the four spirits, partially to make out the figure atop the hill.
Is that... Midna..?
Her helmet was unmistakable. But... how..? Ganondorf had crushed a piece of the Fused Shadow, signalling Midna's defeat.
As the light shone brighter, Link's legs started moving before his mind could catch up. He found himself running—no, sprinting—up the hill, one word replaying itself in his mind.
Midna!
As he reached the top of the hill, the bright lights had dimmed. Midna stood. This was... different. She was tall, slender, clothed in flowing black robes, with the signature Twili pattern, that blew with the breeze. Her hair, that beautiful, almost glowing molten gold, was longer, framing her face beautifully as it also moved with the slight wind.
Link's jaw dropped slightly, heart hammering against his chest, threatening to burst through his ribcage. His entire body felt like jelly, every single cell devoted to worshipping the beauty before him.
She's beautiful, he thought to himself. Not that she wasn't before, but goddesses, he was not expecting this.
Midna looked at him intensely, her bright, orange, almost catlike, eyes burning into his. She smiled, cocking her head, "Well? Say something! Or has my beauty left you speechless?" she said teasingly.
Link picked his jaw up off the floor and closed the gap between them with a few long strides. He stared at her in wonder, his eyes prickling with tears—happy tears, tears of relief and joy as all the hollowness was replaced by these emotions hitting him at once—before enveloping her in a hug, his grip tight, as if he was scared that if he let go, she'd vanish.
Midna gasped as she was pulled into Link's chest but immediately softened as his hands came to rest at the small of her back. She wrapped her arms around his chest, breathing in his familiar scent.
"I-I can't believe it..." he murmured, his voice vibrating against her. "You're... you're alive! I thought I'd lost you forever!"
Midna held him at arm's length, her eyes flitting from his azure orbs, which were glassy, tears threatening to spill, to his lips, smiling, but quivering ever so slightly, and back. She cupped his face, using her thumbs to wipe Link's eyes softly, and gave him a tender smile, her own eyes starting to gloss over. "I thought I'd lost you and Zelda! I was so afraid that I'd royally screwed it up for everyone..."
Zelda, as if on cue, walked over and smiled reassuringly, "You did no such thing. You have done so much for me, for Link, and for all of Hyrule..." Zelda's eyes filled with tears—tears of joy that her one treasure was okay, tears of joy that her kingdom was finally free from the evil that had tormented it for years. "We are forever indebted to you, Midna."
She wasn't sure if it was the relief that it was over; the sight of Zelda, the girl she had met in the fountain all those years ago, and the woman she considered her dearest friend for all these years since; or being surrounded by so much love and tenderness for the first time in forever that finally broke the floodgates, but tears started streaming down Midna's face as she hugged Zelda tightly. Zelda's arms immediately wrapped around Midna, her own tears freely flowing now.
"Oh, Zelda... I-I'm so happy... you're okay..." Midna managed between sobs. "I-I was so worried! Y-you're my best friend and... I don't know what I would have done if... i-if..."
Zelda shushed her gently, stroking her hair to soothe her. "You're my best friend too; my one treasure. I'm so glad... so glad that you're alright..." She mumbled into Midna's auburn locks.
In Zelda's arms, Midna's sobs slowly quieted. She eventually pulled away and took one of Zelda's hands in hers, and one of Link's in the other, gazing tenderly at them both.
"Who knew two light dwellers would become the people I grew to value most?" Midna teased, eyes still shining.
Link let out a small chuckle, giving Midna's hand a light squeeze. "Who knew I'd get to meet two princesses!" he joked, trying to lighten the mood, all too aware that Midna was clearly still emotional.
The sound of hearty laughter from all three filled the air as they turned and made their way back to Castle Town.
"We ought to celebrate!" Zelda said when the laughter had died down. "I'll throw a ball; people of both realms welcome!"
Link nodded enthusiastically, "I think we all deserve a party... maybe Telma can brew something special for the occasion."
Midna smiled, "I think I'd like that."