Chapter Text
It was a cool, cloudy early afternoon at Hyrule Castle as Minister of Transportation Tyron arrived for his scheduled meeting with Princess Zelda, known to family and friends as Astra. His first stop was at Royal Secretary Myra’s desk.
“Good afternoon, Myra,” said Tyron. “I hope you’re doing well and not overworked supporting two royal family members.”
Myra smiled warmly. “I’m fine, Tyron, and so is the work. It should just be another few moments. Her Highness is finishing an earlier meeting. How’s the family?”
“Doing fine,” said Tyron. “My wife is well. Our daughter enjoys teaching history, and our son works in the accounting department here in the castle.”
“Wonderful,” said Myra, who paused, looking more closely at Tyron. “Are you feeling well? You’re dressed rather warm.”
Tyron chuckled. “I’ve learned to come prepared, as Her Highness likes to leave her windows open no matter the weather. Though she is very considerate when offering hot tea.”
“Ah, yes,” Myra nodded knowingly. “She did light a fire today, though, so the office should be comfortable.”
Tyron raised an eyebrow in surprise. “She lit it herself?”
“Her Highness often enjoys doing things for herself,” said Myra. “She is very considerate in that way.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” said Tyron.
Just then, Astra’s office door opened, and the Minister of Public Works named Pallon exited. Myra was about to get up to check with Astra if she should send Tyron in when Pallon spoke up.
“Myra, Her Highness said Tyron can go right in,” said Pallon.
“Thanks!” said Tyron as he and Myra smiled at each other. Myra raised her eyebrows, saying, “ See what I mean?”
Tyron entered the office, closing the door behind him, and Astra greeted him warmly.
“Good afternoon, Minister Tyron; I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long,” said Astra. “Please take a seat. May I offer you some hot tea?”
“Yes, thank you, Your Highness, and not at all,” said Tyron as he sat in front of Astra’s desk and slid slightly back to be closer to the fire, then accepted the cup of tea. “The small wait allowed me to catch up with Myra, whom I’ve known for years.”
“Now, it would help me if we went over your department’s last two reports together, and I could ask questions as we did,” said Astra as she pulled out two documents.
The meeting lasted well over an hour and it was mid-afternoon when it finally ended.
“Minister Tyron, I appreciate your insights and this stimulating discussion,” Astra said as she and Tyron stood up from their chairs. “Now, I will better understand your department’s future reports.”
“I am happy to be of service, Your Highness. Until our next meeting, then,” said Tyron.
With a brief bow, Tyron exited Astra’s office. Soon after, Myra appeared at Astra’s door.
“Just a reminder, Highness; that was your final meeting today,” Myra stated.
“Thank you, Myra. Now I can delve into these other reports,” Astra replied, nodding towards the stack of papers on her desk.
It had been just over three weeks since Astra settled into her new office, and she was slowly gaining more confidence in her role. Her morning and early afternoon today were filled with meetings with some of the kingdom’s ministers, as she believed in building personal connections rather than solely relying on written reports. She and Queen Zelda had split the tasks, with Zelda retaining important matters where continuity of oversight was necessary. At the same time, Astra took on overseeing recurring duties to become more acquainted with the ins and outs of governing a kingdom.
Zelda sat in her office a short way down the hall. She was busy reading, and her brow furrowed in concentration as she worked through reports and signed official documents that required it. Suddenly, the quiet was interrupted by a loud meow, and Zelda looked up to see her cat, Mia, race off. It wasn’t unusual for Mia to roam about the castle, often visiting Astra’s office or even making her way to the kitchen, so Zelda wasn’t concerned.
Just outside their two offices, Myra was back at her desk beginning to work on tomorrow’s schedule when Mia unexpectedly hopped onto her desk and let out several loud meows, staring at Myra as if expecting her to understand.
“I know you must think me stupid, Mia, but I don’t understand cat language,” said Myra.
As if she understood, Mia glanced back at Zelda’s office, then turned back to Myra and meowed again.
“Oh! I think I know what you mean now,” said Myra as she reached down and opened the bottom right drawer of her desk. Mia wasted no time hopping down, climbing into the empty drawer, and curling up inside. Myra gently petted her once, then got up and went to Zelda’s open office door. Before she could knock, Zelda noticed her presence.
“Yes, Myra?” asked Zelda.
“I believe there may be a storm approaching, Your Majesty,” said Myra with a hint of concern. “Mia is hiding in my desk, which is usually a sign of bad weather.”
“Thank you for letting me know. And yes, Mia is quite a good storm predictor,” chuckled Zelda, glancing out the window. “Please inform Astra, too - I notice she prefers leaving her windows open.”
“Right away,” replied Myra, hastening to deliver the news to Astra.
Myra rapped gently on the already open door upon reaching Astra’s office.
“Forgive the interruption, Highness, but I have on good authority that a storm is brewing,” said Myra. “Perhaps we should close the windows?”
“Yes, indeed we should. Thanks, Myra,” said Astra as she stood up, and they divided the work into closing the four windows. “Who was the good authority?”
“Mia,” laughed Myra, making Astra laugh as well.
“So, that cute cat earns its keep by predicting bad weather?” laughed Astra.
“Yes, and then hides in my desk away from all the windows,” said Myra.
Myra returned to her desk, and Astra picked up a report to go through. But she had trouble concentrating.
Where she had grown up, of course, her Tab would have predicted the bad weather, not her mother’s cat. Silly as it seemed, life without Tabs was one of the most difficult adjustments for her. Like others her age, from the moment she was old enough to have one, Tabs had been an essential part of her life in so many ways. She used it for listening to music or audiobooks, taking pictures, catching up on the latest news and gossip, paying for purchases, creating rune-based items when needed, and messaging or calling family and friends. Everyone she knew in her former timeline had a Tab and could be easily reached at almost any time. Speaking of people she wished she could reach, she wondered how Fallon was doing. His army unit was away on a visit to the Gerudo Desert. She recalled their goodbye after a light fast-food dinner in Castle Town.
The moon cast a pale glow over the castle grounds as Fallon and Astra walked hand in hand towards the entrance. The thought of being apart for ten days weighed heavily on them both.
“Ten days is a long time to be away,” said Astra as she squeezed his hand tighter. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too, sweetheart,” said Fallon as he squeezed her hand back. “Very much. I wish I were already a Royal Guard so I could remain here instead.”
Their steps slowed as they reached the entrance, neither one wanting to say goodbye. But Astra succumbed to annoyance and broke the silence.
"Why is your unit being sent to the Gerudo Region? And what are you training to defend us from?”
“It’s part of a longstanding exchange program with the Gerudo army,” said Fallon. “Periodically, they send one of their units here, and we send one there. We’re supposed to learn from each other. As to what we’re supposed to practice defending from, I don’t honestly know. I only know this exchange program has been going on for years, and I understand that the Gerudo insist on continuing it.”
“Really? I wonder what they expect to learn from their Hylian counterparts,” said Astra. “With all due respect to the Hylian army, the Gerudo are already quite proud and capable warriors.”
“Well, the rumor is they actually use this exchange program as a way for their guards to meet Voe,” said Fallon. “You know how pushy Gerudo Vai can be when they are eager to find a husband. They can literally sweep a Hylian Voe off his feet.”
“So while I’m here missing you, you could be swept off your feet by some sneaky Gerudo Vai? Thank you for leaving me with that thought as we prepare to part,” said Astra as they reached the castle entrance. “Now you owe me some especially affectionate goodnight kisses. And don’t you dare grow close to any Vai!”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart - as usual, I wasn’t thinking and shouldn’t have said anything,” Fallon at once apologized.
“Trust me, I love you, and my heart belongs only to you. I’m more worried you’ll meet some handsome and brave Royal Guard officer while I’m gone. And believe me, my kisses would be affectionate without you prompting me. I’ll be thinking about you every chance I get, and I can’t wait to hold you in my arms when I return,” said Fallon before they began kissing over and over in the moonlight by the castle entrance.
Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of thunder, followed by heavy rain pelting the windows. Astra got up from her desk and stared out the windows, impressed by the storm’s strength.
A moment later, Zelda rose from her desk, closed her office door behind her, and stopped at Myra’s desk.
“Is Astra free, Myra?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, Her Highness has concluded her last meeting of the day.”
“I’ll just pop in and see how she’s doing,” said Zelda, who then went to Astra’s office.
“May I come in?”
“Of course,” Astra replied, turning to see Zelda at the doorway. “It’s quite the storm!”
“This is your first storm in your new office, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” said Astra. “I think the last big storm we had was a month ago, and I was asleep in my room when it woke me up. Are you able to work through storms like this?”
“If I have to,” said Zelda. “But I prefer to pause in my work and admire nature. Concentrating is hard in a strong storm, anyway. Let me close your door as it helps muffle some of the noise for Mia.”
Zelda shut the door behind her and moved closer to Astra as a bolt of lightning illuminated the room, quickly followed by a booming clap of thunder that seemed to shake the walls. The wind outside was so strong that it splattered raindrops hard against the windows.
“I’m glad Myra and I closed the windows in time,” said Astra, her voice barely audible over the storm. “Otherwise, I’d be scrambling to gather reports scattered all across the room.”
“And Myra would insist on helping you. Forgive me if this is too personal, but I was curious why you prefer always keeping your windows open,” Zelda asked.
“There is nothing too personal I wouldn’t share with you, Mother,” Astra smiled at Zelda. “Well, almost nothing.”
Zelda chuckled softly. “I understand, sweetheart. But please know that you can always confide in me if something is troubling you.”
Astra nodded and took a deep breath before continuing. “I’ve always found comfort in looking out open windows. My earliest memories are of my mother holding me by a window and pointing out the stars, telling me I was called Astra because of one that appeared the day I was born. And if I can, every night before bed, I look out at the sky and our magnificent kingdom of Hyrule, savoring its beauty before drifting off to sleep.”
“It’s a lovely habit,” Zelda said, placing a hand on Astra’s shoulder. “And one that I encourage you to continue.”
“I will,” Astra promised with a smile.
“If you don’t mind, whenever you feel like it, I would love to hear more of your childhood memories,” said Zelda. “I know another me got to live them with you, but I would like to at least know about them. However, speaking of the ‘almost’ nothing too personal, I hope Fallon isn’t on duty during this storm. Not only is it dangerous, but I remember his tragic story about losing his parents to lightning strikes, which would certainly make it even more fearful for him.”
“He’s told me he’s been able to overcome most of his fears surrounding lightning,” Astra assured her. “And as it happens, he’s not here as his unit is visiting the Gerudo Region. So, the good news is he is safe from the storm. But the bad news is he’s far away and out of touch amidst all those aggressive Gerudo Vai, one of whom may try to snatch him up as the Voe of her dreams.”
Despite how silly it seemed to Zelda, she could see that Astra seemed genuinely concerned about this possibility.
"If that’s the bad news, sweetheart, then you have nothing to be worried about,” Zelda replied. “You’re smart, beautiful, and a princess. I don’t think anyone in the kingdom even comes close to being as desirable as that. Besides, you could always challenge any such rash Gerudo Vai to combat. I understand that is one way the Gerudo settle competing interests over the same Voe.”
“Funny, you always know how to make me feel better,” Astra chuckled. “Except when you’re scolding me for being reckless."
“Which I trust I shouldn’t have to do anymore, right?” laughed Zelda.
The room was filled with the sound of rain drumming against the glass and occasional peals of thunder following flashes of lightning that illuminated the dark sky as they stood looking out the window.
As the storm raged outside, Zelda turned to Astra and gently took her hand. After a moment of silence, she asked, “I know this place can be difficult for you, and we don’t often talk about it. But are you happy here?”
Astra turned away from the window to face Zelda.
“In some ways, yes,” she replied. “I am happy to fulfill Hylia’s purpose for me, which is to protect her land and people. And I’m also grateful to have you and Fallon in my life. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss my family, especially my dear sister and father.”
“I can only imagine how difficult that must be for you,” Zelda sympathized. “Recently, I’ve been pondering what Dr. Purah told us about your unique origins and the concept of timelines. In a way, you are here because your father isn’t. Do you ever resent giving up the life you once knew to make room for your father and Mipha’s relationship?”
Astra gave a small smile in response.
“That’s an interesting perspective, Mother,” she replied. “But I never think of it in those terms. Of course, I understand where you’re coming from. If my father hadn’t traveled back in time, I might have been born here as your and Link’s daughter and had a normal life. And there’s a possibility that I could have had younger siblings. But then my half-sister and all my other half-siblings wouldn’t exist, along with all the people we lost in the Calamity. From reading my father’s journal, I know that his desire to be with Mipha was what drove his obsession with time travel. However, it also created a more advanced and prosperous version of Hyrule. Perhaps Goddess Hylia uses our own desires to fulfill her plans for her people, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Zelda replied with a sigh. “I know Dr. Purah explained it all scientifically, but the concept of multiple timelines still seems unreal to me. You have experienced both worlds, so they are both real for you. But for me, it’s hard to believe that there is another version of Hyrule somewhere where everything is different. Where exactly is it? We can’t communicate with it or access it in any way. It might as well be a figment of our imaginations.”
Astra nodded in understanding. “Yes, now I can empathize with how my father must have felt when he was transported back to his original timeline, thanks to Timela’s powers. Sometimes, it does feel like a dream. And without the tangible evidence of pictures I have on my Tab - something my father didn’t have with him - it would be difficult to convince anyone else of its reality. If everyone told me it was all just a delusion and urged me to move on with my life, I could see myself giving up and eventually accepting their version of the truth."
The sound of thunder interrupted their conversation once again before Astra continued.
“But what about you, Mother? Are you truly happy?”
Zelda smiled and squeezed Astra’s hand.
“A good deal happier since you came into my life!” said Zelda. “I have already told you how I felt - that my life was one great tragedy and failure after another. First, losing my mother, then my father, my kingdom and its people, my friends, including my closest companion, Link, and finally, my beloved husband. You never met him, sweetheart, but my husband was wonderful. His death at the hands of the Yiga Clan was a devastating blow that left a huge void in my life that seemed impossible to fill. I was in the depths of despair after that, my only consolation being that everyone dearest to me was gone, so all I had left to lose was my own life. But my despair was not just for myself. I realized that without a blood descendant of mine, Hyrule would be doomed the next time Ganon returned. But then you came along, sweetheart, and brought light back into my world. As I said before, your arrival was a lifesaver for both me and our kingdom. I thank Hylia daily for bringing you here and seek her forgiveness for my weakness in losing faith in her during those dark times.”
“I think anyone’s faith would be sorely tested by such a string of tragedies, Mother,” said Astra as she hugged her tightly.
Again, they had to pause and wait for the sound of thunder to fade before Astra spoke.
“Mother, do you ever feel the urge to escape the monotony of office life and feel the thrill of the wild once again? Riding horseback across the land without a care in the world? We could do that together sometimes. My horseback riding has improved quite a bit since I first got here."
Zelda took a moment to reflect before answering, “I do sometimes fondly recall my time with Link. Traveling around Hyrule as a young adventurer seeking new knowledge was exhilarating. And yes, I would enjoy going riding with you now that Hyrule is safe. But is talking of this your way of coaxing me into sharing stories about your father?”
“Only if you’d like to, Mother,” laughed Astra. “After all, sharing memories should go both ways.”
Zelda let out a wistful sigh. “It’s hard to believe that all of that happened so long ago now,” she said. “It’s been almost 130 years now. I know it must have felt more recent for your father, who slept for a hundred years. But for me, it’s different. While Link slept, I was very much awake, though transformed into something more spiritual. I don’t like to recall that hundred-year-long battle to contain that horrible creature, Ganon. He may have appeared mindless towards the end, but he wasn’t always like that. He knew I could hear his thoughts and taunted me, using my fear of failure and inadequacy against me."
“It seems the blood of the goddess has shrunk to a trickle within you, Zelda,” Ganon laughed, mocking me as he sensed my power slowly weakening. “Admit it. You are an utter failure, a disappointment to your father and the whole kingdom. Your hero is half-dead and useless now. He will never return in time. Give up your foolish hope now, Zelda, and I will be merciful in your and your hero’s deaths. Keep resisting me, and once your power is gone, I will kill you both painfully and imprison your spirits forever, as I’ve done with the Divine Beast pilots you were also unable to save.”
“I could feel the weight of his words pressing down on me, trying to crush my will to fight on. That’s just a small taste of what I had to endure. But one thing kept me going: I never lost faith in your father, knowing he would fight to the death if given the chance. But did Link not tell you much about those times I shared in his life?”
“He tended to dwell on how to protect myself and what I might expect here,” said Astra. “When he told stories of you and him together, it was always with that goal in mind.”
“I can understand that,” said Zelda with a nod. “Link always leaned toward the practical with a heavy dose of reckless impatience. Purah told me of when Link came to her at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab to upgrade my Sheikah Slate and ended up storming out - no pun intended, given our weather.”
“Purah told me about that, too,” said Astra. “If I recall, it went like this.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” exclaimed Link in a tone of exasperation. “Now I need what?”
“I never joke about my work,” said Purah. “To upgrade the Stasis Rune, we need three Ancient Cores.”
Link checked Zelda’s Sheikah Slate, where he stored items collected in his travels, and found he had only one Ancient Core. He remembered he had recovered that core after destroying a Guardian Stalker southwest of Kakariko Village.
“Is it necessary to upgrade the Stasis Rune at all?” said Link as he put away the Sheikah Slate. “Guardians don’t seem to drop Ancient Cores very often, so this could take some time. I’m doing okay so far without it and am eager to press on, free the Divine Beasts, and aid Princess Zelda. She and her father’s spirit both urged me to hurry.”
“I agree there is an urgency to your quest,” said Purah. “But the upgraded Stasis Rune can briefly stop enemies in their tracks and could prove useful in your battles, especially against larger monsters like the Hinox. It could even save your life. Stopping time requires considerable energy, and that’s where the need for Ancient Cores comes in. Those crystals are a valuable source of concentrated power and are sadly often destroyed along with the Guardian, which is why they are rare. My colleague Robbie is more of an expert, but the way they work is ….”
“Fine, I’ll hunt down two more Ancient Cores, Dr. Purah,” said Link as he prepared to leave. “But I have no time to listen to theory.”
“Theory or not, you need to survive to reach the Princess, and an upgraded Stasis Rune can help,” said Purah as Link headed out the door, closing it behind him.
“That was rather rude, Miss Director,” said Symin.
“I anxiously wait a hundred years for Link to awaken, and he has the nerve to tell me he’s the one in a hurry!” said Purah with a laugh.
“You remember it better than I do,” laughed Zelda.
Another clap of thunder echoed through the office, interrupting their conversation.
“I don’t think we’ll be getting much work done in this storm,” Zelda remarked. “Why don’t we continue our discussion in a more comfortable setting, like the family dining room?”
Astra nodded in agreement as they both let go of each other’s arms, and Zelda opened the office door.
“We’re going to call it a day, Myra. And it would be best if you did the same,” said Zelda. “I can take Mia with me now.”
“Understood, Your Majesty,” replied Myra as she stood up. “The storm is quite intense, isn’t it? I need to finish tomorrow’s schedule before I head home.”
“If the weather doesn’t improve when you’re finished, I want you to stay safe in one of the guest rooms,” said Zelda firmly. “You can order dinner from the kitchen and stay overnight. But I don’t want you using that as an excuse to do extra work. You already do enough for us, Myra.”
“And as always, thank you for everything you do, Myra,” added Astra with a grateful smile.
“It’s my pleasure, Your Majesty and Your Highness,” replied Myra politely. “I will follow your instructions and use my free time to catch up on writing letters to some relatives I’ve been neglecting. Let me fetch Mia for you.”
Myra carefully retrieved Mia from her desk drawer and handed her over to Zelda, who cradled her in her arms.
“Now, let’s not waste any more time,” chuckled Zelda playfully. “Mia knows that when I carry her somewhere, she usually gets a treat or a meal upon arrival. I may spoil her at times, but she brings me comfort. And it seems she’s accepted you as part of our little family, along with Myra and myself.”
“She comes to see me almost every day and even lets me pet her,” chuckled Astra. “I guess that means I’m officially part of the family now.”
“You absolutely are!” laughed Zelda as they descended the stairs to the lower level. “Let’s have some tea and a snack while we reminisce. You have no idea how much it means to me.”
“I feel the same way,” agreed Astra.
“What other memories do you have from childhood?” asked Zelda.
“Oh, I remember playing with toy boats when I was little and then taking boat rides with my father when I was older,” replied Astra.
“Maybe one day you can take me on a boat ride, too,” suggested Zelda. “I haven’t been on one in years.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” said Astra as they arrived at the family dining room.
A waiter took their order for tea, pastries, and a bowl of milk for Mia.
“Now, tell me about one of your boat trips with Link,” prompted Zelda as she put Mia down, hoping to redirect Astra’s thoughts away from Fallon. “I love hearing about his role as a father. It’s something I never got to witness.”
“He was, I mean still is, an amazing father,” said Astra as she began excitedly recounting one of their trips down the Hylia River.
As Astra recounted her boating adventure with Link, the wind pulling at the sail and the water splashing around them, calling out the names of fish and steering away from rocks, Zelda felt like she was being transported to that moment. She could almost sense the sway of the boat and hear the natural sounds enveloping them. When Astra finished her tale, explaining how she fell asleep with Link under a tree before they had to rush back to the castle to avoid being late, Zelda reached out and gently squeezed Astra’s hand.
“Thank you for sharing this memory with me,” she said softly. “Moments like these remind me of the importance of cherishing our relationships and finding joy in simple pleasures."
“You’re right, Mother,” said Astra. “Sometimes simple pleasures are the best. Like enjoying this delicious pastry. I think I’ll have another.”
“Like father like daughter,” Zelda laughed as she squeezed Astra’s hand. “I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you, too, Mother,” said Astra. “But I think it’s your turn to share a memory now while I enjoy this pastry.”
