The Seven Heroine Ruins
Of course they tracked me down. Gorons and the strongest Hylians alike. Zelda didn't move from her spot contemplating her next step. Was that it? They were calling to her, they knew she was there somewhere. No running from them, they would take her out. Zelda. You fulfilled your duty to the kingdom, be glad of that. Yet, she wasn't glad of it. It shouldn't have been that way.
There was no happily ever after for Mipha. None for Daruk. Revali gained nothing, and certainly not beloved Urbosa. As hard as she had tried to avoid Hyrule from learning her secret, it was all for naught. Secrets could only last for so long before someone spoke up.
"Come out, Puppet of Ganon!"
Not even her name graced to her. Puppet of Ganon. They must have found out the truth. As soon as she came out, they would-
"Over there, I see blonde hair!"
Zelda tried to run, knowing it was useless, but staying still while they shot at her would never happen. She didn't get far before she was pushed down. She turned away, seeing the axe in the person's hand. A few more moments of her life.
That's when she heard a familiar clang. A clang she once heard when she had been run down by Yiga's before Calamity Ganon's resurfacing. Impossible. She looked back and saw him.
Link.
"You don't understand," someone tried to convince him. "She has malice in her. We know it's true, why else did she run? The Yiga's know it. She's going to be the resurrection of Ganon!"
Link didn't falter. He never did. As another one tried to approach, he quickly took care of them. Another person called out that it was useless, Link was the Chosen Hero who fought Ganon. He couldn't be this naïve.
There was less battling and an outcry of words. Warnings. Heeds.
Link stayed there, taking on any that tried to fight him. When they were defeated or left, he looked back toward her. He held out his hand.
He placed himself in the thick of it now. She took his hand and stood back up.
"So. You've found me," she spoke. "I have malice inside of me, and it won't leave. I have asked for all manner of help from the goddess and have received nothing in return. We talked to an expert. There is nothing I can do. Gerudo helped me as long as I followed their wishes, but I couldn't stay out of the spotlight forever." She shook her head. "Why couldn't you have just believed I was eaten by a Lynel?" She swallowed. "It would have been easier." He was now a part of it.
"Halt! No further."
Link watched as Rija tried to approach. He really didn't want to hurt someone so young.
"Unless you want to be placed in a similar position to Zelda," Rija warned him, "I suggest you cooperate." She glanced back toward Zelda. "You've run out of time. People know. It's time to face the consequences."
But Zelda never did anything, why did she have to have consequences?
"I know," Zelda answered. "I can't . . . run anymore."
"Right. Link just involved himself, and that makes it dicey to you," Rija answered, glaring at Link. "Considering your relationship with Lady Urbosa, Gerudo will try to be fair in treatment of you. I have been preparing for this day though. Princess Zelda? You are going to escort us into Zora's Domain."
-----------
Zora's Domain
King Dorephan sat with Rija on his right side, his son Prince Sidon on the left side, and Bluto on the other side of Rija with Kaneli on the far right of the Zora Prince.
"We didn't take this lightly," King Dorephan began. "You do have importance to your name. You helped with the Champions and held a very important part to defeating Calamity Ganon. No one wants to sentence a hero to death."
Zelda gently bowed, taking their words in grace.
"You've done nothing wrong," Kaneli spoke up. The Rito leader sighed. "You've done nothing wrong but you have the spirit of evil within you. Technically. You are whatever monster is."
"So you are a monster," Bluto finished for Rito. "You are a monster, and you should be treated like one."
"If it weren't for your contributions, you'd already be dead without trial," Rija continued. "There are reasons you are still alive though. We should exhaust all options."
"I have," Zelda confirmed. "I've gone to all springs. I have begged from each that I could. I am not a puppet of Ganon, they can confirm that. As long as I stay strong within my beliefs, he cannot come back through me, or through any other random monster here."
"There is another reason," Prince Sidon said tenderly. "Your kingdom, Princess Zelda, is in disarray. While the war affected everyone, all royalty was decimated in your kingdom. There is no leader for Hylians, and this is disturbing. From history, we know that Ganon does rise again. Far into the future, and there will be no one of royal descent to stop him."
"Your life is spared because Ganon must have someone to fight with your royal blood in the future," Rija said delicately. "Hyrule needs you in a different way. You have one week to decide who you want to marry and make those possible heirs with."
" . . . I see." 'My bloodline. My heritage. I am forced to marry someone to become King just to contribute to the next fight with Ganon.' Zelda hung her head. "After I have wed and beared more heritage upon the throne, what then of me? Death? Imprisonment?"
"Only your future husband could answer that," Rija said. "You will be watched carefully though. No one will trust you."
"No one will put the new king on trial if he feels his child or children aren't more protected with you dead," Bluto asked. "I know it's blunt, but it's the truth."
"So marry well," King Dorephan said. "My son would most certainly not send his children's mother into a terrible place." Prince Sidon was silent. "You can choose anyone in any kingdom, as long as they can bear your children."
"That actually means not Gorons," Bluto said.
"Not Gerudo either," Rija offered.
"Hylians. Zoras. Ritos."
"You have already been called the Puppet of Gannon," Kaneli reminded her. "You are even displaying some malice above your neckline. When the truth has shifted far enough to your own kingdom, no one will trust you." Zelda didn't speak again. "There may be attempts on your life by others who don't see you as Princess Zelda anymore. Therefore, until the new King of Hyrule is found, has claimed the throne and bears a child with you? You should watch your back."
"Someone will be assigned to guard you, paid for by the Gerudo," Rija told Link. "It is the Gerudos that insisted on this deal the most so they will bear the brunt of the pricing. From the guard to the wedding. We handle traveling expense and transportation. You may seek as far as you wish for the one that will rule the kingdom the fairest." Rija smirked.
"Or, the Zora's could help out," King Dorephan pointed out. "If you don't mind my son escorting you around in the meantime?"
Prince Sidon. "No, I don't mind." She would have to learn all of her suitor's best skills, habits, the way they carry themselves, and what was important to them. She would need to choose a fine king. One that could raise the next generation well, and . . . and hopefully not decide to kill her. "Couldn't I have a little extra time to get to know them better? Everyone I once knew that King Rhoam approved as good royalty material is gone."
"Honestly?" Rija gestured to King Dorephan. "If you don't pick anyone, you'll go to someone who already runs a kingdom. For the best possible outcome."
King Dorephan? Wed to King Dorephan? 'Steady, Zelda.' At least Rija kept her promise of safety as much as possible.
"I know, I don't know how it's possible either, but he says he can," Rija said. "Kaneli would also try."
"No guarantees," Kaneli answered. "But? With help, you'd be fine in the Rito process of having kids."
"No help," King Dorephan pointed out to her. "I have had a small wife before." He looked happy. "I look big, but I am very gentle."
"I think I'm ready to absorb this on my own," Zelda insisted.
"Follow me," Prince Sidon offered.