**All Standard Disclaimers Apply**

Book Three in the Doppelganger Trilogy
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Stasis
by Jennifer Wolfe

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Epilogue

"The entire country of Hyrule celebrated its deliverance for a whole week. Bonfires could be seen through the streets of castle town with revelers at all hours of the night and day. The Castle itself was the picture of mirth and joy. Queen Zelda and Prince Link—for he was, then, just the Prince and not the King—pulled out all of the stoppers, many agreed. They used the resources they had set aside for what everyone thought would be a long-lasting siege to throw the biggest ongoing party anyone had seen in this age.

"Twig and I were reunited shortly after being delivered to the castle for questioning. The Queen and the Prince wanted the full story, which I have told you today. I told it to them just as well, and I specifically stressed the vision given to me in my brief death by the goddess Hylia herself. I believe that she had multiple motives for showing me what she did to Oni and Dark Link, but more on that later. Our Monarchs were not satisfied with my word alone, of course, and they confirmed my story in several ways. They asked me private things that no one would know unless he had been told by Oni himself, or had seen Dark Link up close. My answers must have been satisfactory and served to verify that my story and I were true, for they declared the end of the war and a nationwide celebration to the public shortly after. It was be the first of what we all know as Hyrule's annual week of feasting and revelry – The Deliverance Festival.

"You should know, I suppose, that I did not join in the celebration. When I was not in meetings with Queen Zelda and Prince Link answering questions about the outside world of which I found myself suddenly the resident expert, I spent most of my time with Twig in hospital. The goddess's healing fairy brought me back to life, certainly true, but just barely. I had a long way to go before the chill of death left my soul. Not only that, but I was still processing everything that had happened. Think about it: I died and was brought back, where I inexplicably found myself possessed of the knowledge of the pseudo-death of my best friend. I didn't fully understand it then, but the goddess who brought me back showed me that vision of what happened to Oni so that I could spread the story around Hyrule. I am certain now that she did it for her own benefit.

"You see, the Goddess Hylia is a very ancient goddess. You are all familiar with her story now, yes? How she nobly sacrificed her immortal form to seal the Demon God Demise away forever, but watches over us from the edges of time, where she is forever the patron goddess of the Hylians, from whom we get our name and country? Well, by that time her entire existence had been forgotten by the world. The Royal Family did not like to brag of their descent from the goddess in ancient times, although it is no secret now, and they allowed the story to fade into legend, and then myth, and then nothing at all. The Goddess Hylia desires our prayers and attention so that she may shower us with her gifts. I was given this story in order to be made the messenger of her grace and benevolence, so that we might worship her once more.

"At the time, however, I had not realized any of this. All I knew was that my dearest friend, Oni, was gone. Not just dead—for he did die at Dark Link's hands and reemerged as an ethereal spirit of light—but merged with the Evil spirit to become another person altogether. I knew I should be happy for Oni, happy that he was fulfilling his purpose and coming to a place of balance, but I couldn't help but feel as if my friend was gone forever in this life and in the next. That his pure soul was sacrificed for Hylia's glory. But I know better now. I was just bitter. I am sure he is happier where he is. So, yes, I did not partake in the first Deliverance Festival celebrations. I was not alone. Twig, too, was sad. We sat together in the hospital wing in deep mourning for days, eating only as needed and speaking to each other occasionally while refusing to speak to anyone else. I am proud to say that it was during this time that I began to finally understand Twig's language, which was exciting for both of us. We can speak freely to one another now.

"Enough about me. I was not the interesting one during this first Deliverance Festival. Queen Zelda and Prince Link were a blur of activity. Advisors and contractors were in and out of the throne room or Zelda's study with damage assessments, repair estimations, mortality reports, and supply estimates. There was a lot of destruction, as you all know, but Hyrule was heading into the warmer months of the year instead of the icy winter months. We were hopeful that repairs could be made in time if we prioritized the more immediate needs and used our resources wisely.

"I like to think that I proved most helpful on that front, perhaps unexpectantly for our monarchs. I had told them of the new highway to the coastal regions made by Dark Link's zealous forces. Well, the Queen and the Prince had an idea, and called me to their presence to answer questions about the road. Not only did I tell them all I knew of it, I also promised that I had connections that could aid Hyrule in its repairs, as well as suppliers to aid in food shortages. I did too, and the wealth of Hyrule was renown across the world. Many coastal regions were eager to make new connections with the Royal Family of the fabled Land where the Power of the Goddesses Sleeps. Given the right marketing and the right connections, which I could assist with of course, Hyrule might have more donations and volunteers of aid—without cost to the royal family's coffers—than they would expect. The only return would be the promise of new business relationships or political connections. I delivered on all of these promises, and the kingdom headed into a golden age of growth and prosperity which I flatter myself to believe I helped to make possible.

"Besides the swift work on repairs, Link and Zelda were also looking to the future. They had a vision for Hyrule which could not be shaken. Link's coronation ceremony took place with a few months of the Deliverance Festival. The new King and Queen then started to invest their time and money in research and technology development, specifically in relationship to the Sheikah's promising plans shown to Queen Zelda before the final battle started. Suddenly the idea of having machines piloted by Hyrulian soldiers to aid future Princesses of Destiny and Heroes of Legend in the battle against evil, should Dark Link or Ganondorf ever return, didn't seem like such a bad idea. How much would these new weapons have assisted in this battle against the Darknuts? Hyrule could have matched power for power and risked less Hyrulian lives in the defense of castle and country. You have seen the great Sheikah Towers rising around our lands, and the small Guardian Scouts that our soldiers have been practicing with, yes? I hear they are working on machines even greater and more powerful than these which we already have, and more advanced as well. It is an exciting age to live in where magic is at our fingertips to control.

"If I remember correctly, and I always do, there was also talk behind closed doors about a possible expansion of Hyrule's borders into the unclaimed lands between its current borders and the coastal regions. Now that the soldiers, led by King Link, had roamed the mountain areas once claimed by the monsters, and now that the monsters were all but extinct, it was a prudent and visionary move for them to advance into the area before other rulers and principalities could consider it. They did so swiftly, and that was the first step in the King and Queen's expansion of Hyrule's lands. Not only did they claim that wild region and begin to tame and settle it, the new road opened Hryule to an influx of travelers from the coast as well. Hyrule was no longer so isolated, you see, and there was a lot of interest in the legendary country from coastal citizens who were tired of scrounging off of the sea. As I predicted to the King and Queen at the time, that interest translated into settlers and migrants. Hyrule found itself in an excellent position.

"Queen Zelda was very interested in whether or not the towns I told them about were currently associated with a particular country or ruler. I didn't think so, and I told her as much. The towns mostly banded together as democratic regions, but they were officially an informal alliance of individual governors. I recommended that the Queen and King take a diplomatic approach if they wished to court the coast. Hyrule wouldn't want to go in as a militaristic force and coerce allegiance, for such a tactic would not work on those sea-hardened folks, but if it extended its benefits, resources, and protection to towns who pledged full allegiance to Hyrule and the Hyrulian Royal Family…well, that was a different story. Again, the King and Queen followed my advice. They slowly but surely expanded beyond the no-mans-lands of the mountain territory and into the coastal regions one town at a time, growing both Hyrule's geography and its population. Eventually the whole known coast was a part of Hyrule.

"It was an ambitious vision of the future, but the Queen and King were driven, as I have said. Once they got that first taste of expansion and colonization, they seemed hungry for more. You all will have been taught this in your history classes, right? Hyrule did not just come back from the brink of extinction to the height of its former glory, we expanded and grew. We became the chief military and economic center in the world thanks to Queen Zelda and King Link's expansion efforts and colonization campaigns. We now comprise more than just the regions of Death Mountain, Hyrule Field, Faron Woods, and Zora's Domain, and a small portion of the Gerudo Desert. Hyrule expanded to the ocean and beyond. During the height of these campaigns, many said that Hyrule would finally deserve its age-old title—the Land Where the Power of the Godddesses Dwells— when these new lands had been absorbed into our own, and that we would not be caught unprepared by the onslaught of evil ever again. We would be invincible. Is that true, do you think? Are we truly invincible now that we are bigger and more technologically advanced? I am not so sure. I have seen evil adapt to the advancements of good too many times to believe it to be that easy. However, I will leave these curiosities to you good folks.

"The Kind and Queen spent months and years planning Hyrule's recovery and its future, but the groundwork for most of that vision was laid during that first Deliverance Festival so many years ago. They then spent their nights around the bonfires, joining in the Deliverance Festival celebrations. They walked among the people with the wolf pack following behind them, and the people started calling them the Wolf Queen and Wolf King of Hyrule, which they are known as to this day. It fits them. Our monarchs are fiercely independent and fiercely loyal, and I believe that every citizen of Hyrule feels like part of their 'pack'. They will go down in history as the dynasty which faced the greatest challenge in Hyrule's history, and also accomplished the greatest expansion and growth the country had seen since the Great Hyrulian Civil War—at least, if I have anything to say about it they will.

"I believe that tales of the Wolves of Hyrule will become the next generations' legend. The story is already told from our eastern coast, which is now called the Akkala Region with its eternal autumn, to our southern coast, now known as the tropical jungle of Faron. It is told from the southeastern mountains that we call Dueling Peaks to the snow-capped Snowpeak mountain range in the northwest, which has been renamed the Hebra mountain range after Hyrule expanded its territory in that region, using Zora's Domain as its foothold. The story is also told in the southwest, believe it or not, where explorations of Gerudo desert and the return of the nomadic Gerudo Tribe to its homeland—with a new and prosperous relationship with the Royal Family to build upon—fostered an age of expansion and peace in the dry desert sands and the barren, frosted Gerudo highlands as well. Expansion did not stop there, however. Explorations in the central western region called the Tabantha territory and north of Death Mountain in the Eldin region would complete the expansion and exploration attributed to our Wolves of Hyrule. Our country is much larger now. Young Hylians are taught about its fifteen regions, each of which will soon have a Sheikah Tower of their own as soon as the latest constructions are done. Can you name them all with me?"

An elderly Ravio sat on a single stool on the largest stage of Telma's Bar and Inn. It was the largest establishment in town, known for its amazing Chateau Ordona and its expansive selection of rooms. Telma was retired now, but her daughter ran the place just as well. The old bard was a regular on the main stage. His hair was white, but still long and wild. Many said that his wrinkled face was still quite handsome, and his clothes were still the finest that could be found. Sitting with him, on his shoulder or in his lute bag, was an old, gnarled-looking wooden creature everyone knew to be Twig. Almost every night the bard and his wooden friend got up on stage and told the story. No one ever seemed to tire of it, so he just kept coming back to tell it again and again.

Now, the bard leaned over and held out his hand. His eyes twinkled, enjoying every minute of telling the story. Everyone always seemed to get really into this part. With each region they named, Ravio held up a finger. The room chanted with him as, together, they named all of the regions the Wolves of Hyrule had claimed for their country. Some were newer than others, and everyone was proud of the Hyrule they called home today.

"Ready? In alphabetical order now." He held up the first finger. "The Akkala Region, with the Akkala Highlands, the Eastern Sea, and the Deep Akkala Wilds." A second finger. "The Central Hyrule Region, where we are now, with Hyrule Field, Hyrule Castle, and Castle Town at its base." A third finger. "The Dueling Peaks Region, with the new Sheikah settlement they have yet to name." A fourth finger. "The Eldin Region, with Eldin Canyon, Death Mountain, the Eldin Mountain Range, and Goron City." A fifth finger. "The Faron Jungle, or New Faron as some are calling it, with Lake Floria, Lurelin Village, and the Necluda Sea." A sixth finger, a second hand. "The Gerudo Highlands, a new addition, yes? A vast, unexplored frozen tundra." Seventh finger. "The Gerudo Wasteland, with the Arbiter's Grounds, Gerudo Desert, Spectacle Rock, and the newly-established Gerudo Town." An eighth finger. "Are you still keeping up with me? Anyone know this one?"

A small child in the front row held up a hand. Ravio called upon the girl. "The Hateno Region!" she chirped, looking please with herself.

"Very good!" Ravio laughed. "Yes, Hateno, our newest acquisition. Also known as…anyone know this one? No? East Necluda! For it sits on the Necluda Sea at the base of Mount Lanayru. I hear there is a small village starting there. They are calling it Hateno Village—not very creative, right? No." He clicked his tongue, as the children laughed. "Almost done, now! Where are we? Nine? That's the Hebra region. Home of the great Hebra Mountain Range, once known as Snowpeak, and the Tabantha Tundra. Ten is the Lake Hylia Region, including Faron Grasslands and the Faron Sea. Eleven is the Lanayru Region, new home of the Zoras I hear! They are constructing a new Zora's Domain so beautiful it will draw visitors from all over the world. I've been there! It already brings a tear to my eye. We can't forget to mention Lanayru Great Spring, Lanayru Wetlands, and the Lanayru Sea in that region.

"Twelve! So close! Say it with me—Northern Hyrule Forest, also called the Mysterious Woodland. Strange place, that. No one has been in those lost woods and ever come back. Thirteen is the Plateau, home of Mount Hylia and the ruins of ancient Hyrule currently being excavated by Royal Archeologists. It's the smallest region, but I say it counts! Two more! Ready kids? Fourteen, the Ridgeland Region, a barren temperate desert home to Hyrule Ridge, Ludfo's Bog, Satori Mountain, and Tanagar Canyon. Finally, we have fifteen. Who can tell me the name of Hyrule's Fifteenth Region?

A young man raised his hand, looking no older then twelve. Ravio called on him.

"Tabantha Region, sir, at the foot of the Hebra Mountains. Home of the Tabantha Frontier and Rito Village."

Ravio clapped. "Very, very good young man! Dare I say you've been here before? Yes, Rito Village, where our newest aerial friends live, right? You know, I have heard a legend of their people that says they were once an aquatic race…can you believe it? Yes, the story says a volcanic explosion forced them out of their home waters and onto land, where a sky deity known only as the Dragon Valoo granted them wings. Perhaps there is some distant relation to our Zora friends? Hmm? Who knows?" He chuckled again, letting the air of wonder and mystery fill the room. Finally, he settle back on his stool and smiled, looking around the room.

"These fifteen regions are the lands and peoples claimed for our country by the Wolves of Hyrule, our great Queen Zelda and King Link. With their wisdom and courage, they have turned Hyrule into a glorious and expansive Kingdom of prosperity and opportunity. Anything your heart desires to be, anywhere you desire to go, is within reach for you in the land of Hyrule. Let us go from this place and tell the story. May Hyrule be prosperous and peaceful, may the Great Goddess Hylia ever smile upon it, and may its legend live on forever."

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Author's Notes:

This is really it—the end of the Doppelganger Trilogy. I honestly can't believe it's over! I published the first chapter exactly 12 years ago today (January 28, 2007) and here we are over a decade later. 12 years is a LONG TIME, and so much has changed in my life since that first chapter! I went through undergrad and graduate school, met and married the love of my life, bought a house, and worked my way up from a homeless part-time knife salesman to a well-paying 40-hour-week desk job. Through all of the changes in these past 12 years, this trilogy has remained one of my only constants. Even when I have taken breaks from it, this world has always been there for me to take refuge in. Now that it's done, I'm not sure how to feel about losing its presence in my life. It's very strange.

I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed this journey. It will likely be the last fan fiction I ever write (though I do plan to finish In Sotto Voce some day). I will take time now to focus on my original writing. Follow my writer page on facebook—Jennifer Wolfe Writing—if you would like to follow my writing career. Follow the Doppelganger Trilogy facebook page to stay up to date as proofread/copyedited chapters are uploaded here and print versions of the trilogy are finalized and made available for purchase. When completed, you should be able to get your own physical copies of the Doppelganger Trilogy to read at home!

Thank you for sticking through it with me. Please leave a review for old times' sake and let me know what you thought! Cheers to you!

~The Wolfess

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