Chapter 25

Hero of the winds, present day-

I awoke to the sound of birds chirping, and thought I must have died and gone to the hall of heroes. But when I opened my eyes, I found myself in lying on the cold stone floor of Shadow Link's fortress, wrapped in a blanket.

Looking around, I saw that the room I was in had been converted into a makeshift hospital, with injured, dead and dying gerudoes were being tended to, as well as the freed prisoners. As I sat up, one of the Gerudo nurses called out:

"Oh! Sage Medli! He is awake!"

I soon found myself wrapped in my wife's tight embrace. "Oh Link! Thank Nayaru you're alive!" Tears were streaming down her face. "I thought you were done for when you destroyed that Lynel!"

I looked over into a nearby puddle and saw what had once been my face. Burn scars ran across my face… making me as ugly as the monsters we had just fought. "Well, I apparently didn't make it out of the battle unscathed…"

She held me tighter. "I don't care! You're going to live, that all that matters!" She started to cry again, and I held her tightly.

A few days after the battle, Tetra was on the deck of her battered ship, looking out to sea. The battle was over now, most of the monsters slain… save the few that had slipped away. But the battle had been won, and Ganon's forces had suffered such a blow that they would not recover enough strength to threaten the great sea for a generation. The Pirate princess pondered these things over, when Niko came in the door behind her.

"Princess Tetra." He said, bowing to her. "The Gerudo admiral says that repairs on the fleet are finished, and several ships have already departed to take the slaves Shadow Link had captured home."

"Very good, Niko." She replied, turning to him. "Anything else?"

"Well… the leaders of each of the islands of the great sea has sent a message." Niko began nervously. "It seems they held a meeting amongst themselves while we were dealing with Shadow Link's forces…. And have decided that the islands must unite if they are to prevent a catastrophe like this from happening again."

"It makes sense." Tetra replied, nodding. "Both Outset Island and the Rito would love for the re-unification of Hyrule, and the merchants of Windfall are too busy bickering amongst themselves to get anything done- they all need a leader to unite them." Tetra looked down at him. "but how does this involve me?"

"Well…It appears they were able to find the kingdom of Hyrule's historical records among that dead geezer Sturgeon's old books." Niko said nervously. "And they were able to trace the genealogy of The old kingdom's royal family…. To you."

Tetra's eyes went wide "What… wait, you mean…"

"They would like you to become queen Tetra I, of the United islands of Hyrule." Gonzo finished, walking into the room. "A living symbol of unity to all the peoples of the great sea."

Tetra looked away for a second, gathering her thoughts. Yes, this was perfect! The best way to begin the reestablishment of the Kingdom of Hyrule! When these islands were joined with the new land of the Lokomo tribe that Tetra had discovered up north, the size of her kingdom would be doubled! And with the sea water levels dropping so rapidly, it would easily be when her daughter or granddaughter was queen that the land beneath the waves would be uncovered. The people could then move off of the mountaintops, and reclaim the lowlands.

"Tell them I accept." Tetra replied smiling. "On the condition I get to choose my own royal consort." Gonzo did not see the princess looking at him out of the corner of her eye. Tetra then noticed a folder filled with notes and drawings under Gonzo's arm. "What's that you have there?" She asked curiously.

"Blueprints." Gonzo replied. "Plans we found among shadow Link's designs. It's for a device he called a 'train'- a steam-powered vehicle that runs on rails."

Tetra looked at the plans. "Such a thing is useless on the great Sea." She mused. " But may be useful for the resettlement of Hyrule in the distant future." She handed the plans back to Gonzo. "Place those plans in storage somewhere. We shall leave it to a future generation to build this train, and find a use for it."

Hero of the winds, present day-

It's all over. I have returned home with my wife and children to my Cabana, and life is returning to a semblance of normal.

The islands have elected a council to govern Hyrule- Zunari as representative of Windfall, Abe as representative of Outset, Quill from the Rito tribe, Hollo from the Koroks, and Reah from the Gerudo Pirates.

Queen Tetra is loving her new role as leader of the reunited Hyrule, even as she prepares for her wedding to Gonzo. Work is also being finished on a new royal palace, a symbol of the newfound brotherhood, of the peoples of the Great Sea. The nothern lands of the Lokomo, which tetra and I discovered during our travels, will be the center of this new kingdom. I'm even thinking of sending my son up north to live with Niko in Aboda village for awhile, in order to learn more about Hyrule's northern lands.

As for myself, things have been far quieter around the great Sea since the battle, and I've had more time to spend with my family. I have heard the rumors, from the survivors of the Slave pens, of Shadow Link having a lover that looked just like my wife. I am not worried, however, as I am personally aware of the illusions and deceptions sage magic is capable of. Powerful enough to fool even Shadow Link into thinking he was doing something with a rito girl, while he was actually not.

It is weeks before I finally feel the pull of that mysterious Journal to read it again, and pick it up once more.

"Okay, lets see what you have for me now." I say, opening the book.

Hero of the Twilight, centuries ago-

Midna is gone.

Forever.

I knew she was going back home to the twilight realm, but why'd she have to destroy the mirror? When that mirror shattered into a thousnad pieces, my heart shattered along with it. How could she just leave me?

I loved her!

But I have not given up hope, I have learned of a second mirror that the Twili were banished through, called the mirror of Darkness. It, too is a doorway to the realm of twilight, and I have begun a quest to find it. I shall leave behind Ordon, my friends, and everything else dear to me, in order to find my way back to Midna.

To you, my descendant, who reads these pages... know that I tried to guide and inspire you on your journey, without revealing the books true nature to you. I have watched you sail the great seas, and triumph over evil again and again... and it has given me untold pride to see what you have accopmlished.

As to wither I ever found the mirror of Darkness, and reunited with midna... that is a tale for another day. For now, rest young hero, for you have most certainly earned it.

Farewell.

-end-