Summary: Link fills in some gaps in an early chapter of his journal and speculates about the original timeline that he left.

It was a rainy morning in Zora's Domain, the patter of raindrops against the roof and windows of the house by Mikau Lake creating steady but soothing background sounds. Aside from Mipha and Link, the house was otherwise empty. Mila had accompanied Tila, Linky, and Tara to Ruto Lake, while Midon and Lapha remained at the Royal Ancient Tech Lab by Hyrule Castle.

"Thanks for letting me sleep late," said Link as he sat across the breakfast table from Mipha, both having just finished eating. "The sound of the rain was very restful."

"I slept late too, sweetheart," said Mipha. "We were both tired after last night. But I need to go now to attend a council meeting with Father. You have something to do?"

"I should use the spare time to put my papers back in order before Mila sees them," said Link as Mipha stood to go, and he stood as well. "You know how fussy Mila is about keeping my journal organized."

"And rightly so!" laughed Mipha as they hugged. "With so many pages written, you need to maintain them in order. I should be back around lunchtime, and we can visit the family at Ruto Lake if they're still there."

"Say hello to Father for me," said Link after they kissed.

Mipha left, then Link cleaned the dishes and went upstairs to the room he used as a study.

The reason his papers needed organizing was that he had recently skimmed through the early chapters of his journal, seeking any information he could find about the thief Misko. Unfortunately, as he had suspected, his journal contained nothing useful: whatever he had learned about Misko in his old timeline was on the Sheikah Slate from that era that he no longer had. Fortunately, he had remembered enough to recall the location of Misko's hideout and been able to waylay the bandit there. But he had not had time to restore his papers to their proper order.

Before his recent search for clues about Misko, Link had not had occasion to refer back to the earliest chapters in his journal, the chapters that covered the time before Mipha and he married. So as he began organizing them, he paused at the chapter he had titled "Arrival in the Past." It started simply enough: As planned, Link arrived in the past late in the evening at the Temple of Time. That was it. That was all he had written. He had to smile. He had glossed over that day, no doubt eager to get on with the story and all that happened afterward, especially his reunion with Mipha.

But there had been more to that day, of course, his last day before he traveled to the past. Thinking about Misko and retracing his earliest travels after awakening from the Shrine of Resurrection had turned his thoughts back to that time in his life. He decided he should take what time was left of this free morning to fill in a few of the blanks, writing what he remembered while he still could.

He closed his eyes for a few moments, then began to write. As usual, he adopted the third-person style of narrative.

It was evening at Hyrule Castle on the night Link was due to meet Purah and Robbie at the Temple of Time. He and Zelda were finishing a private dinner in the small family dining room. They had spent all that sunny day together, strolling around the Castle grounds, reminiscing, discussing what Zelda had accomplished in the first years of her reign. Of course, Zelda still loved science and nature and was proud to show off the large variety of plants and flowers she had cultivated in the Royal Botanical Garden. They had spent part of the day there as well.

Their conversation was light-hearted and informal, as they had been good friends for years. And each had been carefully avoiding what was in the back of both of their minds: tonight would be their goodbye, the end of their special friendship. It was Zelda who finally brought up the subject while they were eating dessert.

"I feel you are about to rush off into the unknown, Link," said Zelda after swallowing a bite of her favorite fruitcake. "Your courage never ceases to amaze me."

"I have to trust that Purah and Robbie have truly figured out how it all works," said Link. "The TimeShift Stone they crafted a year ago worked perfectly."

"Yes, it certainly did, and I know using it to visit Mipha brought you a great deal of hope," said Zelda. "Still, it is courageous of you to embark on this. After four years since our victory, it would be easy to go on with our lives as they are now."

Zelda took a sip of coffee, and Link did the same as he wondered what she was thinking. He knew what he was thinking: that it would be much harder for her than for him. It usually was for the one left behind. He was going off to save Hyrule and reunite with Mipha, the other Champions, and Zelda from 104 years ago just before the Calamity. After tonight he would be gone from her life, and Zelda would be more alone than ever, having lost her last companion from those youthful days when they wandered all over Hyrule together. They had grown close and were each other's best friends, even more than friends. There was no adequate word to describe their unique relationship. Yes, it was going to be harder for her than for him. But the unselfish person she was, Zelda was willing to let all that happen if it could somehow save Hyrule - even if it were a Hyrule she would never see. Well, that wasn't true - the 'her' of 104 years ago would see it. But that would create a whole new timeline. Would that change anything for Zelda here in this timeline? He did not know but doubted it. The entire concept of time travel to the past was confusing, though.

After a moment, Zelda spoke up again, interrupting his thoughts.

"Since we met with Purah two weeks ago, I have been trying to imagine how I and the others would react to your dramatic arrival and announcement that our grand plan to destroy Ganon is flawed. Or thinking positively, rather how we will react. So I hope I don't treat you unkindly when you present me with your fantastic story."

"I'm sure you won't, Zelda. We were already good friends by then. Like the others, I'll have to convince you by quoting your diary and hope you trust I didn't sneak into your room to read it."

"I know you would never do that, Link," laughed Zelda. "You are way too honorable! And it would certainly be a lot of trouble to go to for simply a joke."

"That's true and kind of you to say," laughed Link.

They paused for a moment, and then Link continued.

"The Champions should be easier to convince since I didn't know at the time they even kept a diary. But I have to admit that this part of the mission makes me nervous. I'm better with my sword than my tongue and never liked public speaking. So the idea of convincing a skeptical audience gives me butterflies, especially since the survival of countless lives depends on my success."

"I have confidence that the depths of your feelings will drive you to convince everyone. You don't need the skill of an orator. But, if I had to guess, Revali will be the toughest to sway since believing your story means accepting the unthinkable - that he was defeated in combat. In any case, making everyone aware that Ganon intends to corrupt the Divine Beasts and Guardians should put them all on their guard."

"True," said Link.

"More coffee?"

"Yes, please, I need to stay up late," said Link as Zelda refilled his cup, and Link took a sip.

"I wish I could accompany you to the Temple of Time to see you off," said Zelda. "But Purah feels my presence, along with the guards I would need to bring with me for protection from the Yiga, will only draw more attention to something she would prefer to keep secret. So, we will have to say our farewells here."

"And it would be very late by the time you returned home," said Link. "I feel better knowing you're safe here."

"My knight protector to the end," said Zelda with a smile. "You were always there for me, even when I didn't want you to be."

Link smiled back, not sure what to say. Because soon he wouldn't be there for her anymore, not that she needed him for physical protection now. Monsters were pretty much gone, and she had the Royal Guard to keep her safe. But he was not looking forward to their goodbye, either. Then Zelda resumed speaking.

"This may sound selfish coming from the ruler of the kingdom you are about to save, but I wish there were some other way, Link, that you did not have to be the one to do this. You've helped me so much, and your presence has been a great comfort to me these past four years as we both dealt with the pain of our losses. But I know where your heart lies. I hope you find love after saving our kingdom."

"I hope so too, and Purah does not know if anyone besides me can successfully travel through time in the portal she has learned how to create. So, it's me or nobody at this point. But I'll miss you, too, Zelda."

They quietly smiled at each other for a moment, and then Link spoke up after draining his coffee cup.

"I should go. I have a long ride ahead of me to the Temple of Time where Purah and Robbie will be waiting."

They both stood up from the table then and reached out to each other, and embraced.

"I asked you once if you really remembered me," said Zelda. "Now, I ask you to try not to forget me."

"How could I ever forget you, Zelda? You will always have a special place in my heart."

"As you do in mine, Link. And remember your promise that if this doesn't work, you will finally move on. I can help you with that. I've been doing it for the past four years."

"Yes, I will move on if there is no more hope," sighed Link. "I know you're looking out for my well-being."

"Alright," said Zelda. "As always, my prayers and blessing go with you. May Hylia keep you safe now and forever."

"Thank you, Zelda, and may the Goddess watch over you and guide you as well."

They held their embrace for a few more moments, and then both wiped some tears from their eyes as Link knelt on one knee and bowed his head one last time out of respect for the Queen of Hyrule. Then he stood, turned, and left, drying his eyes as he walked to the Castle entrance.

A guard had Link's horse ready and waiting when he arrived, and after thanking him, Link mounted his horse, then turned to look back one last time at Hyrule Castle. He saw Zelda watching him from a balcony, and she saw him turn to look and waved to him. He waved back, then nudged his horse and galloped off down the road toward the Temple of Time.

The weather was fair, and the road was quiet and empty this late at night, with only his thoughts for company and the only sound that of his horse's hoofbeats. He let his horse follow the road at its own pace, as there was no need to rush. Purah wanted his time travel to occur late at night anyway. And so it was well past midnight by the time he rode up to the Temple of Time, dismounted, and entered the structure.

A ten-year-old Purah welcomed him.

"Ah, here you are, Link," said Purah. "Perfect timing!"

Link could see Robbie was there too, but he was busy double-checking Purah's calculations. Anyway, Purah spoke to him alone.

"Here are my research notes," said Purah, handing him two documents. "Tell my other self not to mind the child's handwriting. Give her the first set of notes as soon as possible, as it contains the process for protecting the Divine Beasts against malice corruption. Please don't give her both sets of notes at once, as I want her to concentrate solely on implementing the first item. If she has both sets of notes, I know myself, and she will get distracted, eager to go over all the other research. Give her the second set of notes afterward when time permits. Do you understand?"

"Yes, perfectly," said Link.

"Are you otherwise all prepared?"

"I believe so. I trained pretty hard these past two weeks, and my combat skills should be fine."

"I don't mean only combat training, Link. I mean mentally ready too," said Purah. "People's first reaction will be that you're not well, and your lack of memory will only confirm that you suffered a severe mental injury. So, you will need to be firm and persuasive but control your temper. Patiently explain what happened and use your knowledge of the Champion's diaries as evidence you come from their future."

"I understand, and I will," said Link. "I realize I will face a good deal of skepticism."

"The calculations check out, Dr. Purah," said Robbie, coming over to them. "Everything's ready."

"Then let's do this," said Link. "I'm ready, too."

They walked over to where the time portal would form.

"May Hylia bless you and protect you," said Purah.

"And may she help you strike down the Calamity!" added Robbie.

Purah activated the time portal, and Link stepped into it. He felt blackness all around him, and he was disoriented, dizzy, almost to the point of nausea. Then he suddenly found himself standing alone in the Temple of Time as the portal closed behind him with a whooshing sound and a rush of air at his back.

He could see at once that the temple looked different. It was no longer restored with new masonry but stood with its old masonry still intact and undamaged. He walked outside into the cool night air, and his horse was gone. He had successfully traveled to the past.

Link stopped writing since that was where his existing journal picked up the story. But he began to wonder about his old timeline and what was happening there.

At first, he never gave his old timeline another thought as he had been busy dealing with events in this timeline and had simply assumed what he remembered just didn't happen anymore, that his time travel changed everything. He recalled he even used to refer to that timeline's events as things that had not happened anymore.

But he realized now that was oversimplified, as Purah had explained to him. He hadn't eliminated that timeline, merely created a new one stitched to the old at a certain point. The people in the old timeline didn't just disappear. They went on with their lives, but with him no longer there.

Then he wondered how the Zelda he knew there was getting on? Was she well, he hoped? Was Ganon still banished there, or was there a risk it might return? If Ganon were to return there, how would they oppose it? Would a new hero be found in his absence, and who might such a hero be? Without such a hero, the kingdom would be doomed.

Of course, if Ganon did not return for many years, it would make no difference. A future generation would deal with it. But what if Ganon did return sooner? In saving one Hyrule, was he condemning another to destruction? Had he abandoned his old timeline to a cruel fate? Why would Hylia permit that to happen?

He stood up and walked around the room, thinking. This didn't seem right. Hylia would never let that happen. So, she must have made plans to save Hyrule should Ganon return. He thought about all Hylia had done to affect time. And then he remembered Timela, and that quickly reminded him of Astra.

He recalled a conversation with Astra on one of their apple-picking visits to the Applean Forest. It was about a dream Astra had. He had written about it in his journal some time ago in the chapter he had titled "Apple Picking."

"Dear Zelda, my sweet child, you are very special to me. Protect yourself from any who would harm you. In the fullness of time, as you grow in years, you must also grow in wisdom, strength, and courage. Someday I may need your help."

Astra had explained her dream to him this way.

"In this dream, there is a voice speaking to me from a bright golden light. It's such a sweet and kind voice, and it speaks to me like a mother talking to her child," said Astra.

"Are you sure you're not dreaming about your actual mother?" said Link. "She is a rather special person, you know."

Astra paused for a moment.

"No, it's not Mom. Her voice is different. And this voice tells me I'm special, that I need to take care of myself and grow up to be a good person, that she might need my help someday. And her tone is just so loving as if she cares for me and worries about me. I don't know how else to explain it. But the funny thing is that in my dream, she calls me Zelda."

Zelda had been Astra's real name. Was Astra destined to be that timeline's hero somehow? Would she return there and take his place, bringing with her the blood of the Goddess and the spirit of the hero? With her training and experience, she could probably take on Ganon all by herself by now, if needed.

Hylia had indeed undone all the events that happened during the eight years Timela had sent him back to that time. Except somehow, Astra still existed. Was Hylia turning the harm Timela had caused into Ganon's downfall should Ganon ever arrive in the timeline Link had departed from? If so, the Goddess must have had it all worked out.

But if this were true, it meant Astra would leave this timeline forever someday, just as he had done to his original timeline. So would she be saying goodbye to him eventually, leaving him behind?

Of course, all this was just his idle speculation. Who knew what would happen? He heard Mipha and put his papers away just as she arrived home.

"How was your meeting, sweetheart?" Link asked, coming downstairs.

"Mostly routine," said Mipha. "We learned Zelda ended up giving Purah permission and funds to begin the excavations she wanted. So, what have you been doing, sweetheart?"

"Putting my papers back in order," said Link.

"That took you all morning? Were they that disorganized?"

"Not entirely. I was doing a bit of reminiscing as well, back to just before I first arrived in this timeline," said Link.

"Oh, back then? What about it?"

"I'll tell you on the way to Ruto Lake," said Link, taking her hand. "And I think perhaps I should spend more time with Astra."

"That's fine," said Mipha. "You should while she's still young."