Slient Princess fanart + short story

Instructions

Press space for a more zoomed in version. I haven't colored traditional art in a long time! But I am glad I did :D Short story starts here: Zelda peered upon a monolith standing upright, surrounded by a ring of river stones. She knelt down in the snow, eye level with her father's grave. "Father, I miss you," Zelda said, her voice unsteady. Her cheeks were a shade of pink, and she wore a wintry white coat featuring royal blue lining. Within her hands, a singular Silent Princess glowed, its light reflecting upon her palms. "I remember when you took me to the Spring of Wisdom. I thought you were disappointed in me. Now I wonder if you were just afraid," Zelda muttered, tracing engraved letters with her fingers. "It's been a month since Calamity Ganon was defeated," Zelda paused, tears forming in her eyes. A sparrow landed on her finger, chirping as if it were singing a song. "But there hasn't been a day I haven't thought about you!" She shuddered, her entire body shaking as tears fell. Her mind drifted to the days before the Calamity—the Champions' warm smiles, the castle corridors, and the celebrations they would have had. It seemed as if it were yesterday, but she knew those days were long gone. All that was left were empty castle walls, ruined villages, and a divided community. "I'm sorry I spent so many years resentful of your harshness. I know you were only trying to prepare me for the Calamity." Zelda's voice cracked as she clutched the Silent Princess to her chest. "Regret fills my heart, knowing I didn't have the power to save you," she whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut. The sparrow then flew away, leaving Zelda to her thoughts. She imagined rosemary hanging in the castle's halls and the smell of fruitcake drifting through the dining hall. If only she had unlocked her powers sooner, she could have prevented this. "I promise, Father, your sacrifice will not be in vain," she said, fluttering her eyes open. She stayed quiet for a moment, the wind brushed through her golden hair. Link stood there in complete silence, simply holding a flower of his own. "I will restore Hyrule to its former glory, and I know you will be watching," she whispered, forcing a bittersweet smile. Zelda laid a Silent Princess before the grave. Link followed, placing one next to hers. He didn't say a word, returning to her side once more. They took one last glance at his grave; afterward, they descended Mount Hylia. Link placed a hand on her shoulder, offering a slight smile. She returned a bittersweet grimace, trying to hide her pain. He then turned on his heel and walked away. Zelda gave one final glance at the mountain before catching up with him. "I couldn't save you, Father. But I can build the future you fought to protect." Together, the pair departed to restore what remained of Hyrule. ____________________________________________ A/N: This was meant to be a short story, and I don’t plan on adding more chapters. I just wanted to explore a bit of Zelda’s regret after the Calamity, and how she might miss her late friends and family. I feel like there’s so much between Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom that we’ll never fully know, so it’s something left up to us fans. On another note, I’ll be getting back to writing Raised by the Yiga. Chapter 3 should be out in the next 1–2 days, so stay tuned!