Zelink Week 2026 by Laxyak Hyrule

Zelda gives Link an artifact. Then, while hunting, Link accidentally goes through a portal.

It had been about a year since Link defeated Ganondorf. Link and Zelda spent their time bonding and rebuilding. Speaking was still a physical task, but he found it easier with her by his side. He used any excuse to spend time with her.

Ganondorf had caused a lot of destruction on his way to the castle, and now the royal family had to clean it up. Many refugees lived in Castle Town, waiting for their homes to be repaired. Link helped Zelda as much as he could.

One day, Zelda pulled Link aside on their way to a meeting. They hid in a servant’s corridor for privacy. Link hoped she wanted a kiss. This wouldn’t be the first time she shoved him into a servant’s corridor for a kiss.

Zelda looked at her toes and shuffled from foot to foot. “You’ve been working so hard. I… I have something for you.”

Link cupped her cheek in his hand and prompted her to look up at him. He loved seeing her eyes. They sparkled with love.

Zelda backed up a step and held out a long and flat present with an elaborate bow. It looked like it could be a small book or painting. Link took the object, hoping it wasn’t a small book or painting.

“Go on,” Zelda said, looking at the floor again. “Open it.”

Link cautiously unwrapped the gift. His own face reflected back at him. It was a rectangular mirror about the size of his palm with an intricately carved black frame. The carvings were laced with magic runes.

He gave a questioning look to Zelda. What use did he have for a mirror?

Zelda pulled out a matching mirror and looked into it. “Look at your mirror.”

Link did, seeing only himself.

Zelda said a magic word, and the reflection in the mirror changed. Instead, he saw her face.

“Do you like it?” Zelda asked. “It lets us talk across vast distances. This way, when you go on your overnight hunting trips, we can still see each other.”

Link nodded, but he gazed up from the mirror. He much preferred seeing Zelda in person. She peeked up at him and blushed.

“You’re supposed to use the mirror,” she said.

In response, Link took her hand and kissed it. Flustered, she pulled her hand away and walked a few steps down the corridor. Link followed her and kissed her head, the mirror forgotten at his side.

“Stop it, Link,” Zelda said. “Let me tell you more.”

She explained the process behind making the mirror. Link only half listened as he continued giving her kisses. He wasn’t ready for a magic lesson, but it made her happy, so he was happy. She taught him the magic words used to activate and deactivate the mirror, so he could use it whenever he wanted.

When she was done, Zelda gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

“We should get to that meeting,” she said. “Impa will be unhappy that we’re late.”

Later that night, Link gathered his friends for a hunting party. They packed their supplies, readied the horses, and brought along a cart to carry the meat they would find. As usual, Link took the lead on his horse Epona.

Before they reached the first campsite in the forest, however, a black void opened up right in front of Link and Epona. He tried to stop her and dodge the void, but he was to late. He crossed through into another forest, one he was unfamiliar with.

Epona halted, and Link looked around. His friends were gone, and so was the void. What happened? Where was he? How could he get back? Poor Epona whickered in fear. Link patted her neck to calm her down, and she stopped fussing. She trusted him completely, so if he was calm, she was calm.

At first, Link didn’t know what to do. Then, he remembered the mirror. He looked into it, said the magic word, and waited. After a moment, Zelda’s face appeared.

“Link? What’s wrong? Are you at your camp already?”

This was going to be hard. He had to explain to her what happened. He wet his lips, trying not to panic.

“It’s alright, Link,” Zelda said soothingly. “You’re not in any danger, are you?”

Link looked around. He didn’t see or hear anything, so he shook his head at Zelda.

“Good,” she said. “You can take your time. How are your friends? Are they okay?”

Link shrugged.

“You don’t know,” Zelda said. “Did you get separated?”

Link nodded. They were getting somewhere!

“Are you with Epona?”

Nod.

“You have your supplies?”

Nod.

“Then you should be alright for the night,” Zelda concluded. “Try to get your bearings.”

Link stood on the stirrups to get a better look. Someone, or something, moved through the trees. He heard them before he saw them and spun his head around at the sound. Figures he deemed as Hylian came toward him. They had a horse with them. Link gripped Epona’s reins with his free hand, ready to run at the first sign of trouble.

“Hallo,” came a male voice.

The owner stepped close enough for Link to see, and Link gasped. The man could have been his older brother but with a scar across one eye and markings on his face. He wore heavy armor and a sword on his back, just like Link.

Behind and around him, others emerged who looked like relatives. They appeared young, and most wore green tunics much like Link’s own. Each of them had swords and other weapons, but none were drawn. They seemed at ease.

“What is it?” Zelda asked.

Link tilted the mirror so she could see the strange group.

“Found another one, Time!” said the youngest one.

“You’re a little late for the party,” said another one.

“Eh, don’t harass him, Hyrule,” the oldest one said. “We’re glad he’s here.”

Link sat on Epona bewildered. Who were these people, and why did they all look like him? Should he run? Did they mean him harm? They didn’t seem like it. He decided to hear them out but kept his guard up, just in case.

“They call me Time,” the oldest one said. He seemed to be the leader. “These are my companions, Sky, Legend, Hyrule, Twilight, Four, Wind, Warriors, and Wild. We’ll find a name for you soon enough. I’m sure you have a million and one questions.”

“Let me speak to him, Link,” Zelda said from the mirror.

Link had forgotten about her, but now he held up the mirror and motioned for Time to come closer. The whole group gathered uncomfortably near Link and Epona.

“My name is Princess Zelda of Hyrule. I’m speaking to you through a magic mirror. This is Link, my… my loyal guard. You will address anything you have to say to me.”

“Greetings, Princess Zelda,” Time said with a bow. “I don’t know if you heard me, but my name is Time.”

“I heard you, yes,” Zelda said curtly. “You said Link needs a name. Why?”

“Because we all have the same name,” Time answered. “Our fates are entangled. We are Heroes bound to the Triforce, born again and again to defeat any evil that threatens Hyrule. Sound familiar?”

“The Triforce…” Zelda mused. “Fascinating. But… how can you be ‘born again and again’ and be there at the same time?”

“That,” Time said, “is something we haven’t figured out. Some magic brought us together. That is all we know.”

“It’s fun though,” one of the other said. Link thought it was Wind. “We get to fight monsters and explore dungeons!”

“Haven’t we already done enough of that to qualify us as Heroes?” another asked. Was that Wild? Or Legend? There were too many to keep track.

“A Hero’s job is never done,” Time said to the ones who spoke. To Link, he said, “Tell us about your adventure.”

“Excuse me,” Zelda said. “You’re supposed to talk to me. I’m still not sure we should trust you. How can I know you’re not a trap?”

Time said, “It’s valid to be cautious. How about I tell you about my adventure first? Would you… uh, ask your guard to get off his horse and join us around a campfire?”

Link stiffened, but the others smiled and removed their supplies to settle in for the night. They stopped paying attention to Link, Zelda, and Time. They didn’t appear dangerous. He relaxed.

“Yes, alright,” Zelda said, “Link may join you.”

He dismounted Epona and tied her to a tree. Time clicked his tongue, and the other horse walked over to him, he head low. He tied her to the tree as well. The horses grazed contentedly.

“They seem to get along,” Zelda said.

“Come, let us discuss,” Time said, inviting with his arms but not touching Link.

Someone had set up a ring of stones with logs in the middle and was working to start a fire. Time directed Link to a spot near the ring, and they sat together as the fire blazed to life.

“So you want to hear my story?” Time said. It was more of a question than a statement.

Link nodded, and Zelda said, “Please.” Link held the mirror so she could see Time.

“I fought an evil man called Ganondorf,” Time started.

Zelda interrupted immediately. “That’s impossible. Link fought Ganondorf.”

“A different Ganondorf,” Time said. “Like the Heroes, he is reborn time and time again. Sometimes he is sealed away, sometimes he is killed, but he always comes back, just as the Heroes will always be there to stop him.”

“Did all of you fight an incarnation of Ganondorf?” Zelda asked.

“Not everyone,” Time answered, “but you’ll hear their stories in time. For now, allow me to tell you mine.”

It’s been a while since I read the Linked Universe comic on Tumblr, so I may get the personalities and other details wrong. Sorry!