[ His words bring a little smile to her lips, an air of embarrassed self-consciousness he has probably never seen from her. Even after four years, Zelda still feels the urge to insist that she didn't do anything to warrant such praise. If anything, people should be (rightfully) mad at her. She was the weak link in the defense against Calamity Ganon's revival, the reason the kingdom was destroyed. In fact, the first thing she did after recovering from her century in the seal was travel to Zora's Domain to personally apologize to King Dorephan for the death of his daughter, the Champion Mipha.
But not only was he not mad, he was beside himself with relief to see Princess Zelda alive again. As was Sidon, the little prince Zelda remembered always trailing after his big sister. All of the Zora were grateful to see Zelda again, as were the Sheikah, the Gorons, the Rito, the Gerudo, and Hylians all over the kingdom. Where once the people of Hyrule saw her as a failure, now they saw her as a hero. ]
Whatever you might imagine, the truth is much more strange. Excluding the Zora (and Purah, Robbie, and Impa, I suppose), no one knew who I was at first. No one really knew what to make of me. I think, perhaps, very few people knew what happened to me.
But when they found out, they were quite excited. [ Zelda self consciously tucks a strand of hair behind one ear. ] Every village Link and I travelled to insisted upon throwing a banquet or a dance or some other celebration in our honor. People were so kind... It was honestly a bit embarrassing, to tell you the truth. For a long time, I didn't fully feel like I deserved their admiration. I was to blame for the Calamity... or so I used to believe.
[ She pauses for a moment. ]
When you find your princess again, please do the same for her. Welcome her back with whatever you have. Wherever she is... no doubt, she has worked hard for Hyrule. She may even blame herself for what happened when she was a girl. I did. Mayhaps it is a family trait. [ Zelda chuckles. ] But the Calamity was not my fault. The fall of your Hyrule was not hers.
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But not only was he not mad, he was beside himself with relief to see Princess Zelda alive again. As was Sidon, the little prince Zelda remembered always trailing after his big sister. All of the Zora were grateful to see Zelda again, as were the Sheikah, the Gorons, the Rito, the Gerudo, and Hylians all over the kingdom. Where once the people of Hyrule saw her as a failure, now they saw her as a hero. ]
Whatever you might imagine, the truth is much more strange. Excluding the Zora (and Purah, Robbie, and Impa, I suppose), no one knew who I was at first. No one really knew what to make of me. I think, perhaps, very few people knew what happened to me.
But when they found out, they were quite excited. [ Zelda self consciously tucks a strand of hair behind one ear. ] Every village Link and I travelled to insisted upon throwing a banquet or a dance or some other celebration in our honor. People were so kind... It was honestly a bit embarrassing, to tell you the truth. For a long time, I didn't fully feel like I deserved their admiration. I was to blame for the Calamity... or so I used to believe.
[ She pauses for a moment. ]
When you find your princess again, please do the same for her. Welcome her back with whatever you have. Wherever she is... no doubt, she has worked hard for Hyrule. She may even blame herself for what happened when she was a girl. I did. Mayhaps it is a family trait. [ Zelda chuckles. ] But the Calamity was not my fault. The fall of your Hyrule was not hers.