Chapter Text
Zelda Amari Hyrule always loved the Winter’s Welcome celebrations. It had been a favorite of hers since she was a child and now that she had the life she never dreamed of having before - married to Link, six wonderful children of her own - this time of year was always like a dream for her. And especially now that her youngest children were a little older, Link, Hilda, and Mirai always filled the castle with the wonderful aroma of her favorite seasonal treats that they only made for this time of year.
Zelda followed her nose to Link’s personal kitchen, popping her head in to see a part of her family laughing as Link baked with his two daughters. Mirai was finally tall enough to reach over the counter without the need of a stool and was happily cutting up fruit as Hilda worked hard on making a pie crust.
Both girls and Link turned to Zelda as she walked in, both of them smiling happily. “Hi M-m-mommy!” Mirai said happily as Zelda walked in. “Hi-Hi-Hilda and I are m-m-making pies!”
“I can see that!” Zelda said happily. “And I can see you’re making your papa’s favorite apple pie!” She laughed as she kissed Mirai’s head. “Did he put you up to this?”
“Hey, I’m just playing sous chef to the two of them!” Link said with a laugh as he cooked down some other fruits on the stove.
“I lih-lih-lih-like apples, too,” Mirai reminded Zelda.
“They’re also my favorite,” Hilda said with a laugh. “I guess we got that from Father.”
“They’re still my baby girls, too,” Link said with a bright smile. “Even if they take after you with how pretty they are.”
“Except these noses,” Hilda said blandly, tapping her own nose, making Mirai giggle.
“Personally, I think the two of you wear them better than your father,” Zelda teased, kissing both of their noses. “And I like your papa’s nose.”
“I’d argue with you, but you’re right,” Link said with a laugh. “All of our kids wear my big o’ shnoz more than I do.”
“I think yuh-yuh-yuh-you’re ha-ha-ha-handsome, Papa!” Mirai said quickly.
“Aw, thanks, Mirrie,” Link said with a happy smile, waking over and kissing her forehead quickly.
“You know, it’s the time of the year to spend with families,” Zelda said happily. “You know who would love to bake with you two? Your uncle!” she looked at Link happily. “You should go get him!”
“I should!” Link said with a wide smile. He walked over to the nearby chair and sat down in it, smiling at his girls. “Be back in a jiffy. Don’t worry, I won’t let the fruit burn,” he said before laying his head on the table and was instantly asleep.
“I will always be jealous of how he can do that,” Hilda said with a shake of her head as Mirai giggled.
“He practices,” Zelda said with a laugh.
“Kismet sleeping?” Link Hateno asked his wife, who was laying back in an easy chair. “I just put Destin down for his nap.”
“Mm-hm.” Zelda Amari Hateno nodded, running her fingers through her hair. “I swear, that girl is just like you - a boundless source of energy until she decides to just turn off…” She laughed quietly as Link sat next to her, kissing her cheek. “Well, we wanted kids, and we got ‘em, didn’t we?”
“We sure did - the best kids in the world, because they’re ours. Even if Destin keeps calling me ‘Link’ instead of ‘papa’ or ‘dada’.” Link chuckled. “Kid’s gonna grow up to be deadly serious, I can already tell.” He sank into the chair as Zelda leaned against his shoulder. “I was thinking… it’s Hylia’s Day in a week, right? What say we go visit the Royals, show the kids a fancy holiday, and take the chance to avail ourselves of their nannies?”
“Absolutely.” Zelda said, already closing her eyes. “Race you there.”
“You’re just desperate for a chance to cut loose,” Link laughed, pulling a blanket around them. “Fortunately, so am I.” He shut his eyes with a laugh. “See you there.”
With a pop, the pair arrived at the Crossroads, only to be surprised by King Link Bourne. “Woah, are our worlds out of sync already?” Hateno asked. “It’s mid-afternoon for us!”
“Yeah, us too, I can take a nap, you know,” King said with a chuckle. “I actually came to get you. Mirrie, Hil, and I are doing some holiday baking and Zelda said we should have you two join us.”
“Well, what do you know? We came here to invite ourselves over to visit!” Link Hateno laughed. “Our kids are two, and they’re right at that age where they’re smart enough to drive us nuts.” He walked over to the rivers, sticking his hand in it and calling his children. “Kis! Des! We’re gonna go visit your aunt and uncle!”
Kismet appeared in a burst of water, instantly running over and hugging King. “Uncle Papa!” She yelled, hugging him tightly. “Pick up!” As King picked her up, she giggled and hugged him some more.
Destin, by contrast, appeared from the bubble of water calmly. “King Link?” He said, tilting his head. “Mama? Link? Visit?”
“Papa, Des,” Hateno said, picking up Destin, “and yeah, we’re going for a visit.”
“I love that your boy calls you Link, but he calls Zelda ‘Mama’,” King said with a laugh as he continued to hold Kismet. “And yes, I’m here to bring you all to my world! Hilda and Mirrie are making some delicious desserts we wanna share with you all.”
“Pastry?” Destin asked, his little ears perking up. “Frosting?” He walked over and hugged King happily. “Favorite Uncle Link.”
King laughed. “I think I’m your only uncle, kid, but you’re my favorite nephew,” he said with a grin, scooping Destin up in his arms. He looked over to Hateno and Amari. “You two ready to go?”
“Absolutely!” Hateno said, grabbing onto King’s shoulder as Amari did the other. “Take us away, bro!”
King chuckled, closing his eyes and in a blink, all of them were gone from the Crossroads.
Back in his kitchen, King Link Bourne suddenly sat up straight in his kitchen, blinking as he woke up. He smiled at his girls and wife, who barely reacted to his sudden movement, other than smiling expectantly. “I take it they were having a nap?” Zelda asked with a giggle.
In answer, there was a pop and the Hatenos appeared in the kitchen with them all.
“Hi Au-Au-Au-Auntie M-M-Mama and Un-Un-Uncle P-P-Papa!” Mirai said excitedly, waving to them all. “C-C-Cousins Kis-Kis-Kismet and Deh-Deh-Deh-Destin!”
“Mirai hello.” Destin said with a bright childlike smile. “Hug?”
“Mirrie!” Kismet laughed, jumping up and down. “And Hildie and Auntie Mama and Uncle Papa!” Kismet spun around rapidly until she fell down, dizzy. “Woah, dizzy…”
Zelda laughed, leaning down and scooping Kismet up. “Careful! You don’t wanna bump your head!” she said, kissing Kismet’s forehead. “It’s good to see you and your brother!”
Mirai quickly wiped her hands off and ran over and hugged Destin happily. We’re making fruit pies! Mirai sighed happily. Wanna help us?
“Fruit pie!” Destin clapped his hands happily. “Yay!” He walked over to a sink and began washing his hands carefully, using soap, while Kismet had to be reminded to wash her hands for more than a fraction of a second.
“They’re night and day, aren’t they?” Amari laughed as she helped Kismet wash her hands. “Like a little Link and a little me!”
“Mirai and Saria are just the same for Link and I,” Zelda said with a laugh as Link went back to the fruit pie filling on the stove. “And Hilda and Sierra, of course. Sierra who, by the way, is here from Labrynna for the winter celebrations!” she said happily.
Destin tilted his head at Mirai. “Which one is me?” He asked, confused. “They girl.” He pointed at Mirai. “Is Mirai they Destin?”
I’m not you, you’re you and I’m me, Mirai signed with a giggle.
Destin looked even more confused. “Then who Mirai?” He wondered. “Is Link Mirai?”
Mirai was quiet for a moment before looking at her mother and father with wide eyes.
“We’re just saying you and your sister are a lot like Mirai and Saria, silly,” Amari laughed, kissing Destin’s forehead.
“Yes, you and your sister each take after one of your parents while Mirai and Saria both take after one of us more than the other parent,” Zelda explained further with her own laugh, kissing Mirai’s head.
“Oh!” Destin nodded thoughtfully for a moment. “Still confused.”
“He definitely got that from you,” Amari said, elbowing Hateno. “He even has the timing down.”
“Fruit pie!” Kismet yelled, already having folded a perfect pocket of fruit and pastry. “Destin, hurry up!”
“Hurry!” Destin answered, joining Kismet on the food preparation station, his confusion forgotten by the siren’s song of food.
Hilda chuckled as she helped the younger ones make the pastries. “They definitely are children of a Link,” she said as she tapped a stone around her neck, which flashed twice before going dark again.
“Whatcha got there, Hil? That’s new.” Hateno said, joining her in making the pastries. “Looks like that thing Rauru had, but differently shaped.”
“It’s a cream puff,” Hilda said easily, showing the pastry ball to Hateno. “The way they bake makes a pocket of air inside that can be filled with different items. I’m going to fill it with fruit and whipped cream.”
“Ooh! Can you make one that looks like this?” Hateno asked, making a quick drawing in flour on the table. “I saw that stone on his wrist but he said I wasn’t allowed to eat it under any circumstances.”
“And I think he meant that stone on your neck,” Amari said, staying out of the hustle and bustle. “I haven’t seen that before!”
“I can make one in that shape, sure, and it’s a communication stone.” Hilda said easily as she got to work making the shape Hateno requested.
“Oh? Calling Saige over?” Hateno asked brightly. “How’s he been these last two months?”
“He’s good, but he’s not who I called,” Hilda said with a small smile.
“Guests!” Sierra cried out happily as she burst into the kitchen, the door slamming open, startling everyone but Hilda. “Hello, aunt, uncle, and adorable cousins!”
“Sierra hello!” Destin said, waving politely. “Fruit pie!”
“I heard my culinarily inclined sisters were hard at work with those!” Sierra said happily as she swept into the room, kissing Destin and then Kismet on the head. “Hello adorable cousins.”
“Hello adorable cousin!” Kismet replied with a giggle. “Adorable Queen cousin!”
“I am an adorable queen, aren’t I?” Sierra said with a smirk. “Thank you for noticing.”
Kismet stuck her tongue out in concentration as she added some blueberries and strawberries together in a fruit pie before sealing it up. “Made you favorite.” She said, showing it to Sierra.
“Aw, that is my favorite!” Sierra said with a bright smile as Adler came into the kitchen in a much more calm manner.
“Ah, I wondered why Sierra went running,” Alder said with a chuckle. “Hello Link and Zelda Hateno. Wonderful to see you again.”
“Addie! How have things been for you?” Amari asked, hugging Adler tightly. “Everything holding together okay?”
“Yeah, it’s been a weird two years,” Adler said with a small laugh. “I think I’m still in shock I’m the king.”
“Well, you’re the best Labrynnian King I know in this reality,” Amari said with a soft chuckle. “Are you making sure Sierra’s happy and is she making sure you’re happy too? That’s the most important thing.”
“I work very hard to make sure Sierra is happy and she always makes me happy,” Adler said with a smile, looking over at Sierra with a loving smile as he watched her laugh and tease Kismet and Destin.
“And even when you squabble, you don’t go to bed angry?” Amari asked with a grin. “As long as you’re doing good there, I’m sure you’re doing a good job as a king.”
“I think being a good husband, king, and man are all three different things, but I do my best for all of them,” Alder said with a chuckle.
“Oh, look at mister humble here,” King laughed. “Labrynna’s booming and his people are happy. They have a standard of living that’s neck and neck with Hyrule, and we expect it to pass us soon.” He flashed Adler a grin. “Not that we’ll just give up that title, mind you.”
“And I have Sierra to thank for a lot of that,” Adler said with a chuckle. “Letting her go crazy in her own lab has led to many good things for Labrynna.”
“And we plan to have a great relationship with Labrynna for generations to come!’ Zelda added. “Adler is an amazing king - and I should know.”
“Good king!” Destin said, pointing at Adler. “Also good king!” He said, pointing at King. “Link.” He said, pointing at Link. “Not king. Just Link.”
The adults laughed. “That’s right! I am Just Link, but it’s Papa to you,” Hateno said, walking over and giving Destin a raspberry on his cheek.
Destin giggled happily. “Link!” He said, hugging Hateno tightly. “Love Link. Love Mama.”
Sierra snickered. “I’m sorry, but does Destin only call you Link?” she asked Hateno with a playful grin.
“I’ve tried so hard to get him to call me Papa, or Dada, or Dad, or anything, but…” Hateno shook his head. “I’m just Link.”
Destin carefully wiped his hands before hugging Hateno. “Favorite Link.”
“Aw, at least you're his favorite!” Sierra said with a laugh.
“Honestly, I’m happy that Mirai called Zelda and I a version of mom and dad,” King said with a chuckle as he placed the pastries in the oven.
Mirai thought for a moment. “L-L-Link.” She said with a tiny giggle, brushing a pastry down with egg. “I… we… we’ve fi-finished.”
“Oh no!” Link said dramatically, looking at Mirai agast. “Look at what you’ve done! You’ve corrupted my perfect Zelda and given her ideas to not call me Dad anymore!” He snatched up Mirai, making her squeal and blew a raspberry on her cheek. “Please, call me papa, my sweet girl!”
Mirai giggled happily, squirming in Link’s grasp. “Papa, that ti-tickles!”
“Ah! I have regained one of my most precious titles - Mirai’s papa,” Link said with a laugh, putting Mirai back down. He kissed her head before he straightened back up. “Now how about you run off real quick and go grab your siblings and we can get to eating all these yummy desserts?”
“O… okay papa… Papa Link!” Mirai giggled, dashing off with a laugh.
“I swear, kids are more evil than Ganondorf,” Hateno laughed. “Give them a chance to annoy you and they’ll take it.”
Destin waddled over to Link and gave him a hug. “Uncle Papa.”
Sierra and Hilda laughed at the annoyed expression Hateno had with that as Zelda smirked at him. “Like that?” she asked.
“Exactly like that.” Hateno huffed. “Let this be a lesson to you - kids are way smarter than they let on.” He picked up Destin and held him over his head. “I’ll let you down when you call me Papa - otherwise, I’m going to have to blow on your tummy!”
Destin only laughed as he hung in the air. Kismet ran over and grabbed onto Hateno’s leg, wrapping herself around it. “No…!” She cried around her laughter. “Put baba down!”
“I must hold him until he calls me papa!” Hateno declared, putting on an overdramatic voice. “And if he doesn’t, his tummy is forfeit!”
Both Destin and Kismet squealed loudly, making Hilda cover her ears, though her expression stayed neutral. “Destin! You gotta call Papa Papa!” Kismet cried, still clinging to Hateno’s leg.
Destin looked down at Hateno, his chubby face unusually serious. “Pa… pa…” He said slowly, then poked Hateno in the nose. “Pink.”
“That’s it,” Hateno said before bringing Destin down only to blow raspberries on Destin’s belly, making both his children shriek.
Hilda covered her ears, even though she couldn’t help but laugh - she was pretty used to small children and their predilection for shrieks, anyway. “Now, uncle, I think you’re going at this inefficiently," She said, putting the pastries in the oven, “Destin, if you don’t call him papa, you won’t be able to have any fruit pies because we won’t know who your mama and papa are!”
Destin gasped before grabbing onto Hateno’s hair. “Papa! He papa! My papa! Papa Link!”
Hateno laughed as he grabbed Destin. “I should’ve known that food would be the best motivator for anything…”
“Did I hear something about fruit pies?” Saige asked as he stuck his head into the kitchen. He blinked when he saw the Hatenos and then smiled widely. “Oh, hello everyone! Happy Winter’s Welcome celebrations to you four!”
“Happy Hylia’s day to you too, Saige!” Amari giggled. “I don’t think you’ve met the kids since they started talking, have you? Kismet, Destin, this is Saige, Hilda’s husband!”
Destin looked at Saige for a moment. “Not a Link.”
Saige laughed. “Correct! But while I’m not a Link, I have a secret for you,” he said, leaning down to smirk at Destin before whispering “I’m actually a lindwurm.”
Destin gasped loudly, squirming out of Hateno’s arms and running behind Saige. “No tail.” He looked up at Saige, almost offended. “Dragon have tail.”
“I’m not a dragon - I’m a lindwurm,” Saige said with a chuckle. “I lost my other form when I married my beautiful wife, Hilda.”
“Ohhh…” Destin pointed to Saige. “Used to be dragon.” He nodded. “Hilda dragon?”
Hilda shook her head as she checked on the creme puffs. “Nope - just a woman.”
“She’s an amazing woman, Destin, don’t let her fool you,” Saige said with a laugh, walking over and kissing her neck from behind as she finished checking on her treats.
“Hil is the best cook ever!” Kismet said, doing a happy dance. “Hi!” She held out her arms to Saige, asking to be picked up. “Kismet!”
“Hello, Kismet!” Saige said happily, picking Kismet up and hugging her tightly. “And you’re right! Hilda is the best cook ever!”
Kismet gave Saige a hug. “You smell nice. Not like stinky Des.”
“Aw, thank you, Kismet,” Saige said with a laugh. “Are you excited for Hylia’s Day?”
Kismet nodded frantically. “Mama says we get presents!” She said, as though this was the most amazing news ever.
“Wow!” Saige said in amazement, as if he had never heard of this himself. “No wonder you’re excited! What kinda gifts are you hoping for?”
“Um… a cake!” Kismet said with a bright smile. “And… another cake! Two cakes! That’s as many as two ones!”
“That’s so many cakes!” Saige said with a wide eyed look, making Kismet giggle. Saige looked over to Destin. “What about you?” he asked him with a smile.
Destin put his fingers in his mouth as he thought for a bit. “Sword.” He said, after clearly thinking for a while. “Like Link’s.”
“That’s pretty serious,” Saige said with a nod. “Do you wanna learn how to use it like your papa?”
Destin nodded. “Wanna be hero!” He put his little arms up like he was flexing. “Like Mama and Link!”
“Link? That Link?” Saige said with a frown, pointing at King Link. “Well, he lost an eye, so maybe you should get a better teacher.”
“Thanks Saige,” Link said with a bland chuckle.
“No!” Destin shook his head. “King Link, no. Link!” He pointed at Hateno. “Want be hero like Link!”
“That Link?” Saige said in confusion, pointing at Hateno. “But why would you wanna be like him?”
“Cuz he best Link! Hero! Strong! Mama love him!” Destin insisted, getting a little frustrated. “He favorite Link.”
“Oh, I see…” Saige said with a nod. “But wouldn’t that make him your papa?”
Destin leaned in close to Saige, as if telling him a secret. “He am Papa. But I say Link.”
“Oh…” Saige said with a nod. “Why don’t you call him Papa?” he asked in a whisper.
Destin wiggled his finger, encouraging Saige to lean in closer. “Makes Mama laugh.”
Saige laughed, scooping Destin up in his arms. “Well, aren’t you a good son!” he said, giving Destin a tight squeeze.
“Love Mama and Papa Link…” Destin laughed, hugging Saige. “But love Mama laugh.”
Mirai finally returned to the kitchen, holding the hands of her siblings, Saria in one hand, Ferdie in the other, smiling happily. Saria gasped and released Mirai to run over and crashed into Hateno with a hug. “Uncle Papa! Happy Hylia Day!”
“Sarry, you little fireball! How are you?” Hateno laughed, bouncing Saria in his arms. “We brought the kids, too! Kismet’s a lot like you, and Destin calls me ‘Link’!”
Saria laughed and then waved to Kismet and Destin. “Hi Kissy, Hi Dessy!
“Sar-Sar!” Kismet said, hugging her tightly. “Happy holly day!”
“Happy Hylia Day!” Saria said, picking up Kismet and spinning her around.
Ferdie came in and immediately walked over and hugged Destin without a word of warning. “Hi, Dessin,” he said cheerfully.
“Ferdie!” Destin said, hugging Ferdie back. “Wanna play?”
“Yeah, but Hildie made apple pie!” Ferdie said happily. “We eat pie first!”
“Pie and play!” Destin clapped happily. “Are pie ready?”
“They are,” Hilda said with a smile as she set out a selection of pies on the table.
“Ooh, Hilda, these pies look great…” Hateno said, putting down a bowl full of frosting next to the pies. “But, if you’ll allow me one little bit of sentimentality…” He reached over and took Amari’s hand in one hand and Link’s in another. “Hylia’s day is all about family and togetherness, and there hasn’t been a day since we all met that I’ve regretted one second of it. I used to be a clueless kid from the forest, then I was a guy who only knew how to fight, then I was just a wanderer. You guys - you and Zelda, of course - you all gave me a huge family. Thank you.”
Link smiled, tears in his eyes. He waited a second and then Felix and Dorothea walked in, hand in hand. He reached over with his free hand, keeping Hateno’s hand in one of his, but taking Zelda’s with his other. “He’s right about everything. Not really a surprise that my brother and I are on the same wavelength, but I always wanted a large family and now I have you, Mercedes, and the six amazing children you gave me. Then…” he turned to smile widely at Hateno. “I now have an extended family as well.”
“I love you guys.” Hateno said with a smile. “And…” He cut open his pie, taking a bite, “I love these pies.”
Amari giggled, leaning over and kissing his forehead as Link hugged him tightly. “I think we all love each other very deeply.”
“And I couldn’t be happier to have such a beautiful family to share my favorite holiday with,” Zelda said happily as she helped serve up slices of pies for her youngest children. “All of you make the holidays that much sweeter.”
Both families ended up spending two full weeks together, seeing Hylia’s Day and the New Year in for both worlds. The children got many toys and plushes, and the adults got to spend more time with the people they loved most. It became a tradition for both families that lasted the rest of their lives… and well beyond them.