1
A Day in the Life of Link, a Hyrule Academy Student
"Time to get up, Link," the boy heard early in the morning. He slowly turned over and opened his eyes to see Zelda standing over him. As was usual, she was already dressed in her school uniform of a medium-length pleated skirt and a white blouse.
"Zelda, why do you continue to wake me up at the crack of dawn?" asked Link sleepily. "School doesn't start for another two hours yet."
"Silly you!" Zelda laughed. "We have to meet Midna and Skyron for riding to academy today. Don't you remember anything?" she asked him.
"Ugh, I had totally forgotten about that," Link groaned. "Fine. I'll get out of bed now." He slipped out of his bed as Zelda left the room, then followed her out the door and into the hallway, where the water basin was. He scooped some water out and splashed it onto his face, getting the mirror dirty in the process. "Great job, Link," he muttered as he took out a towel and wiped up the mess.
After making the bed and finishing the last two arithmetic problems from the homework, Link dressed in the Hyrule Academy's school uniform for boys: a navy blue tunic over a white undershirt and leggings. Checking the time, he rushed out the door of his room and into the main hallway of the King's summer villa, which had been given to Zelda for her to live in with a friend during her time at the academy.
Link stepped into the kitchen of the villa and saw that Zelda had already prepared a delicious breakfast for the two of them. Inside the two bowls were some freshly cooked eggs that Zelda had gotten from her friend Malon's Cuccos as well as rice and peppers.
Link stared at the meal hungrily before Zelda noticed and laughed, "You can eat it, silly! It's not just for staring!"
Link blushed and then devoured the meal. Considering that it was almost time for Midna and Skyron to arrive, he had to hurry to complete the morning chores before harnessing Epona to the cutter.
When the meal was finished, he and Zelda put on their layers of scarves and coats and finally got around to lacing their boots. They clomped out the back door and into the hind field, which was covered in a blanket of snow.
"Wow, it sure snowed last night!" Link exclaimed before he and Zelda hurried to the barns.
Link took the Horse Barn, where Epona and Zelda's horse Splash resided. He heaved the door open and greeted the horses warmly. After brushing and grooming, Link fed them a bucket of grain each. He watched them eat for a while and then began pitching hay from the loft down into the stalls.
Soon Link heard a teasing voice saying, "Hey, hero! Did you forget about us?" Link turned around to see two figures in the yard. One was a small hovering figure with a large stone mask on her head. The other was a tall, lanky elf with a shock of electric blonde hair covering one eye and a small button reading 'I WENT TO E3' on his coat lapel.
"Oh, hi guys!" cried Link from the barn. "Zelda and I were just finishing the morning chores before I get Epona hooked up to the cutter."
"Good for you," the small figure known as Midna said sarcastically. "Of course, the little Hylian boy seems to be lying to me, the Twilight Princess! HOW DARE YOU!" Midna teased.
"More like Twilight Problem," the tall elf called Skyron groaned. Just then, Zelda came out of the Cow Barn and smiled when she saw the two new arrivals.
"Midna! Skyron! I'm so glad you came!" cried Zelda.
"As if we wouldn't," cackled Midna.
"Are you sassing me, Twilight Problem?" Zelda asked mockingly before remembering what they were there for and adding, "Link, Skyron, go hook Epona up to the cutter."
Link and Skyron walked over to the Horse Barn, grinning at the weirdness of the two girls. When they got there, Link hauled the door open again and the boys entered. Skyron found the cutter in the corner next to the buggy and the royal carriage and dragged it over to Link, who was putting a harness on Epona. Link quickly attached the harness to the lead on the cutter and then led the horse out of the barn and into the yard where Zelda and Midna were waiting.
After a few more minutes of talking, Link said, "Come on, get in! Epona shouldn't stand still in the cold so long."
The band got into the cutter, with Zelda on the far corner with Midna next to her, squished next to Link, who was holding the reins, and Skyron sat awkwardly on the other corner of the seat.
"Hyah, Epona!" Link called, and the horse galloped out of the yard and onto the path towards Heian and out of the Twilight District. The group passed rows of elegant houses where Twilis and Hylians lived side by side in peace and friendship. On the road to Heian Skyron told them all about the latest games for the portscreen, Zelda laughed, and Midna made sarcastic comments. It was quite typical of their group to work like this, while Link was concentrating on keeping Epona on the right track.
Not long after Epona had settled and Link could talk with his friends, the path leading to Heian appeared. Link gently steered Epona onto the path and the group became silent as they entered the beautiful city of Heian.
Though they had seen the city many times, it always seemed more beautiful than the previous day. Cherry trees lined the snow-covered path and grand temples and houses stood alongside the road. On the foot-path, students walked alongside the cutter all bundled up in coats, scarves, and hats of gray, navy, and black and carrying their school packs. If they were in one of the three bands at school, they also carried an instrument with them. Other students on the horse-path in front of Link rode horseback, in a carriage, or on other cutters.
Slowly Link and his friends made their way up to the front of Hyrule Academy. It was a grand school, educating Hyrule's aristocrats and gifted students ranging in years from entry level (below Year One) to Year Eight. After Year Eight, students who wished to continue their education applied for the Royal Preparatory Academy before continuing on to the High University.
Link let his friends unload themselves and their belongings before he drove Epona to the stables. After watering her, Link collected his ocarina and school books and then joined Zelda, Midna, and Skyron in the main hall of Hyrule Academy.