Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda or any of the following characters.

Author's Note: First time writing Legend of Zelda fanfiction of any kind! I've been playing Breath of the Wild and just felt compelled to fill in some of the gaps that were missing. Obviously, I made several changes of my own to make the story more interesting.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter One

Zelda was ten when she first met her would-be champion.

At her young age, the princess was often described as inquisitive, stubborn, and scholarly to a fault. Her professors frequently praised her for her growing intelligence and devotion to learning, while her attendants could only shake their heads forlornly at her resistance to adhere to many of her royal responsibilities and etiquette classes.

She had initially stowed away in the castle library in hopes of avoiding Impa and her handmaidens who were instructed to watch her every single move. The castle library was majestic and beautiful. Intricately designed bookcases with novels of every size and genre adorning each and every shelf. Just gazing upon the leather-bound texts and running her fingers over the titles as she walked by brought her an inexplicable sense of warmth and peace.

Amongst the ancient tombs and tales of fantastic legend and lore, Zelda had found her new home—a sense of purpose, even. She was frequently drawn to the biology section, learning about the different creatures and species of animals, insects, and plants that resided across the land. But in most cases, she could not help but be enraptured by the research texts on the Sheikah and their Ancient Technology.

It was a beautiful fall afternoon, and she was currently huddled in an alcove by one of the windows. She had created a sort of nesting space for herself, plush blankets and books strewn about the brown leather couch that she arranged to angle towards the window and next to the fireplace so that she could look upon the kingdom at her fancy and bask in the warmth of the flames.

Zelda was just reading about how Warm Darner fireflies could providing heating properties when mixed with monster parts when she realized she was being watched. She brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear and surreptitiously looked up from the page she was reading to challenge whoever was in her sacred space.

Bright blue eyes met her own, and she let out a startled gasp.

It was a boy, just around her age. He had short dirty blond hair that framed his face nicely and was dressed in a blue traveling cloak. He was standing across from her, leaning on one of the tall reading chairs, looking as though he had been there a while. She didn't recognize him, somehow, which was odd considering how she made a point to know every individual residing in her kingdom.

"E-excuse me! Who are you? And what are you doing here?" Zelda demanded, attempting to appear more regal than she actually felt, snapping the giant tomb in her lap shut with a loud 'slam'.

The boy before her merely stared at her silently, eyes wandering about her person as though he didn't quite know what to make of her. She couldn't help but blush at the attention.

"What is your name?" She tried again, calmer this time.

"Link," he replied simply. And after a pause asked curiously, "What were you reading just now?"

Zelda blinked at the question and stared down at the leather-bound tomb in her lap. "It's a research text about the biology of different insects in Hyrule and how they can be used to create elixirs." She desperately tried to control the words spilling out of her mouth, but she couldn't help the excited feeling of being able to share her newfound knowledge. No one ever thought to ask her what she was reading."For example, if you take the fangs from a Bokoblin and mix it with a Winterwing Butterfly, you'd be able to create a cooling elixir strong enough to stave off the heat in Gerudo Village. Fascinating, right?"

She looked back up at him and her mouth fell open in surprise as he let out a string of chuckles.

"And what, might I ask, is so funny?" Zelda growled indignantly at the mysterious laughing boy before her.

Link composed himself rather quickly, and his amused blue eyes were suddenly upon her again. "It's just…I would never have expected that the Princess Zelda, the descendant of the Goddess, future savior of Hyrule….would be so...so studious." He couldn't help but let out another stray chuckle.

Zelda glared at him, pushing the giant book off of her, and stood up so that she could match eye level with him from across the coffee table. "I'll have you know that it is one of my many responsibilities as the Princess of Hyrule to be educated on a variety of subjects! You think I just sit around and pray to the Goddess at every waking hour?"

She gathered up the train to her dress and brushed passed him angrily towards the library's exit. The young princess didn't care about this stupid boy or what he thought about her, and she ignored him calling after her as she hurried to leave.

Zelda thought she had seen the last of the rude boy until she saw him again later that evening after dining with her father. The blonde boy was standing near one of the guest rooms speaking to a member of the Royal Guard. She noted that he had changed out of his traveling cloak and into a simple green tunic.

The blonde boy made brief eye contact with her before she huffed and turned back around from the direction in which she came in order to avoid yet another unfortunate confrontation.

"I'll be right back, Uncle!" She heard him tell the guard before she felt his unnerving presence trailing behind her.

"Wait," his soft voice called out to her. Zelda did not look back as she continued her trek across the halls of the castle. It was just after dinner, and she was thinking that maybe she could disappear to the library for a couple of more hours before she was called to bed by Impa and her handmaidens. "Look, I apologize if I appeared rude. You just…you caught me off guard."

At that, the young princess stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him, strands of her long blonde hair whirling about her as she responded with her arms crossed. "I could say the same for yourself. There I was…enjoying a perfectly good book, until you rudely interrupted me with your…irritating presence!"

The young boy matched her stance and crossed his arms as well. "You know…I had been standing there for at least ten minutes before you took notice of my so-called 'irritating presence'."

Sputtering, the princess blinked stupidly at his admittance. "E-Excuse me?!"

"I thought to myself—this book must be so enthralling to have completely disarmed the legendary Princess Zelda for that amount of time." Link could not help the grin that formed on his face. "Little did I know—insect elixirs! Fascinating, indeed."

Before she could think of a proper comeback to wipe that teasing smile off his face, Link's expression became softer as he looked at her, and she was taken aback by the transformation.

"Like I mentioned before…I'm Link. My uncle and I have lived in the Zora Domain all my life, but my family is originally from Hyrule." His blue eyes grew distant. "Lately, there has been an increase in monsters in the Hyrule area, and my Uncle Alfon was called to return here to help increase the castle defenses."

Zelda thought back to the stories she had been hearing around the kingdom. Goats and stable horses going missing in the night, and traveling merchants who never made it to the next town. "I've been hearing many similar tales from other townsfolk," she said, frowning to herself.

Link nodded, and continued, "My uncle is a great swordsman, and your father requested him to become one of the Royal Guard. We packed up everything and traveled here, leaving Zora and our home behind. King Rhoam even provided us with generous accommodations to stay in the guest rooms within the castle."

"Your uncle's name sounds familiar," Zelda wondered out loud, "I believe that my father's told me stories of them training together as soldiers back in the day. They must be old friends."

That got Link's attention. "My Uncle never mentioned that. But that explains why the servants have been more than welcoming since we arrived."

She found herself warming up to this boy, despite herself. "I'm grateful to you and your Uncle for traveling here."

The boy seemed surprised by her sincere answer and reverted his tone back to the teasing one he adopted earlier. "Are you?"

The abrupt shift caused the princess to narrow her emerald eyes at the boy. "Just when I thought we could get along…"

Link grinned, and Zelda had to stop herself from blushing at the sight of it. What was happening to her?

"Don't worry. You'll be seeing a lot more of me, Princess."

—

7 Years Later

The moment that Link pulled the Master Sword out of the ancient stone that encased it, Zelda knew that everything was going to change.

She watched, motionless, as her childhood friend, now a young man of seventeen, swung the legendary sword in several graceful arches. In the back of her mind, she noted the sound of distant cheers and commendations from the people around her.

Her father along with the four champions from Zora, Gerudo, Goron, and Rito had been at her side when the Hero's Ceremony began. She was dressed in regal, ceremonial garb, and it was her duty to recite the Goddess's prayer that began the annual celebration. Once a year, swordsman and travelers alike came from all over the kingdom claiming to be the Chosen One. One by one, men and women would attempt to pull the Master Sword out of its encasing, but to no avail.

Zelda had laughed in disbelief when Link told her the night before that he was planning on participating. They had snuck into the kitchens to see to the remains of the banquet of desserts that were served earlier at dinner that had been prepared for the many esteemed guests staying at the castle that night.

"You must be joking."

She stared dumbly at him as she set her half-eaten fruitcake to the side. He turned his piercing blue gaze upon her, no trace of the lighthearted Link that she had become accustomed to these past seven years.

"Zelda, in many ways, you're so lucky. You've known your destiny your whole life," He began slowly, as though he were measuring his words carefully, "Recently, I've felt a calling…an inexplicable pull. I hear a voice in my dreams asking me to come forth to claim what is rightfully mine and to help seal the darkness once and for all."

The princess frowned at his words, annoyed at her initial reaction to argue and question. "You never told me that."

Link shrugged, not meeting her searching gaze. "I was afraid of what you'd say."

"Whose voice do you hear? In your dreams," Zelda ventured to ask, wanting to know more, but afraid of what she might hear.

Eyebrows furrowed, staring at the forgotten lemon tart he held in his hand, he had responded simply.

"Yours."

Now, staring upon the handsome young swordsman, she numbly registered Mipha's quiet cheers of encouragement being drowned out by Daruk's loud yells to her right. Urbosa and Revali, the older members of their assembled group, were standing to her left, clapping respectfully as the Hylian champion more than proved his worth when he successfully executed a dangerous looking spin attack at the first try.

"Zelda," the king called to her, snapping her out of her reverie.

"Yes, Father."

The king was dressed just as regally as she, with his formal robes and golden crown.

"You must congratulate Link, and announce that we have found our Chosen One."

Zelda couldn't think of anything she wanted to do less, but not wanting to argue in front of the rather large crowd of people assembled at the Sacred Grounds Ruins, she nodded stiffly and made her way towards Link, just as he was placing the glowing blade back in its sheath.

There were several emotions coursing through her. Truly, she wanted to be happy for her best friend, but watching him wield the Master Sword like it was nothing, like he was born to do it all along, fragmented her in ways she could not explain.

And try as she might to prevent it, she could not help the surge of anger and frustration that was bubbling towards the surface. How dare Link talk to her about destiny and callings when she, of all people—

"Zelda!"

Quickly forcing her features to one of happiness and excitement, she looked upon the blonde, and hoped that he couldn't see the turmoil within her.

"Link. I-Congratulations," she said, rapidly going in for a hug so that she could hide her face and burrow it in his shoulder. "I'm very happy for you." She muttered into the green cloth, her voice coming out muffled and distorted. "Guess you were the Chosen One after all."

Zelda was disappointed at the hint of resentment that tasted like bitter chalk in her mouth.

She felt strong, calloused hands rest on her shoulders and push her back so that she could stare into the anxious blue eyes of her childhood friend.

"This doesn't change anything."

Don't be stupid, Link. This changes everything.

"Of course not," the princess said out loud, but she felt the lie between them as though it were something so tangible that she could touch. Brushing his hands off her shoulders, she averted her eyes so that he wouldn't be able to read her expression too closely.

Turning to address the ever-waiting crowd of spectators, she announced loudly and clearly, "The Master Sword has selected its Chosen One. It is my honor to present our Hylian Champion, Link of Hyrule." She sighed inwardly that none of her inner emotions were evident in her tone or voice.

The people erupted into applause and cheers once more, and Zelda's childhood instinct to run and hide was stronger than ever. Especially when she heard Link's voice call her name once more, almost desperately, but she didn't dare turn to face him.

The moment the opportunity presented itself, Zelda ran into the crowd, back towards the castle, and didn't look back.

AN: Please review and let me know your thoughts! Thank you for reading :)