Training And Losing

Bo slowly looked around the tree, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. He's around here somewhere. Bo thought. Checking around him and seeing nothing, Bo stepped around the tree. A movement to his right caught his attention, causing him to duck the sword being swung at him. He heard the sword collide into the tree. Bo took his sword and swung at the attackers side, causing him to jump away.

The attacker beckoned Bo to go for him, but Bo slowly stepped forward, cautiously. He had to do this just right. Bo took another step forward and raised his sword up to catch the attack. He grabbed his attackers wrist and swung him onto the ground and brought his sword to his attackers throat. Bo smiled.

"I win Joey. You're getting too old." Joey scowled and knocked the sword away.

Standing up, Joey looked over at Bo. "Yeah, yeah. You got lucky mate."

Bo laughed. "If it makes you feel better, I'll tell Whitney that you tripped on a branch." Joey got red and he pushed Bo.

"Hey now! She doesn't need to know that mate!" Joey retorted, laughing. Whitney was a new recruit sent to the Ordon post. Joey had met her once before, at the Castle with Link. Joey, being Joey, had developed quite a crush on her recently. But work prevented him from doing anything with her. Unfortunately, he told Bo and Jena about it. Now Jena always talked to Whitney about Joey and Bo caught on to making fun of him about it.

"Yeah, well, I wonder what she would think of her big strong Joey when she finds out he's being beaten up by sixteen year olds." Bo laughed and dodged Joey's punch to his shoulder. They started walking back to the outpost, talking. They came up to the outpost and saw Whitney and Jena out there. Jena looked up and spotted them.

"Bo! Joey!" she shouted, waving to them. Bo waved back and Joey just hung his head. Jena came running up to them, dragging Whitney behind her.

"So, how was practice?" Bo smiled and looked over at Joey, who grew even redder.

"Joey almost had me, but he tripped on a broken branch and I got him before he could do anything. I got lucky." Joey sighed, looking very red. He wanted a distraction from all this.

"Joey!" came a shout. He looked up to see Mike running up to them.

"Joey, we're running low on supplies and we need you to go get more."

Joey's jaw dropped. "ME? But why mate?"

"No one else is available. Joey, I wouldn't be asking you if I didn't have to." Joey sighed again. Well, anything to get away from these evil twins of Link's.

"Sure, why not? When do you want me to leave mate?"

"Now." Joey nodded and went to go pack his things. Bo came running up behind him.

"Hey Joey, do you think I could come with you?" Joey shrugged.

"Go ask your Dad." Bo nodded eagerly and ran off towards Ordon. Joey walked into his tent and started gathering clothes. He heard someone enter the tent. Turning around, Joey saw Jena standing at the entrance.

"So?" she asked. Joey turned back to his bag.

"So what?"

Jena walked next to him. "When are you gonna ask Whitney to the annual Ordon Dance? Come on. You both are a perfect match for each other."

Joey shook his head. "You know I have no time for stuff like that. Come on, look at me. I'm an Honor Guard. Do you think I have time for a relationship?"

Jena gave Joey a bad look. "You're just scared. Come on Joey. She talks about you all the time." Joey laughed.

"Only because you talk about me all the time to her." Joey got finished packing and sat down on the bed. "Jena, I appreciate what you and Bo are trying to do. But look at us. She's just…"

Jena raised an eyebrow. "Just like you?"

"Yeah… Wait, no! Not what I was gonna say!" Joey put his head in his hands and sighed big. "Look, the Ordon Dance is two weeks away. I'll be back long before then and then you can try to talk me into taking Whitney to the Dance. Deal?"

Jena looked out the tent door, then shook her head. "If you say so." just then, Bo came running through the door, excited.

"Dad said I could go with you Joey!" he said. Joey laughed.

"Awesome mate. Well, get some stuff together. We'll leave out when you get back. And you," Joey said to Jena as Bo ran out the door. "Keep your mouth quiet around Whitney. Or I'll leave you to the Lizalfos." Jena laughed and promised she wouldn't say anything.

"Now, get out of here. Don't you have a job now?" Jena worked for Zelda searching for ancient ruins around Ordon. She gasped and ran out the door, leaving Joey to his peace. He sat back down on his bed and looked at the wall, thinking.

Sure, he wanted to go up to Whitney and ask her to the Dance. But truthfully, he was scared. There was something about her that scared Joey. Maybe it's because she's someone you can't understand. Joey always had the ability to look at something and find out exactly what to do about it. But with Whitney, he just couldn't figure her out.

He was shook from her thoughts when Bo came walking back in, bag slung over his shoulder and sword at his hip. He grinned at Joey.

"Ready when you are mate." Joey laughed and shook his head.

"Leave the 'mate' saying to me mate. I do it better." Joey commented, pushing Bo out of the door. Bo laughed, looking out into the forest. A frightful look came across his face, replacing his grin.

"What's up Bo?" Joey asked, noticing the change of his face. Bo turned his head to him.

"Ever feel like something is about to happen that you can't seem to explain? But while you don't know what it is, you feel like it will change your life?" Joey gazed up past Bo's head over to Whitney. Sensing that she was being watched, she looked up and over at Joey. She grew red and quickly looked down. Joey looked back at Bo.

"You have no idea."