"Wake up, my love.. Open your eyes.."

Link stirred in his bed a moment, opening his eyes just a sliver. Bright light from his window filtered into his retinas, causing his eyelids squeeze shut. His mother let out a silvery laugh, light and airy, not unlike the beautiful birdsong from outside. Upon hearing his mother's voice, Link's eyes shot open.

"Mama!" Link nearly leapt onto his mother and wrapped his little arms around her neck.

"Happy birthday Link," she said in her gentle, sing-song voice. "My little boy is already nine years old!" She looked at her son with the utmost affection, then picked him up and sat him on her lap, stroking the silky, golden hair atop his head, a physical trait they both shared.

Link grinned widely, looking like a miniature version of his father. They had the same charming smile, with a dimple on his left cheek that would pop up now and then. His mother guessed that Link, with his good looks and his father's million-rupee smile, would steal many girl's hearts.

"Are you hungry, little man?" His mother asked. Link's eyes lit up, and he nodded his head frantically, bouncing up and down. His mother let out another laugh, and held her little glutton tightly against her side and stood up, heading to the kitchen.

"Pancakes!" Link wriggled in his mother's arms, absolutely famished all of a sudden. There was a huge stack of pancakes on the table. He noticed there was a special pancake, in the shape of an "L", for "Link". He gasped, utterly astonished.

"Mother, how did you do that?!"

"It was easy. I'll teach you sometime." She promised.

The front door swung open, and heavy feet rumbled the floor. Link's ears shot up.

"I'm home! Where are my hugs and kisses?" Link's father's voice bellowed out.

"FATHER!" Link shouted and wiggled out of his mothers arms. As soon as his nimble feet touched the floor he dashed towards his father. He gripped Link under his armpits and lifted him up without difficulty. He gave him a big, wet kiss on the cheek and held him tightly against his broad chest. Link threw his arms around his fathers neck, hugging him tightly.

"I've missed you little warrior! How old is my birthday boy turning today?"

"Da-ad! How can you not remember? I'm nine!" Link giggled. His father positioned him against his side and walked into the kitchen, where he found his wife dishing them up some pancakes. Link, for a boy irregularly small for his age ate enough to sustain two grown men! He inherited that trait from his father and even his mother, though she was reluctant to admit it.

"There's my beautiful wife!" He roared. He sat link down on a chair, and kissed his wife on the cheek, gripping her waist. She swung her arms around his neck and smiled.

Link made a 'gag' noise and focused on buttering his pancakes, of which there were five, all about the size of the his plate. He then poured a generous amount of coarser bee honey over them. With a lick of his lips, he began to sloppily cut his pancakes and shove them in his mouth, barely chewing before swallowing them down.

His father peered over at his sons plate as he was sitting down at their table.

"Hey little buddy, you want some pancake with that honey?" He joked, while poking his son in the ribs.

Link squirmed in his chair and giggled loudly, his mother joined in, covering her mouth with a dainty hand, as if she was trying to catch the giggles leaving her lips.

"DONE!" Link cried out with pride once he licked every crumb off of his plate. His mother would usually scold him for such rude behavior, but seeing as today was his birthday, she let it slide this time. She toke their dishes to the kitchen sink and began to clean up.

"Hey, Link, I've got something to show you, come here," His dad gestured for Link to follow him. Link nodded and ran after his father. Outside, his father stood by their pond, facing Link's direction with two hands behind his back. They ran outside, stopping to pet their horse on the way.

"Pick a hand, if you choose the correct one, you'll get a present." His father told him. Link hesitated for a moment, his features scrunching up slightly.

"Left!" Link shouted enthusiastically. His father held out his left hand, empty.

"Aw shucks.. I guess you don't get to have this cool sword…" He said, casually revealing a sword from behind his back. Link's eyes lit up and he gasped in astonishment.

"B-but father…" Link pleaded. Link's father let out a hearty laugh, so loud that the birds perched on the apple tree in their backyard flap away.

"It was a joke, my boy!" Link's father patted his son on the head, and kneelt down in front of him.

"This sword is a specially forged by a blacksmith in Goron city! It looks a little big for you now, but you'll grow in time. Heck, you'll probably outgrow me. Go on, hold it!" he thrust the sword towards his son's outstretched arms. The sword was almost as long as Link was, but it was beautifully made. There were ornate engraftation's in the hilt of the sword, and it was somewhat light, yet sturdy.

"Father, I.. Thank you!" Link was elated, he always wanted a real sword.

His father continued to instruct him on his swordsmanship the rest of the day, like he's done since Link could walk.

Today, he taught Link one of his "special moves".. The "Spin Attack"! The first few times Link attempted the attack, he collapsed and almost puked. But, by the end of the day, he got the hang of it pretty well.

Link's father knew his son was a prodigy, that he was destined for great things.

"Dinner!" Link's mother announced. Link and his father looked at each other with a silly grin on their face. They both enjoyed dinner time more than anything else.

As they entered the house, they were welcomed by the mouth-watering scent of deer stew, which tasted as good as it smelled. After dinner, Link's mother brought out a decedent chocolate cake, smothered with rich chocolate icing, with "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINK" written in white.

"Make a wish, my sweet." His mother prodded. Link thought hard, his eyes lifting towards the ceiling, his face focused. Then, his eyes snapped back into place, and he grinned mischievously

"I wish for a little brother to play with!" He said, and blew on his candles.

One stubborn candle remained, however. The flame flickering with stubbornness, as if it wanted Link to take his wish back. He blew again, but the candle remained aflame, glaring at link angrily, trying to stop him.

With one last blow, he finally extinguished the candle flame, and it was done. His parents started to clap and cheer, his mother planting a kiss on his forehead. The cake was pure bliss, moist, and with more icing in between the two cake layers, a pleasant surprise. His mother was the best chef in Hyrule!

It was late, and Link's mother noticed he was utterly pooped, and struggled to keep his eyes open. She picked up him up and placed him in his bed, and pulled the sheets over his torso.

"Before you go to sleep, Link, I have another gift for you." At the mention of a gift Links eyes widened, and his ears twitched a tiny bit. His mother left the room for a moment, and came back, sitting on his bed. She placed a beautiful leather journal in his hands. There were golden hinges, and what seemed like endless pages, which Link flipped through quickly with his thumb. He noticed at the back of the journal, there were some of his mother's favorite recipes in there.

"This journal, is for writing in. Sometimes, it's hard to tell others how you're feeling. But, it's not good to hold in feelings. That's why, I'm giving you this. So, when you feel like you to vent about something, whether it be positive or negative, you can do so safely in here." She explained, stroking her sons soft hair.

"Thank you, mother." Link said, giving her a hug.

"Sweet dreams," his mother tucked him into bed and kissed his cheek.

"Night mama." And Link's slumber was blessed with joyful dreams.

An owl perched on his windowsill, it's hoots disrupting the peaceful quiet of the night.