Disclaimer: I do not own any aspects of The Legend of Zelda, including its characters, setting, magics, items, etc.
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Story Revision Author's Notes: This was my first fan fiction, my first real "story" that amounted to anything at all. And I'm very proud of it. Some of you told me you found it shocking and unbelievable that King Hyrule would announce that the trials Z & L experienced were a test out of the blue, and I agree. There really wasn't any indication of that, because I didn't know it until I came to the part and wrote it. Thus, here is the revision. I hope it is more believable. Another facet to the revised piece is that I had the opportunity to completely edit it, and make the text, shall we say, more mature. I chose not to. The piece is now better than it was, but still reflects the childhood adjustment that it signified.
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Chapter 1: A Typical Day
Zelda and Link lay in the grass wrapped in each other's arms. The wind blew the tall grass and the flowers in the field around them, the tree leaves that stood tall and majestic against the backdrop of the clear blue sky. The birdsong that flitted through the air caught and twirled; a butterfly wafted by, gliding on one of the warm gusts of summer breeze. A cloud drifted over the sun, giving a momentary respite from the bright rays.
Link caught one of the daisies and picked it, handing it to Zelda. She took it with a smile then laid her head back on his shoulder, putting the flower to her nose briefly. Their eyes met and Link realized a second too late that the space between them had been shrinking. Their kiss lasted only a few seconds before Navi came flying in.
"Impa is coming, Link! We have to get out of here!"
Link sighed. "Alright," he said to the fairy, then swiftly kissed Zelda again as goodbye.
Pushing himself up, got on his hands and knees, crawling away from her, following Navi to safety. When he reached the edge of the field that lay in Hyrule Castle lands, he climbed a tree and watched Impa kneel next to Zelda. They exchanged a few whispered words, then Zelda pointed to the clouds. Impa nodded, then led the princess back to the castle. Link sighed again.
"Let's get back to Lon Lon Ranch, Navi. I'll be late for work if I don't go now." Link ran out of the castle grounds and was swiftly met by the hustle and bustle of the market place. People waved and said hello as he passed, then returned to their haggling. He found Epona outside the city's large drawbridge, and mounted, heading off slowly toward the Ranch.
Half an hour later, Lon Lon Ranch…
Link rode slowly into the entrance, past the buildings and into the corral, leaving Epona there. He went to milk the cows. He exhaled noisily as he sat down and began the long process...
Much later, as the sun set, after the milking, feeding the horses, pitching hay, storing the fresh milk, feeding the chickens, cleaning the barn out, cleaning the rust off many of the older farm tools, repairing the fence that led to the outside world of Hyrule Field, getting some milk for himself, cleaning out the cow's pen, loading up the wagon for a delivery, then listening to Malon's horse song (that wasn't so bad) Link collapsed against Epona. The horse dutifully carried him gently to the Kokoriko Village. There Link collapsed into bed after another typical day.