Disclaimer I don't even know if is necessary, but everyone else does it...Legend of Zelda belongs to Nintendo, duh. That applies to every chapter of this story...

I'm With You

Chapter 1

A Nice First Impression

Zelda's PoV

Today is the Hateno Village Archery Contest. I wasn't aware such an event was happening when I arrived in this town two weeks ago, but when I learned of an archery contest I couldn't pass it up. I am quite skilled with a bow. I wouldn't say that I'm the best archer or anything, but I know that I am pretty good.

I was especially excited when I found out the cash prize first place gets. A bag of ten silver rupees. That would set me comfortably for a while.

So I'm standing with the rest of the participants. There are seventeen of us. A wide open clearing sits about a quarter mile below the village that's actually a course for another event they hold earlier in the year, but it's the perfect area for archery as well. A large wood panel sits in the middle of the clearing. On three sides of that, there are targets set up for the rounds we will be competing in. One by one, all the contestants will step onto it and take their turn at the targets. Everyone that is there to spectate will stand behind us to watch. I have no doubt that I will do well as I have done well in every contest like this in central and eastern Hyrule. Hopefully, lady luck will be on my side this time as well.

I watch with interest as each person takes their shot and there are only a few people who catch my eye. Then it is my turn. I see someone pointing at me and gasping, but I am not suprised that they recognize me. I have quite the reputation, every once in a while I meet someone who knows me. But, I am not going into that right now, that's a story for another time.

I take my bow in my hands and close my eyes for a second before I pull an arrow out of my quiver and put it in place. With an experienced hand, I slowly draw the string back and open my eyes. Aiming carefully and picturing my arrow landing where I want it, I let go. The arrow sails through the air and I hit my mark.

Perfect shot. Easy peasy.

I hear couple people clap and some mutter to their companions. They say things like "wow," and "she's good," but those things don't really matter to me. I don't participate in competitions or contests for the fame anymore because I don't really care to be noticed. I'm only here to show my skills off, and of course, for the prize money. I honestly only want to win because I've been saving up to buy the beautiful saddle in the shop downtown for my horse. If I win, I'll be able to buy it with no problem with plenty of money left over.

After my turn is up, I go to stand with the rest of my opponents. But something catches my eye as I walk by, a golden bow with that is carved into elegant feathers at the tip of the limbs. It shines in the sunlight with a gleam and I quickly look to see who is holding it. There, standing in front of me, is a guy who looks about my age. He has shoulder length dark blonde hair that's tied into a ponytail in the back. He's a hylian, like me, and he's of well the built type, as I can clearly see the muscles of his arms and the outline of his body through his clothes. He's a inch or two taller than me and I can't help but think he's quite handsome.

He steps on to the wooden platform and I watch as he lifts his bow and arrow and draws the string back and I see the muscles in his arm tense for a split second. He doesn't hesitate before letting his arrow fly. But instead of hitting the next target, his arrow flies into the same one mine did. It hits the back of my arrow and splits the shaft down the middle. His arrow head makes a quick metal on metal noise before sinking into the center of the bulls-eye just to the side of mine.

I hear gasps and see people pointing right after this happens. Even I am impressed. This is the first time I have ever seen anyone do such a thing, but what surprises me the most is that he did it so effortlessly. Everyone claps and cheers. A couple men walk over and clap him on the back or shake his hand. They praise him with grins and excited chatter. Whoever his guy is, he accepts their words with a smile then stands with the rest of us.

Standing there I cross my arms as I look at him. Who is he? I've never seen such skill in my life. I go on being impressed for a second then the small smile on my lips dips into a frown. He could take the winning pot from me with that type of skill. I make myself relax as that was only the first round of the contest which means I still have a good chance.

The top ten people are told to step forward for the second round, I'm the only woman. The host tells us that we must hit five targets twice the distance as the first which will be no problem. I still have my cool even if the new guy in town has just stolen my thunder. I stand and watch the first three people go. The first man hits three of the targets with ease but slips up on the two and the other two guys are hardly able to hit the background of their targets.

I hear the host of the contest say his name this time. Link. I have never met someone with that name before, it's unique and I like it.

I stand with one hand on my hip and my bow in the other and I watch as Link takes his place on the shooting platform. He takes more time to calculate his shots this time. I watch him closely as he shoots, his form is nearly perfect as he pulls back the string for each arrow. Each of his arrows hits it's target easily and he makes it look effortless just like before. I'm going to have to really try to win over him.

Once he steps off the platform he looks over his shoulder at me. He gives me a smile before turning and standing to the side and for a small moment, I'm dazzled by the blue of his eyes but I quickly clear my head. I need all of my concentration for this. I need to win. I take a deep breath and let it out through my nose. This is my game, I won't let some pretty blue-eyed boy beat me.

I take my time between targets. My first arrow hits spot on, nice. My second strays an inch to the left which is alright, not too bad, and my third and fourth arrow land where I want them as well. Four down and I am doing great. I breathe in through my nose and exhale as I let my last arrow fly. My heart drops as I see it hit lower than I intended and it looks like it barely hit the red, and it's touching the background of the target.

Damn. That's not good.

I turn and walk the opposite way from where my opponents are standing. I hold one end of my bow between my fingers as the other end rests on my boot as everyone else takes their turns. After that, it's several minutes before the host announces the third and final round. Five if us are called forward. Me, Link, and three other guys. We must shoot ten targets this time.

I'm the last of us to go. The first two guys don't do very well, their luck has apparently run short. The third man does significantly better than they did, but I'm not worried about him like the others because it Link is clearly my only competition. I don't watch him shoot this time because my nerves are already rattled and I don't need to know how well he does. I need all my wits about me and from personal experience, I know not knowing how well my opponent does will help me relax when it's my turn to take up my bow. I listen to the distant sound of arrow heads hitting planks of wood and after I've counted ten, I wait for them to call my name before I turn around.

Stepping up onto the wood platform I take my bow in my hands. I know I can do this. I take my time and hit every target well into the red and am left feeling relieved. I hope I score well enough.

A couple minutes later the judges are ready to announce the winner. All five of us are called over to the wooden platform. A man named Pruce is given third place as the other two walk off in obvious defeat. Link and I stand on each side of the three-by-five foot shooting platform. I don't look at him as we stand there, but I can see in my peripheral vision that he is looking at me. I pretend not to notice.

The host steps in the middle between us and he crowd looks to the three of us in anticipation. I tell myself that it doesn't matter if I lose as I will still get the prize rupees for second place, but I still pray that I hear my name. First place is better than second, after all.

"The winner of this year's Hateno Village Archery Contest is...Link!"

My heart sinks a bit but I remind myself that I didn't actually need this win. I just really wanted it. I'm not the type to get sad and teary eyed because I lost, so instead, I turn to the man beside me and smile holding my hand out.

"You're not bad. Congratulations." I say.

"You were great yourself." Link says as he takes my hand and shakes it firmly. His hand is rough in my own but that's not really unexpected, my own aren't exactly as soft and supple as they should be either as I've spent nearly every day of my life holding a weapon. I'm pretty proficient in wielding a short sword as well, but I am certainly better at shooting a bow.

Link gives me a dashing smile and I feel my insides melt. He looks at me with beautiful blue eyes and my heart flutters in my chest before I feel my cheeks burn a little bit. It's been a while since anyone's had this effect on me.

I let go of his hand and put my bow on my back before turning to accept my second place reward of ten purple rupees, which honestly isn't bad at all, that's still a lot of money.

As I walk away I attempt to relax my fluttering heart. A warm feeling has filled my chest and I can't stop picturing his beautiful blue eyes and his handsome smile. Today was the first time I've ever seen him but yet, my mind won't let him go.

Thank you for reading chapter 1. :)

A little information about this story:

I'm With You is an Alternate Universe, BoTW story about Zelda, who is a regular girl who has been traveling the country. She stops in Hateno Village and competes in an archery contest where she meets a handsome young man named Link. It's a story of how she decides to let him into her life, and in return, how she changes his life. Hyrule is free of monsters and guardians where most people live in harmony. It's set to be far into the future after the Calamity happens.

This story is written back and forth between Link and Zelda's point of views. I decided to write this way to show who they are, how they feel, and how they see the world. This story is written by day to day to show how their every day lives are. It might be slow burning, but I take my time letting them get to know each other and to also have them interact with the many characters they meet along their adventures.

So far, this story is full of: personal feelings, slice of life moments, making new friends, having fun on little adventures, visiting family, traveling to villages and towns, special events and parties, little flirty- sweet and (I try to) humor moments, in depth personal backstories, and so much more. There is fluff, I admit there may even be a lot, but there are some serious moments and scenarios mixed in later chapters that build Link and Zelda to be stronger and more complex individuals. (That's what I strive for at least.) A lot of that is tied into their backstories.

I put a lot of time into this story to make it the best I know how, spending hours and hours of writing and editing, going back and forth. This story will probably be quite long. I don't know how many chapters, but I have ideas stacked on top of ideas for the future.

Thank you giving my story a shot. You're amazing. :)