Hey everyone! This is just a quick note to tell you about the premise of this story. So this takes place when the champions are all alive, and in the cutscene where

Ganon first appears, he does not actually appear then. Enjoy!

It was a warm sunny afternoon, and Zelda and Link were riding their horses up a hill, as Zelda was talking about her horse. The two of them had been getting along very well recently, and Link was someone who Zelda felt like she could talk to. As they approached a cliff side overlooking a mountain, Zelda got off her horse. "That's mount Lanayru. The spring of wisdom is at the top, and no one is allowed under the age of seventeen. Tomorrow is my seventeenth birthday. I will go to the spring tomorrow and pray, and hopefully this cursed power will finally reveal itself!" Zelda said. Link nodded his head and wished her a happy early birthday. "I just want you to know Link, that I trust you more than any other person right now." She said quietly, her cheeks burning a little. Link just smiled and said "Thanks! I enjoy spending time with you Zelda!" He missed her romantic tone entirely. I would like for you to join me at the spring of wisdom tomorrow Link." Zelda said quietly. "Well, of course I will Zelda! I accompany you everywhere." Link said. "No, Link. I would like you to join me in the actual waters of the spring." Zelda said even more quietly. "Well, sure, but why?" Link was a little confused now. "I think it will give me courage to have you there." Zelda was almost whispering at this point. At this, link just smiled.

"Wake up Link! Time to go to mount Lanayru!" Zelda shook him awake. "Sure Zelda. Let me just check what time it is." Link said groggily. He looked at the sun and estimated three in the morning. "Maybe in a little bit, okay? How does five hours sound to you?" Zelda rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. "Come on, Lazy! I've been up all night thinking about what will happen at the spring!" At this Link remembered it was her birthday. "Oh, okay Zelda. Happy birthday by the way!" Link said trying to sound awake. "I'm glad you remembered. Let's go! Zelda ran out of the room, leaving Link to wonder why he was getting up at three in the morning.

"Here it is Link! The spring of wisdom!" Zelda said enthusiastically. Link was practically dragging himself up the mountain. "That's great Zelda!" Link used his best fake smile. Zelda immediately started wading into the spring up to the goddess statue, Link tiredly walking after her. "Okay, so what do you want me to do Zelda?" Link asked uncertainly. "Just stand beside me please." Link walked up to her.

"Great goddess Hylia, I have been trying to access this sealing power my whole life. I have prayed every single day at the springs of courage and power. I have even passed out multiple times in freezing cold waters! I just need to know today what I can possibly do to reveal this power." Zelda was almost crying at the last part. They waited. "Please!" Zelda whispered. Nothing happened. They waited for nearly an hour while Zelda tried different things to awaken the power. Eventually Zelda just broke down crying and laid her head in Link's lap. Link did his best to comfort her. But it was no use. "Let's go Link." Zelda whispered as she climbed out of the spring, her lively face gone. Link didn't say anything as they trudged to the bottom of the mountain except for the occasional "It's okay Zelda." They were nearly at the bottom of the mountain when Link spotted the four champions, Mipha, Urbosa, Revali, and Daruk waiting for them. "Uh... Zelda?" Link whispered, "Yes?" Zelda asked quietly. "For some reason, the champions are at the bottom of the hill waiting for us." Link said casting a wary glance at Zelda. "Oh no! How do they know? What will they think of me now that I've failed?" "Some guard probably told them about you going to the spring of wisdom for the first time. And you are not a failure! All of them are very compassionate!" Link said. Zelda smiled at him and said "Thanks Link". "Well, what do you want to tell them?" Link asked after a pause. "The truth." Zelda said defiantly. As they approached the champions, heads held down, Daruk said in his deep voice, "Well, don't keep us in suspense! How'd everything go up there on the mountain?" At this Zelda just shook her head. "So you didn't feel anything? No power at all?" Revali said in his disapproving voice. "I'm sorry, no." Zelda said solemnly looking at her feet. There was an awkward pause. Urbosa decided to break it by saying "Then let's move on. You've done all you could. There's no use feeling sorry for your self. After all, your last shot was not up there on that mountain. Anything could finally spark the power." The other champions nodded their heads, although uncertainly. "That's kind of you. Thank you." Zelda said quietly. There was another short pause. "If I may..." Said Mipha in her soft voice. "I thought you… well I'm not quite sure how to put this into words, I'm actually quite embarrassed to say it, but I was thinking about what I do when I'm healing. You know, what usually goes through my mind... It helps when I - when I think about... Link." the last word was so quiet nobody could hear it. "Um... could you please repeat that?" Zelda asked gently. "Okay, I'm sorry. I'm just a little embarrassed. It helps when I think about..." She paused, prompting Revali to say "well, get on with it. What do you think about?" "L-Link!" Mipha said suddenly, her cheeks somehow turning even redder then before and covering her face with her hands. Daruk's, Revali's, and Zelda's jaws hit the floor. Urbosa just smiled, and Link put his face in his right hand. Nobody spoke for a good long moment until Revali said "Let me get this straight. You think about him when you heal? And why him of all things to think about?" Mipha was about to answer when Urbosa rolled her eyes and said "Do you even hear yourself when you talk? You sound like an insolent little bitch! So she's comfortable the boy! I think we should all support her!" "Fine!" Revali huffed. "See you later!" and with that, he flew away, cursing Link. Mipha suddenly said, "Oh I shouldn't have said it! I just thought it would help Zelda with accessing her power if she thought of someone that she is close to." Daruk said, "Yeah, that's a good idea Zelda! You should try that! Well, I think I should be getting back to train up Rudania. See ya later!" Zelda smiled weakly at Mipha and said "Thanks. I'll try that next time." Mipha returned her smile. "We should be getting back to train with Ruta and Noboris. Good luck on the sealing power Zelda!" Urbosa said taking Mipha away. Mipha turned and smiled at Link, who gladly returned her smile. Link scratched his head and said, we should be getting back, I think I need to sleep!" Link said, chuckling. Zelda smiled weakly and walked back beside Link. When they arrived at Hyrule Castle, Link offered to walk her to her room, as he always did, but Zelda said, "No thanks Link. T-There's research on guardians I want to do today. With that, she ran up the stairs to her room. Link stood there, scratching his head and wondering what had happened with Zelda, when he heard the sound of wet footsteps behind him.