Hey y'all

So, I know Twilight Princess is pretty old, but I just replayed it and loved it, as I always do. Legend of Zelda's number 1! And one thing I really like was the relationship between Ilia and Link, but the game never went too in-depth into it. So, I decided to write a short story talking about their childhood, life after Link saves Hyrule, and their deaths. It will be about hm… 6 or 7 chapters. As of now it will be rated… T? May change to M, don't know how descriptive I'll get with this. Also, they are about 11 or 12 in this chapter. Enjoy the story, folks!

I do not own, nor ever will own, the rights to the Legend of Zelda or any of the characters, objects, creatures, etc. Nintendo owns all rights to this franchise.

Chapter 1: A Promise Made is a Promise Kept

Water washed over the white sand that hid their feet. Both giggled as the pool lapsed over and tickled them. It was a clear spring day with a strong sun and the wind gave a gentle breeze. Besides the two children giggling and the small, chestnut filly neighing, the Ordon Spring was relatively quiet. Everything was at peace, but the children at play were only paying attention to each other.

"So, if you could be one other race in all of Hyrule, which one would you be?" The little girl questioned, continuing the game they had been playing all afternoon. This was a common past time spent by the two friends; basking in the waters of the spring while asking each other questions. It was simple, but some of the best things in life were simple.

"Hm…" A young Hylian boy sitting next to her pondered this question with a deciding look on his face. "Well, I'd probably want to be a Goron! They're so big and strong, they can crush boulders with their bare hands!" He mimicked smashing an imaginary stone in front him with his fists. Bringing his arms back up too fast caused him to fall backwards.

The little girl rolled her eyes and giggled. "Of course you'd be a Goron, Link. You always try to act so tough." She mocked him in her usual way.

Said boy came up from the sand, blonde hair wilder than usual. Link flexed his arms, revealing little muscles. "Try?" His friend punched him playfully on the shoulder.

"Yes. Try." Both laughed at the playful gesture, while Link rubbed his shoulder.

"Okay, Ilia. What race would you be?"

"That's easy. I'd be a Zora!" Ilia stood up and began to twirl around and dance. "They're so graceful in the water!" Becoming dizzy, her "graceful" dance ended as she tripped and fell into the sand. Link stood up and gave her a hand, pulling her up off the ground. "Plus," Ilia began as she headed towards the spring "they get to spend their entire life in water!" After she reached the clear pool, she splashed Link.

This quickly turned into a full out water war as Link ran in and began splashing Ilia. The filly, Epona, whinnied and neighed every time a stray splash came her way. Eventually the two became drenched and, with having enough fun in the water, decided to go back on the beach to dry in the sun.

"That was fun!" Exclaimed Ilia as her excitement wore off. "Your turn to ask a question, Link!"

The young boy pondered for a moment. He knew what he wanted to ask, but didn't know if it was a good question. It was something he had never known, something he may never know. But Ilia was his best friend, so he thought she would listen to his question and give him a sincere answer. "What's… What's it like… to have a family?"

Ilia's eyes widened in surprise at the question her friend asked. Immediately, the air around the two became somber. Across from Ilia, she noticed Link staring into the water, trying to hold back his tears. She didn't know how to respond, at first, but an answer was beginning to come to her head.

"It's amazing. To always have someone there. Someone to care for you when you're sick, someone to teach you everything." Link was beginning to tear up more, knowing he didn't have a mother or father to care for him when he was sick or teach him what was right and wrong. Ilia wasn't finished, however. "But, Link" she reached out and touched his shoulder. "You have all of that in Ordon Village. You have my father, Rusl, Uli, everyone." A smile formed on her face. "And you have me, your best friend."

Link looked at her, tears were beginning to roll down his face. She was right. Even though he didn't have a real family, he had Ordon Village, which was enough for him. Through the few tears that appeared on his face, you could see Ilia's smile was passed on to him. His voice was slightly choked. "Well, then I guess I do know what it feels like." They looked at each other, in silence, just smiling. He was happy to know that Ordon Village, especially Ilia, would always be his true family.

The sun was beginning to set and twilight was making its way into the Ordon Springs. A few more flickers of light would make their way into the world, then disappear into the night. "It's almost night", Link observed. "This was a fun day, but we should probably be heading back soon."

"Wait, can I ask you one more question?" Ilia asked in a pleading tone.

Link's smile continued. "Well, technically you'd have to ask me if you could ask two since that was a question." The joke didn't go over Ilia's head, and Link received another playful punch from her. "I'm sure we have time for one more." Making their way to Epona, Ilia tried to figure out how to ask this question. It was simple, but some things that seemed simple were, in actuality, complicated.

"Will we always be friends?"

Link looked at her, surprised she needed to ask this question. But instead of giving her a simple reply, he went towards the patch of horse grass growing by the spring. Next to it was a blade of grass that Link picked. He turned around so Ilia, who was confused at what her friend was doing, couldn't see what his plan was. After a few seconds he turned around and had the piece of grass in his hand, now crafted into a simple ring.

Approaching Ilia, Link put the ring on her finger. "I promise, we'll always be friends." It didn't need to be said that the ring signified that promise. A bright smile donned her face and she hugged Link with such force that they nearly fell down. Once they were separated from each other, they made their way, along with Epona, towards the spring's exit. They would always remember this moment, even when they grew up, and they would keep this promise, till the end of time. Even with Link on his journey, Ilia just needed to look at the small, grass ring she kept on the desk next to her bed to know that, someday, he would return. It was a simple ring, a simple promise, a simple memory, but some of the best things in life were simple.

Okay, so I know it wasn't that exciting of a chapter. I know it wasn't adventurous and all that other stuff. But what I do know is that they probably would've had a promise like this as kids, right? So, that's where I'm starting off. Next chapter, I will fast forward to after Link saves Hyrule, things will get better. Promise!

Stay tuned, until next time y'all, peace! Thank ya kindly for reading :)