Chapter Four! I go realize that the last chapter felt rushed. It was lower quality than I wanted. But schools over now, so I can write more for you guys! Please review.
I want Zelda to be a more friendly character, like she is in Skyward Sword, instead of Twilight Princess. Sorry if she's a little OOC. I'll try not to.
Also, I don't own LoZ. I wish I did.
Link's POV
"We came here to learn swordplay, Zelda." I berated. "Not to stare at the walls." We had been down here for 20 minutes. The entirety of that time spent was my futile attempts to get Zelda to move.
"Just a minute Link."
"You said that ten minutes ago."
"Alright, LInk." She took her hand off the wall, and walked towards me. She took the sword and shield off her back. "What do I learn first?"
"First, you need to learn how to dodge. Put the sword and shield back. Just focus on me." I instructed. She stood eight feet from me, in a lax stance. "Zelda. You need to be prepared. I could strike at any time."
"Link? You're going to attack me?"
"Of course, Zelda. How else would you learn to dodge." I stated bluntly, a small smile dancing across my face. I unsheathed the Master Sword, and she jumped from the sound. She stood with her feet slightly apart, her stance low, with good foundation. Her eyes were focused on my hand. I stood, sword in hand, preparing to charge. When I moved, I moved in a straight line, directly towards her figure. I jumped and slashed directly towards her face. She squeaked and held her hands in front of her face, flinching. When she opened her eyes, my sword was a hair's-breadth away from her temple, and I was only a foot away.
She hit me in the chest. "Why did you do that?!" She shrieked. "I could've died!" She was shaking with rage, and I sheathed my sword, a smirk on my lips.
"That, is why you need to learn to dodge, princess."
"I told you not to call me that." She huffed. She turned away, and said softly, "This is hard."
"That's why you need to focus. You need to see me coming. I do the hard work. All you need to do is hop to the side."
"Can I see an example than?"
"Alright then. Attack me." I offered.
She looked at me with disbelief."It's not that hard, Zelda." I said. "Just take your sword in your hand and try to hit me."
"And what if I hurt you?"
"Trust me. You won't." I teased.
She flushed red, and took her sword. She ran at me with a fury I had only seen when she had attempted to open a shrine 100 years ago. I quickly gained my bearings and jumped to the side. Her sword ended up where I had been standing seconds ago. "How do you move so fast?"
"Much practice. Just jump out the way"
We spent an hour on the dodge, until I thought she had had enough practice. "Zelda. Can you backflip?" She stared at me, as if I was joking. "No, this is serious. Can you backflip? I mean, you seem agile enough."
"Of course I can. I was taught many things. However, I do believe that I have never seen you backflip. Can you even?"
"It's part of sparring."
"Alright Link. If you can truly backflip, I propose a challenge. Whoever can perform the most backflips, is the winner."
"Zelda." I remarked. I was surprised at how easy going she was. It was as if the title of princess had been weighing her down, and without it, she was going to do whatever she wanted. "How unladylike of you. But I'll except."
"If I win, I get to examine this shrine for as long as I want." She said.
"And if I win, you have to stay until I am done teaching."
"Alright. We have a wager."
"You are on."
"What does that mean?" I had forgotten that Zelda was a century behind on language."
"It means that I am ready and believe that I will win. The language has changed a bit over the last century. Everybody, speaks less, formally."
"I'll go first, she stated. She stood in the center of the chamber, and began. At the end of it I counted 13 backflips. "Let's see what the hero can do." I stood, and jumped until I reached 14 backflips. "How many can you do?"
"Many more, many more. No, I believe that I have won, which means 13 more days of training for you."
"Link!" She whined.
"Are you not going to uphold your end of the bargain, princess?"
"Link!"
"Zelda, it's fine, only two more things to teach you. Grab your shield."
I taught her to parry, and she slowly picked up on it. She still flinched sometimes, but she was adept enough.
"Now we spar."
"Link, you know that I can't win."
"Don't worry. I'll be gentle. I win if I trap you, you win if you can hit me. Ready?"
"I don't know Link. I won't win."
"To even the odds, I'll use only a sword, no shield." I offered her my hand and helped her stand. She drew her sword and shield, and I drew the Master Sword. "Ready?" She nodded. "GO!"
She immediately tried to hit me in the leg, but I backflipped and rushed her. She blocked my blow, and I cringed as I saw a mark appear on the shield. I almost got hit in my distraction and I used my sword to parry. I backed away, and watched as a thin sheen of sweat laced her skin. She was determined to defeat me. I went on the offensive, pushing her back, until she was pressed against a wall. She quickly spun in a circle, her sword out, and I briefly saw her sealing powers flow out of her body. I was forced back to the center, and barely dodged as Zelda rushed me with a new speed. Her entire body was a soft golden hue , and I realized she was using magic to enhance her abilities. She swung at me, her technique wild and unpredictable. It took all of my skill to dodge, time slowed around me, and I used my chance to rush her. I held my sword behind her neck, and as time resumed its pace, her eyes widened as she saw what had happened.
Zelda's POV
"Wha-" I was startled. Link had his sword behind my neck and his face was only a few inches from mine. I tried not to blush, but I was not succeeding. "You win." I said
He dropped his sword and sheathed it. He was frowning. "That was cheap Zelda." Before I could ask him to elaborate, he said "look at yourself, you used magic." I looked down to see myself engulfed by the glow of my powers. I saw the mark of the Triforce at my hand. "I'm sorry Link. I was just so fixated on winning, that I didn't realize."
He looked at me, disbelief written across his face. But when he saw my expression, his resistance crumbled. Suddenly, he embraced, and soothed me. "It's fine Zelda. If you can get me to use my powers, than you can take care of yourself."
"Link!" I pushed him away, as much as I didn't want to, I had to show restraint. "You used your powers too. Is that how you react so fast?"
"No. When I dodge, time slows for me. I have a lot of time make decisions then. It helps against Lynels. I do have a question though. I've always wondered, how fast do I move?"
"Very fast, Link." I had never seen him move that fast. I hadn't been able to see anything at all. One second I was slashing, the next, he was directly in front of me, sword at my neck. I began to blush again. Then, I caught him yawning.
"We should go to bed Link. You haven't slept for 13 days."
"Yes Zelda." He seemed dead on his feet. Apparently our battle had been very draining,
I realized that, I was also very tired. He caught me before I collapsed. We slowly walked towards the elevator, as Link had called it. When he activated it, I held on to him. I was still shocked by the smooth movement of the contraption, and I held on to him to feel safe. He didn't complain, and held me closer. As the elevator began to ascend to the surface, I was lulled to sleep by the slow slide of the elevator.
Link's POV
I was tired. After 13 days without sleep, and a very hard battle with Zelda, I was exhausted. When we got to the top, I realized that Zelda had fallen asleep. I picked her up bridal style, and slowly walked down the slope, back towards Impa's house. I laid her down on the extra bed, on the top floor of Impa's house, and then I climbed to the roof.
It was serene, watching the moon make its slow trek across the night sky. I felt my eyes shut, and I slowly drifted to sleep.
"Link!" I awoke to Zelda's voice. I was still on the roof. She was at the goddess statue. I stood and paraglided to her position.
"Yes, Zelda." She jumped.
"Where were you?"
"I was on the roof." Before she could ask why, I said "I felt like looking at the moon, contemplating life's difficulties." I smiled.
"Why, Link. I didn't know that you could be so philosophical. But never mind that, I want to ask what you think of my new clothes. Impa had these made for me, you know." I glanced down at her new attire. I jerked at the sight. She was wearing a replica of the clothing that she had worn before. It was a massive blow to my past. I was reminded of all the times I escorted Zelda as her Vassal. I tried not to recall them.
I noticed that Zelda was studying my face, her lips turned down. I tried to pacify her. "I like it. It reminds me of before the Calamity." Her lips visibly turned upwards, and she smiled. It was in that moment that I decided that I would do anything to keep Zelda happy. She deserved it, after all the burdens thrust onto her shoulders.
"Link?" she interrupted my thoughts. "I need a horse." She was right. She couldn't ride with me on Epona everywhere. In the back of my mind, I was reminded of a royal white mare waiting for me at the stables. "I need to be seen as a dependable leader tot eh Zora, and I can't achieve that by riding on the back of yours. Can you find me a horse Link? A good strong horse, like my old one. You remember Blanc, right?"
"Don't worry, Zelda. I have a good horse at the stable. I'll warp."
"Wait...be careful Link."
"I'll only be at Dueling Peaks. It's half an hour away on horseback."
"Alright. Go then. I'll wait for you here." I warped to Dueling Peaks Stable. I asked Tasseron for the stallion and made my way back to Kakariko on horseback. Zelda was waiting right where I had left her, by the goddesses statue. She turned when she heard the neigh of the horse. Her eyes widened and she inched forwards, towards the girl.
"I present to you, Princess Zelda, a descendent of Blanc. This is your new horse." She was barely maintaining her excitement. I stepped aside and let her rush the horse. I had trained it well and she stayed still, content with her new master. I watched as Zelda bonded with her horse.
"She looks exactly like Blanc. How did you find her?" She remarked.
"She was at Safula Hill, roaming, grazing." I found and tamed her. She was my primary horse until I got Epona."
Zelda nodded absentmindedly. "She need a name." she muttered. "What did you call her Link?" Now I blushed. In a desperate attempt to feel more at home, I had named my only physical connection to Zelda after her.
"Uhh, well, this is hard to say, but...I named her after you, Zelda."
Her face was blank, "So her name is Zelda?"
"Yes."
"That's weird Link." She was laughing. "But it's sweet too. She can keep that name. Come on, Link. We should leave." We made our way to Sahasra Slope. Our plan was to spend the day riding to Woodland Stable, and after resting, we would travel to Zora's Domain. Zelda reiterated this plan before we set off. Her posture had become regal again.
"Link? Can I see the Sheikah Slate?" I unhooked it from my belt and offered it to her. She looked at the map, "We'll make our way to Zora's Domain. Divine Beast Vah Ruta...looks like it stopped working. Let's investigate the situation." She was lost in thought and slowly looked towards the castle. "Mipha's father...I believe he would like to hear more about her. The least we can do is visit him and offer him some closure." He voice tapered away, and I could tell that her thoughts were not helpful. "Although Ganon is gone for now, there is still so much more for us to do. And so many painful memories that we must bear. I believe in my heart, that if all of us work together...we can restore Hyrule to it's former glory. Perhaps...even beyond. But it all must start with us. Let's be off." She walked towards Zelda, but slowed to a stop halfway. "I can no longer hear the voice inside the sword. I suppose it would make sense if my powers had dwindled over the past 100 years…" She turned towards me holding the Sheikah Slate in her hand, her eyes grim. However she smiled and said "I'm surprised to admit it...But I can accept that." I began to jog towards her, and slowed to a walk as I neared.
"Zelda. Your powers will return. You just need time." We walked shoulder to shoulder towards Zelda and Epona. "By the way, I know the name of the spirit. Her name is Fi." At that the sword began to glow a soft blue, and I felt it heat up on my back.
"Well look at that, Link. She heard you." Zelda said. She looked back at the Sheikah Slate, and looked at the pictures. She narrowed her eyes, and looked closer. "Link." She whispered. "What is this?" She was pointing at a selfie I had taken at the Coliseum Ruins. I was posing in front of a Silver Lynel while it charged at me. Right next to it was a picture of a Guardian with its pointer locked onto my face.
"Well...I don't know what to say about that. I just took some pictures."
"What do you mean just pictures. This was reckless! What would you have done if you had been hurt! What would have happened to me and Hyrule an-"
"Calm down Zelda!" I interrupted. "I am overpowered. They couldn't have killed me anyway." She was shaking. I cradled her. "You know that I was going to be fine." She slowly hugged me back.
"I don't know what would have happened if you had been hurt." She murmured into my shoulder. She wasn't crying, but she was on the brink of tears. So I tried to change the subject.
"Why didn't you see?"
She looked up, and I realized how close we were. Apparently she did too, because there was a tinge of red on her cheeks. "What do you mean?"
"You said that you could see out my eyes, so why didn't you see the pictures?"
"I wasn't always paying attention, and I didn't like to watch your fights." She explained. She let go of me, and brushed herself off. "Link, we need to leave now if we want to get to Woodland stable in time for nightfall." We mounted our respective horses, and set down the slope. We rode past Wetland Stable, and I saw Yolero hide from me. Zelda was silent for the entirety of the voyage. I spoke with Kish, and he agreed to take care of our horses. I cooked us a Steamed Meat, and devoured it.
"Glutton." I heard Zelda say. I ignored her and continued to eat. "Link?" I looked over. "It's nice to see that Hyrule still has some settlements near the castle. It reminds me that Hylians are resilient."
I swallowed. "Yes it is. But why are you telling me this now?"
"Because I want to talk with you never tell me about yourself."
"You know that I don't like to open myself up to others."
"But you have spoken to me about yourself before. You can do it again."
"Not tonight Zelda. Maybe tomorrow. Can I have the Sheikah Slate back?"
"Yes." She said absently. She was staring at the ground, a look of sadness on her face. I didn't like seeing that expression, but I truly didn't feel like talking. I focused back onto my food. "What does this do?" I heard a warping sound, and Zelda turned and yelped. All of a sudden, Zelda was behind me, staring in terror at whatever she was afraid of. I glanced over, and broke out laughing.
Ooh, cliffhanger. I hope that this chapter was better than the last. If you ever need another good BotW FanFiction, you should read Throne of Nothing by Lyxie. She's a really good author and some of my ideas are based off of hers. I hope to have a fifth chapter by next Friday. Peace.
