Thank you for all the comments and encouragement thus far, it's really pushing me to write faster. The Well of Ideas hasn't run dry yet, so expect some reasonably quick updates.
Also, thank you for any and all OC's you have sent me so far. I'm looking for more, and there's plenty of time left, since my early chapters will be largely, if not completely, LoZ characters.
I do not own LoZ, because it would be different and probably be less impressive than what is currently is. If it was mine, Link definitely would have found Navi at the end of Majora's Mask.
As the meeting adjourned, the section leaders returned to their cars, with varying destinations. Macau and Darmani muttered something about Taco Bell and drove off in Macau's Lincoln Continental. Mr. Linebeck got in his little Toyota Prius and left, silent as a ninja in his hybrid car. The remaining seniors (Darunia, Impa, Nabooru, and Zant) piled into Darunia's red Ford Freestyle and left, although less silently. Darunia couldn't resist showing off his new stereo and rolled down his windows, blasting Metallica out to anyone within a 5-mile radius. Dr. Hyrule and Zelda took off in his Fusion, probably to go home. Ilia and Ruto grabbed Saria by the arms and practically dragged her along as they decided to go to the local gas station for lunch. That just left the drum majors, who were asked to stay, and Ralph, who decided to stay with Nayru and could not be budged on the matter.
Din, Nayru, and Farore stood at strict attention in the presence of a now standing Link. Midna lounged in comparison, already knowing what was coming. She yawned and stretched back, much to the surprise of Din, who was particularly nervous looking.
"What did you need, sir?" she addressed him formally.
"Why so serious suddenly? Sit down, please, all of you." Link sat on the ground to demonstrate. "I won't bite."
"Probably…" Midna snorted. Link gave her the oh, come on! Look before returning his attention to his now very confused junior drum majors.
"I just wanted to have a casual chat about what you will probably be actually doing during marching season. No doubt, Dr. Hyrule has given you all a brief idea about conducting, leadership, and the like. I'm sorry to say, you're jobs will be more like fetching whatever he forgot, carrying around Dr. Beat, and correcting spacing where we need to. All in all, you're essential the band director's bitch."
"The good news," Midna continued for Link, "is that you've got three of you doing the work instead of just two, so you shouldn't be nearly as swamped as we were last year. Having said that, you're still working a very inglorious job, but we expect you to do it well. Cool?"
"Cool!" Farore said before she could stop herself. Din and Nayru looked at her. "I mean, uh, as you wish, sir! No, I mean ma'am…"
Link and Midna burst out laughing at the same time. "Rule #1," Link finally got out. "There is no need to be formal with your drum majors. Just friendly and respectful. You've worked hard to get here, so you've earned some breathing room. So, seriously," Link looked each girl in the eye. "Just call us Link and Midna; it's not a big deal. Now, on to the most important matter at hand." Midna looked at Link in surprise. She had no idea what he was talking about.
"The four of you are going to try out one of the team building exercises that I came up with. Yes, even you, Midna." Link told her before she could object. "It's simple. I've got four wooden boxes, each one smaller than the previous. You have to balance on the box for 15 seconds before you can progress to a smaller box. Questions?"
"Yeah…" Din muttered. "How small are we talking?" To which, Link just grinned. And not the nice kind of grin, either.
"You'll see!" He laughed.
About an hour later….
"Hold steady!" Din called as she, Nayru, Farore, and Midna attempted for the 12th time to balance themselves on an 18"x18"x6" box. It was the last box, and the only one so far to prove truly difficult for the sweaty and irritated drum majors. On the 5th second, they managed to fall in a pile on top of a very pissed Din. She blew a lock of her deep red hair out of her face and muttered something about someone being so heavy.
"Wouldn't that be you, seeing as we fell on top of you?" griped an almost equally annoyed Midna. Link was standing off to the side, in the shade of the school's enormous oak tree. He sighed, trying not to smile at the comical nature of the crash. The fight wasn't going to get them a break anytime soon. Both Midna and Din were too stubborn to quit, and neither of them would let Nayru or Farore out of this.
"Maybe we should let someone else lead for a while, what do you think, Din?" Link called out to her. "Let's get some fresh ideas."
Still at the bottom of the pile, Din sighed. "That would be fine with me, sir. Can I get up now? I think I might have broken something."
"I doubt it, but I'm sure it hurts plenty," Link replied, ignoring the sir comment. "Nayru, it's your turn. Show us what you've got."
Nayru looked startled for a moment, but regained her serene gaze after just a few seconds. She nodded and turned to the girl drum majors.
"Let's get this done, shall we? Any ideas?"
"I've got one…" Farore said timidly.
Din snorted. "I thought NAYRU was supposed to be leading."
Link intervened. "Part of being a good leader is being open to new ideas that may be beneficial. And besides, it can't hurt to try, right?" Nayru nodded and brought her full attention to Farore. "Go on," she encouraged Farore.
Farore stood up a little straighter, and then spoke. "I think that we should lean away from each other, balancing one foot each on the board. That way, we don't have to worry about stepping on each other and we can adjust appropriately."
Nayru smiled, and even Din gave a grudging nod. Midna said, "Let's give it a shot. I'm hungry and definitely ready to get out of here." All the girls nodded to that, and set themselves up for what Farore had explained. They locked wrists, leaned back, and held on for all they were worth.
"Slipping!" cried Nayru, trying to readjust her grip on Midna. Midna gripped tighter, but the sweat was sliding them apart, farther and farther.
"Just a few more seconds!" Link called. "Hold on!"
5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
"Time!" Link yelled at the girls. In a happy gasp, Midna let go of a very surprised Nayru. Both of them fell to the ground, and Midna laughed happily as she rolled down the hill towards Link. Din and Farore also let go and let themselves fall to the ground and down the hill.
"Alright, ladies, you're all free to go now," Link laughed as Midna stood up and tried to brush all the grass out of her hair and clothes. She failed miserably. The junior drum majors all took off for their cars, leaving Link and Midna alone.
Plucking a piece of grass out of Midna's fiery hair, Link told her, "Good job out there today, not totally losing it with those girls. I probably wouldn't have done so well."
Midna gave him her cheeky smile. "Since when were you into flattery?"
Link returned the smile with one of his own. "Since it became legal to talk nicely to your girlfriend. Haven't you heard that's legal now?"
Midna yawned and stretched, causing her shirt to slip above her naval. Link stared silently at her tattoos, thing green lines that covered most of her body. Until, of course, he got a slight smack to the back of the head.
"It may not be illegal, but it's still rude to stare, Mr. Chivalry."
"Even at your girlfriend?"
"Especially at your girlfriend."
"Damn…" Link whined in mock annoyance. Midna punched him playfully in the arm before giving him a kiss on the cheek and gave him a more sincere smile.
"See you this afternoon?" she asked him.
"Definitely. I'm gonna catch a nap between now and then, so I'll be here." Link gave a slight yawn to emphasize his point.
Midna kissed him once more on his other cheek before bidding him goodbye. Link watched Midna leave, sighing wistfully and lying back on the cool grass. He closed his eyes and fell asleep quickly, briefly pondering where all the lines of Midna's tattoos ended up.
Well, there's that! I hope that's more of what you were looking for. Please review some more, and I'm still in need of more OC's, so send 'em in! I've only got one so far, courtesy of DreamsComeFromtheHeart. And on an entirely separate note… ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK! GO KU!