ASDFGHJKL! You guys are awesome! The reviews were so adorable, you make me blush :3 So thank you to Pantherstar101, mrdirtguy3, Princess Zelda-figure skater (and for being a flawless beta reader!), ShadowNinja1011, Bleachshowlover1, TheBlueAlienRobotZombie, shhimaninja16, prettyguardianofhyrule, zeldax, Celestial Dragon, Joyma Tello, FadedSunset, Franne, and PrincesscharmingKnight!
"Welcome, to the jungle gym!" Ashei announces as she leads us into the forest clearing. She holds her arms high above her head, leading my gaze upwards, and that's when I see it. Weaving in and out of the tall tree trunks is a complex set of rope swings, wooden bridges, climbing nets and various other obstacles raised a good fifteen metres above ground level.
"Awesome!" Sheik exclaims, "When can we go on it?"
"That's why we're here!" Ashei says, gesturing to boxes and crates filled with safety harnesses and hard hats. "You have to wear these for health and safety reasons, and be sure to clip yourself onto the safety wires up there. I'll be up there to help you out and the teachers will be down here observing. Ok everyone, safety gear up, then once we've checked to see if you've got it all on correctly, follow me up the ladder!" She turns and begins climbing up a wooden ladder resting against one of the tree trunks. Saria grins, grabbing my hand and running over towards the safety gear, dragging me along with her. She throws a yellow hard hat in my direction and passes me a safety harness, pulling her own on and fastening it around her green play suit.
"I'm not sure…" I mumble, "I get really scared of heights…"
"You'll be fine, once you're up there you'll be having too much fun to care!"
"I guess I could try it out…" I say, feeling myself smile. "But just for you, ok?"
"Good!" She says, clicking the buckle for her hard hat under her chin "Let's go!"
She bumps her fist on my hard hat, laughing as she runs over to the step ladder, we begin climbing up rung by rung just behind Vaati. I stop suddenly, turning back to look for my friends. Sheik and Link and making their way over to the ladder and Pipit and Dark are just putting on their hard hats. I glance around nervously for Midna, and see her stood in the middle of the clearing, chewing her lip.
"Hey Midna!" I call out to get her attention, "Are you gonna have a go?"
She shakes her head nervously. "No…I don't have the stomach for it, I'm not feeling well…" She mutters, barely audible. "I'm going to go back to the campsite."
I frown, "Do you want me to come with you?"
She just shakes her head again, turning away, I sigh.
"Move your bum!" Sheik says, looking up at me from lower down the ladder.
I laugh, rolling my eyes, but I begin climbing the ladder again, eventually I reach the top and clamber up, finding myself stood on a small wooden platform between two almost horizontal tree branches. I look ahead of me and find lots of wooden squares hanging by strings, like stepping stones across the open air. I swallow hard.
"Who's up first?" Ashei asks, hands on hips.
"Me!" Ganon insists, barging to the front of the group, standing tall and proudly, I roll my eyes, but don't bother commenting.
"Ok, it's very simple," Ashei says. "Treat the wooden platforms like swings, swing from side to side and jump between platforms."
"No sweat!" Ganon says, puffing out his chest to try and look more muscular, Majora laughs, twirling a lock of her cherry-red hair between her fingers.
Link smiles, leaning in to whisper into my ear. "Their kids will be so messed up…"
I find myself giggling as Ganon hooks his safety harness on to the wire that runs above the obstacle, just in case he falls. He takes a run up and then dives onto the first platform, it sways dangerously but he just powers it into jumping onto the next one, he leaps from platform to platform effortlessly until he finally reaches the other side.
"Ok, wait there!" Ashei says, "Once everyone's across you can move on, who's next?"
"Come on Zelda!" Link shouts as I step out onto the cargo netting. Slowly moving along, clinging to the net like a hermit crab.
"Come on Zellie!" Sheik bellows, his loud booming voice echoes in the open air.
Dark just laughs from behind me. "Ignore them Zelda, just take it easy."
I smile to myself, I think I might just be getting the hang of this, I begin picking up pace, moving faster along the netting.
"Look at you go!" Saria exclaims, laughing.
I feel myself grinning as I move closer to the end, I'm so nearly there…
"Hey Zelda," Majora smirks, "Don't look down!"
And like an idiot, I play right into her trap and glance down at the ground. My stomach begins to curl and I jump off the netting onto the platform. Breathing a sigh of relief as Link hugs me.
"Lay off her Majora." Pipit says, elbowing her meaningfully.
"You can't hit a girl" Majora spits back.
"I didn't hit a girl," Pipit says meaningfully, she growls and delivers him a punch to the arm, making him stumble.
"Alright!" Ashei calls out. "No roughhousing up here!" She glances over at the group on her side who are working with Miss Impa. "Ok, looks like Miss Impa has this lot under control, let's move you guys onto the next obstacle." I glance over, it's two simple thick pieces of rope strung from one platform to the next, one a little higher than the other.
"This one's easy," Ashei shouts from the far off platform. "Just walk on the lower rope, and hold onto the top one, see?" She gestures. "Who's up first?"
"ME!" Sheik says, blagging the first spot, he hooks his rope onto the wire and steps out into the top rope before anyone can protest. And begins making his way, pretty quickly, along the rope.
"Nice!" Link yells to his best friend, I laugh, but Ganon crosses his arms from behind me.
"SHOW OFF!" He shouts to Sheik, a frown fixed on his face. He pushes in front of me on the platform, stepping closer to the rope.
"Hey don't shove!" I protest, but he just waves his hand dismissively. He stoops to his knees and begins shaking the rope Sheik stands on, making him wobble dangerously.
"Ganon! Stop!" Saria squeals.
"What's going on over there?" Ashei yells, looking over.
"Dude, pack it in!" Dark protests, but Ganon is cackling with laughter as Sheik loses his footing momentarily.
"GANON!" Sheik yells.
"Alright, alright, I was only messing, goddesses!" Ganon explains, dropping the rope and straightening up. But a smirk is still twisted on his face. "Try this!"
He begins rapidly shaking the rope Sheik holds, Link tries to pry his huge hands away but Ganon just shoves him back
"ENOUGH!" Ashei yells, but it's too late, Sheik loses his grip on the upper rope, and with nothing to hold onto, he falls from the ropes.
"SHEIK!" Saria screams, his fingers curl around the lower rope as he falls, stopping him abruptly, but he's left dangling from just the rope he's mean to be standing on.
"WHAT IN HYRULE HAVE YOU DONE GANON?!" Saria screeches, slapping his arm.
"Goddess it was only a joke!" Ganon defends, "He's fine!"
"He's not fine," Link mutters as Sheik attempts to pull himself back up. "Are you ok?" He calls out. But Sheik is too busy trying to haul himself back up to reply.
"Come on, you can do it!" Pipit shouts in support, but one of Sheik's arms slips, leaving him dangling on just one hand.
"Right…" Link mutters, !"I'm coming for you buddy!" He hooks his safety harness onto the wire and carefully steps out onto the lower rope.
"Link be careful," I say, quietly, he nods as he approaches Sheik.
"Dude hurry!" Sheik shouts. "I can't hold on much longer!"
"I'm coming as fast as I can!" Link shouts, edging closer.
I swallow hard, not taking my eyes off the scene unravelling before me. "Please!" Sheik growls, his hand slipping a little.
Link takes a step closer, and leans sideways, holding a hand out for Sheik to grab onto, still holding the upper rope with his other hand, "Come on Sheik, take my hand." He says.
"I'm trying!" Sheik's arm is desperately flailing but he can't quite reach up and grip Link's hand.
"Come on…" Link mutters, leaning a little lower. But it's no use, Sheik's fingers slip from the rope and he begins to fall, I feel my eyes widen as he comes to a sudden halt, saved only by his safety harness.
"Oh thank goddesses…" Saria says, leaning against me.
"Right, come on," Link says, grabbing the wire holding Sheik up. He begins pulling it up, using the thick rope as a support to help him, and eventually, the two best friends stand side by side on the rope. I breathe a sigh of relief, and it's only then that I realise I was holding my breath all this time.
"You ok, buddy?" Link asks, patting Sheik on the back.
"Yeah," Sheik says, breathing heavily as he wipes his brow.
Dark whoops and everyone begins cheering and clapping for Link, he grins, and the two of them start to make their way over to the other platform, back to safety.
"Are you ready for this?" Link asks. His body stands so close to mine it's unbelievable; his arms are wrapped around my body, holding me tight, safe. His azure eyes are locked on mine and he smiles.
"I guess…" I mumble, screwing my eyes shut and praying for the best.
"Good luck, love birds!" Pipit says, and with that Link jumps, diving off the edge and taking me with him. We drop momentarily as the zip slide jumps into action, and within a few seconds we're racing through the air across the woods. I let out a laugh of pure delight as I open my eyes, watching the world whizzing past before me, the only thing staying in focus is Link as his strong arms support me. The ground is rushing below my feet in a blur, I can only just hear my friends cheering through the wind whistling in my ears. This feels so amazing, time races past as the adrenaline buzzes in my blood. Link throws his head back laughing as we near the ground, and eventually I feel my feet touch the slightly damp earth of the forest floor. My stomach is still swirling and my head spinning a little as Link unclips my harness.
"Wow…" I whisper.
A grin spreads across his perfect lips and he smiles, "Yeah…"
He places those perfect lips on mine and I let myself drift into the kiss, only to be dragged back to reality by the loud wolf whistles and cheering of Sheik, Dark, and Pipit. Link pulls away, laughing, and I can't help but giggle.
"Midna!" I say, whipping the tent door open. I glance around the sleeping area but it's empty. I frown, stepping back out into the open, I thought she said she was going back to camp… but I've searched everywhere else…
"Mrs Luv!" I call out, running over to her, she turns to look at me expectantly, and I put on my best smile. "Do you know where Midna is?"
"Yes, I believe I do. She asked me if she could go for a walk, I think she was headed towards the waterfall."
"Thank you!" I say politely, turning heel and jogging off the site.
"Hey wait! Zelda!" I turn around and see Sheik chasing after me, a worried expression on his normally careless face. "Where you off to?"
"I'm gonna go see Midna," I say, shrugging, trying to act casual.
"Ok, mind if I come?" He asks, gesturing along the path.
I suck the air in through my teeth. "I was kind of hoping to have a private word with her?"
He looks a little put off, but nods. "Yeah… right, I get it."
"Sorry…" I mumble, feeling a little guilty.
He shrugs, "No, it's ok, can you let me know when you get back?"
"Of course!" I exclaim, "No problem!"
He nods his thanks and I make my way along the footpath, taking the official route this time, rather than cutting through the forest, I'm not risking that again. Eventually I arrive at the base of the waterfall, water gushing into the lake, creating splashes all around. I carefully study the area, letting my eyes fall on Midna, curled up on a large beige rock.
"Hey Midna," I say softly, picking a path across the rocks towards her.
"Hey." She mumbles quietly.
"Are you ok?" I ask, settling down next to her.
She sighs, resting her chin on her knees, "I don't know what to do…"
I look down at the ground, summoning up all my courage. "Look Midna, I know this is hard, but you're going to have to tell Sheik sooner or later…"
"Tell me what?"
I look up to see Sheik stood at the entrance to the water fall, watching us hopefully, waiting for an answer. I swallow hard, this isn't going to be easy…
