AN:
Not Nintendo. Okay guys, I'm worried about not getting all of this published before I go to school. So, I'm going to start updating in pairs unless it's a very long chapter. So, you'll get twice as much to read every day!
Neo Aguni: Perhaps they will.
Arcmelos: Thanks!
That Saturday I sit in my usual chair beneath the awning next to his office and watch Link train his guards. Currently they're sparring, practicing a new move he taught them. He circles around, correcting form, and giving tips. He then returns to me, and I hand him a glass of water. "They're doing well."
"Yeah, they are. I'm impressed. Ryell and Aron have been doing well with them." He leans against the wall and watches them.
"Did you doubt them?"
"They're not as scared of them as they are me."
"Your reputation precedes you."
"My reputation as what?"
"The man who took down Calamity Ganon. Anyone would be intimidated by that."
"And the favorite of the princess."
"And my favorite." I take another sip from my glass. "Do you think you could teach me some? You did before."
"Before you would often wander off and leave me. I had to teach you something just so you wouldn't get killed."
"Is that a no?"
"If you really want to, I can teach you."
"Good. I want to learn. Should something happen, I don't want to be useless."
"Nothing's going to happen where you'll be alone."
"Then I want to learn for fun. I taught you to dance, you can teach me to fight."
"Well, we're almost done for the day. I can teach you once this lesson ends."
"Yay!"
-oOo-
"Alright. We need to find a weapon that's the right weight and size for you." Link walks up and down the storeroom, looking for something suitable. I look around all of the weapons, swords all of different lengths and widths, then one specific one catches my eye.
"What's this one?" I ask, picking up the narrow blade.
"A rapier." He answers, walking over to me. "You know what, I think that this will work for you." He takes the one from my hand and tests the balance. He does this to a couple more of them, but ultimately hands me the first one. "How did you pick the best one?" He picks up another one for himself.
"I don't know." I shrug and follow him to the training yard.
"Eventually, we will probably add a shield, but for now let's just practice with the blade." We stand in the middle of a clearing and several people look at us curiously. "Okay, stand still. I'm going to place you properly." I do as he says, and he walks around me, placing me in the starting position. "Left leg back a little." While he's fine positioning my arms by touch, my legs not so much.
"I feel slightly silly."
"You're supposed to." He assures me. "Now, you're going to want to stay in this position as much as possible. You may be forced out of it in a fight, but you always want to come back here. The rapier is a thrusting weapon, you stab at your enemy more than you slash."
He walks me through the basics of how I should move and how to stab. "I still feel silly."
"You'll get more comfortable with it the more you practice. Now, I want you to stab at me."
"What if I hurt you?"
"You're not going to hurt me."
"What if I'm so bad that something stupid happens, and I hurt you?"
"The blade is blunt; the tip has been dipped in some protectant specifically for this." He motions towards the oddly yellow point of the blade. "It's just like any sparring weapon, designed to prevent stupid things from happening. Now, stab at me." I do as he says, he easily sidesteps my attack. "See, you aren't going to hurt me."
"Yes, you're very good, and I am not."
"I haven't really taught you anything yet."
"Then teach me!"