Thanks for the reviews, follows, and favorites! I appreciate all feedback and compliments. Seriously, you guys are awesome.

Here's chapter ten.

While reading, try listening to "Romance Theme" and/or "Zelda's Theme" depending on the mood you get from this chapter. Both songs are from Skyward Sword's original soundtrack.

Side note: Follow MaxSmith26 on Miiverse. He drew the cover art for this fic.

I don't own anything regarding The Legend of Zelda. I wish I did.

On with the chapter!

Chapter 10: Memories

"Concentrate…" Thorn told us.

I did. We were in front of the castle, and I concentrated on the area by our tent. I spun in a half circle and disappeared into a cloud of dust. I reappeared, however, inside the castle.

"Where did he go?" Orielle asked from outside.

I opened the double doors and exited the unfinished castle. "Here."

"Link," Thorn began, "good start. But try to concentrate further on your tent."

I nodded, clutching the magical bracelet on my right wrist. Thorn had given me, Zelda, Pipit, Karane, and Orielle a bracelet like this. It was woven with red and blue silk, and one bead was in the middle, bearing the blood-red Sheikah tribe logo. It gave the wearer the ability to teleport, if he or she was able to. "I'll try again," I told Thorn.

"The rest of you, try to concentrate on where you want to end up, and not anything else." Thorn nodded. "Watch. I'm going to appear outside of the gate." Sure enough, he teleported outside the gate, then teleported back next to me.

Orielle grinned at Thorn. "That's amazing!"

Thorn grinned back. "If you keep practicing, you'll be able to do it too."

"So you think I'll be able to?" Orielle asked.

"Now, it may be a bit harder for you than Link, Zelda, Pipit, and Karane, due to the fact that you're a bit shorter than the necessary height. But, yeah, I'll try to help you get it."

Zelda, Pipit, Karane and I were about the same height. Pipit was the tallest, just an inch taller than I was. Zelda and Karane were the same height, an inch shorter than I was.

"Thanks, Thorn!" Orielle exclaimed. She ran up to him and hugged him.

He grinned. "Of course." I flashed Thorn a thumbs-up. He smirked. When Orielle let him go, he said, "Okay, let's keep practicing."

After a half hour, I had gotten close to mastering it. That's when we decided to call off practicing for the day. "Don't ever let anyone steal those bracelets," said Thorn. "Try to keep them on."

The six of us decided to go back to The Lumpy Pumpkin. When we returned, everyone from my surprise party remained in the restaurant. We had only been gone for a half hour.

"Link!" Gaepora called. He walked up to us. "We were wondering where you had run off to!"

"Uh, sorry. Thorn was teaching us something." I shrugged, embarrassed that I had disappeared from my own party.

"Well, I'm glad you are all back. Come," Gaepora said, waving his hand towards the middle of the room. "The party is still going." At that, Kina began to sing while Keet played the piano, a new addition to the restaurant.

I grinned. I turned to Zelda. "Would you like to dance?" I asked her.

Zelda blushed. "I would love to."

We walked to the middle of the room, and I put my arms around her waist. Zelda put her arms around my neck, and we slowly danced to Kina and Keet's music.

Others began to dance as well. Pipit and Karane stood next to us. Groose managed to get Peatrice to come back to the party, and they were dancing as well. Thorn had asked Orielle, and she accepted.

"Zelda, this is just perfect. Thank you so much."

Zelda smiled beautifully. I couldn't help but kiss her. "You're welcome, Link. I love you," she said.

"I love you too, Zel." I kissed her again.

Thorn eventually caught my eye. He grinned at me, obviously overjoyed that he was dancing with Orielle. I grinned back at him.

"Hey, Link?" Zelda asked.

"Yeah?"

"This is kinda random… but it's been popping up in my mind lately."

"Okay, go ahead."

Zelda looked down for a bit, a little embarrassed. "Before we… got together, how long have you… felt this way about me?"

I thought for a bit. I didn't think I even knew the answer. "Well, Zelda, I always knew that what we had wasn't just friendship. I think what I always wanted was something more than that with you. But, to answer your question, I'd say about a month before the Wing Ceremony." I paused. "Remember the day that we had the sparring tournament at the Academy?"

"Yes," Zelda said, wanting to hear more.

"Well, it was me against Groose in the last round, and I looked over to my left, and I saw you. You weren't wearing anything special, just your everyday clothes. But damn, you looked beautiful. I swear I was about to drool right there in the middle of the round." Zelda giggled at that. "Then you smiled and waved at me, cheering me on, while everyone else was rooting for Groose. And that's why I won that tournament. And that's when I knew that I loved you."

Zelda turned pink. She smiled the brightest smile I've ever seen, and said, "Link, that is the sweetest thing I've ever heard."

We kissed for a while, not caring who saw. After we stopped, I asked, "What about you? How long have you felt this way about me?"

Zelda turned bright red. "Um… since I was… twelve."

My eyes were wide open. "Five years and you hadn't told me?"

Zelda blushed more. "Yeah… I was too scared… I promised myself and Karane that I would tell you if you won the Wing Ceremony… and… I was going to tell you while we were atop the Goddess Statue, but I chickened out, like always. Then I finally gathered enough courage to even get close to saying it while we were flying… before… the tornado…"

I could tell Zelda was reliving the incident with Ghirahim and his tornado. She looked like she was about to cry. I hugged her closer to me. She rested her chin on my shoulder. "It's okay, Zelda."

"Thanks," she muttered, sniffling a bit.

"Orielle," Parrow called from across the room. Zelda and I turned our heads to watch. "Orielle, what are you doing with this boy?"

Thorn released her, looking up at the big man. "Um… who are you?"

"Thorn, this is Parrow, my brother." Orielle nodded nervously in Parrow's direction.

"May I speak with you for a moment?" Parrow asked his sister.

"…Sure." Orielle followed Parrow to the stairs, but not out of earshot. "What?"

"Why are you with him? He's a Sheikah!" Parrow exclaimed.

"No he isn't!"

"He was a Sheikah, and I don't trust him one bit."

Orielle groaned. "He's friends with Link and Zelda!"

"I don't care. You should not be around him." Parrow crossed his arms over his chest.

"You can't control who I hang around with, Parrow. I choose to be with Thorn!" She walked off and joined Thorn again.

"Your brother isn't too fond of me, huh?" Thorn joked.

"You heard that?"

"Every word." Thorn grinned sheepishly.

"I'm sorry about my brother. He has been protective of me all my life. It doesn't really mean that it's you that he's concerned about-"

Thorn interrupted. "He's concerned that I was a Sheikah, so yeah, he is concerned about me."

Orielle nodded, not meeting Thorn's eyes. "Sorry…"

"That's fine. He has every right to be worried about his little sister." Thorn grinned at Orielle. She smiled back.

"What's Parrow's problem with Thorn?" Zelda asked me.

"The same problem I've had with Thorn. Trust."

Zelda nodded. We kept dancing for awhile.

"Really?" Zelda asked, heating pumpkin soup up on the stove for a late-night dinner. She giggled. "That's how Groose ended up on the Surface?"

"Yeah," I chuckled. "He was so concerned about you that he needed to tail me, and we crashed on the ground. He freaked out about the tiny birds, but so did everyone else." I was referring to the Skyloftians, who were used to riding huge birds.

"Is that when he came up with 'Grooseland?'"

"Yep."

Zelda sat the bowls of pumpkin soup on the table and sat in the chair across from me. "Wow. Okay, tell me another story." Zelda leaned her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her fist.

"Well, while I was fighting Demise, I pulled out my bug net and started twirling it around in circles. Demise acted like a cat; his head followed my bug net and he was distracted. It was fun to mess with him." I chuckled.

Zelda sighed. "Even in the most serious situations, you still goof off." She scooped up some soup with a spoon and ate it. I did the same. "Like during the Wing Ceremony, when we were atop the Goddess Statue. You said that the sailcloth smelled nice."

I almost lost my pumpkin soup in my mouth. However, I managed to keep it where it was, and I swallowed. "It does though! It smells amazing… like you." I grinned, and I felt the heat rise to my cheeks.

Zelda blushed and grinned. "Aww… You smell alright, I guess," she joked.

I scoffed. "'Alright?' I bathe on the daily, and the Kikwis gave me a nice forest-smelling soap."

Zelda giggled. "I know. I'm just joking, Link." She leaned across the table and kissed me. Damn, I loved kissing her.

Pipit burst into our tent. "Link! Trouble."

I bolted out the tent's exit, grabbing my gear and hat. Zelda followed close behind. "What is it, Pipit?"

"Two Sheikah have broken into Hyrule, looking for Gyin. They seriously injured Cawlin and are making their way to the castle."

"Pipit, Zelda, stay inside the gate." I exited the walls.

"Link!" Zelda protested.

"I'll be fine." I trudged about five feet from the gate, looking at the two dark figures ahead. One was huge, about as tall as Groose, but twice as muscular. He wore thick armor and carried a massive battleax that would make any Stalfos jealous. The other was puny; I recognized him as the one who questioned my identity while I infiltrated their tribe by Lake Floria.

The muscular guy stayed back, while the puny guy walked forward. "I am Gitek of the Sheikah tribe. This, here," he pointed at the huge guy, "is Gundir. We have come for Gyin."

I withdrew my Hylian Shield and Eldin Sword. My sword glowed with fire while I stood my ground. I did not speak to them. Instead I backed up, getting closer to Zelda while Pipit watched from afar.

"Protecting your dear Goddess, are you?" Gitek said.

I tightened my grip around the sword. It erupted into larger flames, sensing my anger.

Gitek had a mace, much like the one Thorn had, but larger. He swung it in circles. "It's quite a shame how she manipulated you, huh? Why do you insist on protecting the one who ruined your life!?"

I snarled.

"What about your parents, Link? What happened to them?"

I froze, eyes wide. I kept my battle stance, however. Did Gitek really play that card?

"Link," Zelda said. I didn't look at her. "Don't listen to them."

"They're dead, Link. And you know why? Because it was all Hylia's plan. She is the reason why your parents are dead, Link!"

How did Gitek know about my parents? I kept my stance, but I was still in shock.

"Hand over Gyin," said Gundir in a very deep voice, "or we will kill you and your precious Hylia." Gundir was obviously tired of Gitek toying with my mind. So was I.

I froze up, slightly lowering my Hylian Shield. Gitek took the opportunity and threw a dagger at me. I quickly unfroze and raised my shield to protect myself. The dagger safely bounced off of it.

That's when I lunged, slicing downward. My sword raked across Gitek's chest. He screamed and fell on his back, bleeding. I had forgotten about Gundir. He raised his battleax and was about to chop me in half when a dagger entered his forehead. Gundir stood there, eyes rolled back into his head. He fell to his knees, armor clanking on the stone ground. I looked behind me and to the right, where Thorn stood, arm still outstretched from the throw.

I was breathing heavily. Sweat dripped from my face. I nodded at Thorn. Thorn jogged up to Gitek, who lay on the ground, still breathing. Thorn loomed over the Sheikah.

"You… traitor. You need to learn… to follow the strongest side!" Gitek gathered up strength and spit on Thorn's boot.

"…I already am."

"Such a fool…" Gitek's head rolled back onto the stone ground.

Thorn's dagger ended up in Gitek's chest.

"Where are you going, Dad?" I asked. I was three years old. I stood in our doorway, watching my dad at the dock.

"I'm on a mission. I'll be back, so sit tight, Link!" My dad fastened the goggles onto his head. He saluted in my direction, and I did it back. That was how we usually said our goodbyes.

I watched him jump off the dock and fly away on his brown Loftwing. I waved goodbye, standing on the dock.

I decided to wait for him at the dock, my feet dangling over the edge. I waited until nighttime for him to return… but he didn't.

He had hit a rock… and fallen beneath the clouds.

I didn't find out until the next day, when a tall man in orange robes gave me my dad's sword. I was confused at first, but I noticed the man's sorrowful look.

A little blonde girl watched from behind the man's legs as I ran back home, locking myself away from the world. I cried my eyes out.

I heard a knock at the door. I opened it and saw the blonde girl. She said her name was Zelda… and she was really sorry. Then Zelda gave me a hug, and I cried more.

A year later, Gaepora, the man in the orange robes, allowed me to join the Knight Academy since I had no father.

Every morning, Zelda would wake me up to play with her. She became my best friend. My only friend, at the time. Whenever I was feeling down, she was there. Whenever I was getting picked on, she was there.

I couldn't thank her enough for putting my life back together.

Sunlight shone through our tent, forcing me to awake. Zelda was sitting on the couch, not noticing I was awake. I grimaced as I sat up in bed. Zelda whipped her head in my direction.

"You're awake!" She got up and hurriedly walked to the bedside. "How are you feeling, Link?"

"Fine… But why does my head hurt? What happened?" I rubbed my head, which hurt deep within my skull.

"…You don't remember?" Zelda asked.

"Only up to the point where Thorn killed the Shiekah, Gitek." I decided to get out of bed.

Zelda stopped me. "No, don't move. Don't strain yourself." I sagged back into my position, back to the wooden headboard of our bed. "After Thorn killed the two Sheikah…" Zelda shuddered, remembering the gut-wrenching standoff. "…You froze up, and your eyes turned icy blue. You had a distant look in your eyes, and you wouldn't respond to us. Then… you fell, and you hit your head on the ground…"

"Well that explains the headache… Why did I freeze up?"

Zelda looked puzzled. "I… I'm not sure. Maybe you were having a memory?"

I thought for a bit. "I did have a memory… but I thought that was just a dream."

"Well, you had to have had the memory while you were frozen up…"

"I guess." I rubbed my head again, wincing.

"What was your memory?" Zelda asked.

"It was… of my… dad. And you." I paused. "It was the day that he… died. And when you and I first met."

Zelda looked sorrowful. She sniffed and said, "I remember that day… We were three."

I nodded, looking at my feet, remembering what Gitek had said:

"They're dead, Link. And you know why? Because it was all Hylia's plan. She is the reason why your parents are dead, Link!"

I shuddered at the thought.

Zelda seemed to read my mind. "Link, about what Gitek said… about how I- Hylia… is the reason why your parents are dead… You know that's not true, right?"

"…I don't care if it is true or not. I don't care about Hylia, I care about Zelda."

Zelda nodded, smiling slightly. She sat down next to me. "I love you," she said. She kissed my cheek.

"I love you too, Zel." I gently pulled her head to mine and kissed her lips. We grinned when we pulled away from each other. "Thanks for taking care of me."

Zelda shrugged, still grinning. "It's what I do."

The next day, my head stopped hurting. I decided to practice my archery. Zelda had gone to visit her father in his tent, so she wasn't there to stop me.

The dummy stood to the right of our tent. I pulled back the string of my Sacred Bow and let the arrow fly. It sank into the dummy's head. "Nice shot, Link!" Fledge said.

I looked to my right. Fledge stood in front of his tent and walked over to me. "Thanks."

"Remember when you would shoot the pumpkins? I gave you a ton of rupees from that game."

I chuckled. "Yeah, I can pay you back if you want."

"Nah, keep them. You earned 'em." Fledge grinned. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah, that's why I'm out here." I let another arrow fly. It sank into the dummy's chest.

"Okay, good. So, after what happened last night, do you trust Thorn?"

Why did Fledge care so much that I trusted Thorn? He was the one who got a dagger stuck in Fledge's leg. "…Yes." I walked to retrieve my arrows from the dummy. I yanked them out.

Fledge nodded. "Alright, bye, Link. I'm going to go walk around town."

"Bye, Fledge."

I walked back father from where I stood before, to increase the distance between me and the dummy. I was about to strike the dummy right in the head when I heard, "Link!" Startled, I let the arrow fly. It was a complete miss. It bounced off the town walls, landing on the ground. The arrow was close to hitting Thorn's tent. I turned my head to see Zelda.

"What!?" I thought it was an emergency.

"What are you doing out of bed?"

"Goddesses, Zelda. You scared the hell out of me! Mt head doesn't hurt anymore, anyway."

"Sorry… and that's good."

"You wanna shoot?" I asked, offering her the bow.

"No thanks, I'm good." Zelda walked behind me. "I think I'll just watch."

"Okay, take notes," I joked. She giggled. I sank an arrow into the dummy's head.

"That was a bit better than your last shot," Zelda teased.

"Hey, you messed me up." I turned around and hugged her. We kissed.

When we pulled away, Zelda asked, "Have you thanked Thorn yet?"

"For what?" I asked.

"Oh, it's no big deal. Just saving your life." Zelda grinned.

"Hey, I could handle those guys. I fought the Demon King."

Zelda nodded. "I know you could have. But he deserves to know that you trust him now." She paused. "…You do trust him, right?"

"Yes. Now I do." I nodded. I released Zelda from my arms. "I suppose I should go find Thorn now."

"I think he's in his tent." Zelda followed me to Thorn's tent.

When I unzipped the zipper slightly, I said through the crack, "Thorn? It's Link and Zelda."

"Link! Come in," said Thorn. Zelda and I entered the tent. Orielle sat on her knees next to a haystack in the corner. Thorn lay on the haystack. Besides a mace and a box full of Sheikah daggers, that was the only thing in his tent. Thorn grinned at us. "Wassup, guys?"

"Hey," Orielle said to us with a grin.

"Hi, Thorn, Orielle," said Zelda.

"Hey… Man, you need some furniture." I looked around the empty room.

"I was thinking that I'd get some when I move into the castle. For now, I'm good." He grinned again. "What's up?"

"Well, I wanted to thank you… for helping me last night."

"'Helping you?' Don't you mean saving?" Thorn smirked.

I chuckled. "Sure. Whatever, Thorn."

"Is that all?" Thorn asked awkwardly. He glanced at Orielle, then back at me.

I understood what Thorn meant. "Yes. I'll see you around." Zelda and I exited the tent while Thorn and Orielle waved goodbye.

Zelda and I decided to go and find some friends to spend time with. So, while we left the Kikwis to continue constructing the castle, we decided to check on the progress made on the Knight Academy.

We were surprised to see Groose pounding on the walls with a hammer, but his right arm was in a sling. Gyin had injured his arm with a mace.

"Hey, Groose!" Zelda called.

Groose turned around. "Zelda! Link! We're almost done here." I looked at the nearly-completed Academy. From the outside, it looked completed. "We just need to finish the interior."

"Wow, Groose. This is awesome!" I said.

"Shouldn't you be resting your arm?" Zelda questioned, hands on her hips.

"Nah, I've had enough rest." Zelda didn't look convinced. "Would you like to tour the inside?"

"Sure," Zelda and I said.

Groose led us into the first floor entrance. Sure enough, the inside was identical to Skyloft's Knight Academy. The only things missing were the stairs to the second floor and the doors to the dorm rooms. I decided to look into my dorm room. Well, technically, it wasn't mine, but a replica of it.

It was exactly the same. The screen that divided my room and Fledge's was there as well. Other than the screen and the window, the room was empty.

Zelda walked up behind me. "Right here," said Zelda, pointing at the window, "is where my Loftwing woke you up the day of the Wing Ceremony."

I grinned, remembering that day… it could've been perfect. But it went totally wrong. I pointed to the area where my bed would've been. "And here is where you woke me up every other morning."

Zelda giggled. She looked around the room of the new Academy. "…I miss those days, Link."

I sighed and gave her a hug. "Me too, Zel."

Damn, her hair smelled good.

…

…

"Uh, guys?" Groose asked awkwardly from the doorway. "If you're having a moment, I could postpone construction, but…"

Zelda and I looked at Groose. Behind him stood Jakamar, Keet, Gonzo, and Parrow, all holding tools.

"Uh… sorry," I said. Zelda and I left the new Knight Academy.

That brought us one step closer to the completion of Hyrule.

So that was chapter ten.

More is to come. You can count on that.

Until then, Review, Follow, Favorite, eat sausage, do whatever your heart desires. Just make sure it's legal.

~SausageLink43