Their travels lasted a few more months and they managed to check in on all the Champions while they traveled, introducing them to the Sheikah Slate and to see how the Divine Beasts were handling the pressure of being back in action.

So far, everything was going smoothly.

Zelda's seventeenth birthday was nearing which made Link decide to tell her it would be good thinking to head up to Mount Lanayru— they would be able to get a good's head start and by the time they would reach the mountain, she would be seventeen and allowed to venture into the Spring of Wisdom.

With that in mind, the pair took off, but lately Storm had been acting up, and Link noticed how Zelda began struggling to get along with the white mare. He knew why she was behaving too harshly with the mare. If she wanted Storm to obey her again, she would have to take the time to smooth her, it was the only way Storm would know how Zelda truly felt about her and it would make the relationship mend again— if she didn't, then they were lost and Storm would never obey her again.

He watched until he winced at how Storm wouldn't even allow Zelda to pet her or even feed her apples. Outlaw could get near Storm without any problems and so could he. So, while Zelda was out further doing a field survey, Link tried to soothe Storm into obeying her master until he could speak to her about the way she had been acting, and thankfully, Storm was willing to cooperate with him. He knew the only way to get it across was to bluntly tell Zelda.

They had been acting along better these months, so it wouldn't be so hard to tell her. In fact, he had no doubt she would listen to his advice in gaining Storm's affections back.

"Zelda," Link said the moment she returned back with her data. "I wanted to tell you how to solve your problem with Storm."

"Oh?" Zelda said, glancing up at him with slightly wide eyes before it dawned on her why he would know; he had taken care of horses while he grew up. It was only natural that he knew the answer and she felt stupid for thinking he wouldn't be able to figure it out. "Well, be my guest! What do I need to do to settle things between us?"

Link smiled. "Be sure to take the time to soothe your mount, that's the only way it will know how you truly feel."

Zelda nodded, taking his words into account. "Thank you," she smiled, glancing over to Storm and sighed. "I feel horrible for not giving her the love she's used to receiving from me."

Link's smile widened as he glanced over to the horses. They were happily eating the apples from the tree that stood near them. He had a feeling Storm wouldn't mind getting that love right now and he couldn't wait to see how their relationship came along once they were back to the good old days. His eyes locked with Zelda's and a hearty chuckle escaped past his lips.

"I have a feeling she won't mind," he said. "In fact, she'll be more than happy."

Zelda snickered at him before moving over towards her horse and Link watched as Storm glanced towards her, allowing the princess to pet her mane, and her ears perked up when she heard the girl whisper to her. He had a feeling everything was going well and he felt happy for them, knowing things would soon go smoothly between them.

When Zelda returned, she tossed him an apple. "Thank you," she thanked him, smiling brightly. "I do believe we'll be getting along greatly from now on."

Link flushed brightly at her comment.

"No problem," he said, rubbing the back of his head. "I just wanted… well, I just wanted to make sure you two were getting along."

"Now," Zelda said, "— we should be heading up to Mount Lanayru."

Though they wouldn't be able to get in until after Zelda's seventeenth birthday had arrived, Link was confident this would awaken the power. It had to be the final key that would awaken the slumbering power within. If it didn't, then what were the odds that they would be able to defeat Ganon?

Neither of them liked the thought of failing. Both wanted to stand up and match the strength of their ancestors— they wanted to go down in Hyrule's History as the winners of the fight instead of being declared the losers and people who should be overlooked. That wasn't going to be the life for them, it couldn't be how they were remembered. It just couldn't. It was why the power was so important to them— because it would ensure their victory against Calamity Ganon.

"Right," Link nodded as he whistled for the horses to come over to them. He gave her a confident smile. "Onward we go to Mount Lanayru."

Storm easily allowed Zelda onto her back, giving off a peaceful huff in reply as her master climbed onto her saddle. Her eyes met Outlaw's and the black stallion nodded his acceptance before allowing Link to climb onto his own saddle.

It was finally nice to have that love Zelda used to give her daily whenever they went out for a trot back, and she hoped it would remain this time. Storm also hoped that her master would ease up the stress she was displaying, it wasn't healthy.

Link smiled as he watched the pair walk on ahead; that was a better sight.

…

Six days later, they had reached east of Satori Mountain, on top of the large hill where a statue of a horse. It was a park locals could come to easily watch the sun setting and to calm their nerves. Link found his nerves being calmed instantly, and Zelda patted Storm's mane, just like Link instructed her to do.

In return, Storm gave a happy sound.

"Be sure to take the time to soothe your mount… That's the only way it will know how you truly feel," she repeated his words, catching his attention as he matched Outlaw's pace to Storm's. "Your advice was quite helpful— thank you. Storm and I are getting along quite well now."

Link glanced at Storm and smiled. "It certainly looks like it too."

"At first, I wasn't sure if I should outfit her with all of the royal gear. I thought maybe she should have to earn it first. But it works! She wears it like a true natural," Zelda proudly stated as she glanced at Storm's royal gear. "I'm trying to be a bit more empathetic. Benefit of the doubt, you know?"

"Haha," Link chuckled as he shook his head. "I see."

Her eyes trailed over to a mountain in front of them and she sucked in a sharp breath as her grip tightened. Her heart sped up a little as she realized tomorrow she could firmly head up the mountain and seek out the Spring of Wisdom— the final spring that could help her. This better work or else they would be royally screwed.

"Zelda?" Link asked, stopping Outlaw next to Storm, reaching over to place his hand onto his friend's shoulder. "What's wrong? Speak to me. Don't shut me out."

Zelda sighed heavily as she pointed. "See that mountain? That's Mt. Lanayru. It takes its name from the Goddess of Wisdom. Lanayru's decree is very specific."

He could tell where this was going, they had spoken of it many times.

"It says: "No one is allowed, under the age of seventeen… For only the wise are permitted a place upon the mountain." I've prayed at the Spring of Courage and at the Spring of Power, yet neither awoke anything inside me," Zelda said, her voice dropping at the memories. "But maybe up there… Perhaps the Spring of Wisdom, the final of the three, will be the one."

Link glanced away, knowing very well how likely the chances would be, and it wouldn't be nice. He couldn't bring himself to tell her. If the other two springs brought nothing to help them, what were the odds of this one would help when the others failed? Inwardly, he winced, hoping she would remain positive about it, but with her expression, it wouldn't be likely she was.

"To be honest, I have no real reason to think that will be the case. But there's always the chance that the next moment will change everything," she said laughing softly.

"You know what?" Link said, keeping his eyes on the mountain. "I think it'll work, even though the likeness of it is poor. We never know for sure until we're there, right?"

"Right," Zelda nodded.

The moment they fell silent, Zelda's eyes clouded over as she thought back to what tomorrow would be— what it meant for the pair— what it meant for all of Hyrule— and what it could do if things went well enough.

If the Goddess decided to finally answer her prayers and give an answer— what would it do for them? Would it help them or would it tear them apart as they failed to realize the meaning behind her answer?

Either way, Zelda felt slightly sick, because in a way, she feared what the answer would be.

"Tomorrow…is my seventeenth birthday. So then I shall go…and make my way up the mountain."

Link nodded sharply, trying to keep himself from promising how it would be alright in the end, how this would be the very thing that helped them out, because they both knew how it could go. They would be right. It was no question. The goddess wouldn't answer because she only answered to those who needed her help and she was unfair to her chosen ones; the ones who had to deal with everything she couldn't deal with herself.

The ones who she stole away their choice of future.

And if Ganon decided to make his appearance known tomorrow, and if Link still hadn't made his feelings known, and if they died trying to seal him away for the last time, then it would all be for nothing. He couldn't live with himself knowing he had never been able to find the right moment to tell Zelda how he truly felt towards her because he was scared of her answer.

What irony.

The hero is scared. The hero known for carrying such courage is scared for once in his life— of rejection from the girl he loved when he was known to be the one to have the happy ending with the girl he loved.

Yet at the same time, it was understandable why he was scared. Zelda wasn't just a normal girl; he was the Princess of Hyrule and its sole heir that would ascend once Calamity Ganon was dealt with. She would have to marry sooner or later and no doubt King Rhoam would arrange it with someone she barely knew and wouldn't allow her to have a say in the matter. Link's heart tightened at the thought and felt himself silently becoming pissed.

He shook his head, trying to calm himself down by breathing deeply as they carried on, the sun was starting to set. Tomorrow they will be able enter the spring and ask for help.

That is— if Hylia decided to help them.

It was now or never.

"Zelda," Link said before he could stop himself to rethink about this. He couldn't give in to his fears or else it would never happen. "Tomorrow, I want to tell you something once we're done at the Spring of Wisdom."

Her eyes locked onto his. "Oh?" she tilted her head.

"Yeah," he breathed out in answer. "Something important."

Once again, Urbosa's words echoed in Zelda's mind and she flushed, knowing it could be the final time he would remain silent about his growing feelings. She wanted to know when he would gain the courage, but on her birthday? Well, it was a better time than anything, she would give him that one.

"Okay," she said, swallowing. "We can talk then."

"Thanks," Link flashed her a nervous grin, but it was nothing compared to what he would be feeling tomorrow.

…

When the next day came, Link had woken up before Zelda again to make her her favorite breakfast to celebrate her birthday. The expression she made was worth it and he grinned before saying the usual 'happy birthday,' to her.

Finally, the time came when they hiked up the mountain, in the proper gear to keep themselves from becoming too cold under Link's suggestion— he had also made cold elixirs when she had to go into the water and she was thankful for his preparation, and shivered the first wind of coldness hit her, but thankfully she had her warm coat on as they kept hiking.

Link led them up with the Master Sword out, hoping the hike would be peaceful but just in case it wasn't, he was ready for a fight. But it would be nice to not have to worry about monsters coming at them on Zelda's birthday.

Thankfully, the hike was quiet and neither of them complained as they found themselves at the entrance of the spring. It was quiet, but it was beautiful. Inwardly, they could both see the water moving peacefully as the tall statue of Hylia stood in the same spot as it did in the Spring of Power and Courage. But there was a sense of failure in the air if they dared to go in and speak to the statue, especially with the way Link had yelled at the last one.

He felt bad for knowing he had yelled at the Goddess statue, but he was becoming desperate just like she was.

The whole entire Kingdom's fate rested on their shoulders after all.

"It'll work," he whispered as she moved to the water, drinking a quick cold-resistance elixir. His voice was firm. "It has to work."

"Right," Zelda nodded. "It'll work."

But both knew the truth as she walked towards the statue and began the usual prayer, saying how the failure at the other springs affected her faith in Hylia and he sucked in a breath before closing his eyes— he was so close to yelling again because of her tone, but he managed to stop himself.

Just barely.

Then she rejoined him when she finished and sighed heavily. No answer. No nothing. Just how they expected the trip to go. Link cursed softly as he helped her dress back up in her warm clothing before they started heading back down, their spirits down.

When they were finally down, Link sighed heavily as he racked a hand through his hair as they started to think back to the failure of the last spring and he sucked in a breath. This wasn't working. Nothing had worked and the power was still slumbering away; how long until Calamity woke up? They had little time left to figure out how to awaken this.

"Link?" Zelda said as she glanced over shoulder, turning around to face him.

"Yeah?" he replied, arching an eyebrow.

Zelda took a deep breath. "You said you wanted to tell me something? After we came back down from the spring."

He froze. Shit, he was sure she had forgotten…

Well, it was now or never and he wouldn't forgive himself if he allowed this chance to slip through his fingers like all the other times. With a shaky, deep breath, he nervously cleared his throat as he said the words he longed to say when he first figured this out.

And he just hoped her response would be the one that he wanted.

"I, uh," he coughed nervously, flushing bright red like Din's signature color, "— I just… what I wanted to say was…"

"Link?"

Screw it, he thought. Words were going to fail him as he stepped forward, taking her by the arms gently before leaning forward. If words failed, then this would have to do to make his statement known.

Her eyes widened the moment she felt it, her body stiffened as her mind finally pieced together what was happening;

Link was kissing her.