While Zelda was left behind to practice rock climbing, Link had actually fast travelled to Kakariko village, where he was walking up to Impa's grand house.
"Good Morning Paya!" Link said happily as he walked by. Paya eeped as he walked by.
"Link, goodness me you s-startled me! H-How can I help you t-today?" She asked, blushing a bit. Link smiled and shook his head.
"Nothing today Paya, I'm just here to talk to Impa about something."
Paya's face fell slightly.
"O-Oh. Talking about Zelda I assume? You two look like you've been getting along nicely... I'm happy for you! Don't get me wrong!" Paya said, not realizing she had said that outloud. Link blushed a bit, but stayed conformed.
"It's not like that Paya..." Link said, rubbing the back of his head. Paya stared him down. She could get intense at times.
"You know Link... That's going to get you in trouble on day..." She said quietly, returning to cleaning the floors. Link gave her a confused look before shaking his head and walking into the building.
"Link, it's good to see you. Come, come. What can I help you with?" Impa asked. "How has your journey with Zelda been?"
Link stopped breathing, not answering Impa's question. Impa glared at him and sighed.
"Link... We've talked about this..." Impa said shaking her head, her large hat shaking the large metal Sheikah fillings surrounding the brim.
"It's nerve racking! What if she gets hurt? It'll be on my head..." Link said, pacing the room. Impa sighed.
"We've been through this part too Link. If it were me from a hundred years ago I would have the same concerns as you. However, as I told the Princess: There is no more kingdom! There is no more knight order to take your head!" Impa said loudly.
"She can't stay cooped up in that house of yours! It's one thing to be living together. I give you my blessing if you two end up mingling for you've both deserve it for how strongly connected you are,"
Link blushed at that. Impa had a way of being... Straightforward.
"But now your just being an overprotective parent Link! She can't learn in your yard! Some basic's yes, she had to learn in safety. But it's been weeks! She needs real life experience! What is she doing now?"
"Climbing the cliff next to my... our... house." Link mumbled, kicking the wood slightly. Impa sighed.
"Well at least you barely let her outside your borders. Link, look here,"
Link looked up at Impas large old eyes.
"I know you care and worry about her. I know the Knight Order is just an excuse. But she needs to travel and learn eventually. She needs REAL experience. One day she's going to get fed up and leave without you on her qest. Then who will be there to protect her?"
Link looked down. Impa was right. He couldn't keep stalling. Zelda needed to learn to survive in the wild. To fight, to succeed. Link exhaled.
"I know. I'm sorry." Link said to the floor. Impa shook her head.
"I don't need an apology. Just... Let her learn some real things. You can still protect her. I know you only stopped 'being her knight' so she wouldn't feel guilty. But you really should start heading your own words and be a friend and protector Link. Not just a knight."
Link nodded.
"I know. I'll fix it... In fact I have an idea now."
"Good, now run along before I have you join Paya cleaning the floors..."
Link appeared in a flash of blue light and walked across the bridge towards his house. Impa was right. How was she supposed to survive out there learning from his yard?
"If I'm going to train you, I'm going to train you right..."
Link sighed at himself. What a hypocrite.
Link walked towards the cliff to see a dirty female hand suddenly reach over it. Zelda, tired, dirty and wheezing, pulled herself up the cliff, and rolled onto the grass, staring up at the sky. Link raised an eyebrow. He didn't expect her to be able to make it up here in less than a few hours, much less today. Maybe he really had been underestimating her...
Link walked up to a exhausted Zelda and squatted down.
"How do you feel?" He asked.
"Tired... Hungry... but over all accomplished... Though I have to say... My legs and arms do feel as if they are about to give out..." Zelda said between deep breaths, her chest rising and falling heavily. Link chuckled.
"Well, I think you've deserve it. Zelda, we're going on a trip."
Zelda's eyes flung open. She lifted herself up with all the energy she could muster and faced Link.
"A trip? Where are we going? What are we doing?" She asked excitedly. Link laughed.
"You'll see. Rest up and then we'll head out later this evening." He said. Zelda gave him a look of confusion.
"This evening? Why so late? Isn't it dangerous to leave right before night time?" Zelda asked. Link nodded.
"Exactly. That's why we will be doing some weapon training today as well."
Zelda bolted to her feet, energy revived.
"Weapon training! Let us start right away!" She said excitedly. Link, still squatting looked up at her, laughing. He stood and walked towards the house, Zelda following right behind him.
"Yup, let us begin."
"A bow?" Zelda asked, as Link walked out the house with a two bows and multiple arrows.
"We'll get to swords later, promise. For now let's do a weapon that keeps you out of harm's way for the most part. Then we can work on swords. That's fair right?" Link asked. Zelda sighed, but nodded in agreement. At least she was getting some kind of weapon training.
Link handed Zelda a light bow, It was light, and yet strong feeling. Zelda tried pulling the string back, it gave, but not much.
"This, is a Falcon bow. Made more for the Rito for when they are flying around, this allows them to stay airborne. This will be perfect practice for you. You need to start building up back muscles in order to properly use it. Now watch my form."
Link got in stance, Zelda mimicking him as he went. They drew their bows back (without arrows) and moved around a bit, allowing Zelda to get a feel for the bow. However her shoulders were already getting sore from just holding it.
"This is.. a light bow?" She asked. Link laughed.
"You should feel what Revali used, had to be an over the top guy..." Link started, but quickly stopped himself. He noticed Zelda's face fall slightly. Of course she wouldn't be over the Champions deaths yet.
"Anyway, why don't we try shooting an arrow?" He asked, changing the subject. Zeldas eyes lit backup.
"Are you sure!? What if I lose it?" Zelda asked. Link shrugged.
"Trust me, they are a simple commodity. Now then. See that apple?"
Link pointed to one of the furthest apples hanging on the apple tree. Zelda nodded.
"Lets try and hit that. Don't worry if you miss, it takes time to properly learn how to aim-"
Zelda knocked and released the arrow, perfectly driving itself through the apples center and flying away.
"a bow... Wow you hit that..." Link said, astonished. Zelda smuggly perked up and lifted her chin.
"Looks like your not the only natural. It shouldn't be that much of a surprise. I literally can summon a Bow of Light. It must be a gift of my Sealing Powers." She said happily. As much as she said that in a joking manner, after thinking about it for a second, that seemed fairly accurate and a very good theory. She would look into that more later.
"Well then Princess, I guess we can leave a bit early then. Come on let's go." Link said, pulling out a Sheikah Slate and holding out his hand. Zelda, giving him a confused look, took his hand in hers.
"Link... You never specified where we were going or what we were doing..."
Link gave her an evil grin.
"You... will be camping tonight."
Before Zelda could respond, both had turned into slivers of blue light.
...