Fairies of the Wild

Two twelve-year old, blue-eyed blondes sat in an enclosed cabin on a quickly moving train. One was a boy and the other a girl, and though their hair color was similar their styles were radically different. The boy's hair was wild, unruly, and just long enough to be kept in a short ponytail that ended at his shoulders. The girl's on the other hand was straight and ornately styled in what was known as a braided headband, the braid adorning her head like a crown and the remainder of her long hair reaching down to mid-back.

The girl was dressed in a blue, long-sleeved shirt with a white midriff and collar cinched down with a wide brown belt, black pants, brown ankle boots, and a pair of black, fingerless gloves. Gold-colored thread embroidered along the collar and midriff that separated the blue and white portions of the shirt, as well as formed a three-triangle symbol on her sternum. On her lap was a large, leather-bound book that lay open somewhere at the halfway point, but her focus was on the boy across from her.

The boy was dressed in a blue tunic, the bottom edge embroidered with white thread, as was the collar in the shape of a sword, that was cinched down with a brown belt, light brown pants, and dark brown boots and fingerless gloves. On the belt was a black item with golden designs, the most noticeable that of an elaborate eye with a blue iris. Under the blue tunic was a long-sleeved, white shirt tucked into a pair of leather bracers on his forearms.

"So, assuming we can get into this Fairy Tail we can then take on these "jobs", one of which may eventually offer some clues for us. Of course if that fails then there are others, but it seems that Fairy Tail is one of the best regarded "Mage Guilds" and gets more than its share of unusual jobs." The girl said as her right index finger tapped on the pages of the book. "Remember, I am not a princess nor of any important standing. I am simply a Light Mage that specializes in Sealing and Holy Magics. You…" Here the girl sighed as she brought her right hand to the bridge of her nose. "You are a Blade Mage that specializes in Holder Magic but have spells of other elements as well." She said before sighing again and then returned her gaze to him. "Do you understand, Link?" She asked hopefully, needing to make sure that they had their stories straight.

"Yes, Pri- Zelda." Link said with a nod, quickly correcting himself with a slight wince at his slip.

Zelda covered her eyes in exasperation. "At least you seem to be able to get it right when we're talking with others." She groaned out before she locked up and then shot him a glare. "Then again, the only one who's been talking has been me." She said accusingly but Link didn't even look abashed as he shrugged at her comment. "True, I suppose there's nothing different there." Zelda admitted with a sigh that combined fond amusement and resignation. "Still, you must remember to only call me Zelda so we don't stand out." She said and at that Link raised an eyebrow before twitching his long ears.

Zelda opened her mouth in a rebuttal before she paused and then looked away, unable to argue his point. For some reason, the people of this Fiore country had stunted ears that were more suited to a Goron. They had already been asked multiple times if they were beings known as elves, although from what she had read up on in the couple of months that they had been here it didn't seem to be a ridiculous question. "Regardless, to prevent drawing any further notice, you must only refer to me as Zelda. Is that understood?" She asked and this time Link nodded his head.

"Zelda, I'm the only one who needs to put myself in possible danger." Link said before he leaned back from the glare that he got in reply.

"Oh, and you shall be able to properly identify possible clues that might explain what happened to us? That might allow us to return to Hyrule?" Zelda asked and Link looked to the side uncomfortably at that simple truth. He wasn't stupid, but he was nowhere near the scholar Zelda was. "There is no reason to be so protective of me anymore, I can take care of myself." She said petulantly as she leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest.

"There is one." Link said as he looked back at her, his eyes intent, and Zelda blushed slightly before she glanced away.

"Regardless, we both shall face any risks together. After all…" Zelda trailed off sadly and then gave a soft sigh.

Link nodded his head in understanding. With the exception of the ancient Impa and the age reversed, mad scientist Purah, they were the only ones left from their original time. Beyond that, they were the only ones left of the Champions. Though he had been distant, and though Revali could be an arrogant pain, they had been the best friends he could have ever hoped to have.

Zelda was silent for a few more minutes, during which she placed her hands back on the pages of her book without even thinking about it. "Furthermore, the fault that we are now here and somehow children again is mine. Thus, I need to be involved in fixing this." She finished firmly and with no hint of compromise, and Link eventually nodded his head in agreement.

"We are now arriving at Magnolia Town Station. We are now arriving at Magnolia Town Station."

They heard through the train PA system, something that had taken them by surprise the first time they had heard it in a train station, and Zelda quickly shut her book. "Let us go." She said and Link nodded his head.

Magnolia Town – Fairy Tail Guild House

Link and Zelda stood outside an imposing building consisting of three floors and incorporating several architectonic styles: it took on a shape reminiscent of a pagoda, with each floor being smaller than the one below it and sitting on the latter's roof. The roofs also bore great resemblance to those of real pagoda, consisting of extremely long, arched tiles lined up one after the other and possessing simple curved protrusions jutting upwards on the building's corners. On the highest roof, topping the summit of the building, sat a simple, round and pointed dome, which bore a flag with a crest that looked like a simplistic drawing of a winged bird on top of a line, one end of the line ended in a half arrow, with the pointed part on the upper part, and the other end curved up in a way to more resemble a tail, the Fairy Tail crest, just under a large bell.

"Are you ready?" Zelda asked as she looked over at Link.

"Ready, Zelda." Link said with a nod and his response got a quick smile from her. She intended to be the one doing most of the talking, a simple task with Link's quiet nature, but it was good that he was finally getting out of the habit of referring to her by title.

Zelda took a breath as Link opened the door for her before walking in with a determined stride, Link a couple of steps behind. The uproar in the Guild Hall made Zelda pause for a moment in surprise, though to Link it was a bit more familiar. In fact, he found himself hit with a wave of nostalgia of walking into a tavern back when he had been a Hylian Captain before being chosen to be Zelda's Royal Knight.

The people inside, men, women, and even a few kids, all seemed to be cheerful and full of life. Some were eating, drinking, talking, or some combination of the three. A few people noticed their entrance and turned to look at them curiously before returning to their meals and conversations.

The lack of any real reaction still surprised Zelda, who was used to people scrambling to their feet or at least show recognition at her appearance. Still, it had been some time since she had arrived and had to admit that it was nice to be anonymous when she entered a room.

Through the crowd and on the bar counter sat an elderly, short man with a bristly white mustache and a small amount of hair on the back of his otherwise bald head. He wore a white shirt with the same crest printed in black as the flag outside under an orange jacket with matching orange shorts. His stature, combined with his white hair, reminded Zelda momentarily of Impa, but when he took a long pull of a pint of some sort of what she assumed was alcohol the resemblance quickly faded.

Zelda set a determined yet dignified pace to the bar that Link matched, his stride setting himself almost immediately as a fighter to the veterans of Fairy Tail. Zelda's stride threw some of them off, the poise and graceful steps showing a certain training that most of them had not seen before. Anyone who looked away blinked and then quickly looked back when they noticed the newcomers' ears.

Makarov, though, immediately recognized the extra training set in such posture as some sort of nobility. His eyes showed nothing of this, rather he only showed curiosity as to what a pair of children might be doing in his Guild Hall. He had met most of the Guild members' families but couldn't place them, nor did they closely resemble anyone he knew either. His eyes widened slightly when he took note of their elongated ears, and now he was certain that they weren't related to anyone from Fairy Tail.

"Pardon me but are you Makarov, the Guild Master of Fairy Tail?" Zelda asked when the two of them reached the old mage.

Makarov grinned as he looked down at the two and placed his stein to the side. "Indeed I am. How may I help you two?" He asked in a cheerful tone that immediately put Zelda and Link slightly at ease.

"My name is Zelda, and this is Link." Zelda introduced the two of them with a quick, respectful nod of her head that Link echoed. "We were sent here by Riona, the Guild Master of Mermaid Heel." She said and Makarov looked at her questioningly. "We are looking to join a Mage Guild, but Mermaid Heel only accepts female members." She explained and Makarov's expression cleared before becoming questioning again.

"Why would a couple of kids like you want to join a Mage Guild? Where are your parents?" Makarov asked but Zelda simply shook her head.

"Our parents have been dead for some time." Zelda informed him with a hint of sadness and his look turned sympathetic. "As you can probably see, we are not from around here." She went on, not wanting to get into the story, and a small grin came to Makarov's face.

"Well, your accent may have tipped me off." Makarov admitted and his comment made Zelda blink in surprise.

"Wait, have you not noticed our ears?" Zelda asked incredulously and Makarov blinked before he looked at her ears then back to her eyes.

"Yes, you seem to have a pair." Makarov said and Zelda's jaw dropped slightly, prompting him to laugh. "Forgive me, but I assumed you've heard enough about their unusual appearance." He said and got a quick sound of amusement from Link at Zelda's expense.

Zelda quickly looked back at Link to find him looking back at her with his usual calm expression. Her glare showed that she was hardly convinced but Makarov coughing into his right hand brought her attention back to him.

"Well then, please follow me." Makarov said as hopped down from the bar and started walking away.

As Link and Zelda followed him, brown and dark blue eyes followed them curiously from a nearby table. These eyes belonged to another pair of kids, a pony-tailed brunette in a yellow skirt/tank top combination and a spiky, black-haired boy in a pair of blue shorts and a dark blue Fairy Tail crest on his right pectoral.

"Man, what's with the ears? Hey, Cana, do you think they're pretending to be elves?" The boy asked the brunette sitting across from him.

Cana was silent for a few seconds as she looked at the two speculatively before shaking her head uncertainly. "I'm not sure, Gray, but I don't think so." She said as the trio entered walked towards Makarov's office in the back of the guild hall, and her reply got a look of surprise from Gray.

Makarov's Office

Makarov motioned to a blue-cushioned couch set in the middle of the room as he walked to a white-cushioned armchair. Between the pieces of furniture was a low-set coffee table with a white cloth that had an orange Fairy Tail crest set on it. Off to the side was a large window with an oak desk set under it. On the desk was a number of papers, a couple of quills, an inkwell, and a few small wooden boxes.

"Now then, what in particular brings you both to Fairy Tail?" Makarov asked curiously once all three were seated. "I imagine you're looking for something, but how can we help you?" He clarified and the two of them exchanged a glance before returning their attention to him.

Zelda sat much as she had walked, with her back set perfectly straight and her hands set demurely on her lap in a way that spoke of nobility. This was not a conscious decision on her part, but rather a reaction to being in a situation that required her to try and convey something of importance to a stranger. "As earlier stated, we are not from Fiore. Rather, we come from a distant land called Hyrule." Zelda said while Link sat silently at her side and Makarov's eyes flared with surprise for a moment before returning to normal. "After due consideration, I decided that joining a Mage Guild would best aid us in returning." She concluded and then fell silent as she waited for Makarov's answer.

Makarov was silent as he regarded both Link and Zelda silently. Without meaning to, the two of them were giving him much more information than they realized. Zelda's bearing, carefully chosen words, and even manner in speaking of them, continued to reinforce his impression of a noble. The fact that it had been her decision, the fact that Link hadn't shown even a hint of minor irritation, his own bearing as they walked, and the fact that he had followed just behind Zelda put him as her subordinate, most likely a protector. Questions buzzed in his mind, but there were a couple that stood out foremost.

"How is it you came to arrive in Fiore?" Makarov asked as he studied them carefully.

"We happened upon some type of construct while exploring ruins near our village. At my urging we investigated, and the next thing we knew we were in a strange new place." Zelda said easily and quickly, for she had been anticipating such a question. In truth this was the first time someone had bothered to ask them, which was something that had been both surprising and slightly annoying.

"I see." Makarov replied with a thoughtful nod of his head before he crossed his arms. "Now what precisely brings you to a Mage's Guild? Wouldn't you be better off with archaeologists or scholars? They could probably teach you more about what you encountered, or at least come up with some ideas of what happened." He recommended to them.

As if they could manage to match my expertise on such items from Hyrule! Zelda thought indignantly as annoyance flashed across her face at the suggestion before she suppressed it. "I do not believe they would take me seriously. Even if they did, they would insist on treating this as more of a curiosity than something of merit." She said as calmly as she could, though a hint of her indignation could still be heard in her reply. "As part of a Mage's Guild, we would be able to choose any such jobs that seem promising and investigate on site." She concluded in a calmer tone.

"In such a case, though, mages are brought on to defend against bandits or even monsters. Are the two of you certain that you can handle that kind of combat at such a young age?" Makarov asked in a serious tone.

Link's eyes flared momentarily with both pride and even irritation at the words before fading back into his usual calm expression. He offered a simple nod in response before Zelda could say anything, unshakeable confidence in the motion.

Makarov continued to look at them for several more seconds before he sighed and closed his eyes. "Such a story is good enough for everyone else. Most won't bother you two much with what you did before joining." He said and both of their eyes widened in surprise. The Fairy Tail Guild Master reopened his eyes to regard them gently. "However, I need to know your true story, Zelda." He finished and Zelda hesitated as she resisted the urge to swallow nervously.

"I-I do not know-"

"Do you know what one of the downsides of being a Guild Master is?" Makarov interrupted gently, and after a couple of seconds Zelda shook her head. "On occasion I've had to deal with some of the nobility and financial elite of this country. While not all of them are bad they all have one thing in common." Zelda locked up slightly as she tried to figure out what might have given her away. "While in public, they walk as if they're constantly being judged for any signs of weakness or uncertainty. As such, they must always be poised and in control." He explained and Zelda's eyes flared in surprise even as Link looked over at her in realization. He was so used to seeing her walking that way that it didn't even occur to him.

"Furthermore, your precise way of speaking is rare for someone raised in a village, at least here in Fiore. Not to mention your reaction to the idea that someone from here, even a scholar, could teach you something about whatever transported you here bespoke the pride of intimate knowledge of the subject. That, coupled with how Link here walks and acts, tells me there is much more to the two of you." Makarov finished and then waited for them to respond.

Zelda looked at him in honest surprise for several seconds. Link was equally surprised by his analysis but was far more reserved in showing it. "Would that affect your decision in accepting us?" Zelda had to ask and was once again surprised as Makarov offered a wide smile.

"Of course not!" Makarov exclaimed with a laugh. "You have the eyes of good kids, and you obviously need help. I just need to know if I need to prepare for any fallback to Fairy Tail." He explained before his face hardened with steely determination. "That way I can better know what kind of retribution to send at any fools that dare to try and harm my Guild." He finished firmly, his eyes glinting with an inner will that took Zelda aback. In fact, in that moment, the look in that elderly face reminded both Zelda and Link of someone else.

F-Father… Zelda thought, and this time she couldn't stop herself from swallowing as the bluff, white-haired and bearded face of the proud, strong-willed Hylian King came to her. Often overbearing and demanding, the same will to protect his people that had shone in his eyes was clearly reflected in Makorov's. After several seconds she turned and caught Link's eye, silently asking him what he thought. She knew he would follow whatever she decided, but for a decision such as this she needed to know her dearest friend's thoughts.

Link only needed a second before he nodded his head. This Makarov seemed a tad off and could change moods rapidly, but at his core he felt the old man could be trusted. The fact that he was willing to let them keep to their fabricated story outside of this room, and only wanted to know to better prepare against possible threats to his Guild only solidified that feeling to the Champion.

Zelda nodded back with a small smile before she turned back to face Makarov. "Link, please hand me the Slate." She held out her right hand to him and Link immediately removed the black device from his belt and handed it to her. Makarov looked on curiously as she fiddled with it, a soft chime issuing as she gave it one final poke, before she handed the Slate over to him.

Makarov took it and blinked in surprise when he saw a colorful picture of six individuals on it. In the back was a brown, powerful looking being with tufts of white hair on his head and arms whose muscle mass was equaled only by the size of his smile. Right in front of him was a statuesque, bronze-skinned redheaded woman with an amused smirk on her blue-painted lips. On the left was a humanoid, blue-and-white-feathered falcon with his beak open in surprise. Frontmost was a red and white fishlike humanoid, an aquatic tail could even be seen trailing down from the back of her head, and she seemed to be in complete shock for presumably the same reason the falcon was surprised. However, it was the two in the middle that quickly drew Makarov's attention.

They looked exactly like Link and Zelda, or at least how they might look in five years or so, with their own expressions of surprise. "Are these your elder brother and sister along with their friends?" Makarov asked as he looked back up to see them both looking at him solemnly.

"Not precisely." Zelda said and Makarov's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Those two are us." She said and Makarov's eyes went wide in surprise.

Two Months Ago

Zelda, 18 years old, walked carefully through a large tunnel dimly lit with photoluminescent plant life. Her blonde hair was shoulder-length, something she found easier to manage while doing field work, but still kept in her preferred braided headband style. On her back was an ornate bow, the bow that had once belonged to their friend Revali in fact, with a quiver of white-feathered arrows set on her right hip. The Great Eagle Bow was primarily dark grey with white markings running down its length, with a light brown grip and the ends designed to look like golden wings.

Right behind her and to the left was Link, the blue-hilted Master Sword in its blue, golden-sigil sheath on his back, his eyes shifting around constantly for any possible threat.

"The notes we found clearly said it could be found down this tunnel." Zelda murmured, trying to reassure herself that she wasn't leading the two of them on a fruitless expedition. Not that either of them would have minded for being able to explore together was a true joy for them just by itself. Neither one ever mentioned it, nor did they have to.

As much as he enjoyed these excursions, though, something about this tunnel was not sitting well with Link. He had tried to mention it to Zelda a couple of hours ago, but she had brushed it off as him being overprotective. Perhaps not inaccurate, but that's not the only thing. Link thought as he fought the urge to put his left hand on the hilt of his sword. It was hard to describe, as if something he was used to feeling was suddenly not there.

As they rounded another turn in the tunnel, they both stopped in surprise as it opened up into a large cavern. Set in the middle were the ruins of an ancient village or town, but what immediately grabbed their attention was a large, door-like construct that stood out in the middle.

"I knew it!" Zelda cheered as she clapped her hands excitedly. She stilled almost instantly as Link moved ahead of her, his eyes now focused on the entire cavern, while he unsheathed the Master Sword. A place like this could house any number of monsters, and he was determined to ensure it was safe before allowing any kind of examination of these ruins to be done.

Despite her instinctive annoyance at delays, Zelda understood his caution and now was the one trailing behind as she readied the Great Eagle Bow. After an hour of searching, however, Link was forced to concede that this cavern housed nothing more threatening than Keese that showed no interest in them so long as they stayed away from their nests.

"Link, if you would be so kind?" Zelda requested as she handed him the bow.

Link sheathed his blade and then grabbed the bow with his right hand as he manipulated the Sheikah Slate with his left. In a second the bow glowed with a blue light that was absorbed by the Slate. A couple of seconds of more fiddling with the Slate there was another blue light in his right hand that became a large, hardbound book that he handed to Zelda.

"My thanks." Zelda said with a warm smile. Link's return smile was smaller but the look in his eyes was equally as warm as he nodded his head.

A couple of hours had gone by as they usually did on these expeditions. Zelda was examining the square, door-like construct, more specifically the ancient writing on the sides. She had found a place, an altar it appeared, near the construct to place her large book and an ink-cap. The blonde scholar also had a smaller, leatherbound journal she was scribbling in with a white-feathered quill as she copied the writing down.

Link, on the other hand, was sitting against a crumbling stone building, the sheathed Master Sword standing on his right side and in his right hand, and in times like this his laconic nature was truly a blessing to Zelda.

"Some of this is familiar, but mixed in with these other markings I can't be sure if it's supposed to be the same as the ones I know, or even if it's in the same type of context." Zelda said, using Link as a sounding board for her thoughts.

Link was silent but looked thoughtful at her words. They both knew Link had little to add in such theoretical discussions for his interests and abilities lay in other, more practical problems such as combat or problem-solving. Zelda, for all her respect and admiration of Link, still sometimes found it hard to believe how quickly he had cut to the solution of the various puzzles and traps on their expeditions.

Still, in situations like these Zelda more used Link to voice her theories to see if they sounded like they made sense out loud. If he had an idea based on her musings Link would chime in, but until then he was content to listen to her theorize and work her way through this latest puzzle of Hyrule's lost history.

Two Days Later

"Aha!" Zelda declared with a triumphant smile as she and Link stood before the now opened, glowing doorway. "I was right, absorbing enough magic fully charged this 'Hidden Portal'!" She went on excitedly, a stark counterpoint to Link's evaluative stare. He was happy that Zelda was able to prove her recent theory, but this action had drained the two of them and who knew how far this glow could be noticed in these caverns and tunnels.

"Right, shall we go through?" Zelda asked as she looked over at Link, who blinked and then looked back at her incredulously. "Oh come now. What harm can there be in a quick peek?" She demanded as she turned to fully face him with her hands on her hips.

Link looked far from convinced, but eventually nodded his head.

Present Day – Fairy Tail Guild Hall

"What was intended to be a quick peek resulted in us being pulled completely through. At some point we lost consciousness, and when we awoke we found ourselves in a forest as children. It is of course hard to put an exact number, but I believe we are around the age of twelve." Zelda finished in the same matter-of-fact tone she had taken since handing Makarov the Slate.

Makarov looked at Zelda in dull shock as he absorbed her tale. Part of him wanted to dismiss it as a fanciful story, but the expressions of both blondes eventually led him to accept it as true. Because of that, he found himself considering a question he once would have thought nothing more than a joke. "Are you from this world?" He asked as his fingers drummed lightly on the top edge of the Slate.

Link blinked at the question while Zelda's eyes widened in shocked realization. "It's true. There is no way of knowing if our Hyrule is a part of the world you're unaware of." She mused before she brought her hands up to her forehead. "By Hylia, what have I done to us?" She said in a tone full of remorse.

Link put his left hand on her right shoulder, prompting her to turn her guilt-ridden face towards him. He offered a small, comforting smile that conveyed his confidence in her and got a small smile in response.

Makarov watched the exchange with a smile of his own before a thoughtful frown came to him. "Tell me, was your earlier confidence to defend against these threats based on your exploits prior to this reverse-aging?" He asked and they both looked over at him.

"Not quite, for we have done some experimenting since arriving here." Zelda said as some of her confidence returned. "According to what I've been able to find out, I would be classified as a Light Mage that specializes in Sealing and Holy Magics." She informed him and Makarov looked at her in surprise. "Link is a… bit more difficult to describe." She went on and his look turned questioning. "He utilizes the Slate as a Holder Magic that stores a variety of weapons, armor, and other items that he can call out for use. In addition, he has… inherited… a different magic from our friends." Zelda said the last part with a hint of sadness, a sadness that reflected itself more as melancholy in Link's eyes.

"By inherited you mean…?" Makarov trailed off, both in sympathy and a bit of surprise at the possibility. When Zelda nodded her head in confirmation, Makarov brought his right hand up to grab his chin as he looked down thoughtfully. To transfer one's own magic to another while dying… there must have been a great bond between them. He said before looking back up. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"My thanks, but it has been some time since their passing." Zelda said with a grateful nod of her head that Link echoed. "What was passed on was a Wind Magic Spell that launches Link high into the air, a Lightning Magic Spell that calls down lightning, a Protection Magic Spell that encases him in a powerful barrier, and a Healing Magic Spell that allows Link to heal himself."

Makarov's eyes went wide in shock at that last one. "H-Healing Magic?" He stammered out as he stared at Link. "Can you heal others with this?" He asked but Link shook his head. "I see… still, that would indeed increase your chances of survival." He allowed before moving on to Link's other abilities. "About those armors and weapons, how skilled are you with them? Also, can you even still utilize the armors in your current state?" Makarov asked, keeping in perspective when Link must have gotten them and what had just happened to him.

Zelda made a restrained sound of amusement that had Makarov looking back at her, for he had already come to realize that Link rarely spoke. "Link is an unmatched prodigy with the blade and has mastered every other type of weapon he has come across. To give you an idea, at the age of six he was besting adults in one on one bouts. At the age of twelve he was able to fight equally with Knight Captains. At sixteen he won a tournament to recognize the greatest swordmaster in all of Hyrule." She said proudly. Her current pride in his achievements made her feel slightly ashamed for her initial anger and jealousy of Link, but it was nothing that could take root after all they had done together. "In fact, one of the few that could hold her own against him is in that picture." Zelda explained and Makarov looked down at the Slate curiously. "The dark-skinned woman behind me, Urbosa, never actually lost to Link in a match, but she confided in me once that she doubted her chances if he were to truly let loose against her." She said and Link looked over at her in mild surprise. "As for the armors, something about the Slate has modified them to fit his current body. I theorize it will continue to do this as a previously unknown function. Not that hard to believe, as even the descendants of those who first created the Slate had lost much of the information regarding its abilities." Zelda finished primly.

Makarov was a little taken aback by this list of feats, but what truly impressed him was the look on Link's face during its recital. He showed neither pride nor embarrassment, at least until the final part when Urbosa's confession was mentioned. It was just history to him, accomplishments that were behind him that he neither shied away from nor felt the need to put much attention on. In short, a fighter that had found a balance of physical and mental discipline.

Still… Makarov mused as he regarded the youth, for regardless of his true age Makarov would view him as a young man. From what he could determine it seemed that Link would be the primary person defending while Zelda focused more on investigating anything. He didn't believe for a second that she would hide from any conflicts, but at least from what he had been told so far it seemed Link had more experience in such events.

Makarov looked back down at the picture and an idea came to him after once more looking at Urbosa. "Well, I have a few forms I need both of you to fill out, after which I'll give each of you the Fairy Tail crest as proof of being a Fairy Tail Mage." Makarov said with a smile that Zelda echoed while Link simply nodded in confirmation. "However, in order to clear you two for the types of jobs you'll be wanting, I'll want to test Link against someone." He went on as he returned the Slate to Link.

Link accepted it with an upturned eyebrow before nodding his head in agreement.

Zelda, however, took the words with less acceptance. "After what I just told you-"

"I must think of the people you both are to be protecting. Usually such jobs go to more experienced mages, all I ask is to verify his abilities." Makarov cut in firmly, no hint of compromise in his tone, and Zelda stopped as she considered his words. It didn't take long before she nodded in understanding as well. Makarov smiled before he got up from his chair and walked over to his desk to gather what he needed.

A few minutes later they handed back the filled-in paperwork. "Hmm…" Makarov hummed to himself as he read everything carefully before he blinked, looked up at Link, and then offered a short chuckle before putting the papers on the table between them. "Well then, all that's left is the crest." He said while reaching for the stamp. "It can be wherever you want it as well as being any color." He explained as he picked it up and then waited for them.

Zelda hesitated as she thought of something before looking down at her right hand. "Could you make it gold and place it on this hand?" She asked as she raised it up and Makarov nodded his head. She took the fingerless glove off and held it out to him, but he paused as he looked at the Triforce mark, three golden triangles stacked in a pyramid shape, curiously. "The more magic I need to expend, the brighter this mark glows." She explained and he looked up at her sharply. "I would rather people believe it's something I added to the crest than what it actually is." She went on without fully explaining what the Triforce of Wisdom was, and after a few seconds Makarov nodded his head without asking further questions.

To Zelda's surprise, the stamp head's size actually adjusted in order to fully cover the Triforce. "There we go." Makarov said before he turned to face Link.

Link looked thoughtful as he regarded the stamp before he looked back up at Makarov. "Can it be more than one color?" He asked and got curious looks from both Makarov and Zelda before the Guild Master nodded his head. "I would like blue, bronze, red, and brown in vertical stripes." He requested softly as he took his right leather glove off and both of their eyes widened as they immediately understood the significance.

Makarov had a small smile on his face as he nodded his head while Link put his right hand over the table. Zelda gave him a look that showed pride and sorrow at his choice to honor Revali, Urbosa, Mipha, and Daruk. "There," Makarov said as he leaned back, the multi-colored Fairy Tail crest prominently displayed on Link's hand. "Now then, if you'll follow me." He said and then got up to head to the door.

Guild Hall

Gray and Cana were both enjoying their meals, Gray eating some ribs and Cana a BLT, when they heard the door to Makarov's office open. They looked over to see Makarov and the two blondes come walking out, both curious as to what the result of the meeting was.

"Erza, would you come here, please?" Makarov called out and they looked at each other curiously as a girl with dark brown eyes and long, red hair pulled back into a ponytail looked over immediately from her table at the call. She wore a steel breastplate and pauldrons over a long-sleeved white shirt and skirt, a red string tie, black leggings, and a brown belt and ankle boots. On the back of her chair hung a black-sheathed short sword with a brown hilt and gold-colored handguard set on another brown belt.

Erza pushed her chair back to stand and then grabbed her second belt to place it around her waist with the sword on her left side.

Link's expression became evaluative as he noted not only the sword but also her confident gait as she walked up to them. Zelda's gaze was immediately drawn to her scarlet hair, almost exactly the same shade as Urbosa's.

Erza looked at the two of them as she walked up, pausing slightly mid-step as she noted their ears, before turning her gaze respectfully to Makarov. "Yes, Master?" She asked when she stood before him.

"I was wondering if you would be up for a quick spar against one of our newest members." Makarov said as he motioned to Link and all movement in the Guild Hall stopped.

Erza tilted her head curiously to the right before she regarded Link. "I would not be adverse to it." She said before a glint came to her eyes. "First," She started as she reached out in a blur towards Link's left ear, only for her right wrist to be caught in his hand. Erza blinked in surprise even as Zelda caught on to the movement.

"What do you think you're doing?" Zelda demanded sternly as she put her hands on her hips.

Link tilted his head to the left even as he let Erza's wrist go.

Erza blushed slightly as she brought it to rub the back of her head sheepishly. "My apologies, I was simply curious if your ears are truly that long." She admitted and Link blinked at her logic as an angry blush came to Zelda's cheeks.

"They are, now all three of you please follow me." Makarov put in before Zelda could yell at Erza and walked to the door. Erza immediately turned to follow him, and after a short pause Zelda walked after him with Link a couple of steps behind.

Cana and Gray looked at each other in surprise, finally able to tear their gaze away from the group when the large doors closed.

"Poor kid. Wonder what he did to warrant having Erza sicced on him." A man with short and wild blue hair, a veteran Fairy Tail Mage named Macao, commented to his drinking buddy, a fellow veteran named Wakaba.

"I don't think that's the case." Wakaba, a man with brown hair in a pompadour style, said with a thoughtful drag of his cigarette. "Did you notice how that kid was able to stop Erza's grab?" He asked after he exhaled the smoke and Macro's expression went from sympathetic to contemplative. "Well, whatever the case I'm sure Master has a good reason for it." He finished with a shrug before he glanced over in time to see Gray and Cana rushing out the door.

Magnolia Forest Clearing – Erza's Training Ground

"My apologies for waiting until we walked all this way, but is this Erza truly going to be able to challenge Link?" Zelda asked as she, Makarov, Gray, and Cana stood on one side of the clearing while Link and Erza faced each other with ten feet between them.

"A better question would be is this guy going to survive?" Gray shot back with a smirk and Zelda turned a glare on him. "What? You have no idea what this guy has gotten himself in to. Erza can take on most of the adults in the Guild and still come out on top." He bragged, expecting to see concern show in her eyes. To his surprise, though, her expression became more contemplative as she turned back to regard the two soon to be combatants.

Link used his left hand to tap and swipe on the Slate without looking down on it, and almost instantly a wooden sword appeared in his right hand with a brief flare of blue light. The Forest Dweller's Sword had two semicircles carved in several inches from the point, and its crossguard arced up like the upper part of a drawn heart on each side. He took it through a few practice swings as Erza looked on.

"I see. Are we to only use practice swords?" Erza asked and Link looked up at her curiously.

"I don't see why not for now." Makarov allowed after several seconds of silence. "This will allow me to get a grasp of Link's skill level." He went on, and his remark got a chuckle from Gray and a giggle from Cana.

"Yeah, now the poor guy might only have a fractured skull." Gray said between chuckles while Erza held out her right hand and Requipped a bokken.

Zelda's right eye twitched at the continuing remarks at Link's expense but contented herself with the knowledge that they meant little to nothing to the Champion.

Link simply adjusted his stance, bringing his right foot back along with the sword while his left hand came up in the front in a defensive placement.

Erza looked on in mild curiosity as she held the bokken in a traditional two-handed grip before her, hands brought up slightly in preparation of a downward strike. "First blow?" She asked but Link shook his head.

"Lethal strike." The blonde corrected and everyone but Zelda looked at him in surprised confusion.

"Link means the first strike that would count as a lethal one with actual blades." Zelda clarified for everyone and they subsided as understanding filled them.

"Very well." Makarov said with a nod before he brought his right hand up. "Are you both ready?" He asked and got a nod from them. "Fight!" He yelled as he sliced his hand down.

Erza immediately launched forward in a blur of motion while she brought her sword up slightly for a powerful downward slice. "Haa!" She yelled as she brought the bokken down with all her strength to Link's skull.

Link brought his left foot up while pivoting on his back foot, shifting his left behind his right in an instant as his sword came up to parry Erza's strike to the side. A subtle shift had him on the back of the bokken and, with a quick adjustment that brought its "edge" pointed towards Erza, his left hand came up on the hilt as his eyes narrowed. "Hyaa!" He yelled as he retorted with a powerful upward diagonal slash.

Erza's eyes flared in surprise even as she dug her feet into the ground to stop her forward momentum and jump back. There was a dull scraping sound as the Forest Dweller's Sword scraped against her breastplate before she finished getting out of range of the strike. She landed lightly on the ground as she stared at Link in surprise, but that was nothing compared to the wide-eyed shock on both Gray's and Cana's faces. Even Makarov was looking at Link in mild surprise at his simple, swift parry and counterstrike.

Zelda was smiling widely at their expressions, but her smile faded as Link simply returned to his previous stance and regarded Erza calmly. "Oh no." She brought her hands up to rub her eyes with a sigh and Makarov looked over at her curiously while Gray and Cana mechanically looked over, still in shock at what they had seen. "Link is now seeing this as a lesson." She explained with a soft sigh of vexation.

"What!?" Gray demanded as Erza's eyes narrowed in anger.

"Master Makarov, you recall what I told you regarding Link's standing in our homeland, correct?" Zelda asked after she brought her hands back down and got a slow nod from him. "Due to that, he was highly sought after for training before… other responsibilities came up." She explained and though Makarov's expression cleared, both Gray and Cana looked at her questioningly.

"Fufufufu." Erza's controlled, soft laughter made Gray lock up in terror while Cana looked over nervously. "Very well then, perhaps I should take this more seriously." She said with a steely glint in her eye as she brought her right hand away from the bokken and Requipped a second one.

Link's eyes widened slightly at her next charge, both bokken coming at him in a flowing barrage. He dodged as often as he parried, always moving around but always in control. One slash he ducked under as he brought his sword up to block another from her right and responded with a quick thrust.

Erza immediately pivoted on her right as she brought her left foot off the ground. At the same time she Ex-Equipped the bokken in her right hand, making it easier to reverse the momentum of bouncing off of Link's block and deliver a hook to his face. "Raaagh!" She screamed as she put all her injured pride and anger into the blow.

Zelda's eyes widened in surprise as the punch not only landed, but its force actually lifted Link off the ground and sent him into a spin.

"Yeah, show him Erza!" Gray cheered as he brought his right fist up victoriously. While it was surprising to see someone repulse Erza in a single exchange, he didn't like how this new guy refused to take his – friend? tormenter? – seriously. He had only seen a few people get up from one of her punches, so as far as he was concerned this fight was over.

Cana was torn between excitement for her friend's victory and concern for a new Guild member's wellbeing. After all, Gray was usually unconscious for a while after taking a hit like that from Erza.

Makarov's eyes narrowed as he easily caught what the other three, even Erza, had missed. Even as the punch had connected, Link was the one who had initiated the spin to bleed off much of the attack's force. It had still launched him into the air, but he had avoided taking the full brunt of Erza's attack.

Link quickly got his spin under control and landed lightly on his feet, much to the surprise of Erza, Gray, and Cana. He looked at Erza with new eyes, even blinking a few times in succession from his own surprise.

Zelda let out a small sigh of relief, for she had almost been able to feel the force of the redhead's attack from where she stood and for a moment had been concerned. However, her eyes widened again when she noticed blood coming from the left corner of Link's mouth. "No… no way…" She said softly even as Link brought his left thumb up to wipe the blood away.

Gray and Cana both shared her sentiment, but their focus was on the fact that Link had taken one of the Erza's punches and didn't even look fazed.

Link looked down at the blood as a confident smirk came back to Erza's face. While it was surprising for someone her own age to take her punch and stay up, she had to admit it was a pleasant one.

"Now then, are you-" Erza started to ask before she stopped in surprise as Link looked back up at her. It was hard to spot the difference at first, for his face hadn't changed much in its expression. It had tightened slightly, but the true difference she realized a second later was his eyes.

"Incredible." Zelda said as she recognized the excited gleam that brightened Link's eyes. "I haven't seen that look in Link's eyes since…" She trailed off with a hint of sadness even as a small smile came to her. "I must apologize for underestimating Erza… she seems to be every bit the prodigy that Link is." Her comment had Gray and Cana looking over at her in surprise before they finally realized just why Zelda had been so surprised before.

Her bar for prodigy was actually set to the same standard as Erza? Gray thought as he gulped before he looked back at the two combatants. What the hell is this guy? He wondered as a strong wind swirled around Link.

Revali… time to test something you had wanted to after Calamity Ganon's defeat. My apologies I cannot do this in the air. Link thought as he brought the Forest Dweller's Sword before him in a two-handed grip. Revali's Gale!

Erza's eyes widened slightly as she Requipped the bokken back to her right hand just in time to bring them both up in a high block.

"Hyaa!" Link yelled as he surged forward in a powerful wind tunnel that had him striking down at Erza almost faster than even Makarov had been able to track. The force of the enhanced blow had her sliding backwards, her feet leaving twin trenches in the ground as they sped towards the edge of the clearing, while a strong wind filled the clearing.

Zelda quickly turned her gaze to watch, and a couple of seconds later Gray and Cana were finally able to catch up to what had happened; all three fighting to see against the wind while Makarov just looked on intently.

By then, Erza had dug deep and managed to hold her ground, though her arms trembled from the exertion.

"Erza, just get out of the way!" Gray yelled but Erza stayed where she was, her teeth gritting from the strain.

"She can't." Zelda explained as she watched with surprise that was quickly turning to an analytical gaze. Since when could Link use Revali's Gale in such a way? She wondered before turning to see Gray and Cana looking at her curiously. "Do either of you know where the safest place in a hurricane is?" She asked and while Gray's eyes narrowed in confusion, Cana's brightened with understanding.

"The only safe place is in the eye of the storm, the exact center. So if Erza tried to move, she would be caught up in the winds and possibly take even more damage rather than just the strain of holding back Link's strike?" Cana asked and Zelda nodded with a congratulatory smile.

"Erza knew that instinctively and took the only correct move that would allow her to keep fighting." Zelda said and Makarov's eyes narrowed slightly.

This kid is something else. Even with the weaker body of a child he can still pull off an advanced spell like this… but I need to see what he can really do. The Fairy Tail Guild Master thought as the wind died down. Erza immediately sent out a kick towards Link's groin to force him back in order to get some breathing room. "Erza, go all out!" Makarov ordered and everyone looked at him. "No more wooden weapons, no-holds-barred." He said firmly, his eyes hard and calculating as he found himself getting up caught in the idea of measuring not only Link's but now also Erza's current level.

Erza looked at him in mild surprise before she smiled and closed her eyes. In a quick flash of light her attire changed to that of a new suit of black armor and her hair up in a high ponytail. Easily the most distinctive feature of the armor was a pair of wings, reminiscent of those of a Dragon or bat. Around Erza's neck was a neck guard decorated by several gems and a pair of large shoulder pads, each composed of two silver-edged plates one over the other, sporting silver crosses on them too, and flanking the high collar, whose shape was reminiscent of that of a dress. The silver-edged breastplate encased her torso with plates flanking her hips and reaching down to a large waistguard, which was composed of long, silver-edged plates shaped like feathers and decorated by silver crosses. A pair of slim gauntlets that came equipped with prominent protection for her hands, each sporting silver patterns. Her leg greaves were silver-edged on her thighs and knees, but pitch-black dark everywhere else. In her right hand she now held a sword with an intricate design and a multicolored purple and silver blade accompanied by two red diamond shaped gems, equally spread apart on the blade, and a brown hilt with a golden hand guard. The blade looked oversized in her hand, but she held it easily as she brought it up in the same two-handed grip she had held the first bokken in.

"This is the Blackwing Armor, which greatly increases the power of my strikes." Erza explained as sweat dripped from her forehead. I can only use its ability for a few minutes, but that should be enough to defeat him. She thought as she prepared to charge, the wings flaring out.

Link brought his left hand down to his Slate, but Erza didn't wait as she rushed in. She had been told stop holding back and giving an opponent time to turn the tides made no sense in actual combat. A blue light surrounded Link when she was two steps away and then she was swinging down even as Link was swinging up.

"Haa!"

"Hyaa!"

The ground cracked beneath them and a shockwave flared out from the force of their attacks meeting, making Zelda, Gray, and Cana shield their eyes while Makarov looked on in wide-eyed surprise.

Link's attire had now changed as well, the most eye-catching change being the helm that resembled the top of a sharp-toothed creature with downturned horns and a dark purple hair-like decoration on top. He also wore an abbreviated, dark brown vest that left the center of his chest and stomach exposed and white fur at the shoulders. Dark brown leather was wrapped around his forearms with rope, his right wrap had an animal's vertebrae added as armor, a dark brown kilt with a purple belt and shorts underneath it, and dark brown leg wraps with more white fur on top were held on with more rope over a pair of dark brown open-toed shoes. Dark purple war paint adorned his torso, arms, and legs as the final touch.

Two other aspects to Link had Zelda's eyes widen in surprise before a melancholic smile came to her. "It seems this fight is making Link feel sentimental." She said, which had Gray, Cana, and Makarov look over at her as Link and Erza struggled to overpower each other.

"What do you mean? What's that armor he Requipped?" Makarov asked and Zelda offered a sigh that echoed her smile.

"That is the Barbarian Armor. Much as with Erza's Blackwing Armor, it greatly increases the power of his strikes." Zelda explained and Gray gulped that the new guy had a counter to Erza's armor. "But his armor is not what I was referring to. Part of it is the sword in his hands." She said and all three turned to pay it closer attention.

The blade was beautifully crafted, its shape that of a broad scimitar with a second end that arced up a couple of inches behind the main, curved point, with several flowing S-shaped designs going down the back with the end closes to the point looking like a fish hook. The hilt was shimmering gold with a dome-shaped crossguard that arced around in a handguard and capped with a shining ruby. So dazzling was the sword that all three could hardly believe they had not noticed it from the beginning.

"That is a legendary blade from our homeland called the Scimitar of the Seven. More importantly, the sword once used by a friend with scarlet hair." Zelda explained and Makarov blinked as Gray and Cana looked once more at her in surprise. "As for the other part…" She trailed off with a shake of her head, hardly able to believe what she was seeing.

Link and Erza both stared into the other's eyes with similar expressions. Both intent, both competitive, and both sporting small smiles from the sheer thrill of two equally matched fighters vying to determine who was better in a friendly, if intense, match. As if they had agreed to it, both jumped back a few feet at the same time before rushing in to deliver a flurry of strikes.

Neither blocked so much as used their own attacks to repel one from their opponent, each one letting out another small shockwave, for the purpose of their armors was to overwhelm with power rather than defend. Sweat dripped from their faces due to the intensity of their attacks and the strain on their magic.

Erza ducked to avoid a horizontal slash and tucked her blade in close to her chest before launching a thrust aimed at Link's stomach. The blonde responded by jumping over the attack and brought his scimitar up in a two-handed grip.

"Hyaa!" Link yelled as he came down with a powerful strike and Erza rolled to the side in time to narrowly avoid it. The ground shattered under the force of the blow, but Erza spun with her roll to get behind Link with a swipe at his legs. Link quickly spun to his left with a strike to counter her attack, and once more the two were deadlocked.

After another minute of attacks and counters they both stood breathing deeply but easily several feet from each other. Link brought his left hand to his Slate and was quickly back to his usual attire and the Forest Dweller's Sword, much to everyone's surprise.

As Link tightened and then loosened his grip on its hilt, Erza had to fight the sudden urge to take a step back.

What is this feeling? Erza wondered as she looked at Link in newfound trepidation. Something about him was different, but what exactly she couldn't tell.

Makarov, though, immediately identified the new feeling that Link gave off. He almost feels like a blade waiting to be used… no… that's not right. He thought as Zelda gave a smile that expressed confidence in Link's upcoming victory. He's like a snake waiting to strike. He realized as Erza shook off her uncertainty and rushed in to attack.

"Haa!" Erza yelled as she a delivered downward diagonal strike to the left. Her eyes started to widen as she saw the attack about to land when Link seemed to become nothing more than a blur as her attack passed through him.

Makarov's eyes also widened as he saw what appeared to be three blurred images of Link's upper body each launching a separate attack at Erza simultaneously.

"Hyaa!" Link's yell was strangely echoed, as if being said multiple times all at once, and then he was behind her.

Erza grunted in pain as she felt a powerful blow against her breastplate as well as one on each arm that almost made drop her sword but, but she managed to keep a grip on it. However, she froze as the Forest Dweller's Sword's 'edge' came to rest against her neck.

Link was breathing heavily as he regarded her, only to tilt his head to the side as she gave a soft laugh. "Well, I believe this would count as a fatal strike." She said before she Ex-Equipped the Blackwing Armor and sword and Requipped back to her usual attire and saber.

Link nodded in confirmation as he brought the sword down and stored it with a quick manipulation of the Slate.

"Well done, Link!" Zelda cheered from the side while Gray and Cana were shell-shocked.

"Erza… lost?" Gray got out while Erza turned around to face Link.

"I can't believe it." Cana said in the same disbelieving tone.

Erza, however, had a smile on her face as she regarded him. "What was that last attack?" She asked before looking over as Zelda and Makarov walked up.

"Flurry Rush, an advanced… fighting technique from… my home." Link answered as he worked to get his breathing under control. He had forgotten how draining using that used to be on him when he was this age.

"When properly utilized, it can be used to dodge and almost simultaneously counter with one or two attacks. It pushes the body to the limit, forcing adrenaline to surge through the body to speeds that surpass even highly trained combatants' ability to react." Zelda picked up for Link as she looked at him in concern. He met her gaze evenly with a slight shake of his head to indicate he was fine, just winded.

"Then why was Link able to launch three?" Makarov asked as he recalled the blurred image he had seen and Erza, who had felt the blows, crossed her shaking arms questioningly.

"That is because Link has brought it to a level previously thought impossible. It would not surprise me if in time he brings it up to four or more." Zelda thought as she recalled him using it to tear through a hunting party of Lynels, powerful monsters with the lower body of a horse, upper body of a heavily muscled humanoid, and the head of a lion. "I have taken to calling his advanced version 'Link Time'." She said with a teasing smile at him and got a flat look from him in response.

By this point, Gray and Cana had jogged up to join them. "That was amazing! I didn't think anyone our age could go toe-to-toe with Erza like that." Cana said and Gray nodded his head in agreement.

"That was a good match, much better than when Gray used to challenge me all the time." Erza agreed and Gray locked up before looking away with an embarrassed glare. "Would you be agreeable to the occasional spar in the future?" She asked with a questioning tilt of her head.

Link looked at her for a few seconds before he started to shake his head.

"For the sake of the group, I tried to make friends with him. The bastard just looked at me silently when I challenged him to a friendly match. It was like talking to a stone wall! What's wrong with him? He can't truly believe himself to be better than me, can he?"

Link suppressed a wince but couldn't stop his ears from flicking at the intruding thought. This was something he had never told anyone, not even Zelda, that came from inheriting the abilities of his fellow Champions. A portion of their souls had been implanted in him. Not enough for him to be able to converse with or ask for advice, but with it had come fragments of memories and feelings that would randomly surface.

Or perhaps not so randomly. Link thought, for this one had come to him just as he was about to make the same mistake he had made a century ago. Perhaps this was a second chance for him, a way to show he could learn and make a friend without a world-ending threat as the catalyst. He quickly changed to a simple nod of agreement, something that got a small look of surprise from Zelda before a smile came to her.

"So I see that Link is a Blade Mage like Erza, but what magic do you use, Zelda?" Cana asked curiously as she looked over at her.

Zelda returned her look with a small smile. "I utilize Light Magic." She answered before her look turned curious. "What about you and Gray?"

"Oh, I use Card Magic." Cana said with a smile. "By combining different kinds, I'm able to create different effects." She explained and Zelda blinked before she leaned forward curiously.

"What kind of cards are there?" Zelda asked as she brought her right hand to grab her chin thoughtfully, her left arm holding her right elbow as support.

"All sorts. There's elemental cards, fortunetelling cards, the list goes on!" Cana explained cheerfully.

An excited light came to Zelda's eyes at the possible combinations. "Truly incredible! Would you mind going over your magic with me later?" She asked and Cana blinked before she slowly nodded her head in agreement. "Thank you!" She gushed out as she reached out to grab her hands happily.

"What about you, Gray?" Zelda asked as she turned to Gray a few seconds later.

"I use Ice-Make Magic." Gray replied with a smirk. His smirk disappeared as the light in Zelda's eyes grew.

"You use Alchemy Magic that specializes in ice?" Zelda asked and Gray gulped before he nodded. "Fascinating! I must request to discuss its uses with you at a later time as well." She said as she grabbed his hands.

"S-Sure." Gray said as a blush lit up his cheeks.

"Splendid!" Zelda exclaimed happily as she brought her hands up together by her face. A second later she realized how she had been acting and it was her turn to blush. "My apologies, I should not have been so forceful just then." She said as she placed her right hand over the left before, both in front of her her waist, and bowed forward slightly.

"It's fine. Just try to remember you only need to ask us as friends, not potential lab rats." Gray said with a smirk as his blush faded and his words made Zelda lock up in surprise. "What?" He asked as he crossed his arms over his chest curiously.

"We have just met, yet you are already willing to call me a friend?" Zelda asked and got confused looks from Gray, Cana, and Erza.

"You're in Fairy Tail now, right?" Gray asked and Zelda nodded her head as Makarov grinned. "Then of course we're friends." He said with a smirk and got nods of agreement from Cana from Erza, both smiling at her as well.

Zelda was dumbstruck for several seconds before tears came to her eyes. Before anyone could do or say anything she closed her eyes, swallowed, and quickly wiped them away. "I shall try to remember that." She said with a bright smile that brought a gentle light to Link's eyes. Never before had she been able to make a friend so simply and easily. As a princess she was usually avoided for fear of angering her or her father, or sought after as a ploy to gain his favor for some scheme or request. "Oh! Would you all be willing to take a picture to commemorate this moment?" She asked and after a brief pause everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

Zelda turned towards Link just as he was extending the Slate towards her. "Thank you." She gracefully accepted it before looking around for a few seconds. "Gray, would you be able to make a stand for me?" She asked and got a nod from him. "Please place it here." Zelda requested as she pointed at a spot near them and then indicated it to be even with her neck.

Gray shrugged and then walked over to the designated spot. He closed his eyes, squared his stance, and brought his left palm up and placed his right fist over it. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out as he gathered his magic and a cold wind wafted from him. "Ice Make: Stand!" He dropped his knees and slammed both hands on the ground. Immediately a stand of ice sprang and stopped at her chosen height.

Zelda's eyes sparkled at the display but restrained her questions. "My thanks," she said before moving to place the Slate on it. The blonde poked and swiped on the screen before looking back up. "Everyone, please stand other there." She said while pointing at a specific spot in front before the Slate. "Master Makarov, please stand in the front with everyone lined up behind and on either side." Zelda instructed and everyone shuffled around. Gray stood on Makarov's left-hand side with Cana beside him while Link stood on his right-hand side with Erza beside him.

"Hey, let's show off our Fairy Tail crests as well." Gray suggested once they were in position and everyone readily agreed.

Erza pulled up her left sleeve to reveal her royal blue Fairy Tail crest on her left bicep.

Cana brought up her tank top enough to show her black Fairy Tail crest on her lower left part of her abdomen.

Makarov didn't adjust anything, for his white shirt already had the Fairy Tail crest on it in black.

Link removed his right glove to reveal his blue, bronze, red, and brown Fairy Tail crest.

Zelda double-checked everyone's position on the screen as she removed her right glove to show her golden Fairy Tail crest. She tapped the screen and quickly moved to stand behind Makarov and in-between Link and Gray as she brought her right hand.

"Smile, everyone!" Makarov ordered with a smile so wide it caused his eyes to close. Zelda offered a bright smile that caused her eyes to shine while Gray smirked, Cana offered her own smile, Erza's more restrained but content, and even Link offered a slight upturn of the right side of his mouth.

A click sounding from the Slate sealed the image forever in its memory, the first of many as Link and Zelda adventured and grew with their newfound friends and family.


This one-shot brought to you by the announcement of Age of Calamity and a previous discussion about Breath of the Wild between some friends. Might do more with it later, undecided, but this time wouldn't involve a big time skip, lol.

For Link seeing the spar more as a lesson, he's still of the mindset of an 18-year old. So when up against a 12-year old I don't believe he would take it seriously from the start. The 'Link Time' was a joke between me and a friend, that and starting to hum the Ultra Instinct theme during Flurry Rush. I also couldn't help but give Zelda a little bit of Julius's curiosity from Black Clover about different types of magic, felt appropriate for the BoTW Zelda.

Revali's Gale being used for a forward boost comes from my grudging respect of Revali's skill and drive. He's an asshat, but something good I can say about him is his refusal to rest on his laurels. He wins multiple archery contests easily and what reward does he ask for? A training ground to further hone his flying and archery skills. He has multiple failures with creating Revali's Gale but doesn't quit, he just becomes more determined to master it. Following his personality, I cannot see him just being satisfied with it as is; he would naturally want to try and bring to another level for a massive speed boost to surprise an opponent or even chase down a target more quickly. Hell, he could even use the wind from passing by someone as an attack.

The Champion's Ballad is what gave me the idea for gaining parts of their soul with randomly appearing memories; that and the way the abilities seemed to passed on. Nothing for actual conversations but something like what Rogue from X-Men deals with.

Side note, does anyone else see the BoTW Link/Zelda combination could almost be like Evie and Rick O' Connell from The Mummy movies?

Hope everyone enjoyed the story.

Till next time.