Link woke up in the middle of the night, feeling like he missed something important. His heart was pounding. Had he been dreaming? He couldn't remember. It was something incredible though, and very realistic. Had it been a nightmare?

He'd been scared, but… he'd also felt alive, like the first time he'd gone paragliding.

He stared up at the clouded sky which cast the world in a heavy darkness. The darkness pricked something in his mind. His dream hadn't been dark. It'd been bright, like midday sun or… Zelda's smile.

Link couldn't help but laugh at himself. That was cheesy, even for him. Still, the thought of Zelda reminded him of his dream more fully. He pulled out his journal, feeling the incredible urge to write it all down. Darlas always told him about his dreams, he stated it helped to work through things. Link figured he wanted to know what Link dreamed about as he trashed in his sleep. The joke was on him though, as when he thrashed (apparently, as Link never remembered doing such a thing) he couldn't remember anything.

Maybe he could write a letter, say all the things he wanted to say but couldn't over chat because, well, it was a bit personal. He felt his face heat up. Maybe not all the things. Declarations of love should wait to be in person, right?

Love… what did he even know about love? He pushed the thought away from his head. That was confusing. No, but he should write a letter to her either way. That was what friends did. Her and Reba sent tons of letters to each other.

Sufficiently convincing himself, he lit his lantern.

It took a bit to get the words flowing in a way that made sense. He realized he'd gotten too used to the short messages of the Sheikah Slate. Eventually he got a comprehensible letter. After writing the letter, he extinguished the lantern with the intent to go back to sleep. Minutes later, he felt the warm light of the dawn kiss his face.

Great. No point in sleeping now, he thought, might as well get going to the next extraction point.

At least since the last point had been pretty high up it, was mostly descending for the next day. He had a meager breakfast, and noted the low level his canteen held. He would need to get more water and maybe forage some.

There weren't many berries left in the late fall, but there were enough. He would need to hunt soon as well. He ran his fingers through his hair as a makeshift comb. His hair was starting to get out of hand, but he lacked a mirror to trim it properly. And though few would fault him for a shoddy trim, it was easier to just tie it back.

He'd have to make his way to a Rito outpost to send his letter. Was there one on his way? He thought hard and shrugged. He needed a new pair of pants and boots before winter's teeth sunk in, as he'd grown again. Highwaters were fine in the summer, but they could mean losing a limb to frostbite when the storms started.

He'd need to go hunt for something with a pelt worth trading, as his money was quite meager. There was no real need for money in the hinterlands, not like there was in the rest of Hyrule.

Link would do that after he got a good night's sleep, which would hopefully find him that night.

GERUDO CAPITAL

Zelda woke up with a gasp. She tried to sit up, but was held down by some strong force. The Molduga! Where–

She wasn't in the desert. A Gerudo was holding her down, and as her vision cleared she realized she was in her room. Someone was speaking to her.

She stopped trashing and tried to listen.

"Zelda! Are you feeling okay?" that was Reba.

"What?" Zelda managed. Her throat was very dry. She coughed and the woman who'd been holding her down, held a glass of water to her lips. She drank deeply, coughing again from her haste. "How did I…" she started to ask after the coughing fit passed.

"You fell off your seal and… well… I don't quite know how to put it to words."

"You manifested the light bow," Paya said quietly.

"Paya, why are you here? You need to go get the monster parts to your mother!"

Paya frowned slightly, and Zelda couldn't think why, until she realized perhaps implying a problem with the Sheikah was unwise.

Still, she answered her question. "I was able to send it with Impa's technology, that had always been the plan, it needed to be fresh. Though I'm lucky there was anything left at all. Princess, you've grown much stronger."

Zelda was too tired to feel pride at that moment, but logically she knew that was a good thing.

"You passed out after that, and I brought you back to the city as fast as possible. You've been asleep for a whole day."

Zelda nodded again. She was very tired. The woman who was helping her spoke up.

"She needs rest more than anything."

She normally would've fought it, as there was much work to do, but as it was, she was tire...

…

It only took another day of rest until Zelda was back on her feet and testing to find the next pilot. They started building the larger transporting platform for the divine beast. She found out later that they had suspended the testing while she'd been recovering, much to her displeasure. They had told her parents, via runner, though the reply was more focused on her powers. Which was fine for her.

Getting praise over unlocking a full powered arrow of light instead of a scolding for sneaking out was much preferred.

They didn't find a pilot on the day they started testing again. Or the day after that, or the day after that. In fact, they went three weeks without finding a pilot. The large transport pad finished construction, and another tower was started. Suddenly her powers strengthening was a much bigger deal if they couldn't find a Gerudo Pilot.

The Chief was growing frustrated as well, Zelda could tell, though she was still quite polite. Reba avoided the lab area at all times. She never gave a solid reason for it. 'Not wanting to get pulled into more work,' rung true enough.

It wasn't until a letter came, that things leapt into motion again.

Zelda often received many letters, she was a princess, but the battered envelope at the bottom of the pile intrigued her. It was made of a cheaper paper, and the hand writing was legible, but hardly refined. Most of all, the handwriting was very familiar.

She opened that letter first and read:

Dear Princess Zelda,

I just woke up from a dream. I don't really know why I feel like I need to tell you this, but something in me thought it was a good idea. You were in my dream. Not in a weird way, not that I would dream about you in a weird way or There was a bright light. I think you were the same thing as that light, which I guess makes sense. I don't remember much more than that, but it made me feel happy for some reason. I wanted to tell you right away, but it would be a strange thing to send on the slate… and I don't exactly want to tell other people. Either way, it wouldn't be a professional thing. There's a lot more I want to say, but I'm not sure how to say it. I hope I can figure out how to say it when we meet again.

It's been nice to be alone in Hebra, but now winter is setting in and I'm thinking about that hearth in the library. Maybe Hyrule Castle can be my winter home. There's so much I want to show you here. Once this is all over, I hope you'll let me give you a tour of Hebra. It's only fair, right? Good luck with your Divine Beast endeavor, and may the Goddesses shine on you.

-Link

She turned it over to see another note, probably written after the rest of it.

I saw a sunrise this morning that made me think of you. Also I put a drawing here I thought you might like.

There was a small drawing of a moose and her calf. Zelda read it again, and was struck by the urge to respond right away. She wanted to ask him when he'd had the dream. But, she realized that would defeat the whole point of sending a letter instead of messaging. Could she even send a letter back? He didn't exactly have an address.

Still, if he had some mystical connection perhaps he could help unlock her powers. But, reading over the letter again, she felt some doubt. 'There's a lot more I want to say'? Maybe it was all metaphorical. Then again, Link wasn't someone who she would expect that from.

In her confliction, her feet set her to pacing, and then to strolling out of her room. Before she knew it, she was near the terminal. Not in the room with it, but standing outside trying to make up her mind. She really wanted to know what he meant. But if he wanted privacy– and what if it was something as unprofessional as he claimed it was? All she would accomplish by satisfying her curiosity would be embarrassing him.

She jumped when a hand tapped her shoulder. She turned to see Reba standing there.

"Don't tell me you want to work over time now? Tired people work worse than an un-tired person."

"Oh, work?" Zelda shook her head. "Not quite."

Reba then saw the letter in her hands. "What is it?" her brows furrowed in concern.

Zelda blinked and realized what her worry might've looked like from the outside. "It's nothing bad, I just got a letter from Link…"

Reba's face lit up. "Oh, so that's the issue. What does it say?" she asked, trying to peer at the letter.

Zelda folded it. She didn't want to share it with anyone. But… she did trust Reba, and she was confused. Reluctantly, she held out the letter, but she kept the sketch to herself.

Reba read it quickly. "And why are you here then? What's the issue?"

Zelda pointed to the first part of the letter. "This part. If he dreamt that at the same time I had summoned that arrow, perhaps he could help me somehow. So really, it could be quite the boon to our operation. But it could also just be something personal. If that's the case, messaging would just embarrass him."

Reba thought for a moment. "And you can't send a letter due to how much he's moving around." She read it again. "Honestly, I know you consider me a love guru, but I can't tell with this."

Zelda smiled at the words 'love guru.' Reba, like most traditionally educated Gerudos, lacked practical knowledge. Not that Zelda had said knowledge either.

"He's always had that crush on you, but he also was quite good at keeping those sorts of things to himself. I don't think this is an addition of that either. The part about needing to talk in person could be… but…"

She trailed off as she saw how flustered Zelda was. "He would be close to grown now, wouldn't he. Have you changed your mind on all of that."

Zelda quickly dismissed that. "Even if he still thinks of me that way, nothing can come of it. You're right, he's never addressed it, so why would he now? I could see how a dream couldn't seem like a big deal to someone who's never had important dreams."

"Cmon then, let's ask him. The terminal could send a message to him, right?"

Zelda nodded, being dragged along by her friend to the next room. As soon as she entered the room Zelda could feel a shift in the room. Reba didn't notice it, and strove forward. She froze as soon as her hand touched the terminal.

The Princess could hear the voice of the machine faintly, like it was whispering, but Reba could hear it clear as day.

"Why me?" Reba asked, "I don't want it!"

Zelda didn't know what to say. Reba's face shifted from despair to resignation, and she answered the barely heard question. "...I hate to say it, but… you're right. In that case it's only fair to name you in her honor." Reba looked up, determined, "Vah Naboris."

The room lit up as it had with Amphritus, and Reba looked close to tears despite the strength of her stance. Slowly, she looked up from the terminal and turned to gaze at Zelda.

"Reba! You're the Gerudo Pilot!" Zelda exclaimed, "that's why it took so long." Reba, for once, was reluctant to say anything. It was all coming together. Her reaction, the reluctance, her duty– "You don't want to be the pilot," Zelda said in realization.

With a solemn look, Reba nodded.

"We only want volunteers," Zelda said, "You don't have to do it if you don't want to."

With a sigh, Reba said, "Did you ask to be born a Princess of Goddess blood in a time of calamity? Zelda, I understand fate and duty. I've been chosen by fate as well it seems, and it is with honor, I must accept."

More firmly, Zelda said, "Reba, you don't have to do anything."

She shook her head. "No. I knew this. Somehow I just knew. I knew I'd have to help fight Ganon's forces at least, but something about the Divine Beasts scared me. All that responsibility…" She laughed, sounding more like herself. "Well, I don't need to explain that to you."

"If my powers can develop more, maybe you won't need to do anything."

Reba smiled fuller, and with more realness behind it. "Yes! Work hard! I suppose this means no more mischief…"

"We had to grow up at some point."

"We do have the terminal now, should we send that message?"

Zelda thought about it. They now had three pilots and were started on building three of the four Divine Beasts. Her powers had strengthened, which she could work on, and besides that, how could a dream help her now? "No, I think we have other things to focus on."

She did, however, think about penning a letter of her own.

…

The assembly went quicker for the Divine Beast Vah Naboris than Vah Ruta or Vah Rudania due to the starting of assembly of it before the pilot had been found, and the knowledge gained in the other two builds. Zelda stayed with the Gerudo for another two months before Impa contacted her, requesting that she come to the Rito village to 'diplomat' things up. Her words, not Zelda's. In her usual way, the scientist gave very little in what the actual problem was, and Zelda knew it was better to wait and just talk to her in person. Paya planned to accompany her until they made it to the village, at which point she would go visit her mother.

Zelda had insisted.

The night before she had to leave, she went to Reba's room to say goodbye when she heard quiet sniffles. Zelda cursed internally. They had talked more about Reba being a pilot, and all that it entailed, and the Gerudo had seemed to warm to the idea. That of course, could just be a front. Zelda was well versed in those.

She knocked on the door frame, and entered with a soft call of, "Reba?"

Reba wiped her eyes, smearing the make up. She was at her writing desk, and there was a letter on it. "What's wrong?" Zelda asked.

It took Reba a few moments of composure to say anything, but eventually she said, "nothing, it's– it's nothing."

Zelda sat down next to her, and placed a comforting hand on her arm. "It's obviously not nothing."

"It's stupid. I'm– I'm embarrassed to say."

"Reba. You were there when I made that horrible face trying to impress that Grickling boy."

Reba smiled through her still falling tears. "That was pretty bad. Oh, but what this is all about is worse."

That was when Zelda saw who the letter was from. Her brother. Her eyes widened in sudden understanding. "Oh, he's stupid for not liking you, but that's a fault with him."

"It's not his fault he doesn't like me. It only makes sense… The crown prince of Hyrule could never marry a Gerudo. I had some hope when you told me the line would continue through you, but then… he's never seen me like that, has he?"

Somberly, Zelda shook her head. For a bit, Reba's crush had seemed strange, but Zelda never knew how deep her feelings had gone. She also knew her brother didn't like discussing such things. She herself wasn't sure why he was so relieved that she was willing to have children, that he would name her children his heirs.

"I was so excited. We would be sisters then. In the eyes of the law at least. I thought that might be nice."

Zelda grasp her by the shoulders. "Reba, there is nothing wrong with you. Any man would be lucky to marry you! You deserve someone who can love you with all his heart! Besides, who would want to marry a crown prince, that just means you'll have to be Queen, and who would want to do that?"

Reba was quite a couple minutes. "I'm seeing why you hold that triforce of wisdom."

"I'm sorry that I have to leave so soon... I could–"

"Nope!" Reba said, "I won't have to delay your trip. This is nothing for a Gerudo warrior."

"Heartbreak is never nothing," Zelda said, thinking to Amphritus and his tragic love story. He was probably the most impressive warrior she knew, and heartbreak still held him. Still, there was a world of difference to the object of your affections not sharing them, and dying. "But I agree that you are strong. Stronger than me, that's for sure."

"Only physically," Reba shot back, "Thank you for coming here, but I'd like to be alone for a bit longer."

"You better get up in time to say goodbye for real."

"Yes, princess 'five more minutes'."

They both giggled over that before Zelda left the room. Her heart hurt for her friend, but she knew her brother. If for whatever reason he decided to pursue things with Reba, Zelda doubted he would have any true feelings for her, not the way she loved him at least. That would be a despicable thing to do.

She was not looking forward to their next reunion. Hopefully it wouldn't be too awkward. With a shrug, she returned to her room.