Disclaimer: I'd like to own Legend of Zelda, but I don't. But if anyone wants to know what to but me for Christmas…

Chapter 1: Let the games begin!

The day of the tournament dawned cold with a light ground frost and a nip in the air. Link rode to the castle, oblivious to the cold with his breath freezing before him as he and Epona made their way through the field. Their footsteps crunched through the frozen grass, leaving dark footprints in the sparkling grass.

"This is going to be such a great day." Link told the filly. "And then no-one will be able to laugh at me anymore."

Epona snorted and tossed her head.

"Hah, and then I get to sit next to Zelda at the banquet!"

He rode into the castle precincts, staring in amazement at the brightly coloured tents that littered the area. Coloured flags fluttered in the breeze, giving the overall impression of impressiveness.

"Link!"

Malon, huddled up in a canary yellow cloak, came running up to her friend with a big grin on her face.

"Hi! Wow, Epona's looking great! Are you competing in the tournament?"

Link nodded and patted Epona's neck.

"I sure am. I'm gonna win too."

Malon looked at him and then burst out laughing.

"You... ha ha ha... you think you're gonna win... ha ha ha!"

Link narrowed his eyes.

"Go on, laugh at me." He mumbled. "Everyone does, but I'll show 'em."

"I know, I know." Malon said, snorting back her laughter.

"No you don't! You're just like everyone else!" He yelled, spurring Epona on and running off to the enclosure when the knights were assembled, polishing their armour. He blinked and watched them, awestruck.

"Hyrule's finest warriors." He breathed, before another grin spread across his face. "And I'm better than all of them!"

"A bit cocky aren't we?"

He turned around to see a boy with jet black hair and mahogany eyes smiling at him.

"So you're competing are you?" He asked.

Link dismounted and nodded.

"Yeah."

The boy grinned in amusement.

"A little young aren't you?"

Link's eyes narrowed.

"The rules of the tournament say that anyone under the age of sixteen can compete in the junior tournament. I'm under sixteen..."

"So I see." The boy said in amusement.

"I am not too young! And if you think I'm something to laugh at then you'll be eating your words when I win."

The boy smiled again.

"I'm glad you have confidence, it's helpful when everyone doubts you. I'll see you in the finals then. Good morning Princess."

Link watched him go, uncertain whether or not the boy had been mocking him.

"Hey Link!"

Zelda was standing behind him, looking beautiful. She was wrapped up in a red velvet cloak trimmed with white fur that was worn over a white dress. Link swallowed hard and smiled.

"Morning Zel, you look... pretty."

Zelda blushed.

"Thank you. Looking forward to the tournament?"

Link nodded and cracked his knuckles.

"Yeah."

"So you met Aidyn then?"

"Who's Aidyn?" Link asked, scratching his head.

"That guy you were talking to. He's the one I was telling you about."

"Him?"

Link looked at the boy, who was talking to a tall man with dark blonde hair and a small beard.

"He doesn't look anything special..." He mumbled.

Zelda laughed softly.

"You would say that." She smiled. "He's quick, and that's the attribute that throws most of them off."

"I'm quick..." Link mumbled.

"Did I mention that his father was General Olaran?" Zelda said casually.

"Who?" Link asked.

Zelda looked at him in surprise, her hands on her hips and her mouth open.

"How can you not know who General Olaran is?" She asked. "He's the greatest strategist in Hyrule, he and my father were in the army together and he remains undefeated in everything. He had to retire from the tournament because he kept beating everyone. And he's my godfather."

Zelda pointed at the man Aidyn was talking to.

"That's him over there."

The general looked at the two at that moment, smiling as he caught sight of the princess and walked towards them.

"Little Princess, you get more beautiful every year." He said fondly, bowing to her.

Zelda laughed softly.

"You say that every year, I have reason to believe that you're nothing but a hopeless flatterer."

Olaran grinned.

"Every bit your mother's daughter Princess." He said, chucking her under the chin.

His attention turned to Link and he smiled at the boy.

"So you're the boy who's going to win eh?"

Zelda smiled.

"Yes he will. Link's even better than half the knights at the castle."

"That's not difficult." Link mumbled. "They're all morons."

Olaran looked at the sullen little boy and laughed.

"At last, someone who sees things my way!"

A fanfare blew, announcing the start of the first event. Zelda hurriedly curtsied to her companions.

"I have to get going. See you after lunch!"

Link watched her go, noticing that her hood had fallen back and that her hair was blowing in the wind.

"So Link." General Olaran said, looking at the boy. "Is this your first competition lad?"

Link nodded.

"Yeah, but I'm not scared."

"I wasn't suggesting that you were." Olaran chuckled. "You're rather bellicose aren't you?"

"I am not!" Link argued in a bitter tone and then added in the same tone. "What does bellicose mean?"

Olaran laughed.

"It means that you're eager to fight."

"Oh." Link said, slightly embarrassed.

"Well my friend I must begin the proceedings. Good luck, I will be watching you with great interest."

Link smiled to himself as Olaran walked out of sight.

"You better not blink or you'll miss me."

******

Zelda applauded politely as the final adult bowed to her father and took up his bow. He had ten arrows and ten targets, and was to shoot one arrow at each with the aim of getting as many points as possible in total. He took aim and fired.

"Thirty points!"

Zelda applauded, yawning unseen to the audience. This was really getting very boring. After ten shots, his overall score was two hundred and seventy points. He had missed the last target and hit the orning of one of the cake stands. Zelda had never seen anything so pathetic in her life.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the junior archery will begin in five minutes, once we have rearranged the targets.

Zelda excused herself and escaped the tent, running out to the place where the junior competitors were waiting. She could see many of the fathers giving their children tips, including Olaran. He was talking to Aidyn quietly, probably about the wind direction and footing. He wasn't the best strategist on the army for nothing.

She spotted Link standing next to Epona, feeding her a carrot. The princess couldn't help but notice how laid back he was. By this stage, all the youths and their fathers had noticed that she was there and were bowing politely. She acknowledged their greetings and walked past Link.

"Come to the tent, but don't follow me directly. I'll see you in a minute."

Link looked up in surprise, but nodded anyway and was behind the Royal Tent at the appointed time.

"OK Zel, I'm here. How come we couldn't talk out there?"

"In case any of those jerks gave you a hard time about knowing me." She replied. "I just want to wish you luck. You'll beat all of them."

She gave him a little kiss on the cheek that caused him to go pink right to the tip of his ears.

"What did you do that for?"

Zelda blushed a little.

"It was for luck." She said with a shy giggle. "And if you like, I'll give you another one when you win."

The pink deepened to scarlet.

"Well, er, I'll see you later Zelly!" He said quickly, running off.

Zelda smiled and watched him go.

******

"Take a look at that pipsqueak over there."

"I'm surprised his mother let him out."

"Hey baby, where's your diaper?"

Peals of laughter followed that insult and Link's already dark blue eyes turned thunderous. He clenched his fists and reached for his sword. OK so the tournament hadn't started yet, but they were going to learn not to mess with the Hero of Time, whether he was seventeen years old or ten.

"I'm sorry, I'm going to have to confiscate that." A weedy voice said behind him.

Link turned around to see a small balding minister with a pot belly looking at his sword disapprovingly.

"Confiscate what?" He asked, using the wide eyed innocence routine that so regularly got him out of trouble.

The last occasion he'd used it had been memorable. He and Zelda had whipped the guards into a frenzy by dropping water bombs then flour bombs onto their heads from the top of the gatehouse. They had escaped punishment by looking angelic as cherubs as they apologised, and because King Harkinian was laughing too much to punish them.

"I'm afraid your sword isn't regulation. You have to have wood."

"What?! That sucks!" Link exclaimed indignantly. "You call this fair? What's the point in fighting with a wooden sword?"

"Somebody could get hurt and we wouldn't want that would we?" The minister said in a patronising voice. "Now be a good boy and give it to me."

Link scowled and shook his head.

"I don't think so. I'll keep hold of it. You might trip over your robes and poke your eye out and we wouldn't want that would we?" Link mocked.

The minister looked offended, like an inflated blowfish.

"Your impertinence will get you into trouble sonny." He said crossly.

"I like trouble." Link said with a smile.

"What's the problem here?" Aidyn asked, appearing from nowhere. "Has he done something wrong?"

"Yes." The minister said, seeing Aidyn and recognising the famous general's son. "This child won't hand over his sword."

Link's scowl deepened at the emphasised 'child. '

"Why should he? If his parents think that he's capable of handling a sword then let him keep it. He won't use it in the tournament will you Link?"

Link shook his head.

"At least not until I fight you in the final."

The minister looked surprised and then burst out laughing.

"Ha ha! That'll be the day! Oh Aidyn m'boy, you give him one from me! Ha ha ha!"

He walked off laughing and as Link lunged after him, Aidyn stuck out his arm to hold him back.

"He wouldn't know the business end of a sword even if it was at his throat." He said with a smirk. "I hate the wooden sword rule too but we have to abide by it. If we both get to the final, I'm sure we can twist the judge's arm into letting us fight with iron."

Link smiled.

"You mean 'when' don't you?"

Aidyn laughed.

"You're right. When. Good luck in the archery Link."

"You too."

The other boys were laughing as soon as Aidyn was out of earshot.

"Cocky little brat!"

"Aww, da wittle baby won't give up his sword."

"He won't even make it past the archery."

Link gritted his teeth and took out his boy, checking the tension of his string.

"Five targets, five arrows. Five hundred points at stake." He said to himself. "Cake."

******

"And our reigning champion scores five hundred points!"

The applause for Aidyn was almost as loud as it had been for the winner of the adult section. Zelda applauded enthusiastically along with her father, who nudged Olaran in the side.

"That boy gets better every year. Nobody can match him."

Olaran beamed proudly.

"I wouldn't be so sure." He said, watching as the next contestant notched his arrow and let fly, missing the target completely. "That little boy seems to be fairly confidant."

"Which boy?" Harkinian asked, taking his attention from the action on the field. "The lad up now?"

Olaran shook his head.

"No, that boy... what did you say his name was Princess?"

"Link." Zelda replied, trying to keep the smile from her face as the third arrow embedded itself in the wrong target and the archer began to swear coherently.

"Link? But he's Zelda's age! Aidyn's got nothing to worry about." Harkinian chuckled. "Link indeed."

"Why must you always dismiss him because he's young?" Zelda snapped. "Link has skills that put all the guards to shame!"

Olaran and Harkinian looked at Zelda in surprise before Harkinian burst out laughing.

"Zelda I know that he's your friend but is that really neccessary?"

Zelda folded her arms and pouted, not replying. Harkinian smiled.

"Children today."

They returned their attention to the archery, where competitor after competitor notched up meagre scores. Zelda smirked. This was going to be way too easy.

"This is unfair!" A loud voice announced from the crowd. "The targets are too tall and they're standing too far away! This is a scam!"

Angry voices of complaint were raised and Harkinian stood up.

"I can assure you that the tournament has been constructed in such a way to ensure fairness to everyone. Olaran himself worked out the heights and distances..."

"Oh yes, just so his amazing son can win again!" The angry voice raised. "This is highly unfair!"

Zelda stood up beside her father, who gestured for her to sit down.

"Unless anyone would like to make an official complaint then I suggest we sit down and wait for the last competitor. Link, would you come out to take your turn please?"

Link came walking out with a determined look on his face and his bow slung over his shoulder. There was absolute silence until the laughter came.

"Poor little mite doesn't stand a chance!"

"Oh don't humiliate the poor boy by making him shoot these targets."

Zelda frowned.

"Why don't they leave him alone!" She growled.

Link's face was furious and he reached for the first arrow amidst a mass of laughter. He notched it, regarded the target, double checked and then released his arrow.

Thud.

The laughter stopped.

An arrow quivered in the centre of the target.

"One hundred points!" The announcer cried, his voice shaking.

Link's expression slipped into a sly grin as he notched the second arrow and turned to the second target.

Thud.

"Two hundred points!"

There was a mass of whispering spreading throughout the audience and Zelda smiled with smug satisfaction at seeing their startled expressions. Link's grin remained in place as he let the third arrow fly.

"I don't... Three hundred points!"

Zelda turned to her father with a grin. Link was one hundred points ahead of the nearest competitor.

"You were saying father?"

Link's fourth arrow flew with deadly accuracy as it embedded itself in the target in exactly the same position as the last. This was getting repetitive.

Olaran was watching with interest as Link's final arrow hit dead centre of the target and the boy walked off with a calm face and his bow casually slung over his shoulder again. Zelda was beaming and her clapping was ecstatic and was quickly added to by a stunned audience. Harkinian was staring at the targets with disbelief.

"I don't quite know how ladies and gentlemen, but Link has scored five hundred points!"

All previous opinions on the tournament being fixed were now quashed.

******