Ri2: There ARE female Gorons but I just think they use brother as a general term, ya know? Something about just referring to everyone as brother seems equal, lol.
Guest: In regard to Mipha dying… yes, unfortunately. But I'm planning a squeal where Mipha will be a big part of Lynk's general thoughts and stuff.
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Chapter 5: Life Moves On…
A Few Days Later
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"CouldIborrowtheMasterSword?" Purah blurted.
Lynk blinked owlishly, unsure of what exactly the scientist had said. "Uh?"
"Can I… borrow the Master Sword?" Purah repeated, thankfully more slowly this time.
"Why?" Lynk frowned.
"Oh come on, Lynky!" Purah pouted.
"Tell me the reason and I will consider." Lynk deadpanned.
"Oh." Purah blinked, so that was she'd meant… "I want to test it, see if it will be possible to recreate such a sword. To see if there's a way to ease the burden, ya know?"
Lynk eyed the women before her. She was a twenty-four-year-old woman that acted like a child. Her sister Impa was the more mature one despite being three years younger.
"Only if you return it how it is." Lynk accepted and untied the Master Sword from her back. "I want it back by tomorrow morning."
Purah grinned. "Thanks, Lynkie!" She took the sword and ran off towards the Sheikah male. "Robbie! She said yes!"
Lynk sighed.
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"Go ahead and do some warm-ups." Lynk ordered Jaro as she slung a target onto her shoulder. "I've made some modifications since I believe you've reached that point."
Jaro's cheeks tinted at the praise and nodded. "Yes, ma'am." And he gently kicked Jewel, the mare that he had been partnered with. Having that bond between rider and horse was a key component when it came to horseback archery. It was a bit of a difficult task to find a person that special one—the horse that matched the rider but also covered any weaknesses the rider might have.
It was a lot different for Lynk as she had raised Myth since he was a foal, she'd been by his side and him by hers for seven years. She's broken him in and trained him all by herself—a task her father saw her fit to do. She'd learned a lot during those first few years. It felt foreign for her to ride another horse because of the bond they shared; they'd picked up skills and techniques that might not apply for other horses and so riders had a bit of a difficult time understanding Myth if Lynk allowed them to use him.
Few had ever ridden Myth, however; the stallion was rather fussy about it and would deny anyone if it weren't for Lynk. Which she found amusing.
But when Lynk had first taken Jaro under her wing, she'd allowed him to ride Myth because the stallion knew what to do and so Jaro could focus on the archery part of it. During the off-time, Lynk and Jaro worked to get him acquainted with a horse of his own.
He'd met his match with a green-tinted mare with the name Jewel. She was a bit feisty, but Jewel had seemed to have taken a liking to Jaro, and Jaro to her. A match made in heaven, as some would say.
Thankfully Jewel had been bred for the sole purpose of becoming an archery horse—horses with less bulk and more stamina for speed. It made less work for Lynk in regards to training her.
They'd been working on breaking Jewel in and getting Jaro to bond with her—he spent time while not working with Jewel, often venturing out of the castle on small trips. They'd come a long way in such a short time and it impressed Lynk greatly, they got on far better then she'd ever expected especially so soon.
While Jaro did some warm-ups around the track, trotting, cantering, and running, Lynk began to set up the targets. Myth was left to graze the green grass nearby as he awaited his rider. Lynk pottered about the place, moving, and further adjusting the targets until she was pleased by the placements.
By this time, Jewel and Jaro had gotten semi-familiar with the new track Lynk had created, she'd used sticks and rope as a guide. She had implemented a few jumps to the track, they weren't large or anything but enough that during a few Jaro could learn to shot a target.
Jaro had Jewel trot over to Lynk as she brought over the arrows and bows. She passed them over and Jaro sorted the arrows as Lynk climbed onto Myth. Her fingers running through his pale mane. Unlike Jewel, Myth didn't wear a bridle, his face completely free—she hoped to one day get Jaro to ditch Jewel's bridle also but at the moment, it was mostly for safety on his end.
"I'm going to circle the track and shoot as a demonstration." Lynk said, pulling her bow off her back. "You'll trot behind me to watch."
Jaro nodded. "Follow behind, gotcha."
Lynk whistled and Myth moved. She had different types of whistles for different commands. Myth walked onto the track and with a firm nudge, took off running. Lynk readied an arrow but pulling back when she reached the first.
Front, front, middle, front, back—it went on and on—over a jump with a middle, another front then back. Eventually, they made it back to the start and Lynk started a discussion with Jaro about the track and targets.
It was then she became aware of the group watching from above.
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"Lynk has other duties you know." Mipha scolded Revali, who'd made a snide comment on the lack of Lynk's appearance.
"And that would be?"
"She's tutors trainee soldiers." Mipha explained. "Though, I believe she's personally teaching one for horseback archery. Lynk is incredibly skilled all around."
"Archery, huh?" Revali's tone was bitter, he raised his beak. Despite how much he detested the girl, he couldn't help his curiosity over her supposed skill.
Urbosa chuckled. "I've heard great things about Lynk from his Highness and Captain Jin. A prodigy, in fact." She thumbed her lip. "I can admit that I am curious enough to want to see it in person."
Zelda turned her eyes from the Slate to the group. "She'll be in the horse training ground if it's to do with horses." She answered despite having no desire whatsoever to see Lynk anymore then she possibly could.
"Let head on over then, yeah?" Daruk grinned—the guy never seemed to not be enthusiastic.
It was mutually agreed, and Zelda held back the want to sigh as she led the Champions to the horse training grounds. They watched from a ledge above as Lynk led her obvious student around the track while demonstration, never once needing to grasp onto her horse to stable herself—she seemed to become one with the stallion if fact.
Despite the distance, they could see the firm and focused expression. She seemed to shoot without even having to keep her eyes on the target for more than a glance to find it before moving to find the next.
It was hard to say it wasn't impressive.
Revali hated it.
Mipha was left feeling fluttery inside.
Urbosa was thoroughly impressed.
Daruk just grinned as he watched the show.
And Zelda felt bitter inside… but it was hard to deny that the girl was skilled and efficient. She could see why her father was assigning the girl to become her bodyguard. But it didn't mean Zelda liked the girl at all.
Once the circuit was complete, Lynk turned to her student and they were speaking. She made gestures, most of which they had no idea were related to because they didn't know what she was talking about.
She then noticed them watching, her brows twitched—was that a flicker of annoyance? But before they could really tell she'd turned back to the boy, said something short, and the boy set off to complete the circuit himself.
Lynk didn't turn and face them again, instead seemed quite content to ignore them altogether.
Zelda twitched.
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"I rarely ever see you wear a dress, Lyn." Mipha giggled, eyeing the green and black dress Lynk had put on the for the party. Lynk flushed and tugged at the sleeves. It was an off-the-shoulder dress with two straps that sat just before the curve of her shoulders. The sleeves fitted until her elbows where they become loose fabric, it was lined with black lace underneath. There was a ribbon on the front and tied tightly so the dress hugged her torso. The skirt fell to the ground with a tail and at the front curved upwards to reveal her feet.
Most of Lynk's dresses were like this because of her habit of getting her feet caught on the fabric at the front. She'd ruined a fair amount when younger because of it. Leona had solved that issue for her, Lynk's lips curled upwards, that was how her father and mother had met the Sheikah woman actually. Her parents had become great friends with Leona after that. The three of them just clicked.
"I'm not too keen on them since my mobility is restricted." Lynk smiled and playful squat down.
Mipha giggled. "I'm glad we Zora don't have to wear such fabrics. I can't imagine we'd swim very well."
They shared a laugh, trying picture such a sight. "It would be a sight to see though." Lynk hummed as she stepped forward, hands landing on Mipha's hips. Mipha flushed and peered up Lynk, her eyes portraying what she wanted the Hylian to do.
Lynk complied, dropping her head to connect their lips. They only pulled back when there was a knock at the door. Both trying to fight the flush of their cheeks, Lynk called to enter.
The door parted and Leona's head peeked in, eyes twinkling. "Hey." She stepped into the room, Leona eyes the two red-cheeked girls before her and smiled. "I was wondering where you two had gotten too. The guests are beginning to arrive."
"Right." Mipha smiled. "Best head on down then." The Zora wandered past the Sheikah and down the hallway.
"Does your father know?" Leona teased.
Lynk flushed and she cleared her throat. "…No."
Leona grinned.
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"Happy birthday, Jin." "Forty-two already, Jin!" "Can't believe you're this old!"
Lynk watched on, eyes twinkling with amusement as her father was congratulated. Leona stepped up beside her. "I wish your mother could see how far he's gotten."
Lynk's lids drooped at the mention of Helkura but she hummed. "I'm sure she's watching from above and cheering him on."
Leona raised her brow. "Cheering him on?"
Lynk peered up at Leona innocent. "What makes you question the thought of Mama cheering Dad on? To me, it seems like something she'd do."
Leona chuckled. "Now that you say that, it does."
Lynk linked her arm with Leona's. "Let's head on over, yeah? I want to make a speech before the cake cutting."
Leona tittered with laughter, imagining exactly what Lynk might have to say about her father. Inside, Lynk's heart sung with happiness—she hadn't felt this complete in a long while. Leona, her father, Mipha. Lynk's eyes found her girlfriend's form, the Zora was happily chatting to some off-duty guards that were awing at the Champion.
Lynk released Leona and lifted her glass. "I have something I wish to say."
There were chuckles all around, much like Leona, they already knew what was to come.
Lynk stepped up onto the coffee table, despite the playful scolding of her father. Lynk ignored him and instead faced them all. "Everyone here today is someone my dad and I have known for years. You've stuck by him and this is going to be cheesy but thank you." There were more chuckles, and Lynk's grip on her glass tightened softly. "You've seen him at his worst and his best. You all supported us when mother passed away and never once said a negative thing when he was out of himself during that time." Lynk's eyes found Jin's. "As your daughter, as someone who's spent her life living beside you, despite the arguments we can get into on the occasion, I couldn't ask any more of you and I'm glad that we've had our up and downs because who know what our relationship would be like otherwise. And I know if mum had been here, she'd say the same thing, but she's not and she hasn't been for a long time.
"So want I'm saying is, dad—" Lynk grinned. "—Do it and don't think you need my approval, you're a grown man after all."
Jin laughed and moved beside Leona, there were murmurs of confusion, but it all clicked into place as Jin turned to Leona, grasped her hands and knelt. The Sheikah woman's eyes widened, burning with tears.
"Jin?"
"Leona." Jin began and held out a ring. "I've known you for fifteen years and you were there for me after Helkura's passing more than I could have ever possibly imagined. You helped me and asked for nothing in return, but I want to return that favour. I want to be able to wake up every morning and see you there, so will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
Leona burst into tears. "Of course, you idiot." She threw herself at Jin.
Lynk reached up and wiped away a stray tear. She stepped down and Mipha appeared beside her, her fingers intertwining with Lynk's and squeezed lovingly.
Lynk… she came to another realisation at that moment, much like the one she had done in Korok Forest.
She wanted to protect this; her eyes scanned the entire room. These people she'd known for years, she wanted to protect them— she wanted to protect her family.
Yes, she was willing to protect them to her last breath.
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After meeting with the Champions, I left to research the ancient technology, but nothing of note came of my research. The return of Ganon looms—a dark force taunting us from afar. I must learn all I can about the relics so we can stop him. If the fortune-teller's prophecy is to be believed, there isn't much time left... but turning over these thoughts in my head puts me ill at ease. I suppose I should turn in for the night.
P.S. Tomorrow my father is assigning HER as my appointed knight.