More stuff goes down between Zelda and Lynk. Lynk and Mipha aren't as good at hiding their relationship as they think, and Zelda learns it's mostly Hylians that are prejudiced towards same-sex relationships.

At the bottom, I've added a short intro/prologue for the sequel ;)

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Chapter 7: Truths and Anger

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I've learned that when Lynk gets angry, she gets angry. It was unlike any I had seen before. She said no words, but she didn't need to—her face said it all. I'm sitting in a room within Zora's Domain hours later and I can still see and feel her burning gaze. It was horrible, I know I shouldn't have left without Lynk but I'm bitter towards her, could one really blame me? But, no one had looked at me with such disappointment before. Father is always stern and dissatisfied with my lack of sealing power, but he's never shown disappointment like Lynk had. For some reason, it hurts more than what I could imagine the look Father would give me when Lynk no doubt tells him of my actions.

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"—and by the time I even found her, she was being attacked!" Lynk made wild and frustrated arm motions as she paced back and forth. Mipha gave her a sympathetic look. "And the only reason she did such a stupid thing was to leave me behind because she can't stand me! It's… it's childish!"

Mipha was acutely aware that Lynk was holding back a harsher term she desperately wanted to use to insult the Hylian Princess. Mipha sighed, greatly empathizing with Lynk—from the interactions, Lynk and Zelda had while with her and the other champions were strikingly different from when Zelda interacted with them. The Zora Princess could understand.

Mipha gently taking a hold of Lynk's arm finally put a stop of the Hylian's pacing. Lynk turned and gave Mipha a look of complete defeat. "She is acting so pettily towards me and it's grinding my nerves. I've done nothing to her, yet she's…" Lynk collapsed to her knees and buried her face into Mipha's lap.

"I think she just needs more time." Mipha hummed gently, fingers brushing through Lynk's loose hair. Her girlfriend sighed happily at the feeling making Mipha beam with her own happiness.

Lynk murmured something into her lap and Mipha giggled. "What was that?" She teased. "I didn't quite catch it."

Lynk peered up at Mipha through her lashed, eyes flickering with mirth. Her smile hidden by the way she was keeping half her face pressed against Mipha's legs.

Playing along, Lynk said: "I said that there was this rather handsome looking Rito I saw when visiting their village."

Mipha gasped dramatically, hand covering her mouth party. "Is this your way of saying you're breaking up with me?"

"In your dreams, Mipha." Lynk grinned and quickly captured Mipha's lips in a kiss. She pulled back after a long few seconds which left them breathless. "Although, I wasn't lying about the handsome Rito."

Mipha playing flicked Lynk's nose. "Only you, Lynk, would tell your girlfriend about all the other beautiful people in the world. Are you trying to make me jealous?"

Lynk hummed thoughtfully and flashed a grin. "Maybe…"

Lynk received a thwack on the arm this time as Mipha rolled her golden-amber orbs, only to hum when she noticed the dirt on Lynk's jaw. "How about a bath before dinner? You're dirty."

Lynk blinked, fingers absentmindedly reaching for the spot. "Ah, yeah." She paused for a moment and her lashes flickered as she purred: "You… want to join me?"

Mipha turned pink in the cheeks, she was most certainly aware of the double meaning. She smiled, her stomach fluttering with excitement. "Of course."

Lynk stood and held a hand out for Mipha, which the Zora took. They made their way down the corridor to collected Lynk's towels.

Once the couple had left the hallway, Zelda stepped out from the corner, eyes wide in shock. She openly gaped in the direction Mipha and Lynk had departed for.

She… Zelda… she couldn't form any words; she knew Zora's didn't care for gender when it came to partners—Gerudo much the same—but never would Zelda even think Lynk would be one of those people. Someone who was attracted to the same sex as she was.

It set Zelda on edge for a moment, she shifted her weight between her feet as she tried to collect her thoughts. It was obvious their relationship was on the down-low—at least on the Hylian part.

(Zelda wondered if Captain Jin was aware of his daughter's sexual orientation. Part of her said yes, it felt likely to Zelda. The father and daughter were a tightknit duo after all.)

Zelda could understand why no Hylians had been made aware of the situation, especially because of who Lynk was. A bitter part of Zelda thought that even if it was open knowledge, most would accept the relationship anyway because of who Lynk was as a person.

Actually… perhaps this was a gift for Zelda! She could tell her father, no doubt Lynk would then be deemed unfit to be her Appointed Knight. Zelda nodded, if she wrote to her father now and sent the letter, he'd remove Lynk immediately at their return.

Zelda spun on her heels, confident and determined to write the letter but laughter stopped her short. She peered over at the bridge to see Mipha and Lynk walking along towards the bathhouse. She watched them, watched the way Lynk glanced down at Mipha with a look of pure adoration and love. Blue eyes were soft, and her lips were curled upwards into a warm smile. Mipha giggled and wrapped an arm around Lynk's, leaning into the Hylian's side. They greeted a Zora knight as they passed by, who cheerfully returned the greeting.

Zelda swallowed thickly.

Maybe… maybe she'd keep the information to herself for a while. At least until she had someone else's option on the matter. Impa was always someone she could go too.

Zelda nodded; yes, she'd put off visiting Urbosa and head back to the castle to speak to Impa about what to do.

(When dinner time came around, Lynk and Mipha returned. Lynk wore her champion's collar done up and Zelda felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment because she knew why that was._

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When morning arrived, Zelda had a secondary check of Vah Ruta before deciding to head off. She announced to Lynk as they were readying to leave that they would be returning to the castle instead.

Lynk's eyes had narrowed slightly, the only portrayal of her confusion at the sudden change but shrugged it off.

The partings were said and Lynk and Mipha's hug now left an odd weight on Zelda's shoulders; she averted her gaze when they pulled back.

"Make sure to write okay?" Mipha gave Lynk a stern look. "Last time you got so distracted that you forgot."

Lynk rubbed the back of her head, her cheeks tinting red. She nodded before climbing onto Myth's back.

Neither Hylian said a word on the journey home. It was still tense, and it left a bitter taste in Zelda's mouth. It made the journey feel almost twice as long then it should have—like she was being punished for her actions by being forced to spend more time around Lynk

Upon arrival, Zelda left Lynk behind before anyone had a chance to stop her. She knew Impa would be watching Purah and Robbie work on the Ancient Guardians. While Impa wasn't a scientist, she just didn't trust Purah and Robbie enough not to do something that would get themselves hurt when they focused on their work too much. They often disregarded safety.

Zelda hurried across a courtyard and to the field that had been dedicated to the work on the Ancient Guardians. She saw Impa standing watch over Purah, Robbie seemed to be busy elsewhere.

"Impa." The Sheikah woman turned at her name.

She bowed her head. "Greetings, Princess Zelda. A safe trip I hope?"

Zelda's mind flashed back to two days ago and she saw Lynk's burning gaze again.

"Completely fine." Impa raised a brow, obviously sensing that her words were not true but did not comment. "But I was wondering if we could take a walk? I wanted to ask for your thoughts on something important."

Impa tilted her head, eyes searching Zelda's face. "As you wish."

And so the Hylian and Sheikah went for a walk around the field. It was only once Zelda knew there was no one around to listen in did she speak. She slowed to a stop. "I wanted to know what you thought of same-sex relationships."

Impa blinked, taken aback by the question. She pursed her lips. "Is this for you personally—?"

"Oh heavens, no!" Zelda waved her hands. "But while out something happened and, well, I know the Gerudo and Zora don't have any problems with such relationships."

Impa hummed. "As far as I am aware, Hylians are the only race that are quite… it the simplest way, prude in regard to sexual orientation, your highness. Sheikah personally do not think much on the subject, but for your sake, we do not broadcast our thoughts on the matter." Impa titled her head. "May I ask what brought this question on?"

Zelda swallowed nervously. "Well, I saw Mipha and Lynk together."

Impa blinked twice, then smiled. "Ah, so it's true."

Zelda frowned in bewilderment. "Uh?"

Impa laughed softly. "They are not quite as secretive as they try to be. Most know that Lynk and Mipha have known each other for years but their behaviour shifted recently. They seemed impossibly closer than before. There was a rumour going around, and I overheard one of the trainees crying over how his chance to impress Lynk was gone. It was quite amusing."

Her words left Zelda much to mull over.

"But, Princess, that doesn't really explain what you ask me." Impa added.

Zelda bit her lip—would Impa think badly of her if she vocalized what she was planning? Impa might not outwardly show it, but Zelda knew she'd judge her for her actions. What would others think too? The idea scared Zelda and so she came to a conclusion.

She would not go to her father about Lynk.

"I was just curious." Zelda answered. "Lynk has purposely not told any Hylians, as far as I'm aware, so I wanted your thoughts on the matter."

Impa nodded. "If that is all, perhaps we should head back? I fear what Purah might get up to if I stray for too long."

Zelda giggled.

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Zelda peered down at the Sheikah Slate in her hands. "Nothing's changed, Purah." Zelda answered the Sheikah woman's previous question of whether something she did inside the broken Guardian had done anything. All it had was illegible gibberish flickering across the scream.

Zelda adjusted her grip and made care not the jolt the wire that was attached to the Slate.

Purah groaned dramatically, there was a thud of a metal tool hitting metal that followed. Purah shimmied out of her spot halfway into the Guardian and glanced to Zelda, but the blonde Hylian's eyes were somewhere else.

Purah followed the Princess's gaze to Lynk, who was lent against the outer wall a short ways away. She was watching the far distance, her body tense—something you could see from even where they stood.

"Something the matter, Zelly?" Purah questioned as she swivelled her head to look back at Zelda. When she didn't answer Purah continued. "Does it have to do with Lynkie? Hmm, you think she's curious about these magnificent creations?"

Zelda looked doubtful. Purah pouted. "Honestly, Zelly, you shouldn't get so worked up about it. She's just doing her job. If she wasn't, then I doubt she'd be here to begin with. I've seen her teach, she'd pretty wicked at it!"

"She's taunting me." Zelda grumbled, grip on the Sheikah Slate tightening in frustration.

"Taunting you?" Purah's brows furrowed. "Does she dislike you that much?"

"I mean, it only makes sense, right?" Zelda grimaced. "You should've seen the look she gave me after…" She trailed off.

"After?"

Zelda adverted her gaze. "I may or may not have run off while she was sleeping and got into some trouble." Before Purah could speak, and she was going to by the way her brows creased, and her mouth opened. "I know it was stupid all right, but I can't stand her, Purah. You know she's hardly even said a word directly to me yet?"

Purah pursed her lips, eyeing Lynk for a moment before turning back to Zelda. "That's called doing her job, Zelly. She'd there to protect you, you're actively going out of your way to make that as difficult as possible."

"But I'm here, in the castle and completely safe, Purah. And she's here, with the master Sword on her back, I can't help but think it's in spite, to loom over me. To brag and lord it over me."

Purah sighed and pushed her glasses up her nose from where they'd slid down. She turned back to the Guardian. "I'm not so sure you're seeing the entire picture. Have you tried talking to her about it. Politely."

"Of course, I have, but it's like I'm talking to a wall. I'm just talking to myself at this point. I gave up a while ago."

Purah took a moment to mull over Zelda's words as she fiddled with some wires. However, Zelda's problem was forgotten as she grinned in excitement. "Zelly! I think I've got it figured out!"

With little to no warning, Purah broader line violently shoved her tool into a socket she'd been working at and suddenly bright blue sparks began crackling, and a deep reverberating rumbling shook the entire Guardian.

As quickly as Zelda could, she pulled Purah back away from the quivering Guardian. But they both stared at it in awe as the head swirled around.

It was moving!

"What did you—?"

"Burnt circuit!" Purah chimed gleefully.

Zelda's eyes snapped back to the Slate as it burst to life, ancient Sheikah lettering flicker across the scream. Numbers then letters, scream dancing almost wildly as it began to form a two-word sentence.

Behind her, the Guardian jerked and flashed a pinky red.

'Target Acquired'

"Princess!"

Something collided with her back, sending her sprawling onto the grassy ground, then a noise as loud as thunder hammered against her ears as a wave of searing heat hit her. When Zelda regained her senses, she uncovered her head and looked up to find Lynk standing over her, staring down the machine Purah had worked so hard to bring to life.

It was ruined!

It was worse than that! A complete and utter mess, its head had been blasted apart and its tentacle legs quivering and the Ancient Guardian collapsed under its dead weight with a dull thud.

"What have you done?!" Zelda shrilled and Lynk's eyes met hers, her brows pinched in a furious way. In her right hand was a wooden pot lid—a pot lid! Orange and blue intertwining flames licked across the makeshift shield. She dropped the pot lid and stomped them out before it could spread.

"What did you do?" She looked at her in complete shock of disbelief. All their work—weeks and weeks of work, all gone in an instant!

"Saved you, that's what." Purah rasped as she stood, brushing some dirt from her clothes as she did. "I'm glad someone had a good enough reaction time to see that coming." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Guess it went down fighting maybe? And to think Lynk deflected the beam with a pot lid!"

"But it's gone, Purah!" Zelda tugged at her hair in frustration. She knew she shouldn't let her anger get the better of her, but she was so distraught over the loss of the Guardian, so caught up in her emotions that she turned to Lynk, scowling furiously. "How could you just destroy our work!"

Lynk's eyes narrowed, her brows pinching in the familiar way of two days ago, but Zelda wasn't done.

"Why are you even here!? I didn't ask you to follow me around the castle! Did my father set you up to this? Or are you just keen on the idea of being a constant goddessdamn thorn in my side for your own twisted amusement!"

Purah's breath hitched, a hand coming up to cover her mouth. "Zelda!"

Still, Zelda wasn't through: "You stalk me everywhere I go! What's next? Are you going to run to my father and tattle on me every time I step out of line or do something you don't like? Do you enjoy mocking me!?"

Lynk's face shifted again, only all emotion disappeared—her face becoming scarily blank. For a long moment that left Purah itching forwards nervously, Lynk continued to just stare at Zelda. It made the Princess uncomfortable.

Then Lynk finally spoke: "You are a seventeen-year-old woman, your highness, not a child, it's time you start acting your age."

Then she turned abruptly, kicking up dirt as she did, and near marched away.

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Sequel piece:

It was difficult to remember before. Before her death. Before everything had gone disastrously wrong. Before destruction and death fell greatly upon the land of Hyrule. Just everything before the Calamity.

Some days, she could remember—remember running through lush green hills and towering forests laughing with those she believed to be her parents. She could remember castle spires reaching for the heavens, the busy marketplace of the town just outside the castle. She could remember the hard-working citizens and friendly atmosphere. She could remember a beautiful and glowing city resting upon pillars above a great river, and she could remember homes built from carved out rocks surrounded by lava. She closed her eyes and could feel the great desert heat and a snowy mountain range's chilly wind against her cheeks.

She could recall morning and evening skies, scorching days, and bitter winter nights cuddled beside a fire.

She could remember emotions—affection, hope, anger, desperation. Hate, love.

Other days, she could remember essentially nothing. Often it left her feeling very little. Emotionless. Thoughtless. Numb. Her mind nothing like it had used to be.

And yet, despite having nothing but her name and clothes on her back, she fought. Even when hope was but a distant memory, and her mind clouded with darkness, she fought to save the owner of the voice. Free the trapped souls of people she had also long forgotten.

One hundred years. A lifetime for one. A small fraction of a lifetime to others. But she spent those years dead to the world, healing and sleeping.

Then she was awoken.