Guest Reviews:

notaname: BAD! You need sleep! *Scream* Sorry, I'm a hypocrite. I have crazy bad insomnia, so much so that I tend to lay awake thinking most of the knight (sorry, I'll go home now). But the fact that you STILL reviewed makes me feel appreciated. I didn't know that my writing was THAT good (XD). Yup, lots and lots of work! That's why I don't have a social life! All I do with my free time is draw, write, crush the keys on the piano, write, get attacked by cats, write... etc. Aw, thank you! They say that the person we are harshest on is ourselves, and I am like, 99.99999999999999999 (repeated) percent sure that that statement was true. OOH! I like that idea! And Zelda can say, "That would've been a piece of cake, even without you!" Hah, get it? Because you accidentally posted the review at a weird autocorrect? Funnily enough, autocorrect just corrected the word autocorrect for me. I had no idea it was just one word! :O Anyway, I'll continue this at reply 2.0. (the second review) to make this reply seem somewhat less lengthy.

notaname (2.0): Don't worry about it! It happens! Too bad about it not being "Cake." It would've been interesting! "When Zelda reached the gigantic cake monument, it looked very enticing." (LATER) "After tracking the trail of the princess, Link found Zelda at the place where the world's largest cake had once been. It was gone, and Zelda had crumbs on her face. Link did not have the slightest idea where the monument went." THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: CASE OF THE MISSING CAKE. It'll be sixty five chapters, and at the end, they'll find out that Zelda was the one who framed Kirby for it. Then the king will wonder what's for dinner. MOVING ON (why on earth did I make a CDI reference? *Shivers*)! Hmm... I'm not sure Link would've let anyone catching him at a moment like that, but that would show how frustrated he was at himself... HMMMM... Yeah, not a bad idea! In fact, I could do that when she runs of to the shrine (that's not spoiler 'cause you've seen the cutscenes... right?). I have a fun story for that part! I would totally donate, but I'm saving money for a nice drawing tablet... and I'm also a money hoarder. I can give you a... a pencil? Wait, I'm a pencil hoarder, too... uh... eh, I'll give you... support! YES! Support! I personally prefer more breaks in between rather than a longer summer break, but that's just me (in case you didn't know, I'm REALLY WEIRD!). I thought that was funny! They really represented that they were flipping everything around in Zelda... literally (haha, get it? Because they switched the - oh, never mind.). Oh, phew! I almost had to add you to the li- PURAH, NU! NOT THAT ONE! I meant that one guy that I really hate that's over THERE! Wait... I don't feel so good... | Well, have a nice week!

ROLL THE TAPE!

Chapter 11: Ranting

Zelda, having been granted permission by her father, was currently packing her supplies onto her steed for the trip to Rito Village. Unfortunately...

"Return no later than necessary. If I hear of any last minute trip decisions, I will have to ground you to the castle for a month."

What with that last statement from her father, Zelda thought it preferable to stay on track. Not that she'd have to worry about it, anyway, what with her appointed knight following her. He would probably steer her right back on track if she so much as took a single step off the path.

Then again, she realized with a start as she dropped her diary into the saddle bag, she had never heard him speak. She had never heard anyone comment on his silence, either. Perhaps he was mute, and she was simply oblivious to a fact that all around her were already aware of?

She glanced at the knight out of the corner of her eye. Unlike the white stallion she was preparing, dubbed "Storm", the hero's horse was a chestnut mare with a snowy white mane. The mare looked a strong breed of draft horse, which wasn't too surprising. Draft horses were common to soldiers, as they could carry one that was heavily armored.

Even his horse seems fond of him, Zelda thought resentfully as the mare nudged the knight's shoulder playfully, while the knight remained blank-faced.

She turned back to Storm, placing a notebook for her research in the saddle bag. That was the last of her things, so she turned to her knight, hand gripping the reins to keep her stubborn horse in place.

The knight was packing a final bag onto his steed. The mare had more to carry than Zelda's horse, as it was Sir Link's job to keep all of the rations.

"Are you finished now?" Zelda asked formally, though the slightest rudeness slipped into her tone.

The knight turned to her and gave a stiff, curt nod. It seemed he either hadn't noticed her tone or wasn't showing it.

It was then that Zelda realized she really hadn't heard a single word from him. Maybe he is mute… though Zelda knew it would be extremely rude to ask such a thing. If he really was capable of speech, she was sure she would hear it sooner or later. After all, she was stuck with him.

"Let's be off, then," Zelda said quickly when she noticed the tense silence. "If we want to reach Hyrule Ridge Inn before sundown, it's best to get going."

With another nod from the perfect knight, Zelda led her steed out of the stables.

Impa had been doing paperwork when a pounding knock on her office door interrupted her thoughts. She looked up slowly, sensing the presence beyond the wooden barrier.

"Enter, Liari," Impa said tiredly.

The teen threw open the door to Impa's office, her rage heating the room.

"I assume you are not here for a lesson?" Impa guessed, though she knew exactly what Liari was here for. Angry thoughts were always the easiest to read.

"Link has isolated himself! Even from me!" Liari ranted. "You know better than anyone that he needs companions at this time - now more so than ever before!"

"What makes you believe that it is I that put these ideas into his head?" Impa asked tiredly.

"You told him to be more wary around us to prevent rumors! And now that there are rumors, he's completely cutting himself off from us!" Liari huffed.

"I told him to be wary," Impa said, "not to isolate himself. I'm sure he'll talk to us, so long as no one is around."

"You don't understand!" Liari growled. "He ignored me completely in the library!"

"Was he accompanying the princess?"

Liari did not reply. Her thoughts said it all.

"He wants to appear strong," Impa said. "A hero does not show weakness. People want a hero that is nothing less than perfect. Link wishes to live up to that expectation, and because of this, he needs to distance himself from others." Impa knew the feeling all too well, though the boy had thought it up himself rather than...

"You are to become a leader to the Sheikah, Impa. You must hide your passionate emotions. A leader does not show weakness, for those who follow them seek someone that is no less than perfect. Distance yourself from your need for companionship. You may have friends, but from here on, you are alone."

"He's… he needs help, Impa!" Liari cried out. "You can't let him do this to himself. He has a weight that is exponentially larger than yours. You may be able to handle such things alone, but he…" Liari's voice cracked. "...he needs help… how can one who is endangering their own wellbeing save all of Hyrule?"

"Why don't you ask Link?" Impa asked coolly. That boy has done more than anyone will ever know - including himself.

"He hasn't saved Hyrule yet," Liari argued. "And at this rate, it won't be happening anytime soon."

"You should have more faith in him," Impa scolded, hiding her surprise at Liari's lack of faith. "He's like a brother to you, is he not? With your attitude, it's no wonder his self esteem has been plummeting at such an incredible rate."

Liari looked down shamefully.

"We cannot make Link's decisions for him," Impa said sternly. "We cannot force him to confide in us, either. However, we can help him bear the weight of his burden by silently supporting him. You realize," Impa continued, "that he has done the same for you many times?"

Liari nodded, head still bowed low in shame. "That just makes it more difficult for me. He's always been there for me, even when I don't make the best decisions."

"Well," Impa started, "perhaps it would help you understand him better if you actually bothered to attend lessons. He went through many of them himself, you know."

Liari's head shot up, a strange look on her face. "...You're trying to come up with reasons for me to stop avoiding classes? At a time like this?"

"I am being quite serious," Impa shot back. "Unlike you, Link takes my lessons seriously. Did you ever consider that they may have influenced some of his actions?"

Liari opened her mouth to retort, before shutting it shortly afterward. Moments later, Liari finally replied. "...Yes?"

Impa sighed. "Finally learning vidensia might aid you as well."

"...You make a good point," Liari admitted quietly. "But I feel like reading his mind would be invading his privacy and betray his trust in me, causing him to isolate himself even more."

"He can't isolate himself more than he already has," Impa pointed out. "Think about it. He's shut off his emotions, pushed away his only support, and, though not voluntarily, has accepted a position as Princess Zelda's Appointed Knight."

Liari drew in a sharp breath. "That's it!"

Impa gave Liari a rare confused look, unaware of what it was Liari was thinking, as the girl's thoughts were rushing by at an incredible pace. "What?"

"The princess has many of the same struggles as Link, doesn't she?" Liari asked.

Impa nodded, eyebrow cocked. "I suppose they do."

"If they became friends," Liari continued, Impa narrowing her eyes at that last word, "then they could equally distribute the weight on their shoulders. Not only would Link have someone to open up to, but the princess would have someone to do the same! It's a win-win, right?"

"You misunderstand, Liari," Impa said, a slight harshness in her tone. "Link wouldn't dare become close to the princess on his own. The princess would have to make the first move towards friendship." Which is highly unlikely, considering she detests Link and everything about him. Impa thought it wise to exclude those last thoughts from her statement.

"Then we just put the princess up to it!" Liari said excitedly. "It's the perfect solution!"

Impa sighed, leaning her head on her hand. "I'll consider it. However, if I have still not made my decision or decide against it by the time they return, do not do anything to influence the princess. Am I clear?"

"What if they become friends on their own?"

"Then we have no say," Impa answered firmly. "Now get out of here… unless you want to finally have a lesson?"

"Actually," Liari began, "I wouldn't mind learning a bit of the code of the Sheikah Warrior."

Impa nodded, knowing Liari's reasoning."Then we'll begin."

"Today we arrived at Rito Village. My appointed knight is quite mysterious. I am still not sure if he is capable of speech or not. I did all of the speaking myself at the stable we rested at last night, though I suppose I didn't give him much of a chance.

"He's so silent, even in movement. I have not seen a single change in his blank stare, and it makes me wonder whether he even feels emotions. He is so stiff and disciplined that it makes me wonder if he was ever a carefree child. I highly doubt it.

"He truly is the perfect knight. It makes me wonder how he hadn't reached the rank of general. After all, he must have been trained at the castle his whole life… unless he began somewhere else. It is strange to realize that I know nothing of his background. I feel I would have heard of a young, prodigy knight.

"Tomorrow Revali is taking me to Divine Beast Vah Medoh to research the construction.

"It is time I get to sleep. It will surely be a long day tomorrow."

EDIT: I'M SORRY! I FORGOT THE FREAKING SECRET REVIEW PHRASE! SHAME UPON ME, AND ALL OF MY... UH... CATS. *Clears throat* Secret review phrase (not really a secret, but *shrugs*) shall be... cake! YES! CAKE! There we go. Sorry about that.

I recall the conversation between Impa and Liari being fun to write (I finished it last week, as is the way of my writing schedule). Turns out Liari is a ZeLink shipper (kind of, sort of, not really XD). Hey, whatever floats her boat.

That last entry was me trying to fill in the pages, while also skipping all of the traveling segments. Smart, eh? "Wow, you're amazing!" Thanks, Mom.

Huh. These Author's Notes seem so short now that I reply to all the reviews via PM. *GASP* ALMOST FORGOT THE GUEST REVIEWS! Imma go do that right now. BRB (Ew, text lingo).

Okay, I'm BACK! So, Pi day was just a few days ago. I memorized 21 digits of Pi for the occasion (not to toot my own horn or anything, but... TOOOOOOT!).

3.14159265358979323846... my favorite number.

So... I'm trying to make a cover for this story. I've been working on it for MONTHS, but all of the stuff I've drawn just doesn't seem to fit! Any ideas? I'm a bit desperate XD

ANYWHO... looks like that's all. REVIEW! Hope you enjoyed!

Sincerely (insert synonyms for "maybe"),

Ari