A/N: In which Zelda gets love advice from a 12-year-old

aurica kosza- You're absolutely right, I had nothing to apologize for. I mostly just wanted to make it clear that I'm not romanticizing unhealthy relationships, but I've never been a writer before so this is all kind of new to me. Thank you for the advice, though :) I'll remember next time!

Anon - Baby, you were not problematic! What you said was seriously justified. You are forgiven, of course. Thank you so much.

I do not own Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

They hadn't spoken. Not a word. And it was absolutely for the best.

Link wanted to talk to her. He wanted to tell her he was sorry for being a major... gah, was there even a word?

Link was never good with words. Not like Zelda was.

Even when they reached Kara Kara Bazaar, he nodded to her, she nodded back, and he left to get water while she bought a few hydromelons and the like. It was nearly how it was a century ago, worse even. He needed to leave her, although it pained him to admit it. He was a knight, a socially awkward one at that, and she his princess.

He never stood a chance.

When they arrived at the gates, Link did his best to ignore the disdainful looks given to him by the guards. It had taken a while to reach that point, as they were walking once the heat became too much for Storm and she didn't want the close intimacy that the fifth Divine Beast brought them. Or, at least, he figured she didn't. They hadn't spoken.

He cleared his throat, albeit a little loudly on accident, forcing her to give him her attention. Her gaze was like solid ice when it was once a warm rainforest. Oh, maybe he should visit Faron? At least the people of Lurelin Village didn't treat him like a jerk... which he deserved. Never mind, he should go somewhere everyone hates him and throws food at him.

Oh. That was in the Heavens, with Revali.

He inwardly shook his head. Since when was he self-pitying?

"This is goodbye, Princess," he said. "It has been an honor serving you, and I give you my best wishes."

Swallowing, he knelt before her, slowly unsheathing the Master Sword that rested on his back. He plunged it into the sand next to him. She narrowed her eyes.

"What are you doing?" He was surprised to find that her tone wasn't angry or cold, more curious than anything.

"I am returning what rightfully belongs to Hyrule, not to a lowly knight," he answered, sweat dripping down his neck from the heat of the desert. He wasn't a lowly knight, they both knew so. He just happened to be a commoner.

She didn't move for a few moments before taking the sword and tapping him lightly on each shoulder. "I, Princess Zelda Hyrule, formally relieve you of your duties as a knight of Hyrule. You may rise, Link."

He grimaced as he stood. Tapping him with the shoulder was not necessary, this she knew. He bowed his head once more before turning away and making his leave.

"Tell Riju I said hello," he called from over his shoulder.

And like a ghost, he was gone.

"That's not like Link," Riju said, after Zelda had spilled everything.

They'd become close friends rather quickly. It didn't take long for Zelda to start crying (again - it was like she never ran out of tears) and for her to tell Riju just what had happened in the short few weeks she'd been back.

"N-not like him?" Zelda hiccuped. "I k-know that... He's just so awful at communicating, and-"

"He's a jerk unfit to be both your boyfriend and the ruler of Hyrule, right?" Riju said.

Zelda nodded.

"And he left?" she continued.

"Yes!" Zelda exclaimed. "I can't believe him!"

Riju looked at her thoughtfully. "You also couldn't believe him when he came looking for you after you ditched him."

Zelda sniffed. "Well..."

"And you also couldn't believe him when he did X, Y, and Z," she continued. "Do you want to be with Link?"

"Yes, of course I do!" Zelda then came to a realization. "Wait- so, I go after him, right? Like in the books?"

Riju groaned. "No, Princess!" she said. "You both need some alone time, and it's kind of sad when you have to hear that from a kid who's never been in a relationship or really ever interacted with any guy except for Link, you know?"

Zelda frowned. "So what do I do?"

Riju put their hands together. "Stop thinking about him. I know he'll always have a special place in your heart, and maybe one day he can get his life together, but for now, we have bigger things to worry about," she said. "Like becoming the greatest ruler Hyrule has ever seen."

Zelda looked at her doubtfully. She already loved Riju. The girl was so much like Urbosa while simultaneously being her own person, and she had her own insecurities about ruling her people. They weren't so different... but she'd never been in love. She'd never known how difficult it was to let go of someone who was your destiny.

"I love him," she bluntly said. "I can't stop thinking about him. It's not that simple."

Riju thought for a minute. "Have you tried writing letters?"

"Letters?" Zelda asked, hugging the stuffed Patricia closer to her.

She nodded. "Yeah. I mean, you don't necessarily have to send them or anything, but just writing to him to get your frustrations out is good, I think."

"No... I think I should send them. Even if they don't reach him, I... I want there to be a chance that, if he is equally frustrated with me, he can also let those emotions out," Zelda concluded.

"Alright," the young chief agreed. "You can share your emotions with your knight in shining... uh, blue. He likes that color."

Zelda giggled. "Well, it does bring out his eyes."

"You want me to... write her a letter?"

"Yes!" Sidon said. "You love her, don't you?"

Link fidgeted with his tunic. "Er, I mean, I never said that-"

"Aww," Sidon gushed. "So, then it's settled. You will write her letters and proclaim your love." He flashed Link his signature smile that the boy swore blinded everyone within a fifty mile radius. It was like a weapon by itself.

"Yeah... no," Link said. "There is no way, after I told her to shut up and left her, that she wants a letter telling her how much I love her."

As Sidon pondered this, Link thought about Mipha. He'd read her diary saying how in love she was with him, and she'd given him the Zora armor... maybe they'd had something in the past?

"Hey, Sidon?" Link said. "Were Mipha and I ever... you know..."

Sidon smiled sadly as he wrote something down on a piece of paper. "No, I don't believe so. It would seem as though your heart has always belonged with Princess Zelda."

Link tried to peer over Sidon's shoulder to see what he was writing, but the prince was much larger than him. He didn't comment on the Mipha situation, and instead let his mind wander to other topics.

"What is that?" he asked. "A thank-you letter to your fanclub?"

Sidon chuckled. "Oh, no. An old friend of mine and I just exchange letters sometimes. Speaking of which, whenever you're ready, there's parchment just itching for ink to be spilled onto it."

Link's confusion was openly displayed. "Why would you spill ink on perfectly good parchment when you could..." Sidon gave him a look. "Oh. I knew that."

"Thank you again," Sidon whispered. "Just don't be too loud. I doubt the Hylian champion ever even sleeps."

"You have nothing to be worried about. I am a master of stealth, Your Highness."

Sidon nodded. "Good, good. I would normally do it myself, but just in case Link wakes up early, I want to make sure I'm still here. I can pay you if you'd like."

"No, Highness, I am just happy to be serving you."

"Right, well, be sure to tell Ramella I said hello and give her my thanks," Sidon said.

"Will do. She's always happy to hear from customers."

Sidon sighed. Link and Zelda loved each other, they obviously had for a very long time, but those two really needed to get their priorities straight.

"You got it?"

"Yeah, I got it."

They'd met up at Gerudo Canyon Stable in the dead of night, their backs to each other as to not draw too much attention... although it did look pretty strange to Piaffe, who for some reason never slept.

He handed her the a sealed envelope, which she quickly threw into her bag.

"Sidon says hello, and he'd like to give you his thanks," he said.

She nodded, although he couldn't see her. "Of course. It's been a while since I was in Gerudo Town, anyway."

"I'll be off then. I'll see you in, say, two days? Prince Sidon says Master Link will be staying for a little bit."

Ramella snorted. "I have a feeling Riju will have a lot to catch Sidon up on. Let's say three."

"Deal."

"Ramella, I am glad to see that you're safe and well!" Riju half-whispered, welcoming the older Gerudo.

"Of course, chief. I have the letter from Prince Sidon," she replied.

"Shhh!"

"Ah, sorry, I keep forgetting we don't have real walls," Ramella said, also lowering her voice to a whisper. "The princess is a light sleeper?"

Riju chuckled lightly. "Oh, no. She will only wake to thunder, probably. But... well, you know how the other Gerudo feel about voe."

Ramella nodded, withdrawing the letter from her pack. "It's amazing that you can get away with this. Buliara doesn't even know?"

"I know everything the chief does," came a booming voice from behind her.

Riju smiled and Ramella jumped. Well, that's not creepy.

"A-ah, I see."

Makeela,

She rolled her eyes at her first name. Everyone called her Riju except for Sidon, of course.

I trust you are well? Link has arrived, just as you expected, although it is without the princess. He tells me she is with you.

He also tells me of the troubles their relationship has been suffering through as of late. He says he loves her very much, and that he would like to be with her the rest of his days. I would not be surprised if she felt the same way. I have not met her since her return, and yet the few times I did meet her as a child she did seem drawn to Link, as anyone would. He is an amazing person, albeit rather awkward when it comes to wooing a lady.

I have suggested he write her letters, although of course he doesn't have to send them. Of course, I do suspect it will take a while before he even begins to write anything. He leaves in four days, is what he tells me. He may leave earlier, but I do not doubt that he feels like he's burdening us with his presence. Although, why he would think so is beyond me. Everyone here adores him - he's even got his own fanclub since overcoming Vah Ruta!

I hear Princess Zelda will also be staying for a bit to research the Divine Beast. I may get Link to also "help" her with Vah Ruta. He doesn't have to speak to her directly, if she'd like, I can report his findings myself.

I believe that is all. Do write back soon. I like hearing about the desert.

Your friend,

Sidon

Riju folded the paper back up and returned it to its envelope, sticking it in her drawer. She'd write back tomorrow. It was late, and Zelda likely wanted to see Vah Nabooris as soon as possible.

She climbed into bed next to the sleeping princess (who had a room for her, but fell asleep after she'd cried for so long) and turned her back to her, a smile playing on her face.

Perhaps, when she was older, she could find someone like Sidon.

"Link? Link!" Aryll cried. "You're not seriously leaving, are you? I-I can feel it..."

Zelda was obviously startled by the girl's outburst. She'd only spoken to her a few times after their mother's bakery had been promoted to the number one go-to place for the royal family.

Link knelt down so they were eye-level. "Aryll, it's okay. Nothing is going to happen."

Tears ran down the younger girl's face as she stared at him with anger in her eyes. "No, you don't understand! I can feel the Calamity! It's coming, Link."

He pulled her into a hug. "You have nothing you need to worry about, kid. Everything will be fine. Even if the Calamity strikes while we're gone, we'll just kick its butt, I swear."

She wrapped her arms around him, crying into his shoulder. "O-okay," she sniffed. "But... but I think Mom and I are going to take a vacation t-to Hateno while you and Dad do all your lame knight stuff."

Link understood the worry. Of course the threat of the Calamity had been looming over their heads for about a year now. He could feel it getting closer, as well. He didn't even believe himself when he told his sister, now thirteen, to not worry. In fact, he highly encouraged his family to take a trip to their hometown and stay until the Calamity passed.

"Shh, little bokoblin, it's okay," he murmured.

She punched him lightly in the shoulder and gave him a half-hearted laugh. "C'mon, you know I hate that nickname."

He laughed alongside her as Zelda watched on, never saying a word.

Link shot up, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Aryll had survived.

A/N: If anyone can guess who Aryll's descendant is before I upload the next chapter, I will give you my social security number, haha. (Joking, joking.)

I do want to say that there will be no romantic relationship between Riju and Sidon, because I realize that's kind of how I framed it... oops. They're like brother and sister. If Riju were older, it might be different, but for now she might have a teensy crush on him because, come on, even I'm in love with Sidon. But for real, she's like 12.

Be sure to review!

Kisses,

Cherry