Chapter 12 (Age 16)

"...and it was crazy. We went back to the Academy and ate some of Henya's stew after, but I swear, there was no way we could have done that a second time."

Link sat on the back of a bench, balancing precariously on the small surface, almost like it was a test of his skills. Or perhaps he was just showing off for Robyn.

She watched him with a curious expression on her face. "You've done everything with Zelda. There's no breaking the bond you two share, is there?"

Link grinned, chuckling as he shook his head. "I owe her everything. She was there for me when no one else was, you know? She's the reason I'm able to tell you a story today. She never gave up on me, even when I got into fights, never spoke, and had nothing to offer her."

Robyn moved closer to Link, almost leaning on his leg, but not daring to with his position on the bench. "You're not her friend because you think you owe her, right?"

"Goddess, no. She's perfect. The perfect friend. I mean… we fight, you know? I think we're fighting now. She hasn't really talked to me in almost a week. She's just been so distant for a long time now. I don't know what I did though."

Looking almost ashamed, Robyn looked away hastily. "I couldn't guess." She wrung her hands together and turned back to Link. "I've never had a guy friend as close as you two are. Does that ever get… odd? Confusing, even?"

Link thought for a minute. He wasn't exactly sure what she meant by odd or confusing. "No, I don't think so. Our circle is pretty tight. Me, Zelda, Pip, Fledge, Karane."

"It must be lovely."

"Yeah, it's cool. We all used to sneak out of the Academy and sleep under the Sky. But I haven't done that since…"

Robyn nodded, already knowing why he'd stopped. "Since something to do with Zelda?"

"Sorry," Link said quickly. "I can't believe Pip and Peatrice broke up though."

"No," Robyn said, taking Link's hand and pulling him gently off the bench. He landed with a soft thud and waited for her to continue. "No, wait. Don't change the subject yet."

"Okay," Link said, feeling confused.

Robyn moved right up against him and kissed him, softly and quickly. Like she was saying goodbye.

"Link… I like you. I really do and it makes me so upset to say this… but I can't do this anymore. I don't want to."

"Don't want to…what?"

Robyn took a deep breath. "I want to be with someone who thinks of me first. Maybe it's selfish, but I want you to tell stories about me. I want to have a conversation without hearing her name."

Dumbfounded, Link couldn't find words, his only rebuttal coming out in a small, breathless gasp.

"You talk about her constantly. About Zelda. I get that she's your friend, but I don't want to hear about another pretty girl while I'm out with you."

Finally, he found some words. "I've had nearly ten years with Zelda. She's my best friend."

"I don't talk about Peatrice the way you talk about Zelda. You don't talk about Pipit that way. You… it sounds like you're together with her. And when we're supposed to be together, you treat me like a friend. I don't want that. I don't need you to worship the ground I walk on, but I think I deserve something. I shouldn't feel like I'm a second choice, but I do."

"Listen," Link tried. "I swear… I won't even mention her to you."

"You can't help yourself. I don't even think you realize how often you do it. Even our first day together was 'Zelda this' and 'Zelda that.' You're too loyal and loving to stop talking about her. And I'd never ask you to stop being her friend, but I don't want to resent her and I already am! And it's because I can't compete with her. I can't compare with her. Not to you."

"She is just my friend."

"Is she? Are you sure? Because I feel like your friend. But do you kiss friends? No. Have you ever kissed her? Is that the only thing that's keeping her listed as your 'friend?'"

Link hesitated, hoping Robyn didn't see it.

But she did.

She scoffed, stepping further away. "Goddess, you have kissed her? No wonder! I can't believe it. I walked into this knowing you two were close, but I didn't know that. I don't know you had a thing."

"We didn't. It was years ago and it was just practice before she was in a play."

"Do you love her?"

"No!" Link spat back. "You're making up stories now."

"I don't think that I'm the one making up the stories. I like being your friend, Link, but that's not what this was supposed to be. I think you should probably go have a talk with your best friend. If you don't, you'll never be with anyone else because your relationship with her is going to scare any girl off. There's no competing with her. I liked you."

Link scoffed. "I don't get a second chance? None of this is even true, and you're just done like that?"

Robyn crossed her arms, hugging herself. "Whether it's real or not, it feels real. And being with you like this is making me miserable. I'm not going to be miserable, no matter how much I really like you. I think… we need a break at least. You need to figure out who she is to you once and for all."

"You're not asking me to pick between you and her, are you?"

"I don't know. I don't want to, but I think I might be."

Link shook his head and pushed his hair back from his face. "No. Don't ask that. You won't like the answer."

Robyn took steadying breaths. "These past few weeks have been great. Truly. She's the only thing that went wrong. But I can't. I'm sorry."

Robyn backed up and her shoulders shook as she turned to go back towards the Academy.

Link watched her go, wondering if this was some sort of test. Was he meant to go after her? Not if she didn't want to be with him. Should he find Zelda and tell her what had just happened, if only to hear her tell him how ridiculous everything was?

Numb, he walked back to the Academy, but he didn't go inside. Instead, he went around the side and into the Sparring Hall.

"Master Kos," he said, but stopped. Kos wasn't alone.

"Eagus?" Link said, greeting his friend. "You're back early."

Eagus smiled. "I wanted to see Tirra before going back out. And of course, the one and only Master Kos."

Kos rolled his eyes, his attention on Link. "He wants something… and so do you."

"I just wanted to spar."

"There are no lessons today. No one will be here to spar with you."

But Eagus stepped forward. "I don't mind it."

Master Kos turned to Link, watching him with a trained eye for a moment. "You don't want to fight today. Emotion is a great motivator, but also a great weakness for a fighter. You have to block out the world in a fight, and I don't think that's where your head is today."

Link didn't question how Kos could tell. It had to be written all over his face. "Please, Master. I'm having one of the worst days and I need something."

Kos looked to Eagus, who nodded his ascent. "Fine. Spar with Eagus. But don't complain. He won't be going easy on you today, so focus. I mean it, Eagus. The boy wants to spar, so spar."

"No, don't go easy on me," Link said, picking up one of the training swords and shields.

"A shield today?" Eagus asked curiously. "You've been practicing?"

Link adjusted it and looked at Master Kos.

"He has. He does very little else but train. Except whenever he gets into unnecessary fights with a certain student. Then he continues training without the Sparring Hall."

Eagus strapped on his own shield. "I hear you have quite the social life now as well. You balance it well?"

Eagus began to circle around Link, testing his footwork with the eyes of an instructor rather than an opponent. He knew Link wouldn't move first. It was something that Link always allowed Eagus to do, though Eagus never knew why. He tested him in a few varying stances, mostly defensive positions that Link would move into. Eagus nodded his approval at the way he held his shield. When he was satisfied with Link's progress, he mindlessly swung his sword around through his fingers, and Link did the same. It made Eagus chuckle for a moment, wondering who had begun to copy who. Link had always twirled his sword around while at rest, and Eagus couldn't remember if he'd been the one who did it first, or if Link had.

"Apparently not. I don't have a social life. Not anymore."

Eagus nodded, understanding just by Link's demeanor what he meant. "I see."

Regardless, he took a step forward and let Link counter it, still just testing the waters. Eagus had never seen Link fight with a shield before, and he wanted to make sure he knew how to use it safely before truly beginning.

"So that's why you're here? To ignore your emotions?"

Link tapped his shield impatiently. "I'm here to train."

Master Kos watched the two with interest. He would save any comments for the end, but it wasn't just Link he was watching. He had a new interest in Eagus, one that he hadn't told anyone at the Academy yet.

Eagus finally struck out with a hard thrust of his sword, one that Link could have easily matched, but Link let it hit his shield twice before meeting Eagus' blade with his own, thrusting it upwards in its momentum. The power behind the move had Eagus stagger, underestimating Link yet again. He had to keep reminding himself that his mentee was now growing up and no longer a child.

Though Eagus never lacked for caution, he swung his sword at Link's head, further back than he would have with a fully trained Knight to give Link more room to dodge. In truth, in the year Link was in, Eagus knew Link wasn't even supposed to take a headshot yet.

But Link didn't need any caution from Eagus. He ducked far lower than he needed to and skirted forward, landing a quick tap of his sword on Eagus' leg. They broke apart for a moment, and Eagus grinned, impressed by Link's speed. However, it gave Eagus a newfound realization of just how advanced Link had gotten.

He swung at Link's shield, catching the cross on the shield' edge and pushing it far out from Link's body, leaving him wide open. It didn't deter Link, and he used the opportunity to step forward and take advantage of Eagus' momentum to strike at him again.

Blow by blow, the two matched the other's sword. Their shields echoed with a heavy reverberation from the sheer force of being struck again and again.

Eagus gained the upper hand, having far more experience than Link and seeing his openings more quickly. He was able to push Link back to send him staggering for balance. Link kept his feet and felt more annoyed than anything. He took several quick steps toward Eagus and threw his shield-protected body against Eagus' sword, keeping it far beyond moving range, and struck Eagus' shield several times before Eagus was able to throw the boy back.

Eagus dared a glance at Master Kos. Though Eagus wasn't fighting to his full ability and had no intention to against a student-opponent, he was finding the fight against Link to be far more complex and difficult than he'd anticipated. Master Kos made a knowing face, a testament to Link's obvious skill.

Again, they clashed. The clang of metal was nearly deafening. There was hardly a break between the echoes, blow meeting blow in rapid succession. Link felt Eagus turn into him, his elbow colliding hard with Link's stomach. It sent him backwards, coughing, but he was back in position before Eagus could even ask if he was alright.

Another flurry had both men dodging the other, their hair matted against their faces with a fine sheen of sweat. Link's blade snaked between Eagus' shield and arm. Link froze, quick to be sure he hadn't injured his friend in his carelessness. But Eagus' eyes shone with devilish intensity and he raised his shield, twisting Link's trapped arm up into the air. Link groaned in pain, unable to free his arm.

"Do you give up?" Eagus asked, easily able to keep Link trapped in an incredibly uncomfortable position.

"Not quite," Link muttered, managing to kick out at Eagus, causing him to step backwards to avoid the jab. The motion gave Link the room to pull his hand free and, in the same motion, force Eagus to drop his shield. Link threw his shield off to the side and switched his sword into his other hand for a moment, needing his dominant arm to take a moment from the hard twisting it had just taken. But Link's eyes were still on Eagus, and if he'd needed a true break, he'd have stepped off to the side, a rule in the Hall. So Eagus pressed the moment and aimed to finish the fight quickly by disarming Link.

Link, however, was not one to shy away from training his non-dominant hand, and his left was not weak, as Eagus would have assumed. In fact, Link's ability to block him had Eagus stunned, assuming that the boy was just weak in his arm, like he and so many others were.

Lunging forward, Link aimed just shy of Eagus' head, a move that they knew if Eagus didn't counter would have been considered a winning blow, but Eagus could see it and brought his blade up to meet Link's. However, he nearly missed Link's quick feint to the side before bringing the covered pommel up to check Eagus in the jaw. Again, Eagus saw it just in time. What he didn't see quickly enough was Link throw his sword to the ground and twisting Eagus' own sword from the bottom, throwing him off balance and losing his grip on his weapon.

Link held it up, expecting Eagus to grab his own discarded sword, but instead, he backed up, winded. He noticed Link's own heaving chest as well.

"No, no, I yield on that one. You fought quite well, Link. You should be proud. You'll make an excellent Knight. If you were willing to fly, you could be an Outer Sky Knight like myself. No one would fear for your safety."

Link handed Eagus' sword back and picked up his own, putting that and the discarded shields away. "Too bad there will be no real use for me here."

"That's not true, Link. You'll protect the village. Do you remember when the Bazaar was threatened?"

"That happens, what, once every ten years?"

Eagus rolled his eyes. "You want danger on Skyloft?"

"Of course not."

"Then be grateful."

Master Kos stepped down and stood between them. "Link, you are good. And you being on Skyloft would be a waste. Think on that, because it's true. The best Knights: Eagus, Pipit's father Bek, myself in my youth… we need men and women like you to take to the unexplored Sky because you have a talent not unlike what's told in legends. It's raw, and still in need of tempering, but your skill is undeniable. You just fought a trained Knight and you're not even of age to have your own Loftwing. So yes, you being on Skyloft will be a waste of your talents."

Link felt a great weight settle over him. "You…" he paused and thought better of it.

"What?" Eagus prodded.

Hesitating, Link figured that they were the only ones who could understand. "You take the Outer Sky routes and you don't have a life outside of it. How many days do you spend out there before coming back? Who waits for someone like that?"

Master Kos nodded, knowing Link didn't mean trivial friendships. "It's true, I didn't find anyone myself, but that was my choice. Bek has Mallara… Pipit's parents."

Eagus clapped Link on the back. "It's consuming, being out there for weeks sometimes. But it makes homecoming sweeter. I've never been closer to Tirra than when I come back to visit her."

"That's your family," Link countered, preparing to leave. "They have no choice but to wait."

Kos held up his hand to stop Eagus from responding. "Go, Link. Clear your head and think about this. Everything happens by the Goddess' design. Your anger and sorrow will fade and you'll have a clearer head."

"I'm not angry," Link said, thinking hard about it. Robyn had made him angry at first, but it was something completely different. It wasn't anger or sorrow. It wasn't heartbreak. He hadn't loved her. But there was some feeling that he couldn't place just sitting on his chest.

Master Kos moved beside Link and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You've been angry for nine years, Link. Let it go."

That's not what Link had expected from Kos, but he and Eagus left Link inside alone with his thoughts.

When Link headed into his room after washing off the sweat from his sparring match, he heard someone call out his name from atop the stairs. He groaned when he saw Gaepora. Somehow, Robyn had to have gone to him. She had to. No Sparring Hall again.

"Link," Gaepora called again, though it was more urgent and annoyed than it had been moments ago.

Link took the steps two at a time and stood before the headmaster.

"Link, the world is a complicated place. You know that. And I see you as a son-like figure in my life, regardless of what you might think at times. That's why I feel obligated to ask you…"

Link rolled his eyes, waiting for it.

"...who has my daughter been sneaking off with?"

Link's eyebrows shot up. "What?"

"I've gotten reports that have seen her riding Loftwings with someone, sneaking out at night and during the day. I'm afraid for her, and I trust you. Please, I need to make sure she's safe. It's reckless behavior, and I have to protect her. Who is it?"

"I-I…" Link stuttered. He let out a small gasp, still trying to wrap his head around it. "She… I don't know, sir. I have barely seen her. I've had… my own problems."

"Problems?" Gaepora chuckled for a moment. "Is that what you call Robyn?"

Scoffing, Link wondered how many people would know by the end of today. "We aren't together, sir. We had… problems."

"Oh, I see. Unfortunate, but that's how life is. You'll bounce back."

"I'm fine, Headmaster. But about Zelda… you should find Karane if you really need to know. I truly have no idea what you're talking about."

"I'd thought of that," Gaepora said with a sly smile. "Karane won't talk to me about Zelda. Not freely or without secrets. I know she will talk to you. Please, find out what you can and find Zelda. Just… just watch her. See who it is that she's with and bring her home."

"That's not my place."

Gaepora eyed Link. "You care about her, right? She's your friend?"

"Obviously," Link said, beginning to feel defensive.

"Then you have to go find her and get her away from whoever that delinquent is. She's not even old enough to fly without a trained Knight."

"Headmaster, I'm going to find her because I need to talk to her. But, I'm not dragging her back here. You can take more time in the Sparring Hall from me, but I won't tell her what to do."

Gapora nodded once, though his disapproval was blatant. As Link walked away, he could hear Gaepora mutter something about teenagers.

Link headed outside and went straight for the side of the waterfall, where he and Zelda would hang out. She wasn't there, but he didn't really expect her to be. He wasn't doing this for Gaepora. He had to figure out what exactly happened with Robyn. He had to look at Zelda and see if there was some feeling that he didn't understand. He just had to know.

After exploring a fair bit of Skyloft, Link finally spotted Karane hopping off one of the training Loftwings. She and Pipit were so close to getting their own.

"Karane!" he called before she could take off. "Karane, have you seen Zelda?"

"Yes."

Link waited, but Karane made no move to speak. "Can… you tell me where she is?"

"Wait here. She'll show," Karane looked around quickly before glancing at the sun. "I have to go. I'm meeting someone at the Bazaar."

Link stepped off to the side and let her pass. With a hard sigh, he waited by the platform. It seemed there was some credibility to what Gaepora had been saying, especially if she wasn't flying with Karane.

But when he saw a billow of blonde hair his eyes latched on to the Loftwing… and the rider.

He could see tousled red hair in front of her, and as they flew by, he could see her holding on tightly to the rider. He crossed his arms and rolled his eyes as the rider made a hard bank towards Skyloft, clearly showing off, before landing and letting Zelda down.

She kissed his cheek before hopping onto the ground.

Link's eyebrows shot up.

When she turned and noticed Link, she waved a quick goodbye to the rider and went straight for Link. "You saw that, huh?"

"Who is that? Are you with him?"

Zelda made a face. "His name is Corbett. He's in Saffron and Hawke's class. You must have met him before. But no, we aren't together. Not really. We're just hanging out."

Link took a deliberate step inside Zelda's personal bubble. "You kiss everyone you hang out with? Should I feel left out?"

Zelda pushed him away. "Stop it. Besides, you shouldn't feel left out. Not when you have Robyn."

Link noted the change in her tone, almost forgetting entirely why he was there in the first place. "What's wrong with Robyn?"

"Nothing. Just don't judge me and my choices."

"I wasn't. I haven't spoken to you in days and I find out you're flying around and sneaking out with some guy who's graduating? I just thought maybe, as your friend, you'd have clued me in."

"Sneaking out? Says who?" Zelda asked, suddenly defensive.

"Your father."

"My…" Zelda ran her hands along her face. "He knows about Corbett? And I'm still alive?"

Link put his hands in his pocket, if only so Zelda couldn't see the slight tremor in them. "He doesn't know who, and he sent me to drag you back."

"You're his spy? He wants to make you drag me back?"

"Goddess, Zelda," Link said, scoffing. "It's not like I'm reporting to him. He just told me. But he shouldn't have been the one to tell me that you're with some guy."

"You wanted me to break up an evening between you and Robyn to let you know about my life? I'll just join you at the table next time. You know you spend all your time with her."

Feeling a raging need to defend himself, and also some unexplained feeling about this Corbett, Link grabbed Zelda's arm to stop her from walking away from him.

"I've come over almost every night to try to talk to you, and you either weren't there or wouldn't see me. I guess it's because you've been 'hanging out' with your new Knight. Who cares about an old friend?"

"Stop. You sound like a child, Link." She took a steadying breath. "I'm having a lot of fun with Corbett, but I don't want to marry him or anything. I don't even want to actually be with him. I just want to have some fun for once, and he's okay with that. I basically have no one else. Pipit and Karane are so busy studying now that they're really getting close, you have Robyn, and Fledge doesn't do the same things I like to do."

"I don't have Robyn, and I never stopped trying to see you. You're ridiculous. You have me."

"What?" Zelda asked, her face slipping into one of genuine concern, and even a hint of a sparkle in her eye. "What happened?"

"We… just didn't work."

"Did you… or did she…?"

"She did."

Zelda shook her head and grabbed Link, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm so sorry, Link."

Link's arms were loose at his side for a moment, realizing that his heart had sped up and his body burned where she made contact with him. But it was a good burn, and he wrapped his arms around her, reveling in the warmth.

But Zelda pulled away all too soon. "Are you okay? Really?"

Feeling the loss of her in his arms more acutely than ever, he realized something. He was completely okay. And he knew why. He knew what that feeling had been when he'd seen Corbett with Zelda. And he knew why Robyn had left him.

"I…"

Zelda took his hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

"I'm fine," he finally choked out.

"Good. I know I never really lost you, but I felt like a third wheel, you know? That's why I didn't stick around. I didn't want to be around you two and make things awkward or uncomfortable for anyone." Especially me, her brain added. "I'm so glad we can be friends again."

"Friends," Link repeated. "Yeah."

"Yeah."

Link shook his head, trying to shake his daze. "As your friend, I have to say something."

"Go ahead," Zelda said warily.

"He likes you. Corbett. If you don't think it's serious, I guarantee you, he does."

Zelda rolled her eyes and started to walk away. "Don't start already, Link."

But Link matched her stride. "He's risking his graduation to impress you. He could be kicked out of the whole program for letting you on that Loftwing with him. You can't fly yet, and if your father found out who he was, he'd knock Corbett down a year. You know that, and he knows that. He likes you way more than you think."

"What makes you an expert?"

Link grinned, lost in his thoughts. "Because, it's what I would do if I had a Loftwing and liked someone. I'd take them all over the Sky, especially if they were stuck on Skyloft. And I'd stand up to her father, too."

"That's not even funny, Link."

"I didn't say it was. You need to get a clear answer from your Knight, then, because he's risking it all, and your father is on the hunt for whoever it is."

Zelda's mouth fell open. "He's… I can't. I can't do anything. This is exactly why I needed Corbett! I'm trapped all the time. Trapped and alone and suffocated! Do you think I like being looked at by everyone the way I am? I'm the only one who's staying behind. I'm the only one who's father is making sure they don't get a chance to live! I'm choosing to be trapped under his gaze forever! I never even considered... and now... it's all just too late."

"Zelda…"

"You're a part of it, Link. Just give me a minute to breathe!"

"Okay," Link said, literally backing up. "I'm going to go report in to your father."

Zelda turned on him, her eyes narrowed and shooting daggers at him. "What are you going to do?"

Link held his arms out at his sides, a gesture of peace. "Don't trust me? I'm going to do what you'd do for me. I'm going to go get you out of trouble with him. But you might want to tell your Knight not to mention your adventures to Gaepora. I'm not throwing him under the bird. We'll straighten out our stories later tonight if you let me buy you an apology meal at Piper's."

Zelda hesitated for a moment. It was Link, just Link. But something about the way his demeanor had changed...

"Fine," she agreed, "but no soup."

Link grinned, walking backwards. "I'm a pauper, Princess, but I'll try."

"That's not a real word!" she called with a laugh as he jogged back to the Academy. She crossed her arms and let a large smile unabashedly spread across her face.

Goddess, she had missed him more than she would ever admit.

A/N: Let me just say that I don't think I've ever written a follow-up chapter this quickly. I think I have this whole thing re-written and done about four hours after I posted the last chapter and I've just been letting it sit here in the Doc Manager since yesterday. AND I started another fic in the meantime that may or may not end up published eventually which means I'm definitely ignoring some of my actual responsibilities to just sit here and write! I am thinking this will end on chapter 20 (or 21 if you go by Fanfic's counting system), so that's my current train of thought on that.

Review: Guest: *types from hiding under the table* While I actually wanted to keep it going for a bit longer, I'd rather keep plowing forward to see how they deal with everything that's just happened.