How They Met Pt.1

Once he turned 16, Link was allowed to legally own a weapon. He practiced with wooden swords and was ready for a real one. After putting on a long-sleeved white shirt and his usual brown pants, he left.

On his way, he noticed something on his left hand that didn't make sense. It glowed. It glowed in the shape of a triangle. Once he observed it, it disappeared.

Even though he wanted to purchase a sword, he decided to at least look into it.

In town, he heard a name whispered… Ganon.

It was a name he knew vaguely, but as a sort of boogeyman in stories he heard as a child. He didn't really believe such a creature existed… at least before today.

As he kept looking for a store, he felt someone was watching him. Even though he was in a crowd, he felt someone's eyes were on him. Turning to look, he saw a hooded figure turn away. Feeling that this was the person, Link followed them.

He would continue until they made it to what looks like an abandoned bar. There, he confronted the figure, whose back was turned.

"I saw you!" Link shouted. "Who are you?"

"Someone has been waiting for you." Said the figure.

It was a female voice, one that sounded wonderful to his ears.

"And you are?" Link asks.

The figure puts their hood down, showing long blonde hair. It was a lighter shade than his hair, but a darker shade that his sister.

She turns around, and Link's mouth became agape with a flushed look.

This person was a young woman, around his age. She was… beautiful. Her smile was warm. Her eyes were a blue-green that almost made him melt. Link noticed by her ears she was a Hylian, like himself.

"Forgive me, but I had a dream that this was the day we would meet…" She said.

Link's face turned red.

"M-meet me?" He says.

"We need you."

"We?" Link asks, the red on his face fading as he realizes she doesn't mean what he thought.

She walks to him and touches his face with both her hands. This causes him to flinch and turn red again.

"A Hylian, just like me." She says. She feels his ears, causing him to turn brighter as he feels her fingers. "I like your hair color, and your skin is surprisingly soft." She notices now how bright he is. "Oh!" She lets go. "Forgive me, I don't know that many men my age." She steps back. "I did not mean to make you uncomfortable."

"No!" Link answered. "I'm not used to girls my age!"

She looks at him curiously. "Are… you-"

"I like girls!" Link answered quickly.

The young girl blushes. "I see."

Link realizes what his words suggest. "That doesn't mean that I-" He stops. "Anyway, you said you needed to meet me?"

"Yes. It's important that we-" Her stomach grumbles. This causes her face to flush as she smiles. "Forgive me, I haven't eaten since breakfast."

"Oh…" Link pulls out a bun. "I was saving this for a snack, but you can have it."

"Thank you." She takes it in her hands and takes a bite. "Delicious." She says. Link smiles as she eats it. Once she opens her eyes, his smile drops to avoid her thinking anything wrong. "My name is Zelda, and what may I call you?"

"Who, me? My name is Link."

"Link?" She smiles warmly. "I think that's a nice name."

Link blushes. "Thank you, Zelda."

"Anyway…" Zelda clears up. "I need you to come with me."

"Oh, but I… okay." Link says. He doesn't want to make this girl upset.

After following her for a time, Zelda takes Link to the castle gates. Zelda walks up to the guard and he opens for them.

"Come." Zelda says to Link.

He tries to object to entering the castle, but nods and comes along.

He follows her for a time before they encounter an old woman with red eyes waiting at the castle's main hall.

"Well, hello Princess. I see you found him."

"I did indeed, Impa." Zelda answers.

Link's jaw dropped.

"Princess?" Link stares at Zelda.

"You seriously don't know the princess of your home land?" Impa asks.

Link just freezes before bowing down.

"Your grace! Forgive me!" Link panics.

Zelda chuckles. "Don't worry, Link. You are my guest."

Link looks up, then sighs in relief and gets up.

"So, you said you needed me?" Link asks.

Zelda nods, a serious look on her face.

"Are you aware of Ganon?" She asks.

"The legendary monster of story?" Link asks.

"He is no story." Impa adds.

Link chuckles, but drops when he notices how serious the two are. "You're serious?"

They both nod.

As Link's time with Zelda continues, he's told of how he's the chosen hero of this generation who must slay Ganon upon his resurrection. Zelda tells him of three locations where he must prove himself worthy of the only weapon that could harm Ganon. She also warned him of Ganon's plot to take over the castle, and the she must remain inside with her father. Link thought it was a terrible idea, but he went along with it.

During their time in the castle, Link told Zelda of how he has to get a sword, as today was the day he was meant to buy one.

"Oh dear, I apologize." Zelda said. "I will see if one of the knights in the courtyard will let you take one."

"Thank you, Zelda."

"Ahem." Impa goes. Link looks to her and wonders why she did that. "That's your princess, Link."

Link gasps then bends down in respect. "Please forgive me, your grace!"

Zelda shakes her head disapprovingly at Impa before smiling at Link.

"It's alright, Link. Anyway, I need to change out of this robe. Meet me outside."

At the courtyard, Link saw several knights practicing swordplay. Link admired how anyone who wore the armor was someone who their lives for the good of the kingdom. He saw one sword unused in a box and went to pick it up. An armored hand grabs his arm.

"Hold it, novice!" A knight with a gruff sounding voice says, pulling Link's arm away. "What are you doing here, are you a thief?"

Before Link could answer, Zelda stepped in.

"He is my guest!" Zelda snapped.

Link gets a good look at her. Zelda is now in a royal attire. She wears a pink top with a white dress, adored with gold that was bejeweled with sapphires. Link's face flushed now that he can see her in the light.

"Princess!" The knight bowed down after letting Link go. "Forgive me! I did not know."

"That is no excuse for rudeness." She says. She looks to Link, now smiling. "Go ahead, Link."

He takes the sword. The knight now leaves as Link takes a moment to feel the weapon in his hand.

"Thank you, Zel- I mean, Princess!" Link says.

"You needn't worry." Zelda says. "Can I count on you?"

"Well, yes. But I need to know something." Link points to the other knights. "Why not ask one of them to go through this? Why ask a nobody?"

Zelda shakes her head with a smile.

"You are not a nobody, Link." He blushes at her words. "I don't know why you'd think that. But to answer your question, you saw how that man acted?" Link nods. "Some of these knights aren't trained in anything other than swordplay. Even then, most of them aren't that good." Link looks again and notices many of them are just swinging blindly. "I can sense you are a nice person."

"Oh… thank you." He says.

Zelda looks at Link's outfit.

"Before you go… you will need something new to wear."

"Huh?"

"Please follow me." Zelda returns inside, Link follows her. They find a small room near Zelda's bedroom, where a chest was found. "This was something my mother had made in case the hero of my generation was found. Open it and put it on."

Once she says this, Zelda leaves the small room.

Link opens it and, once getting a good look at it, smiles and holds it up.

After 10 minutes, Link steps out. He wore a green Hylian tunic, Hylian pants, brown boots, brown finger-less gloves and, surprisingly, a green cap.

"It suits you." Zelda says.

"Really?" Link asks. "I mean, I like green, not sure about the cap though."

"I think it looks cute." Zelda says with a smile.

Link blushes.

"Well… I'm sure I can get used to it."

Link remembered how he spent his time since then looking for the areas she directed him to, fighting monsters and evil creatures that proved that Ganon and his forces are real. He was fighting monsters.

But that was two years ago. He stops reminiscing when he makes it to the gates. Link nods to the guards, who let him in.

Smiling, Link walked in. He made his way to the castle, when he saw a familiar figure. It was the princess herself, in a blue, long-sleeved top and black pants.

"Zelda." Link says as he reaches her.

"Link." She says with a smile.

He gives her his arm. "Shall we go?"

She takes it.

"Let's."

Meet Cute!

By the way, these are not based on specific versions of Link and Zelda or any other characters. These are just distilled versions.