Note: Hey everyone, I apologize that I didn't post an update last week. I haven't forgotten about this story, just got caught up with college and all that. I'll make it up, I promise, but for now, I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's one of the longer ones this time around. Have a good one and Happy Veterans Day! To all those in the military, thank you for your service!

Chapter 17: Spring of Courage Pt. 2

The pair glided down from the Popla Foothills and landed softly on the cobble stone path just before the spring. It wasn't the normal way they arrived, but the place still brought them some nostalgia. Following their normal routine, Link took his place by the entrance and Zelda, already changed into her prayer gown, stepped into the water. After a few hours of silence, Zelda finished her prayers and looked up to the statue. As usual there was no response but after their incidents with all the other spirits and springs she almost expected to hear them. She sighed as she made her way back causing Link to turn around and look at her. He made his way over and offered his hand to help her out of the water. Before she could say her thanks Link spoke up.

"We've got a few hours till sundown. We can start looking for the Spirit of Faron now if you'd like."

Zelda thought it over, there were two main areas they would have to look for the spirit. "Do you plan on heading towards Lake Floria or Lake Hylia?" she asked.

"Not sure," he replied as he handed her a cloth to dry off, "I figure Lake Floria, less ground to backtrack when we head towards the desert."

"Sounds good to me" she said as she motioned for him to turn around.

Link did as instructed and Zelda changed back into her travel gear but she folded her sleeves up to help against the humidity. Zelda had considered not wearing the white undershirt that was part of her travel attire but reconsidered after deciding that it would be clothes unbefitting of a princess. So for the time being she would just have to put up with it, she glanced over at Link who was also starting to sweat slightly but he showed no discomfort. He never did. They walked alongside Dracozu River to the South until they they came across the normal path. She knew they were headed the right way when they finally crossed Sarjon Bridge and they were walking next to the Floria River. Their pace was quick and Link led the way, he wanted to make it to the shrine at Ubota Point by nightfall.

It was slowly getting cooler and the humidity was becoming more tolerable. The sun wasn't down yet but it splashed the sky with the warm reds and oranges and it sunk towards the West. Link watched as Zelda walked on the edge of the path, looking over the river. She spoke up, interrupting him from his thoughts.

"Where do you think we'll find the spirit?" Zelda asked, still looking into the water.

Link shrugged in reply.

"We found the others near the springs so it would be correct to assume that it should be nearby, right?" Zelda was quiet for a moment before speaking up again.

"Link, I'm still worried about the spirit we are supposed to find in the Hebra province," she turned to look at him before continuing, "at least here we have a spring to start our search but there isn't one in Hebra."

"I'm sure Elder Kaneli will know something that can help." Link said as he gave her a reassuring smile.

"I suppose so, it just makes me somewhat anxious to—" Zelda was cut off as she stared at something at the end of the trail.

Link followed her line of sight to the edge of Floria bridge and the group of people that were peering down into the lake. Zelda quickened her pace and Link followed suit, as they approached, a noticeable air of concern surrounded the mass. They were so focused that they hadn't realized their own princess come up behind them. Link and Zelda looked over the edge to find a green glow in the water just North of the bridge.

"What is that?" Zelda asked but Link was already reaching for the Sheikah Slate from where it hung on her hip.

She gave him a questioning look but he didn't say anything as he looked through the device. He eventually found what he was looking for as he spawned a few octorock balloons and some rope out of its seemingly infinite storage. Having found what he was looking for, he pushed his way to the front of the crowd and Zelda followed right on his heels.

"Link what's going on?" Zelda asked.

Link didn't turn to her until they reached the edge, Link pointed down the edge cliff where there was a little boy climbing down the cliff side. She only now realized the situation, the child must have been curious about the light and crawled down there. She thought to ask Link what they should do, but she was left speechless as he climbed onto the railing of the bridge. There were a few gasps in the crowd as link dove off into the water below. He quickly surfaced and climbed up to stop the kid before he got any lower. Link said something to the child before tying the balloons around his waist and activating the balloons carrying the kid up to the crowd.

A few cheered and thanked Link once they saw the kid coming up but he wasn't paying attention to them. Zelda noticed Link staring into the water, curiosity seemed to get the best of him as well. He dove into the water and sunk below the water, Zelda watched as his figure slowly disappeared into the water. A long time passed after Links figure disappeared beneath the surface. The crowd grew silent as they waited for him to come back up but there was still no sign of him and Zelda was starting to get worried. Suddenly, the water began to bubble and it quickly became very vigorous. The surface of the water crackled with electricity before the head of the dragon broke through spiraling straight into the air. Several people turned and ran towards the stable but Zelda remained looking for any sign of Link. Her eyes followed the serpents malice-covered body all the way down to the tail where she saw Link struggling to hold on as it whipped him around. The dragon suddenly turned just above the treetops and sped to the West.

Adrenaline began pumping through her veins as she sprinted to the nearest horse. She mounted it swiftly and urged the horse down the path to follow the dragon. Luckily the stable hands were too busy hiding inside to notice her taking the horse. She looked back towards Link who was now making his way slowly up the length of the dragon, but he was still noticeably struggling. Quickly retrieving her bow she knocked an arrow, letting the horse lead itself down the path. The trees blocked her line of sight for the most part, but she waited patiently for an opening. As the trees cleared, time seemed to slow down for her and the tip of her arrow began to glow in a bright yellow light. Though she didn't notice as her eyes had a tunnel-like focus on one of the eyes on the dragons back. She let loose the arrow which blazed through the air with a shocking amount of speed.

Links eyes widened as the arrow nailed its target with a surprisingly strong impact almost shaking him off. He was slowly making his way towards the head but Zelda had taken care of the first eye before he could reach it. Making eye contact with her for a moment, he simply gave her a nod and continued making his way forward. He wasn't sure what that arrow had been but it was far different from anything he'd ever seen. She seemed to regain her focus again as she was now firing off a volley of arrows, each shining just as strong as the first. Before they knew it they cleared the woods and were now just a couple hundred meters away from the Bridge of Hylia. Link was almost to the head, Zelda had taken care of most of the Malice but she couldn't see the last eye from down below so it was up to him to finish it.

Zelda anxiously urged the horse on, there was nothing she could do anymore. Link made it up to the head right as they were above the bridge and with as much strength as he could muster, drove the sword down into the final eye. The creature roared in response before it began plummeting downwards past the fountain in the center of the bridge, Link held on to the dragons single horn with all his strength. Zelda pulled back hard on the reins to stop the horse from running underneath the massive body that came crashing down. The bridge trembled shortly but managed to somehow stay up.

Amidst the silence following their battle, a familiar voice spoke up again in a way that was all too familiar.

"Thanks to your aid, Farosh, the spirit of the Faron region, has been cleansed from the grips of malice. One final spirit remains corrupted, you must find and free them from the remaining evil power that burdens its spirit."

Almost in response, the green serpent began to slowly drift up into the sky and both Link and Zelda watched it fly away. With its body out of the way, Zelda had a clear line of sight to Link who was sitting on the cobblestone of the bridge, he was noticeably exhausted.

Link stood, Master sword still in hand, as Zelda's horse quickly galloped closing the distance between them. She yanked the reins as she reached him and uncharacteristically leapt off of the horse and walked right up to Link.

"You're not immortal Link, you can't go off doing things like that, you'll be killed!" A frown creased her brow as she drove one of her fingers into his chest as she scolded him.

Link only blinked at her, so she continued to chastise him.

"Do you know how worried I was? At least tell me what you're planning, you aren't alone you know?! There's a fine line between being courageous and being arrogan—" she quickly stopped as Link wrapped his free hand around her lower back and pulled her closer.

"What are you—"

"You are incredible." Was all that Link said before planting a kiss right on her lips.

Her eyes widened as she felt him closer than she ever had before. It was unexpected, and he was still soaked but regardless, she still wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. She was still a little angry with him but she didn't yell as he pulled his lips away, still holding her close. It wasn't what she expected of their first kiss but it felt perfect in the moment.

"Just… be more careful.. please." She said more quietly.

Link smiled back at her, "I will."