"Wake up. You're going to be late." Zelda said, pulling off Link's blanket.

Link, slowly, woke up. He saw Princess Zelda looking over him. That caught him off guard. Normally, women aren't allowed to enter the sumo stable. It was practically against the rules set aside ages ago when it started to become popular. Link, being the modest person he is, adheres to this rule. He quickly at up and tried to cover the best he could with what he had.

Link knew very well the rules of the stable. Particularly this one. There was quite a bit of rules that was established long before Link had ever entered. These are the rules that Link agreed on:

This stable provides shelter and training to the best sumo wrestlers in Hyrule. There shall only be men above the age of 18 accepted in. If a women is caught in the stable, then she must serve imprisonment for three days for trespassing. All sumo wrestlers here must present good behavior both in and out of the stable as they represent us. If bad behavior is presented, there shall be a warning. If it is presented again, then they are disqualified in the next tournament. If continued, then they must get out of the stable immediately upon order. All sumo wrestlers must show respect to leaders and to the royal family. They must also participate in all events in the kingdom. The young sumo wrestlers are responsible for the cooking and the cleaning. Finally, all sumo wrestlers must be present at all practices. If a sumo wrestler is unable to participate, then they must speak to the proper authority to be excused.

Link, knowing the rules, said with shock, "What are you doing here? "

"Isn't it obvious? I came to get the man on honor." Zelda said.

"You know that there's punishment."

"Link, I'm the princess. I can pardon myself for just this once."

Link, thinking about it, said, "I guess you can." They both laughed at what Link said.

"Seriously though, you got to get ready for the party. You don't want to miss out on your very own party."

"Can you first step out of the room?"

"Sure thing." Zelda went out of the room, making sure that the door was closed behind her.

Link got out of bed and stretched after taking a well-deserved nap after the tournament. He changed back into his mawashi as it was custom for sumo wrestlers do such at these festivals. Normally, he would have another sumo wrestler help him, but he can easily tie his own mawashi by himself after doing it plenty of times before.

***

Link's first time wearing a mawashi was before his first practice. He embraced having to wear one, feeling an honor it bestowed him. However, the one thing he hadn't realized was how public it was to put it on. Everyone was out in the main training room, naked with no shame at all. Link was there, with his mawashi over his shoulder and naked himself, watching them put on each other's mawashi. It was then when he first met Katsu, his best friends in the stable. Katsu was already in his mawashi.

"You need help putting on your mawashi?" Katsu asked Link.

Link just stood there, still in shock with what he saw. "I guess so."

"Just start it by folding it out one at your chest and dropping it down to your legs. Make sure you fold the mawashi. I'll get it and wrap it around you." Link did as instructed. Katsu grabbed Link's mawashi and started to wrap it around Link. "What did you think? Hold the mawashi at your hip."

"I thought it was going to be, you know, more private." Link said, holding the mawashi as Katsu wrapped it around him.

Katsu laughed. "We're guys. There's nothing on you that I haven't already seen. Now, drop the front piece down." Link dropped the piece he was holding up down as Katsu kept on wrapping the cloth around him.

"Yeah, that's true."

"Lift up and let it dangle." Katsu said, as he wrapped the mawashi a second time and then a third time. Link did as he said. "You'll get used to it. I have. I'm not bothered by it." Katsu tightened the mawashi as tight as he could on Link, making sure that it won't come loose. He, then, finished off by making the knot in the back. "And there we have it, your mawashi is on. You should go into the bathroom to see how you look in it."

Link walked to the bathroom, where there was a full length mirror that was hung on the door. He looked at himself, astonished at how he looked in the mawashi. He felt comfortable. He felt like this was where he was supposed to be at that moment. He feel like he could get in the ring at that moment and take someone down, but he know that he has a long way to go.

***

Once Link had put the mawashi on, he stood in front of the mirror that he put in his room. He turned around, admired how he looked in it. It built confidence inside of him. Made him feel that he could take on the world, the same feeling of confidence that he had since the first time he wore it. In fact, it became somewhat of a habit to look at himself in a mirror before tournaments. It wasn't like he necessarily needed the confidence, but it made the pressure going in lessened. It was almost therapeutic to him like meditation for priests.

He heard a knock on the door. It was from Princess Zelda, "Link, are you done changing?"

Link responded back, "I'm ready."

"Let's go!"

Link left his room with Princess Zelda by his side. They went to the courtyard at the castle. Lanterns helped decorate the area and the mood. There was tables scattered about, but not too many as to make room for some dancing. There was a ring made up front for some sumo wrestling. There was music played by the castle's musician. They played an elegant tone of celebration. There was food on both sides of the courtyard. There was also sumo wrestlers who also wore their mawashis. He didn't know if they decided to keep it on or if they changed out and changed back into them like he had. It was truly festive.

Link went to the food table and grabbed him a plate of skewered steak and potatoes. He must have ate three total skewers in one sitting. He even had some cucco bites with some cheese sauce. He was enjoying the night. Hanging with some of his friends from the stable. In fact, he felt honored that Zelda would do this, that made some of the sumo wrestlers question why he got this treatment, but others had just brushed it off and celebrated with Link.

Through all the food, through all the partying, and through several sumo bouts, it was time for Zelda to call everyone together. "Thank you guys for coming as we give a special celebration to one particular sumo wrestler, Link." The people got excited, clapping and shouting for joy. "This individual has fancied me at more than one tournament. I think it is proper to do this. In honor for everything he has done in Hyrule. Link, you want to say a few words?"

Link was standing close to where Zelda was. "Sure." He got up in front of everyone and begun his unscripted speech. "I am not normally a man of many words, but I say them now. I am honored being the center of celebration cause believe me, sumo is a lot harder than it appears. I started when I was sixteen and 170 pounds. Now, I'm 18 and 210 pounds. I guess things do get better in age." The crowd laughed by what he said. "I know that I'm not fully at potential, but I'll be there whenever that next opponent challenges me."

As soon as Link had said that, there was a shake on the ground. Everyone looked around to see where it went and saw a large figure step out. He was large, at least four times bigger than Link. He had long orange hair that flowed to the bottom of his back. His face meant menacing. His mawashi was a bright red, tied tightly, but not neatly. He brought fear by everyone, cowering as he stepped towards Link and Princess Zelda.

"Well, well. A party. Celebrating the Hero of Sumo. I heard a lot of stories about you. Bravo." He clapped mightily and mockingly.

"Who are you?" Link asked.

The mysterious person was shocked, "You don't know me? Wow. I thought everyone has by now." He laughed mischievously, "I am the Sumo King, but you can also call me Ganondorf and you, boy, are taking my thunder."

"Practically illogical! I didn't even know you!"

"And now you do. I didn't come here for formalities and I didn't come here for you." He spat on the ground. "I came to challenge the Hero of Hyrule to a one-on-one sumo tournament. If you win, you can go back to your pretty little stable and your pretty little sumo life."

"And if I lose?"

"You would be in my stable and wrestle for me. I will train you and bulk you up to be my second in command. You will also work for me and do as I command. I will also claim Hyrule for myself and make me king." Ganondorf, the Sumo King, laughed louder and much more terrifying.

"I will accept your offer." Link said boldly.

The crowd was in shock by what he had said. No one had been able to challenge the Sumo King and defeated him. It was always a quick victory for him. Right now, he had a large amount of people work for him. So much, that he created his own city on the outer edge of Hyrule and claimed kingship there. The entrance to there is heavily guarded. There's at least three guards that stand watch at a single time, they made sure no one enters, even if accidental. And when a sumo wrestler does lose against the great king, the city of Hyrule mourns for one day, knowing exactly what would happen.

Now it is different, as Hyrule's favorite is accepting this offer. Already, people were starting to grieve. Link could see it in his eyes, but he knew that he had to do this. He heard of the stories and he felt strongly about defeating this king once and for all. He felt obligated. Something he had to do and he took full responsibility of his actions.

"You chose well Hero. I will give you one year to prepare. That's generous for me. Do whatever you need to prepare. I will be waiting for you in the ring." Ganondorf left, leaving shakes as he did.

There was silence. Nobody thought that he was going to do it. The only one who had a glimmer of confidence in him was Princess Zelda. She looked at him with the same hope that she gave to Hyrule's soldiers before battle. It was that look that helped motivate Link to carry through this plan.

Princess Zelda spoke up, "The celebration is over! Thank you for coming and trust me, everything is going to be fine." There was a sigh coming from them, knowing that her words are true. They left, leaving only Link and the princess there, "Link, come with me."

Link nodded, following her back inside the castle.