It was Crash's birthday and Link was excited. Crash became his new best guy friend. He was still really close to Malon. Crash has even been teaching Link to talk. Crash was having a big birthday party. Everyone was going to be there. It was being held at the new park Knope got built. Link had to think of the perfect gift to give Crash. He knew what to give him, a slingshot! Link bought the best slingshot he could for Crash. Link began to run to the party when Knope stopped him. "Wait for me, Link. Let's go together." Knope smiled and caught up to him. Link and Knope both arrived at the party. The set their gifts down and greeted their friends. "Glad to see your dad let you go somewhere with out holding his hand." Link nodded, as much as he loved having the King of the Gerudos as his father, he did get kind of tired of how Crash teased him saying his parents were overprotective. "Malon?" He asked. "Pff, she's not here yet. Why are you wasting your time with her. She's a girl. You should be hanging out with boys, like me. We're more fun." Link rolled his eyes then pointed at the merry-go-round. He got a mischievous grin on his face. "Oh, you wanna play Last Man Standing." Then the Graveyard kid, which everyone calls Poe, said "No, it's called King of the Hill." Then an argument erupted from the kids on whether it's Last Man Standing or King of the Hill. Link yelled "Hey! Listen!" And the kids went to merry-go-round and started spinning it. It went faster and faster and faster. Then they all jumped on and Crashed yelled "Now!" they all let go and flew off. Link was the last one to fly off. He won the game. The kids were all on the ground laughing. Then Ruto jumped up and ran over to one of the swings. 4 others followed. Just then Malon came on Epona. She ran up to Link and hugged him. "Wanna run the gauntlet with me?" Link smiled and nodded. started to dash through the swingers. Link followed closely behind. He was watching Malon so she didn't get hurt and WHAM!
Link flew back and cried out in pain. He got hit, by Princess Zelda. She fell off her swing and cried. Impa rushed to her aid. Zelda cried and Link lost a whole heart. His whole body hurt and he could feel tears forming in his eye. 'No' he thought 'I won't cry. I'm the Hero of Time. I can't cry. I saved Hyrule as a grown up. I'm too big to cry. I hold the Triforce of Courage.' Link desperetly tried to not cry. Then he felt someone hug him. "It's okay Link." Malon said comforting his friend. Zelda and Link began to calm down. And Crash got impatiant and opened his gifts. He loved his slingshot and promptly started shooting his friends. He hit Link in the face and took away half a heart, then the poor boy couldn't hold it in any longer. He started crying. Malon hugged her friend tighter. Link calmed down, but his body still hurt. Link stood up and took Malon's hand. They walked together in the park for a little bit until Malon stopped. She turned to Link and said, "Oh Link, you're my best friend. I love you." Link looked at her and said "Love too." She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. She turned and skipped away. Link stood there rubbing his cheek. He looked around and saw his friends they were singing "Link and Malon sitting in a tree! K-i-S-S-I-N-G!" Link went back to his friends, even though they were teasing him. Cause he knew they were all just jealous. Sadly it was getting late and they had to go home. Ganon came by to bring Link home. Link was happy because he knew he wouldn't have to walk, tiredly walked up to him and said "Carry. I tired and hurt." Ganon picked up the boy and looked over him. "You got hurt?" Link nodded and pointed to the swings. "Well, be more careful." Link didn't say anything because he already fell asleep in his fathers arms. Link had one of the best days ever. Even if Zelda really hurt him, on accident.
On their way home Ganon noticed dried tear stains on his son's cheek. And a small cut where crash had hit him with a deku seed. Ganon gingerly laid the boy on his bed and removed his tunic. There was a big bruise on his torso. "Nabooru, dear, come look at this." She walked into Link's room and gasped. "What happened to my sweet little boy?" She demanded. "He did say something about getting hurt by the swings, but this looked like he got kicked." Ganon was trying to figure out how he got hurt. "I've seen some kids run inbetween swingers before, do you think he would have done that." Navi couldn't keep quiet any longer. "Yes! That's exactly what he was doing. They call it running the gauntlet. Then he kissed Malon." Nabooru said "No, he's too little to be kissing girls. I refuse to believe this." Nabooru left and Ganon tucked Link in and said "Good job son." Ganon was pleased with his boy, he was starting to like Malon. She was good for him.