-"Can you feel the love tonight?"-
Yoshi and Toad wandered aimlessly through the jungle, humming to themselves. After some time, though, Yoshi's eye got distracted by a bug flying by. This bug looked particularly delicious to him, and, without really thinking, leaving Toad to continue along, not paying attention. Yoshi followed the bug through a brush, and saw he was at the edge of the jungle. As he looked out at the tall grass beyond the trees, he saw something in the grass stirring. Focusing on this figure, he saw it was a crouched feline, inching forward as if ready to pounce at her prey. After a moment, Yoshi realized her eyes were focused square on him.
"Ahh!" Yoshi cried out in a panic as the feline jumped forward, rushing towards him, drawing her sword. Yoshi turned around, sprinting into the jungle, crying out, "Help!"
He ran further into the jungle, looking back to see the feline was gaining on him. However, this was a mistake since he ran right into a tree, falling back. Toad rushed out of the brush to his friend's side, asking, "Yoshi, what's wrong?"
"She's gonna eat me!" Yoshi cried. Toad turned and saw the feline closing the distance, raising her sword to strike as he exclaimed, "Woah! Why do I always have to save your AHHH!"
Toad tried to pick his friend up, but cried out as the feline jumped onto a tree root, jumping down towards them to kill them. Toad and Yoshi looked up at this dropping predator, certain that this was it, this would be the end for them. Right before the feline reached the ground, a booming roar echoed through the jungle as Link emerged from the bushes, sword drawn and intercepting the feline as she landed. He then engaged her in duel, swinging around the strike at her neck. She barely blocked this as he continued to through numerous blows at her. She stepped back uneasily, struggling to keep up. Toad and Yoshi lay there, amazed at the speed and veracity with which Link swung at the feline. After a moment, she took a stab square at Link's chest, which he easily blocked. She swung at his ankles, which he responded to with turning towards the tree, running up out of range and flipping backwards, facing away from the feline. But he quickly spun around and began swinging furiously at her. She could see an intense fire in his eyes that shook her to the core, and nearly paralyzed her with fear as she struggled more to block his attacks. Her palms started becoming drenched in sweat, which made it easier for Link to, with an especially hard blow, knock it out of her hands, sending it flying into the jungle as he elbowed her hard in the chest, sending her falling onto her back. She crawled backwards towards the crotch of the tree as Link advanced on her, pointing the tip of his sword straight at her chest.
She looked up at him, and though he couldn't see her face, he could sense the terror emanating from her. However, before he could speak, she seemed to calm down enough to ask, "Link…?"
Link was surprised by this, and even more by how familiar the voice sounded. It couldn't be… could it? He leaned a bit closer towards her, drawing back his sword a bit as he asked, confused, "Zelda?"
She quickly took off her mask and threw it aside and looked up at the lion, her fear melting into surprised joy. Link gasped upon seeing the familiar deep blue eyes, the pale skin, the warm smile. He dropped his sword to the ground, smiling astounded and standing her up as the two hugged each other tightly. Link held onto her as if for dear life, and having her in his arms made him feel like he hadn't in so long. He sighed holding her, saying, "I've missed you so much…"
She pulled away, looking at him, reaching forward and touching his face, her expression and touch indicating she was trying to determine if he was really there as she said, disbelievingly, "You're alive…"
Link nodded as Zelda smiled again, "Oh my god, Link, you're actually-"
"Wait a minute!" Toad demanded, coming towards them, "You two know each other?!"
"Yeah," Link said as Yoshi came over as well, "Yoshi, Toad, this is my old friend, Zelda."
"Nice to meet you," Zelda said as Yoshi replied, "A pleasure, madam."
"Umm, Yoshi?" Toad asked, "Are you forgetting the little fact that she just tried to eat us?!
"Yeah, sorry about that," Zelda said, embarrassed, "It's nothing personal, just been a few days since I last ate."
"Well come with us," Link invited, "We'll get you fed."
Zelda smiled as Link led her into the jungle, Yoshi following behind. Toad stared in awe for a moment, then followed them.
Link led her to their lair and pulled up a rock, revealing lots of colorful bugs. Zelda looked down, a bit disgusted as she asked, "Bugs?"
"I know it's kinda gross at first," Link admitted, "But it's better than you'd think."
Zelda shrugged, too hungry to argue as she picked up one and ate it. She tensed up as it went down her throat, but then loosened up and admitted, "Slimy, but satisfying."
Link smiled nodding, as he asked, "So what're you doing way out here?"
"What am I doing here?" Zelda asked, "I think you should answer that first."
"Oh… right," Link contended, as Zelda hugged him again, saying, "Everyone thinks you're dead…"
She then pulled away, gasping as she realized, "That's why the Circle of Life is gone!"
"What?" Link asked, confused, "What are you talking about?"
"When you left, Scar took over as king. The Pride Lands have suffered, the kingdom has dried up, disease and famine are rampant, and everyone thinks the Circle has abandoned them because it hasn't chosen a new ruler. But this is why, because you're still alive!" She hugged him again, saying, "And now you can come back and become king."
Link smiled uneasily, saying, "Yeah, well we can talk about all that later."
He pulled away, smiling at her, "Right now, I just wanna catch up with you."
"Sure," Zelda said, still glowing upon learning that he's alive. Link turned to his friends, saying, "Hey guys, would it be all right if Zelda and I went off alone and, um-"
"Go on," Toad said, smiling, "Have a good time."
"Thanks," Link said as he and Zelda went off on their own. Once they were gone, Toad smiled at Yoshi, sighing, "Oh, young love…"
"What?" Yoshi asked as Toad answered, "Didn't you see how they were looking at each other? They're nuts about each other!"
"Ohhh," Yoshi realized, a smile appearing on his face.
Link and Zelda walked more into the jungle, as Link asked, "So what were you doing in that mask?"
"Well, this tiger named Ganondorf said all feline hunters had to join his cult or fight him," She answered, "So I ran away, and then kinda, um, stole one."
Link smiled at this, saying, "Nice going, sticking it to that scum."
She shrugged, saying, "I take it you had an encounter with him already."
"Yea, when I first came here," Link said as Zelda observed, "That where you got that scar?"
She pointed at his scarred cheek. Link nodded, remembering that day. She leaned up a bit and kissed the scar. Link smiled wide, blushing as Zelda said, "What?"
"Nothing," Link fibbed, his cheek turning bright red as he turned to Zelda, and remembered how beautiful he found her. He then asked, "Do you remember all those years ago, when you said you had something to tell next time we saw each other? Well, I know it's about 8 years later then you planned, but if you want to, you can tell me now."
"Oh…" Zelda said, getting embarrassed. Link noticed and said, "Well, you don't have to if you don't want."
"No I do," Zelda insisted, then sighed, saying, "Well, you see, umm, you know how we've been friends pretty much our whole lives?"
Link nodded, as Zelda said, struggling to get out what she was trying to say, "Well, I've always cared about you as a friend, but, a while before you left, I kinda started feeling like we were more than friends, or at least, I… Link, I love you."
She managed to force this out of herself. Link was taken aback by this, not sure what to say. He always knew Zelda cared a lot about him, and he was starting to feel something more towards her, but he never thought she'd actually feel the same. Once this sank in, he smiled more as he looked at her. She turned away, embarrassed, saying, "Sorry if you don't feel the same…"
He turned her back towards him, saying, "I do though. I love you too."
Her smile glowed brighter than ever upon hearing this. She threw her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a tight hug. Link could only wrap his arms around his waist, hugging her as the two sighed with relief upon learning their feelings were mutual.
As the two began to walk through the jungle, romantic music began to play as a lone female began to sing, "Can you feel the love tonight? The peace the evening brings. The world, for once, in perfect harmony, with all its living things."
As Zelda began to drink from a stream, Link sang in his thoughts, "So many things to tell her. But how to make her see…The truth about my past? Impossible! She'd turn away from me…"
Zelda looked up at him as she sang in thoughts, "He's holding back, he's hiding. But what, I can't decide, why won't he be the king I know he is, the king I see inside?"
He smiled and held out his paw for her. Once she took it, he spun around and launched her into the water, laughing as she splashed into the stream. She popped out, wrapping her arms around him, dragging him in with him. "Can you feel the love tonight? The peace the evening brings."
The two ran through the grass to dry off from the water, before reaching the top of the hill and rolling down together. "The world, for once, in perfect harmony, with all its living things."
He pinned Zelda to the ground, smiling as he said, "Pinned ya."
She nodded, leaning up to kiss his cheek. He looked down at her, captivated by her eyes as he leaned down towards her. She leaned up as their lips met and they shared their first kiss. He let go of her wrists, wrapping his arms around her as she rested her arms around his neck.
"Can you feel the love tonight? You needn't look too far. Stealing through the night's uncertainties, love is where they are."
Well, hope everyone enjoyed the pay off of Link and Zelda's blossoming romance :) I certainly enjoyed writing it. Anyways, as a reminder, if anyone has suggestions of what to do after this one, feel free to suggest it in the reviews.