The thing I love about one-shots is I don't have to worry about chapters flowing! I can just write! (though I'll try to balance out the characters. I really wish I could be super VioxShadow RedxBlue biased but I'm not going to be)
Let's see…this is my third attempt at this chapter. I was originally going to write something about Link's father loving him, as a fatherly love instead of the romantic love, but the first one wasn't going in the right direction and I didn't like the second one (figures, it was 12 in the morning when I wrote it.) Here is my final draft. Enjoy!
He strides through the castle hallway, humming to himself. The guards don't try to stop him; after all, he is a familiar face- the princess' childhood friend. They simply nod at him and move aside to let him pass into the Hyrule's throne room.
Today is a good day, Green thinks to himself as he steps inside. The room has an extremely high ceiling, at least 80 feet into the air in a giant steeple shape. On either side the walls are streamed with colorful banners proclaiming Hyrule's history and celebrations. In the very back sits the golden throne itself, almost a normal chair if it weren't for the diamonds embroidering the seat. On the plush velvet is perched Green's beloved friend.
"Why hello, Green!" The princess exclaims, standing up as soon as she sees him. She giggles and runs towards him, temporarily forgetting the royal customs so imprinted in her mind.
Green smiles and also runs towards her. As they meet they throw their arms around each other in a spinning hug. "I missed you so much!" Zelda says. "I heard you just got back from your mission!"
Green pulls away gently, but they are still in each other's arms. "That's right. I missed you too." Their childish play passes and Green lets go fully, remembering his place. "Want to go for a walk?"
Zelda grins. "Sure!" Taking his hand, she starts running towards the throne room door. Just as they reach it, a tall Sheikah woman stands in their way, blocking the exit and forcing them to stop suddenly.
"And where do you think you are going, Princess?" Impa says with a kind smirk and crossed arms.
"Umm…I was going to go for a walk with Green…" she blushes, letting go of Green's hand.
"Don't you have some royal duties to attend to?"
The princess sighs. "That's right…Can I go with Green afterwards?"
Impa nods her consent. "It won't take more than half an hour."
"Bye, Green…" Zelda sounds sad as Impa ushers her back to the throne. "I'll see you in half an hour, okay?"
"Okay!" Green smiles and goes into the hallway. As he walks aimlessly down the castle corridors, he lets his thoughts wander.
I've waited so long to see her…And I thought I wasn't going to make it out of the mission alive. Thank goodness for Red and Blue and Vio. The boy sighs to himself. Oh, Zelda…you still haven't figured out how I feel. But how do I tell you? Am I scared of ruining our friendship? Am I scared you don't feel the same way? I know we're best friends, but…sometimes; I want to be more than that…
The half hour passes, and Green makes his way back to the throne room. He silently thanks Zelda for showing him around and making him memorize a map of the place.
This time, as he enters, they keep themselves controlled. "Are you ready, Princess?" Green calls, seeing Impa bending over next to her. She looks up and smiles immediately.
"May I go, Impa?"
Impa chuckles. "Yes, child. Go have your time with your friend."
"Thank you." Zelda stands up and brushes off her pink dress, walking over to the waiting boy. "Thanks for waiting."
"You're welcome. I'm sure you had some important business to take care of." They exit the throne room and turn left, heading out to the palace gardens.
"Not really THAT important, I just needed to sign some things." They make it outside the building and are confronted with a beautiful view of flowers and trees; Hyrule's famous garden. Green and Zelda stroll down their usual path, as they regularly visited and talked there.
"So, how was your mission?" Zelda smiles, changing the subject and becoming more light-hearted.
"It was fine, I guess. We had to take care of some monsters terrorizing Kakariko Village, that's all. By the time we got there the Gorons and townspeople barely needed any help." Green hides that, despite the help of several others, he barely made it out alive. But there was no need to worry his best friend.
"Glad to hear." They walk past Vio, who sits in a hammock reading a novel. He doesn't even acknowledge them; he's too caught up in his book. Zelda giggles as they pass.
They near the river, their favorite spot. "Come on, let's go sit down!" Zelda grabs his hand and pulls him underneath the old oak tree, where on hot summer days they laid down in the shade and talked about everything. He sits down next to her and immediately begins pulling grass out. A thought tugs at Green's mind once again. Why don't you tell her how you feel? The moment's perfect.
He looks around. The voice in his head is right; everything is still and calm, with the only sounds being birds chirping and the river rushing below. Even Zelda is quiet, enjoying the moment. Come on, you know you want to.
But what if she doesn't feel the same way?
You'll never know if you don't try. What do you have to lose?
Our friendship! If I tell her, it might ruin everything! She might hate me, or at the very least never talk to me again because things are so awkward!
Or she might love you.
Green glances over at her. She sits silently, watching the water flow and unaware of his gaze. Isn't she beautiful? Now come on, tell her. Green feels his stomach flutter up and down and all around, like one of the rollercoasters at the amusement park he visited with the other Links. A blush comes across his face as Zelda catches him looking, eyeing him with a curious and innocent look.
"What is it?" Go, now.
I'm going to regret this. Green tries to speak, but it comes out in stutters. "I…uh-uh..I…" He swallows. "I have to tell you something."
The princess eyes him curiously. "What is it? Is something wrong?" A look of concern washes over her face.
"No…nothing's wrong…" Green stares at the ground, blushing even harder than before. The butterflies are raging now, pounding around and around so hard they might burst out of his stomach. "It's just that…" The boy forces himself to look Zelda in the eye as he takes her hands in his. "Zelda, I-I love you." He regrets saying the words as soon as they leave his mouth. Stupid, idiot, foolish. Why did I ever listen to you? Now she's going to hate me forever and then we won't be friends and-
His thoughts are interrupted when the girl leans forward and pecks him on the cheek. "Oh, Green…You have no idea how long I've waited for you to say those words…"