Chapter 7

Link

Link bobbed up and down on his heels Wednesday, excited to see Zelda in person again. He was a bit worried, but he trusted in Dorian's capabilities to protect her, not to mention her own abilities. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. He turned and...

It wasn't Zelda. Instead, Groose and a large number of other bullies surrounded Saria, a sweet freshman in his advanced botany class. One of them was holding a small pot with an armoranth in it. She was shorter, and had green hair and sparkling blue eyes that were currently full of tears. "Give it back," the girl yelled.

The purple-black haired boy holding the plant sneered. "Or what? You're hardly big enough to lift up even this tiny plant; you can't take any of us on. And honestly, it looks like it's about to keel over and die anyway. I'll do you a favor and just kill it now."

Saria shrieked: "NO!"

As Link began to run over, the boy dropped it, and his anger grew, so much so that he didn't even realize that time was slowing around him again. He leapt into a dive and barely managed to catch the small plant before it hit the ground. His chest hurt from slamming into the concrete, and he felt the same exhaustion from after the fencing tournament, though it was slightly lessened.

He stood up and gave the small plant to the girl. She looked up at him with wide eyes. "Are you all r-right," he murmured. She nodded, and quickly squeezed through a gap in the circle. He began to follow her before the one who had dropped the plant pushed him. Link stumbled before catching himself and turning to look at him. He now recognized the guy as Bellum, a jerk of a senior who had zero qualms about hurting others. It was unfortunate that he hadn't been expelled yet.

"Where do you think you're going, shorty? I was about to teach that girl a lesson, and you ruined it!"

Link raised an eyebrow. "R-really? A freshman te-errorizing the great Bellum?" He growled in response.

"Why you stuttering little freak! YAH!" Bellum rushed him, and he dodged, and witnessed time slow again... It would be so easy to trip him, or hurt him for what he'd done to Saria and so many others... But... If I fight, we could both get in trouble. If I keep dodging, surely only Bellum does... Okay, just avoid the blows, Link.

For a short time, Link swerved around the other's blows. A gap appeared in the circle surrounding the two, and he was about to race through it to escape before Bellum pushed him over, Link's hands scraping against the ground.

He saw Zelda enter the circle and speak. "Just what do you think you're doing?! Stop this instant, or I'll-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Bellum punched her in the gut, cutting off her words and breath. Zelda fell. His pulse quickened. The bullies started to mock her, and Bellum kicked her leg, having forgotten about him. Time slowed again. Before he even realized what he was doing, he had launched himself at the senior, tackled him to the ground and punched him straight on the nose. A crack rang audibly through the air, and the other students surrounding them fell silent, having previously been cheering on the fight.

"Don't you EVER touch her! You're pathetic! A freaking coward! You hear me?! Coward!" He hardly heard the vicious words as they spilled from his mouth. He didn't notice his pummeling of Bellum's chest and face until Zelda grabbed his arm, and had no idea that small tears were trickling down his face until she wiped them away. His breathing was heavy, and his vision darkened until...

A small floating light... words... "Hu... y, mas... r..."

"L... n..."

"Li... k..."

"Link."

He blinked. They were in a small room, adjacent to the main office. There were bandages wrapped around his hands. "Wh... what happened?"

Zelda tilted her head, confused at his words. "What do you mean? You... don't remember?"

"I..." Link frowned, straining to recall. "They were bu-ullying Saria, and I he-elped her, before Bellum w-went after me. You tried to stop him... He h... h-hurt you, and then... it's r-really fuzzy, but I think I attacked him, and you stopped m-me."

"Yes. Your hands were bleeding, and I brought you here to patch you up. You seemed kind of out of it, but you came with me so I assumed you were just withdrawing from everything." She paused. "Link... I know it happened again. That time warp. I don't understand, but we can chat this weekend once we're at the cabin." He nodded.

"Thank you... and, um, what's m-my punishment?"

"I talked to Impa, and she agreed not to punish you, as Bellum struck first. You were defending yourself, Saria, and I."

"Ok, g-great... um, see you later, then."

Zelda smiled.

_/|||\_

The car ride felt like it took forever, though it was only about an hour and a half from Hyrule's capital to the cabin in the Minshi Woods. It wasn't a particularly unique forest, other than it's proximity to the Great Hyrule Forest, otherwise known as the Lost Woods. No one actually knew why the misty forest seemed so intent on causing people to become lost. Few who entered returned, and those who did lost their minds, rather than remaining in the woods forever.

Even though they were quite far off from the entrance to the Lost Woods, Link still felt a chill as he looked in its direction. The wind seemed to carry a whisper: "Master... Link..."

He felt a hand on his shoulder and started. Turning quickly, he saw Zelda. "Don't worry about the Lost Woods, Link. We're far away from it and its dangers."

Link shook his head. "I'm not... Ah, c'mon, let's get eve-erything set up."

It took some time, but eventually, their things were put away and the whole group was off to Pico Pond, ready to spend the day in the water. There was a lodge before the woods got thick, set as a place for guides and a variety of activities, located right next to the large pond. The three youngest just wanted to swim, and begrudgingly accepted life vests. The adults were content to stay on shore, while Zelda and Link grabbed a canoe. The two soon began drifting across the water and only occasionally used the paddles to change course.

He took out the carving he had been working on and began carefully cutting away the wood with a few tools. He was actually almost done, but hadn't been able to find the energy since the Yiga's symbol appeared. Now, though, he was with Zelda and in the wild. What could be bad about that?

"Whatcha doing there, Link?"

"...It's, ah, j-just something I've been working on fo-or a little while..."

She smiled. "Yes, but what will it turn out as?"

He forgot sometimes that she - anyone, really - genuinely cared about his interests. He felt undeserving of such a kindness; he was far too weak, and his stuttering must drive people crazy.

"I've b-been carving this owl... f-f... f-for you. I-I know that it's your favorite animal, and I w-wanted to make so-omething for you, but if you d-don't like it, I can j-just-"

"Shush, you. I love it already!"

He stared for a moment. "R-really? 'Cause I know it's not th-that good... I should've just b-bought you something made profes-sionally..."

"Link." She brushed stray hair from his eyes and cupped his cheek. "You making this truly makes it so much more meaningful to me. Plus, working with materials, especially your wood, is something you love. I feel lucky that you've chosen to make something for me with your talent!"

He searched her face a moment. Zelda... she hadn't lied to him before, as far as he knew. That had to count for something. "Th-thank you, Zel. I means a l-lot that you listen to me and find my company be-earable."

"I don't just bear your company, Link. I enjoy it. A lot." His cheeks and ears flushed at her comment. She's so beautiful and kind and perfect...

He hadn't noticed, but he had come quite close to her... She smelled like her favorite flower, the Silent Princess. Her gorgeous eyes were half-closed. Link unconsciously leaned his head closer... their lips almost touching-

"Hey! Lovebirds, it's time for lunch!" Link jerked back, making the boat sway ominously. Aryll had swam all the way from the other side of the pond to yell at them. He was honestly quite grateful though... he had almost kissed Zelda! His best friend! He couldn't do that to her, especially if she didn't feel that way. (And did he even feel that way? He couldn't! But she was so incredible... Who wouldn't be attracted to someone like her?).

"Shut it, Aryll," He grumbled. "Do you w-want to get in the ca-anoe? We'll get back faster th-that way."

"Great! I'll sit in the middle, so you two don't get any ideas..." She smirked, and Link hid his face in his hands, consequently not noticing Zelda's cheeks become pinker.

"I-I... Ugh, ne-ever mind... Let's g-go."

_/|||\_

They ate lunch at the lodge. While there, his sensitive ears kept hearing whispers of deprecation towards the Council: "Not doing enough... do they even care? Awful... Yiga... famine... storms... evil... he is coming... coming... coming."

He was highly relieved when they went back to the cabin.

That night, he had just finished the wooden owl for Zelda when there was a soft knock on the door of the room that he had been placed in. "Yeah?"

"It's Zelda."

"Co-ome on in," he replied.

She entered and closed the door. "Everyone else is asleep now, so I thought now would be a good time to chat about that time warp." Link nodded.

"What exactly di-id you want to ask me?"

Zel paused for a moment. "Do you... have any idea how it happened?"

He bit his lip. How... how did it happen? The tournament with protecting Zelda, helping Saria, and protecting Zelda again...

"Umm... e-each time it happened... I was trying to help... and I was real focused. D-dodging during the tournament is what trigge-ered it the first time, I think... but I was also really worried about you since I had s-seen G-Ghirahim... It stopped when I grabbed the b-bolt. I also stopped Saria's plant from being dropped on the ground, then Bellum was hurting you."

Zelda looked thoughtful. "So... it happens when you want to protect people and when you're focused... Anything else?"

"I-I... can also... see everything. I know every detail of everything happening. I can go fast, even when everything else is barely moving."

"This is absolutely incredible, Link. I wonder why this could be happening, and why now?"

He shook his head, signaling his confusion as well. "I... um, finished that c-carving. D'you w-want it now?" He asked, changing the subject.

Zelda lit up and nodded vigorously. He gently placed the polished bit of wood onto her waiting hands. She studied it carefully as he held his breath, waiting for her verdict. "Link... I love it so much! Thank you for making this for me," Zel said.

She smiled, so brightly that the sun looked like a distant star in comparison. He gave one in return. "Um... I kinda got you so-omething else i-in case you didn't like what I m-made..." He presented her with a silvery charm of an owl, on a braided string of leather. Zelda, still smiling, took it and put it on. Link leaned back against the headboard and closed his eyes, tired from all that had happened that day. Then, a soft whisper.

"I... have a gift for you too. It's n-not as special as what you've made for me, but... I hope you like it."

He opened his eyes and saw a metal charm being presented to him. It was in the shape of a dragon, one of the peaceful deities from the legends. "Zel... thank you. It's amazing." She gave her perfect smile again.

"I'm so glad. I knew you liked dragons, especially the ones in history." She gently put the leather cord around his neck, brushing her fingers against his skin. The places where their skin touched felt alight with fire. She yawned loudly and her head drooped.

Suddenly, Zelda snuggled up next to him and laid her head on his shoulder with another yawn. He, though blushing furiously, carefully rested his head on top of hers. "Good night, Link," she murmured sleepily.

"G'night, Zel."

_/|||\_

He was dreaming again. Probably.

Link had "woken up" in the bedroom, but it was odd. It felt fragile, shimmery... too quiet. None of the sounds of nature could be heard through the window, like they could when he fell asleep. A small noise sounded outside the door, and he felt an intense urge to follow.

He still wore what he had on before he fell asleep last night: a worn camo jacket over his green t-shirt, leathery combat boots with jeans tucked in, green beanie on his untamed hair. He gently fingered the charm Zel had given him last night.

Then he opened the door.

A shining light hovered in the air. As he got closer, it moved out of his reach. It led him out of the wrong, shining, breaking cabin. It moved and he followed. At some point, he was shaken out of the daze. Link glanced up and saw it: the Lost Woods. He paused. If this was a dream... he would be fine, right? The orb had paused too. "Master Link. Follow."

He wasn't in control of his dream body anymore, and he wasn't really aware of it either. He knew he was following the spirit through the woods... but that was it. He blinked back into some awareness in the presence of a beautiful sword. A lovely shade of blue made up the hilt and winged cross guard, with a dark green wrap where he would place his hands. An entrancing gold gem was a barrier between the blade and the hilt. The blade itself looked made from an otherworldly material, glowing with a white, almost iridescent light.

He slowly reached towards the sword; oddly, he was sure that it had been calling to him. A split second before he touched it, a piercing scream reverberated, shattering the dream.