Author's Note: Welcome back everyone, I hope you've had a wonderful week! Early upload this week - I had a very easy time putting this one together so here we are, a few hours ahead of the normal schedule!
On today's episode of "My Author is Still a Weeb and has to Provide Context Sometimes so Everyone Reading His Works can Fully Understand Them," a nice little reminder that "-chan" is a diminutive show of affection and closeness in the context you're about to read it in. I do also want to spoil one tiny little nickname though and explain how to actually say it so it won't be strange to read/guess how to pronounce throughout the chapter. I've run into that problem in the past and it bugs me to not have a definitive answer so I'll try to give one before we get started to hopefully avoid subjecting you to the same annoyance!
One character is going to refer to Mipha as "Micchan" repeatedly throughout the chapter (three guesses as to who it might be that does it lol). I'll spare you the linguistic explanations of why and simply say that this is a fusion of "Mipha" and "-chan" with a little pause on the double consonant "cc." It's a pretty common way of doing nicknames in Japanese (I've been led to believe, at least) and since we've already had "Zel-chan," it made the most sense to stick with this nickname theming.
So basically, you'd say "Micchan" with the same first syllable as "Mipha" (i.e. "me") and then just have "chan" at the end. If you really super care, you'd do a little hiccup pause on the "cc" so it's more like "Me- / -chan" but that part doesn't really matter. I mostly just wanted to make sure nobody reads it as "Mick-han" or "Mike-chan" or "Meeshan" or something else that, while would make visual sense, would confuse the heck out of anyone wondering why that's a nickname for Mipha LOL
Now, with that out of the way, thank you so much for coming back for more and I hope you enjoy the latest chapter!
Book II – Family
Chapter 13 – Confessions
Hyrule Castle was particularly frigid this time of year. The winter months brought lower temperatures with them, of course, but the stonework of the Castle trapped that cold air within, further concentrating it. It was a common occurrence every year that came and rarely did the halls and towers warm again until the middle of spring.
Because of this, Crown Princess Hilda always ensured that her chamber in the west tower was redecorated for the changing of the seasons. Between the Eleventh Month and the Fourth Month of the next year, the floor was covered with plush rugs and there were blankets scattered in abundance. She kept herself warm and happy with hot tea in the evenings when the temperatures began to fall to their lowest and there was always a roaring fire lit in the ornate fireplace on the eastern wall. Usually, that was plenty to keep her happy.
Tonight, however, was different.
Hilda had been in a rather foul mood daily since the new year had begun. Her altercation with Link on the day of the Year's End Ball had played out in her head over and over again each night since it happened. And each night, it made her more and more frustrated. She hated to lose in any capacity, but far more than anyone else in the world, she hated to lose to him. As Hilda sipped her usual evening tea, she scowled and complained silently to herself as the theatre of her mind finished its production of her argument with Link yet again.
'That low-class cretin made a fool out of me! 'The full picture' – what a self-aggrandizing, arrogant insect! He should know his place when talking to me. Regardless of his worthless sword, if it weren't for my Sealing magic, Ganon would still be running amok, destroying everything in Hyrule. And yet he's become so much more flippant with me since the Calamity…and even more so since Zelda was sent to Hateno…
'Hah. The idea that he actually cares about her is ridiculous. Laughable. Completely baseless and impossible. That anyone in the world could see that useless eyesore as anything but a pitiable and pathetic creature is preposterous. Surely he only said what he did to Father and I out of some misguided attempt to aggravate me. Hmph. That's certainly what it was.
'After all, there's just no world in which someone could actively care for her. I can only imagine what she's really doing in Hateno. Has she been forced to help with the farming? Does she don a pair of cheap overalls and crouch down in the dirt like a peasant? Does she pull carrots and radishes and other such foods from the ground beneath her and haul them around like a stable maid? Oh, I do so wish I could see that – her fall from what little grace she still possessed would warm my heart even on a cold night like this.'
Hilda was broken from her thoughts as a knock sounded at the chamber door. She gave a short sigh before sipping her tea once more; if whoever was waiting on the outside truly wanted her attention, they could wait a moment more whilst she warmed herself again. After placing the cup back on the saucer before her, she cleared her throat.
"What is it?" her voice rang out, cool and authoritative as usual.
"It's Aisen. I've just returned from Kakariko Village and I thought I'd greet you, Hilda-sama."
It had slipped her mind that he was due back tonight from his time off. It had been several weeks since she'd seen her Royal Advisor, but she had to admit…the lack of company had been rather enjoyable. His constant platitudes grew exhausting rather quickly these days…
"Enter, then."
A moment later, the door opened and Aisen walked into the room with his usual confidence. If he wasn't so subservient to Hilda, his self-assurance would have irked her with every step he took. As it stood, though, he never once questioned his place beneath her, something that whelp Impa had never managed to do.
It was a nice change of pace, finding someone who willingly accepted a place at her feet.
"How wonderful to see you again, Hilda-sama," Aisen said, bowing his head to her. "It's been far too long now. Have you been well?"
"Well enough. If you're going to intrude on my evening, at least sit while you do it - you're obscuring my view of the fire."
Aisen quickly found a nearby chair and settled into it, his eyebrow slightly raised.
"If you don't mind my saying, you seem to be in rather low spirits this evening."
"How flattering of you to notice," she snapped, the scowl on her face as pronounced as ever.
"Perhaps I might be a suitable conversation partner?"
"Why does everyone always do that?" she huffed, sipping her tea rather aggressively. "If I wanted to talk about my feelings or something equally inane, I would simply tell the wind. At least it would carry my words away in such a fashion that they would never come back to bother me."
Aisen considered her for a moment before giving her that phony smile she was so accustomed to. It was the same one he always wore, the one he used to hide his real feelings and thoughts in any given situation. The same smile that made her skin crawl for how eerily familiar it felt…
"What?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing.
Aisen shook his head.
"Nothing at all, Hilda-sama. But since your spirits are rather low and you don't feel like chatting, maybe I can regale you with some tales of my own. If that would be an acceptable distraction, of course."
Hilda sighed and rolled her eyes.
"What stories could you possibly have to tell me? You stayed with your family in Kakariko for a few weeks – congratulations. I've heard about all I can stand of the Sheikah technology and the tribes' efforts to learn more about it. Even Father has grown weary of the subject; why else would he have asked Purah to cease her research into the Sheikah Slate?"
Aisen just shook his head, his smile unfaltering.
"Oh, I would never bore you with such trivial tales, Hilda-sama; I am well aware that the daily engagements of the Sheikah do nothing to entertain you. But despite that, I do have one story that might pique your interest."
"…hmph. I'll be the judge of that. But you're certainly confident enough, so I'll allow you to attempt entertaining me."
"It would be my honor. Well, just this afternoon I was preparing to depart the village to return to your side. I said my goodbyes to the Elder and left her home, setting off towards the carriage scheduled to retrieve me when what should my eyes fall upon but your very own sister, Zelda."
"What?"
That had certainly gotten Hilda's attention. She sat forward, arching an eyebrow and staring hard at him.
"It's true. I was quite surprised myself – I don't believe I've ever run into her outside of the Castle before today."
"Enough with the dramatic retelling, I'm not here for a stage play. Why was she in Kakariko? That seems a rather odd place to run into my sorry sister."
"I couldn't tell you anything beyond the fact that evidently she and Link had come to visit Impa."
Hilda clicked her tongue and scowled again.
"Impa…that worthless wretch. Of course Zelda wanted to visit the girl; it makes perfect sense after five years ago. I suppose you spoke with them?"
"Oh, indeed. I could never be so rude as to ignore the Second Princess when outside of your illustrious presence, Hilda-sama."
"Your tiring flattery aside, how was she? As timid and miserable as ever, I would assume. No doubt she tiptoed and bowed and apologized again and again to both Link and Impa. Perhaps she did the same with you once you entered the conversation as well."
Aisen made a complicated face, his smile finally fading, before shaking his head.
"Much to my surprise, no."
"No?" she repeated in disbelief.
"Not even once, actually."
"…then what was it instead? Perhaps she stood far behind the group and said nothing at all, believing her words to be so worthless that nobody around her would wish to hear them? Was she groveling at Impa's feet, begging her forgiveness for the way she was dismissed after the Calamity?"
"Not that I was witness to, at the very least."
Hilda huffed.
"Stop leading me through the possibilities, then, and just tell me."
"She was smiling, far more brightly than I've ever witnessed."
"…smiling? Her? Truly?"
"Indeed, Hilda-sama. I would never lie to you about anything in this world."
Hilda was uninterested in his posturing and devotion, though. There was just no way…was there?
"Tell me more. Why was she smiling?"
"Mm, my best guess is that she and Impa were able to reunite and clear the air between them. They were both very happy to be conversing together when I arrived."
"You're certain about that?" she murmured in utter disbelief. There was just no way Zelda was happy. Not after being sent to that backwater hovel…not after being forced to take someone like Link as her fiancé…surely it was impossible, right?
"Oh, I have very little doubt. Though it lacked any force at all, she spoke up in defense of Impa when I belittled her briefly. I confess, I likely deserved it – I was having a bit of my own fun at her expense when I probably shouldn't have."
"I'm sorry…she did what?"
"I promise you, I didn't misspeak, Hilda-sama. She told me not to speak to Impa in such a manner and even denied my attempts at deflection. I must have thrown her off a little as Link came to her defense quickly thereafter and told me to leave them. And even I am not so bold to ignore the demands of the Goddess's chosen hero."
Hilda's face had darkened as she imagined the scenario. Her miserable, worthless sister actually having the confidence to defend somebody? The audacity to force her opinion on another? And her insufferable fiancé, the ever-infuriating Link, stepping to her side and aiding her as if it were the most natural thing in the world…
Truly, the thought was sickening.
"That's ridiculous," she spat.
"Isn't it, though? I, for one, never imagined a world in which Zelda would ever come to Impa's defense, though I suppose I can't fault her for guarding someone she sees as a friend. I'll admit, though, that I never expected her to say such things to me after the way she used to behave here at the Castle."
"Hm…indeed," Hilda muttered, staring at her nearly empty teacup.
"Your mood seems to have changed; was I, perhaps, able to entertain you after all?" Aisen asked, his smile returning in full force.
Hilda turned her eyes upward and plastered a phony smile of her own across her lips, echoing his as if she were looking in a mirror. It took no effort to reproduce it exactly.
"Indeed, Aisen. Thank you for taking the time to share your story with me."
"Always, Hilda-sama. I live to serve."
"I won't forget that. For tonight, however, I must admit my tea has made me rather sleepy so I believe I shall retire to bed."
"Would you like any assistance preparing?"
"No, that won't be necessary. We'll catch up more in the morning."
"As you wish, Hilda-sama. Have a restful night's sleep and I'll look forward to conversing with you again tomorrow."
With that, Aisen rose to his feet, bowed politely, and left the room, easing the tower door closed behind him. Hilda scowled after him.
'If ever I required someone to assist me in readying for bed, you would be the last person to whom I'd entrust the task, you lecherous simpleton.'
A moment later, though, Hilda had already ceased caring about Aisen's rather crass offer. Her mind was focused on much more important things, the thoughts in her mind swirling at a frightening velocity.
'If Zelda was smiling…then perhaps Link told Father and I the truth when he was here after all. Is it…true? I suppose if even Aisen thought she was happy, then it's not that far outside of the realm of possibility. I should entertain the notion that, as much as I'm loathe to admit it, my sister and Link have somehow fallen into a rather favorable arrangement.
'Disgusting.
'Link said his days were brighter than ever to have her around…that seemed so unlikely to me. Why would her miserable personality bring light to anyone around her? And yet…it seems his feelings for her aren't just simple lip service. But how is she happy with him…? Why is she happy with him…? And more importantly, why is he happy with her?'
Hilda was compelled by a sudden urge to hurl her teacup across the room as hard as she could…but she shook her head quickly, the tiniest whisper of a smile beginning to spread across her lips.
'Relax, Hilda – you're jumping to conclusions a bit too quickly here. Perhaps this isn't the worst thing that could have happened, either. They've only known each other for a little over two months now; there's simply no way my naïve, ignorant sister even understands what love feels like, much less how to reciprocate those feelings. I'm sure Link's adoration is wasted on someone as pathetic as she is. If left to her own devices, I doubt any meaningful progress would ever happen between them. How would she feel to know she was responsible for Link's inevitable dejection? Would she blame herself for not seeing the signs he's clearly given her? Would her heart break when he left her, unable to stand the constant stagnation?
'In fact…it would be quite a shame if his heart ended up broken as well…and sooner rather than later, too…'
The Crown Princess poured herself another cup of tea before rising to her feet and pacing the tower, sipping slowly from it as she racked her brain. It wasn't long before those disparate thoughts of her snapped perfectly into place and her eyes lit up, a light laughter escaping her lips.
"I'll show you 'the full picture,' you arrogant little cretin. Overconfidence is my biggest weakness? Let's just see how much it proves to be yours as well."
Hilda continued laughing to herself as her mind began racing once again, the makings of a plan already beginning to form behind her red eyes.
Link sat on the couch by the fireplace that evening as his mind went through what had happened with Impa yet again. He and Zelda had returned home from Kakariko a few hours ago now, but they certainly hadn't left empty handed. With her grandmother's blessing, Impa had rifled through countless volumes of journals and books meant to shed some light on the mysteries of the ancient Sheikah, selecting those densest in information and insisting Zelda bring them back to Hateno. Some of the books were even written in the language of the ancient Sheikah, an all but dead language in the present day. Zelda, however, had insisted that translating the books was something she was excited to tackle and graciously accepted them along with the rest.
Books weren't the only thing Impa had presented his fiancée with, though. Zelda had also come home with a treasure she had never even dreamed of holding in her hands – the Sheikah Slate itself.
Evidently, the King had told Purah to cease trying to figure out the mysteries of the strange, rectangular device and instead devote her attention and the resources present in her lab to the technology they had already solved. His goal, it seemed, was to utilize those discoveries to aid the people of the Kingdom, a rather noble goal all things considered. So Purah had sent the Sheikah Slate back home where it would be better protected by her tribe than by the scientists of the Ancient Tech Lab.
And so, Impa had insisted that Zelda should be the one to take the Slate. Though her grandmother was a little wary at first, not wishing to put a target on Zelda for possessing the device should anyone unscrupulous be interested in taking it, once she was reminded that Link would be next to her essentially all day every day, she was much more relaxed about the idea. Though he didn't often enjoy the fame that being the Goddess's chosen hero afforded him, he was very glad for it this time.
The look of incomparable wonder on Zelda's face when she had first held the Sheikah Slate in her own hands was something he would never forget.
All the way home, she had tinkered with the device, showing him strange glyphs and trying to decipher meaning in them using the books Impa had lent her. Visibility was poor on the road they traveled, with only a few simple lanterns they had brought with them to illuminate their path, but Zelda just couldn't tear herself away from the artifact, leaning close to the light sources every few moments to see if she could parse just one more word of understanding from a journal or record book. It was as adorable as it was admirable.
It was also excellent affirmation that Link had very much made the right decision in planning a trip to Kakariko Village with her.
Now, she was finishing up her bath, having somehow torn herself away from the Sheikah Slate long enough to go wash up. From the sounds he could make out through the door, however, it seemed she was hurrying through the process much more quickly than usual, something that amused him – she was clearly eager to get back to deciphering the device.
And so it was that, a short time later, Zelda sat beside him on the couch, pointing out random things on the Sheikah Slate to him and cautiously pressing a few buttons in the hopes of making something happen. Rarely did it, though. Occasionally, one glyph would shift to another, but that was the extent of the changes. It really was a strange device…
"Oh!" she gasped suddenly as the screen changed again.
Before, it had displayed a greenish box with a strange protrusion jutting from the top of it, but now it seemed to be mirroring the sight before their very eyes. The fireplace he had spent so many a night in front of was perfectly framed within the Sheikah Slate's rectangular display, as if it were being copied and shrunken down.
"Is that…our fireplace?" Link asked, impressed by the technology.
Zelda, if she were thrown off by his use of the word 'our,' chose not to show it, instead nodding excitedly.
"I-indeed! I…believe this is what's known as a photograph. Or…rather it could be one if I could just figure out how to capture the image."
"Capture the image?" Link repeated, curious now.
Zelda nodded again.
"I read about it in Purah-san's notes on the way home earlier – she believes this green square represents… a functionality to capture something she calls a photograph."
"But what exactly is a photograph?" Link asked, leaning in closer to her so he could get a better look.
Zelda's breath seemed to catch for just a moment before she continued, gesturing to the device that still mirrored the fireplace in its center.
"Um, you see, if I could figure out how to capture this image, the Sheikah Slate is supposed to save an exact replica of what it sees right now. Apparently, we should even be able to find that replica and view it later…like an instant painting or visual diary."
"Wow, that's really impressive," Link admitted. "I would never have imagined something like that existing."
"I…just can't seem to figure out…how to capture the image…"
She wasn't hesitating for her usual reasons; it was because she was fervently focused on the device and tapping all over the screen in an attempt to make something happen. Link would find her hesitancy adorable if this were always the cause of it…
"Hmm…maybe you could just press every single button on the thing and see what happens?" Link suggested.
"I…you don't think that would harm it?"
Link shook his head and smiled.
"I doubt it. If the ancient Sheikah built a way to break this thing just by pressing the buttons on it, that's a pretty poor choice of design for something meant to help the future generations. At least, that's the way I see it."
"You…do have a good point. Um…okay…I'll give it a try. Here goes…"
Zelda began to systematically press each button on the Sheikah Slate's face, hoping for something to happen. Link watched as her small fingers found each one, her eyes hopeful and her touch timid. Nothing happened for the longest time…until she found one that was almost hiding in the bottom left corner. She pressed it hopefully and a quick snapping sound echoed from the Slate. It sounded decidedly mechanical, similar to the kinds of noises the Divine Beasts sometimes emitted.
"D…did I do it?" she murmured.
"It sounded like it. Now…where are they saved is the next question to answer."
"Hmm…perhaps there's a place within this photograph functionality…"
Zelda pressed buttons and slid her finger across the Slate's face for the next several minutes. Link was beginning to wonder if Purah was actually just wrong until something finally happened; it seemed Zelda had found exactly what she was looking for. There, on the screen, was a miniature version of the fireplace, entirely stationary.
"L-Link…"
"I think you found it."
She pressed on the image with her finger and it grew in size to fill up the entire rectangular space. Taking another surprised breath, Zelda leaned in close and studied the image.
"It…doesn't flicker or mirror the real fire at all. It's as if I captured a single instance in time…"
"That's amazing," Link managed, actually interested in the ancient technology for maybe the first time in his life. That was quite the capability for this little device to have.
"U-um!"
Zelda seemed to be hesitant to say something so Link gave her a warm smile and placed a hand on her arm.
"What is it?"
"I…I wonder…would mind if I tried…capturing an image of you…?"
"Me? Sure, I don't mind. How come, though?"
Zelda's cheeks darkened a bit and she averted her gaze.
"W-well…I was just thinking that…if the Sheikah Slate really can capture images and preserve them…then it's like saving a memory. I thought it might be nice to have one of you in here too…"
"I like that idea a lot. Can I make a request, though?"
"C-certainly."
"Can we save an image of both of us? Together?"
"T-together?" she sputtered, her cheeks growing crimson now.
Link's own heartrate was speeding up by the second but he did his best not to let it show in his actions.
"Yeah, together. If we're going to save a memory, I'd like it to be of the two of us. If that's okay with you, of course."
"U-um…I…don't mind. But how will we manage to capture ourselves when one of us has to operate the device…?"
"Hmm…maybe I can just hold it backwards?"
"That…could work…"
Zelda brought the Slate closer again before hesitating for a moment, something seeming to catch her eye. In an instant, she was engrossed in studying the device again, Link watched silently as she worked. Her process was very systematic and methodical – she flipped it over and leaned in close, gazing at something intently before flipping it again and doing the same. A moment later, she beckoned Link closer, actually scooting into him just a bit.
Link's own heart flipped and soared as she did that. It was so cute…
"L-Link, look. There's a similar installation on the front of the Slate as there is on the back. Based on where I held it to frame the image of the fireplace, it looks like it's responsible for capturing things. But if there's one on the front too, then that might mean I can make it capture images in the opposite direction as well…"
"That makes sense to me."
Link was far too distracted by the intoxicating closeness of his fiancée. Usually, she was much more skittish than this, stammering and stuttering whenever she was physically close to him for more than a second. Tonight, however, she was so focused on the mystery of the Sheikah Slate's photographs that she seemed to be completely at ease even cozied up against his side as she was.
Impa giving her the Sheikah Slate was proving to be a great thing for himself, as well.
After tinkering with the device for several more minutes, Zelda made a little squeak of surprise as the screen suddenly mirrored her own face back to her. She turned towards Link, shimmering excitement present in her eyes.
"I…think I did it!"
"Wow, look at that – it's reflecting you now. You're amazing, how did you get it to do that?"
Zelda's cheeks flushed rather badly. Even though she tried to hide it from Link, he could still see the red color in the reflected image on the Sheikah Slate.
"U-um…uh, I, uh…found if I draw a little circle with two fingers that it rotates the way it focuses when capturing images."
"It's capable of doing something like that based on the way you move your fingers? That's incredible…and very confusing; I've never been good with this stuff."
Zelda giggled a little.
"I-it is rather strange, isn't it? But at least this way…we can try to save an image of us…t-together."
Link's own face heated up a bit, caught off guard by her words.
"R-right. Would you like to do the honors?"
"S…should we…strike a pose or something?"
"A pose?"
Zelda blushed again but nodded all the same.
"It…just feels like maybe we should do something…deliberate for it. Perhaps we could smile like some of my ancestors did for their paintings that hang in the Castle."
"I like that," Link agreed. "Besides, it'll make for a wonderful memory to capture – us being happy as you figure out the mysteries of the Sheikah Slate."
"H…happy?"
"Of course."
"You're…happy right now? I'm not…boring you or anything like that…?"
"Not even a little bit. I'm enjoying this very much," he assured her.
"Um…thank you. I…I'm also very happy right now…"
"Then I think you're right – a smile would be perfect."
"O…okay. I'll get the Slate ready and make sure we're both in the image."
"Here, I can help with that."
Link leaned in a bit closer and slipped an arm around Zelda's shoulder. She squeaked in surprise but didn't pull away. Her cheeks did manage to darken even further, though.
"Sorry, is this too much?" Link asked, preparing to move his arm away.
Zelda shook her head quickly, though.
"N-not at all. I just…wasn't sure if you felt obligated…"
"I didn't, don't worry. If we're saving a memory, I'd love to remember how close we've become since you first came here."
"I…would as well."
"Then I'm ready when you are."
"M-me too."
Zelda held the Sheikah Slate before her, stretching her arm out so she and Link were easily visible on the display. Link wouldn't have been able to keep a straight face if he'd wanted to; a smile very easily stole his lips. Having Zelda so close was always enough to make him light up like this.
His fiancée, meanwhile, was blushing terribly, likely a result of actually seeing their physical proximity reflected before her very eyes. Despite this, she managed a timid smile. Link had seen her smile much more genuinely before, of course…but she probably still felt a little awkward and self-conscious about being so close.
"R-ready?" she whispered.
"Yeah, go ahead."
With that, Zelda pressed her finger against the button and a mechanical snap sounded once more. She pulled the Slate closer to them and made a series of motions that Link wasn't sure he'd ever be able to replicate; she really was an incredibly quick study with this stuff. She pressed the display once and the exact image she'd just captured of the two of them together grew to fill the Slate.
Zelda's smile had brightened right at the end, though her cheeks remained rather red. Link, to his credit, had managed to keep most of his own blush down but if you looked closely enough you could still see the telltale signs on his ears. The fact that they looked so relaxed and happy together, though, made his heart flip.
'We almost look…like a real couple…'
"I think…this photograph is wonderful," Zelda murmured, a gentle smile on her lips.
Link shook that errant little thought from his mind and nodded in agreement.
"I do too. We should take more like this from time to time – maybe make a little catalogue of how far we've come together."
Zelda turned towards him and smiled.
"I…would like that a lot. You don't…mind, then?"
"Of course not. I don't even mind if you take a few of just me here and there. I will definitely admit, though, I'd much rather see photographs of you than myself."
Zelda's adorable blush returned and she averted her eyes, that beautiful smile of hers growing despite her bashful response.
"I'll…be sure to take plenty of both of us together to offset any I might take of you then."
It didn't sound like she was apologizing, something he couldn't help but smile over.
"That sounds perfect. Hey, Zelda?"
"Um, yes?"
"Will you show me what else you've figured out about this thing?"
Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she met his gaze, giving him a fervent nod.
"I…would be happy to!"
Link gave himself a silent pat on the back; he was thrilled that he would get to spend the evening enjoying Zelda's infectious passion for the ancient Sheikah technology. And as she scooted a bit closer so he had a better view of the Sheikah Slate, he was forced to admit that it was maybe the most enjoyable side effect of the situation he could ever have hoped for.
The Sheikah Slate was good for more than just mysteries - it was bringing them closer together already.
Across the next two weeks, Zelda spent quite a bit of time with the Sheikah Slate. She did her best to devote her attention to it only when Link was out of the house or otherwise preoccupied with responsibilities, but he frequently insisted that he'd love to see her progress and hear what she had learned. He was incredibly supportive of her new hobby, something she was deeply grateful for.
She had learned that the Sheikah Slate was capable of sorting her saved photographs into something of a compendium, as long as she specified certain labels for each image. Usually, it took to categorizing inanimate objects better than it took to categorizing people, though that hadn't stopped her from taking a few pictures of Link. Oftentimes, he would come close to her and ask that she take another of the two of them. And one time, he had even taken a picture of her himself, but only after asking her permission to do so.
She had noticed lately that she felt much more relaxed around Link than she ever had been. Perhaps it was due to the fact that she had managed to stand up for Impa in Kakariko Village that filled her with some small sense of confidence or maybe it was simply that she had fully come to internalize that she trusted Link's actions and words, but Zelda was more comfortable with him than ever. It was a nice feeling, honestly.
And very foreign.
She hadn't felt entirely comfortable with somebody since she was a little girl and her mother had been alive. Back then, she was open and close with both her mother and Hilda, but after her passing, things had changed rather drastically, of course. To have the feeling back after so many years was something she had deemed impossible long ago. The idea that she didn't have to apologize for existing around Link was already amazing enough, but that he continually assured her that he wanted her around him was a shock, especially at first.
Now, however, enough time had passed that she really did believe him. And after all they had gone through together, she was starting to trust her own feelings more and more as well. There really was nowhere she would rather be than by his side and where she once felt guilty to have those selfish thoughts, she now really believed that it made Link happy to hear such things. Mipha, who had dropped by twice since the new year began, had once told her that Link's feelings for her were rather strong, despite how short a time they'd known each other. Though Zelda really had no idea how she could tell, she trusted the Zora Princess's words and caught herself pondering over the intent behind certain actions of Link's while she lay in bed at night.
'Why does Link place his hand atop my own so often? Certainly, he only means to comfort me, right? When Mipha says his feelings for me are strong…does she mean he intends to court me romantically? But I'm already his fiancée; surely he doesn't need to spend his effort winning me over now. I'm quite happy with him, certainly without him going to such trouble. Does…he just want to, then? I wish I had more experience with things of this nature…perhaps Mipha or Aryll might be able to help more…'
So when Aryll herself returned to visit them early into the Second Month, just days after she'd had that thought, Zelda considered it a blessing. The young woman with the short blonde hair appeared on their doorstep late that morning with a bright smile. Link, not surprised to see her more regularly anymore, had invited her in and offered her some leftovers from breakfast. Never one to turn down her brother's cooking, Aryll had settled in at the table and begun eating with a fervor akin to that of someone who had been starving just minutes prior.
"Mm! Link this is delicious!" Aryll sang through a mouthful of rice.
Link had prepared fried eggs and rice for breakfast that morning, something she had become quite fond of since coming to Hateno. She still took it upon herself to make lunch or dinner for him depending on what time of day Link went out, but due to his much more relaxed schedule during the winter months, they ended up cooking together more often than not in the afternoons or evenings. Link still happily prepared breakfast prior to her waking up, though; it was something he insisted he wanted to do for her.
"Thanks, Ari. Glad you're enjoying," he laughed, relaxing into the couch.
Zelda and Link had settled in near the fire while Aryll ate with reckless abandon. It was quite the sight to see, honestly. Her table manners may not be that refined, but Zelda found herself both amused and impressed by the sheer amount Aryll was not only willing to eat but able to.
"I want to try some of Zel-chan's cooking next time!" she insisted, stuffing another large bite of egg and rice into her mouth.
"O-oh, I'm not…that good at cooking, honestly," she murmured.
Link, however, laughed and shook his head.
"Don't believe that, Ari; Zelda makes lunch or dinner on the days I have to go out hunting and she's a brilliant chef!"
"D…d-do you really think so…?" she stammered, caught off guard by the sudden praise.
"Of course I do. It's a real treat when you cook for me."
"I-it is? Then…I, um…I wouldn't mind doing it more often if you would enjoy that…even if you're not busy…"
Link's smile grew bright.
"Really? I'd love to take you up on that once in a while then! You can take the reins but I'm still happy to help you so you don't have to do the whole thing by yourself."
Ari scoffed nearby.
"Oh, for the sake of the Goddess, go flirt someplace else! I'm losing my appetite here!"
Zelda felt her cheeks catch fire and averted her gaze from everyone in the room. Link shot his sister an annoyed look before she began to laugh a moment later.
"I'm just kidding! Come on, did you actually think I was serious!? I love watching the two of you together like this! It's so cute! I'm completely and totally in your corner, you know!"
That didn't help matters, causing Zelda's cheeks to turn crimson. She chanced a glance at Link when he didn't respond, noting that his own face was rather flushed. This time, she really did believe it was likely because of Aryll's words rather than the temperature of the room.
Before Zelda could begin to properly interpret Aryll's comments, though, a knock sounded at the door. A little surprised, Link stood and approached it. They weren't expecting anyone today…not that they had really been expecting Aryll either. And as Link opened the door, she realized that one surprise guest wasn't all they'd be getting that morning.
"Mipha? I didn't expect you today, come on in. Ari's here too," Link explained, beckoning her through the open door.
The ever-graceful Zora Princess crossed the threshold with a smile and waved to Zelda.
"Thank you, Link. I figured I'd drop by since it's been a few weeks now. What luck that I managed to pick the same day that Ari came by to visit."
"Micchan!" Aryll sang from the table, waving energetically.
So Mipha had a nickname too. And she even referred to Aryll by Link's nickname for her. That was especially rare, given how naturally and unfalteringly polite Mipha usually was to everyone around her.
"It's so good to see you again, Ari," she called, crossing the room towards her.
Aryll leapt from her seat and pulled the Zora into a tight hug.
"I know! It's been months now! How've you been, gorgeous?"
Mipha's porcelain cheeks turned as red as her skin and she lost her composure for a few moments.
"A-Ari, we've only said ten words to each other and you're already trying to tease me?"
Aryll winked and nodded, her bright smile only growing.
"Of course! I have to make up for lost time, after all! My eyes haven't beheld your stunning beauty for nearly three months now!"
"Y-you flatter me as ever, Ari."
Link sat back down beside Zelda and leaned close, speaking in a low voice.
"Ari likes to tease Mipha. It's because she gives such fun reactions to being complimented so directly."
"I-I do not!" Mipha insisted half-heartedly, shaking her head.
Zelda offered her a smile.
"I…also tend to get overwhelmed by compliments. I'm…a bit surprised Aryll doesn't tease me too."
Aryll laughed and ran to the couch, throwing her arm around Zelda's shoulders.
"You're so precious! But I figured you might hate me if I embarrassed you too much so early on. So for now, Micchan still gets the brunt of my love!"
Another fiery blush appeared on the Zora's face even as Zelda shook her head quickly.
"A-Aryll, I could never hate you. You've…been so wonderful to me since we met and I'm very glad we can get to know each other…if you still want to, of course…"
A few weeks prior, Zelda had been worried that Aryll and Mipha wouldn't want her around when they were together again. She had been convinced her presence wouldn't serve to enhance their lives in any way…but from the looks of things, she was wrong, just as Link had said.
Oblivious to Zelda's internal struggles, Aryll squealed loudly and pulled her into a real hug, nuzzling her cheek with her own.
"You are so sweet! Link, she's so sweet! I want to take her home with me! Please, let me take her home with me!"
Link rolled his eyes but still grinned nonetheless.
"Not a chance. Who knows what you'd put her through without me here to rein you in."
"What!? I'd be kind and caring and doting – a perfect little sister! Come on, gimme a chance! Just a day. No, a week. Two weeks, tops. Maybe a month if she's really happy."
"Not happening, sis. Ever," Link insisted.
Mipha giggled nearby.
"I know you told me as much, Zelda, but I'm very glad to see with my own eyes that Ari's taken such a liking to you." She paused for just a moment before a surprisingly mischievous grin appeared across her lips. "Though…I suppose if she's that smitten with you, there might be no more room for me in her heart. Perhaps all those compliments weren't as sincere as they sounded…"
Aryll gasped and jumped up again, seizing Mipha's hands and staring directly into her eyes.
"As much as I love Zelda, nothing could ever come between us, Micchan! At the end of the day, I only have eyes for you, eyes that have been branded by your beauty such that I could never see anyone or anything as comparable to your perfection!"
Mipha dissolved into a blushing mess, her attempt at teasing having backfired spectacularly thanks to Aryll's theatrical display. Maybe she'd known exactly what Mipha was trying to do and had made it her goal to out-tease her or maybe she hadn't even realized she'd thwarted the Zora's plans, but Zelda found herself very amused by the situation all the same.
As a nice bonus, it made her less anxious to have someone to share Aryll's energetic attention with.
After the four settled in and caught up for a short while, Aryll suddenly clapped her hands together. Her eyes were alight with a twinkle Zelda already knew to be a bit wary of. She had some sort of plan…perhaps even a scheme. What could it be…?
"Let's play Confessions!"
Zelda was immediately confused.
"C…confessions? What's that?"
Aryll wasn't deterred and launched into an energetic explanation.
"It's a game! I used to play it at sleepovers with my friends when I was younger! You've never played?"
"N-no, I can't say I have. I never really had sleepovers at the Castle…"
She didn't want to admit that not only had she never had any friends growing up, she'd also been relegated to a tiny room in the servants' quarters for the majority of her life. Link reached out and squeezed her hand in his, silently offering his support.
She very much appreciated it.
"I've played it once or twice, but it's been a long time," Mipha interjected. "What brings this on though, Ari?"
The blonde girl grinned.
"I've been thinking since the last time I visited – these two never tell me any secrets! So what better way to get 'em to share than if we all share?"
"Ooh, I rather like that idea!" Mipha agreed with a bright smile. It seemed Aryll and Mipha made for quite the team, despite the very deliberate teasing.
"So you'll play!?"
"Of course!"
"Aw! Thanks, you stunningly gorgeous thing, you!"
Zelda had been wondering how long Aryll could resist teasing the poor girl again - the answer was not very. Mipha's face caught fire a moment later.
"Anyway," Aryll sang, rounding on Zelda and Link, "you two will play too, right!?"
Link sighed and drew Zelda's attention.
"You don't have to. I know Ari's insistent, but if you're uncomfortable with the idea, don't feel like you have to force yourself, okay?"
Zelda felt a very natural smile spread across her lips.
"T-thank you. But…I don't mind playing. It sounds…fun."
"Yes! You won't regret it, Zel-chan!" Ari sang. "That means you have to play too, big brother. If you don't, we won't have the proper amount of people!"
Link sighed again before a resigned grin appeared on his face.
"Fine, fine, I don't want to spoil the experience for Zelda. I'll play, too."
Zelda locked eyes with him quickly, though.
"O-oh, I hope I'm not forcing you into something you'd rather not take part in…"
He gave her a relaxed smile before shaking his head.
"Not at all. This isn't the first time Ari's roped me into playing this with her, but it's the first time I'm actually interested in taking part."
Zelda felt her nerves settle at Link's reassurance. As long as he was okay playing, then she felt a little better about things.
"S-so…how do you play?" Zelda asked at last, watching the gamemaster intently.
Aryll lit up.
"I'm so glad you asked, Zel-chan! Well, first things first, we all take one of the chairs at the table so we're sitting in a circle!"
Everyone did as she asked, even Link who only grumbled lightly when his sister demanded he at least humor her for a while. It was still just as endearing as ever to see him play and joke around with her. Finally seated at the table, Aryll continued her excited explanation.
"So, here's how it works! We go around the table and one at a time we each pick a topic. Then, everybody in order makes some kind of confession involving that topic. So if I picked 'getting into a fight,' then we'd go around the circle and everyone would confess something about fighting until it came back around to me and I confessed something too. Then Mipha would pick the next topic and we'd continue. That's why it's called 'Confessions!'"
"T-that sounds…simple enough," Zelda murmured, suddenly a bit nervous about laying details of her life bare for everyone around her.
"There's more, though!" Aryll sang. "The other three that didn't confess have to vote with a thumbs up or a thumbs down whether they thought the confession was good enough! If there are more thumbs downs than thumbs ups, you have to pick a new one! That's why we need four people, so there won't be any ties between the judges."
"O-oh…I understand now…"
Link placed a gentle hand on her arm.
"You don't have to say anything you don't want to say though, okay? Game or not, stop if you get uncomfortable."
Zelda felt her nerves abate yet again at his assurance and support.
"T-thank you, Link."
A moment later, Aryll gave her a much softer smile.
"He's right. I'm having fun here, but don't let me pressure you or anything. I'll try not to, but stop me if I accidentally get carried away, okay? I do that sometimes," she admitted, laughing with a sheepish grin on her face.
"Oh? Do you?" Mipha added, feigning wonder and disbelief all at once.
Zelda watched in amusement as Aryll gave an animated pout.
"D-don't worry, Aryll. I'm sure…I'll be just fine," Zelda insisted.
"Great! Then why don't we get started? Since Zel-chan's never played before, why don't we let her decide the first topic? That way she does the last confession and can get a feel for the game."
Link and Mipha agreed at once and Zelda began considering her first choice.
'Hmm…a topic that everyone has to use to make a confession…? Perhaps I should pick something mundane. I wouldn't want to upset anyone or make them uncomfortable, not after how kind they've all been to me…'
"Um…how about…school…?"
"Ooh, that's a fun one!" Aryll sang from across the table. "Confessions from when we were in school, huh? Guess I'm first! When I was ten, this boy made fun of Dad in front of me and when we were walking home later that day, I pushed him in a fountain and told all his friends he tripped and fell by himself. They made fun of him for a week after that and he never said anything bad about my family again, at least not to me."
Aryll told her story with an incredibly bright smile on her face…perhaps too bright given the subject matter. Zelda, still recovering a bit from the tale, glanced around as Mipha, with a bemused smile, and Link, with a resigned one, both gave her a thumbs up. Zelda, remembering that she should follow suit, did the same.
"Ari, didn't you try to talk things out first?" Mipha asked, her eyes a little wider than usual.
"Nah, he was just a brat. But I've never been great at settling my conflicts with words, anyway. Why plan out a dissertation when a quick dunk in the fountain will do the job?"
Link sighed next to Zelda.
"What sage advice for the next generation."
"Gee, you think?" she sang, fluttering her eyelashes.
"Let's move on."
Mipha considered the topic for several moments before speaking.
"Um, I suppose this might count – when I was young, I would sometimes fake being sick to get out of my private lessons but then later I'd sneak out and go swimming to the ancient ruins I wanted to explore."
Aryll whistled.
"Ooh, Micchan, even you have a rebellious side, huh?"
"I haven't done anything so irresponsible for a long time now, don't worry," Mipha assured her.
"Oh, I wasn't worried. It's that secret side of you that I find so very attractive anyway."
As another scarlet blush blazed to life on Mipha's cheeks, Zelda and Link both gave her a thumbs up, Aryll following suit after she'd had her fun.
"My turn, I guess," Link murmured, starting to accept the situation a little more, it seemed.
Zelda found herself quite curious what he might end up admitting to. Did Link have stories like that too? Was he the type that had a secret past as a childhood troublemaker? Or had he always been mature beyond his age?
"I turned down more than one girl who asked me on a date in school so I could go home and practice with the Master Sword."
"Pffffft." Aryll blew a loud raspberry before giving him an exaggerated thumbs down. "Boo! We all know that! Even Zel-chan knows that! Pick something better!"
Zelda was curious what other stories Link might have but she felt too guilty to give him a thumbs down and force him to redo it. Instead, she raised a very timid thumbs up, earning an amused smile from him.
"Thanks for trying to bail me out."
Mipha, however, felt no such obligation as she, too, presented Link with a thumbs down.
"Sorry, Link. Looks like you have to give us another, despite Zelda's sweet gesture."
"So it seems," he muttered. "Fine, fine. Hm…I guess this sort of counts – when I was helping out at the Knights' Academy after the Calamity, there was one soldier who always liked to spread rumors about me and insult me behind my back to anyone who would listen. So when training day came, I picked him as my demonstration partner and embarrassed him in front of the whole class. Not the most mature decision…but it sure was cathartic."
"Wow, so even my brother has moments like that. I hope you know that's not that far removed from my fountain story," Ari sang.
"What can I say? We are related, after all."
Zelda, meanwhile, was trying not to smile too widely. For some reason, whenever the topic of bad things being said about Link came up, she was immediately consumed by the thought of wanting to get even with the person responsible for it, just like the one noblewoman who had made Aryll cry and insulted he and his family over and over again. Link was just far too wonderful for such mean things to be done to him.
She was the first to give her thumbs up.
"Ooh, it looks like Zelda enjoyed your story, Link," Mipha noted, joining her with a sign of approval.
Zelda sputtered and waved her hands quickly.
"U-um, I just…i-it was interesting to hear, t-that's all!"
"Hey, I'm not judging," Ari assured her, giving her own thumbs up as well. "As long as you're having fun, I couldn't be happier!"
"I…I really am."
"Great! Because it's your turn, Zel-chan! Confession time!"
Zelda felt her heart leap in nervous anticipation. Did she have a story like that? Something that could compare to any of the tales Aryll, Mipha, and even Link had told? She hadn't been that rebellious as a child…especially after she had turned nine. But…there was…
"Um…one time, Hilda and I skipped our lessons for the day and hid in a really out of the way part of the Castle just to see if we'd be found or not. It took hours but eventually one of the guards happened upon us. Our instructor…wasn't very happy, but we had a great time, honestly."
As she told the story, a small smile spread across her lips. Even after all these years, it was still a fun little memory she held onto from the days before Hilda had grown to resent her. It was probably the only interesting story she could think of with regards to her schooling, too.
"Would you look at this," Aryll began, showing her a thumbs up, "the worst thing the two Princesses ever did was skip a day of school. Meanwhile, Link and I beat people up and threw 'em in fountains."
"Hey, hey," Link interjected, also giving Zelda his own thumbs up, "I'm not defending my own actions, but I never actually shoved anyone in a fountain; that was all you, sis."
"And what's wrong with a fountain!? Better that than just beating someone's a-"
"Ari."
"A-at their own game!"
Mipha also gave Zelda a thumbs up, giggling a little before she spoke.
"I like the idea that you only skipped your lessons because you were curious to know if anyone could find you and make you go back; that seems like something a very young you would do to sate your curiosities. And it sounds very amusing."
"It…was rather enjoyable," she admitted at last.
Ari, having finally finished her bout with Link, shot her a wink.
"Reliving moments like these can be fun! See, the game's not so bad when you just relax into it."
"I…suppose you're right."
"Course I am! Glad you're having fun too! Alright, it's my turn to pick a topic!"
"Uh oh," Link muttered under his breath, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger.
"That's right, big brother – uh oh! Because the topic I pick is romance!"
"R-romance?" Zelda asked, her eyebrows rising.
"Mhm! You know, something the two of you are uniquely qualified to have some confessions for…don't you think?" Her sly grin was enough to force yet another blush to bloom to life on Zelda's cheeks.
"Mipha's first," Link corrected her, though his own cheeks weren't exactly clear.
"Right you are! So, beautiful," she continued, turning her eyes to Mipha's skittish own, "what romantic confession do you have for us today? Is there a secret lover in Micchan's life? A prince, perhaps? A longtime friend? Or maybe…you…want…me?"
"A-Ari…"
Mipha buried her face in her hands, her cheeks the same shade as the red skin on her fingers, as Aryll laughed in delight, squeezing the Zora's shoulder and apologizing for embarrassing her so much. Zelda still found herself very amused by their antics together and even Link chuckled a little before he spoke.
"You're really giving her a hard time today, Ari. You aren't usually this playful with Mipha."
"Like I said, I missed her so much for so long! I have to make up for lost time! Still, I'll tone it down if I'm upsetting you, Micchan."
Mipha, finally moving her hands away, shook her head with a knowing smile.
"You aren't. Even though I embarrass easily, I've always enjoyed this playful side of you, Ari. You can feel free to treat me like you always have, no matter how much I may blush."
Aryll clutched her chest suddenly and made a wistful expression.
"Augh, my heart! She's just…too cute!"
Link shook his head in disbelief.
"You better hurry and confess to something, Mipha. If you don't, she might keep doing this all afternoon."
Mipha cleared her throat and nodded.
"R-right. Um…I suppose it's not a good enough confession that I've never so much as even been on a real date; it's not that surprising for Royalty, is it Zelda? Hmm…well, once when I was much younger, there was this Zora boy whom I now realize had a crush on me. He always proposed us getting together, just the two of us but I would always suggest we invite more people to join so nobody felt left out. I never realized he was asking for me to spend time with him alone because he had romantic feelings for me. So each and every time, I would suggest we invite many more people. Eventually, he just stopped asking. I wonder if I spurned his affections too harshly without ever even realizing it…"
All three of them gave her a thumbs up before Aryll spoke again.
"Ah, I'm sure he's over it now. Kids are especially resilient. Besides, he'd have to go through me if he wanted to get to you nowadays and I don't know if he's prepared for that hurdle."
Mipha laughed lightly.
"It calms my heart to know I have such a reliable guardian. Perhaps if I ever truly entrust my heart to another, you would be the perfect candidate after all."
For the first time all day, Aryll blushed in response, her mouth falling open.
"Just kidding," Mipha sang, winking at the blonde girl.
Zelda couldn't help but giggle at the reversal of fortune that had just played out right in front of her. After several moments, Aryll recovered, sighing and grinning in defeat.
"That might be the first time you've turned the tables on me so well, Micchan. You've been practicing, haven't you?"
"Mm, perhaps."
"You're lucky it's Link's turn or I'd spend the rest of the afternoon trying to get your secrets out of you!" she assured her, wiggling her fingers.
"Lucky, indeed," she agreed with a grin, turning her attention to Link.
Zelda was very curious what her fiancé would say that didn't involve the date she'd heard about during Aryll's first visit. There was simply no way either Aryll or Mipha would let him use that same story again, she was quite certain. To be entirely honest…she wanted to hear something new as well.
"Romance, huh…?" Link murmured to himself before considering things for a while. "Hm…you're not going to let 'I have a fiancée without ever having had a real girlfriend' fly, are you?"
"Of course not," Aryll insisted, "we all know that already. Why don't we take it a step further, though…? Why not jus tconfess something about Zel-chan instead?"
Link sputtered for a moment, even as Zelda's heart skipped a beat in her chest.
"A-Ari!" he chided her, his voice stern.
"What, it's not like you're going to upset her or anything! Look at that face – she's as curious as I am!"
Zelda realized too late just how much her inner feelings were showing as Aryll made her comment. She quickly tried to hide behind her hands the way Mipha had done before.
"See? Now you're embarrassing her," he huffed.
"We won't push things too far for Zelda," Mipha insisted, "but I must admit, I'm rather curious to hear what you might confess in that regard myself."
"You two really are a dangerous combination," Link sighed.
Aryll shot him a wink.
"You got that right! Might as well just give up; we're gonna thumbs down everything you say until you give us something about Zel-chan!"
Zelda felt very conflicted. On the one hand, she really did want to hear him say something about her. She was curious what he might really be thinking and feeling about her inside his head. She had hoped to talk to Aryll about such a thing when next she visited, but now it seemed as if the girl's energetic impulsiveness was going to get Zelda exactly what she wanted without ever having to say a word.
But at the same time…she didn't want Link to feel awkward and uncomfortable, especially not after he had gone so far out of his way to make sure she never felt that way herself, both today and just in general since she had arrived in Hateno. When she thought about it like that, there was really only one way to respond.
"I, um…" she began, earning everyone's attention. Their curious gazes bored into her and made her want to shut down and stop talking completely…but she could trust the people in this room. They were her friends and…Link was her fiancé. She didn't have to wilt under their attention.
Though the combined weight of their gazes was admittedly difficult to endure.
"I-if…Link doesn't want to share such personal thoughts…then I don't think we should try to force him to. H-he's been so patient and kind with me and…I want to return the favor if I can…"
Aryll and Mipha looked between each other for several moments before they seemed to squeal in stereo, clasping each other's hands.
"Micchan! This is so cute! It's so cute! Did you hear that!?"
"I heard, I heard! I've been waiting for a moment like this myself. They really do make for a wonderful pair."
Zelda felt her cheeks heat up but was almost immediately distracted from that as Link placed a hand on her arm and gave her a soft smile.
"Thanks, Zelda. That's very thoughtful of you. But…it's not like there's much I'd actually want to hide from you anyway. I'll pick something these two will be happy with but won't embarrass us too much, okay?"
"O…okay. That sounds…fair."
"That said," he continued, turning his attention back to his sister and best friend, "don't keep rejecting things; you'll make Zelda feel bad after all that."
Aryll clicked her tongue.
"Bah…he's using her adorable innocence against us, Micchan. He's too clever for his own good, this one."
"He always has been," the Zora concurred with a gentle smile.
"Fine, give us something about you and Zel-chan and we can move on. No thumbs downs."
"I agree to those terms as well," Mipha conceded.
Link nodded.
"Deal. Something about Zelda and I…hmm…I…enjoy coming up with excuses to have Zelda tell me about her research into the ancient Sheikah technology even though it's not something I've ever been particularly interested in myself. It…"
He fell silent for a long time before Aryll leaned forward and grinned slyly at him.
"It…what?"
He sighed and finally spoke again, his cheeks very red now.
"It makes me happy to see her so happy…"
Zelda felt her cheeks flush badly even as Aryll and Mipha began to squeal again, this time outright hugging each other. That was why he always wanted to facilitate her studies and research? Because it made him…happy? Those words were enough to make Zelda's heart flutter and race all at once.
"That's what I wanted to hear! That's adorable!" Aryll sang.
"I agree!"
Link averted his gaze and cleared his throat deliberately.
"There. Happy now?"
"Oh, I'm very happy, big brother! And now we get to hear Zel-chan's confession too! Same rules – something about you and Link!"
"E-even me?" she asked, hoping maybe they would spare her their scheme.
Mipha gave her an earnest smile.
"Even you, I'm afraid. But don't worry, we'll drag something good out of Ari after this."
Link seemed to be reeling a bit too much from his confession to come to her rescue this time. But the longer Zelda considered the situation, the more she didn't really mind it. She wasn't the most confident person in the world, not by any stretch of the imagination. She struggled to voice her own feelings and thoughts…and this was a situation where she was basically forced to do just that.
She wasn't the only one doing it, though. Aryll and Mipha had played along happily and even Link had just confessed something about his feelings regarding her. The least she could do was join in with them all…and a rather large part of her wanted to give Link a similar confession as a thank you for revealing something so kind just a moment ago.
Even though she struggled to admit her real thoughts and feelings to him in most situations, this was a great opportunity to do so without being quite as embarrassed as usual. After all, she was being forced to this time…so that made it easier…in theory…
"Um…I…I don't mind," she admitted, watching as their faces lit up with anticipation. "Uh…I, um…I d-don't think…I've ever really known what true happiness is…before I came here to Hateno and met Link…"
Her eyes immediately went to her fiancé as he gazed at her in wonder. Had she said too much? Had she been too presumptuous and overstepped the position she belonged in?
Despite her increasingly panicked thoughts, a warm smile slowly spread across Link's face, his eyes shimmering even as his cheeks darkened slightly.
"I can't tell you how glad I am to hear you say something like that. You deserve that happiness so much, Zelda."
Aryll and Mipha could quiet themselves no longer and a fresh wave of excited squeals exploded into the room. Aryll pulled the Zora into another hug and actually bounced up and down in her seat.
"This is everything I've ever wanted and so much more! I'm so blessed by the Goddess herself to witness this!"
"Will you settle down?" Link huffed, averting his eyes again.
This time, however, Zelda couldn't help but smile in turn.
"I…really am glad I can share this new happiness of mine…with all of you. Thank you."
"Always, Zelda," Link assured her, his previous annoyance with his sister evaporating immediately as he turned his attention back to her.
Mipha, finally succeeding in extricating herself from Aryll's grip, met her gaze and smiled.
"He's absolutely right. We'll all be here for you from now on, no matter what the situation. You can always rely on us."
"T…thank you all…so much…"
Zelda glanced between the three people around her in amazement. There had been a time not very long ago that she had been all but locked away from the world, miserable and useless. She still hadn't completely accepted that she didn't deserve what had happened to her…but she was at least willing to admit how unhappy she'd been because of it.
But now, she was surrounded by people that actually cared about her. People that went above and beyond to show her that they were in her corner. People who would support her no matter what. Link, of course, was chief among them, his actions and words having long sense proven to her that she could trust him unconditionally.
Still, she had been worried that Aryll and Mipha wouldn't want her around them as recently as a month ago. But, as always, Link had been right – they were far too decent to ever think of her as an annoyance or treat her poorly. And even despite their teasing this afternoon, Zelda was starting to understand that it was because they cared for she and Link and wanted to have fun with them…and perhaps to push them a little closer together, too.
For the first time in her life…Zelda had friends. And she couldn't have been happier to have them.
"Now!" Mipha began, grinning over to her right. "I believe it's a certain someone's turn to make a confession about their romantic life. Time to share, Ari."
Aryll, seemingly never deterred by anyone or anything, lit up and seized Mipha's hands again.
"I already have my confession prepared! Micchan – my confession is of my love for you! The depths of my devotion run as deep as the very ocean you traverse in order to visit my brother here in Hateno! And I will sing these feelings of mine from the peak of Mount Lanayru for the whole Kingdom to hear if that would make you happy!"
As Mipha again dissolved into a blushing mess, Zelda found herself giggling once more. She wasn't sure how common this was between Aryll and Mipha – she had only seen them together today, after all – but they seemed to be incredibly close friends. Maybe she would even be that close with the both of them herself someday. That thought, on top of every other wonderful sensation she'd experienced that afternoon, raised her spirits at an all-time high.
"Not a chance, Ari," Link admonished, pointing a deliberate thumb towards the ground. "Everyone else gave real confessions – you're not getting out of yours by saying the same stuff you always say to Mipha."
Zelda smiled over at Link before pointing her own thumb downwards as well.
"I'm sorry, Aryll…but Link does have a point."
Pleased with herself, Aryll took her hands back and laughed, even as Mipha finally recovered and gave her an exaggerated pout, tossing out an extra thumbs down just for good measure.
"Okay, okay, you're right. I'm sure I can dig up some story from when I was in school anyway. Hmm…ooh, I know! Did I ever tell you about the time the kid I pushed in the fountain asked me out years later?"
As the game continued, Zelda caught herself enjoying it more and more by the minute. She was really having a delightful time learning about her new friends. In fact, a rather large part of her would be okay if she could spend time like this with them every day from now on.
Between Link, Mipha, and Aryll, she was convinced she had been blessed with the greatest gift she would ever receive.
10/13/2023
Post-Chapter Note: Welcome back everyone and thank you for reading the new chapter!
I had a lot of fun with this one and, like I said up top, it came so much more easily and effortlessly to me than the last chapter did, so much so that this one was fully edited, polished, and finished about twenty-four hours ago now. While I do feel a lot better about the Kakariko Village chapter after sitting with it for a week (and everyone's kind support of that chapter), I think this chapter got back to the way I like to write this story and it was nice for it to flow so naturally this time. I really hope you enjoyed!
Obviously, this was our first time jumping into Hilda's head. It's something I've been waiting to do for quite a while but we were always going to see her thoughts and feelings at some point. And this seemed like a perfect opportunity with Aisen acting as a bridge between the last chapter and seeing Hilda in the present for the first time since Chapter 6. I wonder what she's scheming in that tower of hers...
Confession time about the plot this chapter - the Sheikah Slate is absolutely just an excuse for me to make Zelda and Link take cute pictures together LOL! Now that it's in Zelda's hands, I'll make sure she had some more to do with it, but the entire inspiration for Impa having the Slate in Kakariko and giving it to Zelda was for that photoshoot they had this chapter and the many more they'll have from here on out. They're so adorable and precious together I just can't resist doing something simple and sweet like that. Plus it's another opportunity to have Zelda open up more and more as she focuses on her research and gains a bit more confidence in herself. Does everyone give me a thumbs up so I don't have to confess something new?
Speaking of thumbs ups, Aryll really is a delight to write and I credit her entirely with the 'Confessions' game this chapter - my original plan was to just have the four chat for a while since this was the chapter I wanted Zelda to finally be around both Aryll and Mipha at the same time. But when I just started writing and thinking "what would Aryll actually do with everyone in one room," the answer was obviously "she'd want to have fun." And that morphed into a game where she could drag secrets out of everyone and have a blast doing it. So I hope you also enjoyed their game and had a great time reading some of their secret pasts and inner thoughts, especially our loveable main couple.
Just to quickly reiterate what I said in Chapter 10, Aryll is an absolute force of a character and I love her to pieces - writing her is such a delight!
Anyway, that's it out of me for this week! Looking forward to writing Chapter 14 for you all and getting it polished and prepared before I start no-lifing Super Mario Bros. Wonder when that comes out on the 20th LOL, so expect another upload next Friday around late-afternoon/very early evening like this one. Until then, everyone have a wonderful weekend and take care. I'll see you in the next one!