Hey all,

This is my first attempt at fanfiction despite wanting to do it for awhile. I hope you like it. I sincerely welcome honest constructive criticism as I would genuinely like to improve. That being said, transphobia will absolutely not be tolerated. I'm hoping this story will be a comfort for people and negativity is not needed.

sincerely,

ZoraJora

Lost in Translation

1

Link POV

"Link!"

I flinch as I hear my childhood friend Zelda call out to me in the hallway. She runs up in her favorite blue hoodie over her usual purple t-shirt, short blonde hair braided as always. Her blue eyes look extra mischievous right now.

"You scared the shit out of me!" I say, happy to see her despite the heart attack. She giggles and continues on.

"I tried getting your attention for three minutes! Were you busy daydreaming again?" I blush scarlet and turn my head. "You were! What do you dream about anyway?"

I could never tell her. No, not even her. I can't even admit it to myself.

"Was it about me?" she asks, smirking. I nearly choke on my own spit. Those daydreams I can admit to myself, but definitely not to her!

"Of course not!" She starts laughing more freely now, giggles giving way to snorting.

"You know. I'm just. Messing with you!" she manages to get out between fits. "Oh, that was too good." she says, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Glad I can still amuse you after all these years." I roll my eyes.

"So, back to the reason I was looking for you in the first place. Besides to see your beautiful face I mean." It's my turn to snort this time. "Will you come dress shopping with me for prom? Urbossa and Impa are busy today, and I don't really have any other girl friends. So you'll have to do." A pang hits my heart for some reason despite her light-hearted tone.

"Ugh, do I have to?"

"Pretty pleeeease?" she asks with her eyes getting real big. "I actually really want to know what you think I'll look good in. You are going to be my date after all." A friendly date because she doesn't have anyone she's interested in, I remind myself. That and no one else would want to go with me.

"I can't resist the puppy dog eyes. I'll do it." I put my hands up in mock surrender.

"I know." She smirks, eyes immediately going back to normal. "But seriously thank you. You're literally the best!"

"I know." I say parroting her words. The bell rings soon after and it's time to go.

"I'll see you after class shopping buddy!" She calls back to me while running off, earning a few stares from passersby. I blush a little as they look my way. They probably still have trouble believing we're friends even though we've been that way since preschool.

I let out a deep sigh. "Curse those puppy dog eyes."

Zelda POV

"Hmmm. I really like the purple, but I think I might wear that too much. Maybe I should change it up? What do you think Link?" I turn to him in the dress I'm trying on, purple and royal looking. It kinda makes me feel like a princess.

I notice his mind wandering again, so I take the opportunity to take him in. He's just wearing a green t-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts, but somehow he makes even that look good. His blond hair is kinda shaggy and unkempt, but that just adds to his character in my opinion. Actually, I notice his blue eyes are in focus. Is he so bored he's looking at the details on that dress?

"Link!"

"Huh?" His eyes shift to me and widen as they reach their destination.

"How does it look?" I ask. I start to fidget under his gaze.

"Beautiful."

I feel my chest tighten and my face heat up. Why does he have to say things like that so sincerely? Being in love with your best friend is hard work indeed. He finally snaps out of his stupor.

"T-The dress I mean! Not that you're not beautiful, because you are but-" I cut him off with a laugh. Everytime he flusters me, he winds up flustering himself.

"I know what you mean." I say, taking pity on him. If he turns any redder, I'd have to assume he's actually allergic to embarrassment. Then again, a little more teasing wouldn't hurt right? He's cute when he's embarrassed. "If you like it so much, maybe you should try one on." I laugh at my own joke but stop short when I look at him. He looks nervous and fidgety. That little joke shouldn't have made him this uncomfortable unless…

"Um, do you want to try one on?"

"What!? No!" His eye twitches. He's lying.

"Link, I've been your best friend since I can even remember. I'm not going to judge you just because you want to try something a bit different."

"I know, but it's not something I want to try." His eye twitches again.

I don't know why exactly he wants to try on a dress, but if it's something he's willing to lie to me about, it must be important to him.

"Look Link, I don't know why this is something you think you need to lie to me about, but I won't force you. All I'm saying is that no one else is around right now, and I'd be happy to help you out. You probably don't have many opportunities to try something like this on your own, right?"

He looks torn for a moment before conceding.

"You'd…really help me with something like this?" he asks barely above a whisper. It's almost like he doesn't believe it. My heart clenches at the strained look on his face. This is something he's been dealing with for awhile it seems. I've been slacking on my best friend duties.

"Of course I will! Now get into the changing room, and I'll bring you some to try on! I think a green one would look nice on you."

"Isn't that a little too obvious?" He points at his t-shirt.

He's joking. That's good. He's cheering up.

"Shush! Into the changing room!" I point dramatically.

"Yes ma'am." He rolls his eyes.

Several minutes later, and after a lot of help from your's truly, Link has the dress on. Which is all it should be. Just Link in a dress. But, somehow, it feels like so much more than that. Like this is a major development in our friendship.

"Wow Link! You look amazing!" He really does. He's always had a bit of a feminine frame, but I never expected this. He flushes at the praise but frowns after a moment.

"It's pretty empty up here." he says, grabbing at the cups of the dress.

"Oh, I've got just the thing." I reach into my purse and pull out a few pairs of socks.

"You just carry extra pairs of socks around in your purse?" he asks, but doesn't move to stop me.

"You don't need to know what they're for." I say cryptically. I move back to admire my handiwork. He's not wearing a bra, so it's obvious the cups are just filled out with socks. It does help to give the outfit shape though. Something still seems off.

"Oh! I know! While we're at it, let me do your makeup!"

A few minutes later, more like half an hour if I'm honest, and I'm looking at an entirely different person.

"W-Wow Link! You look just like a girl!" I'm not entirely sure why that idea appeals to me so much.

He turns to face the mirror and his eyes turn into saucers. He seems frozen in time, as if trapped by his own reflection. The only sign of life is his hand reaching up to touch his face as if to make sure the stranger in the mirror is actually him. All at once the spell breaks with tears starting to fall down his face. I almost say something stupid about him ruining his makeup, but this is obviously not the time. I pull him into a hug without a second thought, not a single thought given to the mess that would be left behind on my hoodie.

Five minutes pass, then ten. Slowly sobs fade to sniffles, and he begins to calm down. After a few more minutes, he looks up to me with some sad kind of relief. He looks like he's ready to let go of something important.

"Zel." He begins to find his voice. "I…I'm trans. I didn't want to admit it, but I can't hold it in anymore. I understand if you'll be too embarrassed to be seen around me at school, but I hope you'll still be my friend." he finishes with hope in his voice. Meanwhile, I'm slightly upset at the insinuation.

"Of course I won't be embarrassed of you! You're my best friend! Always have been and always will be! Even if you are trans, it won't change a thing between us!"

He begins to cry again, but this time I can tell it's in a happier kind of relief. "You have no idea how much I've wanted to hear you say that Zel." He pulls me back into a tighter hug. "You pretty much just erased my biggest fear of the last five years with like four sentences." We stand there a little longer in a tight embrace. I would be a tomato right now if the situation were any less serious. I'm really glad I picked this less frequented, out-of-the-way, small dress shop.

"I'm really glad I could help you Link, but there is just one thing I'm curious about."

"What is it?" he asks with what I can only describe as adoration on his face. I'm embarrassed it took me this long to ask, but it would only be more embarrassing the longer I let this go on.

"What does trans mean exactly?"

I could swear I saw three hearts in his eyes turn into two and three quarters.