The Perils of Choosing New

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/40820628.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: Gen, M/M
Fandoms: The Legend of Zelda & Related Fandoms, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of
the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, The Legend of
Zelda: Twilight Princess
Relationships: Link & Zelda (Legend of Zelda), Ganondorf/Link (Legend of Zelda),
Ganondorf & Zelda (Legend of Zelda), Sheik & Zelda (Legend of Zelda),
Impa & Zelda (Legend of Zelda), Link & Sheik (Legend of Zelda), Impa &
Link (Legend of Zelda), Saria & Zelda (Legend of Zelda)
Characters: Zelda (Legend of Zelda), Link (Legend of Zelda), Ganondorf (Legend of
Zelda), Sheik (Legend of Zelda), Impa (Legend of Zelda), Saria (Legend of
Zelda), Hestu (Legend of Zelda), Beedle (Legend of Zelda), Epona
(Legend of Zelda), Agahnim (Legend of Zelda), Urbosa (Legend of Zelda),
Daruk (Legend of Zelda), Darunia (Legend of Zelda), Original Legend of
Zelda Character(s), Mipha (Legend of Zelda)
Additional Tags: Selectively Mute Zelda (Legend of Zelda), triforce swap, Sheik and Impa
are Siblings (Legend of Zelda), Slow Burn Ganondorf/Link (Legend of
Zelda), Good Ganondorf (Legend of Zelda), Link (Legend of Zelda) Needs
a Hug, Author Is Sleep Deprived, Not Beta Read, Slow Burn is so slow
glaciers move faster, Slow To Update, Sheik (Legend of Zelda) is a
Separate Character, No Spoilers for Tears of the Kingdom (Legend of
Zelda), I don't know when I will return, Being Rewritten
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2022-08-05 Updated: 2024-07-29 Words: 23,722 Chapters: 18/?
 The Perils of Choosing New
by TheNerdPersonOfZelda

Summary

This time around Zelda gets the Triforce of courage while Link has the Triforce of Power.
When Zelda, who has been raised by the Kokiri, decides to join and explore the rest of the
world, she gets drawn into helping guard the Prince of Hyrule, Prince Link, who has a
diplomatic mission visiting all the other kingdoms and their rulers. But when after the first
week they get attacked by bandits and Zelda's friend Impa goes missing, she quickly finds that
there are more secrets than she ever expected in Hyrule, and a few involve her.

This is being rewritten I'll post again when it's done, but that will be a while

Notes

Hey, this is my first fic, so please have mercy on me! I do not have an updating schedule yet,
but I am aiming for at least once a month, no promises though. Also Zelda has a speech
impediment and sounds really odd compared to others so she disliked to talk, so italics are for
when she is speaking or dreams, bold is for sign language.
 Leaving Home

I was getting nervous, but I was not going to let that stop me. I had been waiting for this
moment for a while now, and nothing was going to deter me from my goal. I only needed one
more. Taking a deep breath, I looked down below me, onto the lone rock surrounded by thorns
too sharp to touch. I was balanced precariously on a branch hanging not quite over the rock,
taking a deep breath and jumping to the thorns below me.

“Thank Faron,” I thought when I landed upon my target. Picking up the rock I threw it over in
the direction I came and smiled when my suspicions were confirmed.

“Yahaha! You found me!” The little Korok shouted joyously appearing in a puff of green
smoke. The Korok then gave me the prize I was searching for. A Korok seed. Pocketing the
suspicious package, I gave the Korok a thank you nod and ran off to the Deku Tree.

It did not take me long, I had lived in the lost wood since I was young and now knew it better
than the back of my hand. The Deku Tree was asleep, like always, but it was not him I was here
to see, veering off to my right I found Hestu.

He was talking with a Kokiri, and I waited for them to finish. Hestu was always fun to see,
mostly because he was the only one who could possibly be as odd as me. He had the child spirit
that all Koroks and Kokiris had, but unlike the other Koroks, who would eventually and slowly
change into Kokiris, he was eternally a Korok. Not to say he didn't grow, really he was slowly
growing into an impressive size Korok, but he was the only one that did that.

Saria believes it is his unique ability with increasing the capacity of a container that keeps him
from changing in the way that the others do, but I always thought it was because he would
become a Deku Tree, given time, but that would be something I would never live long enough
to see.

“Zelda!!” Hetsu shouted, erupting me from my train of thought. “Found more seeds! Wow!”
Exclaiming at my nod. “That was so fast! What do you wish to upgrade?” I gave him my
favorite satchel knowing this would be the last upgrade Hetsu could do on it. “Are you sure?”
When I gave my nod he began.

He danced around, shaking his maracas in a beat of his own making, trilling his way through
the magic, a pink aura came from his maracas and when he finished he gave a joyous shout.

“Da-da-na-na-naaa” We both sang, upon me pocketing the satchel. We said our goodbyes, and I
headed off to my room in the Deku Tree hollow.

Inside was a bustling community; some Koroks and Kokiris were comparing the different
mushrooms they had found, or ‘liberated’ from salesmen. Others were discussing carving
techniques but I never understood those myself.

My own room was next to all this, I think I would hate all the noise if the Kokiris didn't get
tired after 8 at night and the Koroks actually started conversations. My room had the most
comfortable bed and was decorated with leaves and cool things I had found. In the corner was a
chest where I grabbed my other sets of clothing and maps which I shoved all in my newly
upgraded satchel.

I headed out, waving goodbyes to everyone. Making promises to visit as often as possible. To
each one I signed goodbye, I felt my heart dip a bit. I knew it was time for me to be around
others, really it was time a long time ago, but it was still hard leaving the family and place I had
made my home for the past 12 years. Before I set out, I veered off to Saria’s place.

Before I could head up to her hut, Korok Melo stopped me.

“She is playing a concert for the others, outside the grumpy tree.” He told me, talking about the
tree he named on the outskirts of the grove.

I gave him his thanks and ran off to see Saria. I wanted to talk with her before it got too late,
and my resolve to leave waivered. Saria was the most like-minded with me and I wanted to tell
her to thank you to her for being with me all my years here.

When I got there she must have just finished. Other Korkos and Kokiri's alike were leaving,
talking about how much they love to hear her play. Passing the tree with a hollow making it
look like it was scowling, or the ‘grumpy tree’ as dubbed by Melo, I saw Saria saying bye to a
couple of Korkos.

“Oh Zelda!” she exclaimed when she saw me, “I hope to see you before you leave! I have a gift
for you!” She clapped her hands together and rummaged through a bag she had.

“I have a gift for you too,” I told her, pulling out my gift as well. We pulled our gifts at the
same time, I had made a statue of her and her fairy made out of clay that I made during my
visits to Kakariko village. But her gift was leagues beyond mine.

“An ocarina?” I asked, my voice rasping at the thought of her making her signature instrument
for me.

“Yep,” she told be beaming at me “I made it out of clay you can find at Majora’s river, so you
have a bit of home with you always”

I was too emotional to say anything now, My gift pales in comparison to yours. I signed,
giving her my gift.

“Oh Zelda, But I love your gift,” We hugged, she admired my statue, while I held my ocarina.
It was green, with golden designs all around it. It was clear this was made with love and skill.

“Did the Deku Tree say goodbye?” She asked after we thanked each other for the gifts again.

No, he was asleep. She nodded, Would you tell him, when he wakes up, that I said
goodbye?

“Of course Zelda,” she told me while giving me another hug, “And remember you will always
be welcomed back, no matter how old you get.” She told me before leaving, “Now I am going
to find a great place in my house to put this!”
With that last goodbye, I left the Deku Tree’s grove. And went to the path that would lead me
to Kakariko Village.
 Memories of Meeting
Chapter Summary

Zelda goes to Kakariko Village and recalls her first meeting with Sheik and Impa

Chapter Notes

Hello! For context Sheik looks like how he did in OoT, but with darker skin. I'll make
some art for any major characters that get a wardrobe or appearance change.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

(Zelda in her Green Tunic, she does

not have the Master Sword of the Hylian Shield but indulge me)

When I reached the end of the lost woods, I stopped to change. The first time I wandered into
Kakariko village with my green tunic some of the elders had panic attacks. So Impa let me
have some of their old clothing to change into so people would not freak out again.

It was nothing special, just an indigo and navy blue tunic and pants. The tunic had the sheikah
eye in the center, some puffyish sleeves that ended at the elbows and then continued on as
something that looked like bandages, and was completed with some fingerless gloves. The
pants had some white triangle and stripes design and ended with some boots that separated my
big toe, which was a novelty to me. She also gave me some face-covering thing, a scarf, and
lots of leather straps used for caring daggers I guess. I used the scarf but I took the rest and
made the tunic longer but cut it into triangles so I could still move in it as well as any sheikah,
but it gave the impression of a skirt when I sat still. Impa was not impressed, but Sheik was
supportive.

I was a bit far off from Kakariko still, and it amazes me how I managed to stumble across it the
first time. It was a couple of years ago, and I was wandering around looking for hiding Koroks,
hoping for Korok seeds. When I found a road, I had not seen one in my time in the Lost Woods,
so I followed it. After walking for a few minutes I saw a person down the road, a voice in my
head told me not to be seen on the road, so I got off it and intended to head back before any
nerves killed me, but I realized without the road guiding me I was lost.

Not wanting to go back to the road because the feeling I had was still with me, I tried to head
back, but I was hopelessly lost. I began to lose hope when it started to rain, that was the last
straw for me and I had begun to cry. I was trying to get myself to calm down because I knew
crying was not going to help me and it was really hurting my throat when a cough erupted from
behind me.

“Umm, sorry.” the boy said, when I jumped around, shocked. He was a head taller, a novelty to
me surrounded by Koroks and Kokiris who were four feet at the tallest. He wore a shroud and a
mask, obscuring all but his eyes and long pointed ears.

“Do you need help? Are you ok?” The way he approached me reminded me of the way Saria
taught me to approach a wounded or scared animal.

My throat hurt too much to speak and I was too shocked and warry to try signing to him.

“My name is Sheik, can you tell me yours?” He asked, carefully approaching me, I still didn't
say anything, trying to puzzle out how to communicate when he continued on “Do you at least
understand Hylian?”

“Ok good,” he said when I nodded, “I can work with that, are you lost?” I gave a careful nod to
that, still a bit nervous but something was telling me he was nice.

He held out a careful hand to me, “Would you like to come back to my home? I live at
Kakariko Village with my sister.”

I must have looked on the fence about it because he then said, “We have a fire and food?” and
that won me over.

I am no longer scared about passing people on the road, that feeling of getting off the road has
never happened again, and sometimes I tell myself it was because it was my first time away
from the Lost Woods, but somewhere deep inside I know that anxiety was not the source of the
feelings.

But that was something for another day, right now I needed to focus on the path ahead of me.
Kakariko was busy, full of people doing their daily tasks. I waved to a few, and took the path to
Impa’s and Sheik’s house.
I knocked on the door and was greeted by an enthusiastic Impa, “Took you long enough,” she
said, dragging me inside. “I was thinking you chickened out.”

I smiled. This is different from your first greeting of me. I signed, teasing her a bit,

“You were a stranger clad in green, Sheik had brought a stranger into our home and did not
even know her name, how else should I have reacted?”

Perhaps, you should have not tried to kill me? Refrain from threatening me the second your
brother left the room? Or even tried giving me the benefit of the doubt would have been nice.
Giving her my scarf to hang up on the coat rack I sat down in a flourish.

“That would have been boring, besides how was I supposed to know you were not a Gerudo
spy?” She said with a shrug.

Gerudo are tall, buff, scary, warrior women. I am shorter than Sheik!

“You could have been young, and plenty of Gerudo are short.”

No, they are not.

“Sure they are.”

No, they are not.

“Yes.”

No

“Ye-”

“Are you two arguing again?” Sheik interrupted.

“No, we are not, this is simply a lively debate between friends.” She said as I hid behind Sheik
and stuck out my tongue.

“Hmm, yes sure looks like it.” he laughed, “Now should we help our friend unpack? Or heckle
her some more?”

I don't need much help unpacking, really just show me my room and I can dump my stuff in
there.

“Oh come on,” Impa said, “we don't mind, you are helping us out after all... Now come on, did
you leave your bags outside? At least let us carry them in.”

All I have is the bags on me, I signed, gesturing to my satchel, and the few compartments I
had.

“What? How do you even have enough to…” Sheik trailed off when I reached into my bag, my
entire forearm disappearing, and pulled out a watermelon the size of my head. “Wha -how did-
umm?”
 I brought a watermelon for dinner. I had a smirk on my face I could not wipe off when I saw
their shocked faces. I honestly had no clue how this has never come up, I can literally hold a
couple of thousand mushrooms in my bags.

“I umm, It's in here,” Impa finally said, shaking off her shock, and showed me to my room.

A few hours later dinner was finished, and I was settled in. Impa was cutting the watermelon,
Sheik was making some type of kabobs and I was setting the table.

Dinner was nice, I liked the meat, I didn't know what type of meat it was though, and I was too
scared to ask now. Actually, the first time I had ever eaten meat was at this table, You don’t
really get meat in a forest full of tree spirits and vegetarians.

It was when we first met, the meal itself was delicious, but the atmosphere was tense. Sheik
was trying to start conversations but it was not going very well, Impa was giving me
threatening looks each time she cut into her meal, while I was immensely enjoying my first
taste of meat.

Thank you, this was the best meal I ever had. I signed, then realized they would not
understand.

“Oh my goodness!!!” Sheik yelled, yanking his mask down, “You're deaf!!!” He started signing
along with his words.

“I am so sorry! I thought you were shy! I didn't realize you were deaf! You probably thought
we didn't know sign language! That's why you haven't done anything but nod!!” He continued
on with the apologies for a few minutes until Impa stopped him.

“Brother,” she said, signing along for my benefit. “I believe she gets the point. Now,” She said,
turning to me, “What is your name, who are you, how did you get lost, and where do you need
instructions to?”

It was short, sharp, and simple, I was still a bit shocked.

I am Zelda, I started, a bit nervous under the full attention of the siblings, I got lost when I got
off the road and tried to find it again, I then turned to Sheik, a bit unsure how to say ‘Hey, I'm
not deaf but I just don't speak because it hurts a lot to speak, and I have issues when I get
overwhelmed by emotion!’ so instead I signed Do not worry, I am mute, not deaf.

“Oh, ok.” He said, nodding his head, and that was my first dinner at their house.

The tonight house was quiet, a bit quieter than I was used to. But eventually, I drifted off,
thinking of tomorrow.

Chapter End Notes

Thanks for reading everyone! Leave comments and Kudos!

 Dreams and Mornings
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

A boy in green looked to me. He held a sword bathed in blue light, and in my hand was a silver
bow with arrows that looked as if they were made of light. Before us was a great boar, made of
shadows and malice. In the center of the boar was a man, impossible to make out clearly, but
he looked to be in pain as if being in this form caused stress to his mortal form. We stood ready,
prepared to defend our world with our lives. The beast roared, and our fight began.

When I woke up, light was streaming through the window. The dream was odd, mostly because
I recalled it with clarity. Most dreams I had, if I could recall them, were fuzzy, like memories
out of reach, but this one felt familiar. Perhaps I had had this dream before? Though I knew I
was only thinking that to placate myself.

I got dressed and left, finding Impa and Sheik already ready.

“Time to earn your keep,” Impa said, throwing me a package wrapped in cloth. After peering
inside, I gave her a confused look.

“Training. I want to see how good you are before we throw you into anything.”

“Don't abuse her while I’m gone,” Sheik said.

Where are you going? I asked, noticing the bags on his back.

“I’m going to Hyrule Castle,” he said as he shouldered more bags. “I was chosen to serve on
the Prince’s personal guard. Impa is still on her vacation, so she is going to stay here and help
you get settled.”

“Have fun, don't start fights with Gerudo, and keep that prince out of trouble,” Impa told him.
When he left, Impa turned to me. “Now,” a rare devious grin burst onto her face, “Time for
training.”

Chapter End Notes

Sorry for the late update, I am trying to get used to college, but good news! I now have
someone helping me with my grammar! So hopefully things are easier to read.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPKJIzuKeNMBW24u4y7FkpvcvWf73qPzU702e
Ra
The link leads to a drawing I made of what Impa looks like, tried to put it in the story like
last time, but Ao3 seems not to like me today, oh well, kudos and comments are greatly
appreciated!
 Fighting, History, and a Salesman
Chapter Notes

Just a reminder, bold is for sign language and italics are for Zelda's scratchy speech.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Sheik was the first to insist on giving me training with weapons, and he taught me to use the
dagger-like the ones he was so fond of, but Impa taught me to shoot a bow and arrow and how
to wield a sword. Even after I convinced other village members to spar with me and defeated
them one by one, Impa could always beat me into the dust. Today, I hoped, would be different.

I was equipped with only my sword and a dagger, since my shield was being repaired. Impa
fought with an eightfold longblade that her mother gave her. Impa’s attacks were ruthless,
keeping me on the defensive from the moment we began.

But then, something happened. Halfway through our spar her sword came down, and
something awakened in me. I dodged her blow, and my focus seemed to increase. I could see
where to attack next, I did so in the time it took her to recover. We exchanged a few more
blows. She got a hit in, and I got a hit in. Each time I deflected a blow with my dagger or
dodged her attacks, I could see how to strike, and before long I had my sword at her neck.

She was shocked, and just for a second something flickered in her gaze, but it was soon gone,
and she leaped up to celebrate.

“You’re in better shape than I thought! We will be able to join Sheik in Castle Town sooner
than planned!”

I hurried to catch up to her as she left the sparring grounds.

Did Sheik not say something about a mandatory vacation for you? I gave her a raised
eyebrow, but she just laughed it off.

“Yeah, Princess Aryll always insists I am not taking enough time off, but it is my honor to
serve the royal family, and should the Great Three appear I will serve them as I have served
her.” She said this all with such a passionate tone, I couldn’t help but admire her loyalty.
Something she said stuck out to me, though.

Who are the Great Three? I asked. I knew there were the three goddesses and their young
student, but they were never referred to as the Great Three. There were three members of the
royal family, but that couldn’t be whom she was talking about.

“Oh,” she said with surprise, “I always forget you do not know much of our world’s history.
The Great Three are three people who, throughout history, have been reincarnated countless
times, always at the forefront of peace and war. The legends are always so washed down
through time we never know much, other than a boy wearing green wielding a mighty sword, a
girl born of royal blood wielding magic unseen, and a great giant with strength unknown to
normal Hylian.” She drew something in the dirt, three triangles forming a larger triangle. “The
legends are never clear about their place. Some argue that one of them heralds the war while
the others fight for the peace, but what all legends agree on, that they come in times of
suffering and war, collecting powers left by the goddesses, and their reincarnated spirits were
created by the Goddess Hylia.”

She glanced up. “You may have heard some of the legends before, you know of the Ocarina of
Time? Or the Legend of the Red Bird? Perhaps heard about the Twilight Realm?” She
continued at my nod, “Those are some of the more well-known stories about the Great Three,
though not all of them have been confirmed as actually taking place.”

Do you believe they could come back in this lifetime?

“Yes. With the threat of the Gerudos on our border, thieves stealing from the traveling
merchants, and monsters on the rise again, we need the great three, and they always appear
when darkness is on the rise.”

You are very passionate about three strangers from legend who may or may not appear.

“Sheik thinks the same, though I know he believes in them as I do. He’s a bit more skeptical
than me, but just call me a patriot.”

I find this funny from someone who thought I was a Gerudo spy the first time we met.

“Give me some credit; you were a stranger appearing in a town that no one is supposed to find,
and we had just come back from guarding the royal family. You were suspicious.”

Blame Sheik. I was lost, and he was the one to show me the way in. Besides, look at you
now, asking me to help you guard the prince without any knight training.

“Hey, if anyone asks, just dance around the question. Besides, none of the knights can even
land a hit on Sheik, and you can beat him up on a daily basis. You are probably the best sword
fighter on the eastside of Greater Hyrule.”

Thanks. We traveled in silence after that, until I realized the path we were taking.

Umm, where are we going? We weren’t heading to the house, nor any other of Impa’s favored
training grounds.

“Getting you a horse. Can't have you renting, not if you will be helping us in the guard. Plus,
they are always so docile. You need something else.”

I can’t ride though.

“Don’t worry about that.”

Your carefree attitude is what scares me.

“Just trust me on this. Where we are going, you don’t need to know how to ride; these horses
are special.”

Did you hit your head?

“Hello!” A man called, interrupting Impa’s reply.

“Beetle, how are you?”

“Good, good, what can I get you? How is young Shadow treating you?”

“Just fine. She is as fierce as her name, but it is another horse we have come to see.”

“Ah, for this young lady here? Looking to see if our strong horse will allow you to ride her?”

Umm… I guess?

“Oh , '' he said, startled, Forgive me, he signed back. I have been hosting a bit of a
competition where whoever can manage to ride our newest horse may keep her, no
charge. Only one young man has been able to ride him, but he was the one to sell us this
horse. Anyone may try, and as many times as they wish. Only one free chance per day,
though.

I don’t know how to ride, I signed back, but he only smiled as if he often heard that.

I 'll explain how to ride a horse if you get that far, but at the moment all you need to know
is how to approach a horse and how to mount it.

He then spent a few minutes telling me how to approach her. Usually, he said, he would advise
a gentle voice when speaking, but I didn't have that problem. We then walked to a clearing
where horses were kept, and standing away from the other horses was this beautiful mare. She
had a warm brown coat that made me think of the trees of home and a white mane that hung
shaggy over her neck. Impa and Beetle stopped at the fence.

“Zelda, I’ll pay for you to have another two tries after your free one, but after that, we will wait
for tomorrow.”

The first two tries, she looked as skittish as I felt and did not respond well to my attempts to get
near her. The second time, I got as far as being on the saddle all the way, but she threw me.
Dejected, I returned to Impa and Beetle.

“You still have one more try,” Impa said to cheer me up.

“You have done better than most.” Beetle tsked. “Too bad you can’t try to soothe her using
your voice. The old owner said that worked for him.”

I glanced away, remembering the hours spent with Sari so I could talk without stuttering and so
it would hurt less the longer I talked. Like most, Bettle assumed my signing meant I was mute,
and speaking just took so much more effort that I usually let the assumption continue. In this
instance, though, I looked at the horse thoughtfully. She was far enough away I could speak
without feeling embarrassed that I sounded so much raspier than normal people. And she
 wouldn’t care that I don’t sound quite right. I approached her again, and she looked rather
smug, as if saying “Hundreds of people like you have approached me, how is this different?”

“ Hey, girl, ” my voice came out scratchy as if written by a child in the dirt. “ I know I’ve
already done this twice, but may I at least pet you? ” I took a careful step. “ I have never ridden
a horse before .” Another step. “ But you look like you would run into battles to me .”

She wasn't freaking out like last time, though she still eyed me. “ You have seen a lot of the
world, huh? ”

She snorted and flicked her tail. “ How about this? ” I was close enough to touch her, but I
waited. “ If you choose me, I won't put restrictions on you. you just take me to where I need to
go, and I'll let you roam free. ”

Taking a step toward her head, I reached out a hand, a clear invitation. She leaned in and
offered a soft nicker.

“ Thank you, girl .” I stroked her head. “ Oh, you don’t mind if I only speak sign language
around others, do you? It’s hard for me to speak. ”

Beetle’s jaw dropped when Epona –oh right, that’s the name that her old owner gave her,
Epona– allowed me to ride. I thought the name was fitting. Beetle gave me a crash course in
riding, and we were on our way, the other would-be riders staring after us.

We stopped at the entrance of Kakariko Village for Impa to put her horse, a black and brown
one, into the stable as I talked to Epona.

“ Okay, when I play this song ,” I played a simple three lyric melody a few times so Epona
could remember it, “ That means I need you, okay? ”

She neighed and ran off into the woods. I hoped she would actually come back when I called.

Chapter End Notes

Sorry, no picture this time, I have no clue why Ao3 dislikes me trying to attach photos but
oh well, hopefully I'll get it figured out next time I update. Anyways comments and kudos
are always appreciated and thank you for reading!
 Castle Town
Chapter Notes

Hey! Sorry this took a while, school has not been kind. Anyways, hope yalls October has
been good, and enjoy!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Somewhere along the way to Sheik and Impa’s home, Impa and I had decided to head to Castle
Town tomorrow, get in late, and see where we were needed the next day. We spent the rest of
the evening packing and training. I was excited, even though everything was moving so fast.
When we reached Castle Town, they were going to give me a better shield and sword than the
spare ones Impa had lent me, and perhaps I could even get my hands on a bow.

We didn’t reach Castle Town until close to nightfall. We could have arrived sooner, had Impa
not needed to reteach me nearly everything about riding a horse. Epona came when I played
my ocarina, to my relief, and she allowed me to get into her saddle without any fuss. It was just
riding her at a gallop was hard. But I finally got the hang of it halfway to Castle Town; it's not
like I can manage any fancy stuff yet, but both Impa and I have high hopes.

Castle Town was as vibrant as the Sacred Grove, but with far more variety. I saw many Hylians
of all types, plus plenty of Sheikah and my first Gorons, Zoras, and Ritos. Though to my
disappointment I didn’t see any Gerudos, I was still amazed at this massive diversity that could
be found at such a late hour!

Impa noticed my excitement, but she also noticed something else long before I did. “Lets, find
the Bazaar, Zelda.”

Before I could ask why, I saw the glances others were giving me; some were curious, startled,
or confused, but the majority were hostile glares from Hylians.

Gerudo looked in many ways like Hylians, if Hylians were eight-foot, really buff, incredibly
hot, and were all mostly dark-skinned redhead women. Hylians could have dark skin, though it
was rare and hardly as dark as many of the Gerudo women; they could also have red hair, but
this was also rare, and virtually never appeared on a Hylian with dark skin. So me, showing up
in Castle Town, with my dark olive skin, and dark red hair, dressed in Sheikah clothing, and
shorter than many Hylians, would produce a more mixed response than the average traveler.

The Bazar was on the edge of town, probably the furthest from the towering Hyrule Castle you
could get in Castle Town. It was like a large tent, covered in bright rugs, though it was probably
the biggest building I had seen so far. Inside was even busier than the market and had many
carnival games going along with many bragging of their skill.
I was startled when a small group of Gerudo women crossed by us, and even more shocked
when I saw Hylians sporting the fashion of the Gerudo, as if the hateful glares I had gotten
outside never existed.

“I’m going to look for Sheik. You can explore. If I don’t find you in two hours, meet back here,
okay?”

Okay, happy hunting.

I waved goodbye and went to see what games there were. I mostly played the stupid ones that
were clearly rigged and won nothing. I knew I couldn’t hope to beat any in the test of strength,
and the sword fighting one had too much to do with betting than I cared for. At some point, I
found myself admiring the archery stand when a voice came from behind.

“Interesting finding someone who is not Sheikah in Sheikah clothing.”

The young Hylian about my age with blond hair and bright blue eyes, sported a turquoise
Gerudo outfit, and her face was nearly as covered as Sheik’s.

Strange to see someone who is Hylian wearing Gerudo clothing , I signed, even though I
knew it was pointless. The only ones in Kakariko Village who could sign were Impa, Sheik,
and the village elder, Purah, though the others were making efforts.

“Oh, could you repeat that? My HSL is rusty.”

So I repeated it, this time slower, and she laughed.

“You are not wrong, but I like the feel of this clothing, and it helps against the heat.”

Just then, the pudgy man who was running the archery booth called out, “Now, whoever can
manage to beat our champion in the skill of archery shall win this splendid Royal Guard’s
bow!”

That raised my brows. I was really good at archery, but who would I be going against?

My new companion turned to me, “Well, that's my cue. Hey, if no one beats me, want to shoot
a few targets? I've never practiced with more than a couple of Sheikahs.”

If no one wins, I may try myself. I signed slowly, so she could understand.

“Sounds good. I’m Rinku.”

Zelda.

Rinku was very good. Using a simple Traveler’s Bow, she still defeated many opponents of all
species and ages, sporting all kinds of bows I had never seen before. When the line
disappeared, I came over.

Someone called out to start, and pumpkins began flying. Why pumpkins, I had no clue, but
someone was counting our totals as we destroyed the flying projectiles. I was falling behind,
when the feeling that came over me when fighting Impa returned. This time, instead of me
seeing where to strike, it was a simple and complete calm. I knew how to shoot, I just needed to
ignore the chaos of the Bazar.

They called to stop, and the shower of arrows halted.

There was silence. I didn’t know what our totals were. Looking at Rinku, it seemed she didn’t
know, either. Finally, the man who ran the station came over.

“Well, as promised, here is the bow.” He handed it to me. “You only beat her by one, but still, a
win is a win.”

“Impressive,” said Rinku, as I equipped my new, really fancy bow. “No one has been able to
beat me in years. What are you doing in Castle Town?”

I came with a friend. She thinks she can get me to work as a guard.

“A simple guard? You could guard the prince with your archery alone! If your other skills are
half as good, then the King!”

I’m fine with working with my friend, though I don’t know her station.

“Well, who is she?”

“Zelda?” interrupted Sheik, from behind us. “Oh, and uh, Rinku. How cool it is that you could
meet.”

Impa was with Sheik, too. “Good news, Zelda! You can start tomorrow, so we need to head to
our quarters. Rinku, you should head home, too.”

Impa addressed Rinku with an odd tone, one I had never heard before.

“Right,” said Sheik, “I'll come with you, Rinku.”

“Your friend is Impa?” Rinku said as we were herded by our respective Sheikah.

How do you know Rinku?I asked Impa as we walked in the direction of the castle.

“Oh, well, she pestered us to teach her how to fight and took up archery rather well.”

Surprised at you.

“Why?”

You are such a workaholic. Doing anything not related to work is always a struggle for
you.

“You are right, but I’ve known Rinku since we were small, even though h–she and I met first,
Sheik and Rinku have always been like siblings.”

It’s nice to know you have other friends other than me.

“I have plenty of friends other than you!”

 Acquaintances don’t count.

“Bah!”

With that, she admired my bow and expressed her surprise at me beating Rinku, mostly
because Rinku has skill and natural talent. She then showed me where we would be staying.

“Tomorrow, Prince Link shall be traveling to the Western Outpost as his first stop on an
ambassadorial tour. Many new ambassadors were appointed, and he shall be checking up on
them. The Hylians are still not on good terms with the Gerudo, and we are passing near their
borders first. Plus, travelers have been reporting more attacks down that way, so we are going
to see where we can add protection for them. Our job is protecting the prince, first and
foremost. I’ll be heading the front, Sheik the back, and you shall be at the princes’ side.”

I nodded a little nervously at my first job being so important, but I trusted Impa’s judgment.

Chapter End Notes

Bonus points to anyone who knows where I got the name Rinku from.
Thank you for the kudos, and comments are always enjoyed.
Have a great halloween!
 Just some art
Chapter Notes

The order is Impa, Impa and Sheik, then Rinku and Zelda in her Sheikah outfit. Tell me
what y'all think!
 Prince Link
Chapter Notes

It's my birthday today! Hope yall like this chapter, and sorry for taking a while to write
this, been struggling with writer's block. I have points ahead I cannot wait to write and the
in-between things are funky.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The next morning, we were all standing outside the gates waiting impatiently for the one
person necessary to begin this journey. All were impatient, except for Impa. When I tried to ask
her about it, all she said was, “Wait for another five minutes, then get annoyed.” Sure enough,
Sheik appeared with a prim blond boy at his side.

Once he had gotten settled on his pure white horse, a rare breed, we began our journey.

Sheik said hi before heading to the back of our group, consisting of 20 various knights,
soldiers, and a couple of advisors for Prince Link.

Prince Link didn’t say a word when I began riding at what I hoped was a respectful distance
from him and his advisors. He did give me a surprised glance, and then a couple of curious
ones after, but his advisors initiated discussions that took away his attention.

I tried not to eavesdrop, but it was hard. Eventually, I gave up and listened as I looked at our
strange surroundings. They discussed ways for the guards at the outpost to be on the watch for
the thieves that were attacking merchants and travelers. Amazed at the amount of open space
and the fact that the grass was a bright green unlike that which I knew from the forest, I tried to
ignore the glares from some of the knights. I hoped they were because of my high-profile
position and not my appearance.

“What about you, soldier?” Prince Link asked, startling me out of my thoughts.

I had stopped listening and had no clue what he wanted.

“You look as if you have been on the road before, can you tell us anything?”

He was asking for my input on the thieves? Impa said the prince would be able to understand
HSL, though he has not had to use it for a while. She had added that the younger advisor, I’d
forgotten his name, knew it and regularly translated.

Sir, I have personally only been attacked by these thieves once, but from what I have seen
and heard, you can never really tell that they are thieves until it is too late.

The prince nodded, and the younger advisor translated the bits the prince didn’t understand,
and for the elder advisor who understood none of my signings.
Some act like merchants, and some act as if they were attacked by thieves or monsters. I
have heard of some asking for help with a broken cart and others asking for directions.

The prince looked quite concerned at this but still did not say anything.

They never seem to attack people in groups larger than two if they themselves are alone,
and they seem to be often alone. They also are much less likely to attack if you seem
proficient in weapons. Sheikah gets attacked the least, and any soldiers I know have never
been attacked.

“Hmm, so, in your opinion, if we sent out guards they would never encounter these thieves?”
he asked, and I nodded.

“We could send guards to regularly patrol the most traveled roads, your highness,” suggested
the younger advisor.

“Yes, but we want them captured, not attacking elsewhere.” Plus, the workforce it would take
to patrol these roads would seriously diminish forces needed elsewhere.”

For a while, we rode in silence, all in thought.

“What we should do,” the prince said suddenly, “is secretly train a task force to pretend to be
travelers, the perfect bait for these thieves. They will be instructed to talk to other travelers, and
when they encounter these thieves, they will subdue and detain them.”

I was surprised, the wisdom of the prince was apparent. The advisors, however, nodded sagely
after their initial reaction of raised eyebrows.

The advisors gave their praise and moved on to discuss how to place this plan in motion. The
prince didn’t ask for my input again, but sometimes when he was in thought he looked at me.
Each time, something ticked in the back of my brain. Everything about him, from his voice to
his hair, seemed familiar as if I had met him somewhere, but how could that be?

Before nightfall, we reached a stable unprepared to house over 20 of the prince’s entourage,
and many of us were left camping outside. Sheik and Impa, though the highest-ranking people
outside the two advisors and, of course, Prince Link, volunteered to sleep outside. No one
asked me since I had my tent set up before the stable even finished boarding half the horses.

Epona trotted off to a wild herd outside the stable. Some soldiers, the ones that did not judge
me at least, asked how would I get that clearly wild steed back, and I just had Sheik translate,
Wait and see.

To get things accomplished, Impa needed only to give orders, and Sheik to glare. I did not
really speak with others and stayed at Sheik or Impa’s side doing whatever they wanted. I had
to have Impa or Sheik translate when anyone wanted to talk to me. I didn’t see the prince nor
his advisors all that night. I guess they were too busy and too fancy to eat with the rest of us at
the campfire.

Seeing Impa all bossy and strict was not unusual; she did that anytime we were training or
doing some task. It was odd, though, seeing Sheik in work mode. He was much quieter and
 sneaky when in charge, popping around a man’s shoulder when he was not looking and
disappearing in a blink, giving straight-out orders inside cryptic ones, not quite his cheery self.
But anytime one of the soldiers was telling a joke, he would join in, only to disappear the next
second and give orders to someone that needed them. It was hard to keep up with him, but fun
seeing if I could keep up with the only Sheikah that could out-stealth Impa.

When the orders quieted down and Impa and Sheik stopped moving like children on candy, I
bombarded them with questions.

How was your day? What is your opinion of the prince? How many more days of travel?
Why are some of the knights giving me dirty glares? Also, what are they saying under
their breath? I can’t hear it. The prince asked me one question, then never talked to me
the whole ride; is that normal? Why are there no trees here? Is that normal too? Wh–

“Ok, ok, let us answer a few of those questions first,” Impa interrupted, holding her hands up as
if in surrender. “My day was uneventful, which in a day of guarding a member of the royal
family is what you want. I think the prince is guarded at first meeting a person, but afterward,
he becomes quite light-hearted. We have a week’s travel. I will take care of the glares; they are
jealous glares because you are so good at what you do. The comments will be gone, too. You
don’t need to know what they were saying.

“Sheik knows the prince better than I, so he can answer that question, but areas containing no
trees are normal. Not everywhere can be a forest, and we will likely not see many trees for a
while.” She finished with a big breath.

“The prince may act like that for a while,” Sheik said. “He has learned to be guarded around
strangers and is trying in his way to see if you are safe. He knows you have my approval,
which is rare, but he wishes to form his own opinion. Let him; you are as strange to him as he
is to you.” He thought some then said, “Prince Link is not cruel at heart, but he can cut his
heart off should he think it wise when making decisions. You have the opposite problem; you
will cut out rational thought if you deem it necessary. Not bad, for either of you, in proper
situations and dosage. You both may butt heads, but that is natural. He is more than a spoiled
prince, but does not know it.”

Impa and I stared at Sheik, who sipped at his tea as if he hadn’t just stripped the prince and me
down to our foundations.

“That was…” Impa started after a while, “A bit more specific and cryptic than either of us was
expecting, so good night, I’ll see you in the morning.” With that, she crawled into her tent.

Chapter End Notes

Kudos, Comments, and everything else I cannot think of are appreciated! I am honestly
surprised as many of you have read it and given me Kudos as yall have. So thank you for
reading!
 Too Tired to Think of a Title
Chapter Notes

Hey! Reminder sign language is in bold and Zelda's speech is in italics.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The next week was interesting; as Impa promised, the glares and comments stopped the next
day but were replaced with fearful jumps when Impa turned the corner. I didn’t want to know
how she brought about the change. Some knights had begun picking up some sign language,
and I learned lots of hand signs that were taught for the military. I also discovered some signals
were the same, which was cool.

The knights and I bonded over my ability to catch food easily when we couldn’t stay in towns.
My unusual bond with my horse earned me a lot of attention, too; they freaked out when they
found we had been together for not 2 weeks yet, and I was able to call a practically-wild horse
with a simple three-note song.

Impa, Sheik, and I traded positions each day. I didn’t much like leading; both Epona and I
wished we could go faster, but traveling with 20 knights, a prince, and luggage did not equal
fast travel. I liked the back because I could look at every stray flower, stare at the scenery, and
make blotched communications with the knights without disturbing the group.

Riding with the prince was strange, mostly because he allowed me to do my own thing. The
elder advisor asked unpleasantly about my parents, while the younger advisor tried to get the
elder to stop.

Halfway through our travels, the advisors left; they apparently had a different destination. Once
they left, Prince Link began to talk to me more. He never asked any really personal questions,
and I gave him the same courtesy. He was nice but always seemed as though he had something
weighing heavily on his mind.

The day we should have reached the outpost, everything went wrong.

The prince was asking me about different recipes I knew. Apparently, the chef in the kitchen
thought the prince had a gift and he wished to learn recipes from other places.

I am sorry sir, I signed, but I am afraid I was told to never cook again, something about
you can't use potion ingredients in dishes.

"You tried to use potion ingredients? But those are things like insects and monster parts."

Also frogs. I guess they don't taste well in dishes. I thought they were fine.
Whatever he was going to say was lost to the goddesses, for in that moment an explosion went
off at the front of the group. Several were hit, and Impa raced toward her brother.

I tried to calm Prince Link's horse, but when an explosion came from behind, it was too much
for the poor thing. He slipped from the saddle with a grunt. People in strange masks were
attacking. I could not see Sheik. Impa reached us as I got the prince on my horse.

"Get him out of here!"

I tried to sign something, but she swatted my hands.

"No! Your first priority is the prince! I'll find my brother.”

“You two!" She yelled at two other knights. "Get them out of here! First priority!"

With that, she rode off into the chaos and smoke, fighting. There were two masked bandits for
every knight, and the knights were having to fight on both sides.

Our group turned away from the battle, riding for the woods. I trusted Epona for the directing,
while I did my best to keep the prince on the horse. He would not stop moving. After a second,
I realized he was trying to get my bow off me. I did not ask, just handed it to him. He grabbed
some arrows and started to shoot off the ruffians following.

Our knights were following until more masked thugs ambushed us out of the trees we were
aiming for. Epona veered off while our knights fought the new threat, but they were
outnumbered and out-skilled. Their horses galloped off as their bodies hit the ground.

“ Heyah !” I cried like broken glass.

Epona tried to shake them. She jerked, flinging dust into our faces to avoid a drop-off. I looked
over my shoulder. With their numbers, they would overwhelm us. They were too far away to
see us clearly.

I pulled the prince off Epona, ignoring his protest. Keeping her between us and the assailants, I
grabbed my arrows and sword off her saddle. Briefly laying a hand against her neck, I had her
run off as we jumped down the cliff.

I hugged the prince with one arm, doing what I could to slow our descent. When we finally
landed, I tried my best to cushion his fall. In doing so, my leg twisted at an odd angle, but
Prince Link was uninjured. Knowing they would look down, I searched for a hiding place.

“Oh my goddess, your leg!”

I had forgotten he could talk for a second, and I was startled into looking down. I hadn’t just
landed wrong; my foot was in a far different direction than it should have been. Oops.

“I, I do not know how to help. What should I do?”

At that moment, I saw a small opening with a Korok hiding there. I pointed to the opening.

“O-ok. I’ll drag us over there.”

It hurt a lot, and I was crying by the time we made it out of sight. But I was not done. I handed
him my bag.

“I am sorry. I do not know what to do.”

In this dry desert air, speaking hurt so much more, but I had no time to sign. “ Red potion .”

His eyes bugged out, but he did as I asked. As I removed the rock next to us, a Korok appeared.
I had never met this particular one, but they all knew me.

“ Help, please, ” I asked. “ Bad men. Need to hide. ”

“Ok, but it's going to take a lot to hide you two big ones. I’ll need a favor.”

We both nodded eagerly, ready to agree to anything.

A piece of home emanated from the little guy: the fog of the Lost Woods. It hugged us,
cradling us from the heat.

Then, in the time it took to blink, the fog was gone. It was no longer the middle of the day, and
the Korok was gone, replaced with a note.

I've always wanted to see a Gerudo Boar. Could you bring me a drawing of one next time I see
you?

"Here," said Prince Link , "finally found that red potion."

I took it, and let the potion start to work. My pain faded, and I found my foot facing the right
direction once I gathered the courage to look down.

I waited nervously for the questions to come, but he never asked. I got up, and the prince did
the same.

Looking up the cliff, I signed. We can't really climb back up that way, but we need to find
either a town, a stable, or the Outpost we were traveling to. I don’t carry a map, though,
and have no clue where we are.

“I do not have a map either, but we were heading that way.” He pointed to the left. “We may
have luck heading in that direction. I think our biggest issues are running into more masked
thugs, food, and water.”

I should have plenty of food and water, but the thugs are a problem. It must have been
hours, so they may believe we moved on, but it's best to be cautious.

“O-ok.”

We began to move in the direction he pointed. He didn't say anything else, but I could see this
had shaken him. I needed to distract him, but how?

Apple?
“I'm sorry?”

Apple? I pulled one out and offered it.

“U-uh, no,”

Mushroom? I offered that out, too.

He looked between my face and my pockets. “I, uh, where did you pull that from?”

I produced a Fortified Pumpkin. Pumpkin?

“Ok, where are you getting these!?”

Can't tell you. Any particular fruit I can pull out, or will I just have to keep guessing?

“Do you have a hydromelon on you?”

I grinned and held one out.

“Oh, I did not want it, I just wanted to see where you were getting them from.”

I threw the hydromelon at him and laughed at his attempts to not drop it. So, what did you
learn?

“I learned that you clearly have magical pockets, unlike any woman I have ever known.”

We both laughed as I stored the food back in my pockets. We continued our pace for a while
longer before he cleared his throat.

“So, I was thinking, until we find the outpost, you should refer to me as Link. We do not want
anyone to know that I am royalty, and it's not like anyone really knows me as Prince Link, just
the prince. I am hardly as important as my sister and have not been in the public eye for many
years now, so my name should not arouse suspicion.”

I nodded. As you wish, my normal Hylian friend Link.

He grinned.

Too bad you are wearing such fancy clothing. Perhaps it only gives you away as being well
off, and plenty of travelers are doing surprisingly well. As long as they don’t get their
belongings stolen by thieves, that is.

A few hours into wandering the canyon, we discovered the direction we chose led to a dead-
end, so we backtracked. We were a good distance from where we’d started when night hit. We
set up camp and had a fruitless rest. With my supplies, we had a decent dinner and breakfast.
For some reason, Pr– Link insisted on cooking.

I am never going to get used to calling him just Link.

Chapter End Notes

Kudos, comments, and spare words are appreciated! And here is to a new year of fighting
depression, may it die miserably.
 A Small Step into Gerudo Desert
Chapter Notes

The bokoblins are the ones from Breath of the Wild because I like their character design
the most. Also mostly to annoy or remind, italics= Zelda speaking, bold=sign language.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

It was a few hours into the morning when we found it; an opening in the canyon. We were so
excited we started running, not taking care to note our surroundings. Before we reached the
opening, Bokoblins leaped from behind nearby rocks, all armed with swords.

I ripped out my sword, attacking the ones closest to the prince, but there were three of them and
two of them were the horrid blue ones. Had I been alone, I would not have been concerned, but
there was only one sword; I had to protect the both of us.

With some effort, I killed the red one and managed to knock the sword out of one’s hand when
I had to jump in the way of another one’s blows to Prince Link. I cried out, the gash in my side
already bleeding profusely. Link was putting up his best attempt at resistance, but all he could
do was throw rocks, which only served to irritate them.

I was attempting to speak, but being in the hot canyon all day had taken its toll; only coughs
escaped into the dry air. I was mustering another attempt when a shout cleaved through the air.
Two more Bokoblins hurried toward us, drawing weapons. There was little choice now,
whether the Prince liked it or not.

“ Run, now! ” Cutting off his attempt to argue, I yelled, “ I can’t fight them and protect you,
GO! ”

He hesitated, brow lowering. The other two Bokoblins joined, and I had to jump into one's
blows again. Upon seeing the new wound on my leg, he gritted his teeth and ran.

I was without a shield and fighting with a rather short sword, but without the distraction of
protecting Link, I did much better. I was still outmatched, however, and light-headed from the
loss of blood. Every step was agony, and I was losing hope of surviving this fight when a bright
scimitar pierced one’s chest.

The Bokoblin gave a cry and disappeared into a black puff of smoke, leaving behind a horn. I
know, it's a bit contradictory, but where the bokoblin once stood was a Gerudo man wielding
two large scimitars and garbed in a simple style of armor.

He began to attack the other two while I handled one with renewed vigor. Between the two of
us, all five bokoblins went down quickly. Prince Link returned shortly after. He must have
turned back the second the Gerudo came.
Upon a closer look, the Gerudo was around our age, despite his seven-foot frame. He had dark
tattooed skin and long fiery red hair. He gave us a once over and pointed his scimitars at us.

Bleeding as I was, I wasn’t much of a threat toward the greatly-skilled Gerudo warrior, but if
he made the foolish choice to attack Link, he would greatly regret that decision.

“You, Hylian,” he said, “tend to your Sheikah companion while I make sure there are no more
monsters lying in wait.” With that, he stopped pointing his weapons and began to search the
area.

Prince Link immediately grabbed my pouch and began rummaging through the potions. I
sheathed my weapons and collapsed during my attempt to sit down.

“Just know I'm doing this not because he said so but–”

I know.

“Sorry I was of no use,” he winced, “and that you had to use your voice.”

You do not mind that I do not speak?

“Why would I?” his brows furrowed and he continued to search, “I see the effort you have to
use to speak. I’m just sorry it takes so much to use your voice.” He let out a little noise and
pulled out a red vial.

Thank you. Since stab wounds and blood loss were easier than broken bones, I only needed
about half the vial.

The time made me ponder what would happen to Link and I. The Gerudos and the Hylians,
while not at war at the moment, had been 30 years ago, and in the past 15 years, all neutral
feelings between the Sheikah and Gerudo ended. Each refused to have any contact with the
other. Sheikah and Hylians refused to trade with the Gerudo, causing food shortages for the
Gerudo. That was the reason blamed for the thieving bandits attacking the Sheikah and Hylian
went to the Gerudo. All are concerned about an all-out war between citizens of Greater Hyrule.
No one knows where the other species will stand, but no doubt they will choose a side,
plunging us into another horrid war.

“Now, what do we do about our little friend? I don’t think he is just going to give us directions
to the Western Outpost and let us be on our merry way.”

Before I could sign my thoughts, the Gerudo man returned.

“Let's get you two out of here. The nearest trading outpost is a ten-minute walk.” He paused,
eying my barely-healed wounds and the Prince’s red face. “Come on, you two need shade, and
then you can tell me what you are doing inside Gerudo borders.”

We glanced nervously at each other but followed the Gerudo. I, at least, hadn’t had any clue we
were near the Gerudo border, let alone inside it. The journey from the canyon into a desert
passed in anxious silence. In a few more minutes, we found ourselves in a little market
comprised of different Gerudos selling their wares. Our guard passed them without a glance,
leading us to a tent with two armed Gerudos standing outside.

He stopped in front of them. “I am here to deliver a Sheikah and a Hylian to Chief Urbrosa.”

Prin- Link and I glanced at each other. Chief Urbosa? The great Gerudo warrior? My hand
dropped to my sheathed sword. Did this Gerudo know who Link was? Or was this protocol?
The two guards nodded, and the Gerudo male led us in. Inside, three Gerudo women poured
over maps and lists. The green, gold, and red color scheme atop blue skirts caught my eye.

One looked up and said, “Everyone out.”

“Now,” said the woman, once the room emptied, calmly moving toward us, “What is the
meaning of this?”

While she was shorter than some of the Gerudo outside, she was the tallest in the room. Green
jewelry held up her ponytail, and she had a gold circlet, marking her as chief.

“Chief Urbosa,” the guy said, bowing, “These two were found inside our border outmatched by
four bokoblins,”

“So you brought them to your Chief, and they gave minimal protest? What if they were spies?”

“I– Uh, umm.” He straightened. “Th-they are not spies?”

“No, spies would come better prepared.” She brushed bright red hair out of her face before
crossing her arms. “Now, tell me what you see.”

He quickly regained his composure. “They are a Sheikah and a Hylian. Between them, they
have little supplies and only a sword, bow, and arrows. Their boots are caked in dust, and the
Hylian is dressed more expensively than the Sheikah. Both are around 19 or 20.”

She nodded. “What can you derive from that?”

“They have been walking for a while but only have enough supplies for a short journey, which
means they either got lost or were attacked by thieves.” He gained confidence as he spoke.
“Sheikah rarely travels without one of their own, so either they were separated or the Hylian
hired the Sheikah to help him in an endeavor. From their age, they are not merchants, so they
were likely separated, stolen from, and then got lost.”

“Good. Now, why does this warrant my intervention?”

The guy was much less sure after this. “Because you would have gotten annoyed if anything
happened without your approval.”

The Prince and I blinked at his addressing the chief in that manner, but she let out a laugh.

“You are right there,” she said, “but you missed one detail, not one that would have affected
your outcome, but one that may have led to you narrowing down who our little friends are.”

“Wh–”
“Let's ask who our little visitors are, shall we? Now, little voe,” she turned to Link, “Who are
you?”

“Link, ma’am. And this is Zelda,” he pointed to me.

“Can she not speak for herself?” Her voice and eyes sharpened.

Not really, I signed, startling the chief.

“Forgive me, little Sheikah.” She nodded in my direction. “I have seen too often how Hylians
treat the other sex to assume kindness was intended. But I am afraid I am not familiar with the
Hylian Sign Language, so you will have to act as a translator,” she said, nodding to p-Link. I
really need to remember what Link asked me to call him.

Chief Urbrosa, what is it you plan to do with us? I signed as Link translated.

“Well, we cannot keep you here; that would be a sign of war.”

“How would that be a sign of war?” the prince asked, flustered. Then, recalling he was not
supposed to be a noble, he added, “Ma’am.”

“Your father would see keeping the Prince of Hyrule as a sign of aggression. Oh don't even
bother denying it,” she said as his protest began. “Not many are named Link, and the detail
Ganon here missed,” she nodded to the young Gerudo, “was the insignia of the triforce upon
your clothing, something only priests or members of the royal family ever wear.”

“So then what is it you plan to do?” Link asked, bringing himself up with the confidence of a
royal.

“Send you back to where you belong, or wherever you were going.” At his dubious expression,
she said, “Did you really believe all that your father tells you? The Gerudo are not in the habit
of keeping children away from their families.”

“Now, Ganon.”

He snapped to attention.

“As you have seen fit to bring them here, it is you that shall help them find their way back, and
when you are finished aiding our visitors, you shall go to Hyrule Castle.”

She continued as Ganon’s eyebrows raised.

“Inform King Roham of what has transpired, and inform him that you shall act as an
ambassador for the Gerudo. Let us again begin attempts at trade agreements.”

He bowed, and we were dismissed. But before we left, Chief Urbosa called out, “Oh, Zelda,”

I nodded to Link, and he left with Ganon.

“I am sure you must get this a lot, but, with your hair and complexion, I must ask: Were you
raised with the Sheikah?”
I gestured for something to write on. I did not wish to tell this strange woman about my
parents, my home with the Kokiris and Koroks, or even the odd relationship I had with Impa
and Sheik, which developed without either of them knowing the races of my parents. But I did
not wish to lie, either; more than the fact I could tell Chief Urbrosa was trustworthy, but
because no one searched for me or my parents when the fire happened, and I wanted to know
why.

I was not raised with the Sheikah, but they adopted me.

“Thank you. Sorry to ask you, but I am looking for some family, so I had to ask.” She said after
she read what I wrote

I smiled and nodded, letting her know it was okay. As I left, I wondered who she was looking
for and if my answer told her anything.

Ganon and the prince were waiting for me when I exited the tent.

I signed a thank you, which Link translated, but Ganon only said, “Hylian sign language is the
same as Gerudo sign language.”

That is because it is the same.

“It is?” Ganon asked.

Yes, “HSL” stands for “Hyrulian Sign Language.”

“Oh, I always thought the “H” in HSL stood for “Hylian,” not “Hyrulian,”” Link said.

Common mistake.

“Hmm.” Link’s tone indicated he thought otherwise but was not going to disagree again.

“So, where is it I shall be escorting you two today?” Ganon asked.

“Do you really think we are going to just tell you when we were on a missio–”

Western Outpost.

“Zelda!”

If they wanted to do anything, they already would have. We lose nothing in telling them
one stop on a long journey.

“Yeah, come on, pretty boy”, Ganon said as he punched Link’s shoulder. “You were going to
have to tell me at some point. You don’t even know where we are in the desert.”

Link frowned at the touch. “You don’t know that!”

“Yeah? Where are we?”

“I don’t have a map.”

“Where we are has a name, pretty boy.”

Link bristled at the nickname. “I can’t recall the name. You can’t expect me to know what
every rock is called.”

“I guess,” Ganon shrugged, unperturbed.

Link looked smug as if he had won. His face fell, though, when Ganon pulled out a map.

“Good thing I always carry a map on me. Now, pretty boy, where are we?”

Link crossed his arms. “Why? So one of us can prove a point?”

“How about bragging points, pretty boy?”

Link gritted his teeth. “Stop calling me that.”

A sly smile spread across Ganon’s face. “How about this,” he said as he leaned across the table
where he’d placed his map, “I’ll stop calling you names if you guess correctly.”

“And if you win?”

“I get one favor, anything I ask of you.”

Link looked unsure still.

“Pretty boy,” Ganon added, drawing out the words.

“Deal.”

They shook on it.

“Now,” Ganon said, gesturing to the map, “Where are we?”

Link was deep in thought, and I could imagine him going over our route in his head. But there
was one issue: the Western Outpost was in the wrong place. He was going to guess wrong. I
said nothing; this was really funny.

“Here.”

Link pointed with such confidence I nearly burst out laughing. He was wrong, poor thing. It's
not like I would allow anything to happen to Link, but he needed to face the consequences of
his arrogance.

“Hmm, afraid not,” Ganon replied, much better at holding in his laughter than I.

“I–I, what!” Link’s ears began to turn red. “No, I am more than certain this is where we are!
Tell him, Zelda!”

I was trembling from holding in my laughter. Sorry, but we are nowhere near there, Link.
 Link was still shocked, but after much debating, he finally conceded. “So then, what is the
favor?”

Ganon grinned. “Oh, I have no clue.”

“But what was all that for if you don’t even know what you are going to ask for!?”

Ganon shrugged. “Perhaps I will have an idea when we see each other again at Hyrule castle.”

Link snorted. “Perhaps.” And then, with the most sass I have ever seen, he turned around and
walked out.

Chapter End Notes

Kudos, comments, and pinecones! Good news my readers! I have a friend who likes this
fic and will probably curse me if I don't update on time, so y'all are stuck with me in the
long run.
 Arriving at the Outpost
Chapter Notes

Here I am posting and thinking about the gays when I should be writing an essay.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Although horses had trouble in the sand, Gerudo sand seals had no issue, but there was no
reason to take the time to teach us how to ride sand seals when we could walk in less than a
day. Talking to Ganon was fun; he was one of those types that everyone probably assumed was
flirting when he wasn’t. He liked to banter, which made for interesting conversations because
Link was too stubborn to quit. We spent the journey having light-hearted arguments and talking
about nothing.

When the outpost was before us, we parted ways.

I like him, I signed once he left our sight.

“You only like him because he laughed at your jokes.”

Well yes, but I liked him because he heard you were a prince and did not care. The good
ones are the ones that do not care for status or fame but treat you the same, and call you
out on your mistakes. They keep you honest.

“You do not care.”

How do you know that? I will still do my job, and guard you before others, is that not
caring about your status? After the week of getting to know him followed by the two days by
ourselves, I knew I would try to keep him from becoming a rich brat, but he was a Prince, and I
would do my job to protect him. That, I knew with great certainty.

“Here we are, talking freely, and even if we were surrounded by others you would still refer to
me as Link.”

You commanded me to call you Link, and no one else knows sign language, though.

“Impa and Sheik know it, and Sheik calls me Link, too. Of course, I have known him for years,
and Impa will never call me just Link even though I've commanded her to do so.”

What other evidence have you decided means I do not care about fame?

“Well, for one, you did not try to talk my head off, or sign I mean. When people realize I am
friendly, they try to talk their way into being my friend and get some stuff out of my royalty.
You did not, and when you did talk to me, the second I said drop the formalities you did. Plus,
you talk to me like you would anyone else.”
How would you know the difference?

“Trust me, I know the difference between when people know what you are and when they
don’t. It is always a dramatic difference, even though they insist it is not. The few that treat you
the same are the best. They don’t judge you for your flaws or secrets. They just help.”

I hardly know your secrets.

“But if you knew, I think you could get over it. You are like my sister in that way. You would
really like her if you ever get to meet her out of the court’s eye.”

Don’t think I’ll ever step foot in the court. I am at best a hired bodyguard.

“Don’t sell yourself short.”

What are these circumstances that land me in the Royal Court? Who even goes in there?

“Ambassadors, other rulers, advisors, champions, guards, representatives, mayors if they were
invited.” He shrugged. “You know, typical people you find in court.”

No one knows what goes on in your Royal Court.

“Oh.” His eyes widened at the reminder and he quickly blushed.

Also, I don’t feel like being a guard for the rest of my life, and that is the only way I could
be in there from the list you gave.

“What about a champion?”

A champion?

“Yeah, you know–” At my look of confusion, he stammered, “Oh, you don’t… Umm… Well,
champions are individuals chosen by each race to represent them in matters against monsters.
They are the ones we send out to kill anything soldiers cannot handle, and when something
new emerges, they are the front lines; keeping us safe. They help keep the monsters from
getting too organized and settling near towns.”

Sounds fun, but I think I’ll see the world a bit more before I go hunting monsters.

“Ha! Okay, I will give you that.”

Whoever was supposed to be keeping a watch on people approaching was doing a terrible job;
only when we walked up to the guards next to the doors did anyone notice us.

There was a whole annoying discussion about ‘who are you?’ ‘I am the prince’ ‘sure you are’ it
went back and forth like this, and I was thinking about doing something drastic when a voice
cut through.

“Why do you deny your prince's passage? Trying to keep him out here to get killed by
assassins? Bring him in!”
The speaker was an older man, wearing a red and gold robe with a blue Sheikah-like eye in the
center. Sheik was present but had not even registered we were there. He was off to the side,
petting a horse.

“Agahnim!” Link shouted, embracing the man, and distracting me from Sheik. “How are you?”

“I am good, my boy, but we feared the worst when Sheik returned with only a couple of
soldiers.” He patted Link’s shoulder and guided him inside.

“Yes, well, I am only alive thanks to the efforts of Zelda and the Gerudo.”

“Gerudo? This is a tale you must tell over dinner! In celebration of your safe return, we shall
prepare a feast!”

Link and the man, Agahnim, walked off, continuing to talk, but I was far more concerned for
Sheik, who still did not even register our arrival. I realized he was taking a horse to the stables
when I approached him. It was Impa’s horse, Shadow. Fearing the worst, I approached slowly
and reached a careful hand to his arm to alert him to my presence.

He startled at my touch. When he saw it was me, he started to cry. His hug nearly crushed me.

“I feared the worst when we found Epona without you two! I-I just could not, could not…”

I hugged him tighter, letting him know he did not have to finish the sentence. After a moment,
he took a breath and loosened his hug I looked up at him, unable to sign the burning question.

“T-they have not found her,” he said anyway. “We were separated in the fight. She was holding
them off so I could get some of the injured knights out. I went back to help, but no one was
there. She wasn't among, among th-the…”

I gently squeezed his arm. We would know if something had happened to her. She is a far
better fighter than both of us.

“I know, but sitting here is not helping.” As he clenches his fist, he says, “I know they have
search teams, but now that the prince is back, those are going to die down, even though she is
the reason so many of us made it out with our lives.”

Sheik looked so helpless and hopeless as he shook his head. He began to lead Shadow off, but I
stopped him.

If no one else will look for her, then we will.

“But what about Link? This was clearly an attack on his life! We cannot leave him unguarded.
Impa would kill us!”

First of all, there are knights.

“And they all suck.” Sheik waves his hand dismissively, “Why do you think the king hires
Sheikah to be the royal bodyguards?”

Then you find your sister, and I will stay!

 “But–”

No, I can guard Link, and you can return Impa to us. Take Shadow. She can lead you to
where you were last with Impa. I harden my gaze as I look Sheik in the eyes, Bring those
monsters to justice.

Sheik glanced at Shadow and then at the compound beyond. “I-I will ask the prince for
permission to do as you say.”

Good. Now, how is Epona? I was concerned after the way we left her.

Chapter End Notes

Kudos, comments, and cats are all appreciated.

On a scale of 1 to Cucco attacks how are yall?
 Vacation plans are Made
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

At the evening’s large feast, I tried to sit with other knights, but Link pulled me up to sit next to
him, claiming, “The woman that saved my life gets a seat of honor.”

Somehow, Sheik managed to snatch the seat next to me but said nothing to Link until after he
retold our “Grand Tale and Daring Escape.” The second Sheik managed to snatch his attention
away for a moment, though, Link’s jovial expression faded into worry.

“What do you mean Impa has yet to be found? Of course, you may leave to search for her! She
is my friend, too! Anything you need, you shall get, even if it's a whole battalion!”

Sheik was not having it. “Just me will be enough. If I need help, Impa has plenty of people who
owe her; personally, I fear that she was captured—whether for ransom or information, I do not
know yet—and if that is the case, then stealth is vital. I can not have ten clunky soldiers
following me like lost sheep.”

“You are right, but if it is a ransom, we should get word soon,”

Sheik nodded. “There is one thing I must ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“You are keeping Zelda as a bodyguard at all times until I return.”

“I'm sorry, what?”

His condition for finding our friend is: you have to keep me as your personal bodyguard
because your soldiers suck. Link began to argue, but I added, Also Impa would kill all of us
if, after a coordinated attack, we left you in the care of those she has not personally
trained.

Link thought for a second. “Okay, I will give you that, and I will agree to your terms. However,
you were only supposed to go as far as this outpost, while I am to travel to Goron City, Zora’s
Domain, Rito Village, and Termina City. It took a week to get here, and it will take three days
to reach Goron City, four from there to Zora’s Domain, another two to Rito Village, five more
to reach Termina City, and then six days to return to Hyrule Castle. Plus, all the time we will
spend in each capital.”

Looking to get rid of me?

“No, quite the opposite, but I would not have you tied to me as a bodyguard when anyone with
eyes can tell you wish to explore. You will be traveling with me for nearly a month, sitting
around looking for threats while I try to convince some diplomats to sit through more boring
meetings; it is not going to be fun, and you will have to stay with us instead of sightseeing.”
 Stop trying to talk me out of this. Besides, I would need to be familiar with roads and
main towns before I could go and explore anywhere else.

Though he still seemed hesitant, he looked less against it. Not that there was any way for him
to get rid of me. Link looked as if he was scrounging up another argument when Agahnim
called for his attention, asking about the king’s plans for certain things.

I was glad this man clearly only cared about people he deemed important. I did not wish to be
in his sphere of attention. Sheik, I signed once I got his attention away from his meal, Who is
this man Agahnim?

Agahnim , Sheik signed back, indicating he did not want to be overheard, became the High
Mage when he dispelled a plague. The cure was eluding other magicians and physicians,
and it nearly killed the prince and king. To prove it was skill and not luck, he proceeded
to aid towns suffering from famines. Sheik had disdain clear on his face, and he barely
restrained from rolling his eyes. The King promoted him to the council of mages, where he
quickly found himself the High Mage and a trusted advisor to the Royal Family. Link
loves the man, but Impa believes him to be untrustworthy.

Impa thought I was a spy sent to learn the Sheikah's secrets. I pointed out

Indeed. Sheik’s smile was brief. She never dropped this distrust, though. I have never seen any
reason to believe he is not a gifted mage with the best of intentions. If Impa approves of
someone, it is a golden seal in my book, but she tends to see the worst of people.

It is what makes her such a good Sheikah.

It is. He smiled ruefully. “Did you know,” his voice broke, “that she thought Beedle, the small
harmless merchant, was an investigator sent by the Royal family to see if she really was the
best Sheikah guard? She spent half the time trying to please him, and the rest trying to prove
she would be wary of anyone at first sight!”

This sounds like a good story. How badly did she make a fool of herself?

“Somehow, she managed to set his entire stock of Chuchu Jelly on fire using only a Rhino
Beetle and a Cucco.”

Now you have to tell me the full story!

Sheik cracked a smile under his mask and began telling me stories of anything Impa did that
was stupid.

Chapter End Notes

... I have no excuses for not posting yesterday so...

Any comments, kudos, or rupees?
 Bonus Art Pt. 2
Chapter Notes

Due to getting over 500 hits and nearing 60 kudos I am posting a bonus art chapter!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Zelda in her Sheikah garb,

Prince Link

Zelda plus the Master Sword and Hylian Shield (I know she doesn't have them but still, also the
shield was very hard to draw)

Epona! Our favorite girl has seen some hard times hence the scars and her wing pattern was
added due to the headcanon that she is Link's Crimson Loftwing reincarnated.

Chapter End Notes

Kudos, comments, or Korok seeds?

 Travel up the Mountain
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Agahnim attempted to get us to stay another day, wanting us to get more time to recover, but
Link wished to move on, saying the quicker we left, the more time for convincing the
delegates. Agahnim was going to discuss it more, but Link cut him off, reminding him of
something. That part, I didn’t hear, but the discussion was dropped.

Sheik set out before us and only said goodbye to Link and I. “Remember to bring plenty of
Fireproof elixir for Death Mountain and Spicy Elixir for the Rito Village, or get those
protective clothing.” He then pulled each of us aside and gave us individual advice.

“Zelda, keep your wits about you. Keep your courage, and remember your wisdom; power
comes from both and is unbalanced with only one. Link needs more than protection. He needs a
friend; he has only ever had his sister, Impa, and I. Also, if I am not overstepping,” He
hesitated, “You never talked much of your birth family, and you talked of your foster family
only a bit more, though I respect that was to protect their privacy. I want you to remember that
whatever family you make, whatever family you find, all that care for you will find it
welcoming. If they don’t, then they were never worth your love.”

Are you saying you and Impa will accept my foster family and any new friends I make, or
my foster family should accept you and any newfound friends?

Sheik just smiled under his mask, gave me a hug, and went to give Link his advice. I could
have overheard had I wished, but I did not. I knew the value of privacy.

When Sheik finished, Link stood by me, wiping his tears, and we both watched Sheik ride off.
When we turned to finish getting our things, I pretended not to see Link’s unsure glance at me.
I did not wish to know if he doubted my abilities or if there was something else.

Before we left, I called Epona, she was fine but seemed concerned about me, which was nice.
She managed to get away with minimal scrapes. I saw to any I found immediately, having
many Endura Carrots on me, which were valued as a medical plant for animals by Saria.

Link’s pearly white horse was fine, too, found an hour after the attack. In fact, Lopsa, which I
learned was the horse’s name, escaped without a single scrape, and for reasons I did not
understand, Link was riding her again, despite the fact the horse clearly did not care about her
rider.

We left with only four guards, considerably less than last time. They were all knights, specially
chosen by Agahnim: Jall, Daos, Enik, and Rola—only those he trusted and said were the best.
We moved at a much quicker pace than last time.

Link had something called a Goron Tunic, which would help him stand the heat of the volcano,
but we did not have any Fireproof elixirs on hand. I had to search for Fireproof Lizards, the one
ingredient I did not have to make the elixir.
We spent the journey talking about anything we could. I commented on many of the new
animals, and Link told me what they were. The scenery turned from plains to rocky mountains
in the blink of an eye. As we began our journey upward, the temperature steadily increased.
Link placed his tunic on a full day before it was needed, and I changed into my Kokiri tunic
because it was much less hot than the long-sleeved Shekiah outfit.

“I have never seen that particular style of clothing,” Link said, looking at my green tunic,
boots, and tan pants.

I am pretty sure that your style of Goron Tunic is not commercially available. I knew this
was true because his red tunic had gold embroidery, and a couple of travelers we passed only
had a plain red one.

“True, but I am a prince. I get an excuse for not having the typical clothing; it’s required of me
to look amazing 24/7.”

Narcissistic much?

“Always, but still, green is a very unusual color to wear. I mean, the only person I have known
to wear green was a man claiming to be the reincarnation of a fairy. It is heavily associated
with the champions of the past, fairies, and the goddess Farore.”

I did not realize green meant so much to others. I shifted nervously, I wish I could tell the
full truth instead of leaving things out, but it was for the Kokiri and the Korok's protection, not
my comfort.

It was made for me, and where I grew up, it was the primary color of the village. I
thought it was just because we were in the middle of a forest and, well, the trees are green.
But we were near a Fairy Fountain, so if green is associated with fairies, perhaps that is
why.

“You lived near a Fairy Fountain? Do you have any idea of how rare that is?”

From your tone, I get a few ideas.

“Most fairies will abandon the fountain if a village is set up nearby, which is why there are
laws about how near a settlement can be to a fountain! So is your fountain still occupied?”

Yeah, we still have fairies at the fountain, I think Link is going to die now that I have
confessed our fountain is still occupied, though I was a bit confused, I knew there was a
fountain near both Castle Town and Kakariko Village, though I have not gone searching for the
one near Castle Town, I knew the one in Kakariko Village was still occupied by a Great Fairy,
so what was this about other fairies abandoning their fountains?

“How many color fairies have you seen?”

It was an odd question, mostly because anyone not residing in the Lost Forest only found the
pink fairies. The rarity stemmed from other colors being far shyer than the pink fairies that love
to heal people. I think it is an obsession, them wanting to heal people. They do not die but
instead, respawn, I think, and go back to do it all over again.
I forgot what he asked. What were we talking about again? Oh, right: fairies.

I know of pink, blue, yellow, and purple, though I’ve heard Great Fairies can come in
other colors.

“Wow, I have seen the pink ones, and once, when I was little, I found a blue one. She talked to
me for a bit, but the second Aryll came over, she disappeared. I never caught her name.” I was
shocked to hear that, but then again Link was able to see a Korok, so perhaps the two were
related, either way, I think I can trust Link with more information on fairies.

Sorry for that, but perhaps you shall see her again. Blue fairies are the second most shy
color I know, but when they decide to like someone, they are loyal for life.

“Loyal for life?” Link gave me a flummoxed look “You talk as if they are companions, but
once they heal someone they disappear.”

Only the pink ones heal—at least that I know of—but the others like to make friends,
once they get past their fear of people.

“The other colors fear people?”

They, unlike the pink ones, can talk, so Hylians have a tendency to bottle them. But when
they try to use them to heal and discover they can’t, they show the fairies as roadside
attractions. This is why when a fairy becomes brave enough to travel, they only show
themselves to children, and if they like that child, they will stay with them, many times for
life.

“Huh, that is cool.”

We rode in silence. Link was probably pondering what it would have been like had his sister
not interrupted him meeting the fairy, and I pondered the meaning of a fairy deeming him kind
of heart enough to show herself.

“Zelda.” I looked at Link, but he was looking around to see who might overhear. “That day, the
day we were attacked, what was that creature, the one that helped us hide?”

I, too, looked around before answering. That was a Korok, “Child of the Forest”, or a
Forest Spirit, depending on what you feel like calling them. Most cannot see them, and
overall most agree it's a good thing if you can. They can be found anywhere in Greater
Hyrule. Temperatures, monsters, and overall danger do not stop them from finding the
best hiding spot. Their two favorite things to do are playing hide and seek and prank
people. If you find them, they will give you something called a Korok seed, which is
useless to everyone.

“So we can both see them?”

I nodded.

“Can Sheik or Impa?”

I shook my head.
 “So our meeting is rare and amazing.”

We are one of a kind.

Link grinned at that. “Cool.”

Chapter End Notes

I am going on a hiatus and will post again on either August 1st or September 1st. I need to
write more chapters and plot the plot. I know its a bit of an odd place to pause storywise,
but lifewise it's perfect for me. The Perils of Choosing New will return with more content
and hopefully a more stable plot.

Comments, Kudos, and Koroks!

 Return of the Author
Chapter Summary

Recap: Link and Zelda have left with four knights on a secretive diplomatic mission to all
of the leaders of Hyrule, while Sheik has parted ways to discover what happened to Impa.
They were on the road to Death Mountain to reach Goron City in the last chapter.

Chapter Notes

Hi, sorry for not updating on time, but I am back, with a proper plot for the story!
As a reminder, italics are for when Zelda is speaking or dreams, and bold is for sign
language.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Goron City, full of Gorons. I mean I expected it, but it was still really cool. They were all so
large, twice as tall as any of us, and looked as if they were boulders given life. As we walked
past them, all I could think was how Gorons looked like the dragons I had seen depicted in the
drawings of Saria’s books, with their draconic-looking faces, large powerful arms, and an odd
mix of fur and rocks protruding from their bodies. Looking closer, I could see many of them
had underbites with small tusks jutting from their mouths and they all had much smaller legs
than I would have ever imagined being able to support such a grand species.

My awe must have been over-evident because Link leaned over and said, “I know it's
impressive, but wait till you see what they do for sport.”

I lit up, and Link laughed.

“Brother!” A Goron yelled, drawing our attention. He was much taller than most of the other
Gorons. If that wasn’t enough to make him stand out, his skin was also several shades darker
and his fur and rocks were all white. He raced towards Link. At that speed, the Goron was
going to crush Link! I jumped in the way and brandished my sword, preparing to get all my
bones crushed. He stopped, though, looking quite put out.

“What was that for? I was going in for a hug.”

“Zelda!” Link shouted, looking horrified. Why? “This is Daruk. He is the Champion and
Ambassador for the Gorons. He would not harm me!”

Oh, oops. I retracted my weapon, appalled. I bowed to the Goron. Forgive me, Ambassador, I
feared the worst when you rushed at Prince Link. Please sir, I can not express how
horrified I am at my actions, any punish—

“Please, please, I do not know what you are signing, but I can tell it is a massive apology. It's
really not necessary! I musta’ looked pretty scary running for a hug like that.” He rubbed the
back of his head. “Man, but I know little Hylians do not like to forgive their mistakes, so how
about a game later?”

I nodded as Link shouted protests. “No! Zelda, those games are dangerous for Hylians!”

I have never sparred with a Goron before.

“And let's keep it that way! Daruk, you can’t possibly have her fight you!”

“Fight? Who said anything about a fight?” Daruk tilted his head to the side. “I was just going to
challenge her to a simple wrestling competition.”

“She could die!” Link looked frazzled at our lack of giving up on some friendly competition.

“You trusted me to barrel forth and hug you, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then trust me not to pummel her.”

I will be a challenge to pummel , I added with a grin .

“Stop being stupidly courageous!” Link shouted.

“What did she say?”

“She is making stupid claims.” Link gave me a stern look, but it didn’t dampen my enthusiasm.

Daruk returned my smug smile. “I see I will have to learn Sign Language now.”

Link looked at both of us and shook his head. “Oh, great,” he said with defeat. “Now there are
two of them.”

Daruk and I laughed.

“Let me show you to your rooms,” Daruk said as he led us off.

The knights stayed at the inn, but since I was not leaving Link alone, we got the guest beds of
the Chieftain's home, Daruk’s brother. We had yet to meet the Chieftain himself. Link had
never met him, though he knew him by reputation.

Whatever meeting Link was here for, I was not invited, nor were any of the knights. I was
hardly offended because I got to spend the time exploring. I put up a slight fight to keep up
appearances. My time off was fun. I met a Goron named Melgo, and he taught me how to use
bombs. I got a tour of the mines and found a ruby—which they did not let me keep—and after
that a really shiny rock—which I slipped into my pocket instead of asking to keep.
While we left the mines, they complained about some monster attacking their southern mine,
which held their favorite rocks to eat. I was kind of like, ‘You are a 7ft rock creature that can
lift rocks bigger than I am? You can’t kill it?’ But no one knew what I was saying. Regardless,
they all understood when I cleared out the 30-odd Bokoblins and Moblins. The Gorons got
ridiculously happy.

By the time Link was done with the Chieftain, the Gorons were making a Rock Roast, after
settling the debate on whether to make a Rock Roast or a Rock Sirloin. It was literally a roast-
shaped rock. The Gorons cooking it declared this was my reward for clearing out the Rock
Roast Caverns.

“You know that will probably break your teeth?” Link asked me as he broke off from the group
of politicians.

Oh, no, it will.

“It will taste terrible.”

Yep.

“You could get out of it.”

Nope.

Link smiled. “Your funeral.”

It was disgusting, but I ate all of it. They were so happy, it was almost worth the dental bills I
would be paying for the rest of my life. Daruk and another Goron were quite vocal in their
support as I ate the roast. When I finished, Daruk gave me a slap on the back, destroying any
need for a chiropractor.

“Most Hylians can’t start a Rock Roast, let alone finish it. That was very impressive!” he
praised.

“Yeah, good job,” another Goron said. He had the same build as Daruk, but his skin was a
darker golden and his rocky back was a dark brown instead of white. It took me a moment to
place him as the Goron Chieftain. “My brother told me you will be sparring against him in the
wrestling ring.”

I nodded.

“Hmmph. I take it you have never seen a Goron wrestling match?”

I shook my head.

“See me at nightfall around the western mines. I’ll make sure you do not embarrass yourself
too much.” He grunted. “Can’t have the Prince’s champion looking too bad fighting someone
twice their size.”

I gave him a bow; getting a training offer from the Goron’s Patriarch was an honor, even if he
insulted my abilities.
 The rest of the day was spent showing Link all I had discovered. He found the mines more
interesting than I but was not as interested in the shiny rocks, so I don’t know why he was so
fascinated. He did not find the bombs as fun, claiming they were dangerous. I claimed that was
the point. By the time we concluded the tour, it was time for dinner. We had our own food that
roasted in the fiery air. The Gorons started arguing before we were finished eating.

“What is the reason we are all fighting?” Link asked, placing himself between the two Gorons.

“Our flute player, Tokeg, is up at the Northern Mines, and everyone knows you can’t play the
Bolero of Fire without a flute!” said the Goron to Link’s left.

“Yeah, you can!” said the other.

“No, you can’t!”

This was going to continue, wasn't it?

I got Link’s attention. Translate for me, would you?

He gave me an odd look but agreed.

I can play the ocarina. If you can teach me the song, I’ll play the flute part.

They thought for a second, and then the left one asked, “Well, how good are you?”

I pulled it out and played Saria’s Song.

“Oh, so, you are an alright player.”

Link left once it was evident we did not need words to communicate anymore. “So, here is the
part,” began the right Goron. They taught me the notes, and we practiced. Once we had it
down, we played for the whole city, and the Chieftain, whose name I learned was Darunia, was
a surprisingly good dancer, while Daruk, well, he tried his best.

When the partying was done, Darunia left, in the direction I assumed was the West Mines. I did
not leave until I realized Daruk was not going to leave Link’s side. I trusted Daruk to make sure
nothing would happen to Link while I was gone.

I traveled down the path until I reached a flat clearing, where Darunia was nearly finished
drawing a circle on the ground. When he completed it, he ridiculed my appearance.

“Ok,” he said once he’d finished, “let’s get started.”

Chapter End Notes

So, I love the Gorons but I think cannon's design for them as a species sucks a bit, so if
you need a visual for what I have in mind look at earthnashes on tumblr
Comments, Kudos, and arrows?
 We Need to Kill a Rock Monster
Chapter Notes

Sorry for disappearing, I didn't even notice when October started, and then one of the
upcoming chapters has been refusing to be written, and then family junk got in the way. I
will do better about sticking to the schedule and updating the first of the month.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

As I woke up, I knew the morning was going to be tough; I hurt all over from last night.
Darunia spent hours teaching me the rules and continuously sparring with me until he was
satisfied I would not lose instantly. I would say that there was a minor chance of me winning
this evening, but I would be lying.

Link was smug when he saw me aching all over, but he managed to keep his “I told you so”s to
himself, which was good because I probably would have punched him. And I know that boy
can’t take a hit.

Link spent the day ironing out the details of their secret meeting, but I was allowed to stay for
this one. I spent the day glad I was not a diplomat. It was maddening seeing people talk about
trade agreements and petty disputes. I knew these things had to be done, but it was not my
strong suit.

Link, on the other hand, loved it, and this was something anyone could see. He may be a cocky
arrogant know-it-all, but he loved solving these problems. It was good to see problems solved
by something other than my manual labor. I liked clearing out the monster dens, getting the one
random object they had never seen before, or helping people get all their cucco’s back in their
pens; it was the way I helped people, but Link did it differently, no less nor more important
than mine.

By the time we left, Link had managed to solve the hot springs distribution issue, the territory
dispute, and decided to rent me out to aid Daruk in fighting an Ingenious Talus Titian. I don’t
know why he had so much faith in me. The only fight he had seen me in I would have lost had
it not been for the appearance of Ganon. Darunia mentioned the issues Daruk was having
fighting because the Talus Titan was submerged in the middle of the lava, and while Gorons
could survive the lava, they could not swim in it. So Link volunteered me to aid Daruk.

After I revolted at the idea of Link being left in the care of the knights, we left him in Darunia’s
care. It's not the knights’ fault; I had yet to test their abilities myself and was unsure how much
I trusted them, mostly because Link trusted far too quickly when it came to his safety to allow
me to do the same.

Oh no, I am becoming like Impa! What has this world come to?
Daruk talked a lot and didn't mind that I never responded. He just kept on going.

“Usually I can get another Goron to help with this, but they heard it was a Titian and all turned
tail. I’ll have to work on that while I am here. Oh, thanks for clearing out the Southern Mine
yesterday. I hate how you had to do that, but I have been busy trying to take care of this guy.
He’s a much bigger problem than Gorons not being able to get their favorite snack. It tends to
throw boulders at passersby.”

A rock exploded where we were a second ago.

“Like that!” Daruk shouted, sounding excited at the prospect of almost dying. I like him.

He waded into the lava as far as he could go while I jumped to the nearest ledge to get a better
angle to shoot arrows. Taking out the ice arrows I nicked at the Outpost, I began shooting at the
Igneous Talus Titan. Daruk scored blows with his Goron sword, which was more of a hammer
with a blunt blade and weight when the angry Talus turned to me.

Talus lost half its health between the two of us. It roared, though where it had a mouth I didn’t
know. The Talus stayed out of both of our reach and began exclusively throwing rocks. It was
aiming for me, so I had to dodge. Daruk tried to go in deeper to get its attention but could not.
He moved to shallower lava and started swinging and yelling.

A horrible idea popped into my brain, a really bad one. Link would kill me if he found out I
tried something like this, but I found the pattern to Daruk’s swings and decided it was our best
option. I would have told Daruk, really, but sign language is hard to understand when your
back is turned.

So I lept off my ledge and ran toward Daruk. I jumped over the lava.

And landed on Daruk's weapon.

Right as he was swinging.

I was then flung to the burning Talus. Daruk was yelling as he realized the weight had been me.

I shot an ice arrow before I landed so I did not have my feet burned off. Surprisingly, the Talus
stopped moving, perhaps from the damage of being shot with an ice arrow at such close range.
When I landed, I began hacking, hitting its critical spot while I could. I realized the real flaw in
my plan, however, when the Talus recovered and promptly flung me off.

I only had two last thoughts as I fell slo-mo toward lava.

1. Impa’s gonna be so mad

2. Saria would never find out what happened to me

I was caught before I went to meet my makers, however.

“That was really dangerous,” Daruk said with an uncharacteristic sternness. But then, he broke
into a smile. “But, Zelda, that was so cool.”

I laughed.
“Looks like our friend thought so, too.”

The Talus was now moving towards us.

Daruk spun his weapon. “Want to fight him on dry ground?”

I gave him a devilish smile, and he threw me back to safety. It was a good thing I learned at a
young age how to fall from great heights because I was doing a lot of that today.

When the Talus got out of the lava, we made short work of it, even as enraged as it was. When
the Talus died, it dropped many cool-looking shiny rocks which, to my great sorrow, promptly
slid down the mountain.

I looked at him with such despair that he sighed. “Alright, let's go chasing those parts.”

6 hours, 8 wrong turns, 5 Eldin Ostriches, 2 dogs, and 1 very traumatized Daruk later, we
returned to Goron City to get a very stern talk from Link.

“Do you two know how frantic I was?”

Darunia nodded in the background.

“Darunia and I were worried sick for the both of you!”

Darunia shook his head.

“You were dead for all we knew!”

A shrug.

“That was completely irresponsible of you!”

Reflection, then agreement.

“What were you doing that took so long?”

A death glare.

“Well, um…” Daruk was as sheepish as I.

The monster dropped down the mountain, and we chased it to make sure it was dead,
could not return the way we came, got lost, and birds.

“Birds?” Link said, not even translating.

“Birds,” Daruk repeated gravely, “Specifically, Eldin Ostriches.”

“I can understand the rest bu—”

“Ostriches,” Daruk said, in the same unusual tone, “Have a tendency of ramming you when
you least expect it.”
 “What did she even say in the first place?” Darunia asked, interjecting before Link asked who
it was that was rammed.

There was a lull while Link translated what I said.

“I believe we cannot truly blame them,” Darunia said when he’d finished. “Though they acted
rashly, they did their best. Now, let them rest. They killed a great beast and had no respite. It is
nightfall anyway.”

“You are right, I—”

“Oh, what about the match?” Whined a Goron kid none of us realized was there.

“Tindu, how long have you been there?” Darunia asked.

“A while, but we were all waiting for the match!”

Link began to interject, “Well they can’t poss—”

“I'm up for it if Zelda’s still good,” Daruk said.

Let’s do it.

Link sighed, facepalming. “Famous last words.”

Chapter End Notes

So? What do y'all think? Comments, Kudos, Keaton Mask?

 Gaining a Friend
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

I lost but managed to achieve “The longest time in the ring.” Apparently, regular Goron
matches don’t last that long. I got lots of praise for that.

Daruk decided to proclaim me his “Sworn Brother.” No clue what it means, but it sounds
important. He asked if I would prefer to go by sister instead, but I signed that brother was
perfect. I saw no need to be different because I was a girl. Link tried to impress upon me what a
great honor this was, because not only did a Goron have to like you, but you had to do
something that impressed them greatly. Them being 7ft rock giants, that was hard. I just acted
like this was a casual thing, to annoy Link.

Before we left, Darunia warned us that the right path had a Great Fairy Fountain, so we should
head down to the left.

We thanked him and told him we would follow his advice. However, two hours later, there
were three paths, not two. Link and I looked at the map, worried. Great Fairies did not like
unwanted Hylian visitors. The left path would take us back to Hyrule Castle, so we had to go
down the middle path, but it merged back with the right path after a while, and we were unsure
where the Great Fairy Fountain was.

We don’t really have much of a choice.

“I know,” Link said, his worry matching my own. I hoped my upbringing in the Lost Forest
would help me if we did come across a Great Fairy.

We were going at a good pace until our road merged, becoming a forest. Our horses instantly
became skittish, the trees seemed unwelcoming, the birds quieted at our approach, and animals
ran from us. We uneasily made our way through.

One of the knights, Daos, grew the courage to speak, “Perhaps we should turn back my Prin
—”

He let out a cry and flailed about. A crow had swooped at his face, had he not been wearing his
helmet he may have lost an eye. More birds swooped but avoided Link and I, the only ones not
wearing helmets. Deer and goats ran past our horses, barely avoiding hitting them. Another
knight, I think Enik, lost control of his horse. Before it could run too far, a wolf appeared and
growled. The horse balked and ran in the direction we came. The rest of the horses followed
suit, even Epona, taking us out of the forest before we could get them to calm.

“Your Highness,” began a knight, whose name I believe was Jall, “We should go around. The
forest proves too much of a danger without securing passage with the Great Fairy first.”

“But we cannot go off-road!” Rola exclaimed. “It would be a death sentence for the Prince!”
“Yes, you are both right,” Link said. “Finding a different road would be safest, but it would
also add at least a week, and that, if we were lucky.”

Link , I signed, getting everyone's attention even though only he knew what I was saying.
Allow me to go through and see if I can obtain permission to pass through from the Great
Fairy. If not, we can find a different road. And before you begin, Link indeed looked as if
he was to object, I am one of the most skilled here. You going would put you in possible
danger, the opposite of what we are trying to do. I’ll go without Epona. Give me an hour.
If I'm not back by then, find another path, and I’ll catch up in a day or so.

“Two hours,” Link countered.

Deal .

I left while Link was explaining to the other knights what was going to happen.

It was the same situation as last time: creepy silence until I reached a certain point where
animals began to charge. But I kept moving forward. Fairies were never violent; they just had
scare tactics and blinded you with their light if you got too close.

None of the animals hit me. The wolves just growled and jumped in front of me occasionally.
Most of the animals got confused and walked away. Traces of whatever the Great Fairy did to
the animals were evident when they tried to come at me again only to remember why they
walked away in the first place and headed off.

I was making good progress and even saw a clearing a bit off-road that looked like the clearing
of our Fairy Fountain back home when a golden light blinded me.

“G-go away!” shouted a voice in front of me. The voice shouted some threats, which I ignored.
I knew it was a fairy trying to scare me. I just needed to show I could be trusted. Standing still,
I pulled out my ocarina and played Saria’s Song, hoping this fairy had heard it before.

“That is Saria’s favorite tune!” shouted the little fairy, whom I was now beginning to see. “And
that is a Kokiri Tunic!” she shouted louder, hovering near my face. Her golden light brightened
as she got excited. “Sorry, miss, but since you’re an adult, I got really scared. But if Saria
taught you her song, then you must be an okay person!”

May I see the Great Fairy and ask for permission for me and my friends to go through
the forest?

“Hmm.” She bobbed up and down in thought. “Okay, I guess so, but be nice, miss.”

I will. I was grateful she knew sign language, but then again, it was the Kokiri and the Koroks
who taught me sign language.

We traveled up the clearing, at the end of which was a little cave. Inside was much larger than
it should have been, there appeared to be no ceiling and the walls stretched out to the
nonexistent ceiling. The furthest wall had three giant iridescent shells outlining the back of a
gorgeous pool. The pool was filled by small waterfalls from the walls, though the source of the
water was as easily seen as the ceiling. On the edges of the pool were four upside-down
triangle torches, and outside of the pool pink fairies flew lazily through the air. In front of me
was a step next to the front of the fountain, and the golden fairy hovered next to it so that is
where I moved to stand

The second I stood upon the step, the dozens of fairies began to dart about like a tornado. They
glowed brighter and brighter. There was a cry, and in their place stood a great fairy.

I had never seen one before. She was much, much larger than I. She had bright pink hair and
was clothed with iridescent petals. Behind her ears were fairy wings, though the fairies the
wings must have come from would have to be Hylian-sized to have wings that big. She was
draped in leafy vines, and pearls, and her hair flowed as if underwater.

“I see…” She said in a melodic voice, “You wear the green tunic of the Kokiri children, but
you stopped being a child long ago. You wield a weapon of metal when the forest spirits would
never wield anything but wood and clay against a foe.” With a sly smile, she eyed me critically.
“So, little warrior from the forest, what brings you to my spring?”

Well, you see—

“I am afraid,” she interrupted, looking upon me with kind but sad eyes, “I never learned sign
language. Is there another way you can communicate?”

I had no paper, the golden fairy from before was nowhere in sight, and there was not even dirt
to trace in. I had to speak. Anxiety built inside of me. I never minded talking to Saria and some
of the other Koroks because they never made fun of me, but it has happened before.

I remember how before meeting Sheik and Impa, I had tried to meet others and ran across a
small traveling merchant group. None of them could understand sign language but did not mind
me being there. I decided to talk to a purple Rito. I thought he was like me: headstrong, ready
to do any dare, and alone except for the family he made. However, when I spoke he just ended
up calling me a lot of words I did not know at the time but which did not take a genius to figure
out.

I never visited them again. It took weeks for Saria to get me to talk to her. Link was the first
one to hear my voice since then and is not a resident of Kokiri Village, but Link is different;
instead of fitting people’s expectations, he exceeds them.

It had not been a second since she asked the question, but I was frozen. It was an eternity, stuck
forever imagining what might happen if I opened my mouth. Then, the golden fairy appeared
next to me.

“I—! Can, I can-can understand what she signs.”

I will owe everything to this little fairy, speaking up for me when she would rather do
otherwise.

“Really, Rilu?” The Great Fairy beamed. “Why, thank you.”

Thank you. I echoed, putting as much emotion into the sign as possible. Now would you ask
the Great Fairy if me and my companions may pass through her forest?
Rilu translated, and the Great Fairy said, “Oh, of course. I guess our protection measures
against thieves and monsters need to be updated.”

Thank you, Great one.

“Oh,” she said, blushing, “You flatter me.”

So I left, giving my leave to the Great Fairy and my thanks to Rilu.

“It was the least I could do after I got so scared of you. Grown-ups scare me.”

If you ever wish to see the world, you are more than welcome to hide in my pocket.

“I-I may take-take-take… TAKE that up one day,” she said, stumbling on words, not that I
would ever mind.

Bye. I waved and began to walk in the direction of my companions. I wondered if I called
Epona, would the rest follow or be scared off when I heard a shout behind me.

“Hey! Wait!” Rilu’s golden glow echoed off the leaves. “I-I want to go with you. I asked the
Great Fairy, and she said I could!”

I smiled. Okay then. I am going to find my friends. When I find them, where would you
like to hide until you become more comfortable with the idea of people?

She inspected me, flying in circles. “I guess your shirt?” She nestled herself between the beige
undershirt and the green tunic. “Never mind, I’ll get squashed if you forget about me or have to
move fast.”

Oh, I know. I dug out my green hat. You think hiding in here will be good?

She burrowed between my red hair and the green hat. “This will work!”

Good. I'm gonna call my friends.

I played Epona’s song, and a while later she came with the rest of the group following.

“Zelda! You secured passage!”

I nodded and smiled, deciding not to mention the worry on Link’s face before he spotted me. I
mounted Epona, and we were off. As we rode, Rilu occasionally shifted her position, angling to
see the hylians she was so scared of.

The knights were still nervous every time a bird passed, even once we were out of the forest;
for once, though, the horses’ manner did not reflect their owners’. They were quite calm the
whole day.

Link decided to teach me about Zora etiquette, but I ignored most of it. I was not planning on
dining with the Queen or King, just doing my job and staring at the cool animals, though I did
not want a repeat of the blunder I had with Daruk.
 When we camped for the night, I moved a bit away before saying good night to Epona so she
and Rilu could get acquainted. After I pitched my tent, I spent hours talking to Rilu, making
sure she was okay with all of this.

“Oh, don’t worry Zelda,” she reassured me, her golden light far more dim than normal for a
fairy, probably due to her wanting to be less noticeable, “I may not be up for meeting Hylians
or really any of these species, but I like observing them.”

How do you feel about Link? If I introduce you to a Hylian, he would be the first one.

“H-he seems nice, I guess, but would he be ab-able to not tell anyone about me?”

He has kept the true nature of this mission a secret, even though I have been traveling
with him for a couple of weeks.

“I-I am still no-not—”

I know. We don’t have to do this for a while. The world is still as new to me as it is to you.

“Okay.” She settled next to my face, nesting herself in the crook of my shoulder. I was able to
get a better look at her, like all fairies she was basically solid light and didn't have any
humanoid features other than two legs, two arms, two eyes, two pointed ears, a mouth, and
hair, so the only things to aid in telling two fairies apart aside from their color was their voice,
name, and how they did their hair. Rilu’s hair was curly and coiled all wrapped up in a messy
bun on her head.

“Hey, Zelda?” Rilu said interrupting my thoughts.

I nodded.

“Are you, are you that little girl the Deku tree took in? The one with the burns, who would only
talk to Saria?”

I didn't realize she knew me or was in the forest when I was a child, but I nodded, knowing
where this was going.

“Well, with Saria, you would practice talking, so you could do it better and be more
comfortable talking to others, and when you didn't, Saria translated for you.” She paused here,
thinking. “So maybe in exchange for helping me become more comfortable around people, I
can translate for you!”

I nodded, grateful she was not trying to move me out of where I was comfortable yet and more
than thankful for her offer.

We fell asleep, thinking of tomorrow.

Chapter End Notes

I have been looking forward to this chapter for a while now, Rilu is going to be one of the
only OCs playing a major role in the story.
Any comments, Kudos, or heart containers are appreciated.
 The Zora by the Sea
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

I was cloaked in green, my face hidden. Anyone who looked upon me would not recognize me.
There were two others, one draped in blue and another in red. Then, behind the one in blue
appeared people, locked in cages, screaming for help. All three of us jumped to save them, but
their eyes turned an unholy color. They donned the mask of the thieves. They chased us like
mindless puppets. Monsters of all kinds appeared behind the one in red to join with the masked
and run after us. The other two turned to face me, and I looked behind me to see what horror
would next appear. Monsters of shadow, marked in red and black, hunched in a massive group
so I couldn't tell where any one ended; they were far from a humanoid shape or any species in
Hyrule. With an unnatural shriek, they lurched forward to complete the circle of enemies. Our
trio was surrounded. The enemies poured in around us, but when our backs touched, each of
our hands began to glow with a golden triangle. Brighter and brighter, they glowed, until we
could stand it no more than the enemies. When we could open our eyes again, we all stared at
each other. But when I looked down, it was not me they saw but—

I was startled awake, already forgetting what I saw when I looked down at myself. But the
other two, eerily familiar, remained fixed in my mind. I eased back down, considering. The
imprisoned people may not have been ones I recognized, but they were from all species. And
the monsters: Some of them were ones I faced before, but many of them I had never laid eyes
on. I shivered. The shadow beast I had never seen in real life, though I felt as if I had seen them
somewhere, a book or a drawing maybe. Though what drawing was beyond me.

Feeling as if I was missing something important, I got dressed. Carefully so as to not wake her,
I placed Rilu in my hat and put it on, figuring she could wake up whenever. By the time I was
finished putting up my tent, several knights were waking up. Link was cooking breakfast for
everyone.

He had a thoughtful expression. When I asked, he said he was thinking of “The issues the Zora
will bring up first.” It did not seem so at all, but I did not press because I knew he did need to
think of the Zora.

Breaking up camp and everyone eating did not take long, so we were on the road soon after
dawn. Rilu woke once I called Epona, and we passed a couple of travelers going on foot. Other
than that, the day passed quickly.

The third day passed much like the second, except we had a small skirmish with some
bokoblins that somehow managed to get their hands on some horses. Rola was the one who
helped me take care of them along with a knight named Enki.

By the fourth day I had finally warmed up to the other knights. I don’t know why it takes five
seconds for me to like someone like Sheik or Ganon, but days for others. I still hadn’t learned
all their names, but they all knew mine.

“Did you know not all Zora are as refined as the ones we will be seeing?” Jall asked me.
“Oh right,” another knight whose name I didn’t know said. “Well there is a small faction of
Zora pirates that rule the southeast seas and rivers.”

At my surprise, Jall continued, “Yeah, they aren’t all Zora now, but when they started they
were. And the captain? Well, they say he’s the most ruthless Zora in centuries.”

“Don’t take what Jall says too seriously Zelda,” Enik interjected. “If they were a serious threat,
the Zora of the Champions of Hyrule would have taken care of them.”

“The Champions have yet to take care of the Volgas,” Jall retorted.

“You don’t even know if they are called that though.” Enik frowned at Jall, then to me said,
“Supposedly, the masked thieves and other bandits are all part of a cult called the Volgas. They
have a dragon with a black face on their mask as a calling card. But they’re just unconfirmed
rumors. Nothing more, Jall.”

They both looked at me for my opinion, but I just shrugged, so they went back to bickering.

By midday, the rich blues of the Great Sea that the Zora called their home came into view, with
the next turn in the road the icy blue pillars that marked the path to Zora’s Domain began to
decorate the road, and the rocks turned from the gray that marked the roadside to a deep
grayish-blue.

As we got close enough for details, I gaped at the city literally built above the waters from the
same materials as the pillars showing the way. Waterfalls cascaded down the sides of the city,
and some pooled onto another level rather than into the sea. I was amazed to say the least.

“Wow,” whispered Rilu. I hummed quietly in agreement, and even Epona nickered.

“Impressed?” Link asked. I nodded, not taking my eyes off the city. “Ha!” He laughed, finally
taking my attention. “You have yet to meet a Zora, and you are already impressed.”

I shrugged not letting his amusement cut into my amazement. I appreciate the craftsmanship.
Sheikah can make anything for disguise and stealth, Gorons specialize in armor and
defense, I have heard the Rito can make the best bows and arrows and have clothing to
survive even the coldest of seasons, and I have heard the Gerudo make the finest jewelry
and the sharpest weapons. But this? I gestured to the grand city before us. This is art, not
made for war or battle, not created with the intention of surviving the elements but
simply for beauty.

“I did not know you appreciated art so much.”

It brings joy to our joyless lives.

Actually, it was a survival instinct. Tizi was Kokiri that taught everyone woodcarving, and she
would fight anyone who did not appreciate others’ art. She was the best in the village, and
made bows and swords for fun because it challenged her in a different way than making statues
or houses. Her weapons were always the best, so I learned quickly to appreciate art. She said I
didn't have to understand it, just be appreciative of the work others put into it.
There was a stable-like area outside the city where everyone placed their horses while I said
bye to Epona.

I joined Link as we walked across the bridge to Zora’s Domain. There we were met with three
Zoras, two were knights and a third had silver jewelry. The two knights were tall. Actually, I
think they were average for Zora, but I was short, so anyone is tall for me. However, the third
Zora who was standing in the middle, was only a bit taller than me and bright scarlet which
was different from all the other Zora I had seen so far

“Welcome,” said the little Zora with a beautiful melodic voice. “It is such an honor to house
you, Prince Link. My father and I were quite happy when we got the letter announcing your
arrival.” She gave a half bow, and I was seconds away from asking how in the world she was
so graceful.

Link’s bow to this Zora caught me off guard; she must have been the Queen or something.
“M’lady Mipha,” he said, “the honor is mine. In our own family we were heartened to hear
your sister will be taking the mantle of monarch from your father. She will make an excellent
Queen to the Zora.”

Well, that answered my question.

She let out a laugh. “Let us welcome you inside. You have stood out here too long.” She
gestured inside. “Come, we have prepared a feast in anticipation of your arrival. All are
welcomed.”

Dinner was a greater variety of fish than I had ever seen, and all were amazing. While we ate, I
took my hat off in such a way Rilu could not be seen, where she could still see, and I could feed
her some of the food because she wanted to try it. I absolutely stashed some in my bag because
it was amazing and food does not rot in enchanted pouches.

I learned there was an entire underwater capital, and that was where the King and Mipha’s
sister, Ruto, currently were. Mipha was loved by everyone, and I was now on that list. Mipha
was a mage in her own right and had impressive healing capabilities, even those on the brink of
death. The most important info I learned, though, was there were sparring grounds.

I had been sitting between Link and one of Mipha’s guards, but once I began asking Link to
translate some questions, Mipha had one of her advisors who knew sign language sit next to me
so it would be easier for both Link and I.

Where is the sparring ground? was my first question.

“It is located on our base floor,” the advisor replied, “where the waves can act as obstacles.”

I have heard your species is most adept with spears. Is this true?

“It is indeed. Our spears are the finest, and our skills with them are unparalleled.”

Could you teach me?

“Teach you? I don’t mean to cause offense, but that could ta—”
“Oh, Iros,” Mipha interrupted, jumping in from her conversation with Link. “Zelda here is the
chosen guard of Link. Even if she may not master it, she could learn a bit at least. Let us never
discourage learning.”

“Forgive me, Lady Mipha,” he said, chastened.

“There is nothing to forgive,” she replied brightly. “As for you, Zelda, how about I teach you
myself?”

You? I asked, then when Iros translated I realized how it sounded and rephrased.

I mean, why would you teach a lowly hired guard, your highness?

“To get better, you should be taught by the best. Plus I would like to personally make sure
Prince Link is in the best of hands.”

“Lady Mipha is the best spears-person in all of Hyrule,” Link said, drawing my attention. “If
anyone could teach you, it would be her. But Mipha, we have the meeting tomorrow, and I wish
to be off by the day after that. How will you gather the time to teach Zelda, among your other
duties?”

Mipha’s face fell, and Link immediately brought her into brainstorming. He must have gotten
that ‘deep in thought’ face from being friends with her.

“Perhaps Zelda can get the other guards to work with her, and Princess Mipha can spar with
Zelda when her duties permit,” the advisor Iros suggested. Mipha nodded, and it was agreed.

The rest of the dinner was spent much like how it began: Link and Mipha talked of old times
while I observed and occasionally asked the advisor questions and stole food that Rilu liked for
later.

The Zora had a whole level dedicated to bedrooms; apparently, this building acted as an above-
water training ground for Zora soldiers, a gathering place for diplomatic visitations, and an area
for other trading operations with their non-aquatic neighbors. The rooms were rarely empty as
many Zoras would stay for fun to see what it was like to sleep in a bed, and ambassadors-in-
training used it to prepare to go without underwater access for days or even weeks at a time.

I got my own room, which was good because I ended up talking to Rilu for a good while. She
was still anxious about being seen by others. She agreed with me that Mipha was amazing but
was not quite as head over heels for her.

Which I don’t really get. How could you not be enamored by her confidence and elegance as
she leads a discussion? By the scars that indicate many difficult battles survived? By the way
Mipha’s attention when she looked at you was fully upon yo—

Oh, I’m crushing on her. Hm. I’ll just store that information to have a crisis about later.

We discussed the food we liked as if I did not have a minor gay crisis, and after I brought up
the sparring we debated if she would be fine in the hat with all the jumping and exercise.
I rose early the next morning filled with fragments from the night before: running, monsters,
strangers in cloaks. Rilu woke with me, her golden glow seeming brighter in this mirror-y blue
room. She did not wish to leave yet but assured me that if I left without her she could find her
way to me undetected.

“Need a bit of time to myself, to rewind and process. Don’t worry,” she said. "

I'm going to worry anyways, but all right.

I found a stern green Zora who was willing to help me with the basics of fighting with a spear.
To me, spears made less sense than swords but more than two-handed weapons. I definitely
would not be trading my sword for a spear—well, ever—but if I found a spear in my hand I
would not be useless. He wasn't kind with his teaching but definitely helpful and it gave me a
bit of nostalgia for Impa’s training.

When she finished with meetings, Mipha helped me some more. She claimed numerous times
that I was really good and was one of the more impressive students she has ever had, but I saw
Link laughing in the corner of my eye each time Mipha managed to destroy me in a spar. I
knew logically I was making great improvements—by the end of the session I could last much
longer—but I was still a bit down.

Not about getting my tail kicked in sparring with Mipha, that was more than fine by me, but not
being more of a challenge for her.

Link was quiet as we wandered around after my training session. His replies were slow, his
brow creased, and often looked off in the distance. I mean, he always seemed like a bundle of
concern and overthought to my vague sense of despair and lack of thought. But now it seemed
like he worried over something specific.

Did the meeting go wrong?

“Hm?” He startled, and I had to repeat myself. “Oh, no. No, it went rather well. So far, all
parties are agreeing to—” He cut off, and his cheeks lost a little color.

You know I have no one to talk to, right? I smiled. Also, unlike you, I can literally never
let anything slip. But keep your secrets. You are just informing nearly every monarch of
Hyrule something, or inviting them to something. I do not mind; politics and diplomacy
was not what I was made for. It's not how I help people. But if you need help carrying
your burdens, I have strong shoulders, too. And after all, I am a quiet ear.

“Thank you, but I cannot tell you anything.” He looked quite down. We walked on, running
into other Zora and some of our own soldiers. We found a quiet balcony overseeing the shore,
away from the crowd, and paused. While Link stared without seeing, I listened to the crashing
waves and the screeching seagulls. All still quite new to me.

Then Link burst into my quiet mind, words jumbling out rushed.

“Say your parents run an inn, and business is not slow per se, but they wish to make it a
restaurant, too, so they want to bring in new people to help with that. You don't mind they are
bringing on new people because it means your family will not be overwhelmed. The only thing
 you disagree with is these newcomers will be placed on the town council immediately, without
even a trial run. These people are important, but you don't know them, and your family will not
listen to your concerns, and they will convince the rest of the Council with flashy words,
discounts on food prices, and talk of the good old days.”

I had nothing to contribute, not even an understanding of what he was trying to get across.
That’s rough buddy.

“I just,” he paused, sorrow overshadowing the worry he had before, “I just wish they would at
least listen to my concerns.”

I nodded, unsure how to comfort him. Instead of looking at me, though, he turned to the
horizon. So I sat on the edge of the balcony precariously balanced over the drop, took out my
ocarina, and played a song. Link slowly swayed his head to the music, so I played several
more. A moment of peace was one thing I could give him.

When I finished, Link closed his eyes, absorbing the lingering peace maybe. When he opened
them, his expression was once again one of brave confidence. I got off the ledge to follow him
back to the crowd when a golden light appeared in front of my face. I moved my hat, allowing
Rilu in.

Link spent the day with Mipha and her advisor. They discussed a lot of trade agreement stuff I
was confused about long ago. Link and Mipha seemed to get along well, their ideas on how to
fix things much the same, though Link came to his solutions from a logical standpoint while
Mipha’s came from her heart. With either style, their outstanding wisdom was apparent even in
a room full of intelligent people.

Somehow, we got things done quicker in Zora’s domain than anywhere else and were able to
leave midday the next day. I was not as happy about that as the city was the most beautiful
place I had been to yet, I wanted to bask in Mipha’s presence a bit longer, and the spear training
was nice as it had been a while since I learned a new thing.

Mipha only allowed us to leave after extracting a promise that Link would visit more;
apparently, the only time she saw him anymore was when she was summoned near the castle
for her champion duties. She also made me promise I would practice more with a spear.

Chapter End Notes

Happy New Year!

Kudos, Comments, or Gay Panicking?
 Sorry, this isnt a return

Hey, author here. The Perils of Choosing New is on an indefinite hiatus.

Life this year has been really hard on me for reasons I am not going to get into and it has made
it difficult to write. I've run into numerous areas where I am just stumped at how to write it and
writers block is really bad. I've looked over my plot line and have realized there are some major
plot holes I didn't see before and will need to go through the whole story to make a stronger
plot with less glaring plot holes and that is going to take some time. This story is a large project
but I want to do it right even if it takes me forever. I am not abandoning this story but in order
to get this in a place where I can start posting again I need to sit down and re-flesh out the plot
in a way I will be happy with it. I am sorry for the inconveniences there has been during this
but hopefully when I return I will be able to post consistently and far more regularly than I was
originally.

Thank you for reading my story, and I hope when I return it is something even better than it
was when I started.

(I may also rewrite it to be 3rd person so if you have any thoughts about that then by all means
tell me if you would rather it to stay 1st person or change to 3rd I don't have that much of an
opinion about it)
Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!