Well, it's March now. Corona Virus has locked down most of the world, and to think that the last time I updated, we were all worried about WWIII because of Trump. 2020 has been really weird.

Anyway, here's Chapter 12! I know that I was an asshole with the ending of the last chapter, and I'm gonna be an asshole again at the end of this chapter. Sorry!

I woke up and dropped halfway to the floor. Blinking blearily, I realized I had slept with my boots and Sword, which was killing my back. The light hurt my eyes.

'I got a hangover…'(A.N. Woah!) I sighed. I never should have drunk. Now I had to suffer.

I sat up, readjusting the straps on my Tunic. 'My father always complained about this, but he never seemed to want to stop drinking…' How did I know that? Were my memories coming back?

I racked my brain, searching for more information. There wasn't much, but I did have some scenes that involved my father. He had been the one to teach me how to use a sword. I was 5 years old, and I'd always insisted on learning ever since I found out that my father had been promoted to Captain. I had taken up the sword quickly, much too quickly for any regular child. That had been the first sign that I was special.

I felt pride at that moment. I had shown my father that I was capable. I would be a knight just as strong as he was.

I walked out of the guest room. It was in the hallway between the throne room and Patricia's area, so I made my way back to the throne pretty quickly.

Riju wasn't awake. Drinking was not the best for a 14-year-old, whether they were Gerudo or not. Bullard stood at attention, seeming to have recovered from her drunken slumber. She nodded at me as I passed.

"The Princess is attending Ashai's Love Class."

"Thank you Buliara." I picked up my pace a little. I wasn't worried about her, but I was much more content if she was in sight.

'I love you!'

I froze, halfway down the stairs of the barracks. Holy crap. Did I actually not say anything back last night? What happened to alcohol giving you liquid courage?!

I began to pace back and forth, drawing an eye from the nearby soldiers. Had it been drunken rambling? She had given reasons for her love. And she said that I was hot, which was so uncharacteristic of Zelda that I had to assume that she meant it.

Now it was the next day. How did I tell her that I returned her love? That I had ever since Hateno Village? And probably from before too. I didn't want to seem insincere. Maybe a forward approach, or a gift?

'You should have said something last night.'

'I know! I don't know why I didn't, but now I will!'

I kept walking, finally reaching the archway in which Ashai held her classes. I glanced inside. Zelda was standing near the front, as Ashai was drawing something on the board. Pasha, Risa, and Dina were sitting near the front, along with a few newcomers I didn't really recognize.

"Ah, Link! Come to grace us with your presence again I see." Ashai laughed, motioning for me to come inside. "Maybe having a voe present will make the class more interesting. Won't you give these ladies some advice?"

"Um, sure I guess." I stepped towards the front of the room. Zelda seemed to flinch slightly, but she smiled as I approached. 'I wonder if she remembers what she said?'

"Well then, today we were covering how to maintain a healthy relationship." She projected. "Have you ever been in a relationship?"

"No." Zelda perked up at this. "I never found the time. I was a soldier at 13. After which I became a Knight, a Captain, and then I became a Royal Guardsmen. Once I found the Master Sword, I spent roughly 10 months traveling with Zelda, and then I was sleeping for 100 years.

'Hey! I remembered enough to give a basic outline of my life!' I cheered. This was good. It seemed like my memories would return to me slowly.

"Hmm, but you could tell us what men prefer in a relationship?"

"Yeah, I know what most men would like and dislike…" I trailed off. For some reason, Zelda had pulled a notebook out of her own personal pouch. 'Is she actually gonna take notes? What fo-oh...for me. She definitely remembers.' I shook my head. If she really wanted to know what I liked, she should just ask me! The advice I would give would be general, and sometimes that didn't align with my personal preferences.

"Well then, Link, what are the little things you would want your woman to do for you?"

"Well…" I pondered for a moment. "I would want to be reassured of her love. Personally, I feel like it's very easy to forget that people care about you, especially if you haven't done much with your life...yeah."

"Interesting…" Ashai said. "What would you give in a relationship?"

"Everything," I answered. "If I loved her, I would be willing to give anything."

Someone in the back of the classroom whistled, drawing laughs from some Gerudo. I rubbed the back of my head.

"Pasha?" Ashai said. "What would you like from your man?"

"Well…" She stood. "I would like him to be a simple man. Stable life, not too much variation. After my adventures, such a life would be good for me and my child."

"Good choice, but do keep in mind that spending every day like that could become boring. Some adventure is good sometimes, even with a child." She looked down at me. "Anything to add?"

"If you wanted a life like that, spending time with a farmer or a store merchant would probably be for the best. Their lives don't vary much."

"Dina? What would you like?"

"I want someone who seeks excitement!" She smiled.

"Well...I'm not sure how many men could deal with that…"

"If that's what you want, I would look for a traveler or a monster hunter," I said. "They usually do many different things in their lives."

"And...Risa?"

"I want him to dedicate every moment to me!"

"...Risa…"

"I'm sure one of the men outside the wall would be willing." That caused some laughter from the class, and Risa glared at me. "But even then, it's probably not gonna happen. Love is...love is supposed to be equal for both parties involved. You give up everything, and they give up everything. You share everything you have. It's...you can only really tell what it means when you're in love."

"Very well said, Link." Ashai nodded. "Risa, you can't expect men to grovel at your feet if you aren't willing to give up something as well. That's not loving, that's servitude."

The class continued on for some time. I made some comments here and there, people asked some questions. I had a much better time than I expected.

It was nearing noon when Ashai called a break for her class. My hangover had mostly gone away, and now all I wanted was some good food. I didn't really feel like cooking though, so maybe I would go to the restaurant in town. I turned towards Zelda.

"How'd I do?"

"F-fine!" She shrieked. I had not expected that. Granted, talking to her was probably causing different feelings than just being in the same room. The moment felt kind of awkward now though, so I wasn't sure what to say anymore.

"...come with me," I said, grabbing her hand. She looked down at her boots, dread evident in her eyes. I softly pulled her through Gerudo Town. Her feet dragged as we crept along.

"Up here," I whispered, climbing the rock Zelda had brought me to yesterday night. "Come on."

Zelda and I climbed up slowly. Zelda was staring off into the distance, refusing to look up at me as we scaled the rock. I tried to clear my mind and figure out how to approach this topic. This was my chance. Either we'd come down as a couple, or I would make it awkward, and I didn't even want to think about what would happen after that.

We sat next to each other, looking out at the desert. A large sandstorm obscured the northern desert. I could just make out the edge of the desert from here. There was a small village where grass reappeared. That was probably the border of the next kingdom over. Labrynna.

"Zelda-"

"I'm sorry!" She exclaimed, cutting me off. "It meant nothing!" She blushed hard, staring down into the pool

"Wait, that's n-"

"It was just drunk rambling!" She insisted. "So...can you...just ignore-" she stopped talking, breathing heavily. I opened my mouth to respond, but then I noticed. She was crying. Tears were falling from her eyes, and she was desperately trying to hold back her sobs. I kneeled down in front of her, lifting her face up so I could see her clearly. She finally broke down, and her sobs became vocal. She heaved back and forth, trying to turn away in order to hide her face, but I refused. She closed her eyes, trying to ignore my presence. I took her hand into one of mine.

"Zelda…" I whispered. "Why are you crying?"

"Bec-Because I…" That was all she could muster before dissolving back into tears. I pulled her down towards me, wrapping my arms around her waist. I ignored the moisture her tears left on my shoulder. I didn't care what happened to me. Zelda was sad, and I couldn't continue this conversation like this.

Zelda's POV

I couldn't control myself. Link continued to caress my back, letting his warmth wash over me. It wasn't fair. Why had I told him? Why had I told him? He was the one person who was never meant to know. From the moment I'd fallen for him, I was destined to a loveless life. No Princess could be with a Knight, and no man would ever want a woman like me. No man would be able to tolerate all the questions I asked or all the adventure I wanted. No man could tolerate my failings as a cook. No man would tolerate my personality. I was too curious, too stubborn, too unladylike.

"Zelda...I don't understand why you're apologizing to me." Link began, pulling away slightly. I opened my eyes to find myself just inches away from his. His eyes were dull and sad as if his world were falling apart, piece-by-piece.

"Because...because I shouldn't have told you…" I whispered, looking anywhere but his eyes.

"Why?"

"...I…" I couldn't respond. What was I supposed to say? I didn't want him to know, but it was too late for that now. I couldn't tolerate being apart from him, but now I would have to. How could I be around him now? He knew about my feelings. I could never approach him without the small hope in my heart that he returned those feelings. And I couldn't live with the knowledge that every conversation would extinguish that flame of hope. So, how could I stay close?

"Zelda...yesterday was the most shocking day of my life…"

'I know!' part of me thought.

"And I regret the fact that I couldn't respond yesterday...I was too confused...but I was also too happy."

"...!"

"Zelda...I wanted to tell you that I love you. I've wanted to confess for some time now...and probably even before I went to sleep."

"W-what do you mean?!" I demanded. I looked back into his eyes. They were no longer so sad anymore. They had hardened, like Sapphires. Full of determination.

"I mean that your feelings aren't one-sided. I want to be with you."

"N-no!"

"Yes." He pulled away, grabbing both my hands. "Zelda, I really love you!" He declared. "Everything about you. You're adorable! The way you used to question your professors until they ran out of answers was amazing. Your thirst for information is admirable. Your need for adventure is something I share with you!" He looked down towards my hands. "I couldn't do it before since a Princess and a Knight could never be together, but...as you said, you are a princess no longer. I've been confused about my own feelings since we left Hateno village...and Kass made it clear to me. I want you, Zelda. No one else in the world would suffice." He leaned down to kiss my hand. Tingles ran through my body from where his lips touched, even though my hands were gloved.

"B-but-" I stuttered. This was too much! My heart was too fast! "But y-you said downstairs that you can only understand what love is if you're in love!" The words tumbled from my mouth, and Link cracked a smile, eyes shining.

"Zelda...didn't you hear? I love you. I have for a long time." He grinned wider. "Don't tell me you already forgot? I did say it like two seconds okay." I could hear the laughter in his voice.

"D-don't patronize me!"

"But I love your reactions!" He laughed. "It's so easy to tease you, and you make it so fun!"

"Y-you're a sadist!" I declared.

"Maybe," he shrugged. "But I think you like it when I tease you!" I stood angrily.

"N-no! I don't!" He stood too. "I hate it when you tease me!"

"Oh really?" He wiggled his eyebrows. "But I thought that you loved me."

"N-no!"

"And here I was, hoping that my feelings would be reciprocated...guess I'll go dig a hole in the sand somewhere." He turned around. "Woe is me."

"T-they...they are…" I muttered. He turned back around.

"There we go." He sighed. "We love each other," he took my hands once again. "We'll be together."

"...You…" I steeled my nerves, looking into his eyes. "You really love me?" My voice felt like dust. Shaky and fragile.

"I do...with all my heart." He paused for a fleeting moment. "Zelda...I'd do anything for you. Anything you wished for, even if you wanted to leave Hyrule forever and sail the waves looking for distant lands, I'd follow you. If you wanted to become a hermit who lives in the mountains, I'd follow you. No matter where you go, or what you do...I love you too much to leave you behind. I couldn't...I wouldn't."

"..." He stared into my eyes. I could feel his conviction in his voice. It was...strange. To know that you were so loved. That someone cared about you more than they cared about themselves. It made my heart flutter.

"I love you. I have for so long. And I will keep loving you. Forever."

"...forever?" I asked shyly.

"Forever-ever." He nodded in confirmation. "Nothing can change that. Not even the Goddesses, nor the Triforce." He pondered for a moment. "Nothing."

"Link, I…" I began. How was I supposed to respond to such raw emotion?

…

…

…

By returning the favor.

"Link...I love you...I love you, I love you." I whispered.

"I'm glad to hear that."

And then he kissed me.

Link's POV

"Link…" I cut her off with another kiss. "...Link, they're going to wonder…" Another. "What we've been doing for so long." She finished. I grinned.

"Don't care." I leaned in again.

We'd been here for the last hour now. Honestly, the first kiss had been quick, just a show of affection. But then, Zelda had pulled me back just as quickly as I'd pulled away. That had gotten more and more heated. We hadn't done anything...too raunchy, but each kiss had gotten longer and more passionate than the last. Zelda's face was flushed red, her lips just a bit swollen. That made me feel really hot.

"Link…" She panted. "Riju and Buliara...might be wondering what took so long."

"Let them wonder Zelda," I whispered back. "Why do you care so much?"

She wrapped her arms around my neck. "I don't want them getting the wrong idea…"

"Wrong idea about what?" I smirked. Zelda's eyes widened imperceptibly, darting sideways.

"About…" She squirmed a bit. "What we've been doing alone up here…" Her blush deepened. There was something oddly arousing about it.

"Well...what have we been doing?" I responded, feeling just a bit cheeky. She glanced back at me, cheeks puffed out just a bit. Adorable.

"You know what I meant!" She admonished.

I laughed her criticism off. Of course, I knew what she meant. We had been gone for a long time now, and we were two 17-year-olds. Riju and Buliara probably had the idea already set in their minds. It wasn't like it hadn't crossed my mind before. In my fantasies, things could get super erotic sometimes...especially when I was walking behind her.

Granted, we had been going a little fast. We'd only been together for an hour or two, but we were already heatedly kissing each other. I chalked that up to post-confession passion, along with the fact that we had both been waiting for this for so long that we didn't have much patience anymore. Or maybe Zelda and I were both Nymphomaniacs.

Personally, I was perfectly content with going fast, and Zelda hadn't voiced any dissenting opinions about it yet. 'Well, it was only two hours…'

"Fine…" I pulled away, reluctant to release her waist. She'd been sitting on my lap now, but she scooched off and released my neck as I stood. I stretched some feeling back into my legs, readjusting the straps that held my pouch. "Let's go."

"Just one last thing." She said. I looked over to her. "One more kiss."

I rolled my eyes, laughing a bit. I obliged, leaning forward one last time. Our lips connected.

She stayed still for a moment, slowly pulling away from me. I offered my hand, and we began to slowly descend the rock.

When we dropped onto the walls of Gerudo Town, I offered my hand to her. She blushed just a bit, placing her hand within mine. Hand-in-hand, we walked back towards the Palace. Many Gerudo glanced our way, but they just smiled and moved on.

"There you are!" Riju exclaimed from her throne. "We've been waiting for you to show up!" She sat up straighter. "How'd it go?!"

"Huh?"

"Um...well…" Zelda let go of my hand, pointedly avoiding my gaze. "You were right…" She conceded.

Riju's face lit up with glee. "Of course I was! It was so obvious that I can't believe that someone like you couldn't figure it out!" She laughed, and to my surprise, even Buliara cracked a smile.

"What do you mean?" I asked. Riju glanced towards me, trying to speak through her giggles.

"How you felt about her!"

The next few days were spent touring Gerudo Town. I had spent much time around here before, but it had always been in order to get the Thunder Helm, so I hadn't really left the Center Square; only for the secret shop and Dalia's farm. Now though, having so much free time on my hands allowed me to explore the Town, and I could finally appreciate the size of Gerudo Town. I think it was almost as big as Hateno.

Zelda being beside me the entire time was what really brought joy to my small adventures. She would march down every street, making comments about what she and Urbosa had done together. She stopped to talk to the locals, asking questions about how their lives had changed over time.

She seemed genuinely happy. Nothing could bring her mood down. Well, everything except for the time when she'd spoken to Frelly. Zelda had not appreciated the pun.

'Maybe she shouldn't meet Patricia then…' I thought. Letting Zelda pull me down another street. Riju and Buliara were content with allowing us to stay for a while, and Zelda didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave yet. Impa was probably expecting us to return soon, but with our disagreement on how things should be done, I didn't feel like we had to hurry.

Zelda did voice the idea that perhaps we should leave in the next few days, but even I could tell that she was only saying that, and had no actual intention to follow it through.

'We have to leave eventually…' I followed Zelda into Isha's store. Zelda was enamored with a new pair of bracelets that Isha had made. "Do you want me to buy it for you?"

"...Is it okay? They look expensive…" She muttered, running over the intricate design once again. Isha watched us in silent amusement. By now it was common knowledge that Zelda and I had gotten together. Some of the younger ones had remarked with jealousy since I was apparently a celebrity within Gerudo Town. The first voe within the walls for 25 years, and the vai who had retrieved the Thunder Helm and defeated Kohga, and had then gone on to calm Vah Naboris. And then I had helped out around the town.

"It's alright Zelda," I said, glancing down at the price tag. "I told you I'd do anything. I'm also fairly rich." I added with a grin as I withdrew some rupees from my pouch.

Isha took 800 rupees as payment, retrieving the actual set from the back of her shop. Zelda and I waited patiently for her return. She emerged with a small glass box, in which the bracelets were contained within.

"These should be your size." She said. "Each bracelet has been infused with magic. This Ruby one helps with the cold, and this sapphire one helps with the heat."

"That's useful…" I commented. Zelda took the box, carefully putting the bracelets on. "Do I need to give you some ore?"

"Isha held up her hand. "Ever since you calmed Vah Naboris, the mines in the cliffs have been pumping out more ore than ever before. We actually had to lower the price of certain items because the ores aren't so rare anymore."

After that, we left Isha's shop behind. We were feeling peckish, so I recommended a stop near Ashai's place. Her students spent their time during the day to cook at the public fireplace. They were usually willing to share their food.

Sure enough, Pasha and Dina were using their break to cook. Honestly, those two were dutiful students. I was sure they would have pleasant lives when they went to search for a husband.

As it turned out, Ashai had finally remembered the recipe, and they had been making Creamy Heart Soup. They offered us a bowl, and Zelda and I sat at a table on the edge of the square.

"This is really good!" Zelda exclaimed, eyes shining. "How can they make it so tasty?!"

"I'll remember to make it when we go back to Hateno," I said, taking a spoonful of my own soup.

"Please do!" She slurped at her bowl. If Impa were here, she would probably faint at the absolute lack of manners Zelda was displaying. However, that was the Zelda I knew. She pretended to be the good Princess for the King and Nobles, but as soon as we were out in the wild, she would throw that label off and get dirty doing research. The Princess had never been one for formality anyway.

We finished our bowls, returning them to Pasha and Dina, who were still hard at work on practicing their cooking skills. We returned to the palace, content with today's explorations. Teake greeted us as we approached, instructing the guardswomen on a new protocol Riju had devised. The soldiers marched to the barracks, preparing to practice whatever new maneuver she'd developed. For as young as Riju was, she was a pretty solid tactician. I had seen the war room in passing, and the walls were covered in army formations scrawled on with charcoal. Riju had separated her soldier's into smaller units, allowing each platoon to move with more initiative, and freeing up some soldiers for encirclement. She had even devised a plan to use Sand Seal hit-and-run tactics. I wasn't sure if they'd be a formidable form of cavalry, but the plan seemed to have some merit. Personally, I would have chosen to use the Sand Seals for a full cavalry charge, since the sand in which they'd be useful also meant that it would be difficult for any enemy to build anti-cavalry defenses. However, perhaps Sand Seals couldn't be organized into a cavalry charge the same way horses could be.

Zelda found Riju, and the two began to talk as if they were old friends. I tuned out the conversation, watching from above as the soldiers practiced false retreat, before eventually breaking into war games with blunted spears.

"Link?"

"Hm?" I asked, looking up. Riju was staring at me expectantly. "Did you say something?"

"What do you think of this?!" Riju took a small paper from a nearby servant. "The Molduga around Toruma Dunes is starting to stray closer to the Town. We wanted to send an extermination force, but we weren't sure about how to approach it." I turned around, and we walked towards a table in which Riju laid out the plan. Zelda watched from over my shoulder. Buliara approached from the entrance to the room. She had been watching the soldiers as well.

"Why are you asking me?"

"Well…" Riju paused. "You were a Knight-Captain right?"

"Yeah…"

"So you've seen war plans before...and you can probably make better decisions than I can." She turned back to the paper. "So what do you think?"

"..." I looked over the plan. There were obvious lines, and each x represented a soldier. She was planning to corral the beast to the cliffside before surrounding it and moving inwards.

"Riju…" I glanced down at her. "These are strategies for war. Monster hunting isn't the same. Encirclements mean nothing to a monster. A massive beast that can travel through the sand doesn't get corralled very easily. If the enemy were human, this plan would be very reliable. Cut off their escape and force them to defend." I pointed to the lines. "But a Molduga isn't the same. Moving towards it will either make it try to swallow you, or knock you away. Encircling it just invites it to spin...Let's try this." I grabbed a nearby piece of charcoal. "We use bait, in the form of soldiers riding Sand Seals to lure it towards a rocky area. If we stay on the rocks, the Molduga can't come from beneath. After that, we can trick it into surfacing by sending shockwaves through the sand, after which we rush in while it's stunned, before backing off as it resubmerges." Riju looked at the plan that I'd drawn. "This way we can avoid needless casualties...It will require some backup spears and some food, since Moldugas take a long time to defeat...and any bombs would be valuable."

"Hm…" Buliara huffed. "We hadn't thought of that."

"Yeah…" I glanced up at her. "Monsters react on base instinct and don't really recognize patterns. A Molduga will continue to rise if it registers a shockwave, so you don't have to worry about getting tricked. The only monsters capable of surprising you are high-level Lizalfos and Lynels…"

"Lynels?" Riju asked. "I've never seen one."

"Be grateful...they're Lion Centaurs with great defense and impeccable aim. For them, you'd need a raiding group of 20 or more soldiers. 5 or so should be enough for a Molduga."

"You're good at this Link," Riju said, wrapping up the papers. "Take this to Teake." A servant rushed forward, taking the battle plan from Riju. "Why don't you lead them tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" I asked. "That seems a little soon."

"We've gotten reports from our scouts that the Yiga are assembling. The faster the Molduga is taken out of the picture, the sooner we can mount an effective defense." Buliara explained. "You understand monster-hunting much more than we do."

"Fine…" I conceded. "What time do we leave?"

"11:00," Riju said. "Moldugas are usually slower in the heat."

"Can I come with you?" Zelda asked as we entered our room.

"Where?" I pulled my straps over my head.

"To the Molduga fight." I spun on my heels.

"What?!" I screeched. "N-no! No way!"

"Why not?!" She yelled back. "We fought the Hinox together!"

"And you almost passed out!"

"I wouldn't use my powers!"

"Zelda, it's a Molduga! These things aren't like Hinoxes. Hinoxes are slow and bulky. Molduga are fast, and they could swallow you if you aren't fast enough! I'm not taking the risk!"

"Why do you get to decide?" She rebutted, trying not to yell. "I want to take the risk. I want to do something."

"I don't want you to die!"

"I won't!"

"Zelda, this isn't safe!" I sighed. "I can't let you."

"You will let me." She declared. "I want to do something other than spend my time walking around Gerudo Town. I want to explore! I want to fight! I spent all my life being the good Princess, and I just want to be able to do what I want!"

"There's a limit to how far you can take that!" I exclaimed. "If I could, I would let you explore as long as you wanted, but in the interests of your safety, I can't! The Yiga are too close, and the Molduga is getting close."

"Why do you care so much?"

"What do you mean why?" I snarked. "I care because I love you!" Zelda flinched. "I won't let you get hurt."

"Either way, I still want to go! You said you'd do anything that I wanted."

"Don't use my words against me, Zelda," I commanded. "You know what I meant." '...why am I still fighting?' I thought. 'If Zelda wants to go then let her go...I'll just have to be extra vigilant. She can handle herself, and she already said she would avoid using her powers…'

'Because I shouldn't have to worry about her safety all the time! She should stay where I know it's safe! I love her too much to let her be endangered.'

'But she wants to go. Aren't I hurting her by not letting her...aren't I being like her father, and denying her what she wants over what I want?'

'No, no...This is different. He was King, and he wanted a Princess. I'm doing this to keep her safe…'

As I argued with myself, I had begun to tune out what Zelda was saying to me. She was yelling something that I couldn't quite understand, but she was loud enough for the people outside to realize that we were fighting. I wanted to tell her to calm down, but I'd heard enough gossip at the Hateno Bar to know that saying that would lead to you sleeping on the couch.

I waited for her to stop, cringing as I registered just how flushed her cheeks were, and just how wet her eyes were. It was wrong of me to deny her. I was wrong.

"...Zelda-"

"What?!" She spat venomously. I flinched a bit.

"...I...I'm sorry…" I wasn't quite sure how to end my sentence. "...I shouldn't stop you...you can come if you want…" I sat down, staring down at my boots. Zelda hasn't responded yet. "I...It was wrong for me to try and stop you."

She remained silent for some time. I couldn't lookup. 'Am I just like her father…?'

"Sorry Link," Zelda said as she sat down at me side. "..."

"Why are you saying sorry?" I glanced up at her face. She looked so...anxious. "I was the one in the wrong."

"But I was too!" She confessed. "I know just how much you try to keep me safe, and I asked you to take me to a monster battle...and I yelled and screamed and…"

We fell into silence. Why had we let our emotions get the best of us? Why were we unable to just...talk? Why must we lambast each other with harsh words and pointed glares, and in the end, we both thought that we were in the wrong.

I felt Zelda stir, and she took my hand. I squeezed a bit, and she responded in kind. "So...what now?"

"...I still want to come." She admitted. "I know why you don't want me there, but I...can't stand aside and let others do all the work. I have to participate." She didn't meet my eyes when she spoke.

"It's alright, Zelda…I won't stop you-I shouldn't stop you." I squeezed her hand, pulling her towards me. "It's just...I haven't seen you in 100 years. And now...especially now, I don't want to go back to being without you."

She remained silent for a moment, leaning against me shoulder. "I'll be careful."

"I know you will…" I hugged her. "But I can't help being scared, Zelda." She wrapped her arms around me.

"..." she frowned, looking up to me. I placed a chaste kiss upon her lips. There was nothing lustful about it. I just...couldn't find a way to put my emotions into words anymore.

It seemed like we were in the same boat because Zelda returned it. Neither of us said anything anymore, but until the moment we both fell asleep, we placed small kisses on the other, refusing to let the other go.

I awoke at 8:00 in the morning, still holding Zelda in my arms. It was hot, and neither of us had taken our clothes off before falling asleep. We were sweaty, and are clothes probably stunk.

Riju has banned to use of the bath for everyone except me from 8:30 to 8:45. I rushed over to the bathhouse, trying to wash before I needed to meet with the raiding party. Zelda would enter the bath after me. I threw my tunic and trousers at the foot of the public laundromat. It was offered as a free commodity for the people of Gerudo Town.

Washing quickly, I dressed in my Gerudo set. Zelda was waiting outside the door, still blinking sleep out of her eyes. I ran back to our room to grab my sword.

Zelda reappeared wearing her Gerudo set. I wasn't sure how viable it was for combat, but hey, I wasn't going to complain about it. She looked nice.

I led Zelda to the Throne Room. Riju has risen early today, and Buliara and the raiding team were waiting for us.

"There you two are!" Riju exclaimed. "Ready?"

"Yeah…" Zelda had a soldier's now on her back, and she had her sword within a sheath that rested on her hip.

"We have a group of sand seals waiting by the northern gate," Buliara said. "You will leave them out of harm's way. Lizin will lure the beast here," she pointed at a place with many rocks on the map. "Before Inku and Uzra will attract it to the surface with bomb arrows." I assumed those two to be the two Gerudo clutching bows. "Then the Spears rush in, stab it, retreat, and repeat. Zelda and Link will provide support. Link will lead, if he makes any changes to the plan, follow him. Questions?"

Silence. The Gerudo women stood at the ready. Lizin was holding a Scimitar and Shield. Inku and Uzra held bows. We had two spears, along with Zelda and myself as Sword fighters. This seemed to be a balanced team. Of course, even with balance, coordination was required, so I really hoped that they listened to my commands.

"Well then!" Riju clapped. "Off you go!"

We left for the northern entrance. The day was hot, and the sun was already high in the sky. Sure enough, 7 seals sat just outside, already tethered. Lizin took the lead, followed by the other Gerudo. Zelda and I took the back.

We surfed the dunes, slowly making our way deeper into the desert. As we approached, I could see a bump in the sand, which moved erratically back and forth. Lizin moved right, staying out of range of the Molduga.

Finally, we arrived at a rocky patch that stuck out from the sand. We dismounted, dragging the sand seals onto the rocks. Lizin turned back around, moving directly towards the Molduga.

"Zelda, whatever you do, don't step into the sand. The rocks are the safest place. You archers as well." He pointed at the archers. "The three of us will have to be the most vigilant, and it's easier to do so knowing that there are no unnecessary dangers when we fight." Zelda and the Gerudo nodded in affirmation. I breathed deep, unsheathing the Master Sword. I could see Lizin zigzagging her way towards us, followed closely by the Molduga, who breached in anticipation for the meal it thought it would receive. It was too bad I wouldn't allow anybody to die on my watch.

Lizin and her sand seal hopped onto the rock, and the Molduga screeched in anger, unable to follow. It surfaced, glaring at us. "Now!"

The archers show a volley of Bomb arrows into the Molduga's side, causing it to roll onto its side, stunned. Us melee fighters stepped onto the sand, rushing towards the downed monster. I stabbed it in the stomach, trying to break into its belly in order to dissolve it from the inside, but its hide was too thick to deal such a fatal blow. I pulled my sword out, slashing an x into its skin. Lizin and the others approached its face. Lizin stabbed it in the chin, breaking into the mouth. One of the spear women approached its eye, which was bleary and unfocused. However, as she raised her spear, the eye glared directly into her, causing her to hesitate. I could see its muscles moving in anticipation.

"Retreat!" I cried, backing away as quickly as I could. The Gerudo hesitated but did back away from the Molduga, which began to thrash around and attempt to knock away its assailants. Thankfully, the worst it did was get some sand into our eyes. We retreated to the rock, and the Molduga sank beneath the sand.

"Aim…that direction." I pointed in the Molduga's direction of travel. "...now." The bomb arrows flew through the air, landing just behind the Molduga as it traveled. It paused, before turning towards the shockwave. "It'll breach in a moment, try to get it while it's in the air." The archers nodded. Just as they had knocked their arrows, the Molduga breached the sand and they shot towards its stomach.

The arrows struck the X I'd created earlier, eliciting a painful screech from the monster, which flopped back onto the sand, panting from exertion. The Gerudo approached more cautiously this time, but the process was repeated, again and again.

It was only once we'd been fighting for an hour that something happened. A bomb arrow had collided with the X and had managed to penetrate the Molduga's hide. It began to leak purple blood, rolling over into the sand before coming to a halt. I held up my hand, signaling for us to wait. It was for naught, because the Molduga shuddered once, before exploding into purple smoke. It was silent as it rained parts and treasure the Molduga had eaten before the Gerudo broke out into cheers of celebration. I smiled. No one had been injured.

Zelda lay down her sword, exhausted, and trying to her face from the harsh desert sun. I reached into my pouch, pulling out a few bottles of cool water I'd gathered earlier in the morning.

I offered a bottle to each of them, and they drank thirstily, grateful for the relief from the heat. Even though the Gerudo lived in this desert, too much sun wasn't good for anyone. They could deal with the heat, yes, but no living thing could live without water.

I felt a breeze begin to pick up, seemingly coming from the West, perhaps from Labrynna. It pushed some sand up onto our rock, but it wasn't anything too bad. It only obscured our vision a bit, nothing like the sandstorm I'd been forced to wade through on my way to a shrine.

We were walking towards the sand-seals when they attacked.

On instinct, I jumped in front of Zelda the moment I heard the sound of an arrow streaking through the air. It landed on the rock just before me, coming from my left. I held the Master Sword up, trying to see through the sandstorm.

"It's the Yiga!" One of the Gerudo called. "Escape!"

"Everyone, get to a Sand-Seal!" Pushing Zelda ahead, I gave her the reins to one of the nearby seals. I raced towards my own, motioning for Zelda to follow the other Gerudo back towards the Town. The Yiga were racing towards us on foot, their shoes keeping them from sinking into the sand. They were a group of 10 or so, smaller than the one that had attacked us near Kakariko.

An arrow scraped past my shoes, burying itself in the sand. I grabbed a sand seal, tucking my shield underneath my feet. I was far behind everyone, but in the sandstorm, it was difficult to see if we were traveling in the right direction. Thankfully, Sand-Seals were faster than the Yiga, so either way, we were leaving them behind.

"You Yiga scum!" I heard a man shout. A massive figure came charging towards the group, two massive broadswords in hand. The Yiga scattered, one of them taking a sword to the face. I winced, feeling bad for the man. That was a painful way to die.

I came to a halt, seeing that the danger was over. Zelda took notice of my actions and hailed the rest of the group down. I approached the massive man. He seemed to be a Gerudo, except for the fact that he was larger than even some of the Goron. He was almost twice my height, and he was much wider than I was as well. He had flowing red hair all the way down his back. Calluses on his hands and quite a few scars on his chest. He had the characteristic Dark Skin and Green Eyes that I expected from someone of the Gerudo descent, but that made no sense. Gerudo gave birth to no males.

"Thank you for your help," I said, holding out my comparatively small hand.

"I don't think you needed it." He laughed, his voice booming, but soft in some ways. "I watched your group takedown that Molduga, and I've seen you fight it alone before." He took my hand, and I could feel his muscles. "But I hate the Yiga, and they just keep terrorizing this desert." He shook once, and I felt like my shoulder had just been dislocated. "I'm surprised that you're traveling with Gerudo. They don't like to associate with men."

"I'm a special case." I shrugged, rubbing the back of my head. "I'm Link. You live out here?"

"I do, I have for about...10 years or so…" The man shrugged.

"You…" One of the Gerudo women glared at the man. He ignored her.

"My names Ganondorf...I'm Riju's older brother."

HAHAHAHA

As you can see, I decided not to follow BotW 2's plot (not that I know what it is). I hope I didn't take the relationship too fast, but I really love Zelink, so I can't help it.

See you next update