Chapter Text
Princess Zelda just finished her story and explained to Link that he is very special to her and was glad she got to meet him. "Link," she said brightly. "In my eyes, you are special. I just know that you are the figure I saw in my dream!"
Link, who was blushing while Zelda was calling him special, suddenly snapped out of his trance as he heard the word 'dream' and looked at her confusedly. "Dream?"
"Oh! That's right," Zelda gasped, feeling a little embarrassed. "All this time and I still haven't told you of my dream. In the dream, I saw all of Hyrule get covered by a humongous, mysterious black cloud. It was very dark and very cold. It was like an never-ending nightmare." Zelda shuddered at the very thought of this dream but immediately calmed down. "Then, out of nowhere, a bright shining ray of light appeared and broke through the cloud. It was pointing at the boundaries of the Lost Woods. On the light, a mysterious figure appeared holding a shining emerald stone and was accompanied by a fairy."
Link gasped as he recognized what Zelda was describing. "Wait? A shining emerald stone and a fairy?" Zelda nodded at him. "Then the figure must be me! I can't believe you've been dreaming about me!"
Navi whirled around him with great annoyance. "Pull yourself together, you hopeless romantic! Remember what the Great Deku Tree said. You are the one destined to protect Hyrule from this evil!"
Link cleared his throat in embarrassment. "Forgive me, Zelda. I didn't mean--"
Zelda interrupted him with a funny giggle. "That's okay, Link." She then started speaking in a grave manner as she gently squeezed the blue Ocarina of Time. "I am worried, though. The evil Navi just spoke of, the black cloud in my dream; I believe they must resemble Lord Ganondorf. He's here to steal the Ocarina of Time and use it to enter the Sacred Realm and take the Triforce for his own. With the Triforce, he will Hyrule-- No, the whole world."
After a moment of tense silence, Link looked at Zelda as she is desperately fighting tears. After witnessing Navi's little shake of encouragement, Link walks up to her closely, use his hand to turn the princess' head to face him and speak with great determination. "If that's the case, Zelda, then I believe it is up to us to stop this Ganondorf and protect our kingdom." Zelda eyed him in both wonder and shock. She was a little nervous to ask him for help but Link beaten her to it. "I have a plan," he continued. "We must get to the Triforce before he does. The only way to get to it is by finding the other two stones, right?"
Zelda paused a moment. She is not liking where this is going. "Uhhh... yes. Why?"
Link answered her as if now more determined than ever. "Because I'm going to go out there and find those stones and bring them back to you!"
Zelda gasped in horror; she is definitely not liking this plan at all. "Link, no!" She grasped his hands desperately. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea!"
"Zelda," Link said pleadingly. "What choice do we have? If we linger, Ganondorf will seize his opportunity to take the Ocarina and continue his pursuit for the Triforce! This is our only option." Zelda is stunned and speechless. She knows Link is right, but she is afraid that something awful will happen to him, since he already got hurt protecting her from Ganondorf's bandits. "Zelda," Link continued. "I want you to stay here and protect the Ocarina."
Zelda gasped in horror again. "What?!"
"I cannot bring you with me; I can't afford to put you in danger," Link explained. "Is there anybody in the castle you can trust to assist you in this task?"
"She's got me," a voice called out, making Link jump and fall to the ground on his rear-end.
"Impa!" Zelda called out upsettingly and she proceeded to help Link up. "Come out, at once!"
Impa complied and appeared before the two children. Link is surprised to see her because he recognized her from yesterday. "My most sincerest apologies, young one," she said to Link. "I was watching you two from above and when I heard you asked the princess that question, my answer popped out."
Zelda sighed in disappointment and embarrassment. "Please excuse Impa. She's my bodyguard and attendant." Impa and a nervous Link shook hands as the princess continued. "She's the surviving meember of the Sheikah Clan, a group of ninja warriors who swore fealty to my family long ago and to protect us. Their main specialty is stealth, so sneaking up on people is her calling card."
"I was watching you two at town yesterday after our little conversation," Impa followed. "I even saw the incident with those bandits."
Link gasped a little as he realized. "So... You're the one who saved me and Zel-- Uh, Princess Zelda yesterday."
"Yes," Impa replied. "I want to thank you for what you've done for the princess. Your interfering with the bandits gave me enough time to reach you. I'm sorry, you got hurt though. I just wasn't quick enough."
"It's all right," Link said graciously and compassionately. "As long as the princess didn't get hurt; that's all that matters."
Impa smiled. "I turns out the princess was right about you. You are indeed sweet and kind." Link blushed and Zelda giggled. "I support the princess' claim that you are special. Tell me, did the Great Deku Tree personally asked you, of all the Kokiri, to come here with the stone?" Link nodded. "I thought so. I, too, believe that you are worthy enough to know of her secret of the Sacred Realm," Impa continued.
"Impa," Zelda countered embarrassingly. "You're embarrassing me in front of my hero!"
Link blushed at being called a hero but quickly snaps back to focus. "Tell me," he said to Impa. "You know what I'm planning to do, right?" Impa nodded her head. "Then tell me, do you know anything about the other two spiritual stones."
Impa considered this a moment. "I have heard that the Spiritual Stone of Fire is in the possession of Darunia. He's the leader of the Gorons."
"The Gorons?" Link asked quizzically.
"They are a race of creatures who live on the base of Death Mountain," Impa replied and Link cringed at the word 'death'. "Death Mountain is a mountain that is surrounded by a ring of black smoke. You can't miss the sight of it when you exit Castle Town."
"Got it," said Link.
"As for the Spiritual Stone of Water," Impa went on. "I believe it can be found at Zora's Domain, the home of the Zora; they're hybrids of human and fish."
"Okay, thank you," Link said bowing his head to Impa and then turned to Zelda. "I'll be on my way then, princess." He bowed and head for the door.
"Wait, Link," Zelda cried out stopping him. "I'm still not sure this is a good idea."
Link grasped her hands gently and spoke very calmly. "Princess, earlier you told me you trust me with all your heart, right?" Zelda paused, stunned at what Link said, then nodded. "That's why I need you to trust me now. You stay here and protect the Ocarina with your life. Impa will help you along the way. Do not worry a bit, Princess. I will get the stones before Ganondorf does and we're going to get the Triforce and banish him from existence. I promise. I will not let anything happen to you or this kingdom."
Zelda looked at him very closely and blushed for a long moment. She is suddenly free of any worry and is now filled with brightness, as if she had found renowned hope for her and for her kingdom. She smiled at him greatly. Impa, who was watching, also smiled warmly. "Very well, Link," the princess said. "I do trust that you will find those stones and come back safely. Just promise me that you will be very careful because Ganondorf's monsters will be looking for the stones, too." Link nodded with understanding and then heads for the door only to be stopped by the princess again. Hold on! I forgot to give you something," she said as she leaned over.
Link instantly blushed all over when Zelda placed her soft lips in his cheeks. Impa's eyes widen; she did not expect this. Zelda closed her eyes and gave Link a smile after the kiss. "That's for luck," she said and then cups his face with her hands. "And this..." She leaned back toward his face and then places a big kiss on the lips. Link's face is now fully tomato red and Impa gasped softly. She thought of interfering but knows better not to. "That is for saving my life, yesterday," Zelda said warmly and lovingly as she pulled away. "Thank you for everything... my hero."
Link's face hasn't returned to normal; in fact it is now going a little pink. He let out a little squeal of joy as he starts for the door with Navi in tow. Before he disappeared, however, he turned to Zelda and Impa with his eyes closed. "Fear not, my fair Princess," he said boastfully.
"Oh no, here we go again," Navi groaned.
"I will accomplish the task at hand and conquer anything that gets in my way," Link continued. "I will not fail thee, Princess!" He laughed and then head out the door only that he rammed himself into a stone wall since he kept his eyes shut the whole time. As he fell to the ground unconscious, Zelda gasped and Impa covers her eyes embarrassedly.
"I'll escort him out, Princess," Impa said rolling her eyes and walked to Link. "Come on, you boastful romantic. You got work to do." She picked him up and head out the door with Navi in tow.
As Impa disappeared with Link in her arms, Zelda giggled loudly and then placed her fingers on her lips. She admired the warmth of the boy's cheek and pink, wet lips and she is also happy to learn that Link enjoyed the kiss, as well. Later, she entered her bedchambers and looked out her window. She can see to gate to the town, sensing that Link is already there ready to start his journey. "I think I'm going to marry him someday when this is all over," she said with a big, warm, happy smile on her face. She, now, has all the hope in the world that Hyrule will be saved and that she and Link will rule the land in peace someday.