Musterion (A Zelda AU)

Friends 'Til the End - Prequel

She sets the bucket down, staring at the sand seal in front of her, as it stared back.

"What?"

Awkward silence fills the air as I watch her regain her strength. She's never been one for the strongest tasks, from what I've observed.

"Don't look at me like that, Louie. Now c'mon! Drink-" She pauses, hoisting up the bucket and dumping the water into the empty trough before continuing abruptly. "Up!"

All the sand seals, although not many, came flopping to their trough.

"Alibi'eh! Go run to the bar and get me one of those specials, won't you?" A voice calls off from afar.

That's her name. Alibi'eh.

"I'm a little busy, mom, go do it yourself," Alibi'eh sighs. I can tell by her face she doesn't want to leave her work.

"Yeah well-"

"Your highness, now just what are you up to? Watching that young girl again?"

I quickly whip around, tuning out the conversation outside as I'm faced with this talk again. I can't think of any excuses that would make sense this time, either.

"I- well- no, I'm just-"

"Just what?" Aabirah adjusts her spear, the sharp tip glimmering in the harsh sunlight.

"..."

"Come on now, I'm waiting."

"I was just trying to figure out when a good time to talk to her would be. I'm not a child, you know."

She scoffs, "Yet you insist on just sitting inside all day and making your subjects work for you, so you can watch another girl do her work." I cringe. Yeah... that does sound pretty bad when she puts it like that. Aabirah continues, "So, let me just guess... you still don't even know her name, yet you plan to send her another letter tonight."

"Actually, I just learned her name. And yes, I will be sending her a letter, because she sent me one last night."

"And who do you think had to go grab that letter?"

"You..." I mutter.

"Right. When are you going to man up and go talk to her in person? You can't act like a little boy about this forever."

"Maybe I'll go right now." Confidence began to slowly start building up in me, replacing the embarrassment and anger that Aabirah's comments gave me. She's 100% right, but I don't want to think about it. Usually, when she does this, afterwards I don't talk to her for the rest of the day, but today will be different.

As Aabirah starts talking, I turn on my heel and storm out. She starts to come after me, but I hear her heels slowly stop clacking against the stone as I get farther away.

I go outside the palace a lot, but this already feels different. The sun is brighter, the wind calming, and the bustling of the marketplace brings me to life. I don't actually know how to get to the sand seal pens, since I have a private pen, and have no use for the public one. But that's my destination. I have to get there.

I slowly walk up to one of the older merchants, hesitating. The words seemed to be caught in my throat. "Excuse me, ma'am, but do you know how to get to the sand seal pens from here?"

My voice quivered. She's going to find me weak, isn't she? I hope she doesn't laugh.

"Of course, your highness. They're right behind you, if you take a left when you get to the branches." Her voice is calm, the shakiness of a typical older woman there. I nod, thanking her and going on my way. As I walk down the street, I can't help but overhear some things.

"... took out a horde..."

"... saved our town..."

"... scared off the Yiga..."

"... all with the snap of her fingers!"

Saving Gerudo Town? I haven't heard anything about this. Huh. I'll have to ask Aabirah later. I make a mental note.

As I slowly turn the corner, my heart races. She is still here, brushing one of the sand seals. She looks up at me, smiling.

"Your highness! Sav'vaaq! How can I help you?"

".. Um.." My cheeks are burning. They're warmer than any fire I've felt. "You- you're name is Alibi'eh, right?" I take a few more steps forward, glancing down to make sure I don't trip or something.

"Yessir!" Alibi'eh stands up, setting the brush down as she walks over to me. She starts extending her hand before glancing at it, then at me. She gives me a nervous smile as I exchange one back. She quickly wipes her hands on her pants and sticks her hand out. "It's good to see you."

I look at her hand before shaking it, letting out a breath of air I didn't notice I had been holding. "It's... nice to meet you. Um.. do... you want to be friends?"

"Mm..." She gives me a weird look before shaking her head. Then her face perks up. "I'd rather be friends 'til the end! Y'know, like, best buddies? Partners in crime?"

"But we aren't committing any crimes! ... Are we?"

"No, silly! But, whaddya say? Friends 'til the end?" Her hand hasn't been pulled back in still.

"..."

"Well..?"

"Friends 'til the end." I grab her hand, nodding.