Royal Rebel 5 ~ Worlds Apart

Chapter 15-2: East Champions

It was a bit after breakfast now, and everyone decided to go to the outside gardens and hang out for a while. The children got to run around, and everyone got to talk with one another and enjoy the nice time you got to spend with each other. You sat between your sister and Daruk, with Janela sitting in your lap. She reached up for the butterflies that passed over your head, and eventually, you let one land on your finger so you could lower it for her to see it closer.

"I can't believe you and Sidon were so mischievous when you were young," Amirah laughed as Mipha finished telling a story of her and her brother getting into trouble. "What other trouble did you get yourselves into?"

"Well, there was this one time father and Muzu were having a serious meeting with the council. We had spent the morning catching a few fish that can squirt water at people..." Mipha went on with her story, and you listened as you made faces as Janela. She giggled and reached up for you, and you thought her smile looked so much like Zelda's. You looked up for your niece, but she was nowhere in your little circle.

You looked at the doors to the gardens, and you saw the reflection of her standing inside through the glass window.

"I'll be back in a few minutes, Ami." You whispered to your sister as you held Janela out to her, and she nodded as she took the baby into her arms. You got up and walked down the path towards the doors, and you slipped into the room connected to the one Zelda was in. "Zelda?"

You peered into the large room, and she was startled by your sudden appearance as she gasped and whirled around to see you.

"_____! What are you doing here?" She asked, and you made sure none of them had followed you in.

"I just wanted to see what you were up to," You said, glancing behind you to see the group still sitting together talking. None of them looked at all suspicious by either of you leaving. "And ask you what was going on. You've been off ever since they got here this morning. And you were so excited to see them!"

"I know, and I'm so happy that they came to visit. But it's just..." She looked out at Link, and you glanced between her and the hero a few times before you led her a bit further into the room. "I'm fine. Don't worry so much about me, you should be out there enjoying time with them."

"I just get a feeling this has something to do with Link." You whispered, and she thinned her lips as her ears turned down. "Did he say something mean to you? Did he hurt you? Do you need me to punch him in the gut?" You raised your fist, and she turned red and shook her head as she waved your fist away.

"N-No! Link didn't do anything wrong, except he... this is all me." She covered her mouth with her hand and avoided your gaze, and you finally put all the pieces together.

"Zelda, even if this is something you wouldn't tell your mother, it's something you can tell me." You assured her, and she glanced back at you. "I have reason to believe you were in love with Link back during the time of your Calamity." You said, and she didn't answer, but she looked away from you again. "And a part of me believes you still may be."

"I'm not still in love with him," She finally said with a sigh, walking over to sit on the ledge of the flower beds. "It's just... it's complicated."

"Talk to me about it." You sat down next to her, and she sighed and hid her face in her hands. "I may not be able to empathize, but I can understand."

"When Link first joined our team, and he was appointed my knight, I was just happy to work with him. But then I realized I was falling in love." She lifted her head to look up, and she almost smiled. "Mipha spent all of the time she could with him, though. And he fell for her instead."