Free to Love - A Zelda x Link Fanfiction

XXX: Off Again

Link's Perspective:

Epona seemed over joyed to see us once again, if not slightly miffed. The stable keepers swore they had taken good care of both horses, albeit Epona's common hissy fits. As much as I loved her, she was very close and connected to me. Usually, this would be good, but it meant trouble for anybody else that even so much as thought of riding her.

"I'm happy to see you, too, Epona," I said, smiling warmly, while struggling to put on her saddle, "but please, let me get this on you." She trotted in place, huffing heavily as if getting excited for a nice ride. She was miffed at me earlier, but when promised carrots, she immediately grew affectionate to me again.

Zelda was petting Storm on his nose, stroking his white fun while the horse itself looked bored. I glanced between the two, before turning my gaze back to my horse. Epona was staring at me with her dark eyes, maybe catching onto my anxiety, standing still as I latched the saddle to her body.

"Where are we going?" Zelda asked, finally adjusting the saddle on her horse's back. "To Death Mountain? I still have to talk with Daruk." She grabbed the horn of the saddle, pressed her foot into the stirrup iron, and hauled herself up.

"Actually, no," I said. My response must have surprised her because she froze, opposite leg partially thrown over the Storm's torso. I knew she wasn't a big fan of change of plans and it aggravated her to say the least.

"Oh?" she asked.  She glanced at me, finally lowering herself into the seat.

"Your power," I explained slowly, trying to avoid the bathroom bit, "is growing over time, according to Mipha's assumptions. She said an inventor in Hateno Village should be able to, theoretically, be able to create an outlet for you to express your power without endangering yourself or others."

"Oh," she said lamely. "That's good, I guess."

"It is," I agreed. Her fingers twisted on the horn of the saddle and then her clothes, as she tended to do when she was nervous or worried. She fidgeted when she felt anxious and it was one of her father's largest pet peeves. I pulled myself onto Epona, leading her towards the princess.

When I was beside her, I learned over and brushed my fingertips against the top of Zelda's hands. She jumped, glancing up at me in surprise. I just smiled gently, withdrawing my hand. "Everything's going to be okay," I reassured her. She breathed deeply, nodding her head.

"I know, I know," she mumbled, absently twisting her fingers around the horn of the saddle. Her fingers paused when her palm reached the top of the saddle. "Who are we meeting, anyways?" she asked, glancing at me again. "Do you know him?"

"Her," I corrected. "She's the sister of Impa, actually."

"Oh!" She smiled brightly, tucking her long chocolate hair behind her ear. "Impa seems to speak fondly of her sister. Always goes on and on about her genius and... uh, eccentricity."

"Yes!" I agreed, pleased that she also remembered Impa's monologues about her sister. "Purah, I think her name is. Actually, she's doing research on Shiekah technology."

She brightened when I mentioned the slate, quickly retrieving the device and holding it outward so I could see the screen, as well. The screen still portrayed the map, albeit the location of the stick figure had moved to hover right on the edge of Zora's Domain.

"Do you think Purah can explain this?" she asked, brushing her finger tips against the surface of the screen. When she did, the map moved, according to the swipe of her fingers. Her brows furrowed in confusion, then rose as she laughed in surprise. "Look!" She insisted, sailing her fingers across the screen and dragging the map along so we could see more.

"Hopefully," I answered cautiously. I didn't want to guarantee anything. This technology was ancient and beyond anybody's understanding, at least as far I had seen. She slipped the slab into her bag, smiling.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" she asked, all her anxiety erased. "Let's go meet Purah!"

(Sorry for the late update, but I had the SATs again today. Yayyyyy... Anyways, I'm back on schedule again!)