mmm triangles

But I'll be real with ya, I did have to sit and think for a good while about what I could possibly draw him doing that was relaxing >X'DD

Shooting gallery.

Zelda felt a smile of her own pull on her face as she looked at the building, the cartoonish bow and arrows painted on the sign bringing back memories. The roof was painted a different color than she remembered, which was interesting, since she remembered exclaiming to Basil about ‘the funny yellow roof’ the only other time she’d seen seen the building in person.

The memory brought a bit of sadness along with it, but Zelda shook it away.

“So? What do you think? Do you want to try it out?” Link said eagerly. “I haven’t had time to stop in here at all but I heard they have cool prizes! You... you do wanna try it, right?”

“Yes, I’d love to,” Zelda replied with a grin. “I haven’t been here since I was little, I’m sure it’s changed a lot since then.”

“Oh really? I didn’t know you ever had time to come play games,” Link said in a curious voice as they walked up to the door. “And um... you said you weren’t really allowed out of the castle much.”

“I’m not really. But... one time Basil snuck me out,” she admitted, Link politely holding the door open for her. The only reason she’d been allowed out today was because both her parents were busy, and Link had... technically not asked. “I was too small to play, but he wanted me to at least have fun watching someone— ooh!”

Zelda clasped her hands together as she looked around the shooting gallery, bright colors painted on the walls, tinted glass over sections of the windows that made squares of color appear across the floor. The actual range had less bright colors, likely so you could actually see the targets, but it was still a fascinating room.

“Different than you remember?” Link asked, and Zelda nodded as she spun in a slow circle.

“Yes, it’s so much more colorful, it’s lovely,” she smiled. “The sign outside did say they were under new management, I guess they redecorated.”

“I like it, it reminds me of my sisters’ room,” Link said with a smile that turned a little sad. Then he shook himself, and it became more genuine. “You ready to play a round?”

“Of course,” Zelda grinned. “I want to see if my bow practice has paid off at all.”

She and Link went to the counter where a young lady was waiting, who must not have recognized Zelda since she didn’t even give her a second glance. Zelda and Link both reached for their pockets, then when they realized what the other was doing, scrambled to be the one to pay. Link managed to slam his rupees down moments before her with a grin, and though Zelda protested, she finally gave in when he reminded her it had been his idea to come here.

Oh well. She’d just sneak some rupees into his bag later.

“Ladies first,” Link said as he handed her the bow and arrows they’d been given, and Zelda took it with a giggle and a curtsy.

“Thank you very much.“

“You have twenty targets and thirty arrows,” the girl at the counter said as Zelda got into position on the stand. “Every two targets you get a green, double that if you get a bullseye. If you hit all of the targets you get a choice between our two special grand prizes. Ready?”

Zelda nodded, and the girl pulled something behind the counter.

“Start!”

Targets began popping up, and Zelda got to work.

The first portion of the game was easy, and Zelda had no trouble hitting every target that popped up into view. She even got several bullseyes, which made Link cheer as he watched. A ringing sound announced the second portion of the game, the more difficult part, and she shot a quick glance at him. He gave her a thumbs up, and Zelda smiled, focusing back on the range.

Targets suddenly came racing in from the side, so fast and moving so erratically that Zelda squeaked in alarm. She shot off arrows as quickly as she could, but the moving targets were fast, and despite how she tried, she missed a few.

Zelda huffed, disappointed, but shrugged as the targets disappeared and the bell signaled she was done.

“Nice job!” Link congratulated, smiling brightly at her.

“Thanks. Seventeen out of twenty is pretty good I suppose,” she smiled, looking back at Link. “At least I won a few rupees back. Let’s see if you can do better!”

“Okay, but I don’t know if I’m much of a shot,” he warned, taking Zelda’s bow as the assistant replenished the arrows. “I only just got a bow a week ago, and killing monsters is different than hitting targets.”

“You’ll do great!” Zelda assured, then shoved him forward onto the platform. “And I want to see if you can beat me or not, so don’t hold back!”

“I’ll do my best,” Link replied, a glimmer of competitiveness shining in his eyes, and as he got into position, Zelda settled in to watch, the girl at the desk giving him a countdown.

“Aaaand... start!”

Targets began popping up around the stage, and Link snapped off a shot at the closest one, hitting it right in the middle.

Zelda cheered at the shot, and Link aimed for a target further back, also hitting the dead center. Zelda cheered again, and watched in amazement as Link quickly settled into a rhythm, keeping up his streak of perfect shots as he hit the bullseye on almost every target.

He hadn’t missed a single one when the bell rang, signaling the second stage, and Zelda watched intently.

The targets whizzed out of their hiding places, and Link shot arrows so quickly Zelda had trouble following them. She watched in astonishment as Link shot arrow after arrow, satisfying thunks marking every twang of his bow, and soon enough the bell rang to signal his try was over.

They both looked over at the girl at the counter to hear his score, and Zelda hid a giggle at how large her eyes had gotten.

“A near perfect score!” the girl at the counter gasped, staring at Link in surprise. “You hit every target and only missed the bullseye on a few, you’ve got some aim, little guy! You must really practice with that thing!”

Link looked astonished, and Zelda couldn’t help her laughter, not even caring that he’d beat her. Who knew Link was such a prodigy with the bow?

"How did I do that?" he asked in bewilderment, and Zelda laughed again, nudging him in congratulations. He blinked, then grinned back at her as the girl behind the counter kept talking to herself about what a good shot he was. She then pulled out two items off a top shelf with a flourish.

“Here are your choices for a grand prize, little guy,” she said as she set them down, and Zelda and Link both eagerly leaned forward.

The first was a gorgeous quiver, made of fine leather with plenty of room for arrows. It was obviously well-made and looked really nice, but Zelda found her gaze drawn to the other item, a large, swirly seashell. It was a pale creamy color that faded to a brighter pink and orange in certain spots, and it looked as smooth as glass.

Both Link and Zelda oohed in appreciation, admiring them both, and Zelda turned to Link in excitement.

“You should get the quiver Berry! It’ll be really useful for when you’re fighting,” Zelda exclaimed as she looked at it again. It really was finely made, and would hold a lot of arrows.

Link considered, looking between the two, a thoughtful look on his face scrunching the handful of freckles on his cheeks.

“What would you have picked?” he asked, and Zelda waved a dismissive hand.

“Oh I don’t know, both of them, but the quiver will be really useful for you Link!” she said, and he hummed, looked up at the girl at the desk.

“Do either of them do anything in particular?” he asked, and she shrugged.

“Neither of them are magic, if that’s what you’re asking. Not that I know of at least. Are you going to pick one? I don’t have all day.”

Link considered for a few moments longer, then pointed at the shell, to Zelda’s dismay.

“Link! Why’d you pick that? It’s just a pretty shell!” she exclaimed as the girl nodded and took the quiver away. Link gently picked up the shell as the girl handed them the rupees they’d won back as well, and he studied it while Zelda set her money in her pocket.

Then he handed it over to her.

“It’s for you,” he said with a smile, and Zelda blinked, not reacting even when he pressed it into her hands. “I saw you looking at it, you can have it. It’s a gift.”

“But... but Link...” Zelda said in bewilderment, rubbing a thumb along the smooth edge of the shell. “This was your prize!”

“Yeah, but you wanted it, I could tell. I can just win the game again and get the big quiver some other time, my normal one is fine for now.”

He smiled brightly at her, and Zelda gave in, pulling the shell to her chest as she admired it again. She really had wanted it, embarrassing as it was to admit, and Link had obviously noticed.

No wonder his nickname was Berry, he was the sweetest boy she'd ever met.

Zelda resolved to sneak twice as many rupees back into Link’s pouch, then truly accepted the shell from Link’s hold, smiling at him.

“Thanks Berry,” she said softly, and he nodded, looking quite pleased with himself.

“You’re welcome. Do you want to get something to eat?” he asked, abruptly changing the subject. “I know one of the sellers here, he’s from my hometown and comes here to sell stuff, and he makes the best little cinnamony doughnut things.”

“I’d love to,” Zelda replied with a grin, and they stepped out of the shop together, Zelda still holding the shell to her chest.

...