#ten?

You were minding your own business at the Knight Academy.

Your older brother might just be the coolest person in the whole. When no one else knew how to look for Zelda your brother told you to stay home and be good, that he was going to look for her and that he’ll bring her home.

So you needed to behave, just so he has one less thing to worry about.

You agreed because you were worried about Zelda. She was nice to you and she was Link’s friend. So this made perfect sense.

Link came back from time to time. He looked tired every time. He came to check on you. Asked if you’ve been good like you’ve promised- knowing better than anyone that you liked to get into trouble one way or another. He asked about your days and school and you asked him quietly what the surface was like.

The stories amazed you.

They had birds, but they were small. No bigger than your hand more often than not. And also large creatures! Bigger than loftwings and some were kind and funny and some were mean and your brother defeated any who stood in his way.

He came back with bruises sometimes.

You tried to behave more and more.

And then he came back with Zelda and suddenly there was so many new opportunities open. Link wanted to show the surface now that it was safe. He wanted you both to live there and start fresh once he graduated from the academy.

And then he disappeared one day.

You stopped behaving then. You gave up trying to keep him from worrying. He was worrying you now. And that’s simply not fair.

He seemed to be gone for weeks, even months on end with nothing to show for it. It broke your heart. Especially when Link spent so long looking for his friend and Zelda didn’t so much as appear to worry for him. Groose didn’t seem that concerned either. Granted, you didn’t know why he was suddenly so chummy with your brother after everything but if Link said he was ok, then something must have happened.

Until one day, a strange man dressed in white clothing with a strange flag attached to his back ran up to you.

“Excuse me.” He said, a bit out of breath. “A young man named Link, is he your older brother?”

You nod and bite your tongue, afraid to address a stranger.

“This is for you.” He pulls out a little brown paper package and hands it to you.

Link’s name and yours on are the top of it.

“He said to tell you he’ll be home soon and he’s sorry for leaving as soon as he did.” The man smiles and before bowing and turning to run away.

What a strange man.

That aside, Link’s handwriting sticks out to you and you’re quick to open up the package. There’s a letter, a small wooden statue of the strangest four legged animal you’ve seen and a single brilliantly blue stone.

You treasured it and ran to your room to put it with the other treasures Link has brought to you from the surface world. 

He’s ok. That’s all that mattered.

Then he came back, with friends. You didn’t care much for them once you saw him.

“LINK!” You screamed and started running to him. Tears came to your eyes before you could stop them. You ignored how all the other boys looked to you when you yelled. Link saw you and began running to meet you half way.

Dumb dumb, can’t run. You both know this. You jumped up into his arms and he spun you around. “You didn’t say goodbye this time!”

“I know I’m sorry. I didn’t have the time.” Link sniffles by your ear. He holds onto you tightly.

Groose came out from the corner and sighed of relief. “Do you know... how hard it is to keep an eye on them?”

Link snorts and lets your feet touch the ground once more. “Tell me about it.” He then fixes you with a stern look... Which fully get across since his eyes are about as dewy as yours. “How many times did you try to jump off the edge without your loftwing?”

You pout and look away, toeing the ground. “Only once.”

“A week.” Groose finishes, exasperated. “Once a week, at least. I swear they only listen to you.”

You just hug Link again. “I wasn’t that bad. I promise.”

“And then they were out at night trying to catch the remlits-”

“I was no-”

“Then they were climbing all over the library and trying to get to the highest shelves instead of asking someone or using the ladder-”

“I needed that for my homework-”

“And then they nearly broke the chandelier at the Lumpy Pumpkin for reasons we still haven’t found out-”

You stay silent on that one.

“And then they took their loftwing out for a joy ride without telling anyone so we were looking for them for hours before they decided to come back.” Groose finishes with a glare your way. “It’s a miracle they didn’t accidentally end up on the surface. Or else who know if we would have seen them again.”

Link says your name disappointedly. Your tears spring up again. Stabbing you would have been kinder.

“No! That’s not fair, Link. You do all these things and you leave me behind!” You stomp your foot. Link frowns and brushes your hair out of your face. It quiets your inner fire and you can’t help but squeak out. “...I just wanted to be like you. You said we’d be together.”

He sighs and pulls you in close again. “We’ll talk, ok? I have a lot of explaining to do. But for now, do you want to meet my friends? You’re never going to believe what’s been happening.”

“Link.” Groose deflates.

“I’ll take it from here.” He smiles. “Thank you for looking after them.”

Link’s friends are, in short, weird. Some of them are literally short. You can’t help the face you make and you turn to Link. He sees it and laughs. “They’re heroes too.”

“Are they from the surface?” You tilt your head. “You said they’re weren’t any people like us down there.”

“Well... yes and no... it’s a long story.”

“We have time.” One of them says. He a long blue scarf- almost the same blue as the stone that Link sent you. He is smirking. “I’d like to get to know this kid.”

You hide behind your brother and he snorts. Link pushes your forward and gestures to the group. “Meet Link.”

“Huh?”

Link looks at you with a similar smirk. You know this face. He’s planning something. “We’re going to a be a part of something great.”