Part 10 of Adventure Log+ (Sequel to Link’s Thought Brambles. I highly recommend reading in order! Edited 9/30/23 to tighten language.) WARNING: This chapter is rated mature for disturbing imagery and violence.
“Link—house!”
“I see it!”
“Light!”
“Yes!” Normal light, not purple. Please, please, please, please-
“OY!”
WOAH, Rionee!
“WHO GOES THERE? WATCH WHERE YOU’RE RIDING! IF YOU TRAMPLE MY CABBAGES, I’LL TRAMPLE YOU!”
A short story for Zelink Week 2022’s ‘Sparring’ prompt (see end for notes). 5886 words.
~~~~~‿ ‿~~~~~‿ ‿~~~~~
Link wouldn’t be nervous.
He would not.
He’d just eaten a meal that had probably been delicious. He’d rushed it too much to be sure. Usually, he could both rush it and be sure, but today his mind was on those hallways and the training yard outside. He had to keep his cool. He had to stay knightly (he wasn’t actually a knight yet, just a lowly trainee, and technically not even that since he hadn’t set foot in the yard yet, but he’d be there within the hour). He especially needed to not make strange faces at that guy who kept eyeing him in the barracks.
He also had to keep his wits about him. He was almost entirely sure he’d win any sparring match today, but it would be a bad idea to humiliate people. If he was going to win, he’d try to win gracefully, and he wouldn’t brag about it. He wouldn’t even tell his father (not unless he asked, and he probably wouldn’t).
“Right, newbies, that’s it, up and out, up and out!”
Part 7 of Adventure Log+ (Sequel to Link’s Thought Brambles. I highly recommend reading in order!). Edited 9/17/23 to tighten language.
'Pinana' isn't a typo. 🤪
Rionee's obsessive, competitive galloping means Zelda's not half a mile ahead all by herself, but the wind slapping my face means windburn for sure. Cold north wind today, too.
She needs to pull Tass up soon, or we’ll get too far from the others.
Rionee- girl- I’m glad you’re so spiteful about other horses outpacing you. It’s the only reason we’re keeping up with Tass. But if you do this too long you’ll be a frothy, vibrating mess.
Part 6 of Adventure Log+ (Sequel to Link’s Thought Brambles. I highly recommend reading in order!) - Edited 9/17/23 to tighten language and retcon something to reflect events in "Blindsighted."
Honest-to-Goddess, Link, keep a hold on yourself.
Remember when you came back with the sword, and everyone was always looking at you and you needed not to seem like you were losing the most s@#$ anyone in Hyrule’s ever lost? You found statue-Link. You have to get him going again.
Constant low-level effort to always feel the muscles in my face. Every single one. Don’t stop concentrating on them. If I’m thinking about them all the time, they won’t wiggle around.
Make a face-fishnet, Link. Like you're planning to catch some fish with your face. Only the fish are sudden emotions. Maybe sudden neurotic emotions. Not actual fish. Like when you were nine. Mom didn't like that. Liked it even less when Chee copied me.
.
Do I have it?
.
.
…I have it.
Part 5 of Adventure Log+ (Sequel to Link’s Thought Brambles. Edited 1/29/23 to tighten up the language!)
“Ready, Link?”
“Mmm. To leave a room we have to ourselves?” The closer my face gets to her face the more she smiles! “No, not really…” Contact!
“Heh- heh, Link! Hehphh-”
Making Zelda-laugh-grin-kissing-noises!
“Link, we ought to be relatively swift this morning.”
“Aww. Can’t we skip the dining hall?”
