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Zelda was only a child, but when she learned to read and write, she would not stop writing Link little notes and love letters. This was a habit that continued well into the present day.
Everyday they’d meet in the cafeteria of the Knights Academy where she would talk Link’s ear off about how much she loves writing. Link would quietly eat his meals whilst listening to her going on for what seemed like hours.
Link takes a bite of his pumpkin soup, and Zelda keeps talking as he starts to worry whether her soup will get cold.
“Oh! I can write all the silly things I want! But you gotta promise you won’t tell anyone! It’s super secret—I don’t want Groose to know I’m only writing to you. He’s a big meanie!”
Zelda pouts as she finally begins eating her soup. Link nods his head excitedly at the thought of reading letters from her.
“I like the idea of being penpals! I can tell you about all the new bugs I find when me and my Loftwing go to different sky islands!” Link says warmly.
Zelda flashes him a shy expression. She tweedles her thumbs.
“You won’t take me there with you?” Her eyes swell up with tears. She’s known for her dramatic crying even when she’s not that upset, but Link always takes it seriously.
“I will! But you think bugs are icky.”
Link sticks out his tongue as if to mock her. Zelda giggles and playfully punches him in the arm.
“You’re so mean! Even if you’re weird, I still like to go places with you. You’re my best friend!”
Link giggles and shares a piece of bacon with her, since she ate all of hers and he knew she would start complaining about it.
Zelda happily takes it and starts immediately chomping.
“Bacon is the best! Daddy doesn’t let me eat it often. I think he’s a big meanie like Groose!”
“Maybe that’s where Groose gets it from.”
“It has to be! Groose is always around Daddy and I don’t know why. I think he wants to be the next headmaster. Pipit says he really likes me, but I don’t like him! He’s mean to you!”
Link shrugs it off. Zelda doesn’t quite understand, but Link has an idea of why.
“You should still be nice to him, Zel. I think he might cry if you aren’t.”
Zelda imagines Groose crying with snot running down his nose and she bursts into laughter.
“That’s so funny! I wanna see Groose cry!”
Link shakes his head and facepalms.
“That isn’t what I-”
The sound of the morning breakfast bell rings, and it is now time for the two of them to depart and get to their first class. Link and Zelda are just old enough now to attend the classes at the Knights Academy. Link is ecstatic to be a knight, but Zelda isn’t happy about the changes. She wants to go back to playing with Link around Skyloft every day when they were even younger. She was always dreading the day they turn seven.
Link hurriedly gets up from his seat while Zelda takes her time. She grabs hold of his arm before he can leave.
“Linky! I’m going to write you a letter tonight. I’ll deliver it using your Loftwing! We can start our penpal adventure!”
Even though the reason Zelda wants to write letters for Link is because she likes writing, she also thinks it’ll be a good way to keep Link around. Ever since classes started earlier in the year, he hasn’t been able to play with her as much as he used to. She wants to make sure their closeness doesn’t dwindle.
Link nods and smiles at her.
“Can’t wait to read and write back!”
He scurries out of the cafeteria and leaves Zelda there alone. Typically, he waits for her and walks her to class, but he was too excited about the topic they were learning today that he doesn’t think of it. She frowns and walks to class.
That night in her room, she begins writing. It’s a love letter, but subtle. She knows she really likes Link—she always has, but what if Link didn’t like her the same way she likes him? The last thing she wants is to lose the friendship they have now. Link means everything to Zelda.
“Man! I can’t think of anything to write now!”
Zelda stretches her hands and taps her pen to her chin.
What can I write about?
She already tells Link everything that comes to her mind during breakfast. She starts to think this might be a bad idea.
Maybe I can start by writing about my school day today, but is that too boring?
She thinks it over and decides to do just that because there isn’t a doubt in her mind that Link would want to tell her about how his day went since he likes learning so much.
Every now and then, she gets so distracted by her own thoughts and the things in her room, that the more she observes, the more compelled she feels to begin writing her thoughts.
I still have the little parrot plushie you made me so many years ago. I love it so much! It’s my favorite one. It makes me so happy when you make me gifts. I want to make you all sorts of presents! Daddy is going to teach me how to use yarn so I can make you things too! Won’t that be super exciting Link? I know your Mommy loves to sew too. We can make you things together! It will give me an excuse to talk to her more, and see you as well :)
She likes writing to Link. She feels a little shy thinking about the fact he’s actually going to read it, but…that’s the point after all, right?
Zelda stops writing and thinks about what else she can say. She hates the sudden writer’s block. Zelda can write for hours on end normally, so why is she having trouble now? Frustrated, she throws her pen down on her desk. She wants to give it to him in the morning, but she also needs to sleep.
Perhaps the first letter can be wordy and doesn’t need to be perfect. Zelda shakes her head and stops overthinking it. She reads it over one last time before she writes the conclusion paragraph.
Link, I want to be honest with you about something…it’s something I’ve been feeling a little sad about. Daddy says it’s normal for things to change, but I still hate it! But if you want to know, you’ll have to wait for the next letter, sleepyhead! :p
She giggles to herself and puts her pen away, then she hears a knock on the door.
“Come in!”
Her father, Gaepora, walks inside.
“I came to check on you. What are you still doing up? It is way past your bedtime, silly.”
Zelda pouts and crosses her arms.
“But I’m not sleepy!”
Gaepora crouches to her level and pats Zelda’s head.
“Good little girls need their rest so they can grow up big and strong. Don’t you want to become a great knight like Link one day?”
“No! I don’t wanna be a knight! I wanna play in Skyloft all day with Link when I grow up!”
Gaepora sighs sadly. He wishes he could give her that life.
“I know, sweetpea, but Daddy can’t promise you that.”
Tears fill Zelda’s eyes and she begins to cry. It’s times like this Gaepora wishes her mother was still around to help calm her down. He isn’t much good at this sort of thing. He picks up his daughter and holds her in his arms for comfort.
“I want Mommy! She always says nice things to me!” She sniffles and talks through her sobs.
Gaepora frowns, wishing Zelda thought of him as a better father. Zelda is a momma’s girl at heart, and that will never change. No matter how much he tries to be there for her, it’s not quite the same.
He takes her to her bed and tucks her in, still crying her eyes out. He stays there with her, holding onto her hand, until her tears dry and she falls asleep. Gaepora kisses her forehead and exits the room.
“I wish there was something more I could do for you, Zelda.”
Zelda wakes early the next morning so she can send her letter to Link. She eagerly awaits her purple Loftwing by the window and places the letter in its mouth.
“Please give this to Link’s Loftwing so he can pass it on to Link.”
She pets her bird and it flies away somewhere in the sky. Giddy, she changes into her school uniform and awaits patiently—okay, maybe impatiently—for a reaction or response from Link. Zelda knows she won’t be getting it right now, but she still hates waiting.
She rushes out of her bedroom door so that she can beat Link to the cafeteria. She does not wait for the breakfast bell.
When she gets there, she sits down at the first seat she spots. Her legs swing anxiously as she awaits Link’s arrival.
Minutes pass, although to Zelda it may have been decades, and the bell finally rings for breakfast. Link is a sleepyhead, so she did not expect him to be the first one here.
From a distance, she sees Groose first, along with his usual posse, Cawlin and Stritch. Pipit and Karane follow close behind them. Groose walks right up to Zelda and she scowls.
“Look boys, it seems we’ve stumbled across an angel,” Says Groose, trying so desperately to impress Zelda with his smirk.
“True dat, Groose!” Cawlin and Stritch both squeak simultaneously.
Zelda can’t stand either of them. They were bullies to everyone around them, especially Link.
“Hmph!” Zelda crosses her arms and whips her head to the side.
Groose’s face dropped. His cool act had no effect on Zelda.
“Wh-what?” Groose looks panicked, and then he glares at Cawlin and Stritch.
“You bozos said this would work!” He grabs the collar of Stritch’s shirt and shoves him against a wall.
The two of them frantically wave their arms in the air in fear.
“We really thought it would, honest!” Cawlin reassures.
Zelda rolls her eyes and walks up to the three of them. Her glare doesn’t leave her face.
“You’ve talked about me?” She questions, coming up with an insult.
A small blush tints Groose’s face as he drops Stritch on the ground.
“W-well…yeah…”
He rubs the back of his head, smitten.
Zelda taps her foot in annoyance.
“Well, my Mommy told me that only ugly losers who have nothing else to do with themselves but be meanies to others talk about people behind their backs. Is that what you are, Groose? An ugly loser?”
Even Zelda knows she is going a little overboard, but she wants to see if Link’s theory about Groose crying is correct. It is.
Groose sniffles and his eyes get puffy, filling with tears.
“I ain’t no ugly loser! Boys! We gotta go!”
Groose flees the premises with Cawlin and Stritch, dragging them by the shirt collar. Zelda giggles as they run off, waving goodbye.
“Toodles!”
Link, just now getting to the cafeteria, jumps out of the way in time before the three of them could run him over, and then looks at Zelda. He shakes his head when he sees her laughing.
“I told you to be nice, Zel.”
“It’s not my fault Linky! You told me he was gonna cry! I wanted to see if it was true!”
Link playfully rolls his eyes. He, admittedly, also wanted to know.
“Well? Was it?”
She nods and Link chuckles slightly as well.
“Okay, you’ve had your fun, but can you promise you’ll stop being mean? For me?”
“Hey! I am not a meanie!”
She crosses her arms and pouts. Link pats her head.
“You’re not. Just be nicer to Groose.”
“I’ll quit being mean when he stops teasing you first.” She says in a pouty voice.
Link sighs, silently admitting defeat.
“Teasing isn’t being mean, you know. He likes to joke around, that’s all.”
Link starts to get together a plate of food and Zelda follows. She takes a slice of toast with two pancakes, and he grabs three pieces of bacon, a watermelon, and two waffles. They sit down and start eating.
“But you told me yourself his jokes can be mean,” Zelda says with a mouth full of food.
Link isn’t sure how, but he understands what she’s saying.
“But you shouldn’t be a bully just because he is sometimes. Haven’t you heard my Pop-pop say two wrongs don’t make a right?”
Zelda frowns. She knows he’s right, but still. It feels personal when someone belittles Link like the way Groose would through his teasing. She really likes Link.
“Link’s Daddy is right, but I really like you! I don’t want you to be sad.”
Link’s cheeks flush and he loses his train of thought. He takes a bite of his bacon to distract his racing heart before he responds.
“Thank you, I like you too Zel, but I still think you should try.”
Zelda groans and gives up arguing. If Link wants her to be kind to Groose, she will just have to learn to do so. It’s not that she likes being mean, anyway, she just has a short fuse with him around. She decides to change the subject.
“You were a big sleepyhead this morning! You almost missed breakfast.”
Link smiles and eats his first waffle.
“Nuh-uh, I got woken up early by my Loftwing.”
Zelda perks up and she suddenly feels a bit anxious.
“I was reading your letter! I was too excited, I couldn’t wait until after school to read it. After school is when I have to write back!”
The tips of Zelda’s ears tint pink and she covers her face with her hands.
“What did…” But she can’t finish her sentence because she is too embarrassed.
Link, however, already knows what it is that she was going to ask. His smile became shy and the blush on his cheeks spread to his ears.
“I…really liked it! No, actually–” He shakes his head and starts over, “Mama told me to use this word when I feel strongly about something. I loved it. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside!”
Zelda’s face feels hot. She is so glad her letter impacted him that much. She’s so happy she feels like she could burst!
“I’m so happy you think so! I can’t wait to read your letter!”
Zelda giggles as hard as she used to when she was a baby. This is what she misses; Laughing like this with Link like they’d used to do for hours. Perhaps her idea of being penpals will bring this feeling back.
As soon as Link gets back into his room, he picks up his pen and starts writing.
Dear Athena, I am so happy you still have that parrot! I was thinking, Pop-Pop suggested we use pen names while writing to each other, and he recommended Athena. Apparently, the name comes from a Goddess who has lots of wisdom. You’re the smartest person I know, so I think it fits! I can’t wait for the presents you’ll make me with the yarn my Mama gave you for your fourth birthday. She used it to make you a scarf the year before, and I always remember you bugging her for the whole ball of yarn! You were quite the stubborn kid, you know ;p
Link’s mother walks into his room and sits beside him.
“What are you writing, angel?”
Link flashes his mother the biggest smile.
“Zel says we should be penpals, so I’m writing her a letter in response to hers! Look, Mama, Pop-pop came up with a pen name for her.”
His mother looks down and reads the name he had written.
“Athena, huh? Sounds beautiful.”
“I know! It really suits Zelda, doesn’t it?”
He writes again while his mother reads the letter from Zelda.
I love being in the Knight’s Academy. I get to learn all sorts of things! When I get big and strong, I want to be the best knight there is. I want to be strong enough to protect you from any danger because you’re so dear to me. Hey, that reminds me, we should go flying with our Loftwings again soon. I think my Loftwing misses yours.
“What an adorable letter. Her handwriting is rather neat for a girl her age. I do hope she’s alright. She seems troubled, don’t you think?”
Link frowns.
“Yeah, I dunno why she’s so sad. She used to smile all the time.”
His mother kisses the top of Link’s head.
“I think maybe you should ask her what’s bothering her in your letter. Maybe it’s easier for her to talk about it if it’s through a letter.”
Link nods and he starts to write again. Link’s mother walks to the door of Link’s room, slowly exiting.
“Don’t be up too late, Link.”
“I won’t, Mama.”
Why are you sad? Do you not like this idea after all? What do you mean about things changing? I haven’t noticed anything other than your smile not being around all the time. I miss your smile, it warms my tummy. I hope you can tell me why you’re so sad. You’re my best friend! :(
Link drops his pen and reads it over one last time before he puts it in an envelope and gives it to his Loftwing.
“For Zelda,” He says as the Loftwing flies away.
Link watches his Loftwing soar into the sky as he gets into his pajamas and climbs into bed.
Zelda gave me these PJs as a birthday gift a while back. I’m surprised they still fit.
Zelda eagerly reads the letter from Link the next morning. There aren’t any classes today, so she takes the time to write to her heart’s content. She feels like this letter might be the longest one she’s written him so far.
I like the pen name idea! Link’s–oopsie, I mean, Achilles’ Daddy is so smart! I chose Achilles for you because he was a hero, and that’s what you are to me! And I’m sure once you’re bigger you will be a real one when you become a knight. I know you’ll be the best, Linky! Oh no, oopsie, I meant Achilles! Sorry, that’s going to take some getting used to. I’m happy you want to protect me, but I also want to do that for you, too! That’s why I’m so hard on “Groose the Deuce.” That’s a new nickname I came up with for him. I would love to go flying again! Maybe we can go tomorrow, it’ll be really sunny out!
She reads how Link calls her stubborn and she pouts.
“Hey! What a meanie pants!”
I was SO not stubborn, poopy head! I just…really love talking to your Mommy and wanted to learn to sew.
Zelda sits back in her wooden chair in frustration. She can’t get anything past Link, he knows her too well. She continues to write, thinking about how much he told her about liking the Knight’s Academy. She wishes she could feel the same.
I’m glad you like it at the academy so much. The truth is…the reason I’m sad is because I don’t see you as much anymore. I’m sad we won’t be best friends forever, and I really like you. I don’t want that to happen! I don’t like the academy like you do, in fact, I hate it because it feels like it’s taking you away, but I know how happy it makes you :) and I’m happy you’re happy, but I still…
She starts to cry but wipes her tears away so she can keep writing.
But, you asking to go flying again makes me feel like it’ll all be okay after all. Maybe I’m just being a doo-doo head.
Zelda reads over her letter one more time, and she sends it via her Loftwing. She paces and impatiently awaits a response, that is, if she didn’t worry him too much for him to write back.
Later that day, Zelda gets a knock on her dorm room door. She has just gotten back from shopping with her father. She wasn’t expecting any visitors. She opens the door and Link rushes in, immediately hugging her. Zelda’s cheeks flush.
Through tears, Link grips her tightly and yells at her.
“You’re a dummy! Zel, nothing will ever take me away from you!”
Zelda’s eyes also fill with tears at Link’s reassurance, and she hugs him back, gripping the back of his shirt tighter than he was grasping hers.
“Linky, I-”
Link shakes his head violently, interrupting her.
“No! I mean it! I’m sad you’re not happy here, but you’re being so silly!”
He lets go of her and looks her in the eyes. His own eyes are puffy and snot is all over Link’s face.
“You mean more to me here than anyone! I’m not going to let anything change our friendship. I like having you around to annoy too much!”
Zelda giggles and wipes away her tears, even though they keep coming.
“Thanks, Linky. I’m sorry for being a doo-doo head. My Daddy was trying to tell me that too, but I didn’t listen. Maybe you’re right about being stubborn.”
Link smiles at his beloved friend and kisses her on the cheek.
“You always have been, but that’s one of my favorite things about you.”
Zelda’s face gets as red as Link’s Loftwing, and she hides her face from him. Link chuckles.
“Say, you wanna go fly around Skyloft right now instead of tomorrow? My Mama says she wants you to come over tomorrow so she can teach you how to make yummy snacks!”
Zelda’s eyes light up.
“Yay! What kind of yummy snacks?”
“Cookies!”
Zelda claps her hands and jumps up and down, she is euphoric.
“Yay, yay, yay!! I love cookies!!”
“Me too, but they’re also Pop-pop’s favorite. I offered to help also.”
Link takes Zelda’s hand and guides her outside. There, she sees both of their Loftwings ready to soar away high into the sky. Zelda’s face sparkles with excitement.
“So, do you want to fly around for a little bit until supper?”
Zelda nods enthusiastically.
“I wouldn’t wanna spend my time doing anything else.”