'Okay Zelda, this is a good chance to have some quality time with Link... Zelda thought to herself as her white horse trotted just behind Link and Epona.

The two had stopped by the stables just down the road from the Akkala Tech Lab. Zelda couldn't help but wonder how the stable workers were able to get their horses to them in such a timely manner, for they had left their horses back in the Lanayru Region. However, when Zelda opened her mouth to question it Link put a finger to her lips as he shook his head. Apparently this was just one of those things one shouldn't think too hard about.

Though the wonders of how it took only a mere hour for the stable to retrieve their horses remained in the back of Zelda's mind, more pressing matters had taken place firmly in the forefront of her worries: she was supposed to be bonding with Link. The Guardian was a wonderful opportunity to engage with Link a bit more, however Zelda had regretfully allowed fear to take over. Zelda sighed to herself as she looked upon the autumn colors of the grass and trees spanning the East Akkala landscape, thinking back to only a few hours ago.

She really had made a fool of herself. Why on the Goddess's Earth would she close her eyes? All she had to do was hold her shield up. Of course, eventually she had gotten it, and yes, Link did praise her...

I'll always be by your side...

Those words repeatedly rang throughout Zelda's head. Maybe that little blunder she had made wasn't such a bad one after all...

"You alright back there?" Link called back towards Zelda, giving her a quick, sudden jolt out of her thoughts. "You're unusually quiet. You aren't still worried about the Sky-Watchers are you?"

"N-No Link, not at all," Zelda said, just a bit of blush filling her cheeks. "I'm just a bit lost in thought is all."

Though it was true Zelda was in fact lost in thought, she may have stretched that answer just a bit. In reality, Zelda couldn't help but still be a bit nervous at the looming idea of Skywalkers being on the Islands Link kept talking about. Link looked back at her, slightly bouncing at Epona's trot, before facing forward.

"You have nothing to worry about, princess," Link said gently. "As I've said, I am here to protect you."

"There you go again..." Zelda muttered, frowning just a bit. "Calling me 'princess'..."

"Mm?" Link grunted, turning back to look at her again. "Do you not like me calling you that at all?"

Zelda raised an eyebrow, now focusing her eyes on her best friend instead of the scenery.

"Is there another reason to call me 'princess' other than formalities?" Zelda asked. Link thought about that before turning to face the road again.

"I mean... I guess it's out of an old habit most of the time," Link said. "However, sometimes it's because... I'm one of the few who truly know who you are. I guess I considered it a type of... nickname in a way."

"Nickname?" Zelda asked curiously. She tapped her horse's side gently with her boot, signalling it to catch up to Epona to allow her and Link to ride side by side. "What do you mean by nickname?"

"Well... like Urbosa used to call you 'little bird' and stuff," Link said, now it being his turn to fancy the scenery around him instead of Zelda. Zelda shook her head in confusion.

"That was the childhood nickname Urbosa used. The real name was coined by my mother. I never really knew where she got it from though..." Zelda said, her eyes starting to mystify at the memory of Urbosa and her mother. Link suddenly turned towards Zelda, realizing he had brought back potentially painful memories.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to bring back painful memories," Link said, trying to rectify his mistake. Zelda stayed silent for a moment before taking a quick breath. Now wasn't the time to be getting sad. Eventually she would have to deal with Urbosa's loss, however she really didn't want to focus on that now. However, one thing did stand out to her.

"It's quite alright, Link, I'd rather not dig too deep into that though," Zelda said. "But what do you mean you want to call me something like that? Little bird was a childhood term... Do you see me as a child? We're only a year apart in age, you know..."

"No! I don't see you as a child at all," Link said, frowning at his own miscommunication. "I just... I just want a nickname for you is all... In a friendly way of course."

Link couldn't help but mentally bang his head against a wall. What was he doing? Sure, he did use the term princess as more of a nickname than anything at this point, but using that as an excuse to try and get a much wanted cuter nickname for her? What other name could he even give Zelda? Was it even proper to give Zelda a nickname?

Zelda stared at Link, taking in his shifty explanation as he shifted a bit uncomfortably on his saddle.

"I see..." Zelda said simply before turning back towards the landscape. Link felt a sweatdrop fall down the side of his face. He made things weird. He just had to bring up a nickname, didn't he?

"Linny," Zelda suddenly called out. Link blinked a few times.

"Uh... what?" Link asked curiously.

"Linny," Zelda repeated. "That's the nickname Kodah gave you guys when you were little, correct?"

Link nodded, trying to process where she had heard that from. However he soon realized that Zelda was facing the landscape, not himself. Link coughed.

"Y-Yeah, but that was a long time ago. She still calls me it from time to time though," Link said, a bit confused as to how Zelda knew this. "But... what about it?"

"Was that a nickname you accepted in 'just a friendly way'?" Zelda asked. Link, an eyebrow raised, nodded again.

"I mean... yes?" Link said questionably. Why was she bringing this up? "What else was it supposed to mean?"

"So if you were to give me a nickname..." Zelda questioned further, still looking out towards the fields and trees. "Would it have the same meaning as Linny does? Or would it mean... more?"

Link blinked. What was she getting at? Did she want it to mean more if he gave her a nickname? Certainly he wanted it to mean more but... would she be okay with that? Or was she testing him? Why was she beating around the bush so much?

Link stayed silent as he thought back towards moments at the Domain. Zelda had said she wanted them to act closer, and she was getting rather touchy with him. Not that he minded, but... did Zelda want to be more than just friends? Maybe he should be honest with her. He did have an idea of a real nickname for her...

"Well... it would... it would be more of a-" Link started, however his ears twitched. The sound of beeping could be heard from a distance away. Link looked to his left hand side to reveal a red dotted light on his blue tunic. Link instantly looked over to see Tingel island of Akkala only a small distance away. Link had subconsciously led them off road and towards the islands.

Tingel Island stood tall, the ocean body filling the space below as the waves crashed along the sides of the pillars. Three other islands could be seen in the distance with mist surrounding their peaks. Multiple Skywalkers could be seen, however Link was more focused on the one that was aimed his way.

Link quickly brought out his Hylian Shield as Epona reared on her hind legs. With incredible precision, Link deflected the incoming blue beep of light back at the Skywalker. What was one doing so far out here? Those Skywalkers didn't usually fly this close to the mainland... Link didn't have time to contemplate as the Skywalker, now rocking back and forth from its own deflected beam, began aiming yet again.

"It didn't blow up from the first shot?" Zelda asked, both her and her horse caught off guard from the sudden loud cracking sound of the laser smashing into the shield.

"Nope. These ones are a bit more durable..." Link said as he awaited another inevitable beam. Link couldn't hear the beeping from the distance, however the red dot blinked before disappearing. Link waited just a moment before smacking the Guardian beam yet again back towards the Guardian Skywalker, which came crashing out the sky after its most recent blow. Smoking and sparking, the Guardian fell until it crashed into the sea waves, sinking to the bottom of the ocean.

"Ah... I love this shield..." Link said happily as he stared at the brilliant blue and silver shield on his arm.

"I've been meaning to ask Link... but is that the famous Hylian Shield from Hyrule Castle?" Zelda asked as Link dusted the shield off.

"Yup. It's said to have been used by one of the Legendary Heroes of the past," Link said, placing the shield on his back. "I felt kinda bad using it since... you know, I dunno if I'm one of them."

"I would assume you are, Link," Zelda said. "You have been chosen by the Master Sword after all. Might as well have the shield that goes with it."

"That would make sense," Link said with a smile, praising his shield.

"Well let us be off! We are almost to the island bridges!" Link said, signaling Epona into a canter towards the first of the islands. Zelda couldn't help but be a bit disappointed. Link never got to finish.

"It would be more of a... what?" Zelda asked no one as she egged her horse forward. Was Link that against being intimate with her? Or was he really just that dense? Zelda couldn't help but mentally slap her own hand. She had gotten a bit irritated with Link during the conversation. That was the perfect time to bond, and yet she had gotten a bit frustrated over Link saying 'friendly'. She must do better.

Zelda sighed as she urged her horse faster in order to catch up to Epona. It seemed as though Zelda had to work on herself as well if she wanted to get something special between the two.

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