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Chapter Text

"Dinner's ready!" Wild called to the group to the general sound of cheers. Each man set down their respective tasks to make their way to the cookpot drawn by the heavenly smell of a spicy paella. Legend dropped his sewing project into his bag and stood up with a stretch, cracking his back. He grinned at Four who hadn't heard the cook and was still deeply engrossed in sharpening his sword. The smithy was lost in his own world. He hummed to himself as he smoothly ran the stone along the edge of the blade with a practiced grace, eyes half-lidded in a daydream. The vet coughed softly and kicked the smaller man's boot to get his attention. Four looked up surprised and lifted the stone from his blade.

He looked up at Legend with an expectant expression, his usually grey eyes swirled a pinwheel of colors settling on a lovely depthless violet. "Yes?"

The veteran snickered. "Chow-time Smithy." He nodded towards the cooking pot where Wild was dishing out big bowlfuls to the small, gathered group. Wind and Sky were already eating with gusto before they had even sat down.

Four nodded, his eyes swirled again resettling on their default; deep, thoughtful steel-grey. He carefully set aside his sword and stood, dusting off his tunic. He looked around to see where everyone was sitting, hoping against hope to secure a spot next to you when he noticed that you were not among the gathered group. He stood on his tiptoes to scout the area and made a small circle like this craning his neck. Aha! He spied you under a shady tree on the edge of camp with your back to the group. He cocked his head to the side, puzzled, and started to walk over to you.

You were crouched next to a tree stump with your Instax camera trained on a small pile of m&ms you had placed on a flat rock at a crack near the bottom of the stump. You held perfectly still and seemed deeply focused. He calls your name but receives no answer. He clears his throat. Suddenly you start and whirl around, eyes wild, accidentally snapping a picture of him in the process.

"Dinner's-" he began,

"I'M NOT CRAZY!" You shout, cutting him off and then immediately look embarrassed.

"I-....what?" Four looks at you, baffled, trying to recover from the sudden flash. He clears his throat again. He points back over his shoulder back at the camp, eyes swirling a vivid crimson. "I was just.. Just saying that the food is ready...are you...ok?"

You, cough, turning red. "I...um...yeahhh.. sorry. I didn't mean to shout. I just. I SWEAR, I'm not crazy. but I gotta do something first. I'll come eat later. Save me a bowl, ok?". You run a hand through your hair and offer what you hope is a winning smile.

It is... to Four at least. He feels a heat creeping up his cheeks and looks down out of habit, spying the developing photo sticking out of your camera.

"What...is that for?" He asks carefully, eyes tinting blue. He nods to the camera with his nose.

You lean in towards his face in a way that makes his poor heart beat faster. He finds himself leaning in too, in spite of himself. "I SAW something..." You say in a low, conspiratorial tone.

His eyes widen.. Impossible.

"What... Did you see?" His eyes a cascading rainbow, uncertain. Surely it's not what he's thinking.

You shrug and your face falls in a way that tugs at his heart. "I..I'm not sure. Some king of 'fairy-bug'? I think. I don't know It had a teeeeeny tiny red hat!" You make a sizing motion with your fingers indicating how absurdly small it was. "I've been trying to coax it out of that stump with candy for almost an hour. But... " You trail off and look back at the stump with a sad wistful expression. "Maybe it doesn't like candy. Or maybe it's just scared. I just want a picture of it, you know?"

He feels a silly grin spreading on his face. You can see them too. He feels a plot forming in his mind and reaches for your hand with an uncharacteristic burst of confidence. It is soft and warm in his. He feels that oh-so-familiar heat creep up into his cheeks again but ignores it. He leans into your ear and whispers that he May have an idea but it will have to wait for tonight.. You look at him with a question plain on your face. Before you open your mouth to speak he interrupts.

"Do you trust me?" He asks earnestly, eyes locked on yours, colors shifting.

You don't even hesitate. You squeeze his hand. "Yes... Link, of Course."

He's buoyed by the use of his given name and grins at you squeezing back.

"Good. We'll meet at this stump after my watch tonight. Around midnight.. Don't worry about anything until then.. ok?"

You grimace. Midnight... That's a tall order. You LIKE your sleep, but.. for that picture...?

You look into his hopeful, earnest eyes. For Four? How could you say no?

"Yes. Let's do it."

He beams and begins to tow you back to camp by the hand. He has a slight skip to his step and seems over the moon. You sigh, shaking your head, and follow him... You swear you'd do anything; walk barefoot through hell for this man if he asked... Not that you'd just tell him that.

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Hours later you awake to a gentle hand on your shoulder. You grunt still half asleep and swat it away rolling over with a grumble. Your body knows better.. It is absolutely Not time to get up yet. You had watch Last night. Its definitely someone else's turn. You know this. Unless someone's dying or the camp is under attack you are Absolutely not-

You hear a quiet breathy chuckle, and your eyes pop open. Four. Its Four's laugh and suddenly you remember the agreement from earlier. You roll back towards him, prop up on one elbow and painfully crack open your eyes in a squint. They feel hot and gritty, and you hate it. "Mrrrhmph...yeah?" You grumble hoarsely making him laugh again. You rub one eye and open it wider, closing the other to sweet darkness. He looks bright-eyed and excited. Curses...

"Are you ready to go?"

This feels harder than you thought it would. Your bedroll is So so warm... You feel your eye wanting to close but you fight it. "Yeah.. *cough* yeah... I'm up. I'm up..."

You stumble out of bed and see Twilight sitting at the low fire with a bemused expression looking at the two of you.

"Oh, don't worry.." Four says lightly, "He knows what's going on. He won't tell." He grins mischievously and helps you to your feet. He fixes the collar of your tunic without thinking and brushed your throat with his fingertips on accident while doing so. They are rough and callused, but his touch is gentle, warm...almost reverent. This unexpected little contact of skin on skin caused you both to fluster and turn a little red.

He clears his throat and steps back to a respectful distance again linking his hands behind his back, rocking his weight back onto his heels, "I- errr... we should probably head out." He mumbles looking at his feet.

You agree (now Fully and Completely awake).

The two of you walk out of the firelight to the stump on the edge of camp.

As you leave, Twilight chuckles softly to himself shaking his head as he watches you walk away. You two are hopeless, he thinks to himself. Thank Goodness everyone isn't as awkward in love as the two of you...Humanity as a whole would have gone extinct a long time ago just from the sheer amount of hesitation and heel-dragging.

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Once you reach the stump, Four does something unexpected and hops up onto it. He reaches his hand out to you with a wide and earnest smile. You take his hand and step up beside him. The stump is barely big enough for the two of you and you are forced into very close quarters, you can feel the warmth of his breath on your face. He looks up into your eyes and offers his hand again.

He asks once again; "Still trust me?" He smiles, small and hopeful...bashful even.

You nod, and take his hand, lacing his fingers in your own.

"Then close your eyes..." He smiles, and closes his own. He begins to chant something softly, you can't understand a word, but it sounds ancient and musical in tone.

Suddenly you are struck with the worst spell of vertigo you have ever had. You feel the stump give way beneath you to open darkness and you fall. You scream and reach, clinging to Link. You hear him laughing. He squeezes you reassuringly.

"Relax.." He murmurs into your ear, amid the rushing air. "I've got ya.."

He does indeed.

You feel yourself land softly on something with a bounce, then again and once more before you feel your feet strike the earth with a gentle impact that doesn't even hurt your knees. You look up and see the biggest mushroom you have ever seen! Moonlight shafts softly through a crack in the cavernous space above. This place is HUGE... massive rough wooden walls are barely visible in the darkness on the edges of the light. You are flabbergasted.

"Y-You can teleport!!?" You cry, eyes wide looking at Four in wonder.

He laughs and smiles at you, a cheery green glinting in his eyes. "Not exactly... actually no. Not even close. We are exactly where we were a moment ago, just..... a little bit smaller."

You look up at the mammoth mushrooms. "A...a 'bit'?" You question, and feel a grin spreading across your face, his intent suddenly becoming clear. "Wait...are we going to see the 'fairy-bug'????"

He laughs again, shaking his head furiously. It causes his pale blond hair to fan out around him and it is beautiful, you think to yourself. "No no!..I mean yes? They...aren't bugs. Or fairies Even. They are the Picori, but Yes. We will be visiting them tonight. Did you bring your camera?"

You smile wide, and nod, holding it up for show. He nods back.

"Fantastic," He smiles. "Let's go"

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"Yipes!" You shriek as you stumble forward over a rock, arms flailing out in front of you.

"Whoah! Careful... "Chuckles Four as he grabs your arm, and pulls you back up to safety. "Try to keep your eyes forward, ok?" He looks at you in the moonlight, and his eyes crinkle with amusement, he absently tucks his hair behind one ear as he studies you.

"I'm sorry," You say, embarrassed as you try to right yourself. "There's just... SO MUCH to see!" You feel your eyes drifting skyward again as a firefly the size of a Volkswagen drifts by lazily bringing its glow into the night. Your gaze follows it.

You hear Four laughs again, a little louder this time. He shakes his head and smiles at you warmly making your heart flutter. "Yeaaah... I remember my first time too. It can be overwhelming. Here.." He says and offers his hand. "So you won't get lost.." You gratefully accept it. "I've got ya.." He grins at you, squeezing your fingers encouragingly, and nods forward with his nose before he begins walking again with confidence. He seemed to know exactly where he was going...

"Have..have you been here before?" You ask as you walk. He chuckles.

"I have... Actually, my first real adventure happened in these very woods... We're going to see some old friends of mine. He smiles and playfully nudges you with his shoulder swinging linked hands like a kid. You've never seen the man so at ease save for maybe when he's in his grandfather's forge.. It does your heart good to see him so in his element.

You walk together for a few more minutes as he fills you in on his previous exploits, how he came to be the bearer of the Four Sword...how it Became the Four Sword in the first place... How he saved his world's version of Zelda from being a stone garden feature for an evil sorcerer when he was only a child... You were astounded. His story was so unlike any of the others. You never knew... He always played his past so close to the chest...You like him opening up to you like this, and hope he'll do it more. Finally, he stops before a thick patch of leaves and seems to take a deep breath... He looks at you and grins broadly.

"Are you ready?"

You nod, eyes wide.

He pushes aside a large leaf to show a path, lit with bioluminescent mushrooms like streetlamps, that curled into a quaint little collection of odd-looking houses and buildings made of various materials (barrels, large mushrooms, a shoe, etc.)

"Welcome to Picori Village!" He sang to you with a little bow.

Chapter Text

As you walk into the Village you can see that there is a series of colorful little lanterns made of a variety of materials; vibrant petals, bits of brightly colored paper, and ribbons are strung between the buildings giving everything a celebratory air. You can hear music coming from somewhere nearby and ask Four about it. He smiles at you and gives your hand a squeeze.

"Tonight is special, it is the summer strawberry festival!" There will be lots of lovely berries and berry-based dishes to try, games...dances. The works! It was part of why I was so excited to share this with you!"

"Strawberry Festival?" You ask in wonder.

"Yeah!" he answers excitedly, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. "You'll see! It's one helluva party!" He grins and tugs you along the brightly lit corridor of cute little homes. As you walk the music gets louder and you can smell something wonderful...

The little alley opens into a bright open square. Little booths line the entrance on all sides leading to a round stone center where you first really get to see them.

They are almost mouse-like..but..not. They are beautiful and strange, elfin and terribly cute. They wear leafy smocks of green red and gold and tiny red caps. You watch in rapt silence as the crowd dances in the square and plays games at the little booths, and eats delicious-looking strange foods. They chirp and laugh and sing...it's Magical.

Four grins as he spies your reaction. He gives you only a moment to take in the scene before he gently tugs your arm. "C'mon! Let's go check it all out!" he crows, laughing. Drawing the attention of many of the group. They look up in surprise and you worry for a moment that they will run away again, but they cheer and crowd the two of you, chirping excitedly.

"Ahoy-Hoy!" Four laughs as the Picori charge him, touching his face and hair and tunic. He seems delighted by their reception. Each of the crowd comes up and gently bumps foreheads with him in what you assume is a cultural greeting for the Picori.

"The Hero! The Hero is back! And for the Celebration of the Berries no less!

"Ohh! Happy day! Elder will be so pleased" They hop in place and twirl in delight"

One of the Minish notices you and points you out to the crowd and they go Wild.

"A mate! The Hero has brought his mate!" one of them calls out drawing yet more curious Picori.

"A lovely mate for a lovely Hero! Oh, Happy Day! Happy Day!"

Link is laughing and turning beet-red but cannot get a word in edge-wise so he just kind of rolls with it...

"What are they saying!?" You laugh, listening to the strange syllables and chirps. Enjoying but not understanding a word...

"Um.." Four blushes harder and starts to stammer. He'd forgotten that you would not be able to understand them, and he didn't have a jabber nut to give you.. Perhaps the elder might have one! He listens to the thronging crowd still crowing and shouting about his newfound mate... Then again, he thinks to himself. Perhaps it is better this way? He feels the heat burning in his cheeks and catches your happy, oblivious face as they crowd you, touching your hair and face and hands. Yeeeeaah..It is Definitely better this way, he thinks. He hopes you will have fun anyway. By the look of things you are.

Suddenly the reveling crowd lifts the two of you onto their shoulders and carries you off into the dance square, singing and hooting and chirping excitedly. He reaches for your hand, and you reach back. Your fingers brush, but miss as you are raised up and down over the crowd as they dance about to the music. Link seems giddy, he can't stop laughing, and neither can you. You can't believe this is happening! Everything is so loud and strange and colorful. You soak in every detail... You know you will treasure this night forever.

Finally, they set you down together in the middle of the floor. Music is filling the air, and the crowd of Minish begins to pair off and dance a fast twirling dance around you. Link reaches out a hand again as the music swells; a lively beat. This time you reach back and connect. He doesn't hesitate, he begins to twirl you around too and he joins the dance. You laugh as the world around you spins away and there is only Four before you. He is laughing too. His eyes sparkle, a vibrant rotation of happy hues. You dance and dance until you are both out of breath.

Chapter Text

"This...Is Uh-MAZING!" You say through a mouthful of a sweet berry cake that four procured from a nearby booth. It is filled with a sweet custardy crème and is perhaps the best treat you have ever had. After all the dancing, picture taking, and excitement the two of you were feeling peckish and this was just the thing.

He laughs, delighted by your enthusiasm, and lightly shoulder checks you. "I'm so glad you like it! I was hoping you would..." He pops a piece into his own mouth, savoring the sweetness...the warm summer night..the lights and music and laughter... and just the time spent with you. He leans his head back as a gentle breeze sweeps through ruffling his long hair, and smiles. Suddenly a light touch soft against his cheek causes him to open his eyes again. He is surprised to see that it's you, tucking his hair back behind his ear. He blushes.

"Oh! Um..sorry, I just, I saw that it had slipped and I know you've been wearing it back like that most of today so I-...uh... I'm sorry."

He covers your soft hand with his rough callused one and presses it to his cheek, His eyes a vivid blue hue.. He smiles, somewhat bashfully. "Do you.. um, like it better back?"

"No!" You practically shout, taking him aback. "I-I mean yes, but...I like your hair all ways... I like You always and I mean it's your hair and I-I......." You freeze when you realize what you had just said.

He looks just as startled. His big eyes now Huge, a splendid pinwheel of shifting colors sweeps over them, flickering like divine fire. His mouth falls open and he drops your hand.

A small involuntary sound escapes your lips and you turn away hiding your face...You've done it now. You just had to go and ruin a perfect night by opening your big stupid-

You feel his hand gently on your shoulder, as he tries to turn you back towards him, "Hey.." he says softly. You give in and turn back towards him still covering your eyes.

"I-I' so sorry," You stammer. "I-"

He doesn't let you finish. You feel his lips on yours. Soft, warm...and light as a feather. Your eyes pop open surprised. He draws back, blushing hard, with a shy gentle smile on his face.

"I...I like you too" He almost whispers, and takes your hands in his again...but different this time, almost reverently. He runs the pad of his thumb over your knuckles and you both look at your hands for a long moment. His scarred and tan from years of heavy use.. The hands of a blacksmith... of a warrior, a man with years of hard travel under his belt. Then there are your own; softer, gentle.. the hands of someone who spend most of their life in relative safety, with a roof and a warm bed.. resting within his. He looks at them longingly. You feel suddenly bolder. You scootch just a tad closer on the little bench that you share and take his face in your hands. He looks up into your eyes, his own a hopeful swirl of colors.

"I'm glad.." you whisper back and rest your head against his for a moment. You both close your eyes and you lean in for a deeper kiss. He melts into it and brings his own hands up to gently cup your own face, just under your chin. You stay like that for a long moment, sitting under the stars.

"Erhem."

You both look up to the sound of a polite cough to see the Minish Elder, standing before you with a bemused expression on his face...

Chapter Text

Four jumps to his feet, and bows so you follow suit.

"Oh, g-good evening Sir!" He stammers and the older Picori laughs.

"So..the rumor is true..you have indeed brought your mate.. I am so glad. It is long that I have known you Hero...and it is good to see that you have found such a lovely partner." He inclines his head in a nod of respect. "I have a gift for you young one please come with me.."

The Old Picori turns slowly and shuffled back towards his home. Four gives you an apologetic smile as he makes to follow. He squeezes your hand.

"What was all that about?" You ask.

Four, sort of shuffles from one for to the other for a moment and then curls one foot around the other ankle. "I-...ah, erm- I'll be right back." He says. "Just...wait here for me?"

You smile and nod. He smiles back and turns, running after the Minish elder. "I'll wait for you.." You say softly, long after he is out of earshot.

Link arrives at the Minish Elder's house and knocks softly on the door. A muffled 'Please come in.' issues from within. He opens the door to see the Picori man smiling at him like a proud parent.

"Link...it is good to see you grown and happy. I remember when you first came to my village so many years ago, you were but a child. You came for the sword that would save your kingdom's princess." He nods at Four's back. "I see you still carry the sword. And it like you, has grown in its strength and power... Your masterful work and dedication has brought out its full potential." He reaches into the fold of his robe and withdraws a small pouch. "You are a fine young man, Link... Hero. You are and have always been a friend to the Picori, and it is my honor to give you this." He hands Four the small leather bag.

Four opens it and his eyes go wide, he opens his mouth to speak but no words come out. Within the bag are two halves of a golden kinstone...but it is unlike any that he has ever seen..intricately carved and beautiful..it shines in the low light of the candlelit room. The elder continues;

"This kinstone is very special. It was carved with the techniques of the Picori masters of old by our own craftsmen. Only I and the masters themselves keep them and know their potential... I give these when a member of our tribe has chosen their mate. Each is given one half and they pair them when they take their vows. This one I had made for you long ago. And I am delighted to finally be able to give it to you."

He smiles at Four like a proud parent and presses his forehead to the top of Link's head.

"Th-Thank you..." was all that Four managed to get out. He was breathless. "Thank you so much..."

"It is my honor, child..." He smiles, crinkling his eyes. "Now... go to them, your partner is waiting for you."

Four nods and bows his farewell to the old man and steps outside, still a little breathless. He looks once more into the bag with the kinstone and sees them shine their promise up at him. A little thrill runs up his spine. He tugs the bag carefully into the little pouch on his belt before he sets off with a purpose to return to your side...

He isn't sure exactly when he will present you with your half..or even if you will accept it. He hopes that you will. He knows in his heart that you are the one. Yes...this much he knows is true. He will wait for the perfect moment... and present you with your half of the betrothal stone. He doesn't know exactly what will happen. But he knows you, and he knows what he wants. He grins to himself as he sees you again.

The Minish children seem to have discovered you being unattended and took it upon themselves to make a flower crown for you. Now they were trying to teach you a little Picori kid's game with their tiny hands that seemed to be somewhat similar to 'patty-cakes' with elements of 'cat's cradle'. It looked a little complicated and he could tell you were being very patient with the little ones. You look up at him and beam as he approached. He rests his hand on the pouch on his belt as he walks up as if to make sure it is still there. It is... and there it will remain until the time is right.

One of the children jumps from your lap to barrel into Four's leg almost bowling him over. The little one excitedly chirps at him that he has a kinstone and pulls out a shiny red one.

"Please Mr. hero can we fuse kinstones?" The child asks earnestly.

Four laughs and nods, eyeing the shape of the boy's piece and reaches into his bag with a practiced hand feeling for the right-edged piece with his fingertips. He finds a match and presents it to the boy who crows with delight. The duo press the pieces together and they fuse in a shower of magical sparks before the stone disappears. The child jumps up and down in his excitement and hugs Four's leg once more in thanks before running of to go find out what his gift was. The other children follow, laughing and jostling all wanting to know.

"What was that about?" you laugh as Four takes his old seat beside you.

He smiles and explains what kinstones are and how they work. You are delighted.

"I hope I find one someday too..." You say wistfully and look up at the starry sky with a soft small smile.

Four looks at you for a long moment admiring your profile... You really are breathtaking. He feels so lucky.

"You will..." He simply says and savors the smile you give him in return.

"What exactly happens when they fuse?" You ask earnestly, looking at him, causing his heart to beat faster... He wants to kiss you again. He scoots closer. You do the same.

"It varies but one thing is always certain." He cups your cheek with his hand as he leans in. "When two people fuse kinsones 'something good' always happens for them..."

He leans in closer to you and presses his lips to yours again in a gentle kiss. You stay like that for a long moment, and then rest your head on his shoulder. He wraps an arm around your shoulder and pulls you closer against him resting his head on yours.

You sigh, as the two of you watch the festival carry on before you. "That sounds nice.. especially after everything that's been happening...all the fighting and such. I think we're due for 'something good.'"

He gives you a squeeze in response and you snuggle closer." Yeah... me too."

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