Chapter Text
"Link...This place is kinda scary..."
Zelda shivered, and her eyes darted around the trees, examining every single one to see if they had anything hiding in them; especially rats. The air did seem colder and the breeze was definitely harsher, but Link kept walking along.
"What do you mean? You're dead, Princess! Nothing beats scary more than a spoooky haunting soul!"
He replied amused. Zelda let out a tiny snort, and Link bursted out into a loud, childish, laugh. Zelda rolled her eyes, "Be quiet train boy. You're talking to the Princess, you know? Show some more respect," she scoffed and crossed her arms, looking to the side, but gave up the act and laughed along with him.
"So...when do we get back to the train and head to the snow realm?"
She asked Link, trying to hide the urgency in her voice to not get another smirk out of him. "I mean, I thought we'd get there fairly quickly but I kinda got lost..." He said, biting his lip. Zelda's expression changed quickly, "You WHAT!? I thought this was your hometown! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU 'GOT LOST??'"
He pulled his hands off of his ears and muttered a tiny, "Sheesh..." under his breath. Stopping, he turned to face Zelda, "Well first of all, calm down. Second, it's not my fault! We walked out of Old Man Niko's house, and I dunno what happened, but here we are. Did you notice anything strange happen?"
Zelda softened, but tilted her head to the side, confused, "How could that happen though? Sure, me being dead and now some ancient demon trying to possess my body is super weird, but this is just crazy! Are you feeling alright? Are you sure we didn't just accidentally walk into a forest?" She asked with concern.
"I'm almost positive I didn't black out." He paused. "Take that back, I'm feeling a bit lightheaded now-" Link's hand grabbed his head as he felt lighter. Squeezing his eyes shut, a headache started to form. "Greaaaat..." He groaned, "Welp, we might be screwed now. Sorry."
She sighed, "All this traveling about must've gotten to you. Why don't you take a rest, I'll keep watch since ghosts don't sleep," she offered, winking. Link's cheeks turned a light shade of red, but hid it before Zelda noticed. "Sounds good. I need sleep BIG time," he chuckled as he curled up next to a nearby tree.
"G'night, Princess."
"Um- G-goodnight Link...!"
The next few seconds were filled with awkward silence, but Zelda relaxed once Link's breathing got deeper, meaning he was asleep. Realizing she had nothing to do, Zelda started thinking about the events of today. Dying for the first, and what should've been the only time.
"But I still exist. I'm not alive, but I'm also not a nobody," she said to herself.
Out if the corner of her eye, she noticed something move. Freezing, she slowly turned towards the movement. Zelda braced herself for whatever would come out, but-
"Grandfather!?"
Zelda pulled back, eyes wide and astounded. The spirit put on a smug grin and shrugged lightly,
"That would be me."
"B-but you're not supposed to be here! You're dead!"
He smirked, "Well you're supposed to be alive, and yet here we are," he spread his arms out, motioning to the nearby foliage. Deadpanning, as she was once again corrected about her existence, she took a step towards him. "You look a bit...younger...than the photos," she said, taking a closer look at him.
"Oh that's just rude, Zelda," he crossed his arms, as he teased her, "You're right though. I'm not as...old...as you probably would've known me. Death - or should I say - real death has interesting effects. So that's why I look the same age as your boyfriend over there," he nodded his head at Link, who was sound asleep.
Zelda instantly turned red, "I- Wh- How did you know!?" The spirit laughed a hearty laugh. "Zelda, a spirit knows many secrets," he held his finger up to his mouth. "That is but one of them. Sadly, most of the things I know aren't as cute as that," he sighed and frowned.
"So Grandf-" Zelda was cut off by him when he raised his hand, "Please, call me Wind," he corrected. "A-alright...Er...So Wind. Do you know how we got here?" She asked. Wind nodded, "Actually, I brought you two here. It's an odd place; the exact thin line between the living and the spirit worlds. That's why Link felt lightheaded; living people shouldn't be here, and therefore feel sick if they stay too long," he explained.
Zelda blinked once, and then a second time. She narrowed her eyes, "And how did you think this would be a good idea to introduce yourself? We're trying to chase a great evil and destroy it, and you thought it'd be good idea to come and say 'hello'!?" She glared at him.
"You sure have your Grandmother's temper, don't you?" Wind teased, and let out a small laugh while Zelda fumed. "You're right though. That was bad judgement on my hand, sorry," he scratched the back of his head, apologetically. "It's fine I suppose..." She puffed her cheeks.
"So, what's going on?"
Both heads turned to the tree where Link was. Link was sitting up, a small smug grin on his face. Zelda's face turned red again,
"How long have you been up!?"