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“Come on, haven't you ever wanted to do a train heist?”
Zelda looked at Link critically. “I'm a princess, why would I ever need do a train heist? Also, you're a train engineer, shouldn't you be against train heists on general principle?”
Zelda’s less than enthusiastic response did absolutely nothing to dampen Link’s excitement about the idea. “I didn't ask if you needed to do a train heist, just if you wanted to. Like daydreaming about daring adventures! Showcasing your extremely specific skills! Teamwork!”
“You've been listening to too many pirate stories.”
“You can never listen to too many pirate stories. Come on, there's treasure to be had! Also I need your smarts to refine the plan.”
Zelda laughed. “Of course you do. Well, I suppose I do like treasures... I can at least listen to this plan of yours.”
Link gave a little jump of excitement. “Okay, so first I'm going to need you to learn to use the cannon on the spirit train.”
“Link, did you somehow forget that I can't work the cannon controls as a spirit?”
“It's a spirit train, you're a spirit. I don't see the problem. Just possess it like you do with the phantoms!”
“I doubt it'll be that easy…” said Zelda, rolling her eyes at him.
But she got the hang of it a lot faster than she expected. Which is when Link sprung the next part of the plan on her.
“I got a letter about a rare dark treasure train near the ocean realm and I want to get what’s on it. You're going to shoot me onto the train,” he said. “They'll never expect it.”
“That's because it's a terrible idea!”
===🚂🚃🚃🚃===
Zelda couldn’t believe she was actually launching Link at a moving, malicious dark train. But with the blueprints they’d acquired from the local train enthusiast and all the practice she’d had launching Link first into the ocean and then into places where he could use his whip to land safely she had to admit the plan was sound enough. Still, her heart lurched as she flew after him him while he landed on the roof of the train care safely. No monsters came to investigate – they probably hadn’t even heard the thump of his feet over the roaring noise from the engine. Zelda moved ahead of him carefully, peeking her head through walls and motioning Link to hide any time someone might come by, and soon enough they reached their destination: a safe hidden in the middle of the train.
Link sat down to try to open it while she kept watch. The mechanism spun quietly and Link had his ear to the door listening for a click. Listening. And listening.
This was taking too long.
“Link”
“Ssh, I can’t hear the mechanism.”
“I could just poke my head into the safe and help you out…”
“No! Don’t look! I can do it!” he hissed.
Zelda rolled her eyes and went back to keeping watch. And waiting. And waiting.
“Are you sure you don’t need help?”
Link grumbled at her. She went back to waiting.
“Link, someone’s going to come. If I promise to only stick my ear in and not look, would that work?”
“Ugh. Okay, if you promise.”
It didn’t take long after that. Click, click, open! Before Zelda could even turn to see Link had stuffed whatever was in the safe into his pouch. “Let’s go, Zelda!”
A careful leap into the water near shore, and they’d left the monster train with no one the wiser. With some careful use of the Whirlwind and the sun, Link managed to get dry and lie back in the grass.
He closed his eyes and looked like he was ready to settle down for a nap. It took only a few more moments before Zelda’s curiosity bubbled over. “Aren’t you going to show me what was in the safe?”
Link opened one eye and grinned at her. “Nope.”
“Link! Really?”
He opened the other eye this time. “Can’t. It’s a surprise.”
Zelda rolled her eyes. “I’m just going to go ask the train guy what treasure trains carry, then.”
Link sat up, “No, don’t do that! Okay, I was going to wait for a special moment but I suppose our first train heist is special enough.”
“First train heist?” Zelda looked at him with concern. “Are you planning more?”
Link grinned at her. “The look in your face! But no, apparently there’s only the one treasure train, so probably this is our only train heist. I guess that makes it more special.”
Then he carefully pulled out the pouch he’d gotten from the safe, and held it up. ‘So, I wanted to get you a present but I know you can’t really hold anything right now, so, uh… I thought I’d give you something symbolic.”
He unwrapped the item within. Rather than a ring or maybe a necklace, what lay in Link’s palm was a heart container.
“It’s, um, meant to represent giving you a piece of my heart.” Link said, his eyes down and his face turning red. “Because as scary as parts of this adventure has been, I like doing things with you and…”
He looked up to meet Zelda’s eyes. She was smiling with small tears sparkling at the edge of her eyes. “Thank you, Link. It’s perfect.” She leaned down to gently plant a ghostly kiss on his forehead. “You’ll always have a piece of my heart too.”