At roughly 2:00am, Link woke up. He felt completely refreshed and felt he could run for hours. He deliberately fell asleep very early to avoid having a certain conversation with the girls. So that's why I woke up at 2:00am he thought. He needed the bathroom, but it might wake the girls, so he went outside. He found a good bush and did his thing.

"You know he's avoiding it"

"Yes, I know"

"He's getting older, he has to choose soon."

"Yeah. We have to corner him somehow."

Malon and Zelda were sitting next to the window watching the silhouette of Link in the bushes.

"Maybe we should to talk to him" suggested Malon.

Zelda shook her head.

"No, it needs to be subtle; we can't just force the decision on him.

"He'll choose you, you know." said Malon quietly.

"What? Why?"

"Why would he choose a poor farm girl, when he could have a wealthy princess?"

Zelda smiled at her friends irrational fears.

"Malon, I don't think Link is that kind of guy."

"You're right, I'm sorry, I was being silly. It's just... I can't stop thinking about him..."

At that moment, Zelda knew that Malon was made for Link.

"You go talk to him, Malon"

Malon looked at Zelda and she understood instantly.

"This won't change us will it?"

Zelda smiled.

"Not at all"

They hugged then Malon left the room.

Zelda knew now that the only reason she had pined over Link was because he was her knight in shining armor. He was the one who always saved her from evil. But it was a girlish fantasy and nothing more.

She smiled sadly over the time she could have looked for her own knight in shining armor. But she felt no jealousy.

None at all.

Malon waited for Link to finish buckling his belt. She began to worry. What if he doesn't love me? What if he loves Zelda? What if...but her worries drowned in Links blue eyes as he turned around.

They just stood there for a while.

Then they both ran forward and hugged. After a moment, Link stepped back and held her at arms length.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked.

"Ever since we met"

"So be it"

They both leant forward.

Their lips met.

The months passed quickly, with autumn fast approaching.

Link, Malon, Zelda, Mimi, Saria and of course, Epona, were spending one of the last good days of sun before autumn came.

They had a big picnic blanket and towels for when they swam. Link was wearing his green board shorts that came down to his shins; Mimi, Malon and Zelda were wearing bikinis colored to match their region. Mimi was green, Zelda was gold and Malon was red. Saria was wearing her green water-proof tunic bathers.

Link was lying on his back with his hands behind his head with his eyes closed. Malon was snuggled up beside him.

Lake Hylia was beautiful during the spring, the sun shone on the water and it sparkled all the colors of the rainbow. Fairies tended to gather here at this time of year.

Mimi walked up to Link and Malon.

"Hey lovebirds, wanna go try to catch a fairy?" Mimi asked.

"Nah, I'm fine right here" said Link.

"So am I" said Malon with a giggle. Then Link rolled over and they began making out.

Mimi rolled her eyes and left to ask Saria.

"Hey Saria, wanna go try and catch a fairy?"

"Sure!" Saria put down the book she had been reading and followed Mimi into the lake. They chased fairies for half an hour before flopping on the grass panting and laughing.

"Hey Saria," said Malon, with a thoughtful face on.

"Yes?"

"You're Kokori, right? But how can you go outside the forest?"

"It's the Sages power that I added to Links power all those years ago, as long as I'm near Link, as in, a few hundred meters, then I won't be hurt."

"Cool. Hey, Linkers, when's your birthday?" asked Malon.

Before he could answer Mimi called out

"LINKERS?!?" she then fell into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

Link became defensive.

"Well your nickname is just the person you care about most!"

Mimi was confused.

"What? Me?" she said falling into his trap.

"Exactly! You care about yourself most!"

Everybody laughed. But Malon was confused.

"If Mimi is her nickname, then what's her real name?" she asked.

"Mimian!" said Link trying to control his laughter.

Then Malon joined in the laughing.

But Mimi looked explosive.

"Well I think you're all a bunch of jerks!" she yelled, then stormed off.

"You had better go talk to her." Said Link to Malon as Malon was Mimi's closest friend, as they both spent countless hours talking about horses and finding their true love. You know, boring stuff like that.

Malon found Mimi sitting on a ledge looking out across the lake.

She sat down beside her.

"You and Link always argue and call each other names, why is this bothering you so much?" Malon asked.

"It's not that, I've just seen how happy you and Link are, and I really want that kind of happiness." replied Mimi.

"Don't worry; I'm sure your true love is out there somewhere. Now come back to the group, were about to eat."

"Ok."

When they returned to the others, Malon remembered what she asked Link before Mimi called out.

"So Link, when is your birthday?" she asked.

"August 11th." he said

"But, that's only a week from now!" she exclaimed.

"Really?" Link said. He never really acknowledged his birthday, since no-one got him anything when he was little, so to him it was just a normal day.

"Link, did you know that seventeen is the legal marriage age?" Malon hinted inconspicuously.

Link grinned at her.

"Really?" he feigned ignorance. "I will have to look into that."

They both smiled at each other and began kissing again.

Mimi rolled her eyes at them then unpacked some food for them. Zelda began walking up from the lake, having finished her swim.

"Hey Zelda, do you know of a way to drag them apart to eat?" asked Mimi, gesturing over her shoulder at the two love-struck teenagers.

"I grew up with Link, I know how to get his attention." said Zelda.

Mimi raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Hey Link, want some roasted Cucco?" said Zelda, offering a plate of food.

Links stomach growled loudly. He shrugged apologetically at Malon, before tucking in to the food.

"You're a walking stomach, Link!" laughed Mimi.

"Hi ust oyj my frd" he replied with his mouth full. He swallowed, and then tried again.

"I just enjoy my food"

"A little too much if you ask me" said Zelda and they all laughed.

Just then, an arrow whizzed past and thudded in the ground a few centimeters away from where Link was. He jumped up and looked for the source. It was the Gerudo woman again!

"This lady just doesn't give up..." he said as another arrow flew past him.

He put his fingers in the closed peace sign, and two seconds later, the ground on which the woman stood was a crater 10 meters wide.

She flew through the air before splashing in to the lake. Everybody laughed and continued eating.

* * *