I like this one like a lotttttt here's the studio for more https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/51081222/
Pre-Calamity | Early Field Days | Zelda's POV (mostly) Zelda had ditched him. Technically, she hadn't meant to. But when they arrived near the foothills to survey ancient ruins, Link had gotten distracted-again-by what she called "boring knight things." He was testing climb angles on mossy stone. She was twenty feet ahead, marveling at cracked tiles with faint Sheikah script. Then she realized: no footsteps behind her. She looked back once. Twice. He was gone. Zelda blinked. "Huh." No sigh. No distant boots. No annoying silent presence shadowing her every move. She grinned. She was free. The air in this part of Hyrule was warm and sticky. The ground sloped unevenly, veined with roots. She took careful steps, muttering observations about erosion, listening for birdsong, sketching part of a mural in her notes Then the birds stopped singing. A shadow moved in the trees. She paused. Then heard a low growl. She turned slowly, heart stuttering. A bokoblin stood maybe forty feet away, knobby limbs tense, weapon raised. "Okay," she whispered, backing away. "It's fine. I can escape. I read the tactical retreat scroll- it's fine." Then she stepped on a stick. The bokoblin screamed and charged. Zelda spun, panic blooming. "Link! LINK-oh wait, I left him-oh goddesses-okay, run-run now- She scrambled backward-tripped over a root- then bumped hard into something solid behind her. She yelped and turned, ready to defend herself. And punched it. "GAH-!" It was Link. Zelda gasped as he stumbled slightly, hand to his face, mouth parted in shock. "Oh my goodness-Link!" she squeaked, grabbing his arm. "I thought you were the bokoblin-I didn't mean-I really didn't-are you okay?!" Link was quiet. "You didn't make any sound!" she said, eyes huge. "I thought I was alone-you scared me- and I just panicked-I swear-" He blinked, slowly. "Zelda" he mumbled, rubbing his jaw. Zelda flushed scarlet. "Oh my gosh-I'm so sorry-can you even speak properly right now-wait no don't answer -your face is all red and-OH RIGHT THE MONSTER." She pointed. The bokoblin was still coming. Zelda didn't think. She grabbed Link's hand, still rambling apologies, and bolted down the hill. "We need cover-we need somewhere quiet- I need you to not hate me forever-I'm serious -I didn't mean to-I would never just punch- except apparently I would!" Link didn't answer. Just kept pace silently, hand still in hers. They ducked beneath an overhang, breath tangled and fast. The bokoblin couldn't follow- it got distracted by a squirrel and wandered off. Zelda collapsed to the ground, clutching her knees. "I feel horrible." Link sat down next to her, finally glancing her way. There was a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I've sparred with the captain," he said softly. "Your punch was worse." Zelda groaned. "I should be banned from escort missions." "No," Link said, blinking slowly. "Just maybe warned ahead of time." Zelda looked at him. Then burst out laughing. "I seriously thought I was going to die," she said between giggles. "And I died by punching you." Link chuckled once-barely-but it was there. They sat in silence for a bit longer, breathing and letting the chaos settle. She didn't say it aloud, but this? This was the first time she felt like he actually saw her. Not just the duty. Not just the responsibility. Just her. A flustered girl in the wilds who'd accidentally socked her appointed knight in the jaw. They didn't know it yet-but this was the start of something important.
