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Link could consider himself a living reminder that things can and will get better if you give it enough time. Whatever he had been suffering through years ago was like an old, nightmarish memory to him now.

Graduation was today, and all the students of Hyrule High were clothed in the appropriate outfits for such an occasion. They wore their special hats for the graduation ceremony, the ceremonial gowns a navy blue color and adorning every person in the student body. Groups of students laughed and joked together, sharing memories from the four years of high school and predicting what their future would end up being like.

However, Link was the wallflower in this situation, as per usual. Although his mind was calm and peaceful now, that didn't mean his hate for huge public events diminished. Even before what happened years ago, he had always been a quieter person. Making a big scene and socializing with everyone he saw wasn't his priority. Then, there was the common stage fright—what if he tripped over his own shoes while accepting his diploma? That'd be embarrassing, and surely he'd be known as the clumsiest person to accept a diploma.

He also knew he was overthinking the situation. Another part of his conscious told him that he would do this perfectly without any fault. Everyone would cheer and clap, or just clap, but, they wouldn't laugh at a mishap he performed.

Standing up, he acknowledged a red Zora man rushing over to him with a very happy look in his eyes. This was Sidon, the slightly younger brother of Mipha, one of Zelda's good friends. Link didn't know how it happened, but he ended up becoming great friends with this overly-positive Zora.

"Link! Oh, aren't you excited?" Sidon exclaimed. He was so much taller than Link, and that was something the smaller Hylian teen noticed frequently.

"Mhm," Link mumbled. "When is it starting again?"

"Right now, actually," Sidon said, that positive smile never leaving his face. "I wanted to come and get you so you wouldn't be late."

"I appreciate it," Link said, his hands growing clammy as they began to enter the auditorium together.

There were so many people in this room, as opposed to the hallway that Link and a handful of other students lingered in moments prior to now. Everyone was shouting and yelling with excitement, and a small group of Zora girls began to squeal when Sidon came into their view. That was his small fan club, as they deemed themselves—the number one fans of Sidon to ever exist! Sidon was flattered that he had a fan club running just for him, but was also a bit disturbed by it. Nobody else had a fan club for just their being, not that he knew of.

"So many people..." Link commented under his breath.

Sidon suddenly turned to face Link, grabbing both of his hands. "Link! Please do not worry about this event, I assure you - and I know it! - that you'll be fine! You're amazing! You're incredible! I support you so-"

Link nervously laughed at his friend's overexcitement and positivity. Sidon was truly a wonderful person and Link was glad that they were friends. Aside from his constant reminders to Link that he was "amazing," Sidon was just a great person in general.

His older sister came running over to the two of them, followed by Midna and Zelda. Sidon let go of Link's hands and smiled at everyone.

When Link laid his eyes on Zelda, he felt a lot calmer in this situation. Zelda easily noticed his how antsy he was acting, smiling warmly and taking his hand in hers. Without hesitation, they intertwined their hands together, Zelda leaning her head on Link's shoulder.

Mipha was elated for them, and she had been since they became official last year in the beginning of eleventh grade. Her small crush on Link did diminish over time—letting him go would be the best thing to do, perhaps, rather than become jealous over her friend. Besides, Mipha didn't need someone like Link any longer. She had Midna, now.

At the same time, Midna began to talk about how Link and Zelda were soulmates, her eyes filled with happiness whenever she spoke of their love. Zelda grinned at this and remembered all the times Midna had spoke of desperately desiring a significant other. It made Zelda happy to know that Midna had finally found someone.

Just as Midna delved into the topic of how they first met, according to what she knew, the principal of their school stood up on the stage and tapped the microphone. All the students huddled up into the middle of the room, as they were told to do, and anxiously awaited for their names to be called.

In just moments, they would become official adults. Both Zelda and Link found this idea to be rather scary, but they were very hopeful about their future.

They knew they'd be spending it together, of course.

Ganondorf Dragmire, principal of Hyrule High, tried to smile the most welcoming and appealing smile he could muster. His neutral facial expression was a scary sight for many, and trying to make that seem welcoming could be a challenge for the older Gerudo man.

"Ahem," he began, tapping the microphone a couple of times to make sure it was working properly. When it made a loud, squeaking noise - every student (aside from Zelda, of course) covered their ears - he knew it was working dandily.

Link nervously watched their principal speak, soon beginning to call out everyone's names. Varieties of students stepped onto the stage effortlessly, graciously taking their hard-earned diplomas and flashing overwhelmingly happy smiles towards the crowd. People cheered for everyone—such a positive moment, and Link even considered the fact that the entire student body would go dead silent once he took his.

That time did come though, and Mr. Dragmire announced his name to the school. People began to cheer as they did for everyone else, much to his shock, as Link stood up from the folding chair he was sitting in.

Zelda quickly stood up and caught him before he could disappear, placing a delicate kiss on his lips before he walked away.

Love stricken and blushing, Link smiled the happiest smile she had ever seen him wear.

Midna had screamed when they kissed again, while their other friends ushered for Link to "get his ass on the stage."

He did as told, obviously, walking up to Mr. Dragmire as calmly as he could, despite how much he was screaming on the inside. Zelda's love for him made him feel a bit more calm, but nonetheless he was petrified. All eyes were on him, and if he did anything stupid, the people with those glowing eyes would laugh, surely.

Mr. Dragmire handed Link his diploma, shaking his hand afterwards.

"I'm suppose I could say I'm proud of you," muttered the principal under his breath. "Good job."

With a smile, Link nodded as thanks, staring back at the student body to see them still cheering and smiling. Just as they had been doing for the heaps of students before him.

The rows of teachers clapped behind him, and Link even heard Mr. Ghirahim crying.

"All my students - grown up! Such a touching moment for my poor, dead soul!" his flamboyant teacher wept, with the comfort of his blue haired wife there to support him.

Zelda was just smiling tenderly from afar. She couldn't express her emotions right now; she was the one to watch him grow from being a hopeless and cowardly soul, to the happy person he was now. She was grateful that he had finally found peace in his own mind.

And when Link saw her smile, he could only think - she has a smile like the sun.

He rushed back over to Zelda, the cheers of the students having died down and awaiting the next person to receive their diploma.

Eagerly awaiting his return, Zelda immediately flung her arms around his neck when he was beside her, snuggling her face into his chest.

Link held her as close as possible, heart soaring and that contagious smile of his never leaving his face.

"Aw, look at them," Midna cooed, only Mipha overhearing her fawn over the couple.

Midna dramatically placed her hand over her heart, and then grazed her fingers over Mipha's shoulder. "You know, Mipha, I'm glad I trusted my instincts back in ninth grade."

"Your instincts?" Mipha repeated with her soft voice and sighed into the touch.

"Mhm." Midna nodded, looking down at Mipha. "I did ship them a bit in ninth grade, and I was hoping something would happen. I'm glad things did happen, but it took so long."

Mipha chuckled. "Almost four years too long."

"Reminds me of that game Zelda likes, the one that was delayed for three years," Midna chimed in with a laugh.

Mipha and Midna began to chat about anything that came to mind, occasionally cheering whenever someone else received their diploma. Out of the corner of her eye, Zelda watched with a grin as Midna sneakily (or not so sneakily) intertwined her fingers with Mipha's.

Zelda and Link were only chatting amongst themselves now. He put his arm around her shoulders as she signed to him, listening raptly. She was used to the slight, innocent touches and other physical contact he was comfortable doing around her, and yet, even after being in a relationship for so long now, it still sent shivers down her spine and tinged her cheeks red.

"I'm nervous to get my diploma," Zelda signed with, all of a sudden, scared eyes.

"I was too, obviously," Link replied. "Just breathe, I know you'll be fine up there. I'll cheer you on from afar, like you did for me!"

"How sweet," she commented, putting her hands down and looking at the stage for a moment and then back at Link. "You're turning into Sidon."

"No way! I'm not that cheerful," Link instantly declined. Zelda chuckled internally, facing the stage once more.

Mipha had just walked up there, smiling volatility as she held her newly earned diploma. Just after she walked off the stage, moments later, Sidon waltzed up there jubilantly. It was clear to anyone that knew the two Zora siblings that Sidon was the extrovert, while Mipha was the introvert.

Just don't overthink it, Zelda reminded herself, slightly turning her head to face Link. He was staring straight ahead at the stage, clapping for his friends, his arm no longer around her shoulders. She couldn't help but smile at how happy he looked, looking back down at her feet and feeling her smile drop.

Link was able to do it, so I can too, she thought. I got this.

Just as those words flew across her mind, Link enveloped her in a tight, but comforting hug.

Her eyes shot upwards, and everyone was cheering and looking straight at her. Had the principal called her name?

Hoping that her theory was incorrect, she looked over Link's shoulder and saw the rest of her friends staring at her and cheering wildly. Link finally let go of her, looking more excited for his girlfriend than he was for his own graduation.

Zelda forced a smile, which turned into a genuine one once Link planted a quick kiss on her lips. When he pulled away she simpered, then shuffling through the rows of people and making her way to the stage.

She didn't know if the cheering had died down or not. That was her problem—she could only read facial expressions. Zelda didn't know whether or not they were laughing at her or cheering.

Mr. Dragmire tapped her shoulder, startling the brunette and making her turn to face him. With a grin, he handed Zelda her rightfully earned diploma.

Zelda turned around and faced the crowd once more, trying her best to spot out Link before she did anything else. Indeed he was cheering her on more passionately than everyone else, smiling one of those genuine smiles that she loved.

It made her all giddy inside when she realized how much she loved him, and how she always noticed the small, itty bitty things about him. Things that made her love him even more.

Stepping off of the stage, she skipped back over to her friends, only to be bombarded in a friendly, yet suffocating, group hug.

Well, Sidon just stood there awkwardly, since he didn't know Zelda that well. However, his older sister noticed him just standing there like that, and she grinned; gesturing for him to join the group hug, he did so reluctantly.

The graduation ceremony ended a few hours later, with the entire student body throwing their hats in the air and yelling with joy in their hearts.

Link, Zelda, and everyone else decided that they would plan a celebration party of some sort soon.

"Why can't we do it tonight?" Midna whined, feeling a bit bummed out when Zelda told her the plan.

"You know...I want to spend time with that idiot over there," Zelda signed back, then pointing over at Link, who was happily conversing with Mipha and Sidon.

Midna playfully rolled her eyes, her signature smirk appearing on her face. "Well, you two have fun. Not in that way, though. Not yet."

"Midna..." Zelda signed half heartedly, her face increasingly turning the same color of a tomato.

"Your face!" Midna laughed, then wrapped her arm around her best friend's shoulder. Zelda looked up, her face still covered in red.

"We're definitely gonna do something over the summer, alright?" Midna signed, removing her arm from Zelda's shoulder.

Her blush slowly disappearing, Zelda nodded firmly at her friend's words. "Of course!"

The silly aura between them died down, and they both smiled thoughtfully at each other. An overwhelming mix of all sorts of emotions captured both of them, and only Zelda felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

"We've stuck together for a long time, haven't we?" Midna reminisced, holding her arms out to Zelda, who was full-on crying now.

Zelda just nodded, wrapping her arms around the figure of her best friend. She was so, so incredibly grateful to have someone like Midna in her life, someone who had stuck with her since their old elementary days. Why, Zelda herself believed that she didn't deserve someone as amazing as Midna in her life, but here she was.

She continued to weep in her best friend's arms, until Midna pulled her away.

"Hey! Don't cry," she immediately signed, staring worriedly at the tears stained on Zelda's rosy cheeks.

"Midna, thank you for existing in my life," Zelda said, wiping her tears away afterwards and mustering a smile, despite her nostalgic and happy tears. "And thank you for holding on to me for so long."

Midna smiled one of those caring smiles, a rarity to see. "Same with you, Zelda. You're my best friend, okay? You always will be."

After Zelda and Midna's emotional departure (even though they'd be seeing each other in a few days), everyone bid their saddened goodbyes to each other and went on their way. Midna and Mipha opted to go home together, with Sidon tagging along, of course. Others simply dissipated from the school.

Link had already started up the car, with Zelda sitting beside him in the passenger seat. She was staring out the window and at the sunset ahead, admiring the beauty and colors that they sky produced this evening.

He wistfully admired her, not even daring to compare the skies to her beauty - she'd beat the sky, and even the moon, in a pretty contest.

Zelda blinked, summoning herself out of the trance she was encased in. After regaining her sense of reality, she turned to face Link and smiled lightly at him, to which he returned that with a smile of his own. One of his comforting and caring smiles, the kind that was so sweet only upon viewing.

They decided on spending the night at Link's house, as scheduled beforehand. Link's parents were ecstatic to have Zelda spend the night at their house and to properly meet her this time. They had met her before, but it was only brief occasions at school and such. Link only feared the antics that Aryll would make up when Zelda was there with them.

Pulling into the driveway of his home, Zelda jumped out of the car, Link following close behind her.

They entered through the garage, taking off their shoes upon entering. While Link began to walk off into the living room dully, Zelda admired his home and looked around with every chance she got.

The first person she got to meet was Aryll, of course, who came bouncing into the living room with her friend, Tetra.

"Oh, there's Link," Tetra commented under her breath, and Aryll ran up to her older brother.

"How was graduation? What does it feel like to be an old man, now?" Aryll asked her questions with such excitement.

Link glared at her. "I'm not an old man, not yet."

"You're not even in school anymore, so you're considered an old man in my eyes," Aryll said matter-of-factly, triumphantly crossing her arms over each other.

Then, she looked at Zelda. "Wow! Zelda changed a lot since I last saw her!"

She walked up to Zelda, to which the brunette girl discovered that she didn't have to kneel down to reach Aryll's height. A smile graced her lips as they shook hands.

Aryll pulled her hand away. "I learned two sentences for Zelda, in sign language."

"Nice to meet you," Aryll began with her signs, carefully examining her hands to make sure she was doing this correctly.

"And thank you for making my brother happy," she finished off, and she smiled kindly at Zelda. Seeing her do such a thing was a rare sight for Link, but he easily read the words she had said to his girlfriend.

I can't tear up again, Zelda thought grumpily to herself, deciding to just hug Aryll back in reality. She contained her tears easily, somehow.

Zelda was able to meet both of Link's parents next, which was not as bad as she had imagined. Although she was nervous through the whole thing, Link easily translated her words to his parents, and vice versa to her. So, it really went well. Not that bad.

Both of his parents could tell that they just wanted to spend alone time together, so that ended their small discussion. They bid a goodbye to the two lovesick adults-to-be, watching them trek up the stairs.

Link lead Zelda to his room, opening the door and entering. Upon doing so, Link spread his arms out wide and mockingly showcased his normal looking room.

Zelda giggled a bit when she noticed his act. He showed her the small TV he never used, his desk (where lots of writing was produced), his radio, his bookshelf, and his movie collection. And last but not least, his full sized bed, complete with mounds of green blankets. Most of which were lazily hanging off the actual frame and covering the floor.

"This is cozy," Zelda commented, casually sitting on the edge of his bed. When she felt her figure sink into the mattress, it didn't take long for her to find a comfortable position on the marvelous thing.

Link smiled at her excitement over the mattress, and sat on the edge of his bed, crossing one leg over his other leg. He watched Zelda struggle to become comfortable for a few seconds, but she eventually found her way. The next thing she did was grab one of the many pillows on the bed, laying it over her face and practically suffocating herself.

Chuckling internally, Link climbed onto his bed and laid down beside her, resting his head on the other pillow he owned and keeping his back against the bed.