A Pre-Malink fluff of Link's first experience with Hylian holidays. I say pre-Malink since I imagine he still would have been a kid
Thanks for the prompt! This was fun to write
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Something strange is happening at Lon Lon Ranch.
Link has been there more often than not this past year. But never has he seen anything like it. One moment, the cozy little home that Talon and Malon share is the same as it has always been. And the next, long strands of spruce have been draped over the doorways and mantel.
There are lights on them too that twinkle like fairies, and little things Malon calls “ornaments.”
(Link thinks they look a bit like miniature versions of the Spiritual Stones he fetched so long ago.)
The lights make their way onto the house and the barn, glittering on the piles of powdery snow. And today the strangest development of all has occurred.
There is a giant pine tree towering over the living room.
He stares up at it, blinking the sleep out of his eyes. How he hadn’t realized it was being constructed during the night, he hasn’t a clue. But here it is…a tree inside of a house.
Link understands a love of trees. After all, he had loved his father and he had been a great big tree. But to decide to stick one in the house…
“Oh fairy boy, how do ya like our Hylia Day tree?”
Malon comes up beside him, bouncing excitedly. He looks over at her, eyes narrowed.
“Hylia Day tree? What’s that?”
Malon tilts her head to gaze up at the tree. Link can’t help but notice how the lights adorning it make her eyes glitter.
“Well, Hylia Day is when we celebrate all the goddess has done for us. And we put up a tree to remember her love for her hero.” She grins at him. “Y’know cause of the green.”
“It’s also cause of the symbolism,” comes Talon’s voice from behind them. They both turn to see the man grinning, two steaming mugs in his hands. “The green is for the new growth Hylia and her hero made possible. The lights are for their sacred powers.”
He shrugs, good naturedly. “But no one really cared about all that anymore. Now it’s just a time for goodwill and celebrating with those you love.”
He sets the two mugs in Malon and Link’s hands.
“Speaking of, it’s a chilly mornin’. Thought you two could use something to warm you up.”
Link stares down into his cup, mouth watering at the scent of chocolate. He has only had this once before, while he was at the castle with Zelda. But he remembers loving it.
He takes a large gulp, then breaks out into a coughing fit as the scalding liquid burns his tongue and throat.
Oh, he’d forgotten about that part.
“You’re forgettin’ about the presents, Father,” Malon says, as she sends Link a sympathetic look. “Don’t drink that so fast, fairy boy! You’ll hurt yourself!”
He gives her a sheepish grin. “I think I already did. Can’t feel my tongue.”
Talon pats him on the back. “It’ll heal up fast, don’t you worry, son. Just take it slower from here on out.”
He turns to Malon, then, smiling. “Ah, yes, the presents. How on earth could I have forgotten? How about you explain that part to our little hero here?”
Malon’s eyes light up. “Alright! Every year around this time, we get each other something nice. We wrap it up all pretty and stick it beneath the tree. Then, on Hylia Day, we get to open our presents!”
Link gnaws his lip, contemplating that. He has received presents before — or what he supposes would count as them — and given them too. But he’s never heard of a day specifically for them.
Now that he thinks of it, though, it sounds promising. On one condition…
He frowns at Malon. “I don’t have to get everyone in Hyrule a present…do I?”
Malon laughs. “Of course not, silly! Just your friends and family.”
Link pauses to think that over, then nods, taking another sip of his cocoa. He can definitely work with that.
Now, to figure out the perfect presents.
…
December 25th rolls around far faster than Link had expected it to. The month has flown by, filled with an odd sort of energy and plenty of things to do. Cookie baking, caroling, wrapping the presents in tidy little packages – the tasks are nothing at all like the drudgery of shoveling snow outside (though he’s found that even that can be made enjoyable if you try). But nothing compares to helping Malon cut stars and wreaths out of soft dough or playing his ocarina while she sings.
(One of the best things about the holiday, he decides, is that Malon sings even more than usual. And though he didn’t think it was possible, her voice is even more beautiful when belted out beneath a sky of wintry blue and swirling clouds of pearly white snow.)
Now, the day is here – finally and yet all too soon. He awakens that morning with a tight, little wad of worry in his throat.
He’s never celebrated a holiday like this before. Will he even do it right?
Taking a deep breath, he slides out of the bed that in the past months has become his own. He grabs the package he had carefully stowed away in his pouch and peers down at it. The wrapping is not quite as nicely done as Talon’s or Malon’s. But he guesses it’s good enough. Out of his multiple tries, this one was the best.
So, he tucks it beneath his arm and heads into the living room.
Talon and Malon both greet him warmly with exclamations of “Happy Hylia Day!” Breakfast is already on the table – fresh eggs and milk and little buns that smell like cinnamon. Link breathes in the scent of it, mouth watering. But — he steels himself, shoulders squared, jaw tight, as though he is heading into battle (he’s nervous enough to be, that’s for certain) — before he can eat, before he can enjoy the hospitality this small family continues to bestow upon him there is something he must do.
He turns to Malon, awkwardly stretches out a present-laden hand in her direction.
She looks down at it, a small grin quirking her lips.
“Is that a present for me, fairy boy?”
His stomach somersaults. He nods.
“Well, we usually open presents after we eat, but…” she looks at Talon and he nods, smiling. “I suppose I can make an exception for my best friend.”
Link’s cheeks redden, the color only deepening as she takes the package from him. She inspects it, shaking it a bit to try and guess its contents. Then, she begins to unwrap it.
It seems an eternity before she finishes. Finally, she sets aside the paper and turns her attention to what was housed within it. It is a small bottle, in which floats is a purple flame.
She frowns. “Is this a…”
“It’s a poe,” Link says, quickly. He’s sure he is going to melt now. Maybe this wasn’t the best choice of a present. “The spirit of one, anyway. It gives you good luck if you keep it around. And if you’re ever in trouble, you can drink it and it’ll heal you.”
Malon hesitates a moment more, looking undecided. Then her face splits into a grin.
“I always have wanted to capture one of these little buggers.” She lunges forward, throwing her arms around Link. “Thanks, fairy boy. I love it.”
Hesitantly, Link returns the hug. His face is so hot he could easily imagine that he is back in the depths of Death Mountain.
“You’re sure?”
“You couldn’t have gotten me a better gift. Honest!”
Link relaxes with a sigh of relief. Maybe this holiday thing isn’t so hard after all.
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