CHAPTER 1

Disclaimer: All characters are owned by Nintendo, however this story is owned by me

p.s. This story doesn't take place in any specific LoZ era, I just mix and matched characters for the hell of it.

Link's pointy ears twitched as he stirred, sitting up from his seat and yawning deeply, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he woke up to the echo of the bell, announcing that the class was over. Sun shined in through the third floor windows next to him lighting up his choppy blond hair and blinding him momentarily when he dared to open his bright blue eyes. He glanced at his desk to see his half written notes and a smile curled his lips, he'd have to copy off some one later.

Ganon, his best friend, sat in the desk next to him reading some magazine or other on how to seduce the ladies, his note sheet unfinished as well. His red hair hung in one of this eyes and stood out against his dark skin, black nails gripped the magazine excitedly as he flipped the page. "You know man, that stuff never works in real life." Link teased, running a hand through his hair and standing up to leave with a luxurious stretch.

"Don't doubt the wisdom of CutiePop magazine, they know EVERYTHING." Ganon whipped around to show Link the current number one pick up line, his golden eyes flashing.

"I'm pretty sure that if some one ever told me that my eyes were as blue as toilet water I'd deck them." Link smiled and shook his head, "Come on bud, my work starts in a hour." Link was already started out the door, his bag slung over his shoulder.

"Wait a second!" Ganon yelled, standing up to his full height of 6'4" and shoving the magazine into his worn pack and then racing after Link.

As they walked down one of the older and less crowded streets in the city they came across a strange boy who had half his face covered with a tattered scarf. He was sitting on the sidewalk with a large duffel bag beside him, clutching it protectively while glancing around at the people around him as if he were expecting someone to come and take it from him.

"Runaway?" Link questioned Ganon and he nodded, it wasn't an uncommon thing in Castle City and they had seen their fair share throughout the years. They sauntered up to the hostile looking boy and stared at his back for a bit before Ganon chose to speak.

"Do you need any help?"

The boy whipped around with alarm in his large, feminine eyes, growing into a haunted look when he saw Link. "No, I'm fine." His voice was quiet and weak, as if he hadn't eaten in a while.

"Do you need us to contact anyone?" Link asked concerned, it was quite obvious that he wasn't fine.

"No, really, just leave me alone." The boy stated firmly, turning back around as if that would make them disappear.

"We could at least give you something to eat." Ganon offered.

"Leave me alone!" The boy heaved up his duffel bag and ran off, his small frame soon disappearing around a building, Link and Ganon exchanged glances.

"Well then..."

A little while later they arrived at Link's workplace, Din's Daycare. "Well, I'll see you later." Ganon said as he kept walking with his long, loping gait, lifting a hand good bye to Link. Ganon was the heir to an old karate dojo and didn't have time for a part time job, he spent most of his time training with his grandfather and many sisters. Although Link heard him complain every single day about how hard his grandfather worked him, Link knew that he enjoyed it a lot.

"See you!" Link called, pushing open the iron gates to see the colorful building that lay inside. There were cheerful voices and songs being sung so loudly that he could hear them clearly before he even got through the glass doors. He chuckled to himself, his job was the best.

Later on that night Link lay in his bed, staring through the darkness at his ceiling. His arms lay beneath his head, fingers interlocked comfortably. Unbidden, the thought of that boy came up in his mind. Link wasn't bugged by how rude the boy had been earlier, he understood him only too well.

It wasn't too long ago that Link had been lost in the world too, his parents dead and no relatives to speak of. He was lucky that the landlord of his apartment complex took pity on him and let him rent a room for cheap, Telma was a blessing from the Goddesses. His part time job allowed him to pay for the rent and school, Telma supplied the food expenses to all her tenants because it was mandatory that every meal was eaten together in the dining room. She was basically like a second mother to him, taking him into custody when no one else could. She clothed him and helped him when he was sick and he wasn't quite sure where he'd be if she hadn't picked him up that one rainy day.

He rolled over on his side with a sigh, it would probably be another one of those nights, his hair falling into his eyes as he frowned. He never had an easy time getting to sleep ever since he had been left on his own, which was why he was usually so tired the next day. "Why..." He questioned himself quietly, his voice a faint whisper through the room. He pressed against his forehead, his fingertips digging into his hair. It was a couple hours later before he managed to fall into a light sleep, tossing and turning the whole night with invisible enemies and forgotten memories.

"Wake up you silly goose! We've got a world to save!"

Link shot up in bed, his eyes wide open as he looked around the room, "Zelda?" He questioned, his voice cutting through the silent air. He rubbed his forehead angrily and flopped back down to burrow into his green comforter. It was stupid of him to have thought she was there, she'd left ten years ago.

They had been childhood friends and neighbors, spending every moment from dawn till dusk together. Their wild imaginations ran freely between their two yards, separated only by a dark green hedge. Their favorite game was make-believe where Zelda would be the princess and Link her most trusted knight. There were many rules for this game, but rule number one was always "the knight must always protect the princess." They had made many promises with each other and shared many secrets. These memories were forgotten though when Zelda's family suddenly announced that they were moving.

There would be no more games and stories, Link couldn't protect her in the last battle of trying to stay together, and so she moved far away where he never heard from her again.

At first he had written her a lot of letters, as many letters that a seven year old can write, but he realized that it was useless when a year went by and he didn't get a single reply. He still had a picture of them on his end table, next to his alarm clock. It was the day right before Zelda had moved, they were innocently smiling, unaware of what would happen in the next 24 hours.

Link sighed and rolled onto his back, he then jumped out of bed and into the cold morning air.

Ms. Impa looked around at the large class with a steady gaze, "We have a new transfer student, He's new to the city so be kind and help him around." She looked over at the doorway, motioning with her hand, "Sheik, you can come on in."

Ganon's eyes widened and he nudged the sleeping Link next to him. After no response he poked him hard in the ribs, "Dude, wake up, it's that kid we saw the other day."

"Wah?" Link rubbed his eyes and looked up at the front of the room, "Goddesses, it is! Maybe he wasn't a runaway after all."

Sheik stood at the front of the class, uncomfortably being scrutinized. He fiddled with the cuffs of his uniform that was one size too large. His frame was delicate and his blond hair looked like he had cut it himself, it was moderately shaggy and fell into his stunning violet eyes every time he moved his head. A slow blush started to creep onto his face and Ms. Impa laughed to herself as she watched him, "You can have a seat next to those two clowns." She pointed to Link and Ganon who smiled and waved.

"Oh Din..." Sheik mumbled as he walked down the isle and took a seat in front of Link.

After a minute of silence from Sheik, Link got frustrated.

"You know, it's polite manners to say hello to your neighbors." Link tapped the back of Sheik's head with his pencil. Sheik turned around and whipped him the bird, determined to not be friendly.

Ganon sniggered, "Guess not everyone loves you Link."

Link stuck out his tongue at Ganon, and rested his head back in his arms, closing his eyes once more. "Whatever then, but you'll have to talk to me sooner or later, we're going to be neighbors for a looong time."

Sheik silently vowed to talk to Ms. Impa after class to see if he could switch seats immediately.

"No." Ms. Impa said, straightening her stack of papers.

"What do you mean no? Can't some one just switch with me?" Sheik demanded, his hands pressed against the dark wood of the desk, leaning towards her.

"No means no, you aren't a princess, deal with the cards you have. You have given me no adequate reason to switch you and that leads me to believe that you are being bias and rude. Therefore you will stay right where I put you."

Sheik breathed slowly out his nose as he straightened up, "Fine." He stalked out of the room to lunch, why had he chosen this school?

Later on that night Telma called for everyone to meet downstairs as they'd be having another guest stay in the apartment complex, her nephew to be exact. Link had already had a funny feeling when this news was told to him but his suspicions were confirmed when he went downstairs.

Telma sat at the head of the long oak dining table, next to her Sheik sat solemnly, picking at his food but not taking a bite since it was forbidden until everyone was at the table.

"Hello there Sheiky boy!" Link called in greeting, taking a seat across from him. Telma laughed but Sheik merely grimaced, feeling the rope tighten around his neck slowly.

When everyone had taken their seats at the table Telma went around and introduced Sheik to all of the tenants. "That's Ruto, a senior in your school, she's leader of the swim team. Ilia is a college student. Farore owns a flower shop in the west district. Renado is the local doctor. Russle and his wife are staying on vacation with their son Colin. And Link goes to your school as well, but he doesn't have any redeeming qualities."

"Hey!" Link said indignantly but with a smile, Telma always teased him for not being in any extracurricular.

Telma ruffled Link's hair fondly, she then turned and grinned to the rest of the tenants and with a large clap on Sheik's back she announced, "And everyone, this is Sheik, my nephew by bond. He's going to be staying with us for a while so welcome him as a new member of the family. Now let's eat!"

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