Author's Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda. I am earning no profit from this story other than the enjoyment of writing it and sharing it with others. I hope you all enjoy reading it! Feel free to let me know what you think by giving this chapter a review.

Link, the Hero of Twilight and Savior of Hyrule, was having a bad day. It had all started that morning when one of his servants had brought him a letter. A letter from Princess Zelda. Now, Link had no problem with the princess of Hyrule. After basically saving the world together, they had become good friends. No, it was what that letter disclosed that had caused Link's day to go awry.

Zelda's letter had informed Link that he was required, as a noble, to attend a ball that night. Honestly, Link was becoming more and more sick of being a noble. The only reason he was one in the first place was because after he had saved Hyrule, the general population had insisted their hero deserved some kind of reward. Zelda had happily complied, offering Link a huge private estate, an enormous number of rupees, and the title Duke. Link had accepted without a second thought.

But now, Link was beginning to hate his decision. He had so much work, all the time. Fancy dinners to attend, royal councils to go to, late night horseback rides where your horse is only allowed to go five miles an hour. It was exhausting. Link longed for his adventuring days where he could race Epona across Hyrule Field as fast as she could run, the wind rippling through his dirty, disheveled blonde hair. The rushes of adrenaline while fighting for his life against a bokoblin or moblin, or even a fierce dungeon boss. The sensory overload of smells, sounds, and new colors while being a wolf. The good old days.

But those days were over now, and Duke Ordonia was required to attend a ball tonight. A ball! Out of all the ridiculous festivities to be required to attend! A ball! Where you dance! Link was a goatherd, a swordsman, maybe even a hero, but definitely not a dancer. Link had never once set foot upon a dance floor in his entire life, and now he would be judged by countless other lords and ladies that had been trained their whole life for stuff like this.

Suddenly, Link's doorbell rang, shaking him out of his sulking. "Open the door," he grumbled to one of his servants.

"Yes, sir," the servant replied quickly. Usually, Link was very kind to his servants, for he knew what it was like to have almost no money. In fact, Link hosted dinner for all of them every other Saturday, both to make them feel more welcome, and because eating by himself every night was kind of lonely.

But whenever Link was in a bad mood, his servants knew to do as they were told as quickly as possible. Today was one of those days. The servant Link had addressed, a young girl with black hair and green eyes named Kass, scurried downstairs to open the door. Link listened to the sound of the door opening, Kass greeting the visitor and inviting them inside, and the sound of footsteps drawing closer to Link's study. Link quickly opened a book, pretending to have been busy. The door opened, and Link looked up to see who it was, trying not to look too annoyed.

It was Princess Zelda. She looked like she was trying not to laugh.

"What?" Link muttered.

"I see you're quite busy," she said simply. "Seeing as your book is upside down."

Link glanced down at the words, saw she was right, and flipped it over. "It is not!" he cried indignantly.

Zelda rolled her eyes. "Sure. I came over because I assumed you'd be doing...this." She gestured to Link's annoyed expression and messy desk.

"Doing what?" Link grumped.

"Sulking around," Zelda elaborated. "The way you did before the Council's meeting. And the dinner Lady Maurice hosted. And…"

"Okay, I get it!" Link interrupted. "Why come over if you knew I was doing it?"

"Because I'm going to help you get your act together," Zelda stated firmly.

"My act does not need any getting together," Link mumbled before beginning to read his book. The book he had picked up just so happened to be about dancing. Link flung it across the room.

"Come on, Link," Zelda sighed, casually dodging the flying book. "I'm not trying to be mean. I just wanted to teach you how to dance. I don't want you to embarrass yourself. I really don't."

Link considered the request for a minute. "Fine," he decided. He got up, and followed Zelda down to his own ballroom, a room Link had never been in, despite it being his house. It was much too extravagant for Link's likings, though he wasn't exactly in the mood to like anything. The crystal chandeliers were too shiny, the wooden floors too smooth. But Zelda walked right into the middle of the room and gestured for Link to join her.

Link begrudgingly approached the princess. She smiled gently. "First, I'll teach you how to ballroom dance. That's the most common dance."

"There are different kinds?" Link moaned.

"Yes, Link," Zelda sighed. "Here, hold your hands out like this."

The rest of the afternoon was a blur. Zelda showed Link how to do the man's part of the dance, and then would act as his partner once he sort of understood. Link's servants grabbed some instruments and began playing once Link had gotten the hang of it. And, though Link would never admit it, he hadn't hated it. In fact, he almost enjoyed it. Almost. Not quite, mind you. But the spinning and throwing and catching and almost soaring over the glossy floor was quite fun. Link found himself smiling, Zelda smiling back, as they spun and jumped and flew across the dance floor.

Once Zelda deemed Link to be good enough, she politely excused herself. "If you think having to attend is bad," she said, "just imagine having to plan it all!"

Link laughed. "And that is why I'm the hero and you're the princess."

Zelda smiled. "Well, see you later tonight."

"See you," Link replied. He closed the door after Zelda exited. He turned to one of his servants. "Ready Epona. I'm going for a ride."

"But, sir," the servant objected, "won't you get all dirty? You haven't got time to shower again."

Link sighed. "Yes, of course you're right. I'll just go read, I guess."

"My many apologies, sir," the servant apologized.

Link shrugged. "Not your fault." He trudged back up to his study and grabbed a book on wolves. He enjoyed books about them, only because he loved picking apart just how much of the information was incorrect. It always made him feel better, knowing just how stupid some highly respected, rich, bratty, scholars could be. Some of whom he would be seeing tonight.

Link was in the middle of a particularly dumb book about how wolves can only see white and black when Kass entered the room. "Your outfit for tonight is ready, sir," she said.

Link smiled. "Thanks, Kass. I'll be right in."

Kass smiled back. "My pleasure, sir. Glad to see your time with the princess made you feel better. Perhaps you two will be spending more time together in the future?"

Link smiled ruefully. "I'm afraid my heart has already been taken, if that's what you think. It's quite funny, actually. As the hero, I could have anyone I want...except the one to whom my heart belongs."

Kass looked confused. "I'm sorry to hear that, sir. I'm sure she'll come around eventually."

Link nodded. He shook his head quickly. "No matter. I have more important things to be doing that thinking about things that will never be."

"Of course, sir," Kass agreed quickly. She led Link to his room, where a perfectly stiff suit was waiting for him to put on.

Link scowled when he saw it. "I swear. Ganondorf couldn't kill me, but fancy clothes will have no problem."

Kass snickered before quickly recovering herself. "Well, Epona is ready when you are, sir."

"Thanks, Kass," Link replied. "Tell everyone else thanks for me too. I'd do it myself, but I'm afraid I don't have time."

"Of course, sir," Kass said with a nod. "Can I do anything else for you?"

"No, that's all for tonight," Link answered. "I'll probably be back really late tonight, so tell the butler to head on to bed. I can let myself in." In truth, Link wanted to run around on Epona after the ball. It would be so dark that only he, with his enhanced night vision from his time as a wolf, would be able to see. No one else would be awake, so the hero would be free to do as he wished.

Kass smiled. "As you wish, sir." With that, she exited her master's room and closed the door gently. Link turned to the suit before him and sighed. The sleeves were ridiculously frilly. The collar was life-threateningly tight. The belt was covered in more jewels than Link had thought existed in Hyrule. But the sword Link was required to carry was the worst. It was a thin rapier without a proper sheath. The hilt was completely gold and shiny. The blade was so thin that it bent when Link waved it around. Link was certain no one could win a fight with a flimsy sword like this. It was completely impractical. Link wished he could carry around the Master Sword, or even his Ordon Sword, instead of this thing. Which he did. Link always tucked the Ordon Sword underneath whatever silly costume he was required to wear. As a warrior, Link always made sure he was ready to fight. He would've used the Master Sword, but Zelda had insisted he return it to the Sacred Grove once Hyrule was saved.

The one part of Link's outfit he didn't hate was the necklace he always kept tucked underneath whatever collared shirt he was forced to wear. The necklace itself was simple. It was a silver locket shaped like a Hylian shield. But it was what Link kept inside it that was so important. Inside, Link always kept the key to his wolf form, the Twilight crystal. Midna had given it to him the day before she left. Link kept it for two reasons. One, he kept it in case he ever needed his other form again. Two, he kept it because it reminded him of Midna. The Twilight Princess who had stolen his heart. Link would've liked to keep the crystal outside of a locket, but he knew people would ask him what it was. And as of right now, Link's other form was a secret, and the hero would prefer to keep it that way.

Finally, after fighting with his clothes for a good half an hour, Link was ready to leave. He waved goodbye to his butler, who saluted him, and headed out toward his horse, Epona. Link almost felt worse for her than he did for himself. She was also required to wear stupid getups whenever important meetings were to take place. Today, she had been decked out in a bridle and saddle so covered in feathers, Link wasn't sure how the poor horse was going to breathe.

"Sorry, girl," Link sighed. He rubbed her neck affectionately while checking out the fancy carriage she had been hooked up to. It was green, Link's favorite color, and elaborately decorated. And Link was expected to ride in it, instead of riding his horse. Well, that wasn't happening. Link mounted Epona and kicked her sides, telling her to get going. "I'll hop in the carriage when we're close to Castle Town," Link whispered. "I'll pretend I rode in it the whole way." Epona whinnied, just happy to have Link riding on her again. The pair took off, the empty carriage rattling along behind them.

They raced across Hyrule Field, Link whooping with joy and Epona neighing happily. Link loved the wind whipping his face, the rhythmic pounding of Epona's hooves against the grass. But, all too soon, the outline of Castle Town could be seen on the horizon. Link cursed, stopped Epona, and got in the stupid carriage. He told Epona to walk at a slow pace, as was expected.

Epona whinnied in disagreement.

"Don't yell at me!" Link cried from the uncomfortable, cushioned seat. It was too soft. "Not my idea!"

Epona snorted but began cantering towards the town.