It's been some time since I've written anything LOZ-related, but playing Breath of the Wild gave me those reminiscent Zelda emotions again that I had to write something for the holidays.

It first started as a "I want to write holiday, modern AU denial ZeLink" but ended up spanning 4 chapter and ended up being a late holiday fic oops.

In any case, this is a multi-verse, modern AU Zelda fic, so expect mentionings of various characters spanning multiple games!

Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda.

"Yes, for the final time, father, I am coming tomorrow. I don't understand why you're so worried that I won't attend our own Holiday party."

Zelda placed her cellphone on her shoulder and pressed it against her ear, shuffling through her purse as she did so. From her peripheral vision, she could see Midna smirking from her desk chair, legs crossed, and - was that her headband she was wearing? - eyes narrowing, as if mocking her with sarcasm. Zelda glanced up in her direction and rolled her eyes, causing Midna to chuckle with amusement.

She finally fished out the small notebook and pen she was looking for in her purse, hurriedly opening the pages and preparing to write. "Yes, okay, like I've said, finals are done, I got the day off tomorrow, so I can attend. Now, what was the number of the bakery you wanted me to call for pick up tomorrow?"

She began jotting the numbers down quickly with a sense of professionalism in her penmanship, nodding as soon as she was finished. Sighing, she shifted the phone to her other ear still listening to her father's words.

"Don't worry, I can drive there in time, so - what? No, I don't need a ri - wait, you what?!"

Midna perked up from the sound of urgency in Zelda's voice, only to see her covering her face with her palm, shaking her head.

"Father, I can very well drive on my own! You know Link lives on the other side of town and I'm completely out of the way!"

Zelda could've sworn she heard the Twili girl snort and without turning around, she threw her notebook at her back with perfect precision. It still didn't dampen Midna's spirits, however, who began to cackle at this point.

Zelda sighed, exasperated. "I'll be there, okay? And now I'm going to go because I have a couple of things to finish up before leaving, goodbye." With a swift (and emphasized) push of her cell phone button, Zelda dropped her phone on her bed and proceeded to fall face forward on to the plush comforter.

There was a bit of silence before Midna decided to speak up, venturing to challenge her friend. "So...good ol' parental deciding to butt in, hm?"

A muffled sound came from the comforter from which Zelda laid upon and Midna just quirked her brow. She sighed and grabbed a pencil off of the desk and threw it towards her.

"Hey, princess. You know it was bound to happen either way, right?"

Zelda finally turned her head and looked toward her friend, glaring. "You seem to be enjoying this."

Midna smirked, shifting her crossed legs and shrugged. "I'd like to say 'entertained', is the correct word."

Zelda pouted. "So you really can't come tomorrow, huh?"

She earned a sigh of defeat as Midna began to stand up from the desk, shaking her head. "Gotta go home to Twili and visit the family...ugh. Sickens me."

"But why?" Zelda eyed her. "Twili doesn't even celebrate the holidays that much."

Midna rolled her eyes. "But apparently I'm wanting to be 'seen' again. Whatever. It's once a year." She sighed and shook her head. "It's twice as boring there than here and I'd rather sacrifice my sanity of the insane bright lights of Castle Town just to see your terrible sit-con life."

Zelda grimaced. "Thanks for the support."

Midna grinned. "You're the one that just asked if I could come with you tomorrow. I'm sure Malon or Mipha would've loved to go with you instead of me; I can't stand social events, you know that."

Zelda turned over and faced the ceiling, sighing. "Yeah, but Malon went back to the ranch and Mipha went back to Zora's Domain for the holidays."

She felt the bed suddenly give way, realizing Midna sat on the edge of it.

"Heh, well you are the only one from Castle Town. None of us are from here, you know."

Zelda narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, but you all work here; except Mipha, I know she's done with school next year."

Midna hummed. "Don't remind me, that means the rent is going to go up after she's done."

Zelda huffed. "You guys only pay for groceries and utilities, since the rent is covered by my family themselves." She was silent for a moment before continuing. "Or have you forgotten that much even the under cover guards guarding this housing unit as we speak are actually starting to look like passerbys to you now?"

Midna rolled her eyes. "Of course I know this place is guarded and paid by your family; I'm just saying that the process of having another person live with us is going to take ages since it only took me so long to be able to live in the same house as you."

Zelda shook her head. "Interviews by the council were required to pass judgement if you were allowed to be with me." She sighed. "In any case, I'm sure you're just concerned that Mipha is leaving."

Midna just shook her head and groaned, obviously cringing from Zelda's observation. "Darling, if I said everything that came to mind, I wouldn't be a true Twili, now would I?"

Zelda smiled and laughed. She knew Midna had a hard personality, but her rewarding traits definitely outweighed what she portrayed. Midna cared for all of them in the house, but knew she had an especially soft spot for the small Zora; of course, she hid it with all the teasing and banter that the poor girl could keep up with.

Zelda shook head. "Well, it can't be helped. Her and Sidon have to look after their father's company anyway."

There was a small silence between them before Midna finally stood up from the bed and stretched. "Well, that's enough about that, because I think someone has to get ready for tomorrow."

Midna earned a low groan from Zelda, who draped her arm over her eyes trying not to remember the following day. "Honestly, the party wouldn't be so bad if father could just stop implying things."

She lifted her arm up and propped herself to sit on her bed, facing Midna. "And it's only gotten worse in recent years, you know that."

Midna shrugged. "Isn't that one girl coming, though, ugh, what was her name...Link's cousin or something."

Zelda shook her head. "You mean Marin? They're not cousins, her family is just really close family friends with his and mine." She shook her head. "You know very well Marin also keeps pushing this on me...but I admit she's more supportive, in an odd sense."

And it was true. Though Marin was seven years older than both of them, she acted more as an older sister to both her and Link, always supportive and there for the both of them no matter what. She only meant well, and Zelda genuinely enjoyed her company.

Midna waved her hand off. "There you go, you got her then. You don't need any of us to go with you."

Zelda began to respond, when Midna immediately interjected. She rolled her eyes and sighed. "I can't believe I'm about to do Malon's job right now and pester you, but, look, let me be frank and very uncharacteristic of me: do you honestly hate Link that much?"

Zelda froze for a moment with the honest question, eyes slightly widening. True, she hadn't been preferring Link over the past two years, mostly because her father just kept implying things between them. But between graduate school, work, and distance, the two of them haven't kept up communication as much as they used to. She understood why her father kept pushing her towards him; they've been long-time childhood friends, but besides that, Link had grown up to earn himself a higher degree, a good paying job, and a stable life; everything that fit for her father's expectations.

And honestly, she hated it so much.

She already felt the pressure of having to take over Hyrule eventually one day. There were no rules about courtship between classes since that had been long overruled and it was clearly modern days where classes never really mattered much anymore; instead, a background standing and good presentation of self conquered all. She had walked in her father's expectations for years, and for once, she wanted to not go by his recommendation and live her own life with her own choices.

So she tried her best to avoid Link; she had kept messages to a minimum, avoiding phone calls as necessary from him. Of course, to begin with, it wasn't very much since Zelda knew just how much of a social butterfly he was (not at all). Between them, she talked nonstop and he was a quiet listener and a silent supporter all her life.

It was a little hard, at first. Link was her only childhood friend and someone who knew her worst and best traits and not texting him about every little thing was difficult. But the business of school and work kept her mind off of him. A little part of her was guilty, sure; but she honestly did not want to give her father any more reason to add fuel to the flame where any existed to begin with.

Wait. Existence of something between her and Link?

She shook her head. Friendship. Yes, friendship. Nothing any further than that.

In any case, she couldn't see herself with...Link.

The mere thought of that had her stomach give a plummeting, sad feeling for some odd reason and she shook her head. Yes, he'd find someone definitely more suitable than herself.

"Honestly, no," Zelda finally replied to her friend, who had crossed her arms and was waning patience from her answer. "I wouldn't say I hate him. He's a good friend, a great person, and just has an amazing personality overall. I just don't want to add reason behind my father's expectations."

Midna hummed, and turned her back on Zelda, heading for the door. Just before exiting, though, she turned around and quirked her eyebrow at her, a smirk starting to form on her lips.

"But is that what you really want?"

Zelda was taken aback for a moment, which caused Midna to laugh. She opened the door to exit the room, waving her off as she did so.

"I'll see you in a week. I'm sure you'll be a changed woman after this."

Before she could protest, the door closed and Zelda was left to sit on her bed and ponder. Not too long after, she heard the front door open and close, signaling Midna's departure. Despite the late hour, she knew her friend would rather drive in the dark.

But to her, that was the least of her concerns. The question was left hanging over her head, even as she laid back on to her covers, quickly falling asleep.