-NOTICE-

SO the other day I was flipping through fanfictions, and found out about something called SOPA, short for the Stop Online Piracy Act, which is a bill in Congress. I'm not entirely sure exactly what this does, but I'm hearing horror stories that it will put all fanart, fanfictions, fan pages, and fan-made videos down the drain. I also think that it will shut down any website with any pirated anything and will also shut down any related websites. So, say, someone puts a link on Facebook that goes to a website that has a single piece of pirated stuff somewhere on the other side of it, then Facebook goes down until the link had been removed. I also hear tell that you could go to jail for five years for putting a cover of your favorite song on the internet. I know that piracy is a real issue and its increasingly hard to deal with, but honestly, the fans should be allowed to use the material under Fair Use and Amendment 1 of the Constitution. There's a petition if you Google "stop SOPA 2014," and unless you want to see the probable downfall of the entire FanFicNet community, you might want to sign it. Please help spread word of this, because this bill WILL become a law unless we the people stop Congress from making this grave mistake.

Alright, Mr. "How Annoying" I took down the update chapter. I apologize for feeling strongly about my belief that SOPA is complete bullshit and that everyone who will be impacted ought to know. I also feel strongly in that YOU are annoying ME, and if you took the time to point out that the chapter should be removed, then you must also care about this site in some way.

I know I promised that I would rewrite this chapter, friends, but I'm lacking motivation to write, and I'm spending a lot of time using my new drawing tablet. I'm also trying to rally the fans of America to keep Congress from saying that we can't support our favorite things in public by writing fanfics and doing fanart.

"Saria!"

"Here!" A slim blonde girl dressed in green raised her hand. I noticed a leather-bound notebook lying on her desk next to her geometry book and other supplies.

"Link?"

"Here!"

The teacher who had called my name looked up and narrowed her eyes. "Link?"

"That's me. My name is Link." I waved my hand.

"If this is some joke, then-"

"It's no joke! I am Link!"

"Very well, then," the teacher sighed. A boy on the other side of the room snickered. Zelda whipped around to face him.

"If you have any complaints you can take it up with me," she spat.

I sat seething in my chair as everybody stared at me, Link. The girl with the odd name. My cheeks burned.

The teacher continued to call roll. "Andy?"

"Here!" shouted the aforementioned boy who thought my name was funny. So that's his name. Huh. Then the teacher called Zelda's name.

"Here!"

"Byrne?"

"Here!" A sturdy looking boy with his sleek black hair up in a ponytail held up his hand.

"Kevin?"

"Here!" I didn't bother looking to see who Kevin was. i was still embarrassed from that incident.

Geometry was boring and so were the rest of my classes today. Well, they were when you excluded how everyone stared when they heard my name. I scowled. Great, my first day of high school is already ruined! Not for the first nor the last time, I wished I had more than one friend.

Zelda- the cute and hot-headed girl had already earned a reputation as the new hot girl in school. Unlike me. I was the new weirdo. Yet Zelda told me I was pretty, too, with my untamable blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. She said I was different, that I was braver and more clever than others, and I wouldn't hesitate to speak my mind (if you asked). That is one of the many reasons that we're best friends. I always meet her at the corner for school and then walk down to the edge of the park with her afterwards.

I live with my grandfather in an average house in the suburbs. Zelda lives a couple blocks away on the far side of the park. She lives in a really nice house because her family is richer than most. Well, scratch that. Zelda lives with just her father. Sadly, her mother died when she was seven. Frankly, she's lucky that she even has a father. Both my father and my mother died when I was little. That's why I live with my grandfather.

Anyhow, I was hurrying home the moment the bell rang. You know something? Everyone else was, too. (What, did you expect me to have to get a bunch of books from my locker because I already had a ton of homework? It IS just the first day.)

Well, at least I got a moment to talk to Zelda. Or... well, however long it takes to walk from school to the park. "Hey, don't be upset about today!" she told me cheerfully. "They won't tease you after they see how amazing you are!"

I sighed, then replied, "I know, but how long do I have to endure this until I get a chance to show them? They're making me feel like some kind of alien!"

Zelda stopped in her tracks and grabbed my shoulders and shook me. "LINK. You are the smartest, bravest, cleverest girl I know. Now STOP being sorry for yourself and show me some DIGNITY!"

I tell you, she's the best friend you could ask for. And she is right. I am acting like a pathetic wimp today. I silently rebuked the part of me that wanted to curl up on the couch at home, eat a cheap pudding cup, and wallow in despair. I am Link, the girl with the weird name, and I am brave.