Prelude: The Wedding and the Champion

Zelda was terrified. Her mother and father had arranged a marriage for her, and she had very little information on the prince. The only thing she knew was his name and lineage; he was Prince Shadow, of the Bandits. He was the second male born in a hundred years, his father, Ganondorf, being the first. That was the second scary thing. Would Shadow be as evil as his father was said to be, or would he be like his mother, Nabooru, the Sage of the Spirit Temple?

She was waiting with Impa her bodyguard, and Link, who had ended up as a good friend ever since he came to the palace, with a story of another timeline. If it weren't for Zelda's dreams, she would have laughed at his story. Link was leaning against a wall, his arms crossed, and his celestial blue eyes shut as he mediated.

Impa was resting, her own eyes shut and her lips curved in a slight smile. She must be dreaming something nice. Zelda thought.

Link cried out in shock.

Impa and Zelda asked at the same time, "What's wrong?"

"The third Triforce! It's in someone not of this world!" Link said, amazement in his voice. "And there's a hidden Triforce…"

Impa said, "So there's two more Sages to be found. One of Power, and one of…"

"Eternity." Link said, a frown clouding his sylvan brow, "It's the blank spot in the Triforce, in the shape of an inverted triangle. Damn it! What if someone finds those two before any of us? We could have two people as powerful- no more powerful than Ganon!"

Impa sighed. "You can be such a pessimist, Sage of Courage."

"Pragmatist with a touch of optimism, O Shadow Sage. If we have another thorn in the side appear, I'm the one stuck with killing the bastard."

Zelda said, "Link, is there anything else?"

Link grinned boyishly. "Prince Shadow is definitely his mother's son. In fact, when Nabooru dies, he'll become the Sage of the Spirit Temple. He is brilliant, and a good listener. Thanks to being taught that men and women are equals, Shadow will think you of as a partner as well as a sex object in bed."

"Link!"

Impa hid a snort of laughter as Zelda chucked a minor spell at Link. Link deflected with the Master Sword, but it ping-ponged off the wall, and hit Link dead center on the butt, causing a piece of parchment that said Kick Me to appear the back of Link's green tunic. To squeals of giggles, Link tore the paper off, and exclaimed, "What in the name of Naryu's Love is this?"

"A spell I've been dying to try on someone. I-"

"Princess, Sage, Hero," A handmaiden said, poking her head in, "Forgive me, but the Prince Shadow is in the library, waiting for you, Princess. Princess, your parents are in there, too. Best not to keep them waiting."

Link nodded. "Good luck, Princess."

Zelda gulped, and walked to the library door. She sighed, stiffened her back, and walked in. Her mother and father stood, in their ornate ceremonial robes. Her mother was in lilac, dripping with gold Triforce designs on her necklace, her crown, and her earrings. It never failed to disgust Zelda. Her mother's greedy love of gold made Zelda hate to wear anything gold other than her Triforce pendant, her simple earrings, and her circlet. Her father wore pale blue and white. His only decoration was his gold circlet. She didn't mind her father, although he was somewhat overprotective of his daughter.

The youth sitting on a ladder was in traveling garb. He had a casual look to him, and he looked like he would rather fight Ganon than be standing there, waiting for something. His eyes were reddish-brown, and had a distant look as he looked outside at the birds. His brown hair was short, and had the sheen of childhood. His handsome face was earnest, and full of wisdom. He looked at Zelda and stood. Then, he executed a bow that would do honor to a goddess, and said, "You must be Princess Zelda."

"I presume you're Prince Shadow." This handsome man took Zelda off her guard.

Prince Shadow grinned. "We are equals, Princess. I'd prefer to be called Shadow."

"Then call me Zelda."

Shadow nodded, and Zelda's parents left, nodding with agreement.

Shadow snapped his fingers, and he was in what had to be his own ceremonial clothing. It was a white tunic and leggings. His boots were brown. "I wanted to see your parents' reactions. Your mother nearly fainted. Your father smiled slightly, and warned me that I better bring ceremonial garb soon, or he'll get his wife to choose my clothes."

"A fate worse than death." Zelda said.

"I figured that out. I think your mother needs to cut down on the gold. She could feed a family for years with what she was wearing!" Shadow grinned just like Link.

"You are the sage of Wisdom, right?"

Zelda looked at him. "Ah yes, your mother told you."

Shadow nodded, and said, "Link is the Sage of Courage?"

"Correct again."

"Two things." Shadow said, "No offense, but I thought you would be an ugly snobby crybaby. I'm wrong. I wouldn't mind being your king and husband. Two, when we are married, I'd like the sage of Courage to become the Champion of the land."

Zelda's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

Shadow nodded.

Zelda walked over, and kissed Shadow, who stiffened in shock. Then, he groaned, and pressed back against her. They fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, and time seemed to have stopped as they stood with their lips touching not so gently.

They broke, realizing what they were about to do.

"No... we… shouldn't. Not… here… or… yet..." Shadow said in between gasps of breath.

Zelda nodded. "The wedding night…"