DISCLAIMER: I own nothing related to The Legend of Zelda video game franchise. All rights to characters and places mentioned belong to Nintendo. I am merely using the character names and places.
The clear, pure note of the bell tower in Hyrule Castle City rang through the occupants' ears, marking the start of the time of worship to Din, Nayru, and Farore; the three goddesses that had created the Triforce out of nothing but their own wills. Hyrule's many citizens bustled around the market portion of the city, buying and selling their goods. Cars of all colors littered the streets and the driveways of the modern Hylian homes, their inhabitants of peaceful and cheerful dispositions.
Save Link, a lean teenager of sixteen with dirty blonde hair. He lit a cigarette as he stood waiting for the bus to school. That goddesses-damned bell gave him a headache. He scowled at the children that skipped blithely through the streets. He wished they'd get smashed by the church bell. He'd only finished half his cigarette by the time the bus arrived and cursed the driver for her punctuality, stamping it out on the sidewalk.
"Don't you know you'll die if you do that enough?" Asked one of the smaller children present.
"Duh, kid. Of course I know. It's called the internet," Said Link sardonically, glaring at the kid. He turned away and found his seat at the back of the bus, cramming into it uncomfortably. He took his phone out of the pocket on his green hoodie and plugged his headphones in as there was nothing else to do on this droll ride.
Link was a scowling drone every day. He hated the school material. He hated the teachers and the students. But he especially hated that vapid, brainless girl. Zelda. Always mingling with the jocks and their puffed-out chests. The "popular" people. She made Link sick, along with almost everyone else she knew.
The one person that Link associated with Zelda that wasn't a total tool was her brother, Sheik. Link had met him in grade school. Link and Sheik had gotten along immediately, mostly because of their mutual interests and similar senses of style.
"Today sucks," Link complained, sitting down across from his friends.
"Like every other day, yeah." Replied Darunia, Link's big goron friend. "You say it every day, bro. Talk about a downer."
"Yeah, bro." Agreed Sheik. "I'm gonna tell you what you need, dude."
Link raised his eyebrows in question.
"You need a girl. It'd make you feel better about, well, everything, and it would loosen you up." The sheikah sniffed. "Maybe she'd get you off smoking, too."
"Normally, I'd take that advice to heart and spring up and skip off to find a girlfriend," Link mocked. "But if you guys haven't noticed," He looked around as he spoke. "Every girl in this school isn't my type."
Sheik and Darunia groaned in unison. "Not this shit again." They said.
"Dude, we're only lookin' out for you." Sheik said, wearing a vexed expression. "I wish you'd at least try. I mean, you're my best friend, man. I only wanna help you." At Darunia's hurt expression (most likely a joke) he grinned and punched him playfully in the arm, saying, "Aw, come on. You know I love ya, big guy."
"Our point, Link, is that you need to stop being so picky." Stated Darunia, grinning.
Link shrugged. "To tell you the truth, guys, I'm just waiting for the right one to come along. That hasn't happened yet."
"And how long have you been waiting for that?" Sheik countered with barely a pause. "The odds that the perfect girl will just show up and instantly get wet for you are... slim, to be perfectly honest. That's why you need to do some looking. Put forward some effort."
Link sighed. "I guess."
"Now, the homecoming dance is about two weeks from now; the Friday after the next. It's Tuesday now. Between now and then you need to find a date, dude." Darunia put in.
Link sighed again, but adopted a more determined countenance, and even felt a bit of it. 'Maybe... Maybe they're right. Maybe I do need to try harder.' For the first time that day, Link smiled slightly.
Yes, a short first chapter. I merely didn't feel the need for much introductory exposition. That'll come later. Please R&R, give me feedback on things I should change, add, or take out entirely. I would appreciate it all immensely. :D