Normally I'd put off updating this until like a week later... But jeez. I got more reviews, follows, and favorites than I did in my other stories' first chapters, so thank you all for that. You guys are rad.

Here's chapter two. It's long. Enjoy.


COUNTING STARS

Chapter 2: Newcomer


Friday, October 6

I am back home. Last night, I didn't give Fado the bag of moldy carrots; after being taken to the police station, I was driven home by an officer. So here I am, lying face-down on the couch, my head buried in the cushions, listening to the quiet hum of the television.

"A forty-six-year-old man named Rusl Gaiden was murdered at about ten o'clock last night on Market Street in Castle Town. Authorities have identified the killer as the elusive fugitive by the name of Ganondorf Dragmire, who is wanted for intruding Hyrule Castle last month, and even has been proven to be the leader of a local gang."

The lady's voice is replaced by a familiar one.

"Ya see," Fado speaks into the microphone with a sniffling nose, "Rusl sent his nephew to go get s'more carrots. After he left, I looked at Rusl 'n said, 'You sure you want your boy to go out on a dangerous night like this?' And Rus' looked at me, all scared and whatnot, and said, 'You're right. I need to go and find him.' When the both of 'em was gone, I was worried. I waited for them to come back, 'til I heard a gunshot ring out."

I hear the familiar voice of Jabu the cashier.

"I was just minding my own business, running the register at the store, when this gigantic, monstrous man came in, wearing a fancy suit and tie. There was a kid trying to buy some carrots, and it looked like his arm was in pain, but I don't know. Then, um, I got a little suspicious toward the tall man, 'cause I knew I recognized him, and when he knew I was on to him, he beat feet outta my store."

The lady's voice returns. "The first witness tells us that the victim and his nephew--"

I shut the TV off, unable to listen any longer. My breath is ragged, my eyes are puffy and wet. I've been camping out in the living room, sleeping on the couch, unable to find peace in my room; nor have I even set foot in Rusl's bedroom.

A few hours ago, when I checked my doorstep for mail, I saw nothing but piles of envelopes with the Hylian government's official stamp on them. Apparently, they wanted to send me "compensation" for my uncle's passing-- but I'd only been given enough rupees to buy a gumball at the very most. How thoughtful.

The doorbell chimes in a three-note tune. Because I don't want to be bothered by the stupid government again, I refrain from opening it. I stay seated on the comfortable, leather couch, mourning quietly to myself. The person on the outside of my house persists, however, knocking this time.

Can't this inconsiderate jerk see that I don't want to talk to anybody?

Apparently not, because I hear the loud sound of knuckles rapping on the wooden surface. "Link Gaiden, this is CTPD. Open the door, please."

CTPD? Castle Town Police Department? What the hell are they doing in Ordonia? Oh my Din, if this has to do with those worthless carrots I swiped from the supermarket, I'm going to kill someone.

And then CTPD will have a reason to show up at my doorstep.

"We just have a few questions to ask you."

Relieved, but still angered that they haven't left yet, I slowly rise to my feet, then make my way over to the door. I open it, glaring at the officer on my doorstep. He has brown hair that is slightly curly, a soft facial expression, partially covered by thin, circular-rimmed glasses. His uniform consists of a dark vest, pair of pants, and boots. A holster rests at each hip, one holding a taser, the other holding a pistol. A chrome badge rests on his upper left breast pocket, reading, "CTPD - OFFICER SHAD STERLING".

"Mr. Gaiden," Officer Sterling begins, "I am here to ask you questions regarding the incident that occurred last night."

I nod solemnly, stepping out of the way to let Shad enter my home. Once he's inside, I shut the door, then motion to the kitchen table. He sits exactly where I saw Rusl sit yesterday morning, reading the Hyrule Times newspaper….

I mentally slap myself. I can't get emotional in front of a cop. Or anyone, for that matter. I need to prove that I'm strong-- that I don't need the sympathy of others, or the oh-so-generous "compensation" of the government. I can do this on my own.

I sit down across from Shad as he takes out a crumpled piece of paper from his breast pocket and unfolds it, squinting down at the words. Folding my hands on the table and raising my eyebrows expectantly, I wait for him to speak. "What were you doing at the supermarket last night?"

I decide to keep my answers blunt and try to show as little emotion as possible. "Buying carrots."

"For what?"

"Goats."

Shad squints at me skeptically, but doesn't press the subject. He sighs and returns his gaze to the paper. "Did the fugitive speak to you?"

"Yes."

"What were his words?"

"He asked, 'What is the matter with you?' And before he left he said, 'I will find you again.'"

"Did he say this to you or the cashier, who first recognized him?"

"Me."

Shad shows me another piece of paper with a drawing on it. "This is a sketch of what we think the fugitive looks like. Is this accurate?"

I study it, noticing the sketched man's intense glare, his well-groomed hair and small beard. I will remember that face. Forever. "Yes." Shad places the sketch on the table. My eyes linger on it once again, and I ask, "Mind if I keep that?"

Officer Sterling nods. "Of course, but be warned: this man is very dangerous." I gingerly place my fingers on the paper, sliding it closer to me. "Now," says Shad, "let's discuss your current situation."

"…Okay," I say, squinting quizzically.

"Fortunately for you, your uncle managed to write a will, leaving all of his possessions and savings to you."

"How fortunate," I mutter under my breath.

Shad ignores me, pulling out yet another piece of paper. "Here is a check for one hundred and fifty thousand rupees."

My eyes widen and my jaw drops. "One hundred and fifty thousand!?"

"Apparently, yes," says the officer, looking baffled himself. "I had to double-check the file because I've never seen a resident of Ordonia possess this much money."

Why in Farore's name would Rusl hide this from me?

I guess that explains why he was always able to provide some extra things for me, like basketball gear.

But what the hell!

Don't get me wrong; one hundred and fifty thousand rupees is awful, if you compare us to the rich folk of Castle Town, but a goddess-damned fortune to the Ordonians. I thought we were sitting on fifty thousand rupees; that defined us as middle class.

But now we're-- I'm-- mid-high class.

"Mr. Gaiden," Shad says, interrupting my thoughts, "while this may seem like a large quantity to someone accustomed to your lifestyle, it certainly isn't enough to support you for the remainder of your life." He looks down, adjusting his glasses while reading some text. "I recommend getting an education due to this. And since you are over the age of sixteen, you are, by law, able to live on your own."

My eyes drop to the check, and I swear I've never seen a number this big in my life.

Wait.

Hold the phone.

I have to live on my own?

"Allow this money to support you while you are preparing for a career," Officer Sterling says with a nod. "Also, we've received an important letter from Gaepora Harkinian, addressed to you." Shad slides a rectangular, cream-colored envelope to me, held together by a red seal with a Triforce embossed on it.

I turn it over to look at the front, where I see "Link Gaiden" written in fine calligraphy. Confused, I look at Shad. "Who's Gaepora Harkinian?"

"You'll find out," he replies, "when you open it."

Carefully peeling back the seal, I open the envelope and withdraw a similarly-colored letter with another seal stamped on the upper right corner. Still confused, I read the letter.

"Dear Mr. Link Gaiden,

I have received word of your tragedy, and I send you my deepest condolences.

If you have not yet heard of Hyrule Academy, it is a private school located in the western, suburban area of Castle Town. Many attendees are often revered as the 'most intelligent young adults in all of the kingdom.' The academy offers pupils multiple chances for a future career.

I am writing this letter to persuade you to attend our school. Your tuition, if you choose to attend, will be paid for in whole.

I hope you consider accepting my offer.

Sincerely,

Headmaster Gaepora Harkinian of Hyrule Academy"

Oh my goddesses. Why would they want me to attend their school? I'm not even close to their social class! And they certainly proved it by offering me a scholarship! Snobs.

"I'll leave you to your business," Shad says, rising to his feet. He lets himself out, shutting the door softly.

I think… I may want to attend the academy…

Whoa, whoa there, kid. What happened to doing things on your own? What happened to being strong?

Though… what about a future career? I'll need an education… And what's better than the acclaimed Hyrule Academy?

Nothing seems to come to mind.

I sit at the table, my fist set firmly at my chin as I ponder my situation. What would Rusl want me to do? Thinking about my uncle, I let a tear stream down my cheek. "I've got no one left…" I mutter.

So what do I have to lose?

My eyes brighten. Maybe I can start over; a new life, new home, new friends. Mind made up, I quickly searched for a pen and spare sheet of paper.

I'm going to accept.


Monday, October 9

"You're leaving…?"

It's been three days since I sent my letter, and the headmaster replied immediately, saying he'd send a limousine to pick me up. That's right: a freaking limo. It's six o'clock in the morning. My bags rest in the gravel driveway, stuffed with all my possessions: essentials, trinkets and personal items, and my basketball and gear. I keep my FiPhone in the pocket of my cargo pants; my other attire includes a simple gray and green Boston Celtics tee shirt and a pair of Vans. With my hands jammed in the pockets and my expression blank, I nod at Talo Brown and Ilia Brennan, my two best friends in Ordonia.

Ilia appears devastated. "You can't leave!" she exclaims, throwing her hands outward. "Link, we're sorry that your uncle passed, but you don't need to run away!" Talo silently looks down; the tops of his tennis shoes must be flattered by all the attention.

"I'm not running away," I say, taking a seat in the grass that borders the gravel driveway. "I'm going to attend Hyrule Academy."

The younger boy tears his gaze away from his shoes, staring at me with wide eyes. "Hyrule Academy!? Holy Din, Link; you can't pay for that!"

I refrain from informing him that I can, instead saying, "The headmaster offered to cover my tuition to show his condolences."

"Yeah," Ilia scoffs, "or just for a publicity stunt to gain attention for the school."

"Please," I say quietly, "don't be angry; I think I need to do this."

Noticing that Ilia is crying, I am tempted to comfort her, but instead stay seated to avoid a more difficult parting. "Goodbye, Link." She offers me one last look, then heads off down the road, leaving me and Talo to follow her with our eyes. I wonder if this'll be the last time I ever see her.

Talo sighs, then, unexpectedly, smiles at me. "So… Link Gaiden's growing up, huh?"

I can't fight the small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "I guess so."

"Do me a favor, 'kay, Link?" Talo asks, smirking down at me when I meet his dark eyes. "Try out for the basketball team."

Rolling my eyes, I laugh quietly. I should've known he would bring this up. "Don't get your hopes up," I reply simply. "Hey, and remember, you can come visit me whenever you can. It'll be easier, I guess, since Lakeside is only a half-hour drive to Castle Town."

"Yeah… I'm not going to Lakeside, Link." The fifteen-year-old looks down again.

"What? Why not?"

Talo sighs, shaking his head, his dark hair dancing along his forehead. "What you're doing… I can't bring myself to do that, y'know? It's just so… spontaneous; I don't know if I have the guts to do it."

I stand up, clapping a hand on the shorter boy's shoulder. "If I can do it, you can."

"We still don't know if you can do it," Talo snickers, his eyes drifting down the road.

I follow his gaze, seeing a long, black limousine move smoothly across the dirt road. On the side door is the Hyrule Academy emblem, a red circle with a Triforce in it; simple enough. "Then I guess I'm gonna have to prove you wrong." I smile at him as the limo parks beside the driveway.

Talo grins back, chiming, "Keep in touch, 'kay? Don't be a stranger." He offers me his signature two-finger salute.

"Of course." I match the gesture with one of my own, and Talo turns and heads down the road with a crooked grin.

Disheartened, I lean down to pick up my bags, but I'm startled to find them all gone. After frantically whipping my head back and forth, trying to locate a thief, my eyes land on a boy standing next to the open limo door.

He has a crooked grin, the same as Talo's, but has intense red eyes and blonde hair that hangs down over his forehead and tied back into a small braid behind his head. Adorned in a blue athletic tee that hugs his tanned, toned skin, dark jeans, and a pair of gray Vans, the boy appears to keep up with the latest style. As I look past him inside the limousine, I see my four bags packed tightly in the corner near the driver's seat. "Hey," greets the boy, "I'm Sheik Stryker. I assume you're Link, but if you aren't him then I should probably take these bags out."

I blow air out my nose in a meager laugh. "Yeah, that's me," I say, walking to the limo. Sheik waits for me to enter the magnificent limo,-- yeah, it's like a five-star hotel packed into a vehicle-- then enters and shuts the door. Seating myself on the comfortable leather, I intake a breath of chestnut-scented air.

"Never been in a limo?" Sheik guesses, raising his blonde eyebrows.

"Nope," I say quietly. "Never been to school, either."

"Really? Never?" I simply shake my head. "Well you'll like it at the academy," he adds reassuringly. "If you're wondering why I'm here, the headmaster asked me to accompany you on the way to the academy, then show you around the school for a while."

I offer him a meager nod. My eyes drift to the darkened window, where I see the trees of Ordon Woods race by at a decent rate. We're taking the same route to the city.

That damn city!

Why in Nayru's name am I even going to the city that my uncle was murdered in!? And not only that; I'm getting closer to the murderer, who promised he'd "find me again"!

What the hell am I thinking!?

"Uh, Link?" Sheik questions gingerly. "…You okay?"

I'm scowling out the window; I hadn't noticed it. Tearing my gaze away from the passing scenery, I meet Sheik's red eyes. "Never better."

Skeptically raising a brow, Sheik almost presses the matter; then, he seems to understand why I'm upset, so he backs off. "Okay. So, when we get there, our first stop is the headmaster's office. He will give you a schedule, school map, and necessary supplies."

"Supplies?" Sheik nods at my inquiry. "I can buy those," I say.

"He'll give you temporary supplies, just for the day. You can get your permanents after school."

"There's school today?" My eyes widen in anxiety. I haven't even prepared for school.

"Uh, yeah. It's Monday," Sheik says. "School starts at ten in the morning every morning, then ends at four in the afternoon. It's a whole six hours. But you'll be fine; I'll make sure of it."

"Okay…" Well, with a familiar face around, I guess school can't be that bad. "Thanks," I add.

Nodding, he continues: "Oh, that reminds me. After we talk with Mr. Harkinian, I'm going to have you meet my friends."

My eyebrows shoot up before I can control them.

Sheik chuckles, his crooked grin easing a bit of my tension. "Yep, and I'm not taking no for an answer. They'll like you; I'm sure of it."

"What're their names?"

"Well, my closest friends sit at my table at lunch. That would be Mikau, Mido, Pipit, Darmani, and Fledge. Oh," he adds, raising a finger, "and a group of girls sits at a table next to ours. They're cool." He smirks. "At that table sits Midna, Lulu, Saria, Karane, Ruto, and Malon--" at that, Sheik's smirk widens to a grin, "--she's mine, by the way, so back off."

"Malon's your girlfriend?" I ask.

"Eh, no, not really…" Sheik replies, shrugging. "Not yet, anyway." I smile at the boy. This kid's cool; perhaps he could become a good friend of mine in the future. He's done a decent job of taking my mind off of… the incident. "Oh, and Zelda," he murmurs, snapping me out of my thoughts. "She sits there too."

Zelda. That's a pretty name.

"Zelda's the headmaster's daughter. She's cool, though; she doesn't go around threatening to get kids in trouble, or anything." Sheik pauses to move a strand of blonde hair out of his eyes. "In fact, lots of guys like her."

Well, I'll just have to meet her.

"So," he says, tapping his fingers on his knees, "what's something you like to do?"

Shrugging, I avert my gaze to the floor of the limo. "My friend Talo and I always played basketball."

"You any good?"

"I like to think so," I murmur with a smirk.

"Then try out for the team!"

Wow. Déjà vu. Sheik sounds just like Talo. "Nah," I say. "I'm going to focus on academics so I can get a good career."

Sheik shrugs. "Well, my friends like to play too. I'm more of a football guy, but sure, I like basketball. Maybe we could just play in our free time. Oh, but watch out for Darmani. That guy's a freakin' truck."

I laugh. "Okay, I'll keep that in mind." After a brief moment, I say, "Wait. Where will I live?"

"Oh, yeah. There's a dorm building on either side of the school; the one on the left is for girls, and the one on the right is for boys. The headmaster will give you a room, but you'll have a roommate."

Oh, goddesses, a roommate!?

"Hey, maybe you can room with me!" Sheik exclaims. Oh, thank Farore. "I'll ask Mr. Harkinian… if you want to, that is."

"Yeah, that'd be great," I say with a small smile. Maybe school won't be that bad after all. With Sheik and his buddies, whom I'd hopefully get along with, I'll be fine.

"Ugh," I grunt, clutching my left hand. A wave of searing pain suddenly emerges from under the skin. Clenching my teeth, I double over, holding my hand to my stomach.

"Link?"

I'm in too much pain to pay attention. A white-hot sensation in my hand comes, and just like the last time this happened, my hand is glowing.

"Link!"

After what seems like an eternity, the pain subsides, and I collapse against the leather seat of the limousine. My dirty-blonde hair sticks to my sweaty forehead as I intake ragged, shaky breaths.

Sheik peers down at me with wide, fearful eyes, his mouth agape. "What's wrong?"

I attempt to sit upward but fail, grimacing as I topple over, landing face-down on the floor. Clenching my teeth as Sheik helps me back up to the seat, I notice he's looking at my glowing hand.

"Y-your hand… It's glowing!" he shouts, just as baffled as I am.

Finally, the excruciating pain and the light emanating from my hand vanishes altogether, and I am able to form words between calming breaths. "I don't know… what the hell… that was."

"Should I… call an ambulance?"

"No… it's nothing fatal," I say. "…I think."

The rest of the ride was silent. We were both too shocked to speak.

Finally, at 9:15 in the morning, Hyrule Academy comes into view. As the limo pulls into the parking lot, several sights rush by me at once. Few students are milling around aimlessly, some sitting by the brightly-colored October trees, some heading into the building, and some just outside their dorm buildings-- two tall edifices on either side of the main school building. This high school campus appears to be that of a university.

Once the limo slows to a stop, Sheik looks at me with that crooked grin of his and flashes me a thumbs-up. "Let's go."

Reluctantly, I open the door, then, bags in hand, step out into the fresh air of Snob City. Huh. At least this part of Castle Town doesn't smell like urine and exhaust.

"C'mon, Link," Sheik says, gesturing with his head toward the main building as he slings a backpack over his shoulder.

I tentatively join him, and it's actually hard for me to keep up with his long strides when I've got four bags in my arms. "So… the headmaster. What do you think of him?"

"Oh, he's a good guy. He's friendly with students, and he has a sense of humor."

Well, that's good to hear. Maybe I won't be the recipient of too much punishment.

Especially when I've got the guy's sympathy.

"Oh, dammit," Sheik mutters, looking outward.

I follow his gaze with my own; at the right corner of the school building, there's two figures. As we get closer, due to Sheik's increasing speed, I see a large boy with a ridiculous, red, upgraded Elvis Presley haircut. The boy, whom I've dubbed "Red Elvis", has a rather strong grip on a girl's shoulder. The girl struggles to get away from him, but she can't.

And by goddesses, she's the most beautiful girl I have ever laid my eyes on. She's got golden, flowing hair, tied into two separate strands on either side of her slightly-pale face by pink and green ribbons, and a third similarly-tied bundle just below her back shoulder blades. But now is no time to gawk; clearly, Elvis needs to lay off.

"Hey!" Sheik yells, marching over to the scene.

Both the blonde girl and Red Elvis turn to view us-- the blonde looks relieved, but the redhead, not so much.

I set my bags down nearby. "Back off of her," I command confidently. I've never really been afraid of confrontation, and right now-- partly because I want to seem heroic to this blonde beauty-- is no different.

"Who the hell're you?" Red Elvis demands, slicking back his appalling pompadour.

"Doesn't matter," Sheik grumbles. "Get away from her, Groose."

I stifle a chuckle. This supposed "tough guy" is named Groose!?

"You know what, Stryker?" Groose booms, rising to his full height, cracking his knuckles. "You get the hell out of here before I break your damn skull!"

This time, I can't help but laugh at the redhead.

He snaps his gaze to me, demanding, "What're you laughin' at, shorty?"

Shorty? Clever.

"Heh, sorry," I say, a grin still tugging at the corners of my lips, "but I can't take you seriously with that hair of yours."

"You lay off my hairdo right now, you little twerp! Everyone knows I've got the slickest pompadour in the city!"

"You've got the only pompadour in the city," I quip, chuckling.

Sheik laughs too, and I catch the blonde girl's eye, who is smiling, clearly humored.

Since Sheik is nearer to him than I, Groose snarls and shoves the laughing boy, whose amusement disappears after landing hard on the paved ground. He grunts in minor pain. The blonde girl gasps, stepping back from the wall she was previously cornered at.

I know Sheik isn't hurt, but I become infuriated. My smile is wiped clean as Groose takes a step towards me, and I can feel my left hand cramp up as power courses through my veins. I can see light emanating from my hand out of the corner of my eye as I dash forward, gripping the fabric of Groose's jacket and slamming his meaty back into the wall of the school.

His golden eyes widen-- half in fear, half in shock-- at my sudden, newfound strength. Frankly, I'm a little surprised too, but I don't let it show. "Listen up," I command through clenched teeth, "if I see you touch anyone, girl or guy, ever again, I'll pound your ass into the dirt."

It's just then that I notice how much my hand is glowing. Groose seems to notice too, but I finish my threat with a somewhat lighter slam to the wall, then release my grip on him. Eyes still wide, he backs away from me.

I turn around to see Sheik holding my bags by the entrance of the school, and the blonde girl is standing next to him. A small smile tugs at the corners of her pink lips, and as I draw nearer, I recognize exactly how beautiful she is.

She's wearing a pink and white striped sweater, a small pink scarf wrapped around her neck, and dark jeans that hug her figure well. Her eyes are a dazzling blue, and they twinkle when she speaks: "Thanks for that."

I smile, and I find myself flustered at the very sight of her. Rubbing the back of my neck and averting my eyes to the ground, I murmur, "Yeah, of course." Then, to maintain my chivalry: "Let me know if he bothers you again."

The blonde girl nods, smiles beautifully, then turns and heads into the building, leaving me and Sheik standing to the left of the doors.

Oh, crap. I forgot about Sheik.

"Remember me, man?" He smirks.

"Sorry, I uh…" Come on, think of an excuse! Anything!

"It's fine, man. I get it. You think she's hot."

"What?" It's true, though.

He simply raises his eyebrows at me. After an uncomfortable moment of silence, he says, "I never heard a no."

I roll my eyes, then push the door to the school open. Sheik chuckles triumphantly, knowing he's got me beat. Then, I realize something: I never got the blonde girl's name. I can't ask Sheik; that'll prove his assumption, and he'll just make fun of me, claiming I'm totally smitten with this girl that I just met. So, instead, I change the subject. "Where's the headmaster's office?"

The entrance corridor is wide and unusually empty; I figured it's this way because it's 9:20. According to Sheik, most people come to school at around 9:30. On either side of the hallway were glass cases containing trophies and team pictures for different sports. Hanging above the glass cases were red banners displaying the Hyrule Academy emblem in gold lettering. My feet echoed on the brown-tiled floor as I followed Sheik, who walked past the glass trophy case, then stopped. "In here." He pointed with his thumb to a door on the left.

After a deep breath, I say, "Alright." I knock twice on the door, tentatively pushing it open.

Sheik follows me into the large office, which is mainly containing a large bookcase, a desk in the center of the back wall, with an orange-robed man sitting behind it. He's heavily-built, with a bald head aside from his thick white eyebrows and small beard. A trifold on the desk displays, "HEADMASTER GAEPORA HARKINIAN."

At first I'm intimidated by Mr. Harkinian's stern gaze, but then he flashes me a benign smile, and my pressure is eased. "Ah," he says, "Mr. Gaiden has arrived."

I smile and nod at the man, then take one of two seats in front of the desk, and Sheik takes the other. He seems completely comfortable in the situation, plopping down on the chair as if it were his own. Maybe Mr. Harkinian is truly a nice guy.

"First off," his expression saddens, "I am truly, sincerely sorry for your recent tragedy. I know what it is like, losing a loved one; I can only imagine how difficult it is for someone of your age."

"Thank you," I say quietly.

We proceed through the process of enrolling me and getting supplies, a school map, and a dorm room. Luckily, Sheik convinced the headmaster to let me room with him, so he flipped me a spare key. Basically, the meeting was everything Sheik told me about in the limo, and it was a good distraction from the incident with Red Elvis-- Groose, I mean.

"I believe that's all," the man says. "Oh, and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask me. If I am not available, ask Mr. Stryker, or even my daughter Zelda. Here," he said, turning a photo around for me to view it.

Oh my goddesses. That's her!

The girl who I met outside!

Gaepora seems to notice my eyes widen, chuckling whole-heartedly. I feel my face heat up, realizing that the act could have given Zelda's father the wrong idea. "Well, that will be all." He smiles broadly. "Have a nice first day, Mr. Gaiden."

I thank him and exit the office with Sheik. Once back in the hall, Sheik smirks and mutters, "You totally think she's hot!"

"Sheik," I groan, "shut up."

Sheik persists: "Oh, c'mon! You're still not denying it!"

"Hey, Sheik," says someone behind us.

We both turn to see a girl with long, straight red hair above a cute, lightly freckled face. She wears a blue tee underneath a gray sweater, and jeans that are covered by heeled brown boots that end just above the ankles.

"Malon!" shouts Sheik with a jubilant grin. He greets her with a friendly hug-- well, it was friendly in Malon's eyes, at least-- and she returns it. "I haven't seen you in like, a day."

"Been a while, huh?" Malon smiles, then looks at me. "Hi," she greets. "Are you new?"

I nod. "Name's Link. Link Gaiden." Oh, no. That was a mistake. Here come the endless apologies for my loss, which I have to thank her for and endure a lifetime of her pity. But, none of that happens; she doesn't seem to recognize my name.

"Malon Lon," she replies. "My father owns a ranch and milk bar over in Lakeside. Best milk in all of Hyrule, if I do say so myself. You've ever been there?"

"Nope," I reply. "I'll have to go someday."

"Link's from Ordonia," Sheik says, sticking his thumb in my direction.

Malon's face flashes with confusion, as if she were about to say, 'What are you doing here, then, you broke-ass loser?'

"Oh, Link, there are some more of my friends I'd like you to meet," Sheik says excitedly.

"Shouldn't I drop off my bags at our dorm?"

"Ooh…" My new roommate scratches his chin.

"Hey, why don't I take them?"

We both turn to Malon-- Sheik looks grateful and I look hesitant. Why should I give this complete stranger all the stuff I've ever owned? Um, no thanks, girlie.

"I'm bored out of my mind, and I could really use something to do," the redhead explains. "Then you can introduce Link to our friends, Sheik."

'Our' friends… Hm.

Yeah, I guess I can trust her. Sheik does, and his friends do.

"Okay," I say after a while, handing her the four bags, which she carries with ease-- must be from all the shopping that girls do. "Thanks."

"No problem, Link. So, Sheik, I guess I'll see you at lunch."

Sheik nods and returns the bright smile that Malon gives him, then turns to me. "Alright, bro, let's get goin'."

I groan in subtle protest, but allow myself to be dragged along by Sheik toward the cafeteria at the end of the hall. Once in the spacious room, Sheik makes a beeline for a cluster of people sitting at a middle table. My eardrums are bombarded by a "He-ey, Sheik!" as he takes a seat at the edge of the table. I tentatively sit next to him, feeling five pairs of eyes lay on me.

"Guys," Sheik says, "this is Link Gaiden. He's from Ordonia."

Unlike Malon, every one of them seems to know exactly who I am-- exactly what happened to me. I study the hard expression of a dark-skinned boy, who seriously looks like one of the toughest guys on the planet, and even his gaze softens a tad. To the right of him sits a freckled, dark-haired boy with a yellow tee; next to him is a rather small boy with fiery red hair, freckles, and a green sweatshirt; next there's a boy with long, jet-black hair that hangs near his ice-tinted eyes, and he wears a dark shirt that hugs his muscular figure; and to the very right sits a green-haired boy with a friendly expression.

Sheik turns to me. "This is Darmani, Pipit, Mido, Mikau, and Fledge."

"Hey," I greet with a half smile.

Uh oh. They're just looking at me.

Finally, after an unbearable two seconds, they return a smile. "Hey!" Fledge, Mido, Mikau, and Pipit greet in unison. The corners of Darmani's mouth curved upward, and he nods approvingly-- I think, at least-- in my direction.

"So, Link," Pipit begins uneasily, as if afraid that I'm emotional at the moment, "what do you have first period?"

I check my schedule. "HLA with Ms. Shadow."

"Cool," Sheik says. "We're all in that class too."

Relieved a little, I smile. "Okay, good." Sheik looks at my schedule, studying it. The sheet reads:

1 - HLA - IMPA SHADOW

2 - HISTORY - RAURU LUX

3 - ALGEBRA 2 - NABOORU SPIRIT

4 - PHYS. ED. - DARUNIA MEGATON

LUNCH 2

5 - BIOLOGY - RUPIN MASCA

6 - COMP. SKILLS - EZLO MINISH

"Well," he says, "I've got first, second, and fourth period with you."

"My classes look pretty boring," I groan. "Ugh. School isn't really my thing." Sheik nods; he understands. The others don't.

"School's important, though," Fledge says with a nod. "It'll help with a career."

"Yeah."

"What do you want to do for a living?" Mido pipes, his red curls bouncing atop his head.

"I don't know," I admit with a shrug. "I want to make some dough, but I just want to lay in bed all day."

Sheik snorts. "So you want to be a prostitute?"

I roll my eyes as the group releases a chorus of chuckles. "No, Sheik." The bell rings, and we all rise to our feet.

"Come on," Sheik says to me with a friendly grin. "Time for HLA."

Mikau murmurs, "You don't want to be late and piss off Miss Impa on your first day."

Miss Impa? Why doesn't she make her students call her by her last name? Huh, she must be a cool teacher.

I nod at Mikau, following Sheik and his friends out of the cafeteria and into a hallway with various doors-- it isn't nearly as crowded as I imagined it to be. Mikau, Mido, Darmani, Fledge, Pipit, and Sheik file into Ms. Shadow's classroom, but I hang back. "Link," Sheik says, trying to get me to come in. But my gaze is elsewhere.

I murmur, "Hold on." Sheik follows my gaze down the hall, then nods with a subtle smirk, understanding what I aim to do. He returns inside the classroom.

By the time most students are out of the hallway, I am already making my way down the hall toward the girl in the pink and white sweater at the end, who is struggling with a heavy package. "Hey," I call. "Need some help?"

Zelda turns around from the two-wheeled hand truck, which is loaded with a large box, and smiles at me. "Um," she looks hesitant, as if she doesn't want to burden me with the task, but still relieved, "sure. Thanks."

I'm about to take the handle of the hand truck when I remember something. When I slammed Groose up against the wall, I felt like a freaking gorilla. Now, I figure, is a time to test if my strength remains. Bending down, I pick up the extremely heavy package with-- believe it or not-- one arm. It's a strange feeling, really; my mind knows it's heavy but at the same time my strength makes it feel lightweight. I ponder this as Zelda stares at me, dumbfounded.

"How are you doing that?" she asks, a smile forming on her cute face.

I shrug, returning the smile. "Where do you want it?"

"Oh, just in Ms. Shadow's room. She asked me to get this box for her in the car," she explains, showing me a ring of keys. The teacher must be pretty laid-back to trust a teenager with car keys. "I tried pulling it but it's just too heavy for me." She moves a strand of golden hair out from her face, offering me another dazzling smile.

"You're Zelda, right?" I ask, though I already know the question. "The headmaster's daughter?"

She nods. "Yep." Goddesses, that smile is beautiful. "I remember my dad mentioning a new student… Sorry, but I forgot your name."

"That's fine. I'm Link Gaiden."

Her eyes widen in realization. "Oh…" Expression saddening, she places a soft hand on my shoulder. "Link…, I'm really sorry."

I'm about to protest, mutter a nonchalant 'Nah, I'm okay,' and try to move on, which I have done with nearly everyone thus far, but I don't. Not this time. She's not one of those people who I treat as a minority, who I don't think are important enough to know how I really feel. I just met Zelda, but I can tell she's different.

"Thank you," I say.

After a bit of walking, the 10:00 bell rings, and we barge into the classroom seconds too late. Great, Link. Late on your first day here. Great.

The teacher, Ms. Shadow, turns to us from the front of the class, then sends a smile our way. "Ah, thank you, Zelda, for retrieving my supplies." Her red eyes shift to me. "And who are you, sir?"

I swallow in anxiety. Everyone's eyes are on me- including Sheik's, which relaxes me a bit. "I'm Link Gaiden. And, uh…, sorry I'm late."

"Ah, that's fine," replies the teacher, waving it off with a lightly-tanned hand. "I can see that you're helping Zelda, here, anyway."

I nod meekly, but try not to lose confidence.

"You can just set that box down here." She points to the area next to her desk. After I carry out her task, she says, "My, you must be very strong to carry that on your own-- and with one arm, for that matter."

I nod again, this time with a small smile. When I turn back around to take my seat, I notice that the only remaining seat is in the outside edge of the middle row, which is luckily behind Sheik's desk and directly next to Zelda's.

I bet Sheik did that on purpose.

The sly wink he sends me solidifies my assumption. I roll my eyes at him, then slip into my seat next to Zelda, feeling every pair of eyes on me. I even spot Groose sitting in the back, a frown set firmly on his pudgy face.

Zelda turns her head subtly to smile at me, then places a small piece of notebook paper on my desk.

Thanks again, Link. Here's my phone number if you ever want to talk. 231-555-1986

The corners of my mouth perk upward as I slip the note into my pocket. I meet Zelda's bright eyes with my own, a star shining in each of her blue irises.

Two stars added to my empty sky.


If you remember the symbolism I told you about in chapter one, then you'll understand the last two sentences here.

The word masca-- as in Rupin Masca, Link's biology teacher-- means mask in Latin. The word lux-- as in Rauru Lux, Link's history teacher-- means light in Latin.

HLA stands for Hylian Language Arts.

Next chapter, you'll be introduced to Link's "inhuman abilities" I hinted at, and Link will endure his first day of school. This should be fun...

Let me know what you think! Everything is appreciated.

To be continued.

Until then, Review, Follow, Favorite, do whatever your heart desires. Just make sure it's legal.

~SausageLink43