Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and enjoyed it so far! I was suprised by some of the positive feedback I recieved from just a little prologue and hope that everyone enjoys this wild ride I'm on with this story. As always, comment, message, critique if needed, but most of all enjoy!


"Zelda. Zelda. Zelda!"

I blinked and turned to the red-haired girl next to me. Malon Harris usually was a sweet girl, but as with most gingers, her untimely temper perfectly matched her fiery red hair. Personally, I normally was really jealous of her red hair, especially in comparison to my plain blonde head, but I often subdued my wishful mind with supposing not everyone could have everything in life. She continued looking at me impatiently and I realized I had been zoning out. Again.

"We're supposed to be doing this, and I just can't do it by myself," she complained tersely, shoving a paper in my direction. I looked down at the title, which read Ancient Kings of Hyrule.

"Why do you think I could be help with this?" I mumbled as I started to fill out the paper with ease. We were in history, talking about the ancient royal families, and had been split up into pairs to finish up the worksheets. It was an incredibly easy paper to do, and I was a little exasperated Malon couldn't just do it herself. She rolled her eyes as she answered me.

"Hm, let's think. Why would I want your help with this? It's not as if you're a brainiac or anything, and of course has nothing to do with the fact you're super good at history. Not all of us happen to get this as-"

"-I get it," I said simply. I filled out most of the sheet and handed it back to her. "I'll feel bad doing all of it, so why don't you do the last couple."

She shot me an angry look, but took the sheet and although she finished them a little slower than I had, it was still quicker than the rest of the class. We sat there for a couple awkward moments until she turned to me.

"What were you thinking about this time?" she asked, a little more kindly than before.

I bit my lip and turned to her expectant face. In reality, I had been thinking of home and the grounds around the castle. I missed the climbing trees and some of the indigenous flowers found only on castle grounds. Lately, I had also been missing my father dearly, but of course I couldn't tell her that. Glancing around the room, I tried thinking of what would be a good topic to try and pretend to talk about and came up with, nothing.

"Oh, you know, the usual," I shrugged with a small little laugh that to my own ears sounded really fake. Malon must have sensed the same thing as she just laughed at me.

"Oh Zellie, you know how absolutely horrible of a liar you are! Just tell me. Or better yet, let me guess." She looked around the room at the general direction of where I had been looking and gasped.

"You like a guy don't you? And you haven't even bothered to tell me yet, even though I'm totally your best friend!" she squealed, causing several people to look our way curiously. I didn't bother to correct her in the sense that she was my only friend really, and instead shook it off. I looked at her with confusion, then back where she had looked at across the room. It was a group of guys, mainly jocks, who seemed to be having comprehensive issues with the worksheet.

"No no, you seem to have it really wrong," I insisted. "Even if I did like a guy, which I don't, it would never be any of those guys. I actually prefer guys who, you know, can hold a conversation without mentioning work-out equipment or how muscular their pectorals are."

"They're not all like that though," Malon insisted as she took a drink of her Lon-Lon milk. I pushed my hair behind my ears and rolled my eyes at her.

"Of course you can say that! I'm pretty sure most if not all of the guys here have no idea that I've gone to school with them for as long as I have. You don't even have to work at it of people to know you're here, they just, know. Case in point, guys actually like you. How are guys supposed to like me if they don't even know I exist? I'm just pretty sure it doesn't work like that" I pointed out as she sighed.

"Well you don't exactly make it easy Zelda. How will they know you exist if all you do is spend your time in the library or doing homework? You just need to socialize more."

"I've tried socializing," I said, not paying attention to the conversation really anymore. We argued about my love life, or lack of, at least once a day and right now it was the least of my worries. She gasped and put her hands on her face in excitement.

"I know! Why don't you come down with me to the Ag building after school! We have so many cute guys there you know," she said as she grinned at me hugely. Malon came from an extensive agriculturally blessed family, and needless to say, she was a very big "aggie." Her family owned cows, Lon-Lon ranch (of course), and so much land, it was no mystery of why she was in the university, as it was quite an expensive tuition. My cost was of course paid for by my father, but I knew the other students that actually knew I went to school with them thought I was on scholarship, which I always was readily willing to encourage. The less money people thought I had and the less they thought of me, the more chance there would be in keeping my identity hidden.

"Malon, I hate animals," I stated simply, iterating a fact I had told her numerous times.

"Shhhh!" she said, throwing a hand over my mouth and looking around. "You don't want guys to know that, it lowers your stock and your potential!"

"I have no potential," I stated again as I looked around the room too. "And personally, you know I don't care what many if not all of these people think of me," I added, not seeing anyone of interesting 'potential' in the room.

She threw up her hands in exasperation and turned to talk to the people behind us just as a handsome boy walked up to us from the table of guys Malon had shown me earlier. He was tall and had swooping black hair that stuck up a little in the front. His piercing green eyes looked fake and I slightly wanted to ask about them, but I figured it wasn't really an exact question you could ask someone. I mean, one just couldn't ask someone if their eyes were fake, so I resigned myself that the mystery would be unsolved for a while. He stood in front of Malon and my desk and looked at me expectantly, making my heart flutter a little just at how he was looking at me.

"Hi, you must be new, my name is-"

"I'm not new here," I said, my heart sinking as he looked as if he was taken completely off guard.

"Oh, right. Then you're Malon, right?" he asked me again. I turned to the actual Malon, as if to show her exactly how accurate my statement had been earlier, but she was still talking to the others at our behind table. I turned back to the guy, who was looking at me quite expectantly.

"Not exactly fly boy," I sighed as he continued looking confused.

"Who are you then?" he asked as I shook my head.

"I'm not telling you. It's not my fault you've gone to school with me 4 years and have never bothered to know my name," I said stiffly, looking him straight in the eye.

"Well, I bet you don't know who I am," he said, no doubt trying to redeem himself as I scoffed at him.

"Of course I know who you are. You're Dark Ombra. Star captain of the rugby team. Class officer. Ego the size of this room. I know exactly who you are, and why you're here. Just, take it before I get more annoyed and offended talking with you," I said impatiently as I shoved my finished paper to him. He looked insulted a little, making me slightly regret how tactless I had been, but I shoved my guilt aside as he shrugged and took the paper to his desk. This also happened to be the exact moment Malon turned.

"Hey Zelda, did you hear Mido and Saria…" her voice trailed off as she looked at me. "Whoa, what just happened?" she demanded, looking at me sternly.

"Dark wanted our paper and didn't have the decency to know who I was, other than that, nothing," I mumbled, still somewhat angry about the whole name miscommunication. Obviously, I knew I wasn't the most popular or sociable girl, but people still tended to know who I was. Especially since I was always on honor roll and had a decent number of people who actually talked to me. I knew I wasn't entirely sociable or anything, but my acquaintances were pretty numerous, and I was always surprised every day by the number of various people in the hallways who would randomly come up to me and say 'hi.' Still, it wasn't surprising to me that someone of Dark's status didn't know who I was, and I didn't feel like dwelling or bringing it up would do anything worthwhile in my life. Malon thought otherwise.

"Dark. Like, Dark Dark? Oh my gosh Zelda, did you even say hi, or talk to him, give him you're number, anything? Did he ask about me, or you or, why are you staring at me like that Zelda?"

"Why would you think that any power in Hyrule would possess me to give him my number? Just, no," I said as I started packing up my book. Malon was about to say something (probably some dating tip 101) just as Dark sauntered back up to us, paper in hand.

"Hey, Zelda," he added with emphasis, a lopsided grin on his actually rather cute face that no doubt was used to charm brainless girls around the school every day. I, however, was not affected, and continued staring at him with exasperation as I started fake clapping for him.

"Congratulations, you know my name. Go Dark!" I mimicked enthusiastically as Malon shot me a look. "Which of your friends told you it?"

"Actually, it was at the top of your paper, smarts," he mocked my expression and tone with an attractive smile, making Malon grip he fingers under the table, no doubt trying to compose her mind. I looked at him and took the paper back.

"Are you done now? I'd rather be doing something productive in my life instead of this scintillating conversation, shockingly enough…" I said with a sigh. He shrugged as he sat on the table.

"I don't know Harkinian, I rather like the view from this side of the room. I feel like I can see everyone and anyone, plus that window view," he motioned to the window next to us, "stunning! I'm quite content with staying here."

The bell rang and I stood up with my bag. "Bummer, guess that ruins your proposed living plans," I shrugged as I walked away, turned in the paper, and went out the door. I was fumbling with my bag clasp when a pair of hands was suddenly there, closing it effortlessly. I looked up into the face of Dark, who was so close to my own face I blushed and leaned back.

"What do you want now?" I asked with confusion and exasperation as we continued walking. "I am heading to class you know."

"Yes, I know, I am too. I just wanted to know one thing," he grinned at me, no doubt trying to woo me with his eye-catching smile. I rolled my eyes and walked faster, my stride lengthening as he continued following me.

"Just answer my question and I'll go away," he continued grinning as I turned the corner. I paused and looked at him sternly.

"No you won't, and we both know that," I sighed as I crossed my arms across my chest. The other people who milled past us gave us both strange looks that I myself could not blame them. I probably would have weirded out too if I saw the most popular guy at talking almost commonly to someone of my rank. Dark, however, did not seem to notice the stares or my impending irritation.

"You never will know unless you talk to me," he smirked as I looked down at my watch. Two minutes until class.

I pursed my lips. "What is it then?"

"Do you really think that badly of me, like you said in class?" he asked, sounding a little more concerned than I thought was possible from, him.

"Was it the ego comment?" I said, almost laughing as he looked at me strangely.

"So, what if it was? It was," he paused, "let's just say I wasn't expecting that from you."

"Of course you weren't expecting it from me, before today you didn't even know I existed. There's a big difference," I pointed out as the last of people started to go into classrooms.

"I'm not that bad of a guy though," he tried stating as I started walking away quickly. "Wait, where are you going?"

"Class. I, I of all people can't afford to be late."

"But, but we're talking! You can't just walk away."

I started walking and turned around to see him standing there, looking somewhat pathetic. "I am, and just did. Go to class Dark; don't want to see your probably stunning academic record hindered just because of me." And with that, I turned around and made my way to my class.

I somehow managed to get there just in time, which earned me a reproaching look from my English teacher. Ashamed, I managed to walk to my seat with my head face down as the class somewhat stared at me. I, perfect model student Zelda, had almost been late to class. A couple of the more popular girls snickered at me as I took out the book we were currently studying, 1984. Nothing said high school English like Communism in my opinion, and though it was a little strange at times, I actually really had been enjoying the book so far. We were in class discussing the theme of control in it, which was a sure sign I could zone out that class period. Even though I loved discussing things in class, because I was so high in grades my teacher usually chose to never call on me. Today seemed to be no exception.

"Now, Marin, what is the main source of control in the book?" Mr. Auru Anders asked, pointing to a more popular girl in the back who had been talking with her friends. She looked at him in annoyance and bit her lip, trying to think.

"Big Brother," I muttered as she continued stumbling for an answer.

"Winston Smith?" she suggested as the teacher looked ashamed.

"Not quite Marin, though good try. How about," he started looking around and turned to someone else. "Beth, how about you: Which character exercises the most turn about way of control in the novel?"

"O' Brien," I muttered again, looking across the room as I usually did. I could, however, start to feel someone's stare at me. The source of which seeming to be a boy with shaggy blonde hair and stunning blue eyes that pierced me from across the room. I stared, transfixed for a couple seconds as the boy's mouth parted open, as if he wanted to talk to me. He looked very familiar and I knew I had at least another class with him, but his name had escaped me at the moment.

"Um, um, um… Julia?" she suggested. He sighed again as I continued staring at the boy, not able to do anything else.

"Did anyone read the book? Honestly? Maybe we need a guy's point of view…" He sighed and surveyed the room. "Stritch, what about you?"

The boy turned away from me as the next person tried (unsuccessfully) to answer the question. The rest of the class passed uneventfully as not only no one could answer any questions about the book, but the boy did not look back at me again. Maybe it was my recent encounter with Dark, or my conversation with Malon, but whatever it was, I could not stop looking at the guy because he was, quite frankly, very cute. I mean, I tried to not look at him, I really did, but I just couldn't help it. He didn't seem to be as fixated with me and managed to be quite content with staring out the window near his seat instead of looking at me.

Once class was over I rushed outside, unsure what I would do if I actually managed to talk to him. My heart told me to go talk to him, but I knew I was way too cowardice to do such a flirtatious feat. Holding my school books near my chest, I pictured his eyes again and blushed as I walked to the lunch room. I vowed that I had to find out his name, very soon.

The sound met me before anything, the sound of hundreds of teenagers gathering together in one little cafeteria to have lunch and socialize. Personally, the annoying sound bothered me immensely, but I had learned to deal with it as charmingly as I could. I walked inside the area, not surprised that no one bothered to look up at me as I passed. I hurried to my usual table where Malon was already sitting, drinking more Lon-Lon milk. She didn't seem to be paying attention, so I grinned as I slapped by books on the table, startling her. True to my expectations, she jumped and turned to glare at me.

"ZELDA! You can't just, do that you know? It's very rude," she sniffed as I laughed and sat back down.

"But, you see, I've always heard guys love a girl with humor. So really, this joking around will make me seem more desirable, which in theory, was what you were discussing with me earlier, so you really should be enjoying my humor," I pointed out as I took out my lunch. She seemed to want to say a no doubt witty response in retort, but remembered something else which made her light up again.

"Speaking of men, how did it end up going with Dark?" she grinned as I rolled my eyes.

"Really, you get excited about that? I tell you loads of good news that happen to me, like A's on my papers, or when I got that really nice compliment on my paper from Mr. Shad and you could care less. But one mere mention of a guy's name and you're in a total frenzy!" I said, throwing up my hands in exasperation.

She shrugged as she took a bite of her sandwich. "I just happen to have a priority of my thoughts and excitement, unlike you."

"I do have my priorities, prioritized," I frowned as I bit into my peanut butter and boysenberry sandwich. My mind jumped to the boy in my English class again I could feel my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. I tried hiding it so Malon wouldn't see me, which seemed to be very successful as she looked the other way and randomly started laughing.

"Well whatever your priorities are, I think you're failing miserably. Did you see that Link Avalon is staring at you?" she laughed as I spun around in confusion. My eyes met the boy in my class and I blushed again as I turned around again so I couldn't see him.

"So his name is Link," I mumbled into my sandwich as Malon gave me an inquisitive look.

"Oh, you know him?" she said as she wiggled her eyebrows, her disposition seemingly brightened by the thought.

"No, not really. Not conventionally at least, we just have a couple classes together," I shrugged as she gave me a look that basically said she did not believe me at all. I was about to argue more when I felt someone sit next to me. I was confused because no one ever sat anywhere near us, so I turned to see Dark, lounging with his back to the table, looking at me cheekily.

"Can I help you?" I asked with growing irritation.

"I don't know, can you," he laughed, grinning at me again with that charmingly perfect smile. It really was quite a nice smile, friendly, perfectly straightened… I shook my head, clearing my thoughts as I stared at him again with a slight frown.

"You think you're quite clever, don't you?"

"No sweetheart, I know I am."

"Sweetheart, really? Can we please keep the derogatory anti-feminist names to a minimum please?" I grumbled into my sandwich.

"Derogatory? I rather find it rather to be endearing and sweet, such as myself," he grinned at me again and I bit my lip to try and hold my smile coming on. Even though it was cheesy and coming from Dark, I still had to fight the urge not to grin at his antics. I would never admit it, but some of his comments really were quite funny.

"Don't you think very highly of yourself," I said, biting my lip harder to hide the impending smile as I tried to look the other way so he couldn't see me.

"You know you kind of do too," he stated, seeming to iterate my personal struggle of thought. Point to Dark.

"Was there something you needed?" I asked as I tried to be more polite.

"Just you," he said sleazily as I scoffed at him, even though my breath caught a little in my chest.

"Good luck with that then," I managed to say as he just laughed at me. He was about to say something when a group of guys walked by and stopped, laughing and pointing at us.

"Dark, man, what are you doing here?" one of them guffawed, his funny looking pouf of red hair bouncing as he chuckled.

"Dude, I didn't know you spoke loser Dark," another of them chortled, his voice annoying me greatly. I clenched my fists together, trying to maintain all my etiquette lessons I learned as a child. Just, breathe… I thought to myself as they continued laughing louder and putting up giant L's on their forehead, which is when I snapped.

"Dude, I didn't know you like, learned how to manage to put more than like, two words together in a sentence," I mocked as Dark stood and laughed at my comment and no doubt the stupid look on his friends face.

"She got you there," he chuckled as his friend glared at me. I glared right back, not daring to back my eyes down.

"This has been fun. This isn't the end of this geek," one of them said through clenched teeth as he turned to walk away. I gave a mocking smile and waved to his back.

"Nice meeting you!" I shouted to his back as he flipped me off. Classy.

"Right, just, hey, don't worry about him. He's a douche bag even on his best days," Dark said awkwardly as he shoved his hands in his pocket.

"I'm glad you have such charming friends, really," I said with a sarcastic laugh.

"I just, never mind. I'll talk to you later Harkinian," he said as he waved and walked away. I rolled my eyes and looked at Malon, who was staring at me with wide eyes.

"You do realize you were flirting with one of the most popular guys at school, right? And you offended even more popular guys?" she said breathlessly as I rolled my eyes.

"Right." I continued eating my sandwich in silence, wondering about my very strange day. As the bell rang and I packed up, out of the corner of my eye I could see the boy, Link, looking at me again. I gulped as I straightened, looked at him squarely, then hurried to my last class, my cheeks burning a little.

The rest of my day was moderately uneventful. My last class of Math was completely boring, even more so than usual, and it didn't help my mind was wandering so much over what had happened in my previous two classes. Two guys paying slight attention to me in one day? That was a strange accomplishment indeed. Maybe my stock really was rising as Malon would say, or maybe I really was seeming a little more appealing to those in possession of a Y-chromosome. Whatever the reason was, the fact that so much had happened today was quite out of the ordinary indeed.

After school, I went to the school library in an attempt to study, but left after twenty minutes due to my minds intense distractions. I instead opted to my room and spent the rest of the day in there, finishing all my schoolwork and then reading. I showered and got ready for bed as Malon, my roommate (of course), came in.

"Zelda, you should have come with me today!" she squealed as she took off her shoes. I was sitting on my bed reading A Tale of Two Cities, my glasses resting on the end of my nose (as I had already taken out my contacts). I sat the book down and looked to her with amusement.

"Why, do the cows send their love again?"

"Close, very close. Dark was there. Looking for you," she enunciated slowly with a grin. My heart skipped a couple of beats (as that was kind of flattering if it really was true) but I instead just shrugged.

"So, what is that supposed to do for me? I don't like him or anything."

"Right. So, you aren't a little excited the most popular guy in school enjoys talking to you. I know you to well Zelda, and I know that that has a lot of effect on you! You love this kind of romantic crap!"

I sighed as I took off my glasses and looked at her sternly. "Maybe it is a little stirring, but I can promise you Malon, nothing is going to happen there. Not only are we in two totally different spheres of popularity, but his ego can fill this whole dorm floor. I personally think I'll pass."

She sighed dramatically and shrugged. "I guess. At least you know you have your pick of them."

"What do you mean?" I asked, really confused. "Are you talking crops again, because you know I don't speak Ag."

"No, guys still. Let's just say, someone else was out there, apparently looking for you too," she laughed as I looked at her with confusion.

"Who would be looking for me?"

She smiled at me kindly and shrugged. "Oh, well, it really was no one. It was just that one guy from earlier, Link." She shrugged and continued getting ready for bed, not realizing exactly the effect her words had on me. As she turned off the light eventually, I lay down on my side, trying to comprehend all that had happened to me in the past 24 hours.