Chapter One
In the lovely kingdom of Hyrule, there was a fair and just king by the name of Author. He had a lovely daughter by the name of Zelda, who had been blessed with both beauty and intelligence by the Goddess Nayru.
On a beautiful day, they went riding with their loyal guards tailing behind them to give the king and princess some time to bond.
They had just come to a small village called Ordon when a small brown hare leaped into the horse's path shocking it into a full blown gallop, the princess a prisoner on its back.
Shouts rang through the air towards anyone and everyone pleading for their aid in stopping the runaway horse and save his child.
They rode recklessly through the village till coming across a small house before heading off into the woods once more. Fearing that they would lose the princess, they hurried faster.
"Zelda!" Author yelled out to his daughter fruitlessly as she screamed for help moving farther as the horse raced forward.
Suddenly, a small pony dashed out of the woods with a person on its back moving to meet with the rogue horse head on, with the rider standing upon its back closing the gap between them quickly.
The king and his men watched from atop of their still moving horses as the person jumped onto the horse Zelda was riding back. After a few tense seconds of visible struggling with the horse the rider got the horse to turn left and into a spring with the pony he had rode on following. The King and Knights hurried after them, unsure if the princess had just been saved, or was in more danger than before.
Arriving into the clearing, they saw both horses were cooling off and resting, drinking heavily the fresh water. The one, they now saw, turned out to be a boy, that was now sitting on the floor before the princess, cleaning her ankle gently of the blood that had resulted when they had entered into the enclosed space. He had dove off the horse with her securely in his embrace, but her foot had gotten stuck in the stirrup. It hadn't resulted in a serious injury just a miniscule cut from the foot escape the saddle's strap.
The knights were quick to grab the boy holding him prisoner, but they stopped when they heard a distressed but commanding voice demanding their attention.
"Stop! What are you doing to him!" They turned to see that some of the townsfolk had caught up to them and the one who spoke looked to be the leader of the crowd. "I am Bo, the mayor of Ordon and that boy is not a threat! He's too gentle to hurt anyone!"
"He touched the crowned princess! That is offense enough!" one of the guards yelled manhandling the small boy that looked to be around the same age as the princess.
"Be quiet!"
Everyone looked to the princess, who was being held lovingly in her father's arms since the pain in her ankle kept her unbalanced.
"He saved me. I could've gotten hurt a lot worse than just a scrape and bruise. Now, please, let him go!" She yelled at the guards and they immediately let him go following her royal orders.
Author knelt down on one knee, sitting Zelda on it and beckoned the shy boy forward.
"That was a very brave thing you did, boy. I am sorry if my guards hurt you. I am King Author, and this, lovely little girl, is my daughter, Zelda."
"Hello, Your Majesty's, my name is Link. I'm sorry that you hurt your foot. I should've made sure your feet were free before jumping," he reprimanded, bowing his head in apology.
"Heh! You're kinda cute, Link!" Zelda giggled and he blushed handsomely at her compliment, mumbling a shy thank you to her, making the king laugh softly. "Papa? Can I make Link my playmate? It's so boring in the castle and I get lonely too since you're always so busy. Please?" she asked as he looked to the mayor, who now stood with a hand on Link's shoulder reassuring the boy that he did the right thing by saving the princess.
"That depends on Link, honey," the king answered before turning to the boy. "Link, would you like to come to the castle sometimes to play with Zelda? I'm sure the two of you could have a lot of fun together." Link looked up at Bo, who gave him a small nod and a smile.
"He asked you, Link, not me. Do you want to go visit the castle sometimes when you aren't busy with chores?"
Link looked to the smiling king and princess before nodding his head.
Zelda clapped her hands and squealed happy that finally she had someone her age to play with.
The King, princess, and their knights left later that evening, after taking a tour of the village allowing Zelda to play with Link in the field outside of his home.
Link showed her how to make flower crowns, and to weave jewelry using grass and other plants. While they played the guards kept watch, and Bo sat with the king making a plan. Link would come visit three times a week, do chores three times a week and rest on the last day. This way, he wasn't tired or missing work. They both agreed that this was a smart way to smooth everything into an even layer...
Link sat on his pony, following the guards silently inside the castle gates.
Today was his first day as playmate to the princess. He hoped they had fun. Maybe they could play hide and seek in the castle gardens? It certainly looked big enough, he thought allowing himself to be awed at the sheer size of them.
Once the two guards left him at the front steps, a servant took his pony to the stables and he hurried up the stairs to the palace.
Zelda was waiting for him at the top of the steps and smiled warmly at him before taking his hand in hers, and pulling him into the castle. They didn't stop their mad dash until they had reached her royal bed cambers.
Once inside and behind closed doors, safe from prying eyes, she let him go and locking them inside turning to face with eyes narrowed, and a snooty look replacing the friendly mask she wore earlier.
"Strip." This was the one word demand from the 9 year old princess of younger 7 year old boy. Link blushed and crossed his arms over his clothes in shock.
"Uh- princess-!" he stuttered, but fell to the floor helplessly from the harsh slap to his face. He looked up at Princess Zelda in shock.
"Now get up and let me see!" she ordered. "I have plans with some friends, but since father decided that you should be here today, I couldn't go with them to the party. But I had an idea: you can stay here and do my lessons while I go see my friends. Father is going to be gone until supper, and I'll be back before then. And if you keep this a secret, I'll give you a gift as a reward."
"But I don't want anything," Link mumbled. "I was hoping we could play together, but if you want to go see your friends then I can stay here. It's my first time inside of a castle. I'm sure I won't get bored."
Zelda looked down at him in shock; he didn't want anything? What kind of kid was he? She waved a hand to the changing stall, and he stepped behind it.
Minutes later he stepped face red and his hand busily covering himself he stood allowing Zelda to look him over.
He was a pretty boy, she surmised eying him up and down. His figure was small like a girl's and with the right dress and spells, he'd look exactly like her. With a grin she ran to her wardrobe and pulled out a pale green dress that she hated, and gave it to Link telling him to put it on and let her see.
The young elf did as she said and put on the dress behind the stall before walking out, the ties still loose, but otherwise it fit and looked very tasteful on him.
"I only wear this dress when my blue or pink dresses are dirty, and since they are; no one will give two thoughts about your clothing. Turn around so I can tie up the dress, and then sit in front of the vanity so I can fix your hair, and cast the necessary spells so you can pass as me until I get back."
Link nodded hoping he didn't get caught, mostly because he would also get Zelda in trouble, and worse he might be killed for posing as the princess, but he was more afraid of being hit again by said princess.
Zelda tied the laces and then brushed his hair before she cast the spells needed. She then put her headdress on his head and smiled. If she didn't know any better she'd swear she had a twin sister! After that she changed her clothes to look like a peasant girl or a handmaid before she walked Link down to the main foyer where her teachers were. She left him at the foot of the stairs and left quickly before anyone recognized her.
"There you are princess; it is time for your etiquette classes."
"Yes, teacher."
"And I will not- huh? Did you just agree?"
"Yes, why wouldn't I? May we begin please?" Link asked his voice was masked over to be Zelda's so no one would know he was a boy. The man nodded, a bit shocked that he didn't have to chase the 9 year old down this time.
"This way then..."
As they walked to the classroom, many servants and maids greeted the princess and the princess smiled and greeted them right back as well as wishing them a good day. This seemed to shock them, but Link was oblivious to their reactions as they began the lessons.
Link was playing with a few dogs in the garden, laughing and giggling as they ran with him, sometimes getting a belly rub if they did a trick or a pat on the head when they brought back the ball.
The guards were shocked. The princess rarely played with the dogs, she found them to be dirty and noisy.
Link then sat down in the flower field, the dogs all laying around him in a comfy, but protective circle.
When some of the guards approached their resting place, the dogs rose up and growled darkly at them, but made no move to attack them as if they were only warning them. The dogs normally hated Zelda, but today they seemed to be loving and protective of her.
"Princess, it's nearly time for snack, what would you like?" the guard asked and she seemed to think it over.
"If it's not too much trouble, could I please have a slice of lemon cake and mint tea? Oh and could you bring some jerky for the dogs, they could use a treat after being so well behaved!" Link said with a bright and cute smile. The man nodded and left with a bow.
Something happened to the princess, but he liked it. She wasn't being snotty like normal, and was even acting well-behaved for her teachers, too!
Link, on the other hand, was enjoying his time at the palace. He learned about the Goddess', and that the mark on his left hand was from Farore, the Goddess of Courage.
He also learned some basic magic, the teacher saying that even the princess needed to know some magic even if it was healing or one attack spell to protect herself. Link obviously knew that Zelda knew more spells than what she had let others know about since she cast a complex spell to make him look and sound like her.
Link looked up when the same guard came back about an hour later and bowed to him.
"Princess, your snack is ready as well as the jerky for the dogs."
"Really! Yay! Ohh, would you like to see a few of the tricks I taught them?" The man looked surprised and nodded his head as they walked to the patio area. A few guards and servants were there pretending to be securing the area, but wanted to see the miracle that changed Zelda from a spoiled brat to an angel.
Link smiled, and carefully pulled off his gloves to pick up a few pieces of jerky. He let the dogs catch its scent before he held up a hand.
"Sit!" They all sat tall like statues, and he made a stop sign with his hand. "Stay."
He then put a piece of jerky in front of each dog, and smiled as he dropped his hand. The dogs leaned forward eating their treats. When they were done they looked up at him, waiting for another command and treat.
"Stand." They all rose onto their hind legs, wobbling in place, and he made a twirling motion with his finger as he said, "Spin."
They turned, and he smiled encouragingly. "Sit. Good now jump!"
They all did back flips and he set the bowl of jerky on the floor for them to eat.
Those present clapped their hands as he cleaned off his hands, and sat down to eat his snack and drink his tea.
This was the most fun he had in years! He couldn't wait to go home and tell Bo and Ilia about his time at the palace.
That evening Zelda snuck back in and found Link asleep on her sofa in her room, a book resting on the table in front of him, open to the last page he was reading.
She quickly changed her clothes and woke him up. He sat up and smiled at her, after turning his face to yawn, not wanting to be rude.
"Welcome home, Princess. Did you have fun with your friends?"
"Yep! What about you?" she asked as she undid the ties on his dress, and handed him his own clothes. He stepped behind the stall and changed before coming out so she could undo the spells as he spoke.
"I had a lot of fun! Your teachers are very nice! They taught me about the goddesses and their power, the Tri-Force, and I also learned some basic healing magic! After the lessons, I played with the guard dogs and even taught them a few tricks. I made a few friends with the staff and I think they were all surprised for some reason, they seemed happy that I said 'please' and 'thank you', but not a one realized I wasn't you. . . Hmm? Was I imagining it?" Link questioned.
"Wow, sounds like you had an eventful day," Zelda commented. "Well, come on let's go down and play in the inner garden until supper." She noted that he was the complete opposite of her: he was kind and thoughtful, and she was spoiled and rude. "Now listen to me Link, at dinner, it's rude for a peasant to speak among royals, so say nothing and let me talk with father. If he asks you a question, just nod your head and do the same for the servants, who serve dinner." He nodded his head and they went to go play.
After Link left that night Zelda walked into the chapel and made a wish in the wishing well that was there. It showed her that in the years to come Link would still be kind and sweet, and she would be wise and in control; this pleased her greatly.
She could see that a war was brewing, the death of the holder of the Tri-Force of Power, and her own father. She could see herself as Queen, and this made her smile even wider.
She saw Link dressed in a green dress with his hair fixed, most likely ready to switch places with her again. He was sitting with her in the palace, and she seemed to be worried about something before he stood up and said something that seemed to calm her down, but the conversation she couldn't discern.
Smirking when it ended, she hurried off to bed and hoped that everything she saw would come to pass...