I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack. With a vengeance.

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Title: Shadows
Chapter: Double L for Losers
Rating: PG-13, language
Disclaimer: Will Review For Money. Lost Fortune To Zelda. Don't Sue.
Note: Link is sort of out-of-character for this chapter. But I wanted to make him bitter, so...
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Death is only a dream,

The murder stands on the edge of

Frictional reality.

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POV: Link-y

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Link...I thought while pulling away from Leon. I'm sorry..."I'm sorry!" I cried aloud, the apology directed both at Leon and Link. "So sorry..." After that, I ran, blinded from tears. The voices of Leon, and, I could've sworn, Link calling, but I ignored them. I'd keep running, and hope that I could figure things out from there...

---

I watched Zelda leave with a broken heart. It was already broken, so at that point, it must've been broken into thirds. The damned man who thought he could steal Zelda's heart in a week, yet, sadly, he had. I felt a twinge of anger, and a broil that churned my stomach and made my head pulse painfully.

"Fuck," I cursed, and that word was never acceptable in those times. So, just my luck, it was heard by the dumb-struck prince, who hadn't experienced Zelda's mood swings yet.

"Who's there?" The prince had already whipped out his sword, holding it in a "valiant" pose that made me scoff in disgust. "Come out or face the consequences!"

With a bit of a pompous attitude, I leapt out of the tree, landing right in front of the idiot. "Hm?" I asked, nonchalantly pushing the over-polished blade away.

"Oh, it's only you." He gave a relieved smile and shielded his blade.

Only youuuuu. I mimicked in my head. But said, "Yes".

"...awkward."

---

"This is just perfect," I grumbled. Me and Mr. Prince Charming had been searching the palace for hours, but with no luck.

"It's not my fault," He snapped, looking a little annoyed with my cold attitude. "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't treat me with such disdain."

"Well, sorry that we can't all be Little Mister Sunshine." I snipped, "Besides, you're the one who forced yourself on her."

"I didn't hear any complaints." Leon shrugged, not bothering to hold one of the heavy doors, so that it smacked me in the face. I grunted, pushing it open with strain that Leon hadn't had when he was doing so.

"When a woman runs from you right after you've kissed, take that as a complaint." I growled, though Zelda had kicked me out of her room after we had kissed, but that, my friend, was much different.

"I thought I saw yellow!" Leon said suddenly, pointing to one of the corners.

"ZELDA!" I yelled, running after her like there was no tomorrow, but, after hearing gales of laughter, I turned around to look at Leon...and...hit a wall. "DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT" I cussed, flailing my arms in a full out fit.

"I believe people like you would say 'made you look', eh?" Leon asked, hovering over me with a completely amused smile.

"I'll cut that grin right off yer fuc-"...and then there was yellow. This time, it was really there, and, boy, was it mad.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" I guessed she had only seen my fit, and not Leon's cruel trick. I was framed and my competition wasn't; my life was over. "GET OFF THE FLOOR, LINK. NOW!" She grabbed my ear and yanked to my feet, not even letting me get up a less painful way.

"But he-"

"HONESTLY, LINK!"

"Zelda, Leon-"

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!"

"Come on, you don't actually-"

"I DO! AND I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!" Zelda grasped me by the wrist, holding her other hand like she was going to back-hand me, but, remembering I wasn't her child, she let me go and shook her head. "Please, please forgive this imbecile, Leon, really, there aren't any other as idiotic as he is in Hyrule, I promise you..."

"It is alright, I understand that some aren't quite as...fast than most." Leon said solemnly, and I wanted to hit him, and I would have, if it wasn't for Zelda's cold glare.

---

Thereafter, things were almost peaceful for the odd love triangle (as Leon would call it). With only three days left till the ball, it was too hectic to merely step out into the hallway. Servants were bustling around the halls at lightning fast speed, and they didn't regard the princess in any of the respect they were required of. If it wasn't for their hard work, Zelda wouldn't have been quite so patient.

"Could you please not make it so tight?" Zelda asked one of her handmaids, Rosa - a girl a little younger than herself - whom only gave her a snide look, as if the remark was completly unacceptable. Zelda squeaked as Rose tugged at the corset strings. Leon and I winced as Zelda doubled over, gasping for air. "Rosa, I'm going to look like a pole." She said through gasps of air. "Loosen. It."

"It is the latest fashion, m'lady." Rose smiled sweetly; a horrible cover up for a sneer. "Besides, you need it." She didn't give Zelda the chance to react; she turned on her heels and strutted to the door, making sure to swag her hips along the way.

"I need it?" Zelda blinked, and looked sadly down at her body. She bit her lip, though it didn't stop the trembling. As one would expect, Leon and I were at her side the moment her eyes started to water.

"Oh, dear Zelda, she must be delusional!" Leon patted her softly on the shoulder, offering a "consoling" smile.

"You must be kidding." I said, shaking my head. "Don't take people like her seriously; she is simply envious."

"Thank-you..." She shrugged her shoulders and looked over at the mirror. Her eyes trailed her body, then the hint of a smile graced her lips. She turned towards us, absolutely beaming. Without a word, she went to her bed and gently lifted her dress. "Since my tailor has left, I would love it if you two would help me fit this."

"I would be obliged," We said simultaneously, and Zelda raised an eyebrow.

"Well, well, it seems you two are getting along better." She giggled and thrust the white dress into our arms. As she walked away, I wondered how we would fit it so it wouldn't crease at the corset, and her underdress, slip, and all the other assorted undergarments. "Come over here." She ordered, ushering us with a crooked finger. It was the worst thing a women could do; we strolled over like drooling dogs.

Zelda lifted her arms and looked at us expectantly. We blinked, glanced at each other, and asked, once again at the same time, "Uh...?"

"One of you put it on me." Zelda stated as if it was the most obvious thing. "Link will put it on, and Leon will check for wrinkles and such."

"Right." I nodded, gulping a little. I stepped forward, coming face-to-face with Zelda, who had a teasing smile purposely daunting me. I made a face and lifted the dress from the bell, nervously slipping it over her.

Unfortunately for me, I was hardly able touch Zelda, only straighten the sleeves on her shoulders, which earned a slight twitch of the muscles; a sorry excuse for a shiver. But, while this was happening, Leon had his hands all over her, although I knew he was too much of a good person to be gaining a sense pleasure from it. Such a dolt.

"What do you think? It will be much more elaborate once it is all finished..." Zelda stepped back from us, her hands clasped behind her back and an uncomfortable expression on her face. We must have looked like complete fools, for our jaws were dropped to a complete gawk.

The white upper-half was embellished with intricate silvery designs, while it cut low in the front, and lower in the back. Coming from a dip from the upper-half, the lacy bell spread wide - a five foot radius at the least. And in the white, Zelda glowed against the sunshine, her long golden locks flowing perfectly with the dress's shape.

"It's very soft," Zelda came forth, the dress flowing with her movements, making her seem as if she was floating. She stretched the material to us, and she was right. It was a silken satin; very, very soft to the touch. We smiled and nodded in agreement, but she frowned. "You don't like it..."

"Are you insane!" I asked, groaning in annoyance, "Who wouldn't like it?" I asked, playing with the sleeves.

"Agreed." Leon said, glaring at my hands.

---

Two days for the ball, and Hyrule was already packed with foreigners. It was amazing how many people would be attending, and how much food was prepared for them. The ballroom was finally finished, and we hadn't been allowed in it in ages.

"This is so exciting!" Zelda cried, her trembling hand on the handle of the large oak door. "Can you believe this is happening, Link?" Leon wasn't around; he was taking care of "business". I had been recently informed that he would be escorting her.

"Yes." I shrugged, "It was bound to come around."

"You don't think I could find a husband on my own?" She scoffed, crossing her arms and raising her eyebrows. "Well, just so you know, I very well could."

"How? Visiting every land and scouting for royalty?" I asked, being the realistic person that I am. "Prince Charming isn't going to come and sweep you off your feet, you have to give him a push along the way."

"And where did that come from?" Zelda rolled her eyes and playfully shoved me. "Prince Charming has arrived, just to tell you."

"Oh, really? Mister Sunshine, I suppose." I put my hand on the handle impatiently. "Can we just go in?"

"No, not before we settle this." Zelda smacked my hand and frowned deeply. "What do you have against him?"

"Nothing. Just the fact that he's faking."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm not. Who can actually smile twenty-four seven?"

"Leon, apparently. You should try it sometime."

"No, thanks." I grabbed the handle and yanked it open. Before me lay the most eccentric ballroom I had ever seen in my life; and I had seen many balls. It was coated with white, white, and more white. The only color was red; the furniture and whatnot. Although it was rather cliché, Zelda gasped in amazement, and I was admittedly impressed.

"It is..." Zelda started stupidly, walking carefully forward, as if her shoes would scratch the perfectly cleansed floor and throw the whole pure, clean feeling off. "Wonderful." There wasn't much of any other word to describe it.

"I think it's missing something," Both of us jumped as Leon walked up behind us. I turned, along with Zelda, who was smiling while I was scowling. "An ice sculpture."

"We have one," I grumbled, "It's not up yet; it'd melt. That's what ice does." I added slowly, as if I was talking to an idiot.

"Do you plan it to be a Masquerade? Although it's not at that time, it would still be an indulging theme." Leon suggested. I had thought about this, actually, but had dismissed it by the fact that Zelda would most likely not want to have the person she picked behind a mask.

"That's a great idea!" Zelda put her finger to her chin. "I will have to send letters to the guests, and if they do not have the time or money to go to the local mask shop, we shall have masks for them. We also must have more colors than white..."

While Zelda was busying herself making further preparations and plans for the upcoming ball, Leon and I were taking a closer look at the current decorations. I, truthfully, though they'd never get it ready soon enough, but with Zelda's bossy orders, there was a close chance in doing so.

"I think I've got it all done," Zelda breathed out, her hand fluttering in front of her flushed face. "It should be ready tomorrow..."

"Link," Leon started, "May I have a word with you?" Zelda and I stopped with curious faces.

"Yes?" I asked, after Leon hadn't spoken for a bit.

"Alone." He added.

"Oh!" Zelda smiled lightly and ambled over to the door, casting a glance behind her shoulder before exiting the ball room.

"Link," Leon repeated, letting out a deep breath. "I understand your hostility towards me."

"That's...good." I said wearily, wondering what he was getting at. Leon sighed and looked out one of the lengthy windows, as though the sight of blue skies and rolling hills would give him inspiration, and they did.

"And I want you to know that I'm not trying to steal her from you," Leon leaned back on the balls of his heels, making sure not to make eye contact with me. "But she told me that you couldn't be together."

"Damn, what the hell do you know?" I scoffed, glaring down at my tightening fist. I winced, my jagged nails drawing blood from my palm.

"Enough to know that you two have strong cases of denial." Leon smirked, his gaze setting placidly on me. I looked up at him and steadily studied his face. There was no challenge in him; he was asking for a mutual agreement of some sorts. I found him as competition, but he seemed to think differently. "I apologize for this, but I came seeking a wife, and I found one, and I've fallen for her - flat on my face, I fear."

"Maybe I overreacted," I admitted, and he smiled and nodded. "But I feel like Zelda can't belong to anyone else, but both know that I can't be a king."

"Why? Because you're not royalty? I am not fit to be a king, yet I am royalty, so that means that is what I should do." His expression turned cold. "I was the heir to my kingdom, but they found me a worse candidate than my older brother, so they gave that 'privilege' to him. I was relieved, yes, but my family still wanted me to make a name for myself; as a king, of course. Hyrule will be the best choice my kingdom has ever made."

"Are you two done yet?" Zelda asked, sticking her head into the room. "I'm getting impatient."

"Yeah, I think we are." I smiled at Leon, and he nodded. I held out my hand, and he took it. That was our silent truce.

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To be continued...

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A little short; sorry about that. But I wanted the POV transition simply for Link and Leon to come to a truce. Next chapter will at last be the big ball. D And then the plot will really set off from there. I hope to have about five to ten more chapters.