Chapter Ten

-*-*- Nayru and the Black Cat -*-*-

Zelda pressed her ring into the clay, stamping the royal crest on to the paper. Then, she sealed it, folding the paper neatly and slipping it into a royal-blue envelope.

As the young queen raced down the hallways, she stumbled upon the young lad who had taken her proofed scroll to the Council's chamber.

"Oh – excuse me!" she protested, running towards him. The boy halted abruptly, facing her and gasping.

"Y-Your majesty!" he muttered, giving a stout bow. "I didn't expect us to cross paths again. How may I be of services?"

"Could you make sure this gets to the postman?" Zelda panted, holding out the blue envelope.

"Certainly!" the boy replied. Just as he was about to run off, Zelda gasped,

"Wait! What is your name, in case we meet once more?"

"Amethyst, milady," the boy replied. Zelda froze in her footsteps. His eyes were that exact color; a deep shade of purple.

Amethyst ran down the hallway, nowhere to be seen, and before Zelda could question her own thoughts, she felt a twisting feeling in her stomach.

The only other person she knew with purple eyes was a clumsy maid named Maria, and she had never had children in her life…

-*-*-

"Mr. Link – wait!" the postman screamed exasperatedly as he dashed forward. Link flinched at the appearance of the man; he hadn't been delivered mail in years.

"Mr. Link – for you!" the postman panted, humming an absurd tune as he handed Link the letter. "I believe it is from the queen herself!"

Link was about to mumble a thank you when the postman spun around on his heel and ran away. Link sighed, shrugging his shoulders, and slid down the tree trunk until he was sitting down. The cool forest breeze ran against his face, rustling his green tunic.

With cautious, yet secure fingers, Link opened the envelope, pulled out the letter, and unfolded it. In very fine cursive, it read:

Dear Link,

As you know, it is the fourteenth of October, and Halloween is just around the corner!

I was thinking of you today, and also the annual Halloween Ball. I decided that you would

Be the first to receive an invitation. It would please me so if you came, but do not forget!

It is Halloween – you must come in costume! I am curious as to what you pick, and look forward

to seeing your arrival soon on the thirty-first, one and half weeks from now, at five 'o clock.

Yours sincerely,

Zelda Harkinain Hyrule

Link reread this at least three times, looking over her delicate and neat handwriting, pondering the information he had just received. And then, there was another matter…a costume.

Hmmm…maybe a vampire? Link's thought, smirking. No…she'd freak out, because I'd have real fangs. I know – Merlin! Wait…no. I don't think I could put up with a waist-long beard. Ugh – this will take forever to decide…

Grumbling ideas to himself, Link rolled up the piece of parchment and strode over to his house.

-*-*-

"What should I wear to the ball?" Zelda asked, viewing herself in the mirror.

"Oh, I don't know, milady," a plump maid with curly brown hair and purplish eyes stated. "Whatever you like!"

"But that's the problem," the young queen groaned. "Maria, surely you have some suggestions."

"Honestly, I've got no idea, milady," Maria replied, sighing. "What do you like as far as dresses go?"

"Maria, this is Halloween – we wear costumes, not dresses," Zelda snapped, wishing the maid would focus more on ideas than ponder more questions. She brushed her dark brown locks angrily, wishing she knew magic like Link, that way everything would be quick and easy.

There were three knocks on the door. Zelda spun around.

"Come in," she muttered, slowly starting to brush her hair again. Fredric entered, wearing royal-blue robes.

"What do you think, your majesty?" he muttered.

Zelda gasped.

"Oh my! You look so much better in robes!" she cheered, dropping the brush onto her vanity so she could clasp her hands together.

"Great! I just came up with it before breakfast – all the other guards will be dressed in them, but Azul will be wearing red – and because Halloween's tomorrow… Your majesty?"

He stopped suddenly, arching one eyebrow.

"Are you alright, your highness?" Fredric muttered, cocking his head to the right.

"I've been busy all week proofing the Council's new scrolls and having public announcements…I haven't even thought about my costume yet, and the subject only just came to me!" she blurted. "What am I going to do, Fredric? I'm a woman – women take hours to get ready for such an occasion, and it's nine o' clock already!"

"Yes, but you've only just had breakfast," Fredric stated, smiling. "Calm down, your highness. You'll think of something between now and five o' clock."

Zelda shook her head doubtfully.

"I can't dress as a queen; there needs to be a theme for me to follow…"

"I witch, milady!" Maria blurted suddenly.

"What?! I would never…"

"It's not a bad idea," Fredric stated.

"But Fredric – a witch? Honestly."

"Oh, c'mon, milady!" Maria was pouting now. "It would be a marvelous idea –"

"No witches – period. I do not care what other's do, but my appearance is my choice. I only asked for suggestions, you two, not demands!"

Fredric and Maria's mouths clamped such at Zelda's fury, who was now finished brushing her hair. Her silky brown locks hung around her shoulders and waist.

"There…finally something accomplished," Zelda sighed, furrowing her eyebrows. "But what should I dress as…?"

"Your majesty – I know!" Fredric roared suddenly, jumping up and down like a three year-old. "One of the goddesses!"

"Oh my – you're a genius, Fredric, a genius!" Zelda cheered bounding out of her chair. "I'll dress up as Nayru! Classic! Amazing! Finally, all this stress can leave me!"

-*-*-

"Three thirty…" Link moaned, staring at the floating mirror in front of him. "Navi, I need to decide something. Coming as the "Chosen Hero" is going to be too boring."

A small ball of blue light with wings yawned sheepishly, emerging from the higher levels of his house.

"Wha…?" her mousy voice groaned as her three-inch figure hovered over his shoulder.

"I need to decide what to dress up as for the Halloween Ball!" Link snapped, glaring angrily at her as if she were def. "I can't just go wearing my normal garb…"

"Is there anything specific that you feel like going as?" Navi whispered. Link blushed.

"Well…uhm…" he mumbled.

"Spit it out!"

"Uh…"

"Moron –"

"I kind of feel like going as an animal," Link blurted.

"What?!" Navi protested. "Like a transfiguration spell?"

"Yeah, exactly."

"But, people need to be able to recognize you."

"Hmmm…half animal half human?"

At this, Navi only seemed more perplexed.

"Half and half?" she protested, eyes wide. "Ugh…whatever – do what you want."

Link smiled.

"Okay, then…I'll go as a cat."

"A what –?!"

"Navi – you said I may do what I want."

The fairy grunted, flying off his shoulder and back to the upper floors, disappearing from sight. Link grinned, turning his attention to the floating mirror once more.

"Alright, then," he whispered to himself. "The black cat of Halloween will soon be ready, your majesty."

Author's Note:

Link's going as the black cat of Halloween?! Wow, this will be interesting. For those of you who are curious about his appearance, he will look a lot like Ikuto (Shugo Chara) in his guardian form.

=3