Disclaimer: GrimGrave does not own any of the characters of their respective franchises; Metroid and Legend of Zelda belongs to Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo, while Soul Calibur belongs to Namco Bandai. GrimGrave does not make money for writing fiction.

Also, I do apologize (for those of you who doesn't fancy it) the somewhat fast-paced nature of this chapter.

A Hylian's Harem

Chapter 14

Three Words, Seven Women, One Man's Heart

Panic. Bliss. Searing adrenaline and raging hormones.

A single mind shattering into millions of pieces.

A soft, warm tongue was slipping past his lips, exploring his oral cavern with a deep kiss. His mind, torn between accepting the Sheikah's embrace and shoving her aside in rejection, had a breakdown. His body wouldn't respond to what small rationality that was left and coherent, allowing the flaxen-haired Sheikah to continuously kiss him until finally, she stepped back and gently pecked him on the nose as she did.

The sheer… want in her magenta eyes were almost gleaming.

Breathtaking.

"S-Sheik… you…"

"We shouldn't be late for lunch," she said, quickly covering up her rosy blush and, with a wink, hurried out the door.

….

The truth came crashing down: the dreamy looks and lingering stares, the desperation with the horse race, their reactions to Ruto's revelation…

Azure orbs widened as realization struck.

In disbelief, the hero stumbled back onto his bed, peering aimlessly at the ceiling.

….

He needed some air, badly. He had lost his appetite anyway.

::::::

He felt slightly better. Not much, but it was something.

Perched upon the balcony railing the hylian was gazing lazily over the landscape that stretched on beyond the town walls. Link sighed, desperately trying to wrap his head around the situation he wasn't aware of he was in.

It all made sense now though: everyone's behaviour, which he hadn't dwelled on much, now was clear as day.

His friends – mature, beautiful women in their own right – were in love with him.

He didn't know whether to be flattered or appalled.

"Blind…" he muttered. "Absolutely blind." He bonked himself on the noggin. "I wonder what you'd say if you were here, Navi… You always used to give good advice."

Advice… he surely could go for some of that right about now.

´Zelda…´

His features perked up, his hylian ears gently twitching. Of course! Who else could help him than the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom? She would know - she had to.

Funny that he, the bearer of Courage, was hesitating to confront the princess about this. But what was a man to do anyway?

::::::

"I wonder why Link didn't attend lunch?" the busty Brit inquired, earning a shy glance form her Grecian friend as she did. "Did something happen?"

"…"

The pale-haired Brit took notice of her friend, thin eyebrows knitting together in ado. "You're looking a bit flushed, hun."

"N-nonsense! I'm f-fine! Really!" came the reply, though the Grecian refused to meet Ivy's eyes.

She was shifting uncomfortably – something her friend was quick to pick up. "Is something bothering you?"

"N-" Hesitation. "…No. I'm fine."

"…" Sheik eyed the Grecian in silence. Their eyes met and – for a brief moment – they both exchanged dark looks.

The women had all gathered in the dining hall, waiting for a certain green-garbed hero who had yet to show up. Time passed until the princess herself had gone out to search for the aforementioned male, leaving her friends and guests alone to entertain themselves and, eventually, eat up their own food before it got cold.

The Sorceress of Shadows muttered lowly to herself. Ever the intellectual, her mind was a constant stream of thoughts that was carefully laid out and dwelled on until it all came together: she had to hide a threatening smirk as she took notice of her opportunity.

With the hylian princess most likely alone…

As she made her way across the room and out to the hall, a voice called out, "Where're you going, Sorceress?"

Mildly glaring auburn orbs met Impa's magenta eyes. "Back to my room. Surely that's not a crime?"

"Hmph."

"I thought so," she replied before she resumed her somewhat quick pace. Her plan was making her giddy and thus unable to remain calm as she soon outright ran back to her room.

As soon as the door was firmly closed, flickering ebon flames began to appear as Veran's magic materialized and she shed her body, taking on the form of a pitch dark, hovering flame with glowing lilac features.

"Time to possess the girl-princess and send the brats home."

No Mystery Seeds would stop her this time. Grinning inwardly, Veran blended into the shadows.

::::::

"There you are, Link!" He turned to see Zelda jogging up to him, holding up her dress as to not step on the hem of her dress, smiling. "Where have you been? You've missed lunch," she said, a playful tone in her voice before her smile gently vanished upon seeing him. "…Is something wrong, Link?"

He must've looked like a mess for Zelda to notice that quickly, he mused. "I wouldn't call it ´wrong´… but yes. I think." He sighed in frustration. "I don't know. There's just so much going on and I haven't even noticed!"

The princess remained quiet a moment and sighed. "Does this have to do with your friends?"

"Ah… Yes. How did you-"

"Their intentions have been quite clear for a while now, I'm afraid to say. I didn't know whether or not I should tell you though."

"You're not helping…" Link said, his fingers buried in blonde tresses in frustration.

"I apologize," came the reply. She sat herself down on a stone bench near the gardens. She patted the seat next to her. "Sit with me."

After the hero did so, Zelda carefully took his hand and gentle squeezed it in a friendly manner. "They all greatly care for you."

He sighed. "I know… I honestly just didn't think of it at the time. I thought it was friendly gestures, nothing more."

The hylian princess allowed herself to giggle. "And they were. Your friends just expect their teasing to lead to something more in the long run. Especially Impa and Sheik – they've set their eyes on you since a while back." She gave him an apologetic look. "My apologies. I know that's not what you want to hear right now-"

"I should know. Sheik kissed me earlier," he confessed, eyes firmly focused on the cobblestone ground. "And before that, Sophitia most likely to attempted to do the same, had Sheik not arrived." He looked back up at Zelda, whose expression was clearly astonished despite her attempt as masking it. "And it almost happened with Samus as well before we went swimming."

´And he still didn't realise until now…?´ "I see… So, how do you feel?"

"Like an idiot," he replied, bonking himself lightly on the noggin again. "And confused, because of what I feel – even if I'm not sure of what it is."

"How about you try putting it into words then? What are your thoughts regarding their affections towards you?" She smiled at him reassuringly.

Link took a deep breath. "…Honestly? I… I do like them. Each of them possesses qualities that any man would like – they'll definitely make good wives, though with possible exception of Veran and Ivy…" He chuckled at that. "They'd kill me if they heard me say that. But they'd most definitely make a man happy. And I'd be honoured to be that man."

His cheerful expression fell and twisted with uneasiness. "But the concept of marriage… or a relationship in general… I'll be honest with you, Zelda – I don't think I could ever do it. I can't see myself actually settling down and I'm…" He paused and sighed deeply. "…I'm worried about what would happen if they become targets by evil that's actually after me. And it's not like I could choose one over the others – they're all my friends after all. The rest would be upset and-"

Zelda's hand rested on his shoulder comfortably. "You care, perhaps a little bit too much. But your heart is in the right place," she said calmly.

"Zelda…"

"It's noble of you, but you shouldn't distance yourself from them. You've reached clarity – and if you really care about them then you should at least give them a chance. I'm not talking about marriage… but love is not something you should go without." She smiled. "After all, is it not love – be it for your homeland, your friends, or that significant other – that gives us more strength to fight?"

While perplexed, the hero eventually smiled back at her. "I… I suppose. I'm sorry, but I really need to think this through."

"Of course," Zelda replied. "I tell the others that you're not feeling well and wish to be alone. Just don't let them wait – it's rude to keep a woman waiting, you know." She gave him a playful wink before getting back up and walking away, leaving Link to his thoughts.

Meanwhile in the shadows, the sorceress had come across the two hylians, her mind in turmoil of hatred and rage.

´What's this I hear then? So those three already made moves on him, huh?! I refuse to be outdone by some brats! But the girl-princess has already left…´

Lilac orbs settled on Link and her flickering form appeared to be grinning from ear to ear. ´That's right… I still have you left. Who else can permanently keep these obstacles away than the very man they yearn for…´

Veran's shadowy form hovered stealthily over…

Sorry for the short chapter, but I decided to end it early and add more to the next chapter instead. At least Link finally knows what's going on!

Until next time!