Welcome back, dear readers! I'm excited to announce that not one, but my next two Zelda stories are coming along nicely. I expect you'll be seeing the first chapters up shortly. I've been receiving several PMs asking about it so I hope you all enjoy it. Also, there's a warning at the bottom of this note. Read it.

To TheFanGirl5: Yes, I hope so too. She's one of my favorite characters, regardless of…*ahem * certain flaws.

To FaolanLupa: Gosh diddly darn indeed. I'm just a slave driver, aren't I.

To Aubreylovesthegames: Good to see some enthusiasm about my plot! Heh heh hopefully Link will come to his senses soon.

To darkerthanlight: Yes, I think Sheik was due for a redesign.

To LinkIsBro90121: Oh no, he's fallen into Malon's trap quite nicely, hasn't he?

To Guesty: What.

To Amelia F: He sees no reason for Ganon to lie about it, even though he has a history of hatred with both him and Ilia. Three voices are better than none.

To TheFanGirl5: Woah there! Predictions much?

To cake: Good advice! Some writers tire themselves out needlessly.

WARNING! The next few chapters will contain slight Malink (MalonxLink) as she comforts him of Zelda's betrayal. They won't do anything, not even kiss, but for those of you that get triggered by non-Zelink scenes… just don't hate. It's a necessary story element.

Friday – Zelda's POV – Ordon Avenue

I was still blubbering when the smoke cleared once again and we were standing in front of my house. "My… my mother? Sheik, what's going on?!"

His large red orbs flicked in my direction as he pulled me onto my own front porch. "All will be explained soon enough."

Without knocking, he burst through the door to my house. My mom was standing at the counter, her ear pressed to the phone. A look of confusion passed over her face, then surprise, then… fear?

"I'll call you back." She slammed the phone and quickly marched over to us, shutting the door. "Get inside."

"Mom?" I asked, desperate for an explanation. Of course, I was ignored by both of my companions.

"Ms. Impa," Sheik said in a tone remarkably familiar for someone who'd never met my mom before, "he knows."

Mom was frozen, staring at the both of us. A strand of white hair drifted in front of her face, happy not to be pushed away for once. After a moment, she nodded slowly. "Does she?"

"No."

"Guys," I was getting exasperated, "what is happening?! I woke up this morning to go talk to Ilia. Malon was acting weird until we got there and these ninjas showed up! Then I was in a warehouse and the ninjas were actually Cia and Zant! Then Sheik came in and jumped like a mile into the air and…"

Impa held up a hand. "Stop. Take a breath, Zelda."

I did, my eyes still frantically darting around in search of answers. I'm a directional person. I like to be in control of my life, schedule and plan everything out ahead of time, and consider ever possible contingency. So when a surreal, hectic morning like this pops out of the blue, I get a little… frazzled.

"Let me start at the beginning." My mother always knew how to calm me down. She guided Sheik and I to the brightly colored couch and began to tell a story out of the history books. "You are familiar with the legend of the Hero of Time, correct?"

I nodded. "Yeah, we had a test on that just last week."

Impa gave me a sidelong glance. "Well, they're true."

I sat for a minute. "Well, of course they're true. They just happened a long time ago-"

"No," she said firmly, "I mean, they're still true."

"Uh, what?"

"You see," Sheik cut in, "the Hero never stopped reincarnating. He just only appeared whenever Hyrule was in great danger. There just hasn't been any evil beings since a few hundred years ago."

Impa nodded. "Until now, of course."

"Uh, what?" I was starting to sound like a broken record.

She continued. "Your friend, Link, is the Hero of Time." Before I could interrupt, she barged on. "Don't think I haven't noticed the Triforce on both of your hands. And you forgot to clear your search history on the laptop."

I was too bewildered to consider that. "So it really was the Triforce. That means…"

A few uncomfortable glances were exchanged. Finally, Sheik confirmed it. "Yes, you are the Princess of Destiny. The Sage of Time reborn into the modern age."

I desperately peered at my mom, looking for any sign that this was all some insane conspiracy, but she bore the same expression as my red-eyed friend: dashes of sorrow and compassion, but mainly a big pool of urgency, as if something important needed to be done.

Deciding not to press it, I continued with my interrogation. "And this great evil…?"

"Ganon."

That was it. I collapsed back onto the couch, not caring if it cricked my neck. With a voluminous sigh, I promptly fainted.

Friday – Link's POV – Hyrule Academy

Lunchtime. We were in the cafeteria. Everything was going by in a blur. The people, the setting, all of it.

My emotions were on fire. First, my inexplicably failed test. Then, the ruined weekend. Then, the only good part about the weekend, which was spending time with Zelda. Finally, realizing that it had all been an act to ruin me.

How stupid I was. I had fallen for her like an apple off a tree. She'd blown in from Castle Town, played the new-girl-next-door part perfectly to win my affection. With the mysterious Triforce-like symbols, I was surprised now how easily she'd played it off.

Godesses, I felt so stupid. I felt like I couldn't trust anyone. Except Malon, of course. There was nothing romantic going on between us, as I hoped there wouldn't be. I valued her friendship, and with my disastrous romantic record (of Ilia and now Zelda, if you could call it a romance) I didn't want to add her to that list too.

Regardless, she was a steady rock in these trying times, to sound philosophical. She just sat there next to me, the first time I'd sat away from our friends since freshman year. Malon had followed me to my empty corner table of self-isolation and despair.

Honestly, the Zelda thing wasn't that big of a deal. It's just that… that I had really been falling for her these past weeks. I might've even asked her to homecoming. A shame. As you can probably tell by now, though, I'm a hopeless romantic. This emotional drama stuff really gets me. Especially when it involves me.

Anyway, returning to the topic at hand, I was glad Malon had followed me. I didn't suspect she was trying anything romantic right now, it was probably just my feelings careening around inside my body that was too small to house them. So I ate my lunch in silence, and enjoyed her silent company.

Friday – Malon's POV – Hyrule Academy

Hey, he didn't push me away. That's a start. This is honestly going better than I expected. Sure, Link's in a bit of emotional turmoil, but it's nothing I can't handle. My sole purpose right now is to make sure to comfort him and help him forget about whatever he felt for Zelda.

Sitting at the lunch table next to him in companionable silence, I watch him. I've always felt a deep connection to him, maybe not as much as Aryll, but more than the other friends nonetheless. I could read the small changes in his faces, the way he spoke differently when he was thinking about something.

I only hope that when this is all over he'll forgive me for what I did. Like I said, my sole purpose is to be there for him, whether he wants me to be or not. Although, admittedly, this is a lot more enjoyable for me to have him all to myself.

At this, I feel a strange sensation. Something inside the glowing happiness of my stomach begins crawling around, its sickly bluish glow permeating my previously unchangeable joy. Is that… could it be… guilt?

No, I decide as I push it away. The pure joy returns. I wouldn't do this unless I was one hundred percent certain. A small grin spreads across my lips, and I turn away so Link won't question it. Not that he would in his currently unstable state anyways.

I'm one hundred percent certain that I want Link to feel what I feel. I want him to realize that Zelda's been playing him, stealing him from me this whole time.

Then why do I feel like I've done a deal with a demon?

I PROMISE that Link and Zelda WILL get back together. This is a Zelink story, after all. So don't leave just because of Malon's scheming! It will all work out in the end! Please review!