Conflict of Interest
While Link stood in thought, Zelda waited anxiously with the rest of the girls. She could only bring herself to sneak peeks at him before averting her eyes. She envied Malon and Ruto's ability to look him in the face. Her eyes lingered on Malon for a moment, as she remembered a conversation they had had long ago.
It had been no more than a year before Ganondorf's takeover of Hyrule with Bowser's help and only shortly after Link had returned from his failed search for Navi. Malon had become a well-known face on the castle grounds and frequently visited Zelda. Despite this, only Impa knew that they were more than friends.
It was another typical day for the two in Zelda's courtyard. They were lying flat on their backs, watching the fluffy white clouds drift lazily by. They had been quiet for an unusually long time. Malon finally broke the silence.
"You know Link is back, right?"
"I know," Zelda replied blankly.
There was another long moment of silence.
"Zelda," Malon said. "You know how I feel about you."
"I know," Zelda replied in the same tone.
Malon took a long sigh. "Do you think Link would understand?"
Zelda hesitated to answer. "I think we should…"
"Tell him?" Malon asked.
"…break up," Zelda finished with a frown.
"Oh…" Malon said in disappointment. "Have I done something wrong?"
"No, no!" Zelda said, sitting up. She took her hand as Malon sat up. "Malon, I'm honored to have been with you. I love you with all my heart. It's just that…I don't think we can hide this forever. If anyone found out…"
"We would only be ridiculed," Malon said, holding back a tear. "That's all. You're the Princess. Even if the whole kingdom found out, everyone would just talk."
"It's not that simple," Zelda said, embracing her. "Not everyone is as nice as you. There are some people out there who would do more than just talk. And with you living so far away from town, I don't want to endanger you. Trust me, love. It's for the best."
Zelda remembered how much Malon had cried into her shoulder that day. Looking at her now, there was no trace of such heartache, at least until Malon glanced at her. Her smile lessened slightly. They both knew that circumstances had changed a bit. It went back to a small promise they had made.
It had happened when Zelda and Malon were spending the night together at Daisy's Li Wei palace. Both had lingering thoughts on their minds, but it was Zelda who spoke up.
"Malon, where do we stand with one another?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Malon nearly giggled. "Don't tell me you're starting to believe your own little fibs to everyone. I love you. You love me. We're together. What more needs to be said?"
"I thought we had agreed to break up?"
"We did…" Malon said hesitantly. "And I think I know the real reason why now…"
"What are you implying? You think I lied to you?"
"Of course not. After having to play waitress to the rogues of Hyrule for that long, I know full well how much scum there is in the world. You were right. It wasn't safe, but that's not the only reason you had. You wanted to be with Link."
"Malon…" Zelda frowned.
"Please don't patronize me," Malon said in a more serious tone. "You've had feelings for Link about as long as I have. You lied to my face about it, remember?"
"I'm sorry," Zelda said. "I just…I didn't want to compete with you. It makes so much more sense for him to be with you. Besides, I didn't want you feeling compelled to give up just because I'm a princess."
Malon smiled and began to giggle. Her giggling soon turned into laughter. "This is a funny little thing we've gotten ourselves into, isn't it? Two women in love with one another, but both in love with the same man."
"I suppose," Zelda said, cracking a smile. "But…what should we do? We can't both have him…can we?"
"Link doesn't seem like the type," Malon said. "But I think I have an idea. It's a harsh one, but it's something."
"Tell me."
"When Link has to pick one of his admirers, we'll both be among them," Malon said, draping an arm across her. "Maybe one of us will be chosen?"
"And if we aren't?"
"Then, we'll stay together."
"Malon, we've been over this," Zelda said. "It's not a secret we can keep."
"Why not? I can move in with you. I've heard members of the court can occasionally have friends live with them. I can be your consort."
"Malon that would give everything away."
"It's just a play on words," Malon smiled. "You can make me…Consort of the Royal Family. You know, a trusted friend or associate."
"You clever little minx," Zelda giggled, pulling her into an embrace. "You're no simple farm girl."
"There's just one thing," Malon said seriously. "If Link does pick one of us…"
"I'm willing to take the risk if you are," Zelda said.
"Deal," Malon said, sealing the promise with a kiss.
"Zelda?" Saria said. "Hello?"
"Hm?" Zelda returned from her thoughts.
"Are you okay?" Saria asked worriedly. "You kind of zoned out."
"Oh. Who did Link…?" Zelda stopped mid-sentence as she saw Malon in Link's arms. Her lips curled into a grimace as she felt a pang in her chest. She took a deep breath to keep her eyes dry and put a smile on.
Link and Malon, each with an arm around the other's waist, approached. Link spoke, "No hard feelings, I hope."
"Of course not," Zelda smiled pleasantly. "I'm so happy for the both of you. My best friend and the Hero of Time…you'll make such a wonderful couple."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Malon asked, seeing right through her.
"Of course!" Zelda said, continuing her feigned happiness. "Don't mind me."
"Okay…" Malon said unconvincingly as she and Link walked away to talk to the others.
Zelda stood off to the side as everyone else talked. Soon, they were ready to leave.
"Hey, Zelda," Daisy said. "Party at the ranch. Are you coming or what?"
"I'll catch up," Zelda said.
"Suit yourself," Daisy shrugged. As they all teleported away, Malon gave her one final worried look.
All that were left were Peach and Ingrid, who were still talking to one another. Then, they noticed that Zelda was still there as well.
"Do me a favor," Peach whispered to Ingrid, taking out a pen and several pieces of paper. "Have Bowser sign these. And tell Sheik…yes. My answer is 'yes.' Okay?"
Ingrid glanced at Zelda and replied, "I understand." She took the items and disappeared.
"Zelda?" Peach said, apparently interrupting her thoughts.
"Oh? Peach? What are you still doing here?"
"I should be asking you the same thing," Peach said, walking to her. "Why didn't you go with the others? Is something wrong?"
"No," Zelda said, turning away from her. "I just wanted to be alone for a short while."
"Is this about Malon and Link?"
"Ha! What gave you that idea?"
"Your best friend is with the man you love," Peach answered. "It's a strange place to be."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I have nothing but happiness for them."
"You don't sound like it. You sound like someone who's hiding something." Peach stepped around to face her, seeing her smile long gone. "You definitely don't look happy." When Zelda made no reply, she continued, "Talk to me. It's okay. I won't tell anyone."
Zelda smiled. "This is so silly. Look at me. Nearly a grown woman, and here I am sulking. I should be happy for them. I don't have any reason to be sad."
"Except you are," Peach said, not sharing her smile. "Is it because the one person you loved is with your best friend?"
"If only," Zelda murmured in a hoarse, almost choked voice. She began to snicker pathetically, "You see…I didn't just lose Link…I lost Malon as well." She continued to giggle as tears clearly welled up in her eyes.
"Zelda, she's still your friend. You haven't lost her at all."
"You stupid little angel," Zelda said with a false smile. Her giggling gradually turned into sobs as she continued. "She wasn't just a friend… I loved her… I loved her with all my being… I was so selfish…and so much of coward…I should have asked her to live with me… We could have been happy together. To hell with the morals of society… And instead…I lost the one woman I love…to the one man I love!" Peach took her into her arms as Zelda broke down.
"It's going to be okay," Peach said gently, rubbing her back.
"No, it won't!" Zelda screamed. "I don't have anyone anymore! I'll never love anyone like I did them."
Peach gently cradled her as Zelda continued to sob into her. "Zelda, listen to me. You should never lose hope on love. Sometimes things happen that separate us from the ones we care about and it can't be helped. There's always hope for new love, even if it's not the same. Besides, it's not like you'll never see them again. You can always talk to Malon and Link. Just give yourself some time and when you're ready, talk to them."
As her sobbing quieted, Peach noticed Ingrid and Sheik waiting off to the side, both looking thankful for her help.
Anybody who was anybody in Hyrule had come to the improvised party at Lon Lon Ranch. There were musicians playing in the pasture, where many danced, talked, and drank.
Despite the festivities, Zelda waited patiently for a chance to talk to Malon alone. Eventually, she left a telepathic message for Malon to meet her in the silo. She waited in the silo quietly, until Malon finally arrived.
"You wanted to talk?" Malon asked gently.
"Yes," Zelda answered. "First of all, I wanted to congratulate you for winning Link's affection."
"Thank you, but I know you didn't call me here just to say that."
"You're right," Zelda smiled sadly. "Do you remember the deal we made about Link and ourselves?"
"I suspected that's what you were upset about," Malon said. "Zelda, I…"
"Please, just hear me out," Zelda said, taking her hands into her own. "When I made that deal, I hadn't thought it all the way through. I selfishly assumed that I would either get Link or he would pick one of the other girls. The possibility of him picking you seemed to be nothing more than a gesture of goodwill to you. I beg your forgiveness for my insolence."
"That's okay," Malon said, stroking her cheek. "To tell the truth, I…did the same thing. That's why I was smiling so much. I didn't think about him picking you until…I saw that worried look in your eyes. It suddenly occurred to me that I could lose both the people I loved all at once."
"That doesn't make this any easier to say," Zelda said, turning her eyes downward. "I ask that you allow me renege on our deal."
"Zelda…"
"Forgive me," Zelda frowned, squeezing her hand. "What I'm asking of you is shameful to you, myself, and to Link. But I must still ask for some sort of alternative. I can't bear the thought of losing both of you."
"You want me to dump Link," Malon said sadly.
"No, no!" Zelda insisted, looking into her eyes. "I could never ask you something like that. Link is a good person. By all means, you deserve him and he deserves you. It's just that…"
"You want him," Malon said.
"I want you," Zelda corrected. "I don't know how Link would respond to this at all, but the simple fact is, I still want to be with you. I doubt Link would agree to letting us share him, but…"
"You want to share me with him," Malon said. "I'm not sure he would be comfortable with that either."
"Then, he doesn't have to know," Zelda said.
Malon made a small gasp. "You want me to have an affair with you behind his back? Like some hussy?"
"Malon, you know I don't think of you that way. If anything, I'm the whore. I'm the one who isn't satisfied with the outcome of a perfectly reasonable agreement. I should've simply asked you to be with me long ago. I don't care what my kingdom thinks."
"Don't talk about yourself that way. It's just that, everything's so complicated…"
"If you say no, I promise that I will never ask such a thing of you again," Zelda said tearfully. "But I beg of you, please take pity on me. Since Link has chosen you, I'm sure I can't even approach him with such an idea. But we've been in love for how long now?"
"Three years and four months," Malon smiled, wiping her own watery eyes.
"You're my everything, Malon. Without you, I don't know what I'd have to look forward to."
"Alright, Zelda. I'll let you have your way for now. But you have to move on sooner or later."
"I will try," Zelda said, hugging her. "Thank you so much!"
"Now, let's get back to the party. Did you hear that Peach and Sheik are getting married?"
Five years later…
Peach walked briskly through the halls of her castle, greeting the servants along the way. She was in a bit of a hurry to get outside and hurriedly adjusted her hair and dress to hide any dishevelment. She saw a flash of red out of the corner of her eye and stopped. She backed up slightly and looked into one of the bathrooms. There Mario was, fixing a burst drain pipe under the sink.
"Hello," she said shyly.
He turned his head to look at her. He somewhat distantly replied, "Oh. Hey." He turned back to his work and continued.
"How are things?" Peach asked nervously.
"Okay, I guess."
When he said nothing else, she realized she was going to have to press him for a conversation. "How is Luigi?"
"Happy with Daisy, last I-a checked," he said coldly.
"I'm glad you agreed to fix up this sink," Peach said. "It's been broken for weeks. Just the other day, I tried to wash my hands with it and…"
"Don't you-a have some place to be?" he asked somewhat agitatedly.
"Right," she said quietly. "Well, it was nice talking to you." Frowning, she walked away and continued toward the exit. After walking down some stairs, she reached the main lobby and went out the front door.
She gasped, as there was a puff of smoke before her. "Sorry," Sheik said. "I thought you'd be used to that by now."
"I really should be," she sighed.
"Something wrong?" he asked, noting her expression.
"…No. I guess I'm just still nervous. Plus, I saw Mario a minute ago and…well, he's still upset as ever. Say, where's the car?"
"I thought I'd make things a little easier on you," he said. "I had the doctor come to us for a change."
"Oh…" she said, looking down.
"I've noticed you stalling a lot," Sheik said, tilting her chin up. "That's why you have to rush so much. I think it will be easier if you don't have to deal with that long drive to Mushroom City."
"Thank you," she said. "Where is he?"
"She's in the infirmary," Sheik said. "Hopefully, a different doctor can give us some better help. Try not to get too nervous. If it doesn't work this time, we can always try again."
"Right," she nodded.
They returned into the castle and went to the infirmary. It was a room full of empty beds and medical supplies. The doctor was waiting there with a clipboard in hand. It was the Toad with purple dots that Peach had met in Sarasaland.
"Hello, again," the doctor said.
"Oh, you?" Peach said.
"Yes. How are you feeling?"
"Nervous," Peach answered.
"That's understandable," the doctor said. "Now, how long have you been trying to have a baby? Five years?"
"Yes," Peach said.
"And Sheik, how has your physical checked out?"
"I've checked with physicians from both the Mushroom World and Hyrule," he said. "They tell me that everything checks out fine. I've no family history of infertility."
"And you have intercourse every day?"
Both Peach and Sheik turned beet red.
"Yes," Sheik nodded sheepishly.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of," she said. "Many couples who seem completely normal go years before conceiving." She flipped through the pages of the clipboard. "Though I must admit, this is a bit confounding. Hmm…Wait a second… Peach…"
"Yes?"
"When was the last time you menstruated?"
"Never," Peach said. "I'm part Toad, remember?"
"What about the other half?" the doctor asked.
"I'm really not sure that…they have periods," she said awkwardly.
"What are they?" the doctor asked.
Peach sighed, and her wings spread from her back. "I'm sort of an angel."
"Hmm," the doctor noted, not looking as surprised as she expected. "Well, since I'm not qualified for angels, I might as well ask have you attempted the traditional Toad mating tradition."
"But he's not a Toad," Peach said.
"Have you tried o…"
"Yes," Sheik said before she could finish. "We've tried everything."
"Well, Princess," the doctor sighed. "I'm afraid that until you menstruate, you're going to be sterile. We could surgically extract an egg from your ovaries, but the fact that you haven't menstruated leads me to believe that none of them may be mature. The only other alternative is to count on the stork, and that doesn't seem to be working."
"This doesn't make sense," Peach said exasperatedly. "My mother didn't have to go through all of this."
"Well, you might just be an unviable hybrid," the doctor said. "Some species can mix, but their offspring are incapable of reproducing."
"Let's not give up hope just yet," Sheik said, putting his arm around Peach. "We can still try that operation if it's okay with you Peach."
"Okay," Peach nodded. "Let's try it."
Peach and Sheik sat in front of the television in their media room, letting the small five-year-old girl sleep between them. She had fallen asleep some time ago. Her face favored Peach, but her pointed ears were like Sheik's.
"It looks like she's tuckered out," Sheik whispered.
"It's way past her bedtime anyway," Peach said, checking the clock on the wall.
There was a gentle knock at the door. "Come in," Sheik said.
Morel soon walked in. She had cropped her hair and wore a purple dress. "I hope I'm not too late."
"No, it's fine," Peach said, picking up the child. "Berry actually fell asleep already."
"Thank you for babysitting," Morel said, taking her.
"Our pleasure," Peach said.
"Any luck since your operation?" Morel asked.
"No," Peach smiled sadly. "I'm afraid not. Apparently, I'm completely sterile."
"I'm sorry," Morel said. "I wish I could help you, but…well, you know what it took for me and sweetums to get pregnant. How is everything?"
"Could be better," Peach said as Sheik stood by her side. She laid her head against him. "But we're happy."
"Bowser and Mario still sore?" Morel asked.
"Unfortunately," Peach said. There was an awkward silence following.
"Well," Morel said, "I need to be getting back. Mom says hi."
"Send our best," Sheik said.
Malon and Zelda slept peacefully in Zelda's bed. They were wrapped in one another's arms, covered only by the sheet and blanket of the bed itself. Malon shifted in her sleep and nuzzled her lover, stroking her. When she didn't feel Link's more muscular build, she opened her eyes. She bolted up and jumped out of bed to look for her clothing. Zelda awakened from the sudden movement and sat up.
"What's the matter?" Zelda asked.
"It's so late!" Malon said, pointing to the full moon outside the window. "Link must be worried sick! I have to go!"
"The bridge is up," Zelda said. "There's no point in going now. Wait until dawn."
Malon sighed as she sat on the bed. "I can't just sit here and wait. Knowing him, he'll be looking all over the country for me."
"I'll let him know you're just fine," Zelda said, closing her eyes. "Just a moment." After a minute, she opened her eyes. "He's asleep at the ranch."
"How do you know?"
"When I couldn't get a connection with him, I just asked your mother. I have no idea what she's doing up this late though."
"That was close," Malon sighed. "Zelda, should we really keep doing this? I mean it's been five years. Link's been a good husband to me. Going behind his back like this isn't right."
Zelda said quietly, "Then, tell him. You're closer to him than I can ever be."
"But what if he doesn't forgive me?" Malon asked. "I don't want to lose him. He's made everyone on the ranch so happy."
"If he doesn't forgive you, then it's his loss as well," Zelda said. "If it helps at all, please, don't be afraid to say that I made you do it. Better for me to draw his ire than you."
"I don't want any more bad feelings than necessary," Malon said, lying back down next to Zelda. "At the very least, I want everyone to still be friends."
"If you want to…we could stop meeting like this altogether," Zelda suggested hesitantly.
"That was the original plan," Malon said. "But you begged me not to leave you like that."
"I was being selfish. I still am," Zelda said, kissing her. "I desperately want be with you always, but…if it means making you risk your own happiness…"
"Uh-uh," Malon shook her head. "I've been guilty of the same thing. We're in this together. I'll tell Link the first chance I get and I want you there with me. If all goes well, we can be a happy family in spirit."
"You're what?" Link exclaimed as the three stood in Zelda's courtyard the next day.
"Zelda and I…" Malon stammered, "We…we've been together since before you and I were married. The plan was for us to separate if you picked one of us. But Zelda was so miserable without me, and I couldn't stand to think of her in such a state."
Zelda humbly added, "Please, Link, if you're going to blame anyone, please blame me. I was ashamed of myself then, and I am now. But I can't deny my feelings for her."
Link, though not appearing so much angry as he was shocked, was speechless.
"I know it might seem surprising to you," Malon said, "but it's the truth. I'm sorry I never told you before now, but I was afraid of losing you. You've brought so much not just to me, but everyone on the ranch. Dad's liked you ever since he first met you. Ingo loves that you make his life easier. Mom doesn't have to do as much traveling to pick herbs. And I wouldn't want to upset your mother, since you've only recently met. All the animals adore you…except maybe the cuccos. But the point is, you've touched all of our lives. So can you forgive us?"
He opened and closed his mouth as if he was trying to say something. Giving up on whatever he was trying to say, he settled for, "Yeah. I forgive you, Mal. You too, Zel."
"Oh, thank you!" she said, grasping him in a hug.
"You're not upset?" Zelda asked.
"Upset?" he repeated. "Uh…no. Confused and surprised, yes. But upset, no."
"We actually had a proposition for you," Malon said, looking into his eyes. "Zelda?"
"First," Zelda said nervously, "we would like to ask permission to continue seeing each other."
"Sure," he said blankly, still going over the fact that they were a couple. "Hasn't…caused any problems I've noticed…I guess."
"The other thing," Malon said, circling her finger into his chest. "Um…we were wondering if you'd like to join us?"
"Uh-huh," he said blankly. Then, he snapped out of his trance. "Wait, what?"
"You see, Link," Zelda said pensively, avoiding his eyes, "I've had feelings for you as well. They've since been overshadowed by my affection for Malon, but I assure you they are still very present."
Link winced. "Don't you have to marry a Prince or something sooner or later?"
"Yeees…" Zelda said evasively. "But I don't have to love him. I only have to bear his children. Legally, I can have as many men…"
"Or women," Malon added.
"…or women," Zelda sighed, "as I want. But I assure you, Malon is the only woman I want. With your permission, I have her. The only man I want is you. And I've long outgrown my fears of what people will say of me should they find out."
"So," Malon said. "What do you say, Linky-poo?"
"No thanks," he said squeamishly.
"What?" they exclaimed.
"I'm happy with just one woman," he said. "You two are a special case…and I'm okay with that. Zelda, you…make my wife happy and that…is…good. So…let's just leave it at that."
"You mean you don't even think about other women?" Malon asked. "Look at her. Don't you think she's attractive?"
"She's very pretty," Link nodded, "but I'm just not interested in her that way. I don't even understand how two women can be with one another like that and… As a matter of fact, I'd just like to drop the subject."
"Oh, come on," Malon whined playfully. "Wouldn't you like to try her out once?"
"Let's not push him," Zelda said carefully. "I think we should count ourselves lucky that he's as accepting as he is."
"Tell you what, Link," Malon said, putting his hand in Zelda's. "How about if you two just spend a little while alone together? I can go get some wine to loosen you up."
"Ohhh, no," Link said, holding his hands up. "You've played this game on me before. Putting Zelda in your place isn't going to work. I'm just going to get back to my delivery route and I'll see you at dinner."
As he walked away, Malon asked playfully, "Can I count it as my birthday present?"
"Fine, I'll think about it," he said exasperatedly. "But you owe me big time…both of you."
"That means we'll have to go hiking with him one of these days," Malon shrugged. "Oh, well. See, I know how to bargain."
Zelda smiled with a laugh. "That seemed an awful lot like you were just now trying to whore me off to him."
"Well, you did say that you were my whore," Malon giggled.
"I'm sorry, Mistress," Zelda giggled, latching onto her arm. "It seems I didn't earn my quota this week."
"That's okay," Malon smiled, hugging her. "You always know how to make it up to me."
