gerudo valley part 2
(the day before…)
"…And that's the situation." Karane concluded, letting out a deep breath after telling Shad and Pipit all the details. They stared at her blankly, then turned to look at each other.
She watched them both nervously, her hands clasped tightly together. She felt them beginning to sweat, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that she had taken a huge risk, and telling two people she was once very close to could either yield perfect results, or disastrous ones. Either way, they deserved to know, and judging by their reactions Link and Zelda clearly hadn't told them.
"So let me get this straight… You've been helping him?" Pipit asked, his voice and facial expression was a mixture of both shock and hurt.
"Not by choice…" She murmured shamefully. "And that's not the point. I've been complicit with everything Groose is planning, but now he's getting desperate. He won't stop until he gets what he wants."
"Link and Zelda found proof of who actually ruined the dorms?" Shad asked, leaning forward.
"I found it." Karane clarified, "I stole it, actually. And left it in Groose's dorm. But they DID get a hold of it…"
"Who did it, then?" Pipit asked. "If you took the security footage, then you know who did it, right?"
Strich turned to Karane curiously. He had no idea who did it either, but he was eager to know.
"Not exactly." She admitted. "Their faces were covered. It couldn't be Groose, that's all we're really certain of."
"…" Shad thought to himself, his mind flashing back to when he ran into Lana and Ashei at the library. The two of them had been acting strange, and Ashei told him about an 'investigation.' Could the two be connected? Instinctively, he glanced down at his phone. He had only seen Ashei a handful of times, the two weren't technically friends, though she seemed receptive to a friendship…
"What's on your mind, Shad?" Pipit asked, noticing him deep in thought.
"Oh, nothing." He shook his head dismissively, "I just wish I had her number…"
"Whose number?"
"Ashei's."
Karane shook her head disapprovingly.
"Are you seriously thinking about girls right now, Shad?"
"What? I didn't mean it like tha –"
"When Link and Zelda took the footage, Groose kidnapped her and blackmailed her into giving it back." Karane cut him off, fully focused once more.
"What!?" Pipit gasped.
"…Yes. I know I should have opened with that, but I figured hearing everything else was a bit much already. I'm sorry."
"He… he kidnapped her…"
"It wasn't a serious kidnapping or anything. And Link shut it down quickly." Strich chimed in, hoping to ease some of the worry.
Pipit glanced at him, his face quickly scrunching up in anger.
"You let this happen?"
"I… Yeah… But I want to make things better now."
"Why? Do you think that trying to redeem yourself now is gonna erase all those years of staying behind Groose? You want to be a hero? Because you're nothing but a coward in my eyes." He spat.
Strich looked down shamefully.
"No…"
"You let him hurt my girlfriend!"
Pipit was now on his feet, towering over the lanky boy sitting in front of him. Shad stood immediately, placing a careful hand on his shoulder.
"Okay dude, you need to calm down. Zelda's okay now. We just need to figure out –"
"I… I wasn't talking about Zelda…" Pipit said, briefly making eye contact with Karane before looking away.
Karane grabbed the table, squeezing it in a feeble attempt to make her hand stop shaking. In the time she had broken up with Pipit, she was certain that he forgot about her, like the time they spent dating didn't really mean anything to him. He became a popular jock at one of the top schools in all of Hyrule, and landed himself a beautiful, new girlfriend. But in that moment, seeing that blazing fury in his eyes, it made her wonder if a part of him was still in love with her.
He didn't realize his slip-up at first, and wouldn't have realized it at all if it weren't for the awkward stares everyone else was giving him.
"My ex-girlfriend." He corrected himself, crossing his arms.
After an uncomfortable silence, Pipit spoke up again.
"Karane… Why did you decide to tell us now?"
"Because with the tuition increase, everyone is angry. They need someone to blame. Since HU lost a lot of rupees from the jelly prank, it's easiest to point fingers at the main suspect. The financial aid office isn't budging, and we all know yelling at them is pointless. Groose is now going to become a prime target. I know he's going to go after her. He'll go after both of them. And I don't want that to happen. I know how it'll end if it does…" She explained sadly.
"What should we do?" Shad asked.
"Join forces with us and Nabooru, maybe?"
"…Nabooru?" Pipit blushed.
Karane's jaw clenched.
"Is that a problem?"
"No, of course not. This is all a lot to process though, Karane. Is this something you really feel ready to take on? Mentally and emotionally, that is."
She sighed, closing her eyes.
"I don't know Pipit. All I know is that I can't just sit around. I've sat back for years, and it's ruined me. If I do this, I want people I can trust by my side."
"… Okay." He nodded, looking over to Shad who nodded as well.
"You guys will help us?"
"Of course Karane. You're our friend. And as much as I hate to admit it, Nabooru may be the best person to align with. She has… connections."
"Are you talking about how she's fucking the Dean?" Shad asked bluntly.
Everyone glowered at him.
"…What?"
"It doesn't matter what kind of connections Nabooru has. The important thing is that we're a team now. And we're going to take Groose down." Karane said in a determined voice.
»°«
"I'm not complaining or anything, it just makes more financial sense for us to share a room. Wouldn't it be cheaper?" Ashei asked, lounging comfortably on Lana's bed. Nabooru and Ganondorf had snagged all of them rooms at Hotel Oasis for the weekend. Ashei was expecting that she and Lana would share a room together, but they each got separate rooms. However, it didn't stop Ashei from checking on Lana periodically.
"Actually, I did share this room, just not with you…" Lana said from behind the bathroom door. She had been in the bathroom applying her makeup for about forty minutes, talking to Ashei the entire time.
Ashei looked at the door, mildly annoyed that she couldn't scowl at her friend directly, since Lana insisted on keeping her look for the gala a secret until she was done.
"Did you share it with Mr. Dragmire then? Please tell me you stayed with Mr. Dragmire."
"Don't be like that Ashei. Nabooru and I didn't do anything inappropriate. We painted each other's nails, watched movies, and talked. Then we went to bed. She's my friend. That's all." Lana said insistently.
"I thought I was your friend."
"You are! Nabooru had already rented the rooms that way when I told her you wanted to come."
"Of course…" She muttered.
"Can we just drop this? I'm finally done with my look for the gala!"
Ashei sighed and looked toward the door expectantly.
"It's… It's simple in design. The flashiness comes from the glitter." Lana explained shyly as she came out of the bathroom, doing a quick spin in her dress. She was wearing a low-cut gown that showed a bit of cleavage and accentuated her figure. It was a shade of blue very similar to her hair – which was down instead of her usual ponytail - and she had her makeup done to coordinate with the color of her eyes, a vibrant purple. The gala wouldn't start for another hour or so, but they were planning on heading over earlier, for what Nabooru cited as 'personal reasons.'
"Lana, I love you, but if I stare too long my eyes will start to hurt." Ashei commented, holding a hand out in front of her face.
Lana scoffed, looking outside towards the setting sun.
"That's only because the sun is still up. But as soon as it gets darker, the glitter won't be as blinding. We're going to be around a bunch of wealthy donors, trying to convince them to donate money to our school. So I'm just dressing the part."
"Of course."
"Of course?"
"Of course."
"What do you mean 'of course'?" Lana asked.
"Of course you want to look your best for all the fancy old rich people and absolutely nobody else."
"I do… One of us has to. Since you clearly don't care as much." Lana gestured at Ashei's outfit distastefully.
"What's wrong with my outfit?"
"It's so plain! You're going to stick out like a sore thumb."
"You're lucky I decided to even wear a dress, or anything formal."
"At least let me do your makeup!"
"No."
"Ashei! You're the one who insisted on coming here with me."
"I'm looking out for you, not whatever madness is going on tonight."
"This could be our chance to save our school!"
"Do you really believe that?"
"What?"
"Something is off. This just doesn't feel right."
"Do you have any actual reason to believe that?"
"I don't know Lana. Gerudo Valley seems like an odd place to go to try and raise money for a school founded by Hylians."
"Not when there are Gerudos who go to and work at said school. Like Nabooru and Ganondorf, the people who courteously flew us out here and got us into this fancy hotel. Goddesses, what century do you think we're in, Ashei?"
"Lana, I didn't mean –"
The door swung open before Ashei could finish talking, and Nabooru sauntered in, Ganondorf trailing closely behind.
"Ladies, we should get going now…" Nabooru came to a slow stop once she saw Lana.
Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Lana began smoothing her dress down.
"Is… Is the glitter too much? Because maybe I can –"
"No, no, no." Nabooru waved her arms reassuringly. "I just didn't think you could get even more beautiful."
Lana began to smile while both Ashei and Ganondorf rolled their eyes.
Nabooru walked closer until she was right in front of Lana and took her arms, pulling them away from the dress.
"I like the glitter. It has the pizzazz we'll need for the gala. You'll fit in perfectly."
"There's really nothing wrong with it?" Lana asked, trying to keep her excited emotions at bay.
"My main concern would be the glitter rubbing off on any furniture. Riju, the hostess, is very stingy about that sort of thing."
"Oh, uh, the glitter is sealed within the dress, so I don't think that would be a problem!"
"Are you sure? I should double-check." Nabooru said suggestively.
"Double-check?"
"I just want to feel the fabric and check if any glitter rubs off… If that's alright with you."
"Oh, it is!" Lana nodded eagerly.
Nabooru smiled, placing a hand on Lana's side, and slowly guiding it down the length of her body. Lana shivered as she felt Nabooru's finger lightly roll over the side of her breast. Nabooru then applied a bit of pressure, allowing her fingers to dance across Lana's hips.
Ashei closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.
"Oh goddesses…" She mumbled.
"I think that's enough, Nabooru." Ganondorf spat, his tone riddled with envy.
"What? I just needed to feel the dress out…" She replied innocently.
Nabooru pulled her hand away before she could go any lower, checking to see if there were any specks of glitter.
"Nope, you were right. But it's better to be safe than sorry."
"Y-Yeah." Lana agreed, her body all tingly from Nabooru's touch.
"Being sorry isn't always a bad thing…" Ashei grumbled.
Nabooru looked over at her with distaste.
"Well, in THAT dress you have plenty to be sorry for."
Ashei waved her off.
"I know it isn't exactly the fanciest, but flash and glamour just isn't my style."
"Trust me, I'm aware. But that dress is all wrong for you. You have broad shoulders that are much wider than your hips. You need a dress that hides your waistline."
"Excuse me?" Ashei glared, looking down at her body with scrutiny.
"Whatever, we don't have any time. Lana here dressed well enough for the both of you. Let's go." Nabooru nodded toward the door.
They all walked out, heading to the plaza. The walk was pretty silent until Ashei attempted to start a conversation.
"So that hotel we're staying at is pretty pricey…"
"Hotel Oasis? It's expensive but we get funding from HU to help with the costs." Nabooru replied.
"Oh? I thought they'd be a bit more cautious with their money."
"There are certain things we can & can't afford. We're experiencing a shortage right now, but a couple hundred rupees is nothing to gawk at."
"If you say so."
Nabooru glanced at Ashei, whose eyes were trained on the plaza.
"It's about why we're here. To get money for our university. I think we can spare a couple hundred rupees if the payoff is a couple million. Wouldn't you agree?"
Ashei remained silent, still wary of Ganondorf and Nabooru's intent.
Nabooru smiled victoriously, walking with a strut in her step as they reached their destination. Riju was at the front talking to one of her guards. She turned in time to see Ganondorf and Nabooru, with Lana and Ashei trailing closely behind.
"Ganondorf." She said, a smile quickly forming on her face as she walked toward him and enveloped him in a loving hug.
He returned the hug happily, realizing how much he had missed his home and the women living in it.
She pulled away, looking over to Nabooru.
"Nabooru my dear," she walked over to Nabooru and took both of her hands with an affectionate smile on her face. "It's been far too long."
"It hasn't been that long, has it?" Nabooru asked, pulling her hands back quickly.
Riju bit her lip, giving Ganondorf a furtive glance before shrugging.
"I haven't seen you since you left for university. And now you're about to graduate."
"I've been busy figuring out my passions. Working on HUTV has been a life-changing experience, and then of course there are my classes, jobs, and internships."
"And parties too, right?" Riju questioned.
"Maybe one or two."
"Or three."
"A girl's gotta have her fun."
"No doubt about it. But we do have parties here as well." Riju reminded her.
"For sure. I just haven't had the time to come back home, that's all."
"For four years?" Riju said with the tiniest sliver of sass in her tone.
Nabooru crossed her arms, trying her best to keep a civil look on her face. The two women found themselves locked in an intense stare down, until Ganondorf tried to ease the tension.
"Riju, these are the two HU students Nabooru invited to the gala."
Riju eyed both of them with interest, one was a dark-haired and muscular young woman who was clearly underdressed for the event. The other one was far more vibrant.
"You… What is your name?" Riju stepped towards Lana.
"Oh, I, uh…" Lana stammered like a fool, completely entranced by Riju's beauty.
"Lana. Her name is Lana. And I'm Ashei." Ashei spoke up.
Riju nodded, smiling at the blue-haired girl's timidity.
"Lana, you are a stunner in that dress. No one will be able to keep their eyes off of you." She turned over to Ashei. "And you are quite the looker too, Ashei. Your look is a bit more modest, but that shouldn't be a problem at all."
Ashei nodded.
"So what year did you graduate HU?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Pardon?"
"…What year did you graduate? From Hyrule University?" Ashei repeated.
"Oh. I never attended." Riju replied, looking back towards her bodyguard nervously.
"My bad, I just assumed that you had since you guys are trying to raise money for our school…"
Riju smiled with an amused glint in her eyes.
"Right. Ganondorf is an old friend of mine, and with more and more women moving out of our desert, I want to make sure that they have the best educational opportunities available to them."
"So you –"
"Come now, my loves. Ganondorf, Nabooru, I need to talk to you two. Lana, Ashei, wear these pins. Once the rest of my guards arrive for the event, you'll need to be identified. Since you two are the only guests who aren't donors or hosts, if you don't have these pins you may get thrown out."
"Okay, that makes sense." Lana took her pin happily.
"Nabooru, won't you be with us?" Ashei asked.
"From time to time. But right now we have some business to take care of." Nabooru said, walking off with Riju and Ganondorf.
Once they were gone, Ashei and Lana were left alone with Riju's personal bodyguard. Lana looked up toward her with a bit of fear.
"Uh… Hello…"
The taller, older woman nodded at her stoically.
Lana rubbed her arm awkwardly.
"Can we come inside? Or should we just stay out here?" She gestured to the interior of the plaza.
"You are allowed to enter if you wish. Just stay away from the conference room in the back. It's for donors only." She replied.
"Oh… Okay." Lana nodded. She looked to Ashei and they both slowly walked into the venue, immediately stunned by all of the decorations.
"Wow, that girl must live like royalty…" Lana gasped. She turned to look back at the guard. "You work for her right?"
"'Her' name is Riju, and she is the chieftain of this town. She cares greatly for her people. Ever since our institution got shut down, she has worked carefully to make sure that young Gerudo women have the best educational opportunities in other parts of Hyrule."
"You guys had a school here?" Ashei asked.
"I remember that. It was an old one too. It went bankrupt, right?" Lana said.
"Yes, it was such a shame…" The woman replied; she looked like she was about to say more but then she pursed her lips as though she'd already said too much. She then walked off, telling the two girls she wanted to check on Riju.
Lana walked around the venue, looking at the furniture and décor.
"Lana," Ashei grabbed her shoulder. "What do you know about the school that was here in Gerudo Valley?"
"It was one of the first single-sex schools. An all-women school…" She said dreamily, "And a very good one at that. It closed down years ago. I'm not sure why. But I'm pretty sure a quick web search could pull up some articles on it. Why?"
"…No reason." Ashei said, knowing that if she vocalized her suspicions about Nabooru it would result in another argument.
»°«
The moon had staked its spot in the sky, shining with the brilliance of the stars while down below, celebratory lanterns illuminated their beauty and provided additional light.
Link was sitting on the bed of the hotel room he and Zelda were sharing, waiting for her to finish getting ready.
"You've been in there for 300 hours." Link complained.
"I'm done, I'm just putting some perfume on. Are you ready? You've just been sitting there waiting for me."
"Almost."
"Almost!? What are you waiting for?"
"I'd be ready if it weren't for this stupid tie. Can you hurry up so you can help me with it?"
Zelda smiled to herself, slipping on the stilettos she brought with her and stepping out slowly.
Link looked up, nearly doing a double-take when he saw Zelda's look for the gala. She had already looked beautiful when she first tried the dress on at Celeeb, but to see it coupled with makeup and her hair pinned up…
"It isn't too much, is it?" She asked, eyeing his reaction to her outfit worriedly.
Link chuckled.
"What?" Zelda asked.
"When you tried this on at Celeeb, you asked that exact question."
"Oh… Well now it's just that when you factor in the makeup and my hair…"
Link stood up and walked over to her, grabbing her hand reassuringly.
"I'll tell you now what I told you then. It's perfect." He said earnestly.
Zelda smiled.
"Thank you Ravio. Let's fix your tie." She said, tying it into a Windsor knot just like she had done before. "I'll need to teach you how to do that."
"No thank you." He said, looking down at his tie and making sure his entire ensemble was in order. "I don't plan on wearing suits like these on a regular basis, especially if they all have this sort of price tag…"
"That's too bad. You look good." She commented, stepping back to get a better look.
Link cleared his throat, trying to keep himself from turning red.
"Are you ready?"
Zelda closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I am. Let's do this."
They both grabbed all of their things and left the hotel room, following the crowd of older, wealthy Hylians to the plaza. They captured attention from other guests who were heading to the gala, both for their beauty as well as their youth. Link glanced around anxiously, leaning in close to whisper over to Zelda.
"Did we ever organize a backstory?"
"We tried to work one out yesterday but you were too stingy about it. And you insisted on sightseeing today before we got ready for the gala."
"Forgive me for trying to distract myself." He replied, an edge to his voice.
"Hey! I'm just answering your question. I know you're nervous. We'll be fine, I have a plan."
As they approached the plaza, there were large guards checking off each guest, then handing them laminated cards.
"Be sure to hold onto those. You'll need them for entry to the conference room." They said.
An older couple standing in front of Link and Zelda turned around to look at them.
Link and Zelda stopped their chattering when they felt their curious stares.
"You two sure are young. Everyone has been whispering about you. When did you graduate from HU?" A woman with kind blue eyes asked.
"A couple of years ago. The business we started afterwards really took off though, so we have a couple million rupees to spare." Zelda replied.
"Oh, I heard that." She laughed, "We've got so many rupees we hardly know what to do with 'em! We recently signed a contract and opened more branches of our shop. We were originally based in Clock Town, but the Curiosity Shop is now ALL the rage in Castle Town."
"The Curiosity Shop?" Zelda asked.
"Doesn't that shop deal in stolen goods?" Link piped up, giving the pair before them a wary look.
"That was when we were strictly in Clock Town. And there was a different owner at the time." The man spoke up. He had beautiful violet hair that brushed down to his shoulders.
"I'm Anju," the woman said, "And this is my husband Kafei." She nodded to him.
"It's true that the Curiosity Shop had some shady beginnings, but that's changed since then. Now, we are thriving. We're going to open another branch in Zora's Domain." Kafei added.
"It's true. We're very blessed." Anju smiled.
"Yeah, because you sold out…" Link muttered.
Zelda nudged him, giving him a dirty look.
"That sounds great. I'm very happy for you two."
"We're very interested in donating to the project the Chieftain is working on. I personally didn't care to come at first, but I figured we should put our rupees to use after our last purchase." Anju giggled.
Kafei let out a low chuckle himself.
"I think making a donation will be more than enough to compensate for that, my sweet."
"What did you guys buy?" Zelda asked.
"Nothing TOO lavish. Just a new yacht." Anju replied.
"It was only 500,000 rupees." Kafei chimed in, looking proud of himself.
"WHAT!?" Link blurted out, capturing the attention of several people nearby.
Zelda gave him a death glare, silently telling him to keep it down.
"I know. It was such a steal. We were prepared to pay at least 10 million."
Link looked like he was about to pass out.
"But enough of that, what about you two?" Anju asked.
Zelda smiled, grabbing Link's hand.
"I'm Hilda, and this is my husband Ravio."
"You two are quite the lookers. We haven't even entered the gala and you're already the talk of the party. Tell us about yourselves."
"Hearing your guys' story makes me feel so small in comparison, honestly." Zelda said, feigning an embarrassed expression. Link watched her, curious as to what she had up her sleeve.
"Oh, please. You started your own business, right?"
"Without the startup rupees from my parents, we wouldn't have had such a strong start. And then of course, there's my brilliant husband." Zelda smiled at Link affectionately.
"Are you an heiress?" Anju inquired.
"To one of the oldest and richest families in all of Hyrule. Don't be fooled though, I've worked very hard to get to where I am."
"What about you?" Kafei pointed at Link.
"Me? Uh…" Link trailed off, clearly out of his element here.
"Ravio doesn't like talking about himself. He's a little embarrassed when it comes to dealing with wealthy affairs. You see, he grew up in a rural area. So, so poor…"
"Hey! I thought we nixed that story idea." Link growled at her underneath his breath.
She ignored him and continued.
"But what he lacked in money, he made up for in brains. We were both economics majors. He was a tough deku nut to crack at first, but we eventually fell in love. Now, we're business partners who are ready to take over the world."
"Well, I wish you two luck." Anju commended them. "I'm surprised you guys would consider Riju's project though. Given how recently you've graduated…"
"We have lots of love for our alma mater. Why wouldn't we donate?" Zelda shrugged.
Anju and Kafei both frowned.
"Oh hon, you do understand that this gala isn't for –"
"NEXT! You two, we need your names." One of the bodyguards said, gesturing at Kafei and Anju.
Anju placed a hand on Zelda's shoulder.
"You should come and sit with us when we get inside. We'll save you guys some seats…" She turned around and talked to the guards.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Link turned to Zelda with a bewildered look on his face.
"500,000 rupees!? That could pay for all 4 years at HU! And buy me a house!"
Zelda laughed.
"For a yacht that's actually a pretty good price."
"You would know, wouldn't you?"
"Not because my family owns one or anything, but I grew up near a LAKE. Plenty of people at Lake Hylia own yachts."
"I thought you said people at Lake Hylia weren't rich."
"I said that not everyone is rich."
"But you're upper-class."
"Upper-middle-class. Are we seriously having this conversation again?"
Link shook his head.
"I'm in over my head, Zelda. I'm out of my element right now. I don't know how to deal with these kinds of people. It's starting to stress me out."
"Link."
"Yes?" He looked over at Zelda.
"Do you trust me?"
"I don't really have much of a choice, do I?"
"It's a yes or no question."
"…Yes."
"Then don't worry. You're stressing because you want to take control of the situation. But it's time for me to carry us through tonight."
"Shouldn't we work together?"
"Definitely. But I don't mind doing most of the talking for now. Have some faith in me, okay?" She said, turning ahead when it was finally their turn to identify themselves.
"Names?" The guard asked.
Zelda nodded.
"Hilda and Ravio." She said confidently.
There was a moment of silence while they perused the guest list.
"We don't have you two listed down anywhere…"
Zelda cursed, which caused Link to tense up and look at her worriedly. She caught his gaze and gave him a subtle wink.
"Damn it! I knew I shouldn't have trusted her. I swear my assistant can't do anything right. I asked her to RSVP for me and my love, but she clearly did not."
The guard studied the two of them carefully.
"You two are rather young to attend a gala like this."
"I didn't realize age was a factor."
"On paper, it isn't. But looking around… it is."
Zelda huffed.
"If you don't want our rupees, just say so."
"Ma'am, this is a very exclusive event. I don't want to be rude, but we can't let just anyone in…"
"Just ANYONE?" Zelda said. A few guests turned to observe the scene.
"Zelda… What are you doing?" Link whispered to her, putting on a courteous smile to the guards – who were much taller and stronger than him and Zelda.
"I'm sorry but – actually, I'm not sorry – do you not know who I am?"
"…No?" The guard was stunned by Zelda's performance.
Zelda stomped up to her until they were inches apart. The scene was quite comical from a distance, given how short Zelda was in comparison. Her face was tilted upwards, but the expression on her face was fierce. If looks could kill, everyone within her vicinity would be dead; no questions asked.
"My father founded the Fleet-Lotus hotel. Five stars, top notch, with branches in every realm of Hyrule… except for yours. Our donation could make or break your little project." She took a step back, the glare on her face settling into a smile.
"Now tell me… Would your Chieftain want to miss out on millions of rupees because of a foolish indiscretion on your part?" She asked, batting her eyelashes.
Link watched her with fascination.
"I…" The guard was at a loss for words.
A familiar voice from the inside called out to Zelda from inside.
"Hilda! Ravio!" Anju waved at them amidst the crowd of people mulling about inside. "Are you two coming in?"
"In a sec sweetheart!" Zelda waved Anju.
"You know them?" The guard asked.
"Oh, you mean Kafei and Anju? Of course! We go way back. My father invested in the Curiosity Shop, long before it branched out of Clock Town. It would be a shame if they were to back out of the gala too…" She said, slowly pulling her phone out and making a show of 'texting' the older pair.
"Please, no!"
Zelda put her phone away and looked at the guard expectantly.
"I apologize." She said, regaining her composure. "There was clearly a misunderstanding, but it's fine. Here are your cards. You may come inside."
Link sighed in relief as they got their cards and walked in.
Zelda squealed excitedly, dropping the sassy rich act instantaneously.
"What the hell was that?" He asked, once they were inside.
"Acting?" Zelda replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Okay smart-ass. I just didn't know you had it in you."
"I mainly participated in academic pursuits when I was in high school, but I had friends in theater. They taught me some stuff."
"Ah, so you've dabbled a bit in drama. Is that why it follows you everywhere you go?"
"Who's the smart-ass now?" Zelda jabbed back.
He chuckled, taking a moment to survey the plaza interior. It was absolutely immaculate, so much so that it looked like a palace.
"Goddesses…" He muttered. "I hate rich people."
"Yeah, it may not be best to say that too loud. You'll blow our cover."
Link's eyes widened as he pointed toward the center of the room.
"Or… those two might see us, that would blow our cover too."
Zelda turned around to see Ganondorf and Nabooru – along with a third young woman wearing an elaborate headpiece – attempting to garner everyone's attention.
"Keep your head down. Let's go to the back."
Link complied and they maneuvered around so that they blended in with the rest of the guests (as best as they could).
"Sav'saaba!" The young woman standing next to Nabooru and Ganondorf said. Zelda and Link stared at her with interest. She was beautiful and covered from head to toe in precious gems.
"It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to tonight's gala. As most of you hopefully know, my name is Riju. For our lovely guests, we have provided nothing but the finest food, entertainment, and activities. Now, I know all of you are anxious to see what we have planned. All of you are HU alumni and as you know, my good friend Ganondorf Dragmire is the current Dean. He will assist me with the presentation tonight, along with one of HU's finest students – Nabooru! But before we head to the conference room, please enjoy an authentic Gerudo dinner and a bit of dancing!"
Everyone nodded, and some light applause filled the room.
They watched carefully as the three Gerudos dispersed, and began making their rounds with the guests.
Zelda leaned over to Link.
"We need to be on high alert tonight. Stay as far away from Nabooru and Ganondorf as possible."
Link huffed.
"Wait, what? I was planning on running up to them and waving my arms in front of their faces."
"Stop." Zelda said, slightly annoyed by his sarcasm. "We need a signal. For if Ganondorf and Nabooru get too close to us."
"Hmm." Link mulled over their options. "How about we poke our nose?"
Zelda raised her finger up and touched her nose tentatively.
"…Like this?" she asked.
"Exactly."
"It seems kind of silly, don't you think?"
"Maybe. Instead of just touching it, scratch a little. Like this." Link then scratched his nose to demonstrate.
Zelda frowned.
"Did you have something else in mind?"
"Hilda!" They both turned to see Anju waving them down once more. She had an impatient look on her face.
"I believe we asked you two to sit with us!" She reminded them.
Zelda nodded, taking Link's hand and pulling him towards the couple.
"Nose scratch it is…" Link muttered.
Zelda and Link took their seats next to Anju and Kafei, noting the looks and whispers and pointing from other guests.
"Finally! What took you two so long?" Anju cheered when they arrived.
"Probably making googly eyes at each other." Kafei commented.
Zelda grimaced, but quickly replaced the look with a smile.
"You caught us." She put her hands up guiltily.
"I've been talking everyone's ears off about you guys!"
"I won't lie, it's a bit annoying. Anju has always been a bit of a chatterbox though. But your guys' appearance has garnered lots of attention. You two are very young." An old man with a kind smile commented.
"This is Sahasrahla, a well-known humanitarian. And the wealthiest man to ever come out of Kakariko Village." Anju said.
"Ah, it's nice to meet you." Zelda smiled politely, leaning over to shake his hand.
He grabbed her hand delicately, slowly turning it over to plant a gentle kiss to the back of it.
"The pleasure is all mine. You're a beautiful and savvy young woman."
"Thank you!" She blushed.
"Your husband on the other hand…" He eyed Link disdainfully.
Link's head shot up.
"On the other hand' what?"
"You were dirt-poor and conveniently fell in love with a rich woman?"
Link crossed his arms.
"What are you insinuating?"
"I think you know what I'm insinuating…"
"Link, I don't think we should…" Zelda trailed off when he held a hand up to silence her.
"No, I want him to say it."
"It's an odd change of pace if I'm being honest. It's typically the woman who marries for rupees, which makes it even more shameful when a man does it… if you could even be called a man." Sahasrahla said.
"I didn't marry Hilda for the rupees."
"Heh, of course not."
"You guys, please stop." Zelda pleaded.
Sahasrahla eyed Zelda momentarily before directing his attention back to Link.
"Am I correct to assume you married her for her looks?"
"Are we seriously talking about this right now? What is your problem?" Link felt himself getting more and more heated by the second. With Zelda on his arm, he didn't imagine he would get that much attention.
"No problem at all, I'm just asking a few simple questions."
"No I did not marry her for her looks."
All Zelda, Kafei, and Anju could do was stare helplessly at the uncomfortable exchange.
"Uh…" Anju said awkwardly. "How about you tell us then what it is you love about Hilda?"
"I don't see why I have to prove my love for her to you or anyone else."
"I think we should just drop it." Zelda suggested.
"I think Anju's request is reasonable." Sahasrahla ignored Zelda completely, "I for one would love to know."
Link stared daggers at Sahasrahla, then slowly looked over to Zelda.
"She's…" he paused, struggling to find the right words. "…Patient. And sweet. And strong, when she needs to be."
Zelda felt her stomach churn, but she couldn't peel her eyes away from Link as he continued.
"She's brilliant too. She's neither above nor beneath me. We're partners. We come from two completely different worlds. And yet, she understands me."
She felt his hand settle into hers naturally.
"And yeah, our relationship is a bit unorthodox. She's what you people would call the 'breadwinner' between the two of us. There's nothing wrong with that. She's also the one who made the first move, because I would have been perfectly content with just admiring her from afar…" He slowed down, realizing the details of their faux romance were getting too specific, and decided it was time to wrap it up. "That is why I fell in love with her. Not that I owe you an explanation."
Kafei nodded approvingly while Anju looked over to him and gave him a soft kiss on the lips, feeling touched by Link's proclamation.
Zelda smiled at Link, biting her lip shyly. She took her hand out of his and placed it on his shoulder.
"Thank you," she mouthed to him quietly.
"Don't mention it." He mouthed back, returning the smile with a smirk of his own.
The servers then came around with hot plates of food and started placing them in front of the guests. Upon their presence, Sahasrahla decided to stop the incessant line of questioning. Zelda let out a relieved sigh as the tension began to dissipate.
For the next few minutes they ate & complimented the food. The talk was amiable for the most part, thanks to Anju's enthusiasm. The conversation was dominated by her and Zelda, with the occasional side comment from Sahasrahla. Kafei was too focused on the food to contribute anything worthwhile, and Link opted to not speak at all. He already felt like he stuck out like a sore thumb, and was nowhere near as confident as Zelda was in their current setting. On top of the obligations he had back in Castle Town and the conflicting feelings that were starting to arise with his situation, Link wasn't sure if he could handle any of this.
"Are you okay?" Zelda nudged him lightly once they were done with the meal.
Link looked over to her.
"Hm? Yeah, I'm fine…"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." He glanced at the other guests who were leaving the tables to snag a spot on the dancefloor. "Oh, perfect."
Zelda followed his gaze, a twinkle forming in her eyes.
"What? You've never danced before?"
"I've slow danced once. Line dancing is more my speed."
"Line dancing?" Zelda tried to stifle a laugh.
"Don't laugh at me. It's common in Ordon. And it was never by choice. Beth always made me do it. Still, it beats… that." He pointed to all the couples who were now swaying slowly to the music, which was being performed live by a band of Gerudos.
"Come on, Ravio. Dancing is the perfect way to circulate around the room and talk to the other guests."
"I don't want to talk to the other guests." Link said stubbornly.
"Like I said before, I'll do most of the talking."
"You don't need me for that." He insisted.
"I need a partner. Come on, what's wrong?"
"I don't fit in here at all. Dancing is just going to be further evidence of that…"
Zelda could tell that Link was discouraged, and she would have sat down next to him to have a proper talk about it, had she not noticed Ganondorf and Nabooru walking around and mingling with the guests. Since everyone had gotten up to dance, Link and Zelda were the only ones still next to the table, making them susceptible to being caught.
She began scratching her nose.
"We don't have time to argue, Ganondorf and Nabooru are nearby. We need to get to the middle of the dancefloor, in between everyone else."
Link recognized the signal and sighed, but complied with her request. She held her hand toward him and he took it, allowing her to pull him briskly to everyone else.
Once they were a safe distance away, Zelda relaxed.
"I'll lead." She reassured Link, wrapping her arms around his neck.
His hands hovered over her waist, not fully grasping onto her.
She glanced down, then took his hands and placed them on her properly.
"I know you're new to this, but I expect you to at least know you need to actually touch me if this is going to work."
"I was just trying to respect boundaries. You're dating Pipit."
"Not tonight." She reminded him, looking at him fully.
She pulled him in close, until their faces were only inches apart. He could feel her warmth completely as she pressed her body against his. In this position he had no choice but to admire the features of her face. She literally glowed with the gleam of her dress, and her makeup was flawless, only enhancing the natural beauty she already possessed. She had always been gorgeous, but tonight her beauty was especially commanding.
"Just try to match my steps." She said softly.
They began to dance, and Link did as he was told. He didn't like being in such a position, but understood that this was the best they could do in their current predicament. He stumbled a couple of times and bumped into a few people – which earned him some dirty looks – but slowly got the hang of things.
"So, Ravio. You've only slow danced once before?" Zelda inquired.
"Yes," was his simple reply.
"Tell me about it."
"Is it important?"
"I just want to know."
"You always want to know everything, don't you?"
"I wouldn't be as smart as I am if I didn't." Zelda replied with a confident smile on her face.
Link rolled his eyes, but decided he would entertain her. The general ambiance was soothing, and he had come to find Zelda's company pleasant. Plus he didn't want to talk to any other guests at the moment. This was a time for him to just be himself. They held each other close, keeping their voices low amidst the other dancing pairs.
"Junior prom." He murmured, "There were only like 10 of us. My date's father was the mayor of our town, AND one of the chaperones…"
Zelda giggled.
"Yikes."
"Yeah. He was staring daggers at me the whole night. We danced next to the springs near our village. My mom saved up rupees for six months just to get me my outfit. I was trying to keep us out of the water. And on top of that, she kept trying to kiss me…" He trailed off, smiling at the memory. "It was a disaster."
"You sure seem happy looking back at this 'disaster.'"
Link nodded, chuckling lightly.
"It was a disaster at the time, but now I laugh when I think about it. Things were a bit simpler then, that's all. I did feel a bit bad about it too though. I cared for Ilia deeply, but I could never fully reciprocate her feelings."
Zelda chewed on her bottom lip, looking down to her feet as they danced. For some reason she couldn't quell the feeling bubbling in her chest; it was a mixture of awkward and jealousy. Ilia. That name was familiar.
Link noticed the look on Zelda's face and shook his head.
"I think that's enough for a trip down memory lane."
"Right… We should probably find a couple to talk to." Zelda agreed, concealing the disappointment in her voice as best she could.
"As long as I don't need to say anything," Link added.
Zelda laughed, and pulled him with her as they swayed melodically to the other dancing couples. She stopped next to an older Zora male. Since the room was filled primarily with Hylians, she was shocked to see someone like him at the gala.
"Hello." She greeted the couple kindly.
"Ah, Hilda and Ravio." He said knowingly. "You two have been the talk of the gala."
"Let me guess… Anju?" Zelda asked.
"Actually, I saw your outburst when we were entering the gala. Very gutsy, might I add. My name is Dorephan."
"And I am Rutela." The woman he was dancing with chimed in, giving Zelda a warm smile. "You made quite the entrance. Everyone has been talking about you."
"Only good things, I hope." Zelda said.
"It's quite impressive to see someone so young make a name for herself, even if you ARE an heiress. I have no complaints about people who inherit their wealth, what matters is the choices that are made with that wealth afterwards." Dorephan said.
"You are absolutely correct. I'm always looking ahead for worthy investment opportunities. Plus HU is a great institution."
"It was." Dorephan corrected, a bitter look emerging on his face. "And I no longer have any interest in giving any more rupees to such a shoddy institution."
Zelda faltered at the sudden shift in demeanor. Link had to catch her from stumbling, which was ironic since she had been doing that for him just minutes prior.
"It… Huh?"
"HU has lost touch. It was once a prestigious university. But now? It's a joke. Students are too concerned with partying and pulling off frivolous pranks when they SHOULD be focusing on their schoolwork. You two saw what happened to those dorms, right? Very distasteful. The faculty clearly isn't doing enough to get to the bottom of it."
Rutela noted the visible confusion on Zelda's face.
"The chieftain made it clear on numerous occasions that she doesn't intend to use our donations for Hyrule University."
"But… We all graduated from there. Why would she host an event and invite a bunch of HU alumni if she doesn't want us to put rupees towards our alma mater?"
As if on cue, Riju clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. The band that was playing music ceased instantly.
"Attention everyone! It is time to head to the conference room so we can talk about the project I have in store. Please head over in a single file line."
Zelda and Link gave each other a worried glance while Rutela shrugged.
"I guess we're about to find out."
»°«
Ashei wandered around aimlessly. After several futile attempts to talk to the attendees, she decided to give up completely. It didn't help that Riju's personal guard was practically on her coattail everywhere she went. When they finished dinner, Lana immediately sprung up to go find Nabooru. She eventually came back however, as Nabooru was still too preoccupied with whatever was happening in the conference room. She was standing near the refreshments when Lana came back to her with her shoulders slumped.
"No luck finding her?" Ashei asked.
"I found her. She doesn't have time for me though…" Lana replied, trying to mask the disappointment in her voice, and failing.
Ashei sighed.
"Can you keep your judgments to yourself? I get it. You think I'm stupid for liking her. I don't really care anymore." Lana grumbled.
"You finally admit that you like her, I'll take that at the very least."
Lana pouted.
"Shut up. I wanted at least ONE dance with her."
Ashei looked to the crowd of dancing couples.
"I know I'm not the ideal choice, but I could dance with you."
"You?"
"Yes, me. If that's okay with you…" She glanced back at Buliara.
"That is permissible. Just don't talk to the guests."
"Fine. It isn't like they want to say anything to us anyways." Ashei replied snarkily, taking Lana's hand and guiding her over to dance.
"What was that all about?" Lana asked, placing one arm around Ashei's side and using the other to hold her hand in a tango-like position.
"She's been hovering over us all night. It's annoying. And have you noticed that absolutely NOBODY wants to talk to us? What's up with that? I mean, why are we even here? We can't advocate for our school if nobody wants to listen."
"Maybe no one wants to talk to YOU because of how you're dressed." Lana replied.
"Oh? I don't see you making that much conversation either. I think this was done purposefully."
"Not true! I was able to make a little bit of conversation."
"Really?" Ashei asked skeptically.
"Yes! It didn't last too long, but…"
"Exactly."
"Hey! I said A LITTLE." She reminded her.
Ashei chuckled, before noting the solemn look on Lana's face.
"Lana, no offense, but I don't understand what the big deal is. You two are sharing a room together. You've spent more than enough time with each other, and you'll get to see her again when the gala is over."
"I know, but I wanted to spend time with her while I…" She stopped.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"No, tell me." Ashei insisted.
"While I look like this." Lana said, gesturing to herself.
Ashei shook her head.
"Should it matter what you look like?"
"I wanted to impress her."
"I thought you dressed for everyone else."
Lana squeezed Ashei's side, causing her to flinch.
"Ouch! What was that for?" She asked, momentarily stopping their dance.
"This is why I didn't want to talk to you about it."
"What?"
"You're acting all uppity about it. You always need to be right."
"That isn't true. I'm just looking out for you."
"Yeah, by regurgitating everything you've already told me, over and over and over. You sound so sure of yourself. Do you not think she could just like me? Am I not capable of being liked like that?" Lana asked, hurt etched all over her features.
Ashei felt a wave of guilt wash over her.
"What? No, no, no. Lana, that isn't it at all. It's just that Nabooru isn't really known for having boyfriends." She said. "…Or girlfriends."
Lana looked down to her feet.
"Nabooru isn't the first girl I've ever had a crush on. But she's the first girl to actually… show interest in me."
"Lana, I hate saying this because of how cliché it is, but there are other fish in the sea."
Lana shook her head stubbornly.
"You don't get it."
"I know I don't show much interest in guys when it comes to romance, but I know how hard it is to –"
"No. You don't get it." Lana cut her off, twisting and briefly breaking contact with her to point to all the couples that were dancing around them. "Nobody here gets it. Look around. Look at what we're surrounded by. Other than us, do you see two girls dancing together?"
"…No…"
"What about two guys?" She asked, her violet eyes filled with pain. She continued when Ashei remained silent, "A man and a woman. THAT is the default. That's the general assumption. I hate it. I think it's stupid, but that's how the world is."
"Lana…" Ashei said sympathetically.
"It isn't just about finding the right person. That's hard on its own. But for me? It's extra hard." Lana confessed, "Nabooru may have a reputation, but it doesn't change the fact that she's beautiful, smart, hardworking, ambitious…"
Ashei tried to fight a smile at Lana as she droned on and on about how great Nabooru was. It was a bit cute to see, and she genuinely felt for her friend.
"…and so confident… She's a total dream. And she's made it clear that she's attracted to me. And yeah, maybe I'm just setting myself up to get hurt, but this is how I feel. And I can't change it." Lana concluded, her cheeks now super red.
Ashei pulled her friend in closer, until they stood in a comforting hug.
"You're a very pretty girl Lana. Like, ridiculously pretty. If it doesn't work out with Nabooru, I know for a fact you can find another girl. But you're right. I don't know what you're feeling. But I'm going to support you in any way that I can."
Lana tightened the hug, closing her eyes as she fought back tears.
"Thank you Ashei. I love you."
"I love you too, Lana." She replied, ignoring the odd looks the other dancing couples gave her as they held onto each other. That's when she noticed one pair that was out of the ordinary, gracefully dancing their way through the crowd. A young man in a clean, pressed suit accompanied by a woman in a dazzling green dress…
"Zelda?" She gasped.
»°«
Everyone filed into the conference room carefully. Link and Zelda opted to stay in the back, not wanting to risk being recognized. The room was filled to the brim with people. Link and Zelda stood next to the door in case they would need to make an escape.
Riju made her way to the makeshift stage that had been constructed for the event with a couple of notecards in hand. She gave a onceover to the crowd, taking a deep breath before she began to speak.
"Sav'saaba again everyone. After this presentation, we will go back to the scheduled festivities that were planned. But for now, please listen carefully and consider my request."
She looked down at her notecards quickly before she continued. Zelda could tell by her body language that things were about to get personal.
"When my mother died, my whole world changed. I was forced to grow up fast."
Link flinched, and Zelda instinctively took his hand, feeling him tremble lightly.
"My world without her was so bleak. She was a wonderful chieftain. She took pride in our people, in our heritage, in our struggle. Not many outsiders come to our little desert, but they should. Within these sands is a history that is filled with strife and loss, but also beauty and hope. Hyrule University is one of hundreds of Hylian founded schools across Hyrule. In more recent years, it has become a cesspool of pranks, parties, and violence. There's a new scandal nearly every week. Students getting harmed by other students, professors hooking up with the students…"
"What!?" Zelda fumed. "When has THAT ever happened?"
"Shh!" Link hushed her.
"…Everyone who was living on campus was forced to evict after that dreadful prank in the dorms. The school staff has been doing little to nothing to remedy all the issues on campus, which leaves the students to do that work for them. In fact, nobody has been more dedicated to figuring out who pulled that prank than Nabooru, one of HU's top students and head of the television program they broadcast weekly." She gestured over to Nabooru, who joined Riju on stage.
Zelda noted the brief but terse look they gave each other.
"Hello everyone. I'm currently a senior at HU, I'll be graduating soon – this spring in fact." She paused, smiling at the applause she received. " – Thank you, thank you. I'm very excited to earn my degree. And it might seem odd that I'm at this event, but I can't help wondering what my educational experience could have been like if things were different." She took another pause, feigning a pained expression.
"Are you buying this?" Zelda asked.
"You're not the only one who's good at theatrics." Link replied.
"Gerudo Town had one institution for higher education. In fact, I was named after it." Nabooru laughed wistfully. "Naboris University. It was a wonderful school, but closed down before I had the chance to apply. Now? It'll always be a big what-if."
Riju stepped forward, placing her arm around Nabooru.
"There are so many young women who have to venture hours and hours away from their home to go to school. It's easy to lose touch with one's heritage when they move off somewhere else. Naboris was a fine school, and it deserved a better fate. This past year and a half has not been easy for me. I didn't have time to grieve over my losses, I had to throw myself into my work immediately. For my first big project as Chieftain, I want to revive Naboris University. I want to restore it to its former glory. I want to give the women of this town more opportunities. They shouldn't need to travel miles and miles out to get an education. At the very least, they deserve a choice."
There were a few murmurs amongst the crowd. One person raised their hand. Zelda craned her head to see who it was and recognized Kafei.
"With all due respect Chieftain, why should we donate rupees to a school that not only have we never attended, but has gone bankrupt?"
Riju smiled knowingly, nodding at Ganondorf, who stepped forward.
"That's a very good question Kafei. Ganondorf Dragmire, the current dean at HU, can answer for you."
Ganondorf cleared his throat before speaking, "Naboris University was funded solely by Gerudos. We are a region rich in valuable resources that help us accrue plenty of rupees. However, that sort of sustenance can only last so long. Most of you here are Hylians, but the reality is that HU is funded largely by groups of all backgrounds. If it were only funded by Hylians it would without a doubt suffer a similar fate. Like Riju said, our desert is rich in resources. If all of you here were to make even the tiniest sliver of a donation, we would have more than enough rupees to jumpstart this project. And there are plenty of benefits. For starters…"
"I think I've heard enough." Link said, stepping backwards and heading off to the exit.
"What? Link, wait…" Zelda reluctantly followed him out, Ganondorf's voice slowly fading into the background.
"Where are you going?" She asked once they left the conference room. The rest of the venue was pretty empty, with the exception of two people seated at the tables. Zelda paid them no mind, more concerned with Link's sudden urge to leave.
"I need some air." He replied.
Zelda grabbed his arm, pulling him back.
"Link, don't do this."
"Don't do what?"
"Don't leave when we're finally getting answers."
Link pulled his arm back, turning around to look at Zelda.
"Are you not piecing it together, Zelda? They did it. All of it. They filled the dorms with jelly and then tried to frame it on Groose to make us look bad. Not Groose. Us. As in our university. And from what Dorephan said earlier, it's working."
"If we stick around and talk to the other alums, maybe we can convince them to hold onto their rupees."
"I doubt it. This is a golden PR stunt. Reviving an institution like this could give them a new legacy."
"Do you really think they would betray their alma mater like that?"
"In all honesty, I don't think they see it as a betrayal. And besides that, why not? They've already graduated. And they're wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. These people are leeches, princess. They've secured their bag, now they want more opportunities. Helping the chieftain bring Naboris University back means they can be listed as founders. That sort of recognition, that sort of legacy… it's invaluable."
Zelda studied Link's face carefully. She knew him well enough to know there was something more bothering him, but her mind was too scattered from everything they had just processed.
"Do… Do you want to give this investigation up?"
"What else is there to investigate, Zelda? We're done here."
"You don't think we should at least try to stop Ganondorf and Nabooru?"
"…I don't know." He mumbled. "I just need a moment to myself."
He turned and headed for the exit, but before he could leave, two familiar figures rushed over to him and blocked his path. Zelda walked towards them, remembering that they were the two other people who weren't inside of the conference room.
It was Lana and Ashei.
"Aha!" Ashei pointed at both of them, "I told you Lana! I knew it was them!"
"Ashei…" Link breathed, clearly startled. "…You're wearing a dress."
Ashei froze.
"Seriously? That's the first thing you notice?"
"I can't believe they let you in wearing that. If I had known we probably could have worn something a bit more casual." Zelda said with a frown.
"Will everyone leave my dress alone!?" Ashei asked, tired of the judgment.
"Okay, cut the crap. What are you two doing here?" Lana asked, narrowing her eyes at them suspiciously.
"We heard Nabooru talking about the gala. We decided to investigate." Link responded.
"Why?"
"Because we had a hunch that something was wrong, and we were right." Zelda said.
"Yes! I knew it! Things just weren't adding up. And you guys got into the conference room. What happened?" Ashei asked.
"Can we rewind for a moment? Ashei, why are YOU here?" Link pointed at her.
"To keep an eye on Lana."
"Is no one going to ask me why I'm here?" Lana frowned.
"No." Link said directly, "We all know you're in love with Nabooru, and that she brought you here so that you could go back to Castle Town and tell everyone how hard she and Ganondorf are working to bring money to HU. Even if that is a complete lie."
Lana's jaw dropped.
"HEY!"
"Lana, it's true. Nabooru isn't trying to raise money for HU. She doesn't care what happens, especially since she's about to graduate next month." Zelda said gently, "She's trying to raise money to bring back a school called Naboris University."
"Naboris University…" Ashei gasped. "That's the school that went bankrupt, isn't it!"
"Yes. Ganondorf and Nabooru filled the dorms with jelly. They're trying to take rupees away from our school and convince HU alum to donate to THEIR school." Zelda said.
"Would they actually go for it?"
"They would." Link confirmed sadly.
"No, you guys are wrong." Lana shook her head, "Nabooru and I talked about things. She's been helping me figure out ways to pay for school. She wouldn't do something like this…"
"She would." Zelda said, "We heard everything. We were just in the conference room."
"No, she wouldn't!" Lana said, refusing to believe it.
"Lana, I think we should hear them out – " Ashei tried to reason with the blue-haired girl, but she wasn't having it.
"I want to hear it from Nabooru." Lana insisted.
"She isn't telling you the truth!" Link snapped at her.
"How do I know you two are telling the truth? How were you guys able to get into this gala, anyways? We're ALL students."
"We're posing as a rich, married couple. We talked to some of the guests and they have NO intention of donating to our school." Zelda said.
"Hey!" One of the guards came back inside, adjusting her pants. "You two shouldn't be talking to any of the guests."
"Looks like our babysitter is back from her bathroom break…" Ashei grumbled.
"Hilda, Ravio… I sincerely apologize if these two were bothering you." The guard smiled courteously at Zelda and Link.
"Oh, it's no bother at all." Zelda waved her apology off.
Link glanced between Lana and Ashei cautiously, silently asking Lana to not say anything.
She pursed her lips and heeded the request, but it didn't matter either way, because the doors to the conference room burst open.
Two familiar voices rang out from across the room.
"Where are you going?" A deep voice asked.
"I knew this was a mistake…" A feminine one replied.
Zelda froze, her back was turned to them so she couldn't see who was behind her, but she didn't need to. Their voices along with the horrified look on Link's face told her everything she needed to know.
Link dumbly brought a finger up to his nose and started scratching slowly.
Zelda swallowed, and finally turned around to face Ganondorf and Nabooru, who had ceased their walking and were now staring back at her, Link, Lana, and Ashei with surprised expressions.
"What's going on here?" Nabooru asked.
A/N: HAPPY DECEMBER GUYS! I have so much that I want to say in this author's note & so many things to ask all of you, I don't even know where to begin. Are any of you guys purchasing Ultimate? I really want to get it but 1) I don't have a Switch, and 2) …I'm broke. I'm opting to get the Hylian Shield 2DS instead while Gamestop still has it for a decent price. I guess we just need to wait for my next paycheck and see what happens. As for this chapter, it's another doozy. Over 10,000 words and almost 30 pages. And guess what? I didn't even get to fit in all of the scenes I wanted to do for it. The Gerudo Valley arc may end up having 4 chapters instead of 3, like I wanted it to.
Now, a question I've been wanting to ask for some time now: Who do you guys want to see Nabooru end up with, and why? Ganondorf? Lana? Or maybe neither of them? (I already know how her part of the story will pan out, but I would love to know what you guys are thinking).
Next chapter, shit is going to hit the fan. There will be a touching ZeLink moment that I really, really wanted to include in this chapter, but I didn't want it to go on forever. I also want to say that after Gerudo Valley, we're going to start to get into the second half of the story, and things will be very different.
Thank you guys so much for the kind words of encouragement. I'll never fully be able to express what your support means to me. These past few months have been a whirlwind of challenges, but I'd like to think that I am handling them well. I faced a similar dilemma with this chapter where I was unhappy with certain aspects of it. I wrote everything I intended to, and I'm just going to post it, because I know I'll never be 100% satisfied with it if I don't. Now that the semester is almost over, I am hoping to post another update soon.