Disclaimer: I sadly don't own Zelda *sob* and I really wish I owned Savage Garden cause Darren (the lead singer who is now on his own) is REALLY HOT!!! But I don't…ahem….on with the story…



"Anytime I need to see your face I just close my eyes

And I am taken to a place

Where your crystal minds and magenta feelings

Take up shelter in the base of my spine

Sweet like a chica cherry cola.

I don't need to try to explain

I just hold on tight and if it happens again

I may move so slightly to the arms

And the lips and the face

0f the Human Cannonball that

I need to I want to…."

- "I Want You" by Savage Garden (I'd give more lyrics cause I love this song but I figured you wouldn't want to hear them…()



~*!The Festival!*~

Zelda stared at him in surprise. As much as she wanted to say yes, she just wasn't sure. She didn't want to lose him because of her father or her role as Princess.

"Could I tell you tomorrow? At the festival?" she asked.

"Oh…yeah, sure," he said. He'd been so sure she'd say yes. Zelda felt sorry for him, he looked a little hurt.

"I promise it's not about you," she said. She hated hurting his feelings, but…she just wasn't sure yet. Link nodded solemnly, and went to bed.

**************

*The day of the festival*

The early sun rose over Hyrule in an array of colors. Pinks, purples and blues were all across the sky, as if a little Kokiri had used the sky as its canvas. It rose over the many tables and decorations hanging in Castle Town, and the early risers scurried around in the streets preparing everything. The festival was to start in a few short hours, and everyone was making last minute decisions and preparations.

Link and Malon were among them, helping out when needed. Zelda and the Sages were all scattered all over, helping out, too. No one had seen them all morning, but everyone knew they would show up later.

Link was busying himself by teasing Malon and Carson. He'd asked her to attend the festival with him, and she'd accepted, turning redder than her hair. Carson had brown hair and green eyes, with a tan, lean physique similar to Link's, but Link's was more muscular.

But they no longer had time for that. The festival would be starting soon. Malon disappeared for awhile, saying she had to check with her father about something, leaving Carson to manage the store until his helper got back, and Link went off in search of some good prices.

"Good morning, Jinu!" Link said as he spotted the tiny Kokiri. "Congratulations about Saria," he said, winking.

"Don't think I've heard about you and the Princess, either," Jinu said, being as playful as Link. The comment brought last night's conversation with Zelda to mind.

"That reminds me," he said, "I need to talk to her. Have you seen her, Jinu?"

"She and the Sages are supposed to make an appearance with you at the Opening Ceremonies. Remember?" Jinu asked a rapidly disappearing Link. He shook his head. "Heroes can be so weird sometimes."

Link jogged up the stairs into the midst of people waiting for the ceremony. He gazed up at the make-shift platform, but finding it empty, save the velvet draping, two thrones, and seven fancy armchairs, including one for him. He scanned the crowd behind it, his eyes falling on King Harkinian. He nudged his way through the crowd to pop up at the King's side.

"Hello, your majesty. Have you seen the Princess or the Sages this morning?" Link asked. The King shook his head.

"I was going to ask you the same. Do you know where they might be?"

"No, I'm afraid not," Link said, his brow furrowed with concern. The King chuckled at his worry.

"Stay calm, Hero," he said, clapping a hand on Link's back. "They'll show up." Link nodded absently. Where were they? Link began to stroll amongst the ladies-in-waiting, who were all admiring him. It was making him sick, so he went to talk with the guards, who were at least slightly more interesting.

Talk was small; it consisted mainly of the latest Stalfos attempt on the castle, or of how pretty the ladies were. Not that Link paid that much attention to it; his mind was elsewhere. 'Stop it,' he ordered himself. 'You're just nervous about Zelda's answer.' Link shook his head, attempting to jog the fear from his mind. A guard named Blake spoke up.

"Are you okay, sir?" Link nodded, attempting to smile. Blake gave him a confused look, and proceeded with the original conversation.

Suddenly trumpets rang out through the air and the crowd went silent. Link and Harkinian went to their places on the platform, while the soldiers did a fancy rifle show.

When the drill squad finished, the crowd went wild, cheering and clapping. The trumpets sang once more as the King stood up, holding his hands in the air for quiet. The crowd fell silent, waiting for his words to come.

"Good morning! Welcome to the annual Spring Festival, where we say good-bye to the dark and cold of winter and say hello to the warm, bright sun of spring!" The crowd cheered." The King waited for silence again. "While Her Majesty and her fellow Sages are not here…." His voice was cut off.

A high-pitched cackle pierced the air like a knife.

"I know where they are," a voice said, dripping with evil.

"I demand to know who you are and where the Princess and the Sages are!" King Harkinian screamed at the invisible enemy. Link sprang up, mouth wide open in shock but sword ready. The cackle came again, and it spoke.

"In answer to your questions, you are about to find out, and, I'm not going to tell you where they are." The crowd gasped in fear.

"Show yourself, you coward! Who are you?" Link yelled, now completely ready for the foe.

A gray cloud surrounded Zelda's throne. The high voice laughed again, piercing Link's heart with anger. He breathed heavily, trying to keep control as the creature appeared.

The smoke faded away, and a creature sat in the throne, legs crossed, examining a flag with the triforce on it.

"Hah," it said, ripping it in half, causing screams from the crowd. "I always hated the foul thing. Too bad it's on my wrist," it commented, glancing down. Link gasped. There it was, glowing on the thing's wrist. 'The Triforce?!? On its wrist?!?' he thought wildly. 'But wouldn't that mean…no, it couldn't be…Ganondorf??'

"Of course I'm not Ganondorf. You sealed away the idiot three years ago. He would have died a lot sooner had you been old enough to be Hero of Time. He was such a fool, taking the castle. My way is much simpler, more dangerous. I simply took the Sages. And now I'm here for the crown jewel. That would be you, Hero." It said, cackling again. 'It's too feminine to be him, anyway.'

"Thankfully. Of course it's feminine! I am Kiarakiku (kee-ar-a-kee-koo), descendent of Ganondorf." Link almost threw up at this. Ganondorf and…somebody?!?!? He revolted at the thought.

"Yes, for once I agree. It IS a miracle my father met someone, and here I am."

"All right already. Enough family history." Link spat. "What the hell did you do with the Sages?!?!?" Link demanded. Kiarakiku laughed at his defiance.

"You little fool," she hissed. "You think I'll be as easy as my father? I learned from his pitiful attempts at Hyrule. I won't be so easy to find, and neither will my victims." Link screamed, running forward, sword at the ready. He blinked once as he ran, seeing redder than blood. When he opened his eyes after the split second, Kiarakiku was gone. Disappeared, just like that. Link swore, and pounded the ground, screaming to the goddesses. The crowd had diminished by far by that time, and the few who were left scurried away at Link's outburst.

Then he was alone. He stopped screaming and looked around. The guards were gone, having rushed Harkinian to safety. The festival was destroyed by the rush of people escaping. The morning that had started out so beautiful was, in less than an hour, turned into chaos. Link stared out over the Square. A vibration shook deep down inside him, starting in his gut and rising to his throat, releasing in an anger-filled sob. He convulsed as tears overtook him, and dropped to his knees. He sat crying for a moment and stopped. What was he doing? He was sitting here crying over something he could fix. But how? He stood up, putting away his sword. He walked down the steps toward the front gate. Fearful Hylians watched through their windows as their Hero marched past them.

He emerged through into the sunlight. An anger-inspired determination filled him, as he stood on the grass, looking every inch the Hero of Time. He was going after the hatred-filled creature who had corrupted Hyrule.

A/N: No longer is their relationship bothered by duty! It is now something much, much worse. Review please!!