Chapter 5

Zelda groggily opened her eyes. It was morning. Well at least she thought it was. What was morning for her was pretty much just the time she felt like getting up. She snapped her eyes shut because the sunlight flooding into the room through the open window was almost blinding.

She turned her head. Moving her head felt like weights. She re-opened her blue eyes and found herself staring into another set of blue eyes! "Aah.." She started to scream but was cut off by a feminine hand around her mouth. She was staring into the eyes of Princess Peach.

"Don't shout!" She whispered harshly into her ear. "Everyone appears to be sleeping in." She quietly said. Peach was in her pink nightgown and she was wearing no makeup or hair gel so Zelda almost didn't recognize her.

Peach practically dragged Zelda into the bathroom where they were alone."Okay," Zelda rasped, "what is this all about?" Peach smiled slyly and hopped up onto the counter and flipped up her hair.

"Where were you last night?" She said in a higher voice than usual. Zelda didn't know what to say, she didn't think anyone knew. "I was in the bathroom of course." She replied matter-of-factly, trying to hold in her lie. She tried not to make eye contact with Peach.

"Oh really, then I assume you can explain why when you came through the bathroom door I had just come out of the bathroom and no one was there?" Peach contradicted. She wasn't buying it. "What are you accusing me of?" Zelda asked suspiciously.

"I don't know, but I wanna find out." Peach raised her voice a little and then lowered it. "Don't you find it odd that you and Marth came back at exactly the same time?" She knew, Zelda thought. She couldn't keep this up for much longer. She had better spill.

"Okay, I'll tell you. Marth and I were up on the roof talking..er. flirting.." Zelda blushed with embarrassment. Peach smiled. Obviously getting what she wanted.

"You don't just flirt on a rooftop." Peach was getting on Zelda's nerves. "Um..ok,ok we were kinda making out." Zelda had spilled it all. She felt so ashamed. All the magic and passion from the night before was gone and all that was left was guilt. It was a little like a hangover, when you finally realized what you did when you were drunk. Peach's smile faded and surprised look formed on her face. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'll never do it again!" Peach ignored her pleas for forgiveness .

"You cheated on Link." Peach started, as if questioning what she just heard. She covered her gaping mouth with her hand. "Please don't tell him!" Zelda was almost in tears now. "I might not, but you understand, I can't stand people who cheat on anyone." Peach knew she had the upper hand and was taking advantage of it. Zelda looked at Peach with hopeful eyes. Peach just glared at her accusingly. She knew Peach would tell, no matter what, she would. Peach jumped down from the counter and walked off quietly into the kitchen to make breakfast.

Zelda came to a realization. She had cheated on Link. She had tried to put it out of her mind but now she found out that there was just no avoiding it. She had cheated. "Okay Zelda, get a hold of yourself." She tried to comfort herself. Peach was her friend. Maybe she wouldn't tell. That still didn't help much as Peach hated all cheaters and plus, she was the gossipy type who would tell everyone any sort of rumor. It wouldn't stay a secret for long.

She walked sadly back to her room. No one was there. They were all having breakfast with Peach. For some reason Zelda's appetite had left her the moment Peach started accusing her. She decided to get out of her pajamas and into her clothes. She decided on a white, lacy blouse and some flares. I slipped out of my blue nightgown and put on the flares. They were comfortable enough, a little itchy but that was just because they were new.

Suddenly the door creaked open. She turned her head sharply. Marth was standing in the door. She gasped and covered herself up even though she was wearing a bra. "What are you doing here?" She asked harshly. He looked unfazed by her half nakedness.

"I need to talk with you." He said. He sat down on the bed and motioned for her to sit down beside him. "I need to talk with you too." She gave in. "Peach has found out and is threatening to tell Link!" Zelda said sadly. Marth looked taken aback. If he found out he would hate Marth forever and maybe even Zelda too. He now had that familiar dirty feeling about something he did. A little like the time when Link got drunk and Zelda couldn't stand to watch.

"Do you think she actually will?" He asked dumbfoundly. He knew perfectly well she would do it but he was just trying to make her feel better. "Yes!" Zelda's eyes filled with tears and she started crying. She buried her head in his chest. He held her and stroked her long blond hair. He realized that she was sitting on his lap and it was a wonder he hadn't seen it before, she wasn't wearing much. He tried not to stare. She cried for five minutes and then got a hold of herself and just stayed there in his arms with her chin resting against his shoulder. "It's ok Zel', it will all work out somehow." He tried to be comforting. She forced a smile and wiped her eyes and got off his lap.

"I better get some clothes on." She said. Her voice cracked on the last words. "Yeah." He agreed sheepishly. She put her blouse over her head and pulled it down over her body.

"I should go eat breakfast and, well hope for the best." She said softly. Marth didn't reply for a moment but then he lifted his head. "Come to Termina Bay beach tonight." Zelda nodded and ran off, feeling better, the guilty feeling had left her and all that was left was happiness.