The Legend of Zelda: Her Story

Chapter 4: Solstice

By: The Kirby Kid

Disclaimer:

The Legend of Zelda® is property of Nintendo. Buy their products! Buy their products!

Authors Notes:

You know what sucks College. I mean sure, you'll get a good job and everything when you're donebut it leaves little time for doing what you lovelike writing. Exams are closing in soon and everything is coming to a close for this year, so I thought I'd give this poor fic of mine a chance.

To those who read this, thank youthis bud's for you. I really hope you enjoy this and all later chapters. I'm a little rusty, so I'm sure I've made a ton of mistakes. Feel free to point them out. Review, if you like. If not, that's cooleven though I will cry. Above all, thanks, and keep reading. :)

Oh, and please forgive the formatting. I swear I didn't write it like this, but for some reason, when I upload it it's full of crazy spaces and no bolds, when there were bolds before. :(

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

Breathing heavily, Bixenta took a seat next to her sparring partner, the strange young man known only as Sheik, and took a sip of bottled water. Sheik was breathing very softly, and only the weariness in his red eyes gave any indication that he was tired. They had been sparring fiercely for the past half hour, and Bixenta, while still having a lot left to give, was pretty tired.

Looking sidelong at her battle partner, Bixenta had to admit; this Sheik fellow was a lot tougher than he looked. All throughout the session, the wiry youth had proven himself to be quick and durable. Bixenta noticed that the boy seemed more intent on dodging and avoiding her attacks than in fighting back. Still, Bixenta (or Busy as her friends call her) did manage to get a few good hits in, but when she did, Sheik recovered quickly. It was as if he wouldn't take staying down for an answer.

It was another brisk night in the training clearing near the Courtyard, and the 'fast-track' training session for First Rank knighthood had been going on for about three weeks. Bixenta was one of the few trainees who remained. Donnelly, her friend from a nearby village was still training, and she was glad for that. There were a couple of others, including Roy, the highly skilled prince of a far away nation. She continually wondered why he was even here, it was pretty apparent that Roy was as skilled as any Hylian Knightmaybe even as skilled as a First Ranker.

To a direct contrast, Sheik was horribly unskilled when he started. The only things the young Sheikah had going for him was that he was unnaturally fast, almost as if a wind were carrying him around. The thought that magic might be involved made Busy nervousbut Sheik was a kind enough fellow. In any case, Sheik had improved greatly in the weeks he had been training, especially in the use of his long dagger.

It was a weird weapon to be sure. It had no traditional handle, but instead had a wooden spiked ring that was attached to a slender triangle-shaped blade. It was Sheik's weapon of choice and he trained fiercely with it, as if learning how to use a weapon like that was of topmost priority for him.

As for herself, she didn't use any swords or daggers or spears. Her body was her weapon. Ever since she was a child, Bixenta was always physically gifted. Stronger and faster than the other kids, She was also teased because of her skills and her physical appearance. Anyone looking at her would see a slim, well-toned girl of average height with darkened skin and long spiky hair that projected straight back from her head, as if against the wind. Her ears were longer and sharper than the usual Hylian. In general, her appearance was almost feral.

There was a reason to her appearance and her abilities, but there was no one here who knewat least not yet. As Bixenta looked up at the filling moon, she knew she could no longer keep it to herself. The Knights would soon have to know.

She wished that Invincible had read her answers for the questionnaire handed to everyone on the first day, instead of simply burning them. Then she would have been spared the embarrassment of telling him personally.

But it simply couldn't be helped.

"All right everyone, that's all for tonight," one of the knights suddenly spoke up. He was tall and garbed in silver tunic and long-tailed toque. It was the Invincible Knight, Link.

Bixenta and the other trainees got up to their feet, some more wearily than others. They stood attentively, however, as soon as Invincible started speaking again. "You've all done well to get this far, and we're nearing the end of this session. All of you have already proven to be good enough to take the Knighthood exam, but you've opted to take it up a level." At this, Invincible smiled and added, "and we're all glad you did. Hyrule could always use more First Ranked Knights."

The Invincible's smile fell off of his face and he glared at Bixenta and the others solemnly. "We'll have three more nights of sparring sessions, followed by three more nights of order training." He said, glancing off to the Knight at his side, Adrel Fastis.

"And on the seventh day, we have what we in the First Rank affectionately call your 'Friendly Death'," Sir Fastis said with a grin.

Bixenta stared in a daze. "F-Friendly Death?" she stammered.

"Yup," Sir Fastis said with a laugh. "We call it Friendly Death because at the end of it, we guarantee you'll feel like you've died."

"That'snot very funny," Bixenta said quietly.

Sir Fastis shrugged. "It's a soldier thing."

Roy frowned and crossed his arms towards the Knights. "We're gonna have to fight you aren't we?" he mused. "A final test?"

At this, the other trainees, even the unemotional Sheik, gasped. Throughout the weeks in which they'd been training, they had never once fought against the Knights in any true fashion. They had been lulled into thinking that that would never happen.

Bixenta suddenly felt queasy. Her? Against a Knight?

Not just a Knight; a First Ranked Knight.

Maybe even Invincible himself.

"Get ready," was all the silver garbed Knight said, before dismissing the trainees for the night. As everyone was leaving, he called out to Bixenta, who moved to him expectantly. He smiled down at her as she approached and said, "You wanted to talk to me?"

"Y-yes, sir," she said before glancing up at the moon. "Umit's something about" Bixenta sighed heavily and turned her gaze to Invincible's eyes directly. "There's something you have to know about me, sir."

Invincible simply crossed his arms with an ever-present smile. "All right Busy. Tell me what I need to know."

***

As she did every night since the training session started, Zelda slipped back into her spacious room in the glorious Castle of Hyrule without anyone noticing. She released the Glamour that sustained her Sheik disguise, healed herself with Nayru's Love, and plopped herself on the bed in exhaustion.

Everything had been going so well. She was learning how to use Gram with more and more expertise because of the training. Even though she was tired during the day because of her lack of sleep, she had never been higher spirits, and everyone seemed to notice. Now she was going to accomplish something huge: she was about to become a First Ranked Knight.

It was obviously something she didn't plan on maintaining, but just making it would be accomplishment enough. Zelda even planned to tell her mother and Invincible that she was Sheik after it was all over. No one would ever look at her the same again after that, especially not her mother. After this she'd be forced to acknowledge Zelda as her own woman, and not just the Queen's daughter.

Moto crawled out from underneath a large velvet pillow and nuzzled against Zelda's cheek. She cuddled him and thought some more about the coming days. All the results she wished to achieve were all assuming that she could beat Invincible or on of the other Knights in one on one combat. At this thought, Zelda draped an arm over her forehead and bit her lip. She hoped against hope that it wouldn't be Invincible she had to fight against. Fighting was an intimate act, and Invincible might actually recognize her through the Glamour if they were in battle.

Thator he'd kick the snot out of her.

In any case, it wasn't worth worrying about. She'd do everything in her power to defeat any Knight that goes against her, even if it meant using magic.

Moto began to lick her eyelids, something he always did before Zelda fell asleep. Far be it for her to defy his bidding.

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

"Zelda!" the Queen called out. It was just after breakfast as Tibalt's tutor was taking him to classes, Zelly was on her usual way out to Castle Town when her mother suddenly called for her. The girl stopped in her tracks and spun around to meet her. Queen Zelda strode gracefully towards her as if she were gliding on air. Despite the fact that Zelly was taller than her by several inches, it seemed like the Queen was looking down on her with her sharp beautiful eyes.

"Yes mother?" Zelda said, a bit tiredly.

The Queen ignored her attitude and began to walk beside her. "I wanted to talk to you about something," she started. "As you probably know the summer solstice will be occurring in less than a week."

Zelda blinked in surprise. She did know that, but she had completely forgotten about it. The summer solstice was the longest day of the year, and was a traditional day of great celebration. The summer was usually the most productive season of the Hylian year, and the solstice was greeted with parties that ran through the night.

The princess pursed her lips in concentration. It had been unseasonably warm this month; maybe that's why she had forgotten all about it. Then she suddenly realized that the last day of the training sessions would take place one day before the summer solstice.

Suddenly she had a queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Maybe she'd wait to tell her mother that she was Sheik until after this little dinner. Hopefully Invincible wouldn't beat her up too much before the dinner. In any case, she always had her Glamourif she could still stand that is.

"Iyes I know about that," she stammered.

"Well I've invited one of the Regents of Haiken to dinner on us that night, Halbard Nice and his family."

"Well that ought to be lucrative, making friends with Haiken I mean." Zelda said thoughtfully. "They a pretty good trading partner."

The Queen closed her eyes and smiled softly. "I think so too," she began quietly, " but I didn't invite them just for that reason." She looked up with a sharp focus to her eyes and slowed down to face her daughter. "I think we could always use some more friends amongst the sovereignties in Hyrule's many nations."

She paused for a while to gage her daughter's reaction, but Zelda merely shrugged.

"And it's an opportunity for you to meet some new people. The Nice's have a son around your age. June Nice, very good looking as I recall."

Zelda could only gape aghast.

"He's very clever, and not a bad swordsman. A little on the shy side, but I'm sure that'll change once he sees you."

"Mother!" Zelda squeaked. "Are you trying to set me up?"

The Queen smiled, but her eyes remained focused and serious. "You need setting up, Zelda. Before you realize it you'll be eighteen. How old do you want to be before you find someone?"

"Mother," Zelda repeated with some melancholy.

"You'll want to have a lot of time to raise the children you'll have, won't you?" The Queen said quietly while reaching for Zelda's face with a soft hand. "You do want children someday right?"

"I do," the princess exclaimed, pushing her hand aside. "I'm just"

"You're what?"

"I'mI'm just not looking for anyone at the moment"

"You're waiting for him aren't you?"

At this, Zelda felt a chill run down her spine. She looked straight ahead, not meeting her mother's piercing eyes.

"I can understand it Zelly, you like him a lotyou may even think you love him, but he's gone Zelly." Queen Zelda again reached for her daughter's face and caressed it gently. "For years now. Maybe it's time to face the possibility that Link may not be coming back."

Link.

Zelda remembered her time in the Dark World, being held captive by Er Chike. She remembered the crippling loneliness that she had felt, even with Moto by her side. But then Link made contact with her, magically, with her mother's help. Link, the boy she had met only a few days earlier in the courtyard.

Link, that little kid with beautiful blue eyes, and shiny blonde hair; a boy who wore green as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him. Zelda didn't care about how the boy was mysteriously a spitting image of Invincible as a kid. She didn't care who he really was or where he came from. Link was her hero.

He came for her when she needed help. During those lonely knights in the Er Region, they met in the Dream Realm, and talked and shared and grew closer together as friends. Zelda always regarded those times as something that saved her sanity, maybe even her life.

And perhaps she had gotten a crush on him. They were so young, only about twelve at the time.

Imagine her surprise when one day, several years after those harrowing events, Link came to her to say good-bye.

That he was going on a 'journey'. He never said where he was going, or when he was coming back. He just said good-bye.

He never came back. He left her all alone.

The Queen saw that Zelda was thinking about him, and immediately tried to ease her daughter's pain. "Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. He could come back tomorrow, who knows? But there's certainly no harm in meeting new people."

"Suitors you mean." Zelda groaned. "I-I guess it can't hurt. It's justyou know" she trailed off, looking to the ground. He cheeks suddenly turned red with personal nature of the conversation. She frowned and glared at the Queen's smiling face. Her mother could be so insidious. She had her spilling her guts out before even attempting to put a guard up.

"You can't always marry the first person you fall in love with, Zelly," she said with a wink. "Believe me I know. Your father's not the first person I loved, but I did love him, and I was happy all the same. I'm sure you'll be fine too, if you give it a chance."

"Yeah." Zelda grumbled. "Well, dinner right? I'll be ready."

"I know you will," Queen Zelda said with a pat to her cheek, before moving off to work on state business. With the touchy subject finally over, Zelda breathed a sigh of relief and shook her head. Everyone was trying to set her up, and she couldn't understand it. It was honestly the farthest thing from her mind.

Wellhe wasn't. He was always somewhere deep in the back of her mind. Lurking.

She wanted to get him out, but she couldn't bear to

With an angry grunt, Zelda continued down the hallway and to her daily routines.

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

It was midnight, and once again the trainees for the First Rank Knighthood stood in the clearing. They expected to be paired up once again for some sparring matches, but instead, Invincible and Sir Fastis stood quietly before them, and it seemed that they were waiting for someone.

Roy looked around, recognizing the faces around him. Exuberant Paris. Young Don. Solemn Facet, and silent Sheik. They all seemed as confused as he was. What exactly were they waiting for?

Then he realized that Bixenta wasn't amongst them. Before he could turn around to look for her, she emerged from the woods. However, she walked with a cold and harsh determination that he hadn't seen from her before. Along with that determination was also a look of anxiousness.

"Gentlemen," Invincible started out of the blue, "part of being a Knight of any kind is knowing exactly who your friends and team-mates are. What you don't know about the person you're putting your life in can kill you." He turned to Bixenta, who was standing silently beside him and nodded.

She stood for a moment longer, and then took a step forward. "When my mother was pregnant with me," she began, "she wasshe was attacked, by a Wolfos."

As the rest of the trainees looked taken aback, Roy rubbed his eyes in confusion. "Wolfos?"

"I guess you'd know them better as Were-Wolves where you come from, Prince Roy."

Don stepped forward urgently with his arms slightly spread. "Your mom, Busy, was she all right?"

Bixenta nodded. "Yes, she survivedbut I was born"

"So you're Werefos," Sheik said shockingly. Roy was stunned the kid just said more words now than he had ever said the entire time they were training. "Did you think we'd hate you for it or something? You should have told us earlier."

"All right, Sheik," Invincible said softly. "That's enough. I'm sure Busy isn't the only one here with secrets, am I right?"

With that Sheik once again became silent. Roy was marvelled. It was as if the entire exchange had not taken place.

"In any case, Busy will not be able to participate in the 'Friendly Death' on the scheduled day, because of the full moon on that night." Some understanding dawned on everyone's face with that statement. "During a full moon, Busy goes into a meditative state and is basically incapacitated during that phase. She does it for her own and everyone else's protection. Pretty brave and responsible of her, I'd say."

Invincible then took a little walk around the clearing, his long-tailed silver toque waving slightly in the wind. "And because it's essential that you all receive your 'Friendly Death' on the same day, we're going to push it back." He stopped and faced the trainees again. "That means it'll happen on the night of the summer solstice, when the moon is out of its full moon phase."

Roy caught a few murmurs of disappointment amongst the others, even Don. Glancing over to Busy, he could see how shameful she felt for causing so much commotion. Roy figured the summer solstice was a big deal to these Hylians. Roy shrugged and rubbed the back of his head lazily.

"Okay, so we don't get to party that night. So what?" he began, giving Busy a wink. "I think a 'Friendly Death' will be a lot more fun anyway. What do you guys think?"

"Yeah!" yelled Don. "Party at with the future First Rankers!" The others bellowed their agreement and began to cheer enthusiastically, and Busy's smile was dazzling. Roy was glad he was able to make her feel better. Everyone now seemed fine with the situation.

Everyone except Sheik. He kept quite, as per usual. The young Sheikah seemed to be deep in thought. Throughout the rest of the training session, Sheik's eyes remained troubled.

***

"Okay," Zelda thought as she dodged a right thrust from Donnelley, "so the dinner and the final session is on the same night. I can handle that."

Within her Sheik disguise, the young Princess made a hand gesture and disappeared in a wisp of wind, reappearing quickly behind her helpless sparing partner and delivering a hard kick to his back. Don rolled with the attack and sprung back with one of his own, which Zelda blocked horizontally with her Glamoured blade, Gram.

"What's the worst that could happen?" she thought as she parried two more of Don's attack. "I'll be a little late for the session, but I can handle it. They always happen at midni-"

Her thoughts were cut off when Don delivered a quick blow to her jaw with the butt his sword. Pain exploded behind her eyes and her mouth filled with the taste of copper. She stumbled backwards and fell hard to the ground.

"Woah," Don whispered. "I never thought I'd actually hit you Sheik."

Invincible, who had been watching the sparring patiently, crossed his arms and nodded towards what looked to him like a young Shiekah male. "Anything the matter, Sheik?" he asked loudly.

Zelda spat blood out of her mouth and rubbed it gingerly. "A little distracted," she answered simply. When Invincible continued to wait, as if expecting more, she added, "Won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't," the Knight said with a small smile, and he turned to watch to other spars.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Zelda turned her Glamoured red eyes towards Don. She raised one finger, indicating the number of times he'd ever hit her.

Don seemed to get the message, and with a gritty smile, rushed at Zelda once again.

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

"So what have you got planned for tonight, Zelly?" asked Talon, as she and the princess shared their usual lunch down in the Castle Town Café. Rocco was with them too, but he wasn't eating. Only a few feet away from the girls, he had blended into the background and was watching the people as he watched by. He didn't think that they would, but anyone one of these friendly, smiling faces that walked by could be assassins', ready to strike within seconds, and ready to steal his princess's life.

Rocco didn't like the paranoia sheathed in that kind of thinking, but being ready for anything was a lot better than regretting it afterwards. This was his job. He was Zelda's Shadow, and despite how much he loved Talon, everything came second only to the Princess's life.

"We have that stupid dinner, remember?" the princess answered. She lifted a spoon to her lips and sipped disdainfully; seemingly at the thought of it. Rocco sighed inwardly. Zelda had been complaining about the dinner ever since the Queen informed her of it days ago. Tonight was the summer solstice, and it wasn't only the Royalty that had planned. Everyone in Hyrule had some sort of party being planned, even the trainees who were taking their final First Rank test tonight.

Again, Rocco sighed. He wished he could join them, but as stated before, everything was second to Princess Zelda. He was simply her shadow.

"" Rocco put the thoughts out of his head immediately. They were getting ugly, and he wouldn't allow them to interfere with his job.

"Well," Talon said whimsically, "Rocco's coming over and we're gonna have an 'early' party. Nothing planned for midnight since Rocco and daddy are on the job. Oh, and Romani's got yet another song to croon for us."

Zelda gulped down her soup and wagged a finger at her friend across the round table. "You shouldn't say that about little Romani. She's got a beautiful voice you know."

"She's got a big mouth, that's what she got. It's only beautiful when you don't have to listen to it sixteen hours a day."

Zelda giggled and leaned back on her chair. "Tibalt's the same way. He doesn't sing, but he can play a mean Triforce Knight. It's very cutethe first five hundred times maybe. Then it gets old. It's even worse when you have to play with him as Ganondorf's Evil Mistress." She sighed and slumped forward, with her chin in her hands. Rocco couldn't understand why she just couldn't sit still.

Then Zelda looked to her left, and Rocco followed her gaze. A young boy was sauntering by them. They had seen that boy several times in the past month. Brown-skinned in a white sleeveless shirt and grey baggy pants. His hair fell over his face like a mop in sharp locks; stark white with blackened ends. Rocco remember him bumping into the princess accidentally nearly a month ago, and he remembered watching him brush off one of Zelda's friendsthose Gerudo twins.

Maybe it was that paranoia again, but it seemed the boy had had an inordinate number of close encounters with the princess.

"Wonder where he'll be celebrating the solstice?"

Rocco moved his gaze towards Talon, as did Zelda. Talon looked after the boy as he disappeared into the crowd and added, "Do you think he's homeless?"

Zelda blinked and shrugged her shoulders. "If he is, there are plenty of shelters in and around Castle Town. At least, that's what the books say"

Rocco stepped out from the background, making himself visible to the girls, and spoke gently. "Don't make her feel guilty, Talon. Help is available for the guy, but only if he asks it."

Talon turned to him, aghast. "I'm not making Zelly feel guilty! I just pointed something out you big-" and with that she levelled a nasty punch towards his thigh. Rocco didn't bother to avoid it, and when it hit he found himself wincing. Talon was a lot stronger than she thought.

"Ow!" he groaned.

"Do you guys need some counselling or something?" said Zelda with a nasty smirk. "I wouldn't want this to escalate when you two got married."

"Oh, don't worry Zelly," Talon said, flashing her eyes towards Rocco. "He loves it when I hit him."

Rocco bit his tongue and looked away, his face becoming flushed. Making fun of him was Talon's favourite sport. Once again, he sighed inwardly. It wasn't a sport he necessarily hated either.

"Anyway," Malon started, getting up from the table and brushing the front of her dress. "I have to run. Have fun with your dinner, Zelly. And talk with that son of theirs. My mother tells me he's a real hottie."

Zelda's eyes bulged and she choked on some soup. Coughing and blinking tears, she reared angrily towards her. "She told her about that!?" she spat. Rocco assumed Zelda was talking about her mother telling Mrs. Malon.

Talon grinned and moved in for the kill. "Come on Zelly, don't be shy with this guy. You're not getting any younger, you know."

"WHAT!?" Zelda roared. Her eyes were nearly out of their sockets, and a huge vein was protruding from her forehead.

Before Talon could add more fuel to the fire, Rocco moved in and took the princess by the arm. "That's very nice. I'll see you later tonight, Talon."

"Not just a Shadow, I suppose," Rocco thought with a smile, as he and a fuming Zelda left a smiling and waving Talon as they left for the Castle.

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

It was now evening, but you wouldn't know it by looking outside. The sun was still on its way to bed in the western horizon. Zelda expected as much. It was the solstice, and the longest day of the year.

Zelda assumed the guests would be coming soon, and she had her dresses laid out and ready. However, the dinner was the farthest thing in her mind. The 'Friendly Death' happens tonight, her final test to prove to herself and others what she could do.

Opening the palm of her hand in expectation, Zelda summoned forth the crystal sword she only knew as Gram. The long dagger crystallized into her fist effortlessly, and shimmered in the twilight. Zelda didn't know what exactly it was, and why she was able to create it, but she knew that if it weren't for Gram, she wouldn't have even thought about trying out for the Knighthood. It was such a huge opportunity.

She released the power from her hand, and Gram disappeared in wisps of blue light. Suddenly, Moto, who had up until now had been looking over Zelda's dresses with paws crossed, looked up towards the large doorway to the princess's room.

In walked the Queen, once again without knocking, Zelda thought in vexation.

"I know, I know, I should be getting ready. They'll be here soon, right?" Zelda said hastily. Her mother looked taken aback, and she stared back at her quizzically.

"I'myou're taking this seriously."

"Right," Zelda scoffed, before actually looking at her mother. She wasn't ready for the dinner. She looked regal and stunning, as she always did, but she didn't look exquisite like she did during special occasions. The hair, the dress, the makeup, nothing was on that level yet.

"Mother, why aren't you ready? You are going right?"

The Queen blinked and gave her a strange look. "Of course I'm going, but there's some time yet to prepare."

"What-"

"Zelly," her mother started softly. "This is a solstice dinner, you did realize that didn't you? We'll be having it around midnight."

Understanding dawned on Zelda's face; understanding, and horror. Midnight? That was impossible. She had a test at midnight. She was going to become a Knightat midnight.

"Whatwhat are you talking about?" she stammered, half in a daze. There had to be some mistake. Who ate dinner at midnight? Wellmaybe partiers and people celebratingbut who ate a full course meal at midnight?

But what if it was never intended to be a full course meal? A dinnerit could be just a simple gathering with snacks or something

The Queen stepped forward silently, looking her daughter in the eye. "I told you didn't I? I'm pretty sure I did. If I didn't, it should have been understood"

She trailed off when she heard her daughter mumble something. Hylian ears were sharp and very acute, and she caught enough of what Zelda said to become very uncomfortable. "What did you say?" she asked sharply.

Zelda gritted her teeth and looked her mother in the eye. "I said I'm not going."

The Queen of Hyrule's eyes suddenly narrowed in a cold rage.

Next time:


Sorry I had to cut this one short, but I promise I'll get the next part of this chapter up soon. It'll follow up immediately from this point. For those just into this fic, or those who have been with it from the beginning, thanks for your patience. I know it's pretty boringbut trust me, in a couple of chapters it'll pick up right quick.

See you next time! - (o'.')o