A/N - Hello again! Did you like chapter one? I know, I know, it can be really boring sometimes
and yes, this story has a Mary Sue later on but bear with me. Please? It is great when you get
through all the boring stuff at the beginning, okay?
Chapter Two
Jolly Good Fun . . or not
The celebration lasted through the night and into the morning sunrise. When it was all finally over and sleepy guests were leaving to retire to their beds, Link began to search for Zelda to finish their conversation. He knew she wouldn't want to talk about it but her life was at stake. After searching the castle to no avail, Link asked their majesties where she might be. While stifling yawns, they told Link that she was in bed, fast asleep. Oh, well, he thought, I could do with forty winks or so. And with that he began trudging out of the palace.
Out in the stable yard, however, was Epona, neighing loudly to Link. Hearing her, he headed back to the stable yards. Epona looked at him with an indignant glare, snorting. "Sorry, Epona. I'm just tired and I've got a lot to think about right now." Then, to show her he was sorry, he gave her a fat, juicy carrot. She nuzzled him happily in acceptance as Link climbed stiffly on. Almost asleep, Link rode Epona into the blazing sunrise and Epona turned to the left, so they were heading the right direction.
-*-*-*-*-
Link woke with a start. He looked around to get his bearings and found himself in the middle of Hyrule Field, being nuzzled by a concerned Epona. It was high noon and the sun was glaring in his eyes, telling him to get up. He rolled over groaning, still tired, rather stiff and damp from sleeping on the dewy grass. Then, slowly, he got up and sat on Epona. "Let's go home girl," he said yawning slightly, resting his head in her soft white mane. Epona, who was rather eager to get home, raced off towards the Kokiri Forest.
As Epona slowed, Link sat upright, so as not to appear asleep. When they reached the ladder to his house, he jumped off Epona, raced up the ladder, leapt into his bed and was snoring in under seven seconds. Epona, whickered, slightly amused, went to go rest. By the time Link awoke, night was falling rapidly and a letter ,with a rock on top, was fluttering in the wind. Quickly, he got up and tore off the royal seal on it and read:
Dear Link,
Please come to the castle tomorrow at noon for a picnic. I, Princess Zelda, will be there as well as Princess Ruto of the Zoras and Malon of Lon Lon Ranch. The picnic will be at Lake Hylia. We will also be fishing, so please bring your fishing gear.
Sincerely yours,
Princess Zelda
Link chuckled to himself. Zelda never could write a letter without being formal. This will be good, he thought, I can talk to Zelda about her visions. Just then, a wolfos howled at the moon. Link stretched his arms above his head. He wasn't the least bit tired after all the sleep he had had that day, so he decided to ponder Zelda's visions. At first, Link began thinking of impossible, ridiculous plans to keep Zelda safe. They could lock her away in a tower, have guards stay with her everywhere she went, or she could . . . but suddenly it hit him. What if Ganon was behind all this? Could he be plotting some evil scheme this very moment? How could he protect Zelda from him? What if . . . . but he never finished his thoughts because sleep had claimed him and he was sleeping like a log.
-*-*-*-*-
Slowly, Link peeked open one eye. The sun was streaking up into the sky and it was almost noon. As if hit by a bolt of lightening, Link shot out of bed, grabbing his fishing gear, and ran to get Epona. She was snoozing in her stall, having a wondrous dream about carrots and apples, when she was rudely woken by Link slapping her face saying "Come on Epona, wake up! I'm going to be late." Epona lazily opened one eye to signal she was awake. Slowly, just to annoy Link, she got up stretching her legs, shaking her mane, and so on and so forth. Link looked at her with a wide grin and said, "Alright, alright. I'm sorry for slapping you. Now will you please take me to the castle?" The pleading, innocent look he gave her was irresistible. She neighed her answer and let him hop on. She rode, once again to the castle, neighing with pleasure at the cool morning breeze. Then, for one last joke, she stopped at the castle gate, so abruptly that Link nearly flew off, head over heels. He patted her laughing, "I suppose I deserve that?" he questioned her. She shook her head agreeing with him. The same guard with the black mustache and beard was there. When he saw Link he grinned saying, "Invitation please?"
"And this time I have it!" he retorted smartly, grinning, handing the guard his letter.
"It seems to be in order," he chuckled, " and by the way, call me Jack."
"I will. Thank you, Jack." he said.
"Your welcome anytime Link," he called after him as he galloped through the gates. Quick as he could, he left Epona in her stall with an apple and two carrots to munch on, while he ran up to the palace with his fishing pole. He skidded to a stop to keep from running into Malon, who was giggling with Ruto in the entrance hall, and fell to the floor with a crash! They turned around to see a pile of green cloth and fishing stuff on the velvet carpet. They laughed at the sight of him and ran over to help him up. Link was thoroughly embarrassed. He blushed a deep scarlet as they helped him off the floor.
"Thanks," he stammered quickly.
"You're welcome!" squealed Malon ecstatically. "We've been waiting for you."
"Yes," chimed in Ruto, " and why are you late?" But just as Link was going to answer Malon said, "Probably sleeping in Hyrule Field." Both Malon and Ruto burst out laughing. I always knew those two were nuts! he thought silently. So Malon had seen him in the field. It isn't even that funny, and those two . . . but his thoughts were interrupted by the large creek of an old door swinging open.
It was Zelda, bursting in through a side door to see what all the commotion was. She looked over the scene before her. Link looking slightly disgusted and embarrassed. Ruto almost doubling over with laughter and Malon leaning on her for support, laughing as well. Zelda gave Link a very curious glance. She knew this would be a disaster. Why was she having this picnic anyway? She sighed and cleared her throat loudly so that Ruto and Malon would note her presence. They both looked up and stopped laughing, but continued giggling quietly.
"Would any one like to go on the picnic we're here for?" Zelda asked them with an amused eyebrow.
"YES!!!!" chimed Ruto and Malon. And then they bounded out the door like the two monkeys they are. Zelda went over to Link and whispered quietly, "What are those two laughing about?" Link, not wanting to humiliate himself further, plainly stated, "I have no idea, whatsoever." Whatsoever is so funny! he thought to himself, silently. Then they raced down to the stables after Malon and Ruto.
Malon and Ruto were sitting by the lake, talking jibberish, by the time Link and Zelda were caught up. Zelda had brought a picnic basket with her and was laying down a blue and white checkered blanket. Link, Malon and Ruto came over to help lay out the food.
The food was delicious of course, being prepared by the royal chefs. They feasted on a crispy salad, a small chicken, tiny cucumber finger sandwiches, chocolate pudding and Lon Lon milk provided by Malon. After filling their bellies to the fullest extent, they all began to fish. That is, all except Ruto. She swam around with the fish, playing a game of tag.
"Ruto!" Link said, exasperated, " we're trying to catch them, not play with them."
"I know you are!" retorted Ruto, obstinately, " I just want to have some fun." And with that, Ruto leapt back into the water with a tremendous splash! Dripping wet, Link reeled in his line, threw his hands in the air and gave up fishing for the day. Zelda and Malon were both holding back peals of laughter, Zelda being more successful. Malon couldn't help it, she was just in a laughing mood, and burst out in a giggling fit. Slyly, Link said, "Oh, would you like to go for a swim too, Malon?" And before she could protest, Link threw her into the water.
When she surfaced, gasping for breath, she shot Link a twisted look of resentment at his wide, gleaming grin. Zelda, seeing this, had finally cracked. She was rolling on the ground, trying to control her laughter without success. Link looked at Malon with a new look on his face. She returned it with the same mischievous grin on her face. They both ran up behind Zelda, each lifting her under one arm, and advanced towards the lake.
"You can't do this to me!" Zelda shrieked, kicking violently. " I'm the princess!"
"Princess, or no, your going into that lake," Malon stated flatly, trying to move out of her kicking range.
"That's what you get for laughing at two soaked, mischievous teenagers," Link said, grinning at her, tossing her in with one last shriek. Ruto helped her to the surface. Sputtering and kicking with rage, she began to laughed, loud and clear. Link, Malon and Ruto were all laughing too. "Come on," laughed Link, " let's walk to the castle to dry off." Well, I didn't get to talk with Zelda about her visions after all, thought link sorrowfully. He knew it wasn't likely he would get a chance with Malon and Ruto around. But now they were so absorbed in talking to each other, it was a perfect chance to talk to Zelda. And so, laughing and chatting all the way, they made their way back to the castle, but not before a princess' vision came true . . .
