You need that boy like a bowling ball, dropped on your head
Which means not at all.

New story from me ZeLink all the way :) This is a new story which was going to be a continuation of "The Alternate Timeline" but I didn't want to screw it up and make it suck. I have a great feeling about this one. Please review. I'll love you forever and it gives me encouragement to write more.

It's AU. Yes. Because everyone knows Stock Pot Inn is in Castle Town in Termina. :) Basically the Hyrule I mention is a mix between both countries combined into one. :)

The sun rested on the horizon. Golden rays of sunshine illuminated the cold, stony castle and cast their sights upon the sleeping Princess, the future ruler of the most advanced, economically and magically, kingdom the world had to offer to the god.

"Mi'lady, 'tis time for your bath," called a maid as she readied the tub with water, warm from the Zora Hot Springs which had been used to recover from the harsh winter the Zora's suffered through.

Zelda rolled over on her back and sat up. She, at that moment, most definitely did not look like a princess. Her hair was a complete mess, unkempt, and her overall appearance was unsatisfactory. It was made evident, though she did not say so, that she had had a rough night.

What else was she to do? 'It wasn't my fault.' was the first thought that ran through her mind as she climbed out of bed and slowly headed toward the bathroom to be cleansed in lavender scented fragrences and to be pampered by oils and lotions the maids used.

Soapy bubbles consumed her hair and ran down her body as she closed her eyes, reminiscing the night Link and her split.

----

"There you go again, Link! You act like you're always so right and everything's all a big show! You think you know what everyone in the country needs and you always have to take the time to criticize me."

Link was silent as his eyes watched her fiercely reject his critisim.

"It's like, everyday I make mistakes and I can never get it right. Why am I the one you love to hate?"

Link shook his head and turned, his obnoxious yet incredibly sexy bangs falling infront of his crystal-blue eyes. "I was merely pointing out that you need are in need of a husband. You need a suitable ruler for this kingdom. You are stubborn. You will not yield to suggestions I have given to you and as a result, the people of this country are suffering. I do not love to hate you. I hate to love you."

"What do you care, Link? You're never in Hyrule for more than a month. You're always off on a quest and you're never home, so why should I bother to listen to you?"

"Zel, look." He ran a hand through his hair, attempting to clear the bangs from his face, but to no avail. "We're best buds. We even kissed once or twice--"

"Three times."

"--yeah, yeah, three times. Okay. Can't you trust me? I live among the people. I don't have fancy lavish castles or millions of ruppees to spend as I please. I am aware of what a peasent suffers through daily in the poverty-stricken areas of this prosperous kingdom. Please accept my advice!"

Zelda looked asthough she were about to cry. "You can't even remember how many times we've kissed. What best friend are you to me?"

"And you to I! In public, you avoid me as though I am dirt under the fingernails of your perfectly manicures hands." Link shot back as he turned and headed to the balcony.

"Are you trying to tell me I'm a mistake? That I'm blind and stupid?" Zelda called to him as he stood out on the balcony.

"Do not try achieving a pity-party from me, Princess Zelda."

And then he jumped from the balcony into the clearing below, making a nice landing without causing bodily harm.

----

It had been three months since that argument. She hadn't seen him since, although she had heard rumors of dead bodies scattered around the area of Hyrule Field and Kakariko.

She could only assume that it was simply some monsters on a rampage. Link was out of the question. The Link she knew wouldn't harm a fly, muchless kill an innocent person.

Zelda smiled as the maids rinsed her hair clean as she felt the grime of grease in her hair fall down into the dirty water below her. "Today is going to be a good day." She said aloud as she stood up and was dried and promply escorted to her room where she was abruptly dressed in a beautiful burgundy gown which offset her hair and eye tones.

She adorned her golden circlet, which was her crown. It had been passed down from generation to generation of queens and before her mother had passed away, it was given to Zelda in the next line of rule.

Her hair was throughly brushed while she listened to her maids chatter on about their love-lives and the latest gossip.

Zelda, anxious to hear the gossip, let her bouncy curly blonde hair fall from her typical style and let it rest just beyond her shoulders.

"..And they say that this mysterious man who is staying at the Stock Pot Inn is as handsome as can be! His attire doesn't seem so great but he's so mysterious I think I've fallen in love with him." said one maid as she assisted another in making the princess' bed.

"But Hannah, you have yet to meet the young man!" Said the other maid that she was assisting.

"Oh, but I shall, Sarah. Just after my shift is over."

Zelda cut in. "...I know it seems that as though it's not protocol but I would...I would like to ask if I would be able to accompany you in meeting this young man?"

Hannah arched an eyebrow. "But Mi'lady..you don't know the first thing about street life. What if you were harmed?"

"You're starting to sound like snooty Captian Merth." Zelda growled under her breath. "Don't worry. As long as I have my maids-in-waiting, you guys, with me...we'll be fine. I'll even reward you with extra salary. Please?"

Sarah smiled, liking the idea of extra payment. "Heh. Sure, why not? They say he only appears at the last light before dusk and lurks the town for hours before returning to his room. But we don't know for sure what he does the rest of the daylight hours."

Zelda laughed. "Well, I guess we'll just have to find out, won't we?" Her head began to pulsate as something shot through her mind.
"You're too friendly, Zelda. Remain on task and do not let your friendly disposition interfere with the workings of government!" Link had said this one night, a few weeks before their break up.

She shivered but ended up grinning anyway, excited for the nights events that would soon unfold.

"Our quest for this man begins at sundown. Prepare yourselves and meet me back at my room tonight, after dinner has concluded." Zelda said, defiantly in what Link had ever criticized her in.

'Take that.'

Ta-dah! If you notice, I wrote it so that it could fit with Alternate Timeline..but this seemed to merit it's own story.

REVIEW, PLZ.

:) Love, Shannon