Chapter 4

Books and Musical Memories

Zelda played her harp to a familiar lullaby while humming it to herself. She always played the harp when she was upset to ease her pain. As her fingers ran across the musical strings she thought about her adventures with Link. There weren't many since her father had full eye contact on Zelda most of the time. But she thought about her time here and all the good stuff that happened to her, until Veronica showed up. That girl coming back in her memory made Zelda lose concentration on what she was playing. She started playing sharply and out of tune.

Samus walked through the door and stopped short when she heard the out of tune keys coming from Zelda's harp. "Um …Zelda?"

Zelda looked up at Samus and realized what she was doing. "Sorry, I was playing a lullaby."

Samus frowned. "Sure didn't sound like something that would put me to sleep."

"Well, it sounded better but thoughts in my mind made it sound cruddy." Zelda responded.

"Thoughts of Link?" Samus asked.

"That and Veronica." Zelda sighed. "Why does she have to treat me like this? I haven't done anything to her. I've been nice to her and she returns the favor with chaos."

"Just pure jealousy, Z." Samus came inside the room and shut the door. "I say you get her back."

"Sam, I'm not really the get revenge type."

"Sometimes you have to change your attitude because they will least expect it." Samus looked up at the ceiling to think about what she just said then looked back at Zelda. "Then again that might be kind of hard for you."

Zelda got up. "I've got to go to Peach's room to go get her sewing tools."

Zelda walked through the bathroom that connected to Peach's room. Samus followed in right after her.

Samus continued. "It's not hard to change to be a hardcore girl you know. I do it."

"That's because you're so hardcore all the time. You're a natural," Zelda said with a laugh.

They walked into Peach's room.

"Besides, you have people like Captain Falcon to inspire you." Zelda responded.

"True, he is the inspiration to all my punches to his face. Let's change subject, what do you want to do for your birthday?" Samus asked, blowing her blonde hair out of her face.

"Gee, I don't know. Back at the castle, I got whatever guests brought me and never got to decide. I guess anything would make me happy."

"Anything? I know there's something you want more than anything." Samus said.

Zelda thought for a moment. There's only one thing I wish for. But I'm not telling her what. "Nothing I can think of." She looked in one of Peach's drawers. "Here are the tools."

"Good let's…ouch!" Samus had hit a desk right next to her knocking a book off it. "Oops."

Zelda bent over and picked up the book. "Knocked over a dictionary. These pages are all folded." She opened the dictionary to straighten the pages but gasped when she saw what was inside. "Sam, come look at this." Samus looked over Zelda's shoulder to see there was cut square like hole inside book. And inside it was an even smaller purple book. It had Veronica on it.

"Is this a diary?" Zelda said quietly.

"Yes, but not just any diary. It's Veronica's."

Samus was reaching in, but Zelda caught her hand. "No. Samus this is private. We shouldn't read it."

"Fine. You don't have to read it, but I will." Samus took the book out of the dictionary and opened it. Zelda watched as Samus' green eyes darted through the book. Sometimes, Samus would make noises of shock or interest. And sometimes her eyes would grow big. After a little more flipping, Samus sighed and closed the book. She placed it back in the dictionary, closed it up, and put it on the desk.

"Wow." Samus murmured quietly.

"What?" Zelda questioned her.

Samus looked at her and shook her head. "I'm not telling. You want to know, you got to look for yourself. We'll make it a test of your nosiness."

"But-" Zelda stopped short as she heard the door rattling. The door opened to reveal Veronica. She cocked her head to the side when she saw them in the room.

"What are you guys doing in here?"

Samus and Zelda just stared at her for a moment. Zelda answered. "We were just getting some sewing tools for my dress."

"Oh." Veronica's suspicious face dropped to a warm smile. "That's right. You have to fix your dress."

Samus started to walk back to her room. "Hey, I'll see you later."

When she was out of sight, Veronica turned on Zelda. "So did you like my new blouse I made out of your fabric?"

"Oh, my fabric? I hardly noticed." Zelda lied.

Veronica glared. "I'm warning you, Zellie. Lay off. Find someone else who is on your low level. Link doesn't go out with circus rejects."

Zelda felt something that never happened to her. Anger started to boil up inside of her. "Veronica." she said angrily. "You are…"

"I'm what?" Veronica challenged her.

Zelda's anger kept rising. She was going to say something but Veronica stopped her. "I forgot Master Hand wants to talk to you."

Zelda glared at her.

"I'm being serious. You better answer his call." Veronica said.

Zelda started to head for the door. "I don't believe you. But I have to clear my absence from the tournament anyway." She left Veronica in a huff. She went out the door and slammed it shut. Zelda's anger started to slowly drop as she walked out the door. "Veronica is really a- " She stopped short on walking. What's happening to me? I never get like this. I'm always in control of my anger. Zelda pondered this, as she made her way to Master Hand's office. She opened the door to see him floating as usual.

"Good. You're here, Zelda."

Zelda walked in and shut the door. "Yes, Veronica said you wanted to see me."

"Yes. You didn't clear your absence from the tournament match, you know."

Zelda nodded. "Yes, I came by to do so. I was distracted earlier."

"Distracted huh? By what?"

Zelda's heart started to pound. "Oh it was nothing really. Just my outfit wasn't quite ready for the team battles." I shouldn't tell him just yet about the real issue. I'll wait till it gets serious.

Master Hand accepted her story. "Okay. That's reasonable. Zelda, you are one of the more behaved smashers. We can trust you with anything right?"

"Oh course." Zelda smiled.

"That's why I know Veronica won't be too bored with you around. You're someone she can really get to know."

"Mm-hmm." Zelda said, nodding. Yeah, she's someone to know alright.

"But I don't want to keep you any longer, Zelda. Why don't you go down and eat?"

"Yes. See you later, Master Hand."

Zelda quickly walked out the door and bumped into Young Link. He was in a hurry. "Hi, Zelda!"

"Hey, slow down. What's the rush?"

Young Link sighed. "I'm doing a good deed."

"A good deed?" Zelda echoed.

Young Link set down the books he was holding. "Peach wants me to take all her old romance books downstairs for someone else to have. But I want to go outside and play with the others before it gets too dark. She wants me to put them all away." Young Link whimpered. "I'll never get done in time."

Zelda placed her hands on her hips. "Well, I don't have anything to do. I'll take them down for you while you go play with the others, okay?"

Young Link was beaming. "Really?" He ran to Zelda and hugged her. "Thanks, Z. Thank-you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"No problem. Hand me the box." Zelda took it from him. Young Link thanked her one last time before running off.

Zelda looked in the box. "Hmm. She never showed me these." She took out one of the books that looked interesting to her. Well, she is giving them away… I'm sure she won't mind me looking at them for a while. Zelda nodded to herself deciding to keep the box of books. She carried them off to her room. She opened the room to see Samus on the phone. Not wanting to disturb her best friend, Zelda quietly walked to her side of the room. She dropped the books on her bed and sat down next to them. As she started to dig through the box, she saw interesting books on romance and advice. But the last book she saw was little and pink. Curious, she grabbed the book. But when she opened there was nothing written inside. Nothing but blank white pages.

She heard a phone hang up. Samus sighed."That was Marth. He's coming back the day we leave for the festival which is in two days." Samus had said walking over to Zelda. "What's that, Zel?"

"I…I don't know" she stammered. "You know?"

Samus squinted at it and then spoke. "You see that book you have is a personal book where you let yourself go. It's where people write out all there anger in those books, threats, and deadly things they want to do to certain people. Reminds me of Veronica's Diary."

Zelda looked up at Samus. "What was in it?"

Samus hesitated telling her, but sighed. "I didn't want to tell you earlier. But you should know." Shr sat down next to Zelda and placed a hand on Zelda's shoulder. "Look, I was reading her diary… and she really has it out for you."

Zelda frowned. "I know that already I-"

"Unh-unh." Samus shook her head. "It's much worse. She's plotting real evil things to do to you. Anything just to get you away from Link. Like anything to get you expelled."

Zelda's eyes widened. She couldn't speak. But she found some words. "Things like what?"

"Dunno. It didn't say. But definitely we have to watch out for her. Or maybe we should say something." Samus suggested.

"No."

Samus looked at Zelda. She had a serious look on her face. "We don't have any proof. Without anything, Veronica can just weasel her way out of it with her acting skills and we'll be the ones packing." Zelda dropped the book on the ground. "I don't want anything to do with this."

"Don't worry. We're going keep an eye on her. Bad news is she didn't write what she was going to do in those books. She probably keeps it stashed somewhere else for safety reasons." Samus said kicking the book under Zelda's bed.

"I'm going down to eat." Zelda said going out the door.

"See you later. I have a mission to do tonight and will be back really late!" Samus called.

As she watched her leave, Samus sighed. "She's going through so much."

Cafeteria

Link and Veronica were sitting down at a table talking. Link found Veronica's talks interesting. They always would be about something he could get a good laugh out of.

Veronica was smiling brightly. "Link, we have so much in common."

Link smirked. "Yeah, except for the fact that I have enormous ears."

"No, you have cute ears. I'm sure lots of girls fall for them too, don't they?" Veronica said.

"Yeah, sure they do." Link said sarcastically.

Veronica moved in close and smiled. "Well, I'm really-

"Hey guys!"

Veronica groaned as she saw the bubbly Peach show up, ruining her moment. She sat down right next to Veronica. "Have I got stuff to tell you, Ronnie!"

Link frowned as the two got into a conversation. Don't want to be a part of this. He quietly got up and looked around. He spotted who he really wanted to talk to. And she was all alone.

Zelda was reading one of Peach's books. "These books are really interesting." She said to herself. A pair of hands went over Zelda's eyes darkening her sight. "Huh?"

"Guess who, Princess? He's handsome and has saved your life many times."

Zelda, knowing who it was right away smirked. "Ganondorf, is that you?"

"What?"

Zelda laughed. "I'm just kidding, Link. I know it's you."

Link removed his hands and sat down next to her. "Hey, Z."

She smiled. "Hey, you."

Zelda closed her book. But Link had his eyes on it. "What's that?"

Zelda panicked and grabbed the book off the table. She turned her back to Link. "Nothing."

Link tried to look over her shoulder. "Looks like something." He tried to grab for but she scooted her chair a little bit from him. Link was getting irritated. "Zel."

"Link." She responded in the same tone.

Link grabbed Zelda by her shoulders with one arm and pulled her back to him. He used his other arm to reach for the book while still holding Zelda down with the other arm.

"Link, no!" Zelda said laughing.

He reached and grabbed the book from her hand. He glanced at it for a second and looked at Zelda. "Since when were you into romance books?"

"Oh, Peach left them for me," Zelda said snatching the book back.

"What would you need it for? You're already beautiful. You don't need any advice on how to catch a guy."

Zelda blushed and looked at Link. "You think so?"

Link realized what he said in public and started blushing. "Um… yeah sure. I think so anyway."

Zelda was really embarrassed by Link's comment. She was going to say something but was cut off by a yelp. Zelda looked to the left only to get splattered with food right in her face. Her eyes widened. She saw the source of what just happened. Veronica was lying there on the floor. She had tears in her eyes.

Link was already on the floor next to her. "You okay, Veronica?"

"Yes, I'll be fine." She said quietly. "I just slipped on some water on the floor. Oh my..."

Link and Veronica looked at Zelda covered in food. Bits of noodles were caught in her hair and a very smelly, red sauce was splatttered on her dress along with other types of food. All the other smashers in the room also looked and started laughing. But what Zelda saw really hurt her; Link smile formed on his face, indicating to Zelda that he wanted to laugh at her. Zelda got up and ran out the cafeteria. When she was out and halfway up the stairs she started crying. She ran all the way to her room and shut the door. Samus was gone so she couldn't tell her about what just happened. She threw her book onto the bed and headed for the bathroom.

"He wanted to laugh at me," Zelda said through her tears. She dumped her head into the sink to get the food out. She had never been so embarrassed.

The Corridor

After a while Link started to take Veronica to the hospital wing. Link realized that Veronica's leg was bruised and she couldn't really walk. So Link carried her out of there. They were in the corridor when Veronica spoke again.

"Thanks Link." She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "You're so sweet."

Link smiled as they walked over to the wing. Veronica smiled evilly since she knew she had Zelda beaten. Zelda had come out just in time to see that kiss on the cheek.

Zelda eyes were shocked at the kiss. She could feel tears again. "I can't take this." Zelda headed out to the backyard. It was completely dark but Zelda could still see her favorite tree. She went outside and sat under it. She pulled her harp and started playing her lullaby again. She couldn't help but wonder what Link really thought of her and what he thought of Veronica. Who did he truly like? She continued playing. Veronica has her good features. Link admires them a lot. Were Link and Veronica destined to be?

Zelda stopped playing and sighed.

"Don't stop."

Zelda looked up and saw her love Link standing there. She didn't say anything and just looked down.

"I can understand that," he said.

He walked over to the tree and sat down next to her. They sat there in silence for minutes until Zelda spoke,."Shouldn't you be tending someone else's needs?"

"Look, Zel. She was in need of help, wasn't she?"

"Yes. I wouldn't say anything about it. But when the food was thrown all over me, I saw you smiling, wanting to laugh at me."

Link smiled. "Well, it was a funny sight, Zelda."

"Hmph!" Zelda turned further away from him. "You never do this. And then when she-" Zelda stopped in mid- sentence and held her tongue. "Never mind."

They sat in silence again. But Link pulled out his ocarina and started to play a special lullaby. Zelda looked at him through the corner of her eye. His blue eyes looked sad as he played. He's really sorry. I don't know why I get so mad.

He stopped and looked at Zelda. "Zelda, please hear this. I have times when I laugh and make fun. But even though I do, you're my friend and I'll always care about you."

Zelda turned and looked at him. He told her the same thing he told her the one time Samus' old friend, now enemy, Blade's goons ambushed her (A/N: Happened in Free Me) and he still remembered his promise of friendship. Zelda smiled and started to play on her harp, Zelda's lullaby. Link smiled realizing she had forgiven him and started to join in. As they played something amazing happened. Link's Triforce of Courage and Zelda's Triforce of Wisdom started to grow brightly. As they shined, Zelda and Link felt as if they went to a new world where all the memories of their past came back. The joyful the times of when they were together came back. When they first met, when they fought Ganondorf, and all the times they talked to each other as they enjoyed the beauty of Hyrule. As they stopped playing the glowing stopped. They were back in the backyard. Link put an arm around Zelda's shoulder and she rested her head on Link's chest. She closed her eyes very sleepily and Link closed his eyes also.

"Link?" she said quietly.

"Yes?" he said quietly.

Zelda smiled. "Thanks."

A/N: Awwwww! So cute, but so not over. It's not ending like this. Review Please!