CHAPTER 10: Dinner Date

Link trudged down the path from his cabin, depressed. Having blown his chance with Zelda, he didn't really feel like doing much of anything. It was a mighty effort just to feel like going down to breakfast that morning, which is what he was doing now.

Suddenly, a great shadow passed over him. He looked up, and his eyes darkened as he saw DK swinging from the branches above the courtyard. The ape dropped down in front of Link and grinned a monkey grin.

"Surprised?"

Link grabbed him by the neck. "That wasn't funny!"

DK laughed. "Sucker."

"What do you mean, 'sucker'?" asked an angry female voice. It was Zelda! She had been on her way back from breakfast and had heard the whole thing. "So last night was all YOUR fault?" she cried, "Take this!" She grabbed him, and using her magic powers, flung him all the way down the hill.

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"Monkey can fly." Popo murmured.

"Mmm…" agreed Nana.

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Zelda then turned to Link. "Link, I'm sorry… I thought you had been playing some kind of a sick joke. I shouldn't have gotten angry last night."

Link smiled. "So can we still have dinner tonight, then?"

"Of course! 6:00 good for you?"

"Any time is good for me, Princess! Except Wednesdays at 10:00."

"Why? What happens then?"

"South Park is on, of course."

Zelda rolled her eyes.

"Whoo, that was exhausting!" Link exclaimed as his battle with Mario wrapped up.

"Mamma-mia, that puts it mildly." Mario said, getting his towel. "That sword is pointy!"

"Well of course it is!" Link said proudly. "It's a sword! But not just any sword…the MASTER SWORD!!!" He grabbed if off the bench, held it over his head and began to hum the Zelda theme.

"Riiiiiight." Mario said.

"Hey did I tell you I have a date with Zelda tonight?" Link asked.

"Well, well, well!" Mario said. "Finally making your move, huh?"

"Yeah. I figure it's finally time."

"Yeah you'd know a lot about 'Time' wouldn't you?" Mario sneered, then coughed, "7 years! COUGH COUGH 7 years…"

"SHUT UP!" Link cried. Then, as if nothing happened, he continued. "So I was going to take her out for Italian food, and I was wondering if you could recommend any restaurants."

Mario's face grew angry. "Oh, I see how it is. Just-a because I'm-a Italiano, you think I know all the great restaurants! Is that it?"

"No, no, not at all, it's just that,"

"Let's all stereotype the Italian boy," Mario ranted, throwing his hands up in the air. "Why don't you just call me Tony and have me talk to the Godfather for crying out loud??!!"

Link put his hands up. "Mario, this is a big misunderstanding…"

"Oh no no no no, my friend! I see how it is! Well, let's see how you like it, elf boy! Soooo, how are those cookies coming? Shouldn't you be helping make fudge sandwich snacks in your pathetic little TREE? Or what about your buddy, Legolas? Shouldn't you be fighting for Middle-freakin-Earth? No?? Well then why aren't you up on Treasure Mountain, stealing treasure from the Super Solvers??? HUHHH??" Mario got right up in Link's face, huffing, beet red. After a few moments, however, he broke into a smile and cracked up. "I'm sorry! I couldn't resist!!!" He laughed harder, and had to steady himself on the bench.

"Mario, you spook me sometimes." Link said.

"Sorry, sorry," Mario said, collecting himself. "Now, what you want to do is go to Carpaccios. They have the finest spaghetti, mm! You could die! It's right there in the Lundellen system, on Route 28."

"Thanks, Mario. And here." Link passed him a business card. "Talk to Buddy Rydell. He's my anger management therapist. I'm sure he could help you out." (I just HAD to throw that in. Kekekeke… F.H.) And he left Mario standing in the locker room.

"Wow, this restaurant is so nice!" Zelda said, looking around. And it was true. There were crystal chandeliers on the ceilings, the floors were thickly carpeted in deep maroon, the light was provided by little lanterns that lined all the walls, and the food was, true to Mario's word, Magnifico!

"I thought you'd like it," said Link, who had dressed very nice, since it was a very special occasion. Zelda, too, had dressed quite nicely. She didn't want to say it, but she was hoping Link asked her out that night.

The waiter came to their table holding a bottle of wine. "Would this fine couple like to start off with a drink? I have here a very finely aged bottle from the Natzu orchards, imported all the way from the land of Holodrum.

Link rubbed his chin. "How old exactly is it?"

The waiter smiled. "From the beginning of the fourth age, sir."

"Well, that's not TOO old. May I?" The waiter nodded, and Link took a big sip of the wine, and then spit it out, sputtering. "Did you say the fourth age, or the third age???"

"I may have been mistaken, sir." The waiter said gently. "Would you like another selection?"

"Yes," Link said, catching Zelda's eyes and grinning, then looked back up at the waiter. "I'll have a vodka martini. Shaken, not stirred."

Zelda laughed, then said, "I'll have the same."

"Excellent choices." said the waiter, who left.

"Boy, oh boy," Link said with a grin, "The lady likes to drink!"

Zelda smiled. "I've been known to have a few."

"You know, Zelda, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"And what would that be, dear Link?"

"Well, you and I have known each other for quite a while, but all this time we've only been friends. I was wondering if, ya know, maybe…."

"I'd love to." Zelda said before he could finish.

Link fell quiet for a moment, then grinned and said, "Okay! Cool!"

Zelda laughed. "I've actually been waiting for you to ask me that for, like, EVER!"

"Really now?"

Zelda didn't answer, but leaned across the table and kissed him on the cheek.

"Aww, is that all I get?"

Zelda whispered, "Later."

"Ahh…"

And so it came to be that the dinner date ended, and we join our new couple in front of their cabin.

"So, Princess," Link began, taking her hand, "What was I supposed to 'Wait till later' for?"

Their eyes locked. "This," Zelda whispered, and she put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips, softly at first, brushing her lips across his. Their lips brushed again, and then locked as the kiss became more passionate, more deep, more intense. Their hold on each other tightened, and Link slowly ran his hands down her back, while Zelda caressed the back of his neck. The kiss didn't break for about five straight minutes.

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"(sigh) Lovebirds…" Nana sighed.

"I got an idea," Popo whispered, grinning and nudging her.

Nana laughed. "Oooh, my mountain man!" she said, planting one on him.

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After they finally stopped kissing, Zelda put her arms around Link and said, "Link, I was thinking… we kind of like, just started going out tonight, and I don't think we should… you know… sleep together yet."

"I understand, Zelda." Link said, softly. "That's why Mr. Handey gave us two beds in the first place. But I can still dream." he said this last with a grin.

Zelda smiled. "Well, don't dream too loudly… you'll wake me up."

Link made a face. "Eww, Princess!"

Zelda laughed. "Come on, let's get some sleep."

"Okay."

And so it came to be that another couple was formed in Battlefield City.

(Here's a new feature I added. F.H.)

COMING UP NEXT…

Link and Zelda are Battlefield City's newest hot couple, but will it last? Be on your guard, Link, for a third party seeks to enter the picture, and he'd love to show Zelda his moves.