Hello hello! Welcome to the third chapter! I hope you have as much fun reading this as I did writing it! Thanks again for the reviews!
Disclaimer: As always, a reminder that the Zelda series and any and all of its characters are not my intellectual property. I use them only for entertainment purposes and not for profit of any sort, nor do I claim them as my own.
Note: From this point on, when I mention Link, I am referring to him in Zelda's body. By the same token, when referring to Zelda, I mean her in Link's body.
Link grumbled as he continued down the hall to his bedroom. Most people in the castle would normally still be asleep at this time, even the servants, but Zelda's scream seemed to startle everyone awake. As Link made his way down the corridor, servants and soldiers hustled and bustled around him, puzzling over the scream and asking him what happened, thinking he was the princess.
"Zelda!" the king's voice boomed down the hall, causing Link to stop in his tracks and turn around to look at him. "What is the meaning of all this chaos!"
"Oh, King- I mean, Father. I fear that a loud noise disturbed the people of the castle and caused them to scurry about with worry. However, I am sure the disturbance was just a joke on the part of some of the servant boys. As soon as I find Impa, I will have her assist me in restoring the tranquility we have grown accustomed to having in the morning," Link clarified, hoping he sounded convincing.
The king seemed surprised, as his daughter was definitely not a morning person. But the explanation seemed to satisfy him, for he returned to his quarters to get more sleep. Link sighed in relief and decided it best to actually do what he had just told the king he would. Unfortunately, that meant going to Zelda's quarters to fetch Impa.
Well, here's hoping for the best, he thought, taking a deep breath as he found himself before her bedroom door. As he reached out to knock, the voice in his head momentarily stopped him. Is this really necessary? he asked himself, his arm remaining suspended in mid-air.
Meanwhile...
Zelda stood before the full-length mirror hanging on the wall near her wardrobe. She stared at her reflection, disgusted that her being was trapped in the body of the person that she despised the most at the moment. However, what she would never let on to him, or anyone else for that matter, was that Link, the very man that could bring out so many negatives in her, was also the object of her affection. Why must I feel this way for Link, of all people! she questioned herself as she her eyes roamed over every curve of every muscle on Link's body, toned to perfection. He's so bothersome, and rude, and disrespectful... and loyal, and strong, yet gentle, and caring, with a genuine concern for the safety of myself and Hyrule.
Impa paced back and forth around the bedroom, ruminating potential resolutions. Regardless of which one was chosen, she knew that the primary goal for the time would be to carry on as if nothing had happened, in order to avoid sending the Hylians into a state of panic and making the kingdom seem vulnerable. At that moment, there was a knock at the door, and she opened it to find Link. Although she had been present when he and Zelda discovered that they had switched bodies with each other, she couldn't help being taken aback as she watched Link glide regally into the room, just like Princess Zelda had been doing for years.
Zelda saw her true reflection appear behind her in the mirror. "Hello, Link," she muttered, not even bothering to turn around and face him.
"Princess," Link curtsied, catching Zelda by surprise. She had to admit that watching herself curtsy from Link's body was disturbing, yet somehow humorous. I could really get used to this, she thought, her lips curling into a smile.
Zelda finally walked away from the mirror, sitting at a table and prompting Link and Impa to join her. "Now what?" she asked, having heard the commotion in the hallways. "We can't very well have my subjects perpetually rushing around in fear and confusion."
"Well, Your Majesty, I happened upon your father this morning and told him that I would find Impa, so she and I could calm down the others."
"That's a start," Impa said. "And, realistically, that appears to be all we can do right now, at least until we learn more about the spell and how to reverse it. I know some about it, but this is the first invocation I've seen in years, so I need to brush up on my studies. Fortunately I am well-acquainted with many Hylian scholars possessing expertise in the area of dark magic. I will send word to them this morning. But first, I am inclined to agree with Link- we must calm down the others in the castle, if we do not wish the chaos to spread throughout the rest of Hyrule."
Zelda and Link both concurred, and the three figured out a plan to restore calm to the castle. Zelda would deal with the soldiers, as they held Link in the highest of regards, while Impa would handle the servants, and Link would focus exclusively on the king, for he would most likely be the hardest to appease if he had even the slightest inkling that something was amiss.
Just as they were to go their separate ways, something occurred to Link. "Pardon me, Princess, but aren't some of your distant relatives supposed to arrive today for the Spring Festival?"
"Oh, no, that's right!" Zelda proclaimed, becoming awash with concern. "What are we going to do? Preparations for the festival start today, and I'm the guest of honor! My family will be here in a matter of hours, and with suitors!"
Impa looked at Link, her face betraying her idea.
"Oh, no," Link shook his head, backing away and putting his hands in front of him in resistance. "I may be stuck in this body, but I am NOT going to carry on with other young men. When I agreed to be protector of Hyrule, courting suitors wasn't part of it."
"Well, Link, the way I see it is that as long as you have my body, you have my duties. I don't like this anymore than you do, but we both agreed with Impa that we must act like each other in order to prevent further disorder," Zelda commented, unable to resist grinning smugly. "Make sure to wear my new blue dress. It shows off my eyes. And don't forget the petticoats and stockings, as this is a formal occasion."
As she spoke, Zelda walked over to the wardrobe and removed a gown with a long-sleeved, fitted bodice and very full skirt. In spite of the overall situation, Zelda and Impa found themselves laughing at Link's expense as he turned on his heel and dashed out of the room in embarrassment.
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