Heavy ending back there, but don't worry. That was just to set up the plot. Counting Stars is intended to be a feel-good story.

Thanks for all the kind words.

EDITED 1/3/19.

COUNTING STARS

Chapter 2: Newcomer

Friday, October 6

The sun finally rises and puts an end to a sleepless night, but little daylight passes through the closed window shades. The air is stale, empty. Birds don't chirp their morning greetings, and Ordonia's usual happy sounds of life are grimly absent.

Everything is just… dull.

I am back home. Last night, after being taken to the police station for questioning, I was driven all the way back to Ordonia by a helpful officer. So here I am, lying face-down on the couch, my head buried in the cushions as I listen to the quiet hum of the morning news on the television.

"A forty-six-year-old man named Rusl Gaiden was murdered on Market Street in Castle Town last night. Authorities have identified the killer as the elusive fugitive Ganondorf Dragmire, who is wanted for intruding Hyrule Castle last month, and has even been proven to be the leader of a local gang."

Then, the lady's voice is replaced by a familiar one.

"Ya see," Fado speaks into the microphone between sniffles, "Rusl sent his nephew to go to the store. A few minutes after he left, I looked at Rusl 'n said, 'You sure you want your boy to go out on a dangerous night like this?' And Russ looked at me, all scared and whatnot, and said, 'You're right, I need to go with him.' When the both of 'em was gone, I started gettin' worried. I was waitin' for 'em to come back when I heard a gunshot ring out."

Next, Jabu the cashier.

"This giant man came into my store. There was a kid inside at the register, and I'm hearing that he was the victim's nephew, or something. Then, uh, I got a little suspicious toward that tall man, 'cause I knew I recognized him, and when he knew I was on to him, he beat feet outta there."

The lady's voice returns. "The first witness tells us that the victim and his nephew—"

I shut the TV off, unable to listen any longer. My breath is ragged, and my eyes are puffy and glassy. I've stopped crying hours ago when I realized that nothing I can do is going to bring Rusl back. As soon as I returned home, I collapsed onto the couch and spent the whole night awake, in a fit. I've been home alone many times before, but now thinking of the permanence of my loneliness envelops me in a terrible, suffocating feeling of isolation.

I'm alone.

Hours pass, yet I don't budge. Then, waking me from my restless stupor, the doorbell chimes in its three-note tune. I don't get up. The person outside persists, however, knocking this time.

I clench my teeth, suppressing a growl. Can't this inconsiderate person just mind his own business?

Apparently not, because next I hear his knuckles rapping loudly on the wooden surface. "Link Gaiden," a voice calls out carefully. "CTPD. Open the door, please."

CTPD? Castle Town Police Department? Did the officer who drove me home forget his wallet here, or something? Gods, if this has to do with those worthless carrots I swiped from the convenience store, I'm going to kill someone. And then CTPD will have a reason to show up at my doorstep.

"We just have a few questions to ask you."

Relieved, yet still sulking, I slowly rise to my feet and make my way over to the door. I open it, staring forward with a lifeless expression at the man before me. He has curly brown hair, soft facial features, with thin, circular-rimmed glasses framing a set of brown eyes. He can't be older than twenty-five. A holster is attached at each hip, one holding a taser, the other holding a pistol; a shiny badge on his chest reads CTPD — OFFICER SHAD STERLING.

"Mr. Gaiden," Shad begins, "I'm here to ask you further questions about the incident last night."

I look at him, hesitate, then nod flatly and step out of the way to let him in. I shut the door, then motion to the kitchen table. He sits in Rusl's seat, and I frown bitterly before sitting down across from him.

Shad takes out a crumpled piece of paper from his breast pocket and unfolds it, squinting down at the words. Folding my hands on the table and staring at him levelly, but expectantly, I wait for him to speak.

"What were you doing at the convenience store last night?"

"Buying carrots."

"For what?"

"The goats."

Shad nods and returns his gaze to the paper. "Did the fugitive speak to you?"

"Yes."

"What did he say to you?"

"That he'd find me again."

"Did he say this to you or the cashier, who first recognized him?"

"Me."

"I see. Well in that case, we'll need to put you in witness protection."

Without fully having any reasoning behind it, I find myself shaking my head. "No," I tell him.

Shad looks up, blinks, and furrows his brow. "No?"

"Don't bother."

"May I ask why?"

I remain silent for a time, holding the officer's concerned gaze. "I'm not afraid of him," I mutter. "Let him come to me."

A pause. "I hope you're not planning to do anything reckless. The police are more than capable of taking this man down. It would be suicide to attempt to do so by yourself, Link." Shad watches me, gauging me for a reaction, but I maintain my level demeanor. He then clears his throat and continues: "I'll contact the program when we're finished here. Your agents will be assigned to you on the morrow, but I assume you'll be generally safe all the way out here in—"

I cut him off. "Do I have a right to refuse?"

Shad blinks, then emits a sigh. "I suppose."

"Then I refuse."

The officer rubs at his temples, staying quiet for a moment. Then he takes out another piece of paper, sliding it over to me. I squint down at it, noticing it has a well-made drawing.

"This is a sketch of what we think the fugitive looks like. Is this accurate?"

I study it, noticing the sketched man's intense scowl, his well-groomed hair and chinstrap beard. I will remember that face. Forever.

"Yes."

My eyes linger on the sketch, and I take slow breaths to quell the boiling rage deep inside. Calmly, I ask the officer, "Mind if I keep that?"

Shad nods. "Sure. Now," he adds, clearing his throat, "let's discuss your current situation."

I stay quiet, squinting curiously.

"Fortunately for you, all your uncle's possessions and savings will now be yours."

"How fortunate," I mutter under my breath.

Shad ignores me, pulling out an envelope. "Here is a check for one hundred and fifty thousand rupees."

Instantly, my eyes widen and my jaw drops. "A hundred fifty thousand?"

"Apparently, yes," says the officer, looking baffled himself. "I had to double-check the file because I've never seen a resident of Ordonia have this much money."

I lower my gaze, frowning. Why would Rusl hide this from me? I guess that explains why he was always able to provide some extra things for me, like more clothes and sports gear.

But what the hell!

Don't get me wrong; one hundred and fifty thousand rupees is not all that great, especially if you compare us to the rich folk of Castle Town. But compared to my fellow Ordonians, a fortune.

"Now, Link," Shad continues carefully, interrupting my thoughts, "while this may seem like a lot of money to someone accustomed to your lifestyle, it certainly isn't enough to support you for the rest of your life." He looks down, adjusting his glasses while reading some text. "I recommend getting an education for this reason. And since you are over the age of sixteen, you are, by law, able to live on your own."

My eyes drop to the check, and I swear I've never seen a number this big in my life. Wait.

Live on my own? But, I barely know how to do my own laundry—or cook—or pay bills or get a credit card or—

"Allow this money to support you while you are preparing for a career. But be smart with it. Budget, and maybe find a part-time job. Also, one final thing. We've been asked to deliver an important letter from Gaepora Harkinian, addressed to you." Shad slides a rectangular, cream-colored envelope to me, held together by a red seal with a Triforce embossed on it.

I turn it over to look at the front, where Link Gaiden is written in fine calligraphy.

Confused, I look at Shad. "From who now?"

"You'll find out," he replies, "when you open it."

Carefully peeling back the seal, I open the envelope and withdraw a similarly-colored letter with another seal stamped on the upper right corner. Still confused, I begin reading.

Dear Mr. Link Gaiden,

We have received word of your tragedy, and we send you our deepest condolences.

If you have not yet heard of Hyrule Academy, it is a private school located in Westcastle, the suburban area of West Castle Town. Many attendees are often revered as some of the brightest young adults in all of the kingdom. The academy offers its pupils stellar skills for their future careers.

I am writing this letter to persuade you to attend our school. Your tuition, if you choose to attend, will be covered entirely.

I hope you consider accepting my offer.

Sincerely,

Headmaster Gaepora Harkinian
Hyrule Academy

I lean back in my chair, letting it all sink in. My first reaction is pure surprise. Then, I find myself growing bitter. Surely they only did this for the publicity—why else would they offer a kid like me a scholarship? It's almost insulting.

Shad slowly rises to his feet, noticing the rollercoaster of emotions playing out on my face. "I'll leave you to your business," he says. "And, Link, thank you for your cooperation. We'll be in touch." He lets himself out, shutting the door softly.

My mind is swimming with ideas, playing out multiple different scenarios all at once. First and foremost, all mourning aside, I need to be strong. It's what Rusl would have wanted. I can be a man. I can make something of myself without charity. Right? I'll need a high school diploma before heading into the work force—since there's no way I can attend college with only the money I just got. But I no longer have a certified homeschool educator. Maybe Talo's dad could take me under his wing. Or Ilia's father.

Who am I kidding? Finishing up my education here doesn't guarantee me a bright future, by any means. If anything, I'd just be groomed to become another rancher, spending the rest of my life herding goats. I know I can make something special of myself. But I need a real school, with real professors and valuable lessons. With new people to meet. New opportunities to have. In a place I can start over.

Is that my decision, then? Starting over at some academy?

No better options seem to come to mind. Staying here would lock me into a life of stagnation, of untapped potential. Whatever it is I want to do with my life, I'm sure that this acclaimed academy can build a strong foundation for my future.

Even if it's located in the very city my life was ruined.

So what do I have to lose? Mind made up, I quickly search for a pen and spare sheet of paper.

I'm going to accept.

Monday, October 9

"You're leaving?"

It's been three days since I sent my letter, and the headmaster replied immediately, saying he'd send someone to pick me up on Monday. Well here it is. Monday.

It's six o'clock in the morning. I had hoped this was too early a time for my friends to be awake; I had planned to just… disappear.

But, being the early birds that they are, they caught me. They stand in the driveway, staring down at my packed bags with warring emotions on their faces.

Failing to find words, I only nod at them.

Ilia appears devastated. "You can't leave!" she exclaims, throwing her hands outward. "Link, we're sorry that your uncle passed, but you don't need to run away!"

"I'm not running away," I say, taking a seat in the grass that borders the dirt road. "I'm going to Hyrule Academy."

Talo tears his gaze away from his shoes, staring at me with wide eyes. "Hyrule Academy? Link, you can't pay for that!"

I refrain from informing him that I can, instead saying, "The headmaster offered to cover my tuition to show his condolences."

"Yeah," Ilia scoffs, "or just to make himself and the school look better."

That's something I can't really deny. "Please," I say quietly, "don't be angry. I need to do this."

I watch them, studying their faces. A tear streams down Ilia's cheek, and Talo returns his gaze to the ground.

"Fine," says Ilia, wiping away at her cheek. "Goodbye, Link." She offers me one last look, then marches back to her house next door, leaving me and Talo to follow her with our eyes.

I wonder if this will be the last time I ever see her.

Talo heaves a sigh. Then, unexpectedly, he looks up and sends me a smile. "So… Link Gaiden's growing up."

I grin in spite of my mood. "I guess so."

"Do me a favor, 'kay, Link?" Talo asks, smirking down at me when I meet his dark eyes. "Try out for the basketball team."

"Don't get your hopes up," I reply simply. "Hey, and remember, you can come visit me whenever you want. It'll be easier, I guess, since Lakeside isn't that far from Castle Town."

"Yeah… I'm not going to Lakeside, Link."

"What? Why not?"

Talo sighs, shaking his head, his dark hair dancing along his forehead. "What you're doing… I can't bring myself to do that, y'know? It's just so… spontaneous. I don't know if I have the guts to do it."

I rise to my feet, clapping a hand on the shorter boy's shoulder. "If I can do it, you can."

"We technically still don't know if you can do it," Talo quips, before his eyes start drifting down the road.

I follow his gaze, seeing a long, black limousine move smoothly across the dirt road. On the side door is the Hyrule Academy emblem, a red circle with a Triforce in it. Well. These rich dudes aren't playing around.

"Then I guess I'm gonna have to prove you wrong." I smile at him as the limo parks in the driveway.

Talo grins back. "Keep in touch, 'kay? Don't be a stranger," he chimes; offering me his signature two-finger salute.

"Of course." I match the gesture with one of my own, and Talo turns and heads down the road with a sad smile.

Disheartened, I lean down to pick up my bags.

"Leaving home is hard, isn't it?"

I look up, my eyes landing on a teenaged boy standing next to the open back door of the limo. He wears a crooked grin, has intense red eyes and long blonde hair that hangs down over his forehead and is tied back into a small braid behind his head. His skin is tan, and he's dressed in comfortable streetwear that accentuates his square, yet athletic and lean build. "Hey," says the boy. "Sheik Stryker. I assume you're Link, but if not then I should probably get off your lawn."

"Yeah, that's me," I say, nodding in greeting. I lug my bags to the vehicle, and Sheik helps me stow them inside.

He turns, then, folding his arms and sending me a sideways glance. "You sure you wanna go through with this?"

I blink. "Uh, well—"

"Actually, don't answer that. I got up way too early for you to deny me."

"Fair enough."

Sheik waits for me to get in, then enters after me and shuts the door. Seating myself on the comfortable leather seats across from him, I intake a breath of lavender-scented air.

"Never been in a limo?" Sheik guesses, raising his eyebrows.

"Nope," I say. "Never been to a school, either."

"Really? Never?"

I shake my head.

"Hm. Well you'll like it at the academy." He leans back, lacing his fingers behind his head. "If you're wondering why I'm here, I got roped into some community service for egging the biology teacher's car. Instead, the headmaster said I could just come here to pick you up, show you around, and I'd be good."

"Was it worth it?"

"Totally worth it."

I smirk. "Nice. And good to know my escort doesn't really want to be here."

"Well that just makes me sound like a cheap hooker."

My eyes drift toward the tinted window, where the trees of Ordon Woods race by. We're taking the same route to the city.

"Once we get there, our first stop will be the headmaster's office. He said he'll hook you up with the essentials. A schedule, school map, and books and supplies and stuff."

"Shouldn't I buy all that?"

"It's on the house."

So this is what being a full-ride student feels like. It's too bad I couldn't earn it on different conditions.

I nod, then frown. "Where will I live?"

"The dorms."

"Dorms?"

"No, multi-billion dollar mansions. Yes, dorms. We're not that rich, you clown."

I smirk. "Right, like it's so common for a high school to have those."

"It is an academy, though," he says, tapping at his temple. "But anyway. Yeah, dorms. There's two big buildings on either side of the main school house. The girls' building is on the left, and the guys' is on the right."

"Are we not allowed in the girls' building?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Asking for a friend, I suppose?"

"That wasn't—Shut up."

"Yeah, you're allowed in. There's a coffee shop in there too. And a lounge in the boys' building. It's pretty dope."

"Cool." I look back out the window, watching far more pedestrian vehicles cruising by as we drive down the freeway. "Hopefully I don't get a tool for a roommate."

"Hey, maybe you could room with me! I live alone right now, so there's an extra bed."

"I said hopefully I don't get a tool for a roommate."

He swipes at me from his seat, and I dodge it and chuckle.

"Fine then! You'll be stuck with Groose's sweaty ass for all I care."

"I'm playing. Sure, I'll room with you. That sounds great. And who's—um—Goose?"

"A tool."

"Ah."

Nodding, he continues: "Oh, that reminds me. After we talk with Mr. Harkinian, I'm going to have you meet my friends."

Intrigued, I raise an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yep." He nods. "Somehow I have some. But they'll like you. I think."

"What're their names?"

"Pipit, Mido, and Mikau are my boys. The day-one homies. And also a few girls hang around with us. Mostly Midna, Karane, and Malon, but you'll meet a couple others who tag along too."

"Alrighty."

Sheik grins. "You sound enthused. Not interested in girls?"

"Are you assuming I'm gay?"

"You did call me your escort earlier."

I chuckle. "Not gay. Nothing against that, though."

"So now you're assuming I'm gay."

I roll my eyes.

Sheik laughs. "I suppose most people mistake me for a girl, anyway. Maybe someday I'll cut the braid off," he muses, pulling at the long strip of blonde hair behind his head. "But nah, not gay either. I'm actually with Malon right now."

"Malon's your girlfriend?" I ask.

"Well, not yet. I haven't made it official."

"Get on that. You know, before she assumes you're gay or something."

"Sound advice," he says, grinning crookedly with pearly teeth. Sheik snaps his fingers, then. "Oh, and Zelda."

I look up. "Hm?"

"Another one of the girls in our gang. Zelda. Why do I always forget about her…?"

Zelda. That's a pretty name.

"She's the headmaster's daughter. She's cool, though. She doesn't go around threatening to get kids in trouble, or anything." Sheik pauses to move a strand of hair out of his face. "In fact, lots of dudes are totally in love with her."

"You stack up quite the review."

Sheik shrugs, offering me a suggestively smug look. "I guess you'll just have to meet her."

I let his words hang in the air, looking back out the window as we travel beside a suburban city. Sure, I'll meet all these people. They sound great. But I'm not committing to anything. Or anyone.

It's all just too soon.

A tiny itch begins to irk the skin of my hand. Thinking nothing of it, I scratch it, and it goes away.

In its place comes a sudden wave of searing, white-hot pain.

I emit a strained grunt, more surprised than hurt, and furiously massage my hand with the other. As quickly as it came, the terrible feeling goes away.

I sag my shoulders, relieved that it's gone, but utterly confused as to what brought that about.

"You good?" Sheik asks, an eyebrow raised.

"Yeah. I just had a really bad… hand cramp."

"Hand cramp?"

"I'm just as confused as you are."

"Huh. Maybe lay off the Shake Weight, if you know what I mean." He gives the motion.

"I wish I didn't."

He laughs. I chuckle a bit too, but on the inside I can't shake what just happened to me. Sure, it might've been just a normal hand cramp. But who ever gets hand cramps? I'm too young to have arthritis, and I hardly text or play video games. Plus, that type of pain was completely foreign to me. Before first experiencing it at the convenience store, never had I felt such an intense burning sensation.

I force myself to forget about it. It's over now, and it's probably never coming back. And in spite of all that, I'm suddenly feeling very alive. My muscles start to tremble, and my heart rate quickens with energy.

Weird. Maybe I'm just really excited to get to the academy. Am I, though?

After an hour of meaningless conversation passes, Hyrule Academy comes into view. I look out the window, seeing the skyscrapers and office buildings gradually become replaced by grass, trees, and suburban homes, bringing life and color to a city that is otherwise dull and bleak. We pull into the parking lot as the clock strikes eight-thirty. I take in my surroundings, my face pressed against the glass like a tourist. Perfectly manicured grass, long rolling walkways, and vibrant October trees rush by. Three tall buildings loom overhead, the narrower ones on the outside sandwiching the wider, deeper edifice between them. Like Sheik had said, those are the two dorm buildings and the main school house, respectively.

As we loop around the parking lot, we approach a grand courtyard made up of red cobblestone. I observe the handful of students milling about the campus. Some hang in front of their dorms, while others converse near the extravagant fountain in the center of the courtyard.

Once the limo slows to a stop, Sheik looks at me with that crooked grin of his. He flashes me a thumbs-up. "Let's go."

Well, here goes nothing. I open the door, then, bags in hand, step out into the fresh air of suburbia. At least this part of Castle Town doesn't smell like urine and exhaust.

Sheik slings a backpack over his shoulder and gestures forward with his head. I join him, and it's actually hard for me to keep up with his long strides when I've got four bags in my arms. "So, the headmaster," I say, trying to make conversation. "What do you think of him?"

Sheik shrugs. "He's a good guy. He's friendly and has a sense of humor."

"Well that's good to hear."

"Yep. Anyone else would've kicked me out for what I did. But instead, he let me off the hook. And all I had to do was go on a car ride."

As we pass through the courtyard, I catch the eyes of a couple of students. I glance back at a couple of them, but after a while the attention gets pretty old. Sheik notices that I've grown slightly uncomfortable, and nudges my arm with his elbow.

"Hey. Some people know what happened last Thursday. Some know about you." He shrugs. "They're not out to get you."

"I'm not too worried about that," I answer back, looking around, ignoring the whispers and furtive glances from a group of girls nearby. "I just thought I'd be a stranger. I was kinda looking forward to that."

Sheik purses his lips, looking forward. "Hm. I understand that, I suppose. But you still have the chance to meet people, regardless."

"I guess you're right."

We close in on the main building, and thankfully, I'll be able to set my heavy bags down soon. The brick structure is even more expansive up close, and I feel myself growing antsy with anticipation.

A voice to our right cuts into my thoughts, brutish and obnoxious.

"Hey, She-He!"

We turn, and I find it difficult to comprehend the image in front of me. A gigantic, muscular meathead stomps toward us, the front of his vibrant read hair sticking so far up that it bobs up and down with his approach, his golden eyes set in a scowl.

Sheik rolls his eyes. "'Sup, Groose."

"You know what's up. Hand over the cash you owe me. Now."

"I don't owe you anything."

Groose's lips curl into a snarl, and he steps toward the boy beside me, leaning over him and pointing a meaty finger at his chest. "We had a bet, She-He. I whooped you. Now pay up."

"Well, you cheated. So I'm not paying."

"What did you bet on?" I ask Sheik.

"Basketball. One-on-one."

"You play?"

"Occasionally," he says with a shrug.

"Hey!" barks the oaf. "Just shut up and give me my money already!"

Sheik stands his ground. "No."

As Groose balls his fists, growling, I set my bags down and step between the two boys. "Alright, let's all calm down now."

Furrowing his brow, Groose points a finger at me, looking toward Sheik. "Who the hell is this twerp?"

"That would be Link."

His dumb look doesn't change. "Never heard of him."

"He's new."

"Well, Link," Groose grumbles, "you'd be smart to move out of the way before I flatten you."

I raise an eyebrow, but otherwise don't move. Do I really want to get into a fight on my first day? Before I even meet the headmaster?

A few passersby stop to observe the commotion. It's no more than a handful, but nevertheless, it wouldn't be wise to earn a bad reputation by getting into a scuffle. I steal a glance to the small crowd that starts to form behind us, counting eight or nine of them. Off to the side, a blonde girl stands alone, arms folded across her chest as she looks on. I meet her eyes; my stomach drops.

Good gods, she's hot. I quickly flick my gaze away, making sure not to stare at her like some drooling creep. But Din above, are all the girls here this attractive? If so, I mean, I could get used to this.

Refocusing, I realize that Sheik and Groose's argument has all but escalated to a shouting match while I've been busy daydreaming about a hottie. Groose shoulders past me and gets up in the blonde boy's face, staring down at him with a vein bulging from his forehead. "Why would I even need to cheat against you? You're straight garbage!"

Fists clenched, Sheik stares right back up at him. "Get that Clifford-boner hairstyle out of my face before I rip it off your scalp."

Groose growls and jabs a thick finger at Sheik's chest. "You lay off my 'do right now! Everyone knows I got the cleanest pompadour in the city!"

I can't contain my laughter any longer, and break out into a fit of chuckles.

Groose whirls around to face me. "Somethin' funny?"

"My bad," I answer through snorts. "But Clifford-boner was just too good."

Now it's Sheik who chuckles, and with that, I burst out in laughter.

Burning red, Groose grits his teeth. "That is the worst insult I've ever heard."

"Sounds like it's your new nickname to me."

"I will end you."

Sheik smirks, his lips slowly moving to once more utter the inevitable: "Clifford B—"

Before he can finish, Groose emits a furious growl and two-hand shoves Sheik in the chest, knocking him over.

Oh gods. I'm probably about to get my teeth knocked in, but I just have to intervene. I can't let Sheik get beat up over a petty bet and a funny nickname.

I leap toward the oaf and yank him away from my new friend with an amount of force that surprises the both of us. Groose grumbles, and he attempts a swing for my head. My instincts take over and I slide underneath his wide-stanced legs, grabbing his foot and flipping him face-first onto the pavement.

He rolls over onto his back, stunned, and stares up at me with wide eyes. Also stunned, I stare back with wide eyes too.

How am I doing this?

Groose scrambles to his feet, shaking it off, and charges toward me for another round. My body seems to take over for my mind. Groose throws a fist toward my chest; I lean to the side with freakish quickness. A swing for my head; I duck in the blink of an eye.

Still confused, Groose starts to get desperate. He throws punch after punch at me, and yet I effortlessly block each meaty fist in my palms. As his punches slow and become more labored, I snatch his arm and throw him up against the wall behind me, pinning him there.

I stare into his golden eyes, and he stares back, unblinking.

"What's your name?" I ask him, enjoying this.

"Groo—"

I shake my head. "No, no. I said—" I smirk mischeviously. "What's your name?"

He glares darkly at me. Through gritted teeth, he replies, "Clifford. Boner."

"There we go," I say, grinning. Then, someone of recent interest comes to mind. "Is the pretty girl still watching?"

Groose angles his head to look off behind me, then nods.

With that, I slam him against the wall once more for good measure, then let him drop.

I return to Sheik's side, looking down at my hand. My stomach sinks when I realize that it's glowing again. Oh gods—everyone's looking at me, too. I jam my hand in my pocket, not wanting anyone to know that I'm some freak with a light-up birthmark that apparently gives me the strength to beat up weird-haired meatheads.

"Damn," says Sheik with wonder, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Who taught you how to do all that? Can you give me their number?"

"I uh... taught myself," I lie.

"Really? You wanna teach me?"

I press my lips. I really don't know anything about fighting. I just let my body take control back there. "Uh... sure. Someday."

"Awesome!" he exclaims. "Thanks for defending me, man. Here, I'll make it up to you and get your bags. You're probably a little tired."

Not at all, I note to myself, strangely.

I turn and watch the crowd disperse, some people staring at me still—in fear, in admiration, or in wonder, I can't really tell. I look over to where the pretty blonde was standing, and my shoulders sag when I see that she's no longer there. She must have left with the crowd.

Oh well. I'm sure I'll see her again.

"Hi!"

I turn around and leap out of my skin when I see that I'm standing face-to-face with that very girl.

"Oh!" I practically shout. "Hi!"

Coming to my senses, I find myself admiring how much prettier she is up close. She's probably my age, somewhere around seventeen. Her long hair falls to her lower back, tied off in a loose braid toward the end; tucked over her Hylian ears are two thick strands of blonde that frame her fair face well. Her eyes are a unique blend of blue and green, like the sea; bright and full of life, and reflecting an infectious, winning personality. She's gorgeous, and her dazzling smile makes my heartrate skyrocket.

"That was impressive," the girl says.

I shrug, still not really knowing how to respond. "Eh, it was nothing..."

"What're you talking about?" says Sheik, barging in. "No one's ever been able to beat up Groose before—let alone tell him off. Looks like you're Hyrule Academy's top dog, now." He pats my back with a toothy grin before continuing on toward the main entrance, leaving the two of us by ourselves.

I roll my eyes. I know he's trying to hype me up to boost my chances with this babe, but I only find it embarassing. I don't want to be some "top dog" that everyone fears. I want to be approachable. Friendly.

The girl laughs at Sheik's words, then flicks her eyes back over to me. "You're new here, aren't you? I'm Zelda," she says.

Oh. So this is the girl Sheik was telling me about. The one every dude is in love with. No wonder. I guess I can't blame them.

Zelda extends her hand for a shake.

I flinch, almost pulling out my glowing hand, then stop myself. "I, uh... I actually can't, sorry. I think I might've broken my hand in the fight back there," I lie.

"Broken?" she says, confused, retracting her hand. "But didn't you, like, destroy him?"

"Well, uh, maybe that's what did it." I shrug.

Good gods, I'm terrible at improvising. Meeting her and introducing myself could've been a lot easier if my hand wasn't glowing like a beacon. Feeling awkward, I rush to put an end to the conversation, panicked. I can always start over some other time, right?

"It's nice to meet you though, Zelda. I'll see you around!" I say, waving lamely, and turning to leave.

"It's nice to meet you! Wait, um, what's your name?"

"L—"

I stop myself. I can't tell her my name yet. My name was all over the news. Everybody heard about the murder on Market. If I tell her, I will only receive pity. It's very difficult for someone to talk to another who's grieving. Maybe it's best if nobody knows who I am. At least for a while. But how long can I keep that up?

"Um..." I shrug, then offer her a smirk. "Top Dog, I guess."

Zelda laughs. "Alright, Top Dog. I'll see you later."

I wave again, and we part ways. That was good, actually! I'm surprised she thought it was funny. I guess I'm not all that bad at improvising.

I meet back up with Sheik at the doors to the main building, taking two of my four bags back to lighten his load.

"How'd it go back there?"

"What do you mean? You watched it."

"Not the fight, genius. I meant meeting Zelda."

I blink. "Oh. Well, it didn't last long."

"Sounds like the night I lost my V-card."

Amused, I roll my eyes. "She introduced herself. But... I didn't tell her my name."

"Oh, dang. You froze up?"

"No, I—"

"It's fine, man. I get it. You think she's hot."

"Well yeah, obviously," I admit, feeling the heat in my face at the thought of her. "But I didn't freeze up. I actually made conversation. Not a great one, but still."

"And you didn't introduce yourself because...?"

I press my lips and gesture outward plainly, hoping he will remember the very words he told me, about how everyone will recognize my name and pity me. And, in a short moment, he remembers.

"...Oh. Right. I get it."

I nod, and we both walk inside. The foyer is wide and unusually empty; after all, school starts at 10 AM, and it's only 9:20. Our feet echo on the brown-tiled floor as we walk, and I take in the sights of my new school.

Glass cases line both sides of the foyer boast the academy's dominence in extracurriculars; Kingdom Championships in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and other sports riddle the exhibits, for both boys and girls, along with awards for the academy's various clubs and organizations. This school may "buy" their talent rather than earn it—through recruiting kids from across the kingdom to enroll—but you have to respect a dynasty when you see one.

Long red banners swing from just below the ceiling to the top of the display case, each sewn with the Hyrule Academy insignia and elegant gold lettering. Beyond, the foyer opens up, with wide paths to the gymnasium off to the left, the cafeteria off to the right, and two separate staircases straight ahead linked by a balcony that overlooks the foyer. Up those staircases and down their respective corridors, I imagine, are all the classrooms.

From the outside, it doesn't appear to be that big, and all the brick gave me a prison-like vibe. But once inside, the building runs much deeper, and it's bright, proud, and lively.

Sheik leads me past the trophy cases and points me to a door on my left, stopping. "In there," he says. "I won't ditch you. Unless you take too long, that is."

I smirk, then turn toward the door. Well, here goes nothing.

I pull it open and step into the large office. Straight ahead is a hall with offices on either side, and to my right is a quaint waiting area. When I finally turn to my left and see the old man staring at me, I jump, startled.

"Hello, Link!" he greets from behind his grand oak desk, standing up and extending a hand.

"Hi," I answer with uncertainty, walking up to his desk. I pray that my hand is done glowing when I remove it from my pocket after all this time; I sneak a peak, and confirm that it's back to normal.

The man in the orange robe clasps his large hand around mine and squeezes tightly, looking me up and down before inviting me to sit at one of the chairs in front of his desk. When I do, he takes a seat as well, locking his fingers out in front of him.

I find it strange that someone's desk is out in the open in such a large office, and not secluded like the rest of the offices. Then I take a peek at the nameplate on the desk, which displays boldly: HEADMASTER GAEPORA HARKINIAN.

Oh.

I glance up at him, even more caught off guard now. This is Zelda's father? But he's so... old. And Zelda's so... well, hot.

"It's great to finally meet you, Link," he says from underneath his bushy white mustache. He's heavily-built, with a bald head and thick white eyebrows.

I nod quietly in greetings.

The headmaster's expression saddens. "First off," he begins, "let me say that I am truly, sincerely sorry for your loss. I know it was so recent, and so sudden and tragic. I know what it's like, having to deal with the loss of a loved one; I can only imagine how difficult it is for someone of your age."

I hold his gaze, then look down, then over at the bookshelf. "Thank you," I tell him quietly, trying to keep my face neutral.

We proceed through the processes of my official enrollment, class scheduling, and housing situation. The headmaster had even prepared me a backpack full of school supplies I'd need throughout the year—and a stylish one, too. "My daughter helped me pick it out," he had admitted with a smile. I officially became Sheik's roommate, and I got seated in all six of my classes for the semester. Luckily, he hadn't caught wind of the little scuffle that had taken place earlier, so no bad first impressions.

"I believe that is all," he tells me. "I know this will be quite the transition for you, Link, so if you have any questions, please feel free to come talk to me. Sheik can show you the ropes, too. Though a troublemaker, he's a good kid."

I nod, thank him, then head back out into the foyer to reunite with Sheik. As 10 AM slowly approaches, the school is becoming more and more populated, and crowds have begun to gather, making it hard to look for a particular person. I find him standing beside the opposite trophy case, engaged in conversation with a redheaded girl. I slowly make my way over, catching eye contact with a few individuals here and there, some staring in recognition, others glancing away furtively.

"Link!" he blurts out, waving me over.

Well, there goes staying under the radar.

I ignore the uncomfortable feeling of eyes on my back as I meet up with him and the girl. "Hey." I give him a flat look, which seems to give him the message.

"Hi! Are you the new boy?" asks the freckled, blue-eyed redhead. "Link, was it?"

Hm. She doesn't seem to recognize me. I nod to her with a polite smile. "Yep."

"Malon Lon. If you recognize the name, it's from my dad's famous ranch over in Lakeside. Not bringing that up to brag, though," she backpedals quickly. "A lot of people think my name's just really familiar, is all."

"Well, you're not alone." I glance at Sheik, who knows what I mean. "I have heard of that place before, by the way. My uncle delivered some goats there a long time ago."

"To clear out all our nasty blackberry bushes! Yeah, I remember that! So you're a farm child too, huh?"

"Yup. Born and raised in Ordonia."

At that, Malon blinks, taken aback. "...Dang. You're, like, way the heck out there then." She pauses. "Well hey! You've gotta meet all of our friends."

I hesitate, a little reluctant to put myself out there yet. But this is a big part in the fresh start I've yearned for. Right?

"I, uh, I've gotta take my bags up to our dorm first..."

"I can take 'em!" chimes Malon.

"Hm?"

"Sheik can introduce you to everyone. I already know 'em. I can take your stuff up for you!" She beams innocently.

Sheik nods at me, giving me the go-ahead.

"Alright," I relent, handing her my four bags and keeping my new backpack on me.

As Malon sets out for the boys' dorm building, Sheik leads me through the foyer and to the right, where we enter a spacious room with many tables spaced out evenly. Breakfast, Sheik told me, is provided daily, and many students seem to take advantage of that perk.

"That was the girl, huh?" I ask him.

He flashes a smile. "Mhm."

We come upon a round table near the middle, where a trio of boys are talking freely, or arguing, even. Sheik stops right in front of them, and I stand slightly behind, where I can hear what it is that they're peacefully and civilly debating.

"Shut up, you horny little meerkat!"

I raise an eyebrow. Sheik sends me a look, then attempts to grab their attention. "Hey, guys—"

"Not now, hippie-hair!" barks the diminutive redhead.

"As I was saying, Mido," huffs the freckled brunette in the yellow Hilfiger hoodie, "today we live in a political climate where you can pick up girls any time. Check my Tinder. It's poppin'."

As I try to decipher all that nonsense, the short one fires back, "You have an unfair advantage and you know it!"

"What? Balls?"

The third boy just seems to sit back quietly and observe his two friends. His jet-black hair hangs low to his icy eyes and shines a strange hue of blue in the flourescent cafeteria lighting.

Sheik leans over and tells me, "That's Mido, Pipit, and Mikau." He points to the short redhead, the brunette, and the dude with black hair, respectively. I nod, committing the names to memory.

"Your advantage—obviously—is your height," Mido grouches. "Girls don't wanna be taller than their boyfriends."

"Well, um..." Pipit gestures outward flatly. "And just my overall appearance."

Mido raises an eyebrow.

"Now I'm not one to judge people based on their particular appearance, but if I did, I'd say you were homeless and on crack."

"Okay! Um," begins Sheik, finding it best to intervene now, "what are you guys talking about?"

Mido glances up at him. "Art history." Then, he turns back to Pipit, jamming a finger onto the tabletop. "I am not on crack!"

"Guys, I have someone for you to meet," says Sheik, motioning to me. "This is Link."

They all stare my way. I take a slight step forward and wave plainly.

"So you're the new guy that every girl is talking about?" asks Pipit with wide eyes.

"Really?" My eyebrows shoot up.

"No. I'm messing." He chuckles. "But I can change that! If you follow my lead and learn from the best. That's what I was just offering Mido here—before, well, he turned me down."

"Whatever you do," chimes Mikau, the observer, "don't accept Pip's offer. We can only deal with one of him."

Pipit shoots him a glare. "Hater."

"What classes are you in?" Mikau asks me then.

I hand him my schedule.

"Language Arts, History, Algebra II, PE, Bio, Computer Science..." He passes it back. "We're in a lot of those. Looks like you're gonna be stuck with us for a while. Hate to tell ya."

I smirk. This doesn't seem too bad, so far.

"Where you from?" Mido asks.

"Ordonia, actually. School doesn't really happen to be my thing."

"Well what do you want to do?"

"I don't know," I admit. "No one does at this age, right?"

They all exchange looks. "Here they do," says Mikau. "This is the most prestigious academy in the kingdom. If someone doesn't have clear-cut goals, they normally don't get in."

Piqued, I frown. I didn't have to describe any of my career goals to get in here. This information doesn't sit too well with me; it just further adds to my theory that I was only admitted out of pity for my uncle's death. A quick and easy publicity grab for the headmaster. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

"Well..." I kick at the ground idly. "What do you all plan to do?"

"Military," says Sheik.

"Engineer," Mido says.

"Actor," says Pipit.

"Rockstar."

I raise my eyebrows at Mikau, questioning if I heard him right. "Huh?"

He nods. "I'm in a band with my girlfriend and two others. We're about to blow up."

Well, that adds a whole bunch of stress to my plate. They've all got ambitious and exciting plans for their lives; maybe everyone at this school has life all figured out. Meanwhile all I want is to kill a man named Ganondorf.

The warning bell rings, and the students in the cafeteria get up to head over to their first period classes. I stick close to my new friends, who all have my class. They lead me up a flight of stairs and down a couple hallways, then walk inside Ms. Impa Shadow's Language Arts class.

I'm about to head in myself when I hear a familiar voice through the crowd.

"Top Dog!"

I turn, singling out a head of blonde hair from the rest of the masses. Zelda waves my way and flashes me a smile. My heart leaps; I smile and wave back. "Hey, Zelda."

She closes the distance between us, and I notice the envelope she's carrying.

"What's that?"

"My father forgot to give it to you, so he gave it to me," she explains, handing it over. "It has your ID card and dorm key inside. But—" Zelda points to the back of the envelope, where two letters are written in ink. "—I see two initials. Are those yours? LG?"

My lips curl into a small smile, and I nod. "They are."

Zelda folds her arms, smiling back. "What, are you gonna make me guess your name now? Liam Green? Lance Gordon?" She pauses, tilting her head to one side, squinting. "Large Glutes?"

"What—No, no!" I say.

We laugh.

"Then what is it?" Zelda puts her palm to my chest and gives a light playful push.

The action, though brief and meaningless, made my heart skip a beat. And for some strange reason, my hand started to get just a little warmer. My smile widens.

"Alright," I say, hesitating, looking everywhere I can before finally meeting the gaze of those pretty eyes again. "Link Gaiden."

"Link G—" Zelda stops, recognition flashing across her face. Her expression saddens, and it saddens me to see her smile go away. "Oh, my... it's you."

I nod once, holding her gaze, holding back any emotion.

"Link, I'm so sorry about what happened," she tells me genuinely, touching my arm lightly. "If it helps, I, um... I know how you feel. If you ever want to talk to someone I always can."

I wet my lips, the faintest hint of a smile forming. "Thank you."

Right then, the 10:00 bell rings. And just like that, I'm late on my first day.

"Alright, well," I begin, clearing my throat, "we should probably head to class. Thanks for bringing me this stuff." I motion with the envelope.

"Of course."

"I'll see you around, Zelda."

"It was great meeting you, Link."

I send her one last smile before we part ways—then we both turn toward the same door. I pause; she meets my eyes.

"Oh," she says. "Same class?"

"Looks like it," I say, then hold the door open for her.

She thanks me quietly before leading the way inside. I follow her inside the large classroom of around thirty students, and we slip silently into the only two seats left, which happen to be closest to the door and side-by-side, all while the teacher has her back turned. Zelda sends me a look of relief, thinking Ms. Shadow hadn't noticed.

"You're late again, Harkinian. Shall I tell your father?"

The class snickers, and Zelda emits an amused sigh of defeat.

Impa spins around from writing on the whiteboard. "Who was it that walked in with you—You!" She points at me. "Who are you? Why are you in my class?"

I feel everyone turn to look at me in the corner of the room, including Sheik, Pipit, Mido, and Mikau. I clear my throat. "I just enrolled this morning," I explain. "I'm the new guy. Link."

"Alright, good to have you on board. Now. Good morning, ladies and trash! Today we're going to discuss Of Keese and Kids and how it..."

I tune her out, stealing a furtive glance over at Zelda, then quickly looking away. I soon find myself smiling, suddenly giddy. Maybe this place isn't too bad. Maybe I made the right decision.