Hello again! Here's the second installment! This turned out a lot longer than I expected. Things will get a lot more interesting in the next chapter.

Enjoy!

"Come on, Zel," the voice on the other end laughed, and Zelda smiled fondly in appreciation at the sound. "It's just one tiny little drink."

"We're underage, Komali," Zelda protested, cradling her cell phone. "We'd be promoting what Impa anfd the Sages are attempting to prevent."

The voice sighed. "We're not going to go join a gang or something like that. It's just a few drinks! If you're worried about getting caught, I can get you in, no problem."

"I don't like this idea," Zelda hedged, reluctant to partake in anything that was even remotely illegal. It just felt wrong. She didn't doubt that Komali could sneak her in, but she still didn't like the idea of going so strongly against what her father practically stood for: the law.

"It's just a bit of fun," Komali persuaded. "And, hey, Quill, Medli, and Komali are going to be there. So, how bad can it be?"

Zelda frowned as she heard of all her other friends. Unlike Midna, these four were offspring of powerful political figures in Hyrule, like Zelda was.

"I…" Zelda trailed off, knowing that her hesitation was driving Komali up the wall. "I just…"

There was a heavy sigh, and Zelda could practically imagine her boyfriend's frown. "Well, I was going to save this as a surprise, but…Ruto's going to be there, too."

That definitely changed things. Ruto had been one of her closest friends, and she was practically like another family member to the Nohansens.

A few years ago, the Sages offered Ruto a position as one of the team; it had been her lifelong dream, Zelda recalled. After Ruto joined the group as their youngest member, she barely had time to send Zelda an email, much less spend the day with her. As the newest addition, Ruto had to prove her worth, and, consequently, she was always very busy. The last time Zelda talked to her friend was almost a year ago, and Zelda desperately missed Ruto.

There was silence for a few seconds before Komali asked, "Zelda? Zel? You there?"

Zelda huffed in response. "You know, I could just call Ruto and ask her to spend some time—"

"No such luck," Komali interrupted with a hint of smugness. "I already asked her. She said she has some business to wrap up and won't be free until tonight, but…well, if you really don't want to, that's okay. Forget I asked; I can't persuade you into doing something you don't want to do. Never mind, Zel."

"No, no," Zelda hastily replied, cursing herself for making Komali sound so sad. "I'll go."

"Excellent," Komali crowed, and Zelda couldn't help but smile wryly. He was such a shameless fraud, and she was ridiculous to give in so easily. "Bring Sheik and Tetra, too, if you want. Oh, and Ralph!"

"No," Zelda said firmly. "It's enough that I'm breaking the law, but I'm not getting my brothers and sister into this."

Komali scoffed. "Your choice. We'll be meeting in front of Latté at around seven. I'll pick you up at six-thirty. Sound good?"

"Sure," Zelda mumbled, feeling her heart sink.

"Great! Love you lots. See you then!"

As she slowly slid her phone shut, Zelda couldn't help but wonder what she had gotten herself into.

"Oh, dear, Zelda," a mischievous voice came from her doorway. Surprised, Zelda turned towards the door and pretended to scowl. "Oh, it's just you, Tetra. What do you want?"

Her younger sister bounced into the room and smiled widely. "My, my. I don't think I've seen you wear that since…I don't know, actually. Never, perhaps? Are you trying to look – dare I say it? – sexy?"

Zelda felt her cheeks flush and whacked her sister with the wooden coat hanger she had been holding. "No! Of course not. I just…I don't know. Ruto will be here tonight, and…I didn't want to dress like a slob."

Even to her, the excuse sounded lame. Tetra rolled her eyes and let it slide, perching on the edge of her sister's bed. "So, dressing to impress? I don't think that's going to really change the way Komali acts, you know."

Zelda bit her lip and turned back to the full-length mirror to look at the pendant that Komali had given her. Self-consciously, she fingered the necklace before adjusting her off-the-shoulders top and skirt. Tetra sighed. "Look. I know you love him a lot, but Komali…he just gives me a weird feeling. Don't you think he's a bit of a player?"

Stubbornly, Zelda shook her head. Tetra frowned but hopped off the bed and put her hand on Zelda's arm. "Just be careful. Okay? I'll be here if you need me to kick Komali's ass."

"Tetra," Zelda whispered, half-heartedly admonishing her sister, but Tetra just smiled brightly to lighten the mood. "So, why aren't Sheik and I – and Ralph – invited? We all like Ruto!"

Zelda felt a pang of shame, and she turned towards her sister. Tetra saw the guilt in Zelda's eyes, and she held up her hands, backtracking. "No worries. I won't ask."

Silently, with eyes full of gratitude, Zelda hugged her sister. "I have to go; Komali will be here any moment."

"G'bye!" Tetra called as Zelda made her way downstairs, where a maid immediately approached her. "Is there anything you need, ma'am?"

In response, Zelda bit her lip and averted her eyes, feeling incredibly guilty for what she was about to do. "Do you know where my father is?"

The maid promptly replied, "In his study, ma'am. Shall I fetch him?"

"No, thank you." The maid curtsied and bustled off, leaving Zelda to wallow in her regret. Quickly, Zelda walked across the mansion. Once she stood in front of her father's study, Zelda took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in."

Zelda pushed open the door, and her father smiled affectionately at her. "All dressed up, eh? Are you going somewhere?"

"Actually," Zelda began, hating herself, "Komali told me Ruto came to visit tonight. Might I spend the evening with her?"

Suspicious flared briefly in Daphne Nohansen's eyes. "And what do you two girls intend on doing tonight?"

"Shopping," Zelda replied, her mouth dry. She licked her lips and shifted nervously as her father seemed to ponder his decision. Finally, gruffly, he said, "Don't forget your cell phone."

Zelda murmured her thanks and closed the door behind her with a knot in her throat. She never lied this drastically to her father before, and she began to wonder where all her integrity had gone.

Distantly, Zelda heard the doorbell ring, and she hurried across the mansion. A maid met her halfway and curtsied. "Master Komali has arrived, ma'am."

As she spotted the young man, Zelda nodded, dismissing the maid. "Well, hello there," Komali grinned and slipped his hands easily around her waist to pick her up and twirl her around once. Seeing her forlorn face as he set her down, Komali planted a light kiss on the top of her head. "It'll be fun," he promised and led her out the door.

They walked down the round stairs to the car parked on the driveway below. Zelda waved at Quill, sitting in the passenger seat, and she opened the door to the backseat. Medli immediately greeted her warmly, and Zelda smiled in response. Quill was the only one of legal drinking age, she noted dimly but quickly shook her head as if to dispel the negativity she was feeling. She was going to enjoy herself, Zelda decided firmly.

"Where's Ruto and Makar?" she asked as Komali started the car.

"Ruto's meeting us at the bar," Quill replied in his serious voice. "Makar said he would be late."

Zelda nodded and closed her eyes, pressing her forehead against the glass. It was going to be fun, Zelda repeated to herself for the umpteenth time.

The club pulsated with people, inside and outside. Flashy neon lights spelled "Latté" in fancy cursive, and the throngs of people that waited to get into the club milled about in front of the club, bathed in pink and purple glow. Inside, loud music reverberated throughout the entire club, and booths lined one wall of the floor. Tables and chairs covered some of the ground level and most of the balcony, and the stage dominated the wall opposite of the booths.

Komali excitedly led the group through the club, greeting people left and right. Latté was a place for the highest class of Hyrule to mingle and relax; Zelda, too, knew most of the people there but kept her head down to avoid meeting anyone. It wouldn't do for the underage daughter of the governor to be seen at a club, although they didn't seem to mind Komali.

When they reached one of the booths, Zelda let out a small sigh of relief. Threading their way through the crowd of dancers was difficult, and the young woman had begun to feel slightly claustrophobic. Quill, followed by Medli and Komali, had already slid into the booth, opposite of a lone figure seated on the other side.

"Zelda!"

Slowly, Zelda realized that Ruto was the person who had been seated at the table and was now practically throttling her in a hug. "Ruto?" Zelda asked, astonished, "Goddesses, Ruto, what happened to your hair?"

Ruto disengaged herself from the young woman and proudly flipped her sea-blue hair over her shoulder. Normally, she messily pinned her hair to the back of her head, but, tonight, she let her once-black hair frame her face. "You don't like it?" Ruto crowed, "I did it myself."

Zelda shook her head, amused. She teased, "Is that for professional purposes?"

"You won't believe how easygoing working with the Sages is," she replied, sliding back into the booth and pulling Zelda with her. "I mean, when it comes to work, they're down to business. But, as people, they're so cool. I love it!"

Zelda hid a smile and adopted a severe-looking expression. "Why didn't you call me when you got into town?" she asked, pouting.

Ruto hugged her friend and laughed. "Komali said to keep it a surprise, that's why! You know I would have called you."

Zelda smiled fondly at her friend, and Ruto replied with a grin before turning to greet the others. Medli was delighted to see Ruto, and the two exchanged a few words before Komali interrupted them, bearing drinks for everyone. Deftly, Quill poured everyone a cup, and Zelda's stomach clenched at the sight of the alcohol.

"To Ruto's return," Komali intoned gravely before cracking a grin and downing his shot with a single gulp. The others followed suit, but Zelda meekly sipped at the vodka.

"Gah! Oh, Farore! My throat burns!"

Medli peered sympathetically over the rim of her empty cup at Zelda's plight, but Ruto simply rolled her eyes. "You drink it all at once, silly," Ruto instructed, pouring herself another cup and demonstrating. "It's alcohol."

Zelda moaned and clutched her glass as Ruto tipped more vodka into it. Squeezing her eyes shut so she wouldn't have to see Ruto's encouraging grin, Zelda swallowed the alcohol and gagged.

Ruto giggled and shook her head. "Silly Zelda, so young and inexperienced," she sighed mournfully, patting her friend on the back.

"Come on, come on," Komali said cheerfully. "Tonight's the night that Zelda is educated!" He poured more alcohol into Zelda's cup, and she hiccupped, staring unsteadily at the clear liquid. "I have to drink this?" she asked, and Ruto outright laughed. "Yes, smartie."

At the urgings of her friends, Zelda downed two more shots; when she opened her eyes, everything seemed to blur together for a second. "Wow," she said, blinking and feeling slightly confused when her sight cleared. "My tummy…feels…Bleh."

Komali seemed extremely entertained that the sophisticated and graceful Zelda could not hold her liquor very well. "Bleh indeed," he repeated, amused. Zelda giggled and hiccupped at the same time, eliciting a snort from Ruto. "Zelda, want to dance?"

Zelda blinked once or twice, taking a moment to process Komali's offer. For some reason, there was a haze that shrouded her brain, but she found it not unpleasant. "Hmm? Dance?" Zelda eyed the dance floor, which seemed so, so far away…but Komali was the one offering.

"Sure," she replied, slurring the word a little and laughing at herself, feeling buoyant.

Zelda wriggled out of the booth, tripping a little as her foot caught on something. Komali caught her by the arm, and Zelda blushed a little, appalled that everyone had seen her undignified display. She glanced at Komali, but he seemed to be staring elsewhere. Zelda sighed a little before holding tightly onto Komali's arm. "To the dance floor," she proclaimed seriously and giggled again.

Komali led Zelda to the middle of the floor, where groups of people pressed against one another, dancing to the beat of the music. Zelda had been staring, wide-eyed, at the other dancers when her boyfriend suddenly spun her around, holding her close. In the flashing lights, his smile looked more like a cold smirk, but Zelda was too inebriated to see.

Feeling Komali's hands on her lower back, Zelda began twisting and turning, mimicking the others. At first, she was clumsy, and she could practically feel Komali's laughter, but Zelda was determined. Halfway through the song, her movements had become more fluid, her torso moving one way and her hips the other. Komali's smirk had disappeared, and Zelda glanced up at him to see that he looked like he was enjoying himself.

Success, Zelda thought wearily. Komali had always been so hard to please, she admitted. And, what Tetra said was right; Komali really was a player, but Zelda hadn't wanted to admit it. She firmly wanted to believe that Komali had changed after they began dating, but Zelda knew he hadn't. Abrupt despair washed over Zelda, and she threw an arm over her eyes. The lights were suddenly too bright for her, and the feel of so many others in such a close proximity made Zelda want to vomit.

Komali, realizing that something was wrong, led Zelda back to their booth. Quill and Ruto had gone off to dance, and Zelda spotted Makar and Medli walking towards the floor, too. Gently, Komali helped Zelda into the seat and slid in after her. He threw his arm around her and asked, "What's up, Zel? It was just getting good, too!"

Zelda propped her elbows on the floor and placed her hands over her face. "Komali, do you love me?"

"Of course I do," Komali said easily, playing with a lock of Zelda's brunette hair. "Why ask?"

Zelda removed her hands and looked away, embarrassed. "It's just…oh, never mind…I don't know what I was thinking. It's the alcohol," she lied weakly, but Komali seemed to accept her explanation.

"Look," he said, taking her chin with his fingers and running his thumb lightly over her bottom lip. "I'm different from before. I won't look at anyone but you, and I want you to know that."

Zelda thought that a troubled look seemed to flash across Komali's face, but she convinced herself she was seeing things because of the alcohol. "Okay," she whispered trustingly, and Komali smiled. "Alright! Now, cheer up. Look, here come the others."

Indeed, Ruto, Medli, and Makar piled into the booth, chuckling uproariously. Their cheerfulness was infectious, and Zelda found herself laughing madly along with them. Quill appeared, a goofy smile on his usually solemn face, and he held up another bottle. "Drinks all around!" Makar cried and poured everyone a cup.

As she reached for hers, Zelda smiled inwardly. The night hadn't turned out so bad after all.

The entire group continued to talk and enjoy themselves immensely for another hour; Zelda felt incredibly happy and couldn't stop smiling. Ruto noticed and made suggestive jokes, but Zelda laughed them away; she felt on top the world.

Medli stood up, excusing herself. "Bathroom," she explained, and Makar whispered loudly, "She's already had too much to drink."

Amidst laughter, Medli disappeared into the crowd of people. Komali stretched and said, "I'll go get us some more drinks."

Zelda gave him a dubious look, and he beseeched, "Just one more round." Zelda rolled her eyes, acquiescing.

"Hey, Komali," Quill called after the young man as he left the table. "Mind if I have one dance with Zelda?"

Komali waved his consent and vanished amongst the pack of people. Quill smiled and held out his hand to Zelda; she blushed and took it, wobbling as she stood up.

On the dance floor, Zelda moved to the beat, feeling more confident. After two songs, Quill murmured, "You're quite the dancer."

Zelda flushed with pleasure and hiccupped absently. "I haven't ever danced before," she admitted, and Quill quirked an eyebrow in surprise.

Silently, Zelda wished that Komali would compliment her; he hadn't said a word about her outfit, either. Quill, taking in her slightly frazzled expression, chuckled quietly and took her arm, preparing to steer her back to the table. "I assume you've never drank alcohol before?"

At this, Zelda giggled and shook her head. Unfortunately, the action caused her to lose her balance, and she stumbled to her right, bumping into someone.

"Oh, Nayru! Oh, I am so sorry," the young man apologized profusely, his hands fluttering over the stain that was rapidly spreading across her shirt.

Zelda dumbly stared at it for a moment before brushing off the man with a gentle smile. "It's alright," she said. "I'll just go wash this off."

With a quick nod to Quill, Zelda made her way to the bathroom, stumbling slightly along the way. As she neared the hallway that led to the bathrooms, Zelda spotted two people pressed passionately against one another.

For the love of Nayru, Zelda groused. Why did the couple have to display in such saccharine emotion in front of her? Speaking of which, she wished Komali would give her a decent kiss. And, speaking of Komali, one of the couple coincidentally looked a lot like him…

Oh, Din.

It was Komali.

Komali and Medli.

Zelda took a horrified step backwards, her heart pounding. Everything seemed to drain away until she was only aware of Komali and Medli, holding each other.

With a gasp, Medli broke away from Komali. Her expression was completely terror-stricken, and Komali turned his flushed face to see Zelda standing near them.

"Oh, Farore – Zelda – I – this isn't –"

"Save it," Zelda replied calmly, surprised that she still had a grip on her composure. "I knew you were lying. I should have listened to Tetra; why didn't I listen to Tetra? Why'd you do this to me?"

The words tumbled out faster than she could stop them, and Zelda took a deep breath to steady herself, realizing that Komali and Medli hadn't separated. "Forget it," she whispered and turned on her heel, striding quickly out of the hallway.

She had to get out of here.

Zelda passed the booth without glancing at the others. She ignored their queries and calls and kept her head down until she was out in the fresh air. Zelda took a deep breath, her mind still in turmoil. She just wanted to keep walking without stopping.

So she did.

Zelda didn't realize that she was crying until she felt the wetness streaming down her cheeks and falling on her collarbones. "Stupid Komali," she murmured, brushing a hand roughly across her eyes. "Stupid everything."

A few minutes later, Zelda found herself in a secluded alley. Completely forgetting about the dangers that could have been lurking in the dark recesses, Zelda sat down heavily on the ground and pressed her back against one of the walls, hugging her knees to her chest and pressing her head tightly against them.

Finally, she let go of her tears.

Her sobs were muffled and full of heartbreak, wracking her petite frame. Blindly, she reached up to tear the necklace off and flung it away angrily.

"Whoa, princess!"

Zelda exhaled sharply and looked up, petrified. She hadn't heard anyone enter the alley, but a young man with dirty-blonde hair and blue eyes was crouching in front of her.

"Who—" Zelda began, but, with an apologetic look, he covered her nose and mouth with a cloth.

She spiraled into darkness.

After this one, the chapters might get a little longer. It might be a little fast-paced right now...

Oh, well. I hope you enjoyed it!

Thank you for reading!