Chapter 3

I would have uploaded this earlier, but a certain holiday involving lots of eating kinda got in the way if you get my drift. ;) Oh, and I finally saw Wreck-it Ralph yesterday, and I freaking loved it! To anyone who loves video games, that movie is a must-see! I hope my fellow Americans had an awesome Thanksgiving; I know I did (pats extended stomach).

"Ike, why are you leaving me!?" Zelda cried as the bluenette started to distance himself from her. "I want you to stay with me, don't go!" The waterworks started streaming down her face as Ike kept walking away with a stoic expression on his face. Thinking he wouldn't answer back, Zelda slumped to the ground in sorrow, tears hitting the cold dirt like rain drops.

It was then that Ike turned around to the brunette's expecting face. "Am I really leaving you, or are you leaving me?" This question left Zelda confused. Is she really the one to blame for this unprecedented separation? Or is Ike wrong?

"Whatever, just wake up."

"Huh?" Zelda lifted her head up; everything around her appeared blurry. "What the heck?"

"Wake up Zelda, wake up."

"Wait stop!" The teen shot straight up from her couch, her mom squatting down beside her. It was then that she realized it was all a bad dream.

"Oh good your up. Come, we've got a big day ahead of us!"

Zelda grumbled as she practically rolled off the furniture. She wasn't a morning person. Most of the pair's first part of the day was spent packing everything that could be placed in boxes; of which Impa got from the grocery store earlier in the morning while Zelda was still sleeping. Since they owned so few possessions, they managed to pack everything that would fit into the cardboard containers just before lunch time. As the two of them sat down and ate some sandwiches, a thought came to Zelda's mind. "Hey mom, how are we going to fit all this stuff into our tiny car?"

Impa just simply replied with a wave of her hand. "Oh, didn't I tell you? Along with the house, your uncle left a sizeable amount of cash in his account, and according to the will, that also goes to his brother's family. Thus, I've arranged for a moving truck and team to help us move."

"Well, that's sweet." Zelda said aloud. "I wonder if there is enough money for mom not having to work. In any case, I certainly won't have to go though another unpleasant 'customer' again!"

Just as they finished their lunch, a honking noise of a vehicle's horn could be heard from outside. "Ah that must be them!" Impa said as she looked out the only window.

Within a couple hours, everything was loaded unto the truck and Zelda climbed into the car with her mom already in the driver's seat. "Are we all set to go?"

"Sure." The teen said plainly. While she was in fact ready physically to leave, a certain someone kept tugging at her mind. "No, just forget about Ike. Besides, it's not like I'll ever see him again or anything." Zelda reminded herself. "But still, why does my heart hurt so?"

With these two-faced thoughts running threw her head, the caravan set off to the new home.

The environment around them changed dramatically with an hour's drive. Looming gloomy grey buildings and seas of parking lots were replaced by sprawling forests and vast tracks of cultivated land brimming with young produce, now fully awakened from winter's freezing slumber.

"So this is what rural living is like." Zelda thought as she took in all the signs of life.

The next thing the teenager knew they had turned off the road into a nice neighborhood. Every house was unique; each one having its own style and build type. The entire area was surrounded by woods consisting of maple and oak trees, with a large pond situated in the middle of the community. After banking into yet another small road, they drove up a small hill into a pavement circle with three houses built around it. All were single story, with one on the right side being a little smaller then the others.

Pointing to that particular house, Impa exclaimed, "There it is sweetie, our new home!"

Zelda couldn't help but widen her eyes. "This place is huge!" While it was indeed more diminutive in size compared to the other two abodes, this building was still bigger then ten of their old two-room apartments put together. Grabbing a box of items out of the car, Zelda walked inside the deceptively expansive home. "Man, whatever uncle Wario did, it must have served him well."

In fact, many of his possessions had been left untouched. On the fancy tables and faint yellow walls lay expensive pottery and paintings by old masters. Everything inside was modern and up-to-date, from the bathroom to the kitchen.

"I think I could get used to this." Zelda remarked gleefully as she sat down on a genuine leather couch to rest from the move. Within a couple hours the hired help had transported everything from the truck into the house, and after her mom had paid them, Zelda went to put her boxes in what would become her very own bedroom which was bigger then the apartment she used to live in.

Opening the curtains on her two large windows, the teen reveled in the sun's warmth as she peered out into her backyard view. "What an amazing change of events this has been." She stared outside for another few minutes watching the birds fly by before her mother came and suggested they go out for lunch.

They decided to eat at a Taco Bell. After getting their food, mother and daughter sat down on the table. Zelda was munching on a burrito when she suddenly remembered someone that made her stop eating immediately.

Noticing her daughter's lack of appetite, Impa asked with a concerned voice, "Is something the matter dear?"

"Hmm?" Zelda looked up from her half eaten meal. "Oh, no I'm just thinking about whatever; nothing important." But in fact, she was thinking about Ike again. She hadn't done so since they first left the apartment, and now the boy was flying all around in her head. "Why can't I just forget about him? Maybe it's because we've known each other practically since birth of something. But after what he said the other night… Gah I don't know what to think anymore!" A loud grumble interrupted Zelda's thoughts. It was her stomach. Choosing to finish her burrito before her mom asked any more questions, Zelda slowly ate her fill.

It was now mid-afternoon, and the two of them had returned to their new home. They spent some time taking what few items they owned and arranging them throughout the house. This went on for a while until a doorbell ring was heard. "I'll get it!" Zelda announced.

Expecting to see a postman, Zelda was surprised to find a teenage girl around her age with long blonde hair and vibrant light blue eyes. She wore a bright pink shirt with matching shorts. Flanking either side of her were two small boys, one with teal blue hair, the other a fiery red. They each wore shirts matching their hair color and green kaki shorts. "Hello new neighbor!" the girl said exuberantly. "I'm Peach."

The brunette smiled as she shook the other girl's outstretched hand. "Nice to meet you, I'm Zelda."

"I'm Marth!" the blue-haired boy shouted happily.

"And I'm Roy!" his redhead companion chimed in.

In perfect unison, they finished with, "We're twins!"

Zelda couldn't help but giggle at their cute little introduction. "Yes well, it's very nice to meet you guys too."

"So, where are you from?" Peach asked.

"Oh, my mom and I moved here from the other side of town."

Marth shrunk back in fear. "You mean the scary place?"

"Aw that place isn't scary, but your face is!" Roy retorted to his brother.

"Hey, you take that back Roy!"

"Never!" The redhead then taunted by sticking his tongue out while wiggling his fingers.

"Grr!" Then the twins started to wrestle over the pointless argument before Peach stepped in and broke them up. "Hey you two, if you don't cut it out I'll call mama!"

At this they both immediately stopped fighting. "Okay we'll quit!" Marth relented.

"Yeah, just don't tell mom please!" his twin added.

"Fine." Peach said. "Now just run along now, and stay out of trouble!"

With that the duo ran off to their own backyard, leaving the girls to themselves.

"Are they always like that?" Zelda asked.

"Not always; they usually get along. But you know boys; they'll disagree with something eventually." Peach said with a sigh. "Just my luck that I end up with five-year old twins as siblings."

"Haha yeah." Zelda said with a laugh. "So what's the neighborhood like around here?"

"Well things are pretty laid back here. Nothing bad happens. Except when Marth and Roy start a competition of some sort to see who's the better twin." Tilting her head to one side, Peach wanted to know more about Zelda's story. "So you're from the other side of town eh?"

The other teen's expression changed from happy to rather solemn. "Indeed. I hated it there; nothing but terrible things happen around those parts. I can't believe I managed to get out of that living situation. Although there was one thing that was nice…"

Peach was about to inquire what her new neighbor meant, but she saw the despairing look in her eyes and decided against it. Instead she changed the subject. "Well I'm sure you'll like it here. I guess if you wanted to describe this place, it would be peaceful."

"Hmm, peaceful. I like that word." Zelda thought as she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she happened to look across the circle at the other house, and she noticed someone.

It was a boy around her age, with long dirty blonde hair that reached his shoulders. He appeared to be slightly taller then her, with a rather slim build, but still had some muscle. Wearing a simple white shirt with blue jeans, he was weeding out the landscaping in the front yard, his back facing the girls until he turned around for a second. It was then that Zelda saw his face. It was brimming with radiance as he brushed the sweat off his brow with the back of his lightly-tanned hand. The brunette was mesmerized by the boy's intense aquamarine eyes; full of concentration and determination.

"Who is that?" Zelda asked, full of curiosity.

"That's Link." Peach answered. "I personally don't know much about him, he's very shy."

"Well, what do you know?"

"He lives in that house with his grandpa. Usually the only time I ever see him is when he's out taking care of the plants like he's doing now. He's rather strange."

Despite Peach's cryptic description, Zelda was still fascinated by the boy across the street. "I'll have to go talk to him sometime…" There was a slight buzzing in the back of her head, but the teen ignored it. "Sorry Ike, but we've never even been together to begin with, and you've blown your shot." She thought harshly. "Today, I start life anew. So long hectic life, hello peaceful living!"

But little did she know, there was business going on back at the bad side of town, and it involved her secretive past.

For a while I wasn't planning on giving Zelda's mom an actual name, but it was really annoying having to write "Zelda's mom" all the time, so I choose Impa like from the LoZ games. Fun fact, Ike was originally going to have the role that Peach has now and not have the relationship with Zelda like he does now, and Link was going to be within that same family. However Marth and Roy retained the plot I had planned for them since the beginning. Funny how original concepts change huh? Hope you've enjoyed this chapter my friends!