Chapter 20: Failing Friendship

Zelda thought that it was quite a rare coincidence to run into Captain Falcon and Samus. How extraordinary to meet in the middle of a closed park and later on at the same movie while she was out with Marth. She had been enjoying speaking privately with the prince but Captain Falcon and Samus were both so confident in all they did, not to mention outspoken, that she felt little to no regret that they interrupted. They had even been kind enough to drive them home albeit Falcon's F-Zero machine barely had room for all of them.

Marth, whose cold demeanor never meant a lack of manners, surprised Zelda a whole deal when he dashed ahead into the house, leaving Zelda with his coat and the two bounty hunters without any thanks.

"I am sure that Marth is very grateful for the ride home, just like I am. I cannot thank you enough for your great kindness," Zelda said and was left a bit baffled when the captain and Samus exchanged a look and gave no answer.

The three walked inside through the main entrance and upon entering the living room Zelda came face to face with no other than her dear childhood friend. Link, who was on his way back from the kitchen after a midnight snack, stopped in his tracks with a smile breaking forth on his lips at the sight of her.

"Zelda, can you guess who just stormed through here?"

He did not reveal who the upset person was, although Zelda did have a guess. She noticed his gaze fixating on the coat she wore, his eyes widening slightly for a mere second before returning to their original size.

You could say a lot about Link but none could deny his keen observation skills, least of all Zelda. Because of this she knew to worry when that heedlessness of his refused to show itself. When his gaze hardened.

The coat was a perfect match to those pants with the high waist Marth had paraded through the room with. Even if it went with Zelda's light blue dress it was a tad bit too big, not much but Zelda would not wear anything this notably not her size.

"Wait… Didn't you say that you were going to be with Peach?"

Princess Peach chose that moment to walk down the last steps of the stairs in a pajama top and pink bloomers, ending up behind Link. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and held back a yawn.

"What about me?"

Link turned around, looking completely wrecked and like he could not bear to see her there. At the same time it was as though something even worse would come out of looking away. Peach had never had a man stare at her in such a desperate, confused state and her sleepiness was gone all of a sudden. Her cheeks reddened when his gaze kept flickering back to her face, because his eyes were still painfully drawn to Zelda, and she felt that if she moved she would disrupt an unstable balance. Their presences ripped at the young man, tore him in different directions. This could not be, because Zelda, Zelda, she had never lied to him.

"W-why would you lie to me?" he asked hollowly and finally managed to let his gaze land on her, deep down wondering why he got himself into a situation where he would have to listen to an explanation. Maybe it was a faint streak of hope, that the Hope of the People would bring back some light into his life. "Where were you?"

Why, dear Nayru, why did this good man waste all this unnecessary concern on her? If not, then he would not have been forced into this whirlwind of complex emotions due to her making a few friends. But was it that innocent? Zelda had to wonder, but this was no time for private contemplation.

Samus could not move. If she somehow would end up disturbing the scene she could not forgive herself. She had been told about Marth and Zelda's date from the younger Link and she had also been told by him that the adult Link could not find out. That Zelda would have lied to Link about her plans for the evening was still hard to swallow and completely unexpected. If the princess was as naïve about this whole thing as Samus had thought all along, then why would she feel it necessary to hide it from Link?

"Prince Marth made an offer to have dinner with him which I chose to accept. I saw no danger in doing so and would rather not worry you with such trivialities," Zelda spoke with the voice of a diplomat while posing a masterful poker face.

At first, there was naught but silence. It was as though the Hero of Time could not determine what emotion would take over him. No matter the turmoil inside, his eyes did not leave his princess.

"How?" he uttered softly. "How can you say that?" His voice turned loud, he stepped up to her, fury welling out. "How in Farore's name can you willingly decide to see him alone? Don't you get how dangerous that could be? If you don't and it's nothing big then why not tell me? Or did you really turn me down because you thought that he was better? Do not belittle me like that!"

Zelda thought it wisest not to say anything. Truth to be told she was in despair. It had never occurred to her that Link would compare himself to Marth or evaluate the friendships between her and them. She had assumed it to be a matter of him being overprotective like usual. Since she usually was correct she had not thought more about it.

That was sad and worth of shame but not enough to make her feel depressed. No matter what she did, Link had always stood on her side. Even if she had not been fully innocent, he would blame the other party. It had never before happened, even if she could be the cause of his rage, that he would direct his anger at her. But not this time. He was mad at her.

During her solemn reflection Link kept yelling at her, her indifference being like a fuel. He wished so badly for a reaction from her but it would not come. She obviously agreed that he was inferior to Marth, that there was no point in telling him the truth and that he was not so much worth that him flying into a rage was more important than the buzzing of a mosquito.

"Link," Zelda cut him off emotionlessly. "What would you have done if I had told you?"

For a moment she thought that he was going to hit her. The next second Samus had stepped between them with a tight grip around Link's left wrist. Her and many of the other Smashers' image of the Hylian hero was that of a humble stuttering youth who would so fondly stay at his princess's side. Where was he now? If Link dared to lie a hand on Zelda there was no knowing what else he could be capable of.

"I wasn't going to hit her," Link said weakly to Samus, his hand was only held up by hers now. Zelda saw his gaze move over to her, dislike evident as deep as the blackness of the pupils in his eyes. He was angry with her, but not even that would make him do more than hopelessly tell her why. With sagging shoulders he slowly turned his back on her, pulling back his arm from Samus. He dragged his feet up the stairs, making Peach draw to the side. The Mushroom Kingdom princess stared at his broad back, hunched in defeat, with a hand over her heart.

Zelda watched him go with an aching feeling in her chest. She had not wanted this. She turned to Samus and Captain Falcon still standing behind her but neither expressed any sympathy for her. Peach was not an option to turn to in this case. At a time like this Zelda would not be able to for through explaining the situation to Peach, living through her reaction and not likely receive any advice on how to improve her relationship with Link.

Link had disappeared around the corner and Zelda did not know how long she could take the accusation hanging in the air. Maybe she should be grateful that they took enough consideration in her not to voice their opinions but the tension weighted her down. She tried to endure but was unable.

She fled up the stairs and ran through the empty hallway. Link was nowhere in sight and had most likely reached his room already. The tears were not far away when she stopped in front of one of the many plain doors and she took deep breaths to calm herself while knocking on it. Without a doubt she could collect herself enough to make herself satisfied before the door was opened, but she was not that lucky. Her knocks had barely faded before Marth stood before her looking unsurprised at finding her on a visit.

Zelda silently scolded herself for not taking a moment to soothe her feelings before knocking. Her complexion could impossibly reveal the smallest hint of her anxiety but somehow Marth had to know that something was amiss. She had not fully succeeded in masking her feelings then. He frowned at the princess, wrapped in his coat. She no longer saw any point in concealing her misery.

"Link…" she said in a meek try to explain, experiencing one of the few times when words failed her. Marth froze and before he could do anything else he shut the door and left her alone in the empty corridor.

Here he had hasted to his room in order to have her come with the coat. They had just been out on a long date which had at least begun successfully and the first thing she had to say when they now were alone with each other was Link? Link?

Zelda hung her head in defeat. It was a long time ago she had messed up this badly. She had masterfully made every single one of her few friends angry with her and to tell the truth that made her more worn out than anything else she could have been forced to deal with. Being a princess was not exactly the easiest job around, no matter what people believed.

The Hylian princess entered her room, casting a longing look at the bed before walking over to the looking-glass and sitting down on the stool. She gave her reflection a look of dullness before idly freeing her hair, undoing the braids and taking off her earrings.

Link. The beginning of their deep friendship was that he had believed her when no one else had, yet she had lied to him and it had hurt his pride.

"You are despicable," she told her reflection that did not look like it cared one bit about that.

Arguing with reflected light was not very granting so Zelda squirmed out of her dress and pulled out her nightgown from underneath the pillow. That was not a place for a princess to keep her night clothes but who cared anyway? She shut off the lights and crawled into bed, wondering why she bothered to hold back tears. There was not like anyone would see her weep.

Zelda sighed. She was too bad at breaking habits. Not even now could she allow herself to cry. The voice of her nursemaid Impa could be heard in her head as clearly as if she had been standing in the very same room.

"If you cannot hide your emotions when alone, how will you do it in public? Princess, I advice you never to make up such silly excuses that you can take liberties when you think that no one will find out."

Zelda almost answered "you are correct, Impa" before she remembered that she was only imagining the harsh, yet well-meaning warning from the loyal nursemaid. No one would want a mad monarch.

Another thing about Zelda, except for the applied "old habits die hard" rule, was that she easily fell asleep. She would have liked to stay up and think things through a bit more thoroughly to find a solution. A compromise could not be in question since she had been the one completely at fault.

She got no further before her eyes closed and she drifted into a dreamless sleep. The downside with that was that it felt like you had just fallen asleep when you woke up, especially if it felt like you were about to face ten Mondays. Zelda took the liberty to moan when she got out of bed. Going back to sleep was impossible and nothing good would come from her hiding in her room all day.

Breakfast was put on the table but few were up to enjoy it, only Mewtwo to be perfectly honest and somebody digging through the refrigerator. The Pokémon's feet were pulled up on the chair and his tail hung above his head, its tip like a dark light bulb. No one has bothered to put on the lights either which made him look quite miserable sitting there, shifting his gaze between the food and the round tips of his fingers.

Zelda buttered a bread roll and chewed it in a way that would suggest that she ate it for nourishment rather than any particular will to eat it. The sound of the refrigerator closing broke the silence and Marth walked empty-handed around the counter.

"Good morning, Prince Marth," Zelda said timidly in hope of easing his anger from yesterday. She knew that he was not likely to forget.

The prince wrinkled his nose and exited the kitchen, leaving a downhearted Zelda who had to yet another time overcome the fact that this would be a very long day. She peered at Mewtwo to see if he was still busy staring at his hands but he was looking straight at her, his gaze hitting her like a bullet. Then he looked at his hands again.

Mewtwo thought everything was pointless. It was a weird kind of fright to have him pay attention to something concrete like the people around him.

Zelda suspected that the Pokémon's attention was all the notice she would get for the whole day and it would appear that she was correct in that guess when people were beginning to crowd at the table. Neither Falcon nor Samus said a word but then Peach showed up to prove Zelda hypothesis wrong. She bounced into Link's empty seat and practically hung on Zelda's shoulder.

"I am sorry, I was too sleepy yesterday. The only thing in my head was to get a glass of milk so that I could fall asleep. Can you please tell me the details about what was going on?"

First task of the day. Zelda put on a smile and told the whole story. Captain Falcon and Samus who were sitting next to them both crossed their arms and watched the opposite wall while listening in. Samus could finally piece together Zelda's innocence with her puzzling lie when Zelda clarified that she only had wanted to avoid there being rumors like last time with Link. The bounty hunter glanced at the captain who looked a bit guilty over what he was hearing, squirming uneasily in his seat. Served him right who got the wrong idea about Zelda. That woman would never be able to understand a man's intensions, Samus knew that.

"Well, if Link was not so violent you might not have lied to him," Peach stated with a nod after hearing the whole story. "Although lying is a bad thing," she added.

"Link is not violent," Zelda protested.

Peach poured herself some tea while she nodded absentmindedly. "Uhum… So what about you and Marth?"

"I made him angry as well," Zelda replied with a deep sigh.

"How could you manage that?" Peach asked, a lot more attentive all of a sudden.

"He was already vexed over his arrangements being ruined, although we did have a good time nonetheless, and I think that he was not pleased with me disturbing him with my own troubles when he found himself in such a dreadful mood."

"Yes, it was probably just the circumstances," Peach agreed happily.

"Where's Link-a?" Mario cut in. He had taken the opportunity to steal Peach's usual chair in order to be near her.

"Don't know," Peach said. The plumber smiled affectionately, and maybe a bit amused, at her profile and then raised his eyebrows at Zelda.

"I have not seen him," Zelda said. "Although, I have to admit that I would not be shocked to find him still in bed. I will go look for him."

"Mario!" Peach exclaimed accusingly when Zelda rose from her chair.

"Strawberry-a?" Mario offered and Peach lifted her, or rather Link's, chair over to him expectantly. How could she mind Zelda leaving if Mario was willing to be a little lovey-dovey? Her friend would come back in no time anyway. She giggled.

"Say ah," Mario instructed.

"Aaaah."

"You make me sick," Bowser yelled from the other side of the table. "Get a room."

Zelda did not stay to hear the rest of it. She entered the lit living room that at first sight appeared empty, which was why she was surprised when Marth's soft voice reached her. The stairs had a supporting wall to the left which would keep it out of view near the entrance to the kitchen and Zelda began to walk backwards to avoid eavesdropping when Marth spoke her name.

"I want you to ensure me that Zelda will not be found devastated outside my door ever again due to any error of yours. Know this, that I shall never be second to the likes of you," Marth's voice carried around the corner like a chilly gust. Somebody snorted.

"And here I thought that you'd be thrilled to play the good guy and comfort her. She came to you, didn't she?" Link spat, the last venomous sentence embedded in hurt. Zelda would recognize that voice anywhere.

"Go clean up your own mess," Marth ordered and judging by the sound he pushed Link against the wall in a not very gentle manner. Zelda was beginning to think that she ought to show herself. After all, she was under the impression that Link and Marth did not really like each other.

The sight which greeted her was Marth having Link grabbed by the collar and thrust against the wall, something which did not look all that intimidating because the prince was nearly a head shorter than the Hylian. His tender looks made him no favor in this case, but in contrast his expression was merciless and his manners cold like always. Her appearance interrupted their ferocious staring contest and their eyes darted to the intruder, only to have both of their gazes flick elsewhere once they noticed who she was.

"Li-"

"I haven't had breakfast yet," Link said and broke free from Marth who willingly let him go. Link made sure to put distance between himself and Zelda when walking past her and his eyes carefully avoided her. Zelda's call became an inhalation and once Link was gone, and she turned to Marth, the prince was already walking up the stairs. Zelda was quick to hurry after him, deciding that it would be easier to handle Link later once he had gotten something to eat.

"Marth," she called out but he pretended he had not heard her. She only reached halfway through the hall before he arrived at the door at the other end, entered and closed it dismissively.

This day was really turning out the exact way Zelda had anticipated. Why could there never be a pleasant surprise waiting around the corner? Why could not somebody surprise her with a silver lining? She turned around and stopped at her own door. Maybe she could grant herself a short nap, just a small break, and then she would happily deal with everything she had to sort out. It was not a question of running away, Impa had taught her better than that, but rather a little something in order to think clearer.

"I know I am fooling myself," Zelda said with a guilty smile but sneaked inside nonetheless.

If the Triforce had been in her hand at that moment she would not have known what to wish for because lying down on her bed felt like the most wonderful thing in the world. Speaking realistically she could have wished to make up with her friends but she would take care of that by her own efforts.

She closed her eyes and flopped over on her belly. Falling asleep was not plausible at this hour, nor was it appropriate, but Zelda could at least allow herself to rest. Nearly half an hour passed like that before somebody knocked on her door. Since the last thing she expected was a visit she opened the door with her heart pounding wildly inside.

"I like you!"

Zelda squinted at the index finger pointing up at her face and then at young Link gazing up at her with a clenched jaw. She touched her forehead and asked herself if this just happened. Maybe she had been dozing off? It was like her violent heartbeats died at the sound of his light voice in which she could distinguish the voice he would grow up to have.

"I like you too," she told him and smiled. She had to admit that she was a little touched now when things were this bad between her and the older Link. Having him here, in this shape, reminded her that she could not easily forget their past and she hoped that he remembered as well.

"No," Link exclaimed. "Big me. In the kitchen. I misunderstood, right? I tried to explain but could not get a word in so I came straight to see you because I could never say such things about Zelda that I did. You must know that you are the most important thing to me in the whole wide world."

Link flung his arms around her lower body and pressed his head against her torso. Zelda placed a hand on his head and took a step back in order to close the door after them. Link kept clinging to her all the way over to the bed where she sat down and Link knelt on the floor, still holding on.

"Link, the older one, said something you did not like?" Zelda repeated hesitantly. She was not sure whether she should ask or if she really did want to hear. It was just hard to imagine what Link would say about her if he was upset.

"That you hate me and that you want someone to take you to nice restaurants and buy you pretty things," Link said, his voice muffled against her dress. He pulled away and gave her one of his most intense stares. "I trust you, Zelda. I know you like me and that is why I know that you don't care about things like presents and stuff. Otherwise you wouldn't have stayed with me for so long."

"Link," Zelda began but could not go on before she had given him a loving smile. "I always want to stay by your side, but… I did lie to you. You just told me that you trust me so you should be able to imagine what a sin I have committed."

"But I know the truth, Zelda. That Marth got his paws on you was my fault, mostly Marth's and maybe a little bit Peach's, but definitely not yours."

"The lie, Link," Zelda reminded him and ruffled his hair.

"Forget about that. I wouldn't have told me either," Link retorted hotly then added with downcast eyes. "I don't want to grow up if I'll treat you this way. I want to always stay by your side, Zelda. Why aren't I here apologizing to you right now?"

"Link."

"I'm such a jerk."

"Link, have faith in me. I will not let you go. Give yourself a chance."

"I'm so stupid I might just be stubborn until you give up," Link choked out. "Even though I…" he had to swallow. "…j-just want to be with you."

Zelda put her hands on his small shoulders and gently pushed him away to easier look into his eyes. In one way it was distracting because she loved how his gaze would not waver from hers and that clear shade of blue had always had a calming effect on her.

"If you say that you want us to stay together I will believe in you. A true friendship will only deepen as time passes, a beautiful bud bursting into bloom, its scent a sweet guidance that will always lead you back."

Link nodded thoughtfully. "I will fight for our friendship, but there's one thing I want in case big me makes the biggest mistake of my life."

"What may that be?"

"I want a kiss from you," he said, leaving no room for doubt. His face was turning redder while he stared intently into her eyes. His fists were trembling at his sides.

Zelda smiled uncertainly and Link's blush deepened as he realized that she was not taking him seriously. But could he wait for an answer from her? He knew that he was panicking so he better speak before he became incapable of doing so.

"That this will happen in my future in unavoidable," Link said with some difficulty. He needed to somehow explain to her that he wanted to make sure that this was real and that these were his genuine feelings that he could not imagine would ever change. He wanted to know that there had been a time when Zelda cared as deeply about him. "I need you to kiss me."

She squeezed his shoulders and leant in closer. Link inhaled, feeling his breath being taken away, and closed his eyes when her beautiful face came to near for his temperature to stay at normal. Her soft lips brushed his hot cheek. He felt that his legs might just give in and that he would drop to the floor. It was first when she pulled away and brushed his cheek with her thumb that he remembered that a peck on the cheek was not what he had asked for.

Link took in Zelda's gentle expression and knew that he could not demand anything else of her.

"Thank you."

"I will go and resolve this," Zelda reassured him and let go of his shoulders.

"No, Zelda. Let me talk to me first. I can do another try and I'm sure that I can make it better because I know myself."

"I cannot prove you wrong on that point. Then I will search for Link, the older Link, in an hour? Can I entrust my hero with this quest?"

Young Link nodded. He could definitely make things right again because it was his own mess. If he just explained that Zelda was innocent, because she was too hung up about that lie to ever give a proper explanation, then his future self would surely go back to her.

The boy ran out the door, jumped down the last five steps of the stairs, spurted into the kitchen and found that his older self had already left. Not a big surprise, because young Link had watched him eat a double breakfast before he gave up his tries to explain and left to find Zelda. He hurried back to the living room and spotted Link over at the round table with Samus and Captain Falcon.

Samus had made it a habit to avoid Link when he was in Captain Falcon's company but after the bounty hunters' successful teamwork she could bear to be in the same room and did not have to retreat to Peach and Zelda.

Samus was currently joining forces with Captain Falcon a second time to make sure that Link was told what they had overheard at the breakfast table. This was a task so indescribably hard that she actually needed Falcon's help because Link's head was filled with too much disappointment and hatred to listen to a word.

"I'm saying that Zelda didn't think it was a date," Samus hissed, feeling that she was about to lose her patience. Falcon took a different approach and put a hand on Link's shoulder.

"I thought the same thing you did at first but your little angel really doesn't understand what that prince is after."

"They're right," young Link interrupted and all three turned around to see who had jumped into their conversation. Young Link let his gaze wander between all of them before he spoke again. "Marth said that he would only go out with Zelda if he defeated me in the race."

Young Link told the story from beginning to end, even the part that Zelda had left out to Peach. Link crossed his arms on the back of his chair while listening to every word. Samus and Captain Falcon listened just as eagerly since neither of them had heard about the challenge.

"See now?" young Link finished. He had not needed to ask because he knew the look on his future self's face. The fury burned in his eyes like the blue color of his irises would melt away to be replaced by a demonic red. Samus angrily rose from her chair while Link was still fighting to remain in control of himself.

"Such backhanded means," Samus growled, barely stopping her low voice from shaking. She found no words to express her rage.

"Of course," Link exclaimed in despair. It was such a clever trap you almost had to laugh. "Of course Zelda's weak point is her sense of duty. If she was part of a promise she would be completely trapped. The date meant nothing to her and that's why she did not want people to spread any gossip."

If he had felt like killing Marth before it was nothing in comparison to now. The prince had not been chosen by Zelda, he had only made Link believe so and Link had turned on Zelda instead of the true culprit. It sickened him to think of how he had stayed in bed to avoid her and how he had barely been able to look at her. He had known Zelda since they were children and yet he had blamed her just as much as Marth.

"He's dead," Link gritted out. Stabbing food with a fork to blow off some steam would not do this time. Marth had gone too far.

Captain Falcon tapped his finger on the table to bring the other's attention to him.

"Why did you not just say that you won?"

Samus and the two Links stared at him in silence.

"You know, he can say whatever he wants but you won. Nothing can change that," Falcon clarified and was answered by another disturbing silence.

"I need to find Zelda now," Link declared and stood up.

"She's in her room," young Link gladly informed, happy that Zelda would be surprised with a friendly Link sooner than expected.

Link was able to walk all the way to Zelda's door before he was getting second thoughts. He had been really stupid, acted like a real jerk. Could he really face her after that? It felt silly to imagine that he could just waltz in and be forgiven that easily. But what if she did forgive him and he would still be unhappy? Could he have such high thoughts about himself to allow himself to remain at her side after the way he had behaved?

"Zelda?" he said cautiously and knocked softly on her door. Her approaching footsteps made him want to turn around and run, but there was also a part of him that longed to see her. When they finally were face to face, each of them uncertainly searching the other's gaze, both were grateful to be near each other.

"Link," Zelda said with a sigh of relief. "I have something I must explain to you."

He followed her inside, closing the door behind them while Zelda walked over to her bed. Since Link wished to show only his best sides he remained standing, as was expected of a gentleman in the presence of a lady.

"It is about what you said yesterday," Zelda began, fixing her posture because it made it easier to speak naturally if she could take on the role of a true princess. "I did not mean it as an offense to you in any way. I know that you have always looked after me and truth to be told I was a tad concerned with what your reaction to me being alone in his company might be. People here seem to think that the smallest chat between a man and a woman means that they are dating…" she paused to give him a chance to say something. He did not. "And you have never had much patience with suitors."

"No," Link admitted with an apologetic smile.

"But I can assure you that Marth has no such thing in mind," Zelda added eagerly. "I know it is not near enough but the least I can do is ask you to forgive me. Link, I will not keep things like this from you."

"Zelda," Link said and suddenly grasped her hands. "I came here to apologize to you. I misunderstood everything."

Zelda could not see that as the truth. He had clearly seen that she had lied when Peach showed up. How could anyone misunderstand that? He had asked her why she lied. That was why he had been upset, was it not? Because he could not think of himself as inferior to Marth?

"I thought that you did not say anything because it really was a date. Why else would you hide it?"

"Did that make you angry?" Zelda said. She could understand what he was saying but she did not quite follow.

"You are the Princess of Hyrule and you need to take care of yourself. I trust you to be more careful around men and I would actually not see you alone with one if it can be avoided. Especially him."

"Marth does no-"

"Zelda," Link said reproachfully and scowled. He let go off her hands and instead put them on either side of her, leaning sown so that they were on eyelevel.

"I will tell you if anything like this happens again," she promised, resisting moving back. It felt as if he would be able to feel her breath if she spoke loud.

"Are you mad at me?" Link asked. He was too anxious to beat about the bush after he had received her promise. Zelda leant back a bit and inhaled while Link held his breath. His arms were beginning to tremble, the heat rising to his face.

"I was very hurt that you did not listen to me," Zelda admitted. "But I can understand why you were angry, Link. I was never mad at you, only sad. You are important to me."

That was worse. He felt weak. What if he collapsed on top of her? His arms were beginning to give in. Never would he want the woman he loved to be unhappy because of him. He tried to gather his strength but then his face fell closer to hers.

"Zelda," he sighed. She could feel his breath on her lips when his tongue formed the sound of her name. Her bosom rose as she inhaled. She had to focus on her breathing.

"L-Link," she whispered, fearing that she might faint. She disliked having her friend this close. It did never feel like this when they usually were together so why would she have to lose her voice, become unable to breathe?

Her weak, pleading voice erased his every thought. He only wanted to hold her and kiss those lips that uttered his name. The feeling that he did not deserve her still lingered inside of him, but he could no longer relate it to anything. His left hand lifted from the bed cover and moved to her cheek, soft like the petal of rose.

He was about to kiss her when something stopped him. Nothing but his hand touched her but he could still feel her whole body stiffening as she realized what he was about to do. It got some sense back into him. He could not do this to her when she was in this state.

He leant back but did not withdraw his hand. He scrutinized her face, analyzed her expression carefully. She was still clinging to her proper manners. She was petrified in her neat position with her hands folded in her lap.

What was he supposed to do? Would it relieve her or vex her if he pretended like nothing? Should he apologize?

"Then we're friends again?" he said and did his best to sound cheerful. He got up and stretched out his arms in a welcoming manner. Relief found its way into Zelda's gaze. She relaxed and smiled up at him before she rose and took a step into his embrace. He felt like a wolf for making her hug him, even though it had been the only way he could think of to make things feel like they used to. He could hold her close without any underhanded thoughts, as long as she was happy.

Link was not going to hit Zelda. I know that I make him out to be quite hotheaded but I can't imagine Link ever being violent to someone weaker than him and never Zelda. He would never lay a finger on her. I have tried to make him a bit nicer but it's hard and especially in this chapter because of Marth's schemes being found out.

Now, let's go into ultra woman mode and talk about our feelings (or more specifically Link's feelings). Link is very insecure about his and Zelda's relationship. His greatest fear is rejection or that he will be too slow and some prince charming will show up to steal Zelda. Marth is his fears materialized which makes Marth a big threat. Regarding Zelda, Link has devoted his whole life to her. If she were to suddenly throw him away for a "better man" it can impossibly leave him unaffected. Those frustrations would bring him to raise his hand, his body expressing what he can't quite put into words, but would never make him slap Zelda.

And thank you all who reviewed! I appreciate it so, so much. You have no idea how happy I am that people seemed to enjoy the scenes with Samus and Captain Falcon (because I like them too and would happily have them interact some more).

One again, thank you, thank you, thank you.