Bet you guys weren't expecting it so soon, now were you ;)

Lady.Zayriah - Thanks for the insight, and offering to be Beta. some of those mistakes you caught in this chap are in due to me probably typing fast, when i write i usually catch them, i'll try to get better at that.

Chapter Eight

The hum of Midna echoed in her studio as she worked on her latest piece. Pre-made colors sat on the nearby table as she slowly painted. She was merely touching up on everything; the only part yet to be done was the centerpiece. Carefully biting her paintbrush, Midna reached down to her waist and fiddled with her MP3 player. When the next song started to play, she grabbed her paintbrush and stated to work again. Her humming turned into a gentle singing.

"To save my beloved, there is no escape, for my faith..." Midna stopped herself when she heard the next line, and immediately thought of Zelda. "Horror and Doom," she whispered. "Of course, that's why she's not overly keen to make friends; she's worried it would only bring harm to us."

Now broken from trance, Midna realized what time it was, nearly two in the morning. Sighing, she packed up her paints for the night and headed for bed. She set the alarm and lay down on her bed. It felt like only a second had passed before the alarm went off. With a grunt, Midna turned off the alarm and took a quick shower before gather her stuff for school. With a yawn, Midna waited by her door for Zant. From most people, she could hide the fact that she was tired, but Zant knew her well enough to know if she got any sleep at all.

It was not that long before the car pulled up, and Midna left the warmth of her house to get in. She could tell by his face that he knew she did not have much sleep, but said nothing as she placed her paint stuff in the back and buckled in. The ride was not long, and soon they were inside the school.

"Least it's a Friday," Zant said softly, "most teachers are somewhat lenient at the end of the week."

"Zant, no need to reiterate what I already know," Midna chided softly, giving him a gentle shove.

The day was fairly quick. In her English Class, she only had to read her required reading for the class. She also had Digital Photography with Zant. In that class, the teacher was always proud of the beautiful black and white images she makes, which Midna always said the details seem sharper in that form. In the next class, Math, Midna sat tiredly, listening to the teacher drum off everything she did not need to know, but needed the class to graduate. Yet somehow she managed to hold the highest average in that class. Sheik was always asking for her to help him, as he was struggling as it was.

Then, it was her favorite time of the day. She and Zant both quickly headed upstairs to the art room, where they hang out for the rest of the day. Even though Zant did not have practice, and they could leave early since they were seniors, it was habit and the only time to really hang out with Link. When Midna sat down at the table, she plopped her head down and sighed.

"Seriously, Min, you really need to stop painting so late into the night," Zant said softly. She mumbled something. "What was that?" he asked. She lifted her head slightly.

"I said I can't help it because all I want to do is paint," she said. "Least I stopped at two this morning, instead of going right up until you came to pick me up."

"I suppose," Zant replied, sitting back. It was not long before the other two joined them.

It was a surprise, however, to see Zelda.

The mysterious teen no longer wore her cloak; instead it lay on her pouch neatly folded. She was wearing a tank top, but it had sleeves that looked a bit like netting. Her pants, although black originally, had a slight tinge of a midnight blue, showing that it was an older pair of pants. What startled Midna the most, however, was how pale Zelda's skin was, and those odd black markings. Zelda's eyes, once the artist could see them, were a hazel-amber.

Zant made a comment, though it was directed at Link.

"Hey bro, forget to remove your night cap?"

Link's hand darted up and snagged the said nightcap. Link became highly embarrassed, but simply laughed it off. "Yeah, I forgot," he said. "No one said anything though." Zelda smiled.

"I was waiting to see when someone would, or if you would have managed the whole day with it on."

"I see you have some humor in you after all," Link said, shaking his head.

"Why haven't you sat down yet?" Midna asked, looking over a Link.

"I was thinking of leaving," he replied. "I mean, tomorrow is my mum's birthday, and I was gonna go around town to see if anyone had any flowers."

"Birthday...!" Zelda muttered before realization hit her face. "What's today?"

"The 26th of January," Midna and Zant said together. She looked at them, then at Link.

"Today's my 18th," she said in a low whisper. "I forgot all about it." Silence passed for several seconds before Midna's tired face lit up.

"Why don't we all leave and celebrate it?"

Thus, the group of friends departed from the school into the mild winter weather. They went to a store and bought Zelda a new winter Jacket, hoping to encourage her not to wear her cloak anymore. Then they enjoyed an early supper at the Pizza of Twilight. Midna could only smile at how open Zelda now was after such a short time with them.

Afterwards, they departed as the night grew late. Midna set up her painting back in her studio, with Zant nearby mixing up paints for her. He had written down all he needed to help Midna work on the next part of her painting.

"I wish I didn't have to be dependent on your skill of mixing paints," Midna muttered as she darken the lines she needed for the middle left face. Her memory was sharp; she could remember where all those black lines on Zelda's face were.

"I don't mind," Zant said softly, placing the pale skin tone on her pallet. "'Sides, you'd never gotten to know me otherwise."

"After spending the last six years with you in the same school, I'm sure we would of crossed paths eventually," Midna joked. "For her eye, make it more of the amber you made for Dragmire's, with a bit of green in it, I think that'd look good."

"And if I disagree later, it's easy enough to change," Zant said. Midna smiled.

"Just because my world is Black and White, which makes stunning photographs, doesn't mean you have to be a critic."

The couple laughed at the comment as Zant went about finishing the mixing of the colors. The masterpiece was nearly done, but both wondered if it would ever be done.

Chap Nine will be along as soon as i type it up, it's already written out, also note that this story is coming to an end soon. The song Midna is listening to in the beginning is "It's the Fear' by Within Temptation, a rather fitting song for this story.

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