Hey, what's up, guys?! :D Okay, finally - Chapter 4! Sorry it's been a while, doing work and family stuff and all that... But now I have written it! This chapter is a bit longer than the others, so enjoy! XD

( Warning: There is abuse in this chapter and strong language - I warned you, so don't read if you don't want to. )

Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda or any of its characters. Though that'd be freaking awesome...

Chapter 4

Zelda

My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly until my knuckles turned white, as my car sped down the road. Scattered trees and infinite plains passed by on either side in artistic blurs. The road was dark and sometimes shaky - just like how I felt at the moment and have felt since I left the campus. I breathed out heavily and tried to think about anything other than my destination and the upcoming days. I actually found my mind wandering toward Link - which happened more than once since I started driving, I hated to admit - but I quickly shut those thoughts down. What I promised him, about sitting with him and his friends on Tuesday, I was telling the truth. I really would try to make friends too.

This school will be different, I told myself firmly. Really.

After about another thirty minutes, my dad's house came into view and I slowly rolled my car up into the driveway where I parked, but didn't move. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, resting my forehead against the warm steering wheel. When my eyes reopened, I lifted my head, now more relaxed, and popped my door open. I stepped out and snatched my suitcase from the backseat and pushed the car door closed. You can do this.

Walking up to the front door, I raised my hand to lightly knock on the plain white door then stepped back. It was a fairly nice house in the decent neighborhood of the small town, Eldin. It could use some work, though... I glanced at the ragged shingles of the roof and the bent water drain. Mom would never let the house get even a little messed up. She always took care of everything... and knew exactly what to do. I missed her-

I tore my eyes away from a monstrous patch of weeds as the door swung open. My dad was only in his late thirties, but he looked about five to ten years older than he was. He had scratchy stubble over his chin, jaw, and upper lip. His hair was dark and unkempt, a little shiny with grease. His almost-black eyes were sunken, giving him a tired look. His attire consisted of a stained white tee, and holey jeans with torn threads stinking out at the hems. And, naturally, there was a half-drunk beer bottle gripped in his left hand.

"Zelda." He said flatly and took a step aside to let me in.

"Hey... dad." I managed, though my voice came out a bit hoarse, and stepped over the threshold into the house. When I turned to look at him again, he was already watching me with that oh-so-familiar glare.

"How are you...?" I asked after a moment of uncomfortable silence and tried a small smile. He didn't smile back. My dad took a long swig of beer as he watched me, frowning. He made a face, ignoring my question and opening his mouth to ask his own.

"What the hell are you wearing?"

Link

"Dude, we should totally do something!" Mikau announced as he and Darunia lay out on the soft grass on a slight hill in front of our dorm, while I sat against a tree with my guitar in my hands. Malon and Saria sat near us, Nabooru and Ruto left campus to visit families and such. Tael also had to leave too. I would've loved to leave to be with family, but... that's kind of hard to do when you don't have any left.

I shrugged. "Sounds good. But what?" I countered, strumming a soft chord. Saria absently ran her hand through the grass, picking up a lone lady bug. She was somewhat of a nature freak, but a cool one at that. She lifted her forest green eyes to my blue ones.

"There's a bunch of places off campus we can go to." She suggested, looking back at the lady bug that skittered over her open palm. Mikau nodded slowly.

"Don't have any other ideas." He smirked with a decisive shrug. "Oh, but, Link. I got that new game yesterday, so we should totally play it later."

I struck another chord absently, followed by a series of chords. "Alright. But first - I am bored as hell. Let's do something!" I gripped the neck of my guitar in one hand and rose from the ground. I found myself wondering what Zelda was doing. It had only been about four hours since she'd left, but... it felt like a while ago. And did she really mean what she said? About sitting with me on Tuesday? It would be a great chance to get her to make friends - that's what she needed. I pursed my lips, thinking about what could have possibly happened to her to make her so... guarded.

"Oi! Earth to Link!" Mikau waved an aquamarine hand in front of my face and I pushed his arm away.

"Ah, back off, Mikau." I told him, smiling. He chuckled and clapped a hand on my shoulder.

"You comin' ladies?" Darunia glanced at Malon and Saria who had also stood. They grinned at us.

"Hell yes." Malon said. I smiled and, after dropping off my guitar, the five of us headed off campus.

Zelda

"HAHAHA! That's good!" My aunt bellowed out her obnoxious laughter unnecessarily. "You've probably just been spending your time at home, drinking your alcohol and watching the television. Really, Darren..." she shook her head knowingly and took a bite of her food. My aunt and uncle made it, but the other family members had "stuff" to do... My grandfather assured me he would be here on Monday morning, though. Before I left.

"Ahhh, you're right..." my father replied. My aunt nodded triumphantly. Dad had just tried to convince my aunt and uncle that he had a good job and was off the alcohol and... occasional drugs. If he wanted to attempt a lie of that sort, he should at least not look like a washed-out addict. Yet my aunt and uncle seemed perfectly accepting of him like that, which I didn't understand. They adored my dad...

My uncle grinned and raised his glass towards my father. "Same ol' Darren." He shook his head and took a sip from the glass. When he set it down, he turned his gaze towards me where I sat quietly, picking at my food half-heartedly. "What about you, girl?"

I reluctantly raised my eyes to him. "What about me?" I said back, a bit harshly in fact.

My father gave me a look, but my uncle continued. "You're in college. How is that going?" He stuffed a large forkful of steak into his mouth, chewing loudly.

I suppressed a heavy sigh. "Oh, um... good. My grades are good." I explained, pursing my lips. "And I'm... trying to make friends-"

My dad laughed shortly, not looking at me as he ate. "Friends. Like at your last school, hm? Zelda... you're not exactly-"

"Exactly what, dad?" I asked, setting my fork down.

He stared at his plate a minute, then shrugged nonchalantly. I was about to demand again what he was going to say, when my uncle continued his questions.

"Any boyfriend?"

"...No." I answered a bit quietly. My aunt smiled a little. "Didn't you have a lot at your last school in Kariko?"

My dad just smirked and I tightened my jaw, abruptly standing from my seat. "Excuse me." I snapped, snatching my plate up and making sure to roughly bump the table as I stepped away. I know that was a bit childish, but... I honestly didn't care.

"Zel-" my dad started once I got to the kitchen, but I flicked on the water and garbage disposal, drowning him out. Oh, just stop, Zelda. He's gonna be pissed! I warned myself. I turned off the disposal and pushed the water off, my hands gripping the edge of the sink as I watched the remaining water slide down the drain. I whirled around and just went straight for my bedroom, trying my best not to slam the door. I sank onto my bed and lay there, listening as their muffled conversation carried on.

...

I blinked my eyes open, rubbing them as they stung a little. I must've fallen asleep; it was a lot darker outside than it had been and my aunt and uncle seemed to have left. Maybe my dad was already asleep. I slowly slipped my legs out from under the sheets and over the side of the bed. The carpet muffled my footsteps as I walked out of my room and padded down the hallway. Stepping down the stairs, I headed to the kitchen to get a drink of water, flipping the light on as I passed.

The cool water slid down my throat refreshingly and I sighed contently, setting my glass by the sink. Feeling much better, I turned around.

"Ah!" I yelped, automatically taking a step back from my dad who stood right there in front of me. Chills ran through me and I sighed.

"You, ah... scared me." I said, laughing a bit nervously. I cleared my throat. "Well... goodnight!" He put an arm out to stop me as I began to escape. I looked at him as he took a swig of beer. In this close proximity, I could smell the heavy stench of alcohol on his breath. He was drunk.

"You weren't... verrry nice to yourr," he burped quietly and sighed, continuing, "aunt and uncle this evening. I've t-taught you betterr."

Definitely drunk.

"You haven't taught me anything." I mumbled, pushing past his arm to get away. He grabbed my arm, fingers digging into my skin. "Ow! Dad, stop." I said, but his grip only tightened.

"I rraised youuu." He slurred drunkenly, sneering at me. "And we didn't eeevennn sssay anything bad or wrrong."

"You..." I pressed my lips together. He knew exactly what he had been doing. Those pointed looks and that stupid smirk. He was trying to get a rise out of me. I just shook my head, not answering his claim. But I made a statement of my own. "I want mom." I said in a low voice. His expression shifted into one of anger and I gasped sharply as a sudden strike across my cheek caused my head to snap to the side. Working my jaw, I gingerly touched the warm spot on my cheek where he'd struck.

"You have no r-right to talk about her, you littllle bitch!" He yelled, his words suddenly sharper and clearer. "No right!"

I glared at him, despite a voice in my head begging me to just walk away. "She was my mother, you know. I have every right to talk about her!"

"No, you... you fucking killed her! Your fault she's not he-"

"She had already left you!" I reminded him and his jaw tightened. "And that wasn't my fault. And I did not kill her...!" My voice cracked a little on the last sentence. Being told your whole life that it was your fault your mom died, tended to make you believe it. Though I tried not to.

"She did not really l-leave me." He hiccupped lightly, but kept his hard glare right on me.

"So she didn't walk out that door and -" another hard slap made me stagger a little but I straightened quickly. "Stop that." I said flatly, looking up at him. Tears threatened to spill over but I held them back.

"You are a fucking sorry excuse for a daughter-" He began and I opened my mouth to speak, but he shoved me back. "Don't fucking interrupt me, you slut!" My breath hitched at the word, all kinds of memories trying to break into my mind. I pushed them back, tears finally falling as I shook my head.

"Don't call me-"

"I'll call you whatever I fucking want!" He bellowed. I advanced toward him, but he struck out and wrapped a hand around my throat, my momentum and his actions causing us to fall to the ground. "I don't even want you here!" He screamed, spit flying onto my face and he back-handed me across the face. Hard. Darkness clouded the corners of my eyes and stars flickered in my vision. A wave of dizziness hit me and my stomach flipped unpleasantly.

"You... called me here...You wanted me here..." I breathed, my face was aching a bit and I winced.

"Not anymore." He growled. His beer bottle had fallen to the floor at one point and the liquid spread out over the floor dramatically, bits of glass scattered every which way. My dad turned around to leave. "I want you gone by tomorrow afternoon."

"She hated you, you know." I said in a low voice, slowly sitting up. No, Zelda, just stop! What are you doing? But I continued. "Mom, I mean. She always told me... you were so horrible to her, you drank all the time. She said she was going to come back and take me with her-"

"Shut up." My dad said firmly, his back to me.

"-because you weren't even a good father." I finished. Shit, way to go.

"Shut. UP!" My dad screamed, turning sharply and slightly kneeling, giving a good punch into my stomach. I gasped, coughing as I breathed in. He stood and started throwing hard kicks into my side. "Shutuphutupshutup! You piece of shit, you don't know a fucking thing! You don't know!" He continued, hollering and screaming at me. "You little bitch, I hate you! I hate you!" All the while, he kicked my side. The breath whooshed out of me and I gasped for air, wheezing slightly. "You. Don't. Know." He finished, each word punctuated by another assault on my side and stomach and legs. He stepped back, sliding his arms over the counter and all kinds of things rained down on me. I heard his erratic, receding footsteps and the slam of the door. I sucked in deep breaths, curled into the fetal position as tears spilled over and onto the tile floor. My body was numb, I couldn't feel anything as chills snaked up my spine and my body went uncomfortably cold.

I didn't even want to come here...

...

My dad hadn't come out of his room at all since I packed up again. I shoved my suitcase into the backseat of my car, slamming the door shut with a wince. My whole body ached; the numbness was gone, I felt every single hit from last night. Sliding into the driver's seat, I started the engine. I didn't want to see dad right now either. I ripped the car out of the driveway and screeched away down the street. I'll have to call my grandfather and tell him I was no longer staying at my dad's.

Sighing, fresh tears streaked down my cheeks and collected at my chin. The road became blurry and I hurriedly blinked them away. Ugh. I couldn't drive like this. I... I can stay somewhere for a while. Maybe for tonight. It was about one p.m.

Sniffling, I headed toward the nearest hotel I could afford. Tears still gathered in my eyes and I rubbed them, shaking my head. When my eyes looked back at the road, I cried out in surprise and chilling fear. My body went cold again and my limbs would not cooperate as the truck barreled toward me.

That was chapter four! I really hope it was at least a little worth the wait and that you guys liked it. Thank you for all of the followers! Thank you - it means a lot! :)

Please review and tell me what you think of the story so far, along with any other theories, comments, or questions. Again, thank you and let's bring in those reviews! :D ( And thanks for everyone so far that has requested stories - if you want to request a one-shot pairing - or maybe a story concept - please PM me or put it in the reviews and I will check it out! :) )

- NayruSapphire