Disclaimer: I don't own The Legend of Zelda.


"Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiink!"

Link's pointed ears perked up. He had no trouble recognising that scream - which always seemed to reach him, no matter how far away he was. Dashing out of the shop he was in, he raced up towards Hyrule Castle, ready to go to Zelda's aid.

As soon as he reached the palace doors, Link kicked them open as he armed himself with his sword. He ran into the great building and headed to Zelda's bedroom, where he found the young princess waiting for him.

"Link!" Zelda's face filled with relief at the arrival of the brave hero. "Thank goodness you're here!"

Link stood in the bedroom doorway. A frown crept across his face. Zelda didn't look like she was in any trouble. She appeared to be perfectly fine to him. He glanced around the bedroom. There was no sign of any threats or danger. No Ganandorf attempting to kidnap the princess. No critters causing any destruction in the castle. There didn't seem to be any trouble going on in the castle.

"Do you see what's wrong, Link?" Zelda asked.

Link stared and shook his head.

"Exactly! You don't see it, because it's not here!"

Link blinked at Zelda's words. He looked at her silently and tilted his head as if to ask her "What's not here?"

Being so close to Link all her life, Zelda didn't need him to say anything to understand what he was thinking. She pointed to her head as she revealed to the young warrior what was missing.

"My crown!"

Link averted his attention to the top of Zelda's head. Sure enough, the young princess was not wearing her precious crown. Her look of royalty made her look so incomplete without it.

"I woke up this morning and I couldn't find it!" Zelda explained despairingly. "I've searched all over the castle, but there's no sign of it. That can only mean one thing…"

Link's blue eyes widened as he waited wordlessly to see where Zelda was going with this.

"It's been stolen!" Zelda glared with a clench of her fist. "And I'll bet it was Ganondorf!"

The young princess paced around her room. She was clearly very irritated by the problem in her hands. It was bad enough that Ganondorf was always kidnapping her. But for the vile villain steal her precious crown was crossing a line. As far as Zelda was concerned, having her crown stolen was worse than constantly being captured.

"I'm gonna leave it to you, Link, to find my crown!" Zelda stopped pacing to gaze towards her hero with a smile. "If anyone can recover it, it's you!"

Link just peered quietly at the princess who had just bestowed a new quest upon him.

"What are you waiting for, Link? Go on! Go get my crown!"

Without waiting for a word - not that Link would have said any - Zelda pushed him hurriedly out of her bedroom. She closed the door on him, leaving him out in the hallways of her castle.

Link started to head away - but he was in no rush to head off to face Ganondorf. After all, as far as he was concerned, there was no need for him to carry out this quest he'd been given.

His right hand returned his sword to its scabbard hanging from his side - while his left hand emerged from behind his back. He had been careful to keep what it was clutching out of sight while in Zelda's room.

It was a large bag of Rupee.

Link smiled as he felt how bulky and heavy it was. He'd made a good fortune for himself in the shop he'd just been visiting…

…where he had sold Zelda's crown.

Link was the one who was responsible for the princess's precious ornament for her head going missing. He had slipped into the castle early that morning and swiped it while everyone had been asleep. He'd managed to pawn it off to the village merchant for a very good price. Now he could afford those expensive upgrades he desired for his sword.

The smile on Link's face widened. He was pleased with himself for making such a profit on Zelda's crown - and even more so for avoiding making her suspect he was behind its disappearance. He'd given absolutely nothing away - just as he always did. There was no way anyone would believe the brave hero of Hyrule had stolen the princess' crown. Better still, the blame would all fall on Ganondorf. It was the least that the tyrant deserved after all the trouble he caused.

Still holding the bag in front of himself, Link headed away from Zelda's room - before coming to an abrupt stop. He'd slowly turned, seeing that he was outside the door to her father's room.

Link lowered his hand carrying the bag, using his free one to rub his chin thoughtfully.

He had certainly made a good fortune on pawning off the princess' crown - but he wondered if he could make an even better profit by selling the King's crown, too.

There was only one way to find out - and knowing what it was, Link smiled widely as he let himself into the King's room…


THE END