Zelda slowly and lazily woke up; it was relatively late, 10 or 11 in the morning. Once she notices, her eyes shoot open in panic, but she then starts to laugh.
Damn, I took my time, but I was able to sleep. I should write the important data I still remember from yesterday...
The Princess opens a drawer, grabs a piece of paper and a pencil, and starts writing. She began to giggle in the middle of it remembering yesterday.
-------------------Remembrance---------------------------
"In other words, regularly assessing the health status through medical exams, lab tests, and patient history is essential, especially for chronic conditions such as…" sighs "this is not boring you at all, is it?" Raziel asks.
Zelda slowly shook her head in refusal, but then remember he can't see her.
"No, I actually find it fascinating"
"Of course, you do" Link says as he presses on his temples with his left hand's thumb and middle finger.
"Ziel… do you have any clue about what you are going to do with this guy?" Zelda asks.
"I have an idea, and I am not going to talk about it with you, if I do… you will not go to sleep"
"DAMN IT, I understand… would you at least let me know if what you are doing is working?"
"I will. Now let me describe to you in detail the scenery I was looking at on my way here"
The Princess groans "I thought you were studying, not sightseeing" she complains.
Link chuckles "I am a fast reader; what do you think I did the rest of my travel time? Eat?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There, I wrote the important bits I managed to retain.
It's sad that he figured out so soon that I was actually very invested in the topic… how long did it take him? 10 minutes? Maybe even less time than that. He must be a wizard or something or how did he do it? He was not even looking at me… I am going to ask him tonight when he calls.
Today I am visiting Saria. Link told me to check on her once a month. Going today would be visiting her a week earlier, but I don't think she would mind.
Zelda puts on a yellow dress with her black corset, choses dark sandals with a very low heel and exits her room. She quickly reenters and opens her desk's drawer pulling out some rupees, and then she finally leaves.
20 minutes later, you can see the Princess boarding a carriage, and Cormac handing her a basket that contained fruit and a small breakfast that was quickly put together by Ivanna, since she would not allow her Princess to leave the castle on an empty stomach. Then the carriage left for Kakariko Village.
Saria was tending to her garden when she saw Zelda approaching, she smiled and ran to hug the Princess.
"Link send me a letter, he told me he was going to be absent for long, but that you will visit… still I didn't expect you to come today"
"I had to come visit you, or else how would I give you this" Zelda pulls out a pouch with rupees.
Saria stared at it wide eyed, hurriedly grabs it, and harshly pulls the Princess inside the house. Once inside she closes the door, and hurries upstairs to look out through the windows.
What the fuck happened? How did I fuck up? Because I feel like I did.
The green head sighs loudly and climbs down the stairs.
"Had to check if anybody saw anything, apparently we are on the clear"
"We are on the clear from what? Did I do something wrong?"
"You tried to give me rupee and you shouldn't have done that out in the open. People here don't mistreat me and I have a few friends, but others kind of hate me. They are jealous of the house Link designed for me, and of our close relationship. The girls think he is cute, and see him as an excellent provider. And now that he became a Prince, every girl dreams of being with him. The boys are jealous and money hungry, they try to compete with Link by wasting every rupee they earn on gifts for the girls. But that doesn't work, making the young men angry and destructive. Then YOU come to bring me rupee… I don't need to give them any more reasons to despise me"
"I absolutely had no idea… would you rather make me a list of the things you need? I will buy them and bring them here every month like Link used to"
"That would be perfect since there won't be BIG amounts of money in the house for them to steal, and they don't steal food since its perishable. I will write you the list right now… by the way, would you mind giving me 20 rupees if there is some left-over money? He used to give me that amount for any extra expense I may have"
"Of course I will. In fact, I think I have that amount right now, tomorrow I will come back with whatever you put on that list…" Zelda suddenly grabs Saria by the shoulders "Or come with me to the market right now to buy everything"
The forest sage looks to the side as she ponders about this. While Zelda starts to softly pull Saria's tunic with big sad eyes. The green head smiles defeated follows Zelda out.
LINK POV
"I understand that was a VERY risky move on my part. But you said I could do what I wanted as long as I didn't kill him, and I didn't. Jabez is alive" Link tells Widow adjusting his cellphone on his ear.
Jasper sighs loudly "I know what I said; it's just that I don't get from where you get the balls to try shit like this?"
"Easy, you had pretty much tried EVERYTHING. Shit was the only option left for me, and I am not scared of getting it smeared on my hands and face… Besides, we both know you got me here because I love to contest established systems, like the medical one"
Jasper grunts "I did, not gonna lie. I was kind of hopping you would find something but this… this completely goes against every medical recommendation, that alone will keep me up at night from now on"
Raziel rolls his eyes "Just trust me, Jabez did and now he sleeps like a king"
---------------------------Remembrance------------------------------
Jabez woke the next day, he sat up shocked that he had slept laying horizontal on the bed, instead of inclined using his pillows.
Raziel was supposed to have been occupying a chair next to the bed, but it was empty. There was a note left there.
The note read: ¨Good morning Jabez, I left early to prepare breakfast, but I did stay with you all-night, I am glad you sleep through it without waking up¨
Jabez starts touching his belly and smiles, he went to sleep completely sure that all this was going to fail; Link had forced him to take 4 pills, before going to sleep. He had felt his stomach getting warm, so he was willing to bet he would that he will end up having stomach reflux. But he didn't, and he was able to sleep laying normally on his bed… his eyes started to tear up. Then the Hero enters the room carrying 2 plates with scrambled eggs and bacon.
----------------------------------------------------------
"He trusted you because he had nothing to lose, and everything to gain" Jasper answers.
The Hero rolls his eyes "You have nothing to lose either Widow, or are you telling me this sick fucker is braver than you?"
"FUCK YOU" Jasper says smiling, then sighs "The approach you are taking is risky. But as long as it proves to be working, I have no grounds to deny the implementation of it. But you still have to keep me informed on his health state and consult me on any future protocols you want to implement, fair?"
Link smiles "Fair… you know, stress is a big trigger for MS"
"I KNOW THAT, that is why the felon has a schedule for everything, eating included"
"Yes… you know, I was reading that the body stresses when it eats"
"Ha ha. What are you talking about? People always eat to relax themselves"
"Eating does soothe you mentally, but it stresses the digestive system. The process of digestion is laborious and not easy, it demands a lot of the stomach, kidneys, liver, gall bladder, pancreas…" the Hero sighs "and if I remember correctly, his liver and kidneys were no longer in good shape. I want to reduce his food intake from 6 to only 3 meals a day to begin with, and no snacking in between. That ok papa?"
"Don't call me that. You know what? Do it. It doesn't sound too bad... as long as he is getting proper nutrition"
"I will make sure he is eating properly… just letting you know before he calls you to complain about me, because he will not love this new food intake arrangement"
ZELDA POV
Saria was storing the food that was bought from the market, pulling out a sack she smiles and opens it. It was full of pitaya fruit; she picked two out of the sack, and placed the sack with the rest by the door.
Zelda had been tanking the carriage driver for helping them carry the food all those steps from the carriage to Saria's house. As the Princess closes the door, she notices the sack of food placed right next to her.
"Saria… is something wrong with that food?"
The ex Kokiri girl shakes her head furiously "No my Princess, everything looks and smells great"
"Then why are you throwing this away? Are you throwing it away?"
Saria laughs "No, that is for Volvagia, it's around the time a Goron visits the village, he knows I always send fruit for Volvy, so he will soon come for that sack"
"Wait… I thought Goron's diet consisted on rocks, not fruits"
Saria stops storing her cheese and turns to stare at the Princess in shock "You… have not meet Volvagia? But you stayed with the Gorons for a few days, didn't you?" Saria slaps her own forehead in realization "No, actually, it makes sense that Darunia asked Volvagia to keep away during your stay"
Zelda tilts her head and asks "Why would the Goron patriarch ask a fellow Goron to stay away? Is he dangerous or something? And why would you care to gift him fruit?"
Saria starts giggling, causing her to drop the sack full of vegetables. She starts picking them up with Zelda's help "Volvagia is not a Goron, he is Link's pet dragon" the greenhead says with a smile.
LINK'S PET DRAGON!
How? Why? Well… of course Ziel just HAD to have a pet dragon because why the fuck not.
"I didn't know of the dragon's existence… it was a good move from Darunia to hide him. My mother's heart could have failed out of fear and shock; have you met the Drake?"
"Of course not, the idea of it scares me. But Link loves him… so I send him fruits every month. And he sends back pretty rocks from the mountain, fish he catches or flowers" Saria smiles looking at a vase with already withered lilies she had on the dining table. Flowers the dragon had send to her as a thank you gift. "He doesn't seem to be bad or out of control… I may want to meet him eventually. He loves apples, pears, melons, and especially pitaya… or most commonly known as dragon fruit, wanna try one?"
"No, I really don't want to take food away from the Dragon or from you. Right now, I have to go. I told the driver I was not going to take long"
"See… I actually separated one for you, so take it and eat it when you can" Saria says placing the fruit on the Princess's hands.
"But that leave you with only one"
"I don't mind, besides… I am already trying to grow the cacti in my garden"
So, the pitaya it's not a tree fruit, if it comes from a cactus… is it like a prickly pear then? I like prickly pears.
"I will be going then; you still have paper and ink, right? Write me if you ever need anything, I will be coming by from time to time"
"Thank you for taking care of me; I am not your responsibility… he he I am not even Link's. But thank you for still watching out for me, if you also need anything, I am right here"
Zelda smiles and hugs her before parting, as she was about to go down the stairs, she noticed people trying to spy on Saria. The sight made her furious and she started to stomp back when she noticed a pretty lady pulling the arm of a man that looked tired and very sick. He immediately opened the fence releasing the cuccos, while the lady started throwing grains aggressively at them That action motivated the birds to start attacking, making the snoopers run away. Zelda smirked and headed to the carriage.
Well, she did tell me that not everyone hated her.
Zelda giggles and heads to the carriage. The driver opens the door and helps her up the carriage, he then gets on the driver's seat and directs the horses to gallop back.
The Princess grabs the pitaya and examines it.
Well, the pitaya does look like it was made out of dragon scales. And now, I must get back on Princess mode. Dad asked me to review my brother's paper with him before he presents them to the nobles of the land later today. I must make sure that everything is correct and favorable for my bothers.
LINK POV
Raziel enters his room sighing and closes the door behind him before grabbing a pillow, holding it against the wall, and punching the shit out of it with the other hand. After a few minutes of mercilessly punishing the cushion, he finally calms down.
*You already knew that Jabez was going to show the gates of the underworld. He was not shifting from eating processed or refined food 6 times a day to eating healthy 3 times a day with no snacks*
I was aware this was going to be a challenge… but I never thought he was going to behave like a brat, and that I would have to follow Claire's example.
---------------Remembrance---------------------
Jabez grabs some of the food with his hand and throws it at Link, who expertly avoids the throw, resulting on a stained kitchen wall. Link breaths in exasperated and takes away the plate. Throws the food into the blender, opens a drawer to retrieves a funnel. The Hero of time starts humming the Song of Healing as he turns to smirk at the human filth.
--------------------------------------------------------
*He can't get you in trouble for tying him to the chair and force feeding him like that, right?*
No, he will complain to Widow, but Jasper will laugh and give me a thumbs up.
The Hero's cellphone vibrates, so he pulls it out of his jeans and notices it's a text from the Princess. Link rolls his head a little, seeking to relax the muscles of his neck, then looks at the message and smiles at the image. He dials the Princess.
"Hello"
"And the mischievous Princess took the time to search for an image of a cute female cartoon whose name happens to be Dot… Is this like a new type of entertainment for you?"
"Hehe, it may be… I thought it was fun; I watched one episode of that cartoon on YouTube it was hilarious. Thought that maybe you knew it too and would appreciate the reference"
I do. Animaniacs it's an interesting mix of comedy, cultural references, animated violence and some actually educational segments. I also have to admit that I loved the musical score used for this toon. But sadly, all great things must come to an end.
"It brought me a smile, thank you. How should I bore you today?"
Zelda immediately answers "WAIT, before you start with that… why had you never told me you owned a pet dragon?" she asks demandingly.
THAT I WHAT?
"Because I don't" Link quickly shots back.
"What is Volvagia then?"
"A dragon that lives in Death Mountain" Ziel answers in disdain.
"COME ON, you know I was not asking that. I was just trying to throw the lie in your face, since you supposedly hate lies and liars" sighs "Saria told me that Volvagia is the name of your pet dragon"
Ziel sighs "I have never owned a pet… Volvagia is a fire-breathing wacky friend of mine. And before you throw Lon-lon ranch at my face, Epona is not my pet either. Malon gifted the horse to me, and she also does me the favor of keeping her since I don't have a stable, Epona is my strong headed equine friend"
"Friend… you need to let Saria know that you see him that way. Maybe that would make her less afraid of it"
Link chuckles "I have told her… but according to her, he can't be my friend, because a friend is someone completely independent that offers companionship. Pets on the other hand, require care, food and shelter in exchange of their companionship" Link chuckles "Both, Epona and Volvagia don't require ANYTHING from me. I still try to ensure they are being feed properly, but both of them could survive without me… But Saria does not believe me"
The Princess was lying face up on her bed, taping on her mouth in contemplation; she then answered.
"Saria needs to meet them. That way she will realize Epona is clearly independent. But meeting the dragon will prove a challenge since she is terrified... But that does not apply to me; would I ever get the chance to meet it?" Zelda asks in a pleading tone.
She wants to meet the drake, maybe I can use this.
"HIM, not IT, and maybe… we will see"
"Ok… by the way, the nobles here ended up agreeing that if we can prove our brothers are family, they will be allowed to live in Hyrule, after the blood ritual is performed" she says slowly lowering her voice.
"But?" Link asks knowing something was upsetting her.
"As you had predicted, the only way to prove they are kin is by blood transfusion, so we have to wait until you come back from your expedition. That is the lie dad used to justify your absence. Heal the bastard soon, kill him, and then come back to me"
Links smiles "I will, and with as much haste as I can safely muster my Princess" he clears his throat "And now we continue with ¨A brief history of time¨ by Stephen Hawking"
Zelda groans loudly "I hate physics"