It was early in the morning, the birds outside were already chirping. The wind blew strong enough to briefly open the curtains waking the Princess. She blinks a few times and carefully moves away to stare at Link.
ZELDA POV
Link is awake, I am sure… I mean, does he ever sleep? I have only seen him asleep once, but it doesn't count since he was passed out recovering from the wolfo's attack.
Raziel was lying down on his back, shielding his eyes with the inner elbow of his defined left arm. The Princess could not stop her eyes from traveling down his Adam's apple, then to his pectorals. When she got to his abs, she closed her eyes reprimanding herself.
Gosh, why is he so alluring? And that mark etched across his arm is not helping. The marking is a Tree-Branching Pattern that completely fits him. ¨To keep it green…¨ as he had said when he choose Zidane's last name. His body is now a canvas of strength and silence written in fire.
"Princess, I know you are awake" Link said without uncovering his eyes.
Zelda giggles "It's not like I was trying to hide it"
Link clears his throat "Good, I need you to do me a favor… be brutally honest with me"
The Prince finally uncovered his eyes, two pools of bluish-grey stared directly at the celling. Then he quickly stood up. His entire naked torso exposed, he was only wearing his boxer… as of lately.
"Did the mark kept growing or did it stay the same? And how does it look?" Link finally asked.
Zelda stared at him for a while, and then also left the bed to start circling the Prince.
"It extends the whole arm and around your shoulder. It kind of wanted to start climbing up your neck, but didn't. Instead, it took a bit of your right pectoral and shoulder blade… that is all."
Links looks at her in the eyes expecting dread comments from her.
Zelda sighs and continues "The mark ended up a lot bigger than expected. Don't know why, but I personally don't care since it won't inconvenience you much. You can perfectly hide it under your formal clothes for castle events. And it may also help you blend easier when doing missions for SWORD" the Princess says with a mischievous smile.
Link suppresses his laughter "I guess it does make me look like a thug"
Zelda opens her eyes wide "No, not at all. But it does make you look untamed. The tattoo itself looks like leafless tree branches tangling chaotically due to an upcoming storm… yet" she pauses and looks at him in the eyes "It clashes with the serenity in your eyes… you have the semblance of someone who has seen the end of the world and didn't flinch, but didn't came back untouched"
Link briefly widens his gaze and Zelda immediately backs down ashamed and laughs trying to play it off "Where did that came from? I have been reading too many novels recommended by Carla… Thing is, he mark looks eerie. But you pull it off, and I am sure my brothers also do"
LINK POV
*You are the eerie one, missy. The image she just painted for us was…*
Spot on, I know. There is a reason why Nayru choose her, I guess.
Zelda starts walking towards the door, but stops.
"You go get Rob and Zid, I will head to Lon Lon Ranch and help Malon fix everything for us"
Link raises his palm asking her to stop "You can't do that Princess. The ranch is a working place, to just show up expecting Malon and Talon to accommodate to our needs is a huge lack of respect"
Zelda sighs frustrated "Well, if you put it like that… Then how do we do the welcoming party?"
"I will visit Saria and introduce my brothers to her. You know, since she is a little anxious about new people, introducing them in her territory should help her ease around them" Link walks to his desk and draws 300 rupees "You go visit Malon and ask her if we could gather at the ranch tomorrow, briefly tell her about the extra people we are bringing. And give her this" he says handing Zelda the rupees.
"You mean our bros and Saria right?"
"Of course, 100 for renting the place, and the rest for her to buy enough food for all of us" Link sighs "Keep me informed on Malon's answer since she can still refuse… we don't know if it will be an important work day for them"
"You mean vaccination, horseshoeing and the like, right? I really hope she is not busy tomorrow… WAIT. Let's shift this. I go visit Saria and present our brothers, and you go with Malon. That way, you can help her do today tomorrow's work" Zelda smiles with glee.
Link quietly laughed "Well… that IS a way of ensuring the gathering happens tomorrow. Divide and conquer I guess" the Prince said as he entered his walk-in closet and put on some breeches a long-sleeved white chemise, and a short-sleeved maroon tunic.
I will get sweaty using this
"Do you think you could use the cargo carriage so I can use the royal one? I could use the cargo one if it bothers you" Zelda offers.
Link roars in laughter at that and exits hell "No need, I will ride Epona" he yells as he walks down the corridor to the stairs.
Zelda yells "Your horse is here?"
"No, you don't want her to be, bad influence on your colts. But she comes whenever I call her"
Zelda looks at him doubtful, but then shakes her head and waves him off. Link smiles and jumps down.
*You are lucky that Chacha didn't see you not using the stairs*
Link chuckled and headed out the Castle. As he walked through the market he was searching for carrots or apples, since those where Epona's favorites, but found none. The Prince ended up buying a pear and headed out to Hyrule's field.
Once out in the field, he grabbed a leaf and started whistling Epona's song. Soon his beautiful chestnut mare with a flaxen mane reached him and started jumping around him happily. Link laughed and pulled out the Pear, Epona took a step back
"I know this is not your usual carrot, but I promise you are going to like it" he smiles and bites on it, just to show the mare that it was edible.
Epona approached slowly and grabbed the pear with her lips, then bit on it a little with caution, but soon after she gobbles it all up and started smelling Link's torso in search for more. He just laughed loud and mounted Epona.
ZELDA POV
The royal carriage stopped in front of the stairs leading to Kakariko village, the driver climbed down and rushed to open the door for the passengers, but Zid opened the door himself from the inside, making the driver exhaled in frustration.
Zidane whistled, and then somberly states "If I climb those stairs, I am going to die"
The Princess rolls her eyes; she was wearing a lilac silk dress that reached her calves. She took the Pirate's hand to climb out.
"Don't be dramatic, I have climbed those stairs several times, if I can do it so can you" Zelda says adjusting Zid's blue sleeveless tunic.
Zid pats on his gray trouser and looks at his free tail considering if he should hide it or not "Don't get me wrong sis. I have better stamina than you…that is not what worries me"
Robert climbs out chuckling; he was wearing a green sleeveless tunic with brown trousers.
"He is worried about me" Rob says smiling "because I may push him down the stairs"
"And why would you do that?" Zelda asks Li.
---------The Heroes speaking at the same time----
"Vengeance" Rob said somberly
"I ate the last muffing" Zid said sheepishly
------------------------------------------------------------
Zelda huffs "Seriously guys, learn to behave… the girl we are visiting is very demure so behave like gentlemen please"
"I will behave, promise… Who are we visiting?" Zid asks.
Zelda answers looking sideways "An old friend of Link, she basically raised him actually"
Li's eyes glimmer with interest at that statement.
The Pirate chuckles "Puff, we meeting an old lady, piece of cake. I happen to be good with senior women"
Zelda starts laughing hysterically.
"You are not wrong, but not at all correct either. Both of you are meeting an elderly maiden… you will see what I mean once you see her" the Princess taps on Zid's shoulder "You, follow me up. Li, you wait here until we have safely reach the top of the stairs, then you follow us."
Gosh, the things I have to do just to avoid them killing each other. Is this what every mother has to deal with?
Zelda though as she went up the stairs, once they had climbed to the top, she told Zid to sit down and wait for Rob as she headed to Saria's house and knocked on the door. The green head opened the door and smiled hugging the Princess.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Saria said with glee, but soon her face started displaying a scared look. The Kokiri harshly pulled the Princess inside and tried to close the door, but the Pirate managed to take a step inside, effectively preventing the door from closing. Saria keep pushing the door close but Zelda pulled her away from it allowing Zid to enter. Li followed but didn't enter, he leaned on the door frame and crossed his arms.
"I came here today to present these guys to you, Zidane Nash, and Robert Li. They are from the Quantum world…" the Princess turns to the male population "Boys, this is Saria"
Saria shakes her head a little "Wait… these are the guys that performed the Goron ritual with Link?"
Zelda nods. Saria briefly widens her eyes and walks sheepishly towards Zid.
"I am sorry for shutting the door on you, hope I didn't hurt your foot a lot" the green head whispers to Zid, then backs away and speaks to both males "Sorry for my defensive reaction, I just assumed you were approaching with ill intentions, and I did what I could to protect my Princess"
Li smirks "Understandable, and this huge tattoo mark sure wasn't helping, was it?" sights "But I appreciate the fact that you choose to protect my sister" he smiles charmingly at Saria.
Saria smiles back at Rob, but could not help but notice Zid's intense stare on her. The Kokiri girl lowers her gaze trying to hide how insecure he was making her feel.
"Could I offer all of you some lemonade and cookies? Just wait here, I will be back with the refreshments"
Saria started to head to the kitchen but Zid stopped her by grabbing on her elbow. Saria stared back at the Pirate with a little of panic, but he cleared his throat.
"Excuse me madam, would you answer me a question before you go?"
Is that Zidane talking? His voice sounds deeper, what the fuck happened to my brother?
Zid continues "I am aware that the question I am going to ask you may offend, but it's not my intention to do so. I am genuinely curious since what I heard about you clashes dramatically with what I currently see. May I ask your age?" Zidane politely asks.
This is definitely not my brother
Saria looks up at the celling and laughs "I honestly don't know how old I am, I lost count after I turned 300, and that was before I was given the task to raise Link"
Zid stares at the green head frozen in shock. Saria manages to free her elbow from the Pirate's grasp and walks to the kitchen. Zid finally recovers and turns to Zelda.
"She is 300+? But she looks around your age sis" Zid whispers to the Princess.
"I know. She was a Kokiri, one of the eternal children that inhabited the area you now live in. Once she and Link left, she started growing older"
"But there is no one else there; it's just a forest full of abandoned houses… what happened to those children?" Li asks joining the discussion.
"It's not for me to say. Don't ask Saria either, she was not around when it happened… ask Raziel" Zelda says.
ZIDANE POV
Earie as fuck, we will ask Link… or at least I will.
Saria approach with a food carrying tray whit the lemonades. Zid immediately took if from her.
"Madam allow me please… that is what I am here for" he said distributing the lemonades.
"No, you are my guests and I should-"
"We are not your guests, we are drop-ins. And as a male, my job is to make life easier for women like you… what else needs to be carried here?"
Saria starts walking back to the kitchen, then turns around and waves for Zid to follow her.
Not much of a talker, but that is ok. She is pretty enough to compensate.
Soon Zidane walked back to the dining table with a deep bowl full of homemade cookies, Saria followed him looking at his tail. The Pirate placed the cookies on the table and sat down.
"And when am I going to get pointy ears?" Zid suddenly blurted out, making Zelda choke on a cookie. Saria answered smiling.
"You won't, only Hylians have them, the rest have round ears"
The Pirate squints "But you also have them, and you are not Hylian"
"The Kokiri where once Hylian children" Saria says looking at the tail again.
Rob sighs "Zid, why do you want them? They still turn round when you visit the quantum world"
The Princess clears her throat "They look round, but it's a mirage. If you touch my ears, you will realize they are pointy, even if you can't see them like that" Zelda says before excusing herself to the bathroom.
Zid notices Saria still stealing glances at his tail "Saria… does my tail bother you?"
Saria pales and shakes her head "No, I am sorry if I made you think that it does. I just find it pretty"
Shocked, the Pirate starts speaking "Now that one is new… nobody has ever described it as pretty"
Saria loudly exhales frustrated "And THAT is because they are jealous or fucking blind" she claims exasperated.
Now what is going on here? Is she really frustrated because other don't find my tail pretty? SWORD didn't prepare me for this… Prolonged infancy must have damaged her brain, poor thing.
Saria in the middle of her display just sat down next to Zid and grabbed his tail. Nash closed his hands hard and bit down insults he wanted to scream at the green head. This didn't go unnoticed by Robert.
ROBERT POV
Am I a good person? No, I am a wretch… but I consider myself to be a reasonably good brother. So good that, even though I know Zid hates someone else manipulating his tail, I am not going to allow it. HE NEEDS THIS CHALLENGE.
Saria starts rubbing on the tail delicately "I mean, it's not super fluffy, or has a unique color pattern. But the hair has a healthy shine to it, and is soft to the touch. And that is only talking about its aesthetic qualities"
The green head girl smiles as she lifts the tail on her palm and closes her grip around it, but not strong enough to cause harm "it's also a little heavy and I can feel the muscles move under the hair, so I am sure it's a strong limb that is used frequently, even if only to do mischief. Something that is not only pretty, but is also useful enters the definition of BEAUTIFUL in my book"
Robert just kept staring at Saria, unsure of what to say, or if he should say anything at all. He saw Zelda getting out of the bathroom, open her eyes wide and rushed to stop the Kokiri girl by delicately pulling on her elbow.
"Saria you should let go of Zid's tail, he doesn't like people touching it"
The Kokiri immediately let go and stood up covering her mouth "I am sorry" she said as she walked away seeking for a spot to sit far away from Zid, who just stared at her leaving with longing.
WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT? I… need to talk with him.
Robert searched in the back pocket of his trouser and drew a cigarette.
"Girls, I need to smoke this one, so I am heading out for a bit if you don't mind"
Zelda stares at Li puzzled "I didn't know you smoked?"
"There are lots of things you don't know about me sis" Robert answers wiggling his eyebrows.
Like my ability to blatantly lie to you for my brother
"Hey Nash, come with me"
Zidane stood up and followed Rob outside closing the door behind him. Robert lighted the cigarette and glared at the Pirate. The Engineer just stared at the Pirate; Zid understood and immediately started speaking.
"I think I am in love"
Li raises his eyebrows, lights the cigarette and hands it to Zid "I don't really smoke; I just used it as an excuse to talk… Dude, you can't be in love with Saria"
"Of course I can. She is beautiful, demure, acts on impulse to defend my sister and herself… But most importantly, she thinks I am amazing"
Rob shakes his head "She likes your tail, not you"
"Doesn't matter, the tail was the hardest part… Don't girls that are flirting with you tend to compliment something about you? She may not know it yet, but I will make her adore me"
Li shakes his head and sighs "Dude, you don't get it. Saria is basically Link's mother" he sighs loudly "He loves her and protects her in every way, buys everything she may need... clothes, food, this house"
Zidane's smile slowly fades when the realization hits. Then his semblance starts growing pale. But he just takes a drag from the cigarette.
"I still like her"
"Dude, she is on another level. What could you offer her that she does not have already? She is a lady, and any lady need a man… not a playful boy like you. Can you stop being you and turn into the man she needs?" Robert asks defiantly.
"Of course I can. And with time, I am sure I can gain her love and respect… Link is going to kill me for this, and I honestly wouldn't blame him" Zid says taking a long, punishing drag on the cigarette.
"Come what may" The Pirate exclaims resigned.