Link entered hell closing the door behind himself. He pulled out his cellphone since it had been vibrating during his meeting with the Zora Princess.
LINK POV
Link answers recognizing the caller, but remains silent as protocol demanded.
"Am I reaching agent Kid?"
"Yes Widow, do you need anything from me?"
"I am going to need your help here… I don't know how much longer my mission is going take, I have been at it for a year and a half now. Recently it came out that I can be useful elsewhere, but WE can't neglect this big fish. I was thinking you could take over for me, I will send you all the details of what this involves. I am aware of your new circumstances, so I am no forcing you to do anything. But please do inform me of your decision in an hour" agent Widow ends the call.
Link sits on his bed staring at his cellphone for a while when it beeps with a message, he quickly reads it.
Fuck, this IS IMPORTANT, just like Jasper said. Thing is… I don't know how long I would be gone; I can't take Zelda with me for that reason.
*What are you going to do? *
Talk to Zelda first, then inform my King.
*She depends on you even for sleeping, is everything going to be all right if you leave? The mission may still take months, or years*
It better be, because this I can't refuse. I am the only option available. SWORD can't involve me in heavy cases due to my age; they just use me for situations where I am mostly undercover. It would be a mistake to continue to tie Jasper down with this or any other agent. If I can take over, I will.
*Why don't you just kill the guy?*
I can't, WE need him to spill the beans first.
Link exhales heavily, and leaves his room. He was lazily walking towards Zelda's room, not sure if he was hoping to find her there already, or not. As he was approaching, he noticed a man nocking to enter his Princess dorm. That immediately fired alarms in his brain and he widened his stance, preparing for a possible fight, but quickly noticed the book's said man was carrying.
It's just her teacher, or one of them. that is good news, I won't have to fight him or talk to her right now… I will not intrude because I obviously respect her education time. Let's talk to Daphnes first then.
Link looked over the rail to quickly assess the length of the fall and jumped down. He rolled his landing diminishing the impact force and quickly stood up.
"Not gonna say that was not impressive, but DON'T DO IT AGAIN, it's not Prince like behavior" Chacha tells the Prince still a little scared of what she saw him doing and a little angry.
"Darn… I may consider your suggestion for the future" Link says dissmisively.
Chacha's face goes red and blurts out "You said I should be teaching you how to behave with the nobles, I can't do that if you won't listen to me"
The Hero sighs "FINE, I am not Nuthaniel, I won't try to glide down the stairs anymore"
The Maid nods at the Prince smiling, and walks towards Nana's kitchen.
Not without proper equipment for a glide. But of course, I will still jump down whenever I feel like it.
Chacha suddenly stops and turns to face Link.
"No gliding down, free falling, sliding, jumping, or any other type of crazy shit you can think of, you can only walk up and down the stairs, understand?"
SHIT, this bitch read me completely.
Link squints at Chacha, and without loosing eye contact he simulates to rip something from the front of his trousers, he then goes down on a knee, Chacha raises an eyebrow puzzled.
"Just take them, it's my balls" he says smirking at her.
Chacha cracks up laughing, Link slowly stands up and receives a punch on the chest from the maid. She turns and reassumes her walk towards Ivanna's kitchen, she was still laughing.
*You didn't promise her anything did you?*
No, I didn't. BUT I will still try to use the stairs like a normal person from now on.
Link arrives at the throne room, but is stopped by a pair of guards stationed outside, they told him the royals where busy. They were trying to schedule suitor's visits for the Princess, and to set a list of requirements the aspiring candidate had to meet.
Right, Zelda is 13 and proven to be fertile.
"That is going to take all day, maybe more… can I leave a request?"
"Yes, write your request, I will pass it on later" one of the guards' answers as he gives Link a piece of paper and a pencil, then turns his back on him, signaling the Prince to use his back as a surface to write on.
Link smiles and quickly writes his petition. He was requesting the royals to let him know at what time they could be available; he needed to discuss something SWORD related with them.
He gave his thanks to the guards and headed to his room.
How do I prepare? What do I need? I kind of have Hyrule's basic medical books down, I need to request info on the innocent felon. His diagnosis, his current health status, what protocols has he already tried. DAMN IT, I think I am going to have to go through lots of medical articles for this. There MUST be something we have not tried… I believe that once this bastard starts healing, his newfound hope on life may earn me his trust.
He was passing by the Princess dorm when the door slammed open and out came Zelda. She noticed him and smiled closing the door behind her.
"Raciel, I need to tell you what happened with Ruto… Not now though, I have to get back to my lessons"
"I am actually surprised you were allowed out"
"Took a little of manipulation, but he agreed that a 1-minute recess could be beneficial" she smiled sheepishly.
My Princess using the knowledge she has been able to gather to spin things her way. That may be dangerous in the future… I am proud.
Link grins at Zelda "Get back in there, you said 1 minute, don't fail your word. We will talk later; I also have important news to share"
Zelda nods and immediately enters her room smiling.
Since when is she this obedient?
*She isn't, she is just happy*
Happy? Do you know what about?
*She made a new friend, and you didn't outright deny her the experience of talking about it with you*
That… reason is too simple for someone like her if you ask me.
*Good thing I was not asking. I am telling you something I noticed, but you are obviously uncapable of even processing it, do with the info what you must*
ZELDA POV
The teacher bowed before leaving her room. Zelda sighs rubbing her temples and falls back on her bed.
This took too long. I mean, I am aware I had been neglecting my study sessions, but if the multiple test I just took showed something is… that I don't need this. I mean, of course I do, but not long study hours like before, I have good memory and am currently able to grasp things quickly and efficiently. I wonder if Link is in his dorm, I need to tell him what I learned about the Zora princess, and what I did to accommodate her future visits.
Zelda stands up and walks out of her room. She was heading to hell when she noticed Chacha coming out of it with an envelope. The maid noticed the Princess approaching and hurried to meet her.
"Good day my Princess, I am to give this envelope to you"
"You gave one to Link too, didn't you?" the maid nods with a smile "Why him fist?" Zelda asks faking to be pissed about it.
"Because your door hanger read: do not disturb" Chacha answers biting back.
Right… I was catching up with my studies.
Zelda smiles back at the maid sheepishly. Link walks out of his room and notices the Princess, so he approaches. Chacha bows and excuses herself before walking away.
"I suppose you are finally done with your lessons, where you requested at the throne room too?" Link asks.
"The throne room?" Zelda opens her note and reads it quickly. "I guess I was, says that you requested this… is everything all right?"
"Depends on the scope you use to look at it"
"Could you tell me in advance?"
"I am leaving on a SWORD mission tomorrow" the Hero says bluntly.
"You mean, WE are leaving. It may be too soon, but I am sure we can reason this with my parents" Zelda suggests smiling.
"No Princess, I am going alone this time, you are staying here… I would rather explain this only once, so we better hurry to the throne room" Link says offering his arm.
Zelda pales at the news, she babbles a question but soon goes silent and just holds his arm. Link smiles and they start heading to the throne.
This… it can't be. Is he really going to the quantum world without me? Why? I have behaved, I have learned to adjust to different situations, I have followed his instruction, I have tried to be an asset instead of a burden. WHY AM I BEING LEFT BEHIND?
The Princess was pondering about that, and wondering if she had done something wrong, when a question from King Daphnes snapped her back to reality.
They had arrived to the throne room; she just was so wrapped around her confusion that she failed to notice where they were currently standing.
"What happens to be this important matter you need to discuss it son?"
"I need to leave tomorrow to the quantum realm, its job related."
The Queen stands up "But you have not been here that long, it's too soon"
"I am aware. The nature of this mission does not allow delay or a prompt return; it may take months or even years… I am not taking the Princess with me for that matter"
Claire sighs at that and sits down. But the King is still not pleased. Zelda tries to argue, but Ziel stares at her sternly, and looks up at the celling.
I think he is telling me not to make a fuss, and that we will discuss about it up in hell.
"You are asking me to give you up for who knows how long, am I correct?" King Derrick asks daringly.
"I am… I promise to keep in touch my lord" Link says pulling out his cellphone and wiggling it "I will call, just tell me the time of day when it would be appropriate, I don't want to bother you… also let me know how often would you be expect my calls"
The King scowls at Link "I expect to be called daily at 10pm in hyrulean time. You must notify me of your physical status… if you are hurt, if you are sick, what are you eating, and if you are you gaining or losing weight"
The King pauses smiling "Since you are young, your current height will change, keep me informed of that too. Also, let me know how are you fairing with the cold or warm weather, if you are getting your vaccines, if you are keeping physically active and"
"DAPHNES STOP… are you being serious darling?" Queen Claire suddenly blurts out.
Derrick chuckles "Of course not"
Link sighs heavily.
"But I do expect to know about you every day, doesn't need to be a call, just tell me if you re fine in a simple text every day at anytime"
Link chuckles "I will dad, thanks for everything… and that includes your overwhelming necessity to fuck with me, I am aware of what it really means" the Prince bows, and turns taping on the Princess shoulder. She also bows and follows Link outside.
"Just follow, I don't want talk here" Ziel whispers.
All right; I should use this short time to formulate my questions. Why are you leaving without me?... Right, he answered that one already, time.
SWORD knows you are part of Hyrule´s royalty now, can't you just refuse to accept this assignment?... it may be unfair of me to ask this one, he is not only leaving me, he is leaving Saria and Malon. If he could refuse this with a clear conscience, he would have.
And last but not least… what am I going to do without you?
As the pair entered the Prince dorm, Raziel closed the door and turned to look at Zelda waiting for her to initiate the onslaught. But the Princess surprised him by calmly asking,
"What am I going to do without you?" she blurted out in a soft whisper.
Link raised his eyebrows clearly surprised. Pursed his lips and answered.
"Keep everything going, check on Saria and Malon for me from time to time, keep training following the schedule I made for you. Keep track of how Zid and Rob's future entrance into Hyrule is going, meet suitors… you have a lot of things to do my Princess"
Indeed, I do. But…
"And how am I going to sleep?"
"Send me a text when you are going to sleep, I will call. It will not be like actually having me here, but I can tell you about my day until you fall asleep out of boredom" Link offers.
The Princess opens her eyes wide, turns away from him covering her face between her hands as she begins to mumble.
HOLY FUCK, is he really offering to do that? it is definitely not the same… but I will not feel lonely, and may actually manage to sleep. I wonder if this offer just came out on a whim, or if he actually thought about it beforehand. Not that it matters much.
"That may actually work… I guess I just need to get used to the idea of not being able to mistreat you anymore"
Link chuckles "Just don't get used to the idea of not having bruises to heal from. Actually, prepare your body for me, because I am going to be merciless when I get back"
Zelda glares at him and hisses.