Hyrule's Vengeance: A Modern LoZ

Chapter 1 - Hyrule Warrior

"You already asked me, and I already told you no."

"Come on, Zelda. You're one of the smartest girl on campus and yet you seem to be the only one who doesn't have time to date. Don't tell me you're one of those goody-goody girls who doesn't want to be touched until marriage."

Zelda's face reddens. "No." She says trying not to sound defensive. "And saying 'no' to dates is the reason I'm an honors student."

"Zelda, come on."

"Look, Crue. I have some major assignments and exams coming up for finals and I can't afford to be distracted right now. We are not all gifted with, with... photographic memory like you."

"You're saying I'm a distraction?" says Crue as he playfully bumps into Zelda.

"Yes," she laughs as she steadies herself. She stops and he stands in front of him, her head under his chin. He looks down at her. "Ask me again after finals. I promise I'll have a better answer then."

"Can I just--" he reaches out and tucks silky strands of blond hair behind her ear.

"Don't," she says and awkwardly puts her hair back as it was, covering her ears. "I don't like my ears."

"Why not? They make you look like a sexy fairy or something."

"It's called a Stahl's ear, for your information, and it's a genetic anomaly. Not exactly something that's envied. My mom has it too."

"Well, I think it's adorable."

Someone standing behind Crue catches her attention. She does a double take. The person she sees doesn't look like he belongs here. His hair is long and scruffy, and he is sporting casual black pants and denim jacket. Not typical of the students on campus that wear uniforms representing Hyrule Academy or their mascot, the Hyrule Warriors. He doesn't have a backpack and he is smoking cigarettes, which Zelda is almost positive is prohibited among the students of the Academy.

Crue touches the back of her hand. "Did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry. What did you say?" 

"I said I think your ears are adorable."

"Thanks," she says half smiling.

Crue leans in close to her as he holds her gaze.

"I said after finals. Two weeks. I'm sure you will survive," she says giving him a gentle push on his chest. "You have to study too. I better see you at cram school this week. You'll need it if you want to get into medical school."

"You said yourself I'm gifted. But if you're there then I'll definitely–"

"Oyyy!" says someone cutting Crue off. It was their friend Luke and he is with Adriannah. Crue puts his arm around Luke and they begin to play fight.

"What did you say?" says Adriannah, leaning close to Zelda.

"Like I already told you. After finals."

"I can't believe you just turned down the hottest and richest guy on campus."

"I didn't. I just postponed it."

"I think you're parents would be thrilled to know you guys are courting."

"They will be as long as it doesn't affect my studies."

"Which it won't," says Adriannah.

"Hey, Crue. You better be careful. It looks like there is a junkie interested in your girl," says Luke. They all look in the direction Luke is referring to. They are talking about the boy Zelda noticed earlier. The one who isn't in a school uniform nor has a backpack. But Luke was right, he does appear to be looking in Zelda's direction.

"That's kind of creepy. He looks older than us. You don't know him do you Zel?" says Adriannah.

Zelda shakes her head. "But I've seen him before."

"Out here like this?" says Luke.

"He's outside the girl's dorms. Fucking freak!" says Crue, his voice louder.

"Shush Crue," says Zelda. "If he hears you it might be trouble."

"It won't be. He doesn't even go to school here."

"He might have transferred," says Adriannah.

"Look at what he's wearing," says Crue. "His sneakers are that old you can't even tell what color they are. Someone poor like him cannot afford and school like this."

"I bet that's why he comes here, to fantasize being an elite student," says Luke grinning.

"Or maybe he comes here to wonder what it would be like to be with an elite sorority girl," says Crue folding his arms across his chest.

"For Goddess's sake, Crue. You don't even know anything about him," says Zelda.

"Let's find out," says Crue has he runs his fingers through his black hair. "Back me up, Luke."

"No, Crue!" yells Zelda but it's too late.

"Is there something I can help with? You're standing outside the girl's dorm as if you are waiting for someone. Is there a lady we can help you find? Because surely it can't be my girl over there," says Crue, his arms folded across his chest.

Luke laughs and Zelda cups her hand over her face in embarrassment.

The boy doesn't move.

"Are you lost or anything? Maybe we can help," says Zelda in a friendly tone trying to defuse a potential fight.

The boy faces Zelda then, takes one long haul of his cigarette before he tosses it aside and casually turns away.

"Oh I don't think so," says Crue as he reaches out to grab the stranger.  "You don't get to disrespect her like that, you fucking weird–"

But the boy takes Crue and throws him over his shoulder before he can get another word out.

"Crue! Are you ok?" says Zelda running to him.

By now they have garnered attention as passing students stop to watch the spectacle.

"There is nothing to see here," says the security guard as he shoos the bystanders away. "Is everything ok over here?"

"This creep has been loitering outside the girl's dorm and attacked me when I confronted him on it!" says Crue, getting up and brushing off his cargo shorts. 

"We don't know why he was here," says Zelda but stops defending this stranger after Crue gives her a look of betrayal.

"I don't know, Zelda," says Adriannah linking up arms with her. "He was giving a weird vibe."

"You should check his ID, sir," says Luke.  "Look, he's not even wearing a uniform--"

But when the turn to question the mysterious stranger further, he is nowhere in sight.