The Legend of Zelda: The Fate of Hyrule

Chapter Four

Chapter Four: Johanna's POV

My costume may look absolutely stunning, but believe me. When you're wearing it, it's like a thousand fire ants dancing on your skin. Yeah, it's itchy. But that's the kind of stuff that actors have to do. I force a grin on my face and run onstage with Luke and a girl in a Navi costume. She wears a cute, aqua blue dress, and papier mâché wings are tied onto her shoulders.

I stare at a spot on the stage with disgust, as if the King of Evil is lying at our feet. "Ganondorf...pitiful man..." My stage voice is high-pitched and obnoxious, nothing like my real speaking voice. "Without a strong, righteous mind, he could not control the power of the gods...and..." A few people backstage bang on pots and pans with spoons. It's supposed to be the sound of the tower starting to collaspe, but apparently we spent our whole budget on costumes.

I gasp and look to Luke. "Listen to me! This tower will collapse soon! With his last breath, Ganondorf is trying to crush us in the ruins of the tower! We need to hurry and escape!" I turn to him. "Please follow me!" I run offstage, with Luke and Navi right at my heels.

I see Link and Alan appear through the curtains, bedsheets over their heads, and they plop down on opposite sides of the stage. The sheets are slightly transparent, and I can see Link staring at me, oblivious that I can see him too. I stifle a laugh. He's the sweetest. No. No, he's not. I squeeze my eyes shut and pinch my arm. He is not cute. I have...I have Luke.

Luke waves a hand in front of my face. "Hello? Johanna?" There's a hint of annoyance in his voice. I snap my head back up, and before he can tell me it's time to go back onstage, I'm halfway up the steps. I try to get Link out of my mind. Just...just think of the play. What's my next line?

Then I realize it's Luke's line. I look to him, and he's looking right back, expecting me to say something. My stomach churns with worry, but at the same time I am infuriated. "This wouldn't have happened if you had just studied your lines for a few minutes," I imagine scolding him after the performance. "I told you that you should've practiced."

I don't know the line. I only practiced mine! He needs to do something! Or should I do something? I mean, I am the theatre expert... Maybe I should-

Luke reaches into a pocket in his tunic.

He wouldn't.

His hand emerges a few moments later, holding his script.

He's doing it.

He doesn't even try to hide it. He opens it right in front of him, where the entire audience can see it. He flips through the pages until he finds the line, slowly reads it, and then shoves the script back into his pocket. "That was close," he says.

I hear a few chuckles from the audience. This is embarrasing. I am going to kill Luke after this.

I save my anger for later and think of the peaceful nature that Princess Zelda is known for. "It's over... It's finally over."

Navi finally speaks up. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you in the battle before!"

I painstakingly watch as Luke repeats the process with his script. "It's okay, Navi. I know you were trying your best."

More pots and pans sound, and Luke puts his arm in front of Navi and I, silently telling us to stay put. It's Luke's line again. Fortunately, someone took a hint and is now feeding his lines to him from backstage. "Who's there?" He shouts, after he hears the line.

A boy named Rueben rushes onstage, dressed in a Ganondorf costume. Rueben's a few years older than I am, and about twice as tall. He stops about ten feet away from us. "Did you really think I was finished?" He speaks in a loud, angry voice. "I will not be defeated!" He raises his arm upward, revealing the Triforce of Courage, painted skillfully on the back of his hand.