Sugar and Spice- A Modern Zelink AU

~Fresh Start~

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  I could see my breath forming little puffs of steam in front of me as I took slow steps towards the large glass door. Snow was seeping through my boots and my nose was red from the cold, but none of that bothered me. Today was the day. I had finally saved up enough money to buy my own bookstore.

  As I approached the door, my breath caught in my throat. I admired the oak beams at the front of the building. Intricate designs of triangles and leaves covered the wood. It had a sort of fairytale feeling. I smiled and remembered my times with Urbosa as a child. How Urbosa had brought me here to build snowmen and play in the snow. How she had called my breath in the cold " dragon smoke" and teased me for my little red nose.

 I smiled sighed fondly, brushed the snow off of the door, closed my eyes and pushed the door open. 

 I opened my eyes and gasped, "Oh my!" The inside of the building was absolutely disgusting. The floor was caked with dust, the built-in shelves were rotted through. The wallpaper and paint were flaking and falling off, floating through the air in an eerily familiar way.

 I smacked my forehead and laughed. ' What have I gotten myself into?' I thought as I moved farther into the building,  Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a large spiral staircase at the far end of the room. I walked over to it and touched the railing, grimacing at all the dust that latched on to my fingers. I cautiously placed a foot on the first step, making sure it was stable, and then walked up the stairs.

  I stepped onto a second level with multiple shelves and old tattered chairs, assessing the disaster from a safe spot near the stairs.' I could start by cleaning the floors, and then throw away all of the old pieces of furniture. Then deal with the shelves and paint.' I nodded to myself and headed back out to her car. 

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 I felt the sharp wind even through my heavy coat as I lugged a mop and bucket towards the door. A warm glow caught my attention as I got closer to the building. I opened the door, shoved the mop and bucket inside and rushed over to the source of the light.  

" Wild Forest Bakery?" I smiled. How had I not noticed there was a bakery next door? 'I'll check it out after I'm done'.  I sighed and walked away.

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 " Hylia have mercy on me," I muttered " My hands feel like they've been stomped on by a horse!" I slammed the mop into the bucket and scrubbed the floor. I heard a faint ringing from my bag and went over to grab my phone. " Hello?"

 "Hi Zelda! "

 "Mipha!"

"Are you in the shop? How does it look? Is it messy? Or is it salvageable? Is it-"

"Mipha! One question at a time!"

"Sorry, hold on one sec-"

"Mipha? You ok?" 

"Ok- I'm on the phone right now Sidon! Fix your own dinner!"

I chuckled and set the phone down on a table.

"11 years later and Sidon is still asking you to make him dinner." 

"I know right! I just don't have the heart to turn him away though. Looks like I'm making salmon again." Mipha grumbled. " So anyways, how does it look?"