The Legend of Zelda: Curse of the Mooncat
Chapter One: Good Intentions That Backfire

Under a tree, inside a castle’s walls, in a beautiful little country, sat a boy who felt trapped. Not physically, but not quite emotionally either. He had been free before, free to roam on his own time and do what he pleased. But now he’d been forced into pointless training. “What a promising child,” they had said. “What spirit!”

They knew nothing of the horrors he had faced. He often thought they would have wet themselves if they knew. But regardless, they just didn’t know. And so, they doted on him like some innocent child, when in fact he’d probably killed more than the entire Council combined! But that’s beside the point.

I’m a poor, miserable, misunderstood man, he thought glumly. I’m going to be taught things I already know for the next four years. What a waste of time! He glanced back down at the book that lay in his lap; The Code of Knighthood. What a waste of paper...

“Liiink! Hey Link!” The boy glanced up, and cracked a smile. If there was anything that never failed to depress him, it was his studies. And if there was anything that could make him gay again, it was Zelda. She was like him in every aspect, from age to personality, likes to dislikes. Except that she was royalty and therefore Link wasn’t suppose to spend time with her. He was still a peasant, after all, and uncivilized. But that never stopped her from visiting him.

“Hey Zel, what’s up?” She flopped down next to him, totally disregarding the fact that she would probably get grass stains all over her butt.

“Oh, nothing of great interest. Father called a meeting this morning and hasn’t shown his face since. Not even to take lunch! I’ve been bored almost to tears.” She pouted, batting her eyelashes at him.

“So... what do you want me to do about it?” he asked, already half knowing the answer.

Zelda leaned over next to him, her face so close he could feel her breath, and whispered, “Take me to see the fairies, my knight-in-shining-armor!.”

Link tossed his book aside, laughing. “Better not let your pops hear you talking like that. He’ll lock you up.”

They both stood, Zelda attempting to smooth out the wrinkles of her dress. Then they proceeded to their secret escape route. It was door in the rampart wall that was hardly used for anything, probably because hardly anyone knew it was there. The rear wall of the Gardens Picturesque (for those of noble families, or as in Link’s case, those striving for knighthood) was covered in a thick, lush ivy. Underneath the stairs leading up to the ramparts’ top was the thickest growth. Hidden under this ivy resided their door. Sometimes Link would pray to the Goddesses for a drought just so it would be easier to get the darn thing open.

Once through the door, it was a short hike across a field ripe with grains. Harvest season was almost upon them. This would be the first harvest that Link was not to help with. It was his tutor’s way of making him civilized. After that, they were in the Lost Woods. Most people got lost in this forest, hence the name, but Link had traveled its winding paths so many times he practically didn’t have to think to find his way.

In no time, they arrived at a familiar little hovel deep within the woods. Upon seeing their friend, eight fairies fluttered out. They had come to know and love Zelda as well, who delighted in their company. They told her about their little daily adventures, and then they begged Link to tell them the story of how he first was lost in the woods. On this occasion, like most others, Link consented. So he sat on his stump, and Zelda sat in the rustling leaves with the fairies piled in her lap, hanging on her shoulders, and lounging on her head.

Several hours were passed in this manner. When the sun started to set, Zelda decided they should probably head back. So they bid their friends farewell and started home. “So, did you have fun?” Link asked. Zelda glanced up at him. She was no longer smiling and laughing. “I think the more important question is whether you had fun.”

This took Link by surprise. “W-what? I thought you wanted to get away for awhile. Wasn’t that why you...”

But Link knew it wasn’t. Zelda sighed and took his arm, looking up at him. “Oh Link, I hate to see you so depressed. When you came back after... after everything, you had changed so much from the little boy who had rescued me from Agahnim. You had truly grown into yourself. Being a knight, and therefore one of my guardians, even if Father doesn’t see it that way, is probably a good use of your talents. Not the best, but a good choice. But getting there.. ! You’re just not made for schedules and politics. You’re a free spirit. Father thinks you act the way you do because you’re just a child. But you’re not. And neither am I. We were forced to grow up, weren’t we? They just don’t see it.” She looked away, sniffling a little.

Link pulled her back. “You’re right. They don’t see it. But that’s not gonna stop me, and it shouldn’t stop you either. If I fought that monster Ganondorf and won, I can tough out a few years of tedious, pretentious rules.”

Zelda looked back up him. “I just worry about you. I don’t want you to change anymore, I like you just the way you are.” Link smiled. “Well I give you permission to kick me then if that happens, okay?”

By this time, they’d reached the ramparts. They let themselves in by their secret door and sneaked across the garden. Link was about to bid Zelda goodnight when a door in the castle wall slamed open, spilling light out across the lawn. “Your Majesty, I’ve found her!!” The guard rushed forward, shoved Link aside, and scooped Zelda up, rushing her back into the castle.

The hallway was packed with guards, both regular and elite. The King stood in their midst, his face pale with worry. “Oh Zelda, my darling, are you are alright? Where have you been? I’ve been so worried! How on earth did you escape that man?” While Zelda was set down, and set upon by her father, Link squeezed into the hallway, curious about what was going on.

“What man?”

“Why, the one who destroyed your room!”

“I wasn’t attacked by anyone, Father. I’m fine.”

“How could you be, you’re life was in danger!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Then you weren’t in the castle. We’ve been searching for you, and him, for the past three hours! Where were you?”

“I was with Link.”

“With Link! I told you not to spend time with that boy.”

“Well, if my life had been in danger, he would have been there to defend me, right?”

“That’s beside the point. What was he doing with you?”

“We were in the forest, I asked him to-.”

“WHAT!? You went outside the ramparts? LINK!!!”

Link cringed as his name was yelled. Everyone turned to stare at him with angry faces. King Daphnes face had gone from pale to tomato red in the blink of an eye. “Yes, Your Majesty?” Link asked meekly. He probably looked scared. And he should have been. He was about to be blamed for the Princess’ disappearance, even though it seemed to have kept her safe. That was as good as kidnapping.

The King opened his mouth, but no words came out. He stood there, fuming. Link just looked up at him expectantly. Finally he managed to say, “Go. Go back to your quarters and stay there. GO.” Link didn’t need to be told twice. He scurried out of the hallway, back across the lawn towards the squire dormitories. He slipped inside, running down the hallway to his room. The other squires chased after him, trying to find out what had happened.

As Link lay on his bed, it occurred to him that he had suddenly become the whipping boy. Maybe I won’t have to endure four years of training after all.