AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hyrule is a country in this story very similar to the United States. This is a Modern!AU after all! The President (aka Zelda's father Rhoam) doesn't live in the White House as the President would in America. President Rhoam lives in his own mansion with Zelda. He goes to a separate building to deal with political affairs, etc. There are a few things different in this story than it would be in America. Keep that in mind when you read this story :) hope you enjoy!

***

An day in the life of Zelda Hyrule is rather ordinary.

The girl, a high school junior aged seventeen, reigns Castle Town High School with the highest grades in all of her classes. She cultivates the school garden with an endangered flower species. She plays two instruments—the piano and the violin. Zelda, as many have titled her, is the princess of the school. The President's daughter, the daddy's girl. Over the years, countless glares and rude comments have been piled upon her. As bland as she considers herself, and as much as she loathes her titles, Zelda goes along with it.

Her day begins at 6:15 with a bowl of oatmeal. Then at 6:30 is a quick shower. At 7:00 is piano practice. Violin practice follows promptly. At 7:30, it used to be martial arts and guarding: but she outgrew the task and reached her potential. Finally, at 7:45, Zelda is off to school.

Every day passes monotonously. She wishes things could change.

******

Zelda sighs, gingerly placing her violin into its case. Her fingers graze the latch momentarily before she seals the instrument until its next requirement. She steals a glance at her wrist watch. The time is 7:30.

Zelda places her violin into a corner of her secluded room. The wood of her case chips the paint along the wall. The faded pale blue of the walls is a cozy shade painted before her family moved into the home. When she was younger, she loathed the hue and pleaded for pink; now, she adores it. Though the paint is withering, she doesn't mind; if Father finds out, he'll have a hissy, she thinks to herself. Besides, it reminds her of Mother.

Zelda slips into her usual school uniform—a plain sweater beneath a navy blazer and a black skirt. She pairs it with black flats (not heels—she'd trip!).

Zelda glides down the swirling staircase (the daughter of the president of course dwells in a mansion). In the distance she hears a few maids piddle around the house. (They give her privacy most of the time, for which she's very grateful.) She grabs her backpack and calls a half-hearted "goodbye" to her father, though she assumes he likely isn't home. Then off to school she goes.

The walk to school is chilly. The autumnal season is settling over Castle Town, topping the trees with golds and reds and coating the air with layers of icy wind. The gardens around her home hang their flowered heads lowly, pricked by the cold. With a deft hand Zelda opens the passcode-locked gate to her home. She then pulls her blazer to her chest.

The school is only a three minutes' walk from her home, and Zelda arrives at school at 7:48 a.m.

Just as she would any other day.

Blending into the crowd of students, Zelda enters the school building. People chat around her about school and the weather and others bloviate mindlessly. Some people whisper about her.

"There goes Princess."

Zelda holds herself back from sending a sharp glare in the direction of the passerby—a jock, she assumes—and continues to trek towards her locker through the sea of people.

She weaves her way through and finds her locker. She grabs her next three classes' books, glaring at the students around her: some texting, some talking, some...Zelda diverts her gaze embarrassedly, cursing herself under her breath about 'inappropriate courting in public.'

"Zelda! Hey, Zelda!" A voice cries through the numerous sounds bouncing throughout the hallways, interrupting Zelda's reverie.

A tiny red fish-girl gasps as she practically collapses before Zelda. Zelda offers a smile.

"Mipha. You're bubbly this morning," Zelda comments, chuckling at her best friend.

Mipha regains her composure, face flushing as red as her long fins. "You know, I'm not quite in shape for swim season yet. I really need to run more!" Mipha brushes off her arms self-consciously. "Anyways, have you heard from your dad this morning?" She inquires solicitously.

Zelda frowns. "I told him goodbye this morning..." she trails. It isn't often her father is home, but when he is, he drills her with commands. She knows he cares about her well-being, but often times, it's easy for Zelda to forget that.

The two girls begin walking to class.

"You did? Well, your dad's not home right now. You won't believe what happened!" Mipha panics, holding Zelda's hand tightly in hers. "I'm glad my dad taught me how to fight with a—"

"Mipha! You're babbling," Zelda interjects with a laugh.

"My! You're right. Apologies. Geez, my mind's in a whirl. The Yiga gang attacked a cheerleader last night!" Mipha bursts, forcing out the words quickly, as if they're hot in her mouth.

"These attacks are occurring more often," Zelda gasps. "Was anyone hurt?"

The attacks of the Yiga gang occur every few months or so: video threats on social medial, violations of some property. But as months pass, the attacks gradually grow more intense and frequent. A home was invaded. A young man was shot.

"No. Thankfully, Riju wasn't hurt," Mipha sighs. "She's just a freshman!"

"Why hasn't anyone caught these criminals yet? Mipha, I want to help," Zelda sighs, and the two girls enter the classroom. They select two seats in the back. Zelda's mind reflects back to her father. How hasn't father helped catch them? He needs to focus on helping our people. I want to help fight. I learned a few years ago...

"You know, I hear they 'disappear.' Whatever that may mean. Anywho, I'm so scared—"

"Scared? There was another attack?" A sudden voice interrupts. A petite white-haired girl with a fat bun on her head suddenly leans over Mipha's desk.

"Paya! Yes, there was another attack. To be honest, I shouldn't be frightened. I can fight with a spear, after all—"

"But Mipha, it's scary! Though Grandma taught me how to fight, that doesn't mean I can stand up to a gang!" Paya wails into her hands. "Not even the police nor the President's guards can catch them! No offense, Zelda!" Paya adds, squeaking the apology.

Zelda sighs to herself. She agrees with Paya. Something needs to be done about the Yiga gang; Castle Town isn't a large town, and Hyrule isn't a huge country. Her father must do something. If he won't, then she will. The fact delves her into furious introspection; Mother wouldn't sit and allow our people to be in danger. Mother would take action, not toy with politics.

Paya and Mipha chatter nervously, bundled beside each other like shivering animals. Zelda sympathetically catches the gazes of her friends. "I'm also thankful for your grandmother, Paya. Impa teaches well. I believe the skills that Impa taught me a few years have not waned from my mind. I think we'll be fine," Zelda says warmly, attempting to reassure her friends. Her two friends, she believes, are stronger than they think. And if no one will protect them, then she will...somehow.

As class begins, Paya departs to her own desk beside Mipha and the girls become silent.

Mrs. Urbosa Narboris, the teacher of cultural geography, rises from her desk with a smile. The tall lady practically towers over her class, her long red hair like a waterfall down her shoulders.

"Class, it seems we have a new student today. He has come quite a long way to study at our school. I expect you all to treat him welcomingly," she states, motioning to the new student to enter the classroom.

A tall boy enters the room briskly, sealing the door behind him. The first period bell rings promptly.

"Class, this is Link. He will be joining you all this semester. Introduce yourself to us, Link," Mrs. Naboris smiles, her blue lips creasing her cheeks.

The boy—Link—keeps his gaze forward, not bothering to glance at any students in the room. Zelda takes advantage of this to observe him; it isn't often Castle Town High School has new students. His hair flows over his head like honey, creamy into a secured blue ponytail. Tiny blue hoop-like earrings pierce his ears. He sports the boy's uniform, a thin white button-up with a red tie and black pants.

Zelda wonders how he hasn't been kicked out of school yet due to his long hair.

"Well?" Mrs. Naboris presses.

Link fidgets uncomfortably. He must be shy, Zelda thinks to herself.

"I'm Link," he says steadily, eyes still glued forward. "I'm from Skyloft."

Everyone gasps. Skyloft City houses the most prestigious fighters and agents, people who often undertake careers such as bodyguards or government workers or even spies. Intelligent and swift, fast and strong—those words come to Zelda's mind when she thinks about Skyloft. When she was in elementary school, a bodyguard from Skyloft often escorted her to classes.

"My father is Barin Wilde. I moved here alone," Link finishes. He then looks to Mrs. Naboris, asking her without speaking if he may sit down.

The class bursts into whispers.
"Barin Wilde?! Wasn't he like, a bodyguard of the President?"
"Wilde? This kid's a Wilde?"
"He must be strong!"
"He's kinda cute, too..."

Zelda watches him walk to his own seat, his head kept low. If he can hear their words, he acts like it doesn't bother him. He slumps into the desk nearest to the back corner: the desk nearest to Zelda.

"Barin Wilde..." Zelda murmurs to herself. "I believe he was my escort to school when I was a child," Zelda whispers to Mipha, who sits next to her.

"Really? I wonder why Link's here then," Mipha responds quietly. "He's kind of hot, though!" Link doesn't seem to hear her.

Zelda just raises a brow, smiling to herself as she readjusts her gaze forward. She's greeted by honey locks.

I wonder why the boy of my guard is here, she thinks to herself. And why he is sitting so closely. There are other empty desks in the room...

The questions almost lull Zelda to sleep, but pass time by. Before she knows it, first period is over.

The rest of the day passes like a blur. At lunch, many students surround Riju, and multiple collect around Link. Questions are thrown left and right all day. And in every single class, Link sits near to Zelda. It almost bothers her, but she attempts to pay it no mind. Once, she catches him staring at her: sapphire-like eyes, deep and mysterious, looking into her own sea-emeralds. She quickly averts her gaze.

What is up with this boy?!

At the end of the day, Zelda resorts back to her locker, retrieving and discarding books. She notes the subjects she has for homework—chemistry, literature, calculus, and cultural geography—and piles the books into her arms. Grunting to herself, Zelda slams the locker with her foot. "Why is there so much homework tonight?" She mutters to herself. Whirling around, the books become too heavy, gravity takes its toll, and suddenly Zelda trips.

She throws her hands before her as the books fly from her hands, instinctively attempting to break her fall, and she braces herself for the hard, sleek tiles of the floor—

and collides with a poof, her books slamming onto the ground. Instead of hard and sleek tiles, her hands grasp something else. Something else hard, but kind of soft. Opening her eyes, Zelda meets another pair of eyes. Sapphire eyes. Bewildered sapphire eyes. A kind of handsome face?

Two hands grasp her sides. A confused gaze meets her own. Her own hands rest on—

"Link! My goodness, I'm s-sorry! I'm so, so sorry!" Zelda yanks her hands away from his chest, clutching them until they turn white. Link stands silently, and Zelda's cheeks are redder than tomatoes. "I am so clumsy, I had no idea—"

"It's fine," he answers, falling to his knees to collect her books. One by one, he gathers them in his arms as if they're weightless. Silently, dumbfounded, Zelda is stiff as she watches him.

"Are you okay?" He asks carefully, and Zelda swears this is the first time this stoic boy has shown any emotion all day.

"Yes," she chokes, her throat dry.

He gently tucks them into her arms, acting as though nothing happened. Zelda swallows, eyes wide as he adjusts them in her grasp. Then, wordlessly, he turns and walks away. Zelda's eyes follow him through the crowd, watching him all the way to the door. Before he exits, he pauses in his steps to glance over his shoulder. Zelda opens her mouth to speak.

"By the way, my name is—"
"Zelda," he finishes. "See you," he says, drifting out of the school like a ghost.

Zelda says nothing but stands numbly.

How did he know my name?

***

SUP GUYS.

Here I go writing another fanfiction. Lol this first chapter IS SO FRICKIN CHEESY KMS BUT SHIPPY STUFF IS COMING. AND IT'S ZELINK, ONE OF MY FAVORITE OTPs OF ALL TIME!!!
I hope you liked this first chapter. (:
- lilacfrost021