20) Stress, Contest Submission Thread

[Existence: DENIED]

Thread for submitting all drabbles under the theme 'Stress' .

[Angel Zelda]

Zelink Theme #20: Stress
Title: A Princess Trapped in Her Crystal
Words: 125

This is my fault...all my fault.

Zelda couldn’t help but think those thoughts as she was being held captive in Ganondorf’s castle, trapped inside a pink crystal while Ganondorf played an eerie melody on an organ.

A part of Zelda didn’t want to blame herself, but she knew that all the tragedy that had befallen Hyrule was her doing.

And she had dragged Link into it, too. Link didn’t deserve to be in this mess. He didn’t deserve to lose seven years of his life.

If Link came to save her--no, when Link came to save her--Zelda would do what needed to be done. She would send Link back to his childhood.

I just hope you’ll be able to forgive me, Link.

[gr33n_sl33ves]

Title: Realtors Suck
Theme: Stress
Wordcount: 677
Genre: Humour
Setting: AU
Rating: PG-13 (some language)

---

Link knew Zelda was in a foul mood as soon as she closed the door to their apartment. The fact that she didn't so much close the door as slam it, coupled with her frustrated scream, was dead give away.
"Another wonderful day in the funtastic land of realtors?" Link asked as Zelda dropped her briefcase and coat before throwing herself into her favourite armchair with more force than was strictly necessary.
"I hate them," she replied, "I simply hate them."
"Anything in particular?" Link asked. Zelda shook her head, looking both annoyed and bewildered, saying, "It's the egos in that place. They all seem to thing that they're the greatest things on the planet, like their shit doesn't stink!"
"They mush be pretty bad if they can get you of all people to swear,"
"They are that bad. And worse!" Zelda continued, "Even the new realtors have egos the size of all outdoors, and the ink is barely dry on their licenses! Sure, there are some decent people at the office, but the majority of them act as though even speaking to me will give them some sort of terminal disease!"
"That's pretty stupid, considering you're the one who’s making all of their highlight sheets and tending to their websites." Link said, frowning.
"I know, which is always a treat when I have to work with the arrogant ones. Argh! But today!" she growled, "Today I had the pleasure of working with Swe Kelkuia! I swear, the man is a walking Holodrum joke. You can take any Holodrum joke, switch in his name, and then the joke would be fact. For example, did you hear that Swe Kelkuia is launching an expedition to the sun? Yeah, he's going at night so he won't get burned. He would really do this!."
Link couldn't help but laugh at that.
"And because he used to be a realtor in Termina," Zelda continued, "He thinks we're all a bunch of country bumpkins out here. I tell no lie, this one time he sent me a bunch of pictures for this lake front property, but instead of having multiple pictures in one e-mail (because they were for the internet and therefore not very big), he sent one per e-mail. But the part that really rubs me raw is the fact that he would label them as though I were an idiot. There was one with a view of the lake, so he labelled it 'lake view picture' (except he does this thing where he types in all caps lock, so it's like he's screaming at me all the time), but beneath that it said, 'this is the view of the lake,' as though I wouldn't know what I'm looking at! I FREAKING HATE SWE KELKUIA AND I FREAKING HATE REALTORS!!"
Link just stared at Zelda as she composed herself after her outburst. She was normally a fairly unflappable person, but when it came to the attitudes of those she worked for, Zelda became surprisingly volatile.
"Feeling better?" Link asked after a while. Zelda gave him a half smile, saying, "Yeah, I actually am. Maybe I should complain about realtors more often?"
"I think I've got a better idea," Link replied, smiling knowingly, "What say you organize a friendly paintball tournament with your co-workers? You'd be able to get out your aggression in a non-fatal manner, and you'd still have the satisfaction of knowing paintball hits leave large and very painful bruises,"
"I think you might have something there," Zelda agreed, her smile becoming mischievous, "The boss was looking for some sort of group activity... I'll have to suggest it at the next meeting. For now, though," she said, hoisting herself out of her chair, "I'm going to get changed into something comfortable, then I am going to make so bread, because while pounding the dough, I can pretend I'm actually causing massive bodily harm to Swe Kelkuia!"

And Link and Zelda dined on some very fluffy bread that night, thanks to the through beating it received while in its doughy state.

[Alantie]

Theme: Stress
Words: 391
Title: Man's Worst Fear

Link had been dreading this meeting ever since he had finally plucked up enough courage to ask the Princess of the entire kingdom of Hyrule to marry him- a backwoods common blood nobody. Oh sure, he had saved the land from falling into blood and shadow for all eternity, but did that make him worthy enough to marry his beloved Zelda?

She certainly seemed to think so. But then she argued that even if he was nothing more than a poor farm boy she would still believe he was worthy of her. Link pointed out that if he was, then they never would have met. She’d laughed at that, telling him he was being silly. Well, maybe he was. But most men who went to ask the father’s permission to marry their daughter didn’t have to worry about whether or not he’d either execute him or have the army chase him from one end of the country to the other.

In any case, his love for Zelda was enough to spurn him into the meeting with the King. He had polished his boots until he could nearly see his own face in the reflection and chose his outfit with care- one that Zelda had remarked made him look extremely dashing and impressive. Then, his palms damp with sweat, he stood outside the throne room doors, waiting nervously until he was announced.

There was a kind of buzz in his ears as he walked toward the thrones where the King and Princess sat, waiting for him. Zelda was smiling at him brightly, but the King’s face was as expressionless as always, staring down solemnly at the young hero.

Link bowed and knelt respectfully, placing his hand over his heart as a sign of respect and his pledge before nervously stating his request. For a moment there was nothing but silence in the hall, then the King stood, his robes rustling as he walked forward. Link was staring frozen at the expensive shoes before him, and was startled when warm hands were on his shoulders, pulling him to his feet. For a moment the King studied the younger man’s face, then smiled slowly and embraced him. Link felt his eyes widen and heard the King’s warm voice speaking to him.

“I could not hope for a better man to be my daughter’s husband.”