Hi! This is my first fan fiction and is meant to serve as a bit of practice for me. It will, instead of being something of an epic, focus on relationships between characters and a 'coming of age' concept. Anyways, enough talk. Here's the Prologue:

Zelda's eyes skimmed the passage, dancing over the texts she'd taken the liberty of highlighting earlier. Basic ancient Gerudo was difficult to decipher on its own, without having to translate sections of poetry. And while she still considered it one of her more fascinating classes, the call of sleep beckoned to her, whispering that it didn't matter how intently she studied, her first day at the University of Hyrule would not hinge upon whether or not she could excel right away in her linguistics course. So, sighing, she leaned against the back of her chair and tapped her pen against her thumb, contemplatively. Only one more night left in this room, she thought. My childhood- any grace that might've been extended to me- ends tomorrow afternoon when I step foot on campus.

It was a terrifying notion, to be ripped of one's remaining innocence and forced into a foreign world. Suddenly, she felt slightly ill, and any confidence she had been scraping together that summer seemed to slip away from her.

Running a hand through her disheveled golden hair, Zelda pushed away from her desk and stood, facing one last half-packed suitcase and a small mass tucked beneath strewn laundry. She bent down and lifted the sleeve of a sweater and smiled at the tail flicking out from under it. It vanished momentarily, then reappeared, this time attached to the body of a plump, silver feline.

"Want to help me pack, Ralis?" She cooed, tickling the underside of the cat's chin. Ralis purred in affirmation and Zelda giggled. She had always found consolation in the animal- particularly when it came to her social life. Friend-making was an easy task for her, but friend-keeping was more difficult. Her studies perpetually seemed to trump any relationships, even unintentionally. She just tended to gravitate to books more so than people, which usually presented her as standoffish and cold, though she tried her hardest to be warm and inviting with her peers.

She desperately hoped her time at the University would change that.

As she leaned down to snatch up a sock that had been tossed aside without its mate, she was startled to hear a soft 'ding' ring out from the other side of the room. Crossing it in a couple strides, she glanced at the illumined screen of her cellphone. At first she was surprised anyone would bother messaging her at one-thirty in the morning until she read the contact name.

"would anyone laugh at me if I brought along patricia?"

-Riju

Zelda smiled. Riju was one of the wisest, kindest, and most beautiful people she had ever met, and her only true friend. Her mother had died at a young age and with her father away so frequently, she had been forced to practically raise herself. With these factors taken into account, Zelda found it adorable she still worried about things like whether or not to bring her sandseal plushie away with her to college.

"If they do, beat the hell out of them with her," she immediately texted back.

"good thinking. thats the best way to start off this year. murder."

"Glad to have you joining me. :)"

"yeah youd get lonely w/o me."

Zelda chuckled softly and had just returned to sorting her clothes when she was startled by her text tone and the rattle of the phone's vibration on her nightstand.

"dont be alone this year."

She stared down at the words, perplexed at the way her throat tightened and her chest grew hot. Why had she instantly become so sad? The doubt and worries she had been quelling for the past several months upon the arrival of her UofH acceptance letter began to choke her once again. As faithful as Riju had been for so many years, even she understood that Zelda remained lonely. For a girl who craved the world, her life was regrettably dissatisfactory. Though Riju had once told her she thought the books were a numbing device for the longing to see and do more, Zelda disagreed. The stories she read didn't dampen any of her emotions. They excited them. Acknowledging this once more, she tore her eyes from the text and steeled her nerves.

This was her beginning; the meeting place of all her tomorrows.

Hey! Thanks for reading my very short prologue. Please give it a review and I hope to update with a new chapter soon! Thanks very much!