A/N: So, I figured there's not enough trans girl Linkle fics out there. Have this! Also, I've been thinking about why the seven year jump was necessary, so I had some fun with it.

For the record, Linkle realized she was a girl sometime after she left the forest, and that'll come up later in the fic.

Big shout-out to Subrosian_Smithy, Saraiguma, and Yashkonu for helping inspire this fic, giving me ideas, and generally being amazing friends.

If you like this, Check out my P-A-T-R-E-O-N, chickemguns (with an M) or my Tumblr, chickengums?

A single ray of light filters in through an unseen window, illuminating the blade and the pedestal it stands in, and she can't help but gasp.

Even at this distance, even mostly contained, the power radiating off of it turns her legs to lead and ties her stomach in knots.

Still, she knows what must be done, so she takes a slow, painful step towards it.

And another.

And another.

Navi's voice drones in her ears as she trudges up the steps to the pedestal, and she wants to speak, to apologize for not paying attention, but she can't find the strength.

She grabs the hilt, and the room darkens as colors bloom at the edges of her vision.

Everything comes back, everything's too vivid, and she screams as she pulls the sword free.

There's a sudden rush, blue energy surging and swirling around and through and in her, and everything turns a blinding white.

/

Deep, booming laughter surrounds her, and a gruff, harsh voice comes from behind her.

"Heh, Just like I thought… following you paid off more than I could have hoped. Good job, kid."

She whirls around, and the man from her nightmares is there for an instant, before the whiteness envelops her again.

/

The kid's just lying there, twitching weakly, his hand still clutching the Master Sword, and she can't help but smile.

So driven, so determined… and she'd always had a soft spot for those with the will to forge their own destiny.

With a wave of her hand, his fever disappears and his breathing evens out... and out of his hat flies another of Farore's creatures.

"Stay away from her!" It chitters.

Din blinks.

/

She pushes herself to her feet, dragging the sword along with her.

Navi's voice drones in her ears, high and emotional and she looks up at her-

And gasps.

The woman is huge, easily half again as tall as the tallest man she'd met since leaving the forest, and her arms are the size of her head, every inch of her covered in muscle that looked harder than the blade she held… and far more dangerous.

"Who are you?" She demands, and the woman spares her a glance before turning her attention back to the ball of light floating at eye-level.

Navi falls silent… and returns to her side.

She swallows as the woman's gaze rests on her.

It's an almost physical weight, and a mental one, and she can't help but feel as though she's being laid bare to be judged.

"My power will become a great problem for you soon, Little One." She says, crossing her arms. "And so, I come to offer a boon. Anything you can imagine, I can provide… except, of course, doing your job for you. What would you like?"

She knows exactly what she wants, and it springs to her lips…but she can't say it. Can't and won't. There are more important things than her in the world, after all…

"Keep Zelda safe?" She asks, ignoring the voices screaming in her mind, begging her to choose what she really wanted, for once. "I won't be able to protect her and stop him at the same time."

The woman smiles then, a radiant grin that goes from ear to ear, and she shakes her head. "You're strong, Little One. My sister will be pleased. I will ensure she sees no harm until you wake up."

She blinks. "Until I wake up?"

She nods. "Yes, Little One. You must grow, become capable of wielding the blade you hold."

She swallows, but nods. "Okay."

The woman smiles again. "Do not worry, Little One. I walk with you, and so do my sisters." She held out her hand, her palm facing her…

She nods, and the world disappears.

/

The portly man falls to all fours, supplicating herself in front of her, and she shakes her head irritably.

"Rise. They will wake soon, and I have no time for your platitudes."

He stands, looking at her with the eyes of a rabbit eyeing a hunter, and she scoffs.

"When the fairy wakes, teach her to make this medicine. My power will take care of her for now, but she will need it when they leave this domain."

His eyes widen as the information floods into his mind, and he nods.

And she's gone.

/

Navi flew around her as she looked down at her body in silent astonishment, tears coming easily to her eyes.

"Do you understand what I have told you, girl?" Rauru asks, his eyes narrowing, and she nods hurriedly.

She hadn't actually heard a word, but she was sure Navi could clue her in after her mind started working again.

She was a bit too frazzled right now to process anything, what with the being an adult now and also, blessedly, in a body that, that was… in a body that was right and good and perfect and goddesses, she was going to cry.

She didn't even have the words to describe how fantastically amazing this was.

Rauru nods back, and the world seems to flash blue… and then, she's standing by the pedestal, acutely aware of her new body and unable to stop smiling.

She and Navi are almost at the door when she hears the soft thwump behind her, and she whirls around, drawing the Master Sword and feeling its power resonate through her.

There's a man standing there, with a crop of blond hair being held in by a headwrap, red eyes, and a blank look.

"Who are you?" She calls, and he shakes his head.

"I could ask the same of you." He asked, crossing his arms. "You are… not who I was expecting. Who are you?"

"I'm Li-" Navi hisses in her ear, and she swallows. "nkle. I'm Linkle. And who are you?"

He blinks, once, twice… but nods. "I see. I am Sheik, survivor of the Sheikahs… and we have much to discuss."