Author's Note:

This is a sequel, so if you haven't read "LOZ Ocarina of Time BLUE" you may wanna turn around and read that first, if you are just gonna wing it, alright. Gutsy, but I respect that.

Like the original, this is an alternate universe, so there are changes to the original storyline that affect this story.

If you're revisiting the story, please come back and re-read! I've gutted it out and added some things and took others out. As the series is ever growing I have to come back and make alterations to this to keep it all kosher.

Enjoy

Summary:

Link has built a life in his corrected timeline, he's built up his reputation from the ground up and is highly regarded in the kingdom. However, he's got some holes in his life that he's having issues filling. His relationships with everyone are perfect, but he still has dreams of the one he never got to meet again. When he gets a scroll from Zelda that shows him techniques of the Sheikah kind, he sets off to the last hidden village. However, there is no guarantee it will go over well.

Chapter 1

Promises

Link woke up in the new repaired timeline the first morning, Navi had long left him. He did search for her, she had stuck by him through so much. He didn't remember much of the quest he had as a child. He felt a cold on his skin that he could never shake off.

Zelda had kept her word, he remembered everything. His mind had been so befuddled from his thoughts of a seventeen year old in a ten year old's body. He used what he remembered and what he had gained from that previous life to become the real hero in this one.

For about two years he stayed with Zelda, learning reading and other necessitates. He had nowhere else to go. At thirteen he decided to make the castle a temporary home. He stayed around each of the villages. He stayed several month's with the Gorons. He learned their ways of defensive maneuvering, building and became a sworn brother again. It helped that Darunia had remembered him fondly. He gained muscle and honed skills from each of the races of Hyrule.

He spent the least time with the Zora, learning to swim and fish. He made his first boat with them, learning all the secrets of the water. He could swim fast, and he could make simple medicines from water and different plants. He kept his distance after a while as Ruto got older and kept propositioning him. Too many nights waking up drenched from her slipping into his tent kinda rushed his training.

He barely returned to the Kokiri, when he had, he'd sneak in and just spend time with Saria, who remained his friend for the years to come. She'd be the only one he'd love as family, she was a mother to him, and then a sister. She taught him the ways of the forest, things he'd never thought to learn as a child. Hunting with a bow and arrow came much easier with a teacher like Saria.

When Link ventured towards the Gerudo, again they took him as a prisoner at fourteen years old. They kept him for two days before Nabooru laughed her ass off that he got caught.

"Some thief… you used to be better boy." she had said.

It took a bit for anyone to actually get used to him being there for the few months he had ended up staying. It took him parading around in some sashes and low cut harem pants to get them warmed up to this Hylian boy. That was Nabooru's idea, though he put the finishing touches by tying his hair up in a top knot and stuffing the top with a pillow. It may have earned him a few joking names but it was the only way he got them to teach him how to better use a sword, how to wield it. He learned more about protection there than he'd ever know in his entire life. He had become fiercely defensive of his country.

He did this all the while training in the guard program at the castle. He slept in the barracks with the others and after a while Impa taught him all she knew. At 16 he left the castle for good, he could never stay in one place for too long. He was restless.

Link kept his relationship with Zelda at arm's length. They spent two years acting like siblings. Through his crash course of Hylian history and schooling, he questioned his feelings for her. She was affectionate towards him, and always good to him. He knew she had feelings for him, but her selflessness kept him just as far away from her. She would get angry with him, she'd get jealous, but then she'd shut down.

Link had refused the king's request to marry his daughter. Even offering him a handsome dowry and the promise of many perks as the next king. Link laughed it off and rejected. He gave Zelda his glowing smile and confessed that he'd rather serve under her until the day he died.

He left for two weeks after, so that the king couldn't talk him into it. Settling down with someone he often questioned his feelings for? It had been the last thing he wanted in his life and it just felt like if he stopped, he'd die. He'd forget the promise, he'd forget the blood shed in that other time. He was only 19, he had boundless years ahead of him to have adventures, to save people. To make up for the life he wasn't allowed to live.

To save the one life he couldn't.

Somedays he couldn't remember the Sheikah's face, he couldn't remember the sound of his voice when he was angry. Some nights, if he wasn't so exhausted, he'd remember everything. It'd plague him for days after until he left to search again. He hated leaving Hyrule, it gave him great unease knowing that it was only by chance an evil spirit, or a great evil man would appear. He could never leave his country for more than a couple days.

He'd grown friendly with Malon through the years, seeing her weekly to get feed and eggs. He acquired another cow and brought it down to the lake to live with him and Epona. Malon had been a bit warry on giving her favorite horse to him. So he paid for her and let Malon visit whenever. They'd laugh together, talk about their plans, or gossip about what went on in castle town or Kakariko. He'd smile and admire her long thick hair, and her freckled, tan skin. He'd imagine them getting married, and then he'd stop dead in his thoughts. Retreating from his thoughts of her.

He stopped hanging out with her, giving excuses why he'd pick up more and only stop by once a month. Or he'd set up a delivery.

Link moved into the laboratory at the lake. It was quiet and in this timeline abandoned without the Evil King around. He gutted the house and made it his own. The pit where the water would come in was now a storage area where he kept his food, books and made weapons. He slept upstairs and would watch the sun go down over the lake. He'd often imagine days that he could have shared with Sheik. Those were the days life became hard. He'd lay for hours in his bed and stare at the sunlight that would travel along the wall until moonlight erupted. He would force himself out of bed to clean up, eat, train, work, eat again, watch the sun set, eat and then sleep.

Link was hard at work in the vegetable patch next to the water, descaling one of the fish he caught in the lake to turn the excess into plant food. He turned in time to see Impa standing over him.

"Hero?" She had at one time called him "little hero", until he was 15 and cut down a moblin twice his size that had wandered into town.

He glanced over his shoulder. "Impa, you should really relax those eyebrows, or your going to have seven lines in your forehead." he chuckled and pointed to his head.

She scoffed and turned her head. "For 19 you certainly have a mouth on you." she glanced down at his handiwork. "Nice fish.. how big?" she leaned over his shoulder.

"Twenty-six, he's been eating the smaller guys and my bait, it took me a week to catch him." he said.

"Always a hero."

"Nah, I just want a meal later on this month without this guy eating it."

"You're invited to a good meal tonight." Impa whispered and stood back up.

He tossed the remnants of the fish on a piece of canvas. "And your motive is revealed," He wiped off his hands and stood up. He was standing at her height now, his broad shoulders and strong build showed he was more than capable of being a true hero.

"It's just the monthly dinner." Impa's voice softened and she looked out past Link. "Her father is ill as well, and not expected to recover in time for her coronation."

His grin faded. "Send my condolences, I really cant attend tonight." He didn't feel comfortable seeing her, knowing she was under a lot of stress. His presence would only cause her more undue fatigue. The people of the court would complain about his messy hair, the occasional smell that may be on him, or how he had little refined manners. Their opinions were always illustrated to the princess and her father.

"She expected you to decline, so against my better judgment, she is offering a bribe... incentive." Impa's face contorted to one of irritation.

Link had been gathering his fishing supplies and knife when he heard the word. Usually Zelda would get things from trades, picking them out just for him. It was a pretty low thing to do, getting him to come with bribes. Not that he minded, who was he to say no to something that Impa didn't wanna give him? "I'm listening."

"A scroll, that would be interesting to you." she said, avoiding his eyes that seemed to radiate interest.

"I don't get out of bed for just any scroll." he grinned, crossing his arms.

"Techniques of my kind, and I've verified it... its legitimate." She mumbled, not happy that it was getting passed to Link.

Link made a mock pained face, "Oh..." He knew he was beat. Impa hadn't taught him much in the ways of her kind, and he was consistently refused access or even directions to the last of her kind. "What time?"

"In four hours, make sure to scrub up, you smell like fish guts." she commented. "Not that the princess minds, but we know how the court gets." She said, disappearing within a flash of light.

He sighed, he didn't wanna bathe again for a couple days. He didn't think he smelt too bad. But he had to be there for his dear friend, in her time of need. Of course also to get a good something out of it. Did he feel shame?

No.

He spent an hour deliberating on whether he wanted to go or not. Then an hour scrubbing his best tunic, which was relative, it didn't have holes or stains. The last bit of time he used to clean his boots some. He then bathed in chilly water, hating the fact that early spring meant cold water. He shaved the bit of stubble along his chin with his shaving stone. He took a rough rag and scrubbed his teeth a bit and grabbed some of the mint leaves to chew. He had to get rid of the fish he had for a late lunch. He wasn't looking forward to the heavily seasoned braised cuckoo, even once a month it was too much.

He examined his dry clothes and hoped they'd be good enough. The cool spring air didn't dry them as well as he'd hoped. He played with the idea of not going, thinking of the best excuse of why he flaked out last minute. He'd rather endure a night of cross looks than to hurt Zelda.

He went.

He arrived a bit early, and his guard friend, Timly was the one to escort him in, talking about fish and new items to check out at the Bazaar.

Though before long, Impa was the one to catch him and drag him away from the other.

Impa took him to Zelda's study and left so they could have their privacy. When the door opened she sat there on the edge of the large ornate desk, a bit flustered and anxious looking. It was Zelda, this was pretty normal for her.

She wore a blue silk evening dress, different from her normal violet and rose colored one. This dress hugged her shoulders to her hips, then flowed out. She still had the normal pauldrins that adorned her shoulders. She was beautiful. Her hair had been pulled up into a spiral of braids and two sections over her ears left down. She didn't wear her crown, it rested in her hand. And in the other an older scroll that sat on the desk beside her. "I overdid it didn't I?" she asked, when he had taken too long to say anything.

"Oh!" Link shook his head. "Nah you look amazing.." he said and bowed his head to her. "I am worried I came underdressed." he tried to joke, trying to hide the bit of red in his cheeks.

She shook her head. "It's a big transition, from princess to Queen." she whispered. She held out the scroll. "For you."

Link reached for it, his smile growing with anticipation.

She snatched it back. "At the end of dinner, last time you snuck out during third course saying you thought you heard a giant keese attacking." She gave him a knowing look and laughed.

"Can I get a hug then?" He asked, putting out his arms to her.

"Yes." She smiled and moved towards him, and wrapped her arms around his waist. There was still that feeling of electricity between them. They were forever destined to connect, and she'd always love feeling him close. She felt the scroll slip from her fingers and him pull away.

Link took it and chuckled. "Got it."

She made a grab for it and laughed, knowing he meant nothing mean by it.

He held it up above her. "What do I get if I give it back for now?" He asked, grinning down at her.

She had a thousand things she wanted to say, she'd give him her crown, the kingdom, all the freedom. "The location of where this originated.." she whispered, getting closer to him. Her eyes lowered into a half lidded gaze. "I will tell you where he may be.." She knew what he wanted the most.

Link went stiff, he stared down at her bright eyes and gulped. "Really?" he asked.

"Yes.." Her words betrayed her, there was a feeling deep down that she didn't wish to share him. She rejected it. "I promise, and you know I keep them. Link... I just want one promise from you.." she'd hope that he'd be as committed to hers as he was to a time that didn't exist anymore.

"We're getting into a mess of deals Zelda.." He whispered.

"I am not doubting the fates, but if things don't go as planned..." her words were shaking as hard as her fingers that held the waist of his tunic. "I... would.."

Link bent forward and kissed her head. "Yes.. I promise.." He whispered, releasing her from having to say it. "But like me, lets try not to have any expectations.. you could give me directions and I get lost again."

She smiled at his joke and looked down, closing her eyes to hide her tears. "Well I can count on you to come back to me alive..."

Impa called them to dinner not much longer after that, and it went as well as it could have. Link had been clean enough that only a couple made remarks under their breaths. With the King ill, and his daughter under a lot of stress few would be disrespectful to her favored guest.

Link wasn't sure if it was regret, or anxiety he had when agreeing to Zelda's promise. He wasn't sure if he should have agreed to marry her, but she was under a lot of pressure with her father's illness. She had been afraid of becoming queen, and in her anxiety, she needed him to help her. Despite the fact he knew she could do it alone, just the circumstances would cripple her.

After dinner, the sun had left the sky, and the moon was low in it's horizon. Link sat on the edge of the balcony outside of the study. He was looking over the scrolls that Zelda finally given back to him. He fingered the drawn instructions about movement, and tried to imagine how to hold his body.

Impa stormed in and towards Link. "Hero..." she growled, a murderous intent in her eyes.

Link tipped back as she closed in on him. "Impa.." Not sure if the ground several hundred feet below was a worse death than getting broken by the still stronger woman.

"You will swear to me this instant. That if you speak as much as one word, or even let anything read your thoughts on the location of my people your head is mine."

He held up his hand and nodded. "On my honor, yes."

"And you will not do anything to insult this kingdom or her highness by being disrespectful as I will cut your b-"

"Impa enough." Zelda's voice came, cutting off the guard woman mid-sentence.

Link gulped, aware at what she was getting at. "I will be respectful, courteous and quiet about this whole thing." He couldn't help but feel a bit of excitement welling up in his chest.

"What reasons are you going for?" Impa demanded, taking a step back, her arms crossed over her chest.

Link knew that if he went only to find Sheik, he may find it hard. "I want to train, I have always envied the stylized fighting and agility of your people. I think its the last milestone for me before I feel I've accomplished what's necessary to protect this kingdom."

"If they allow you to even enter." Impa mused and coughed out a "kiss-ass" with her head turned.

Link looked at Zelda who shrugged and gave him a smile.

"I just said I'd give you directions," she said, trying not to smile at Impa's musing.

Link deflated some. "What are my chances of getting in?" He asked.

"You'll have a thread of a chance, its hard to find, and if they don't find a way to turn you around, they'll kill you with traps." Impa explained. "I went back shortly after everything and helped them set up more defenses."

Link groaned.

"If they do let you in, you'll be blindfolded if not knocked out to avoid you remembering.." she continued.

"So what use is the directions?" He asked, glancing at Zelda.

"Well, you've always headed south when leaving. You'll be going north east this time, a day and half of riding straight north will get you there sooner. The temperature further north is much cooler so pack light and thick." she explained, trying to remember anything he'd find useful. "The first one you see, announce who you are.. immediately, even if you don't see them, if you feel like you're watched.. stop, and say hi."

"Don't forget to drop to your knees, begging helps a bit." Impa added darkly.

Link noted everything in his mind. "Would it be permissable to head out tomorrow?" he asked.

Zelda seemed uncomfortable. "Y-yes."

Link nodded, and didn't see the irritation in Impa's features. "Thanks for everything Zelda.. I should head back so I can prepare." He hugged Zelda again and whispered. "I wont forget my promise.." He kissed her head again and headed out of the study.

Thanks for reading!

(Just a mini-note, sorry for having changed a lot, i decided the chapters were too short to put into 2 different parts, so here is everything up to date. I'll be getting chapter 4 up tomorrow!

Also in the previous story I've deleted Sheik's final chapter and am redoing it and it will be re-uploaded in the next few days!)

NEXT TIME!

"Yeah, not much of a hero if I get taken down by a trap.. thanks again Runt."

The room's atmosphere went a bit heavy as the other man stiffened, he nodded his head and balled his fists as he left the room. "Please excuse me."

Zelda's voice turned tense. "I don't think that was his name... Link..." she whispered.