Nabooru is your mom.
(Yeah, I changed the title.)
"So you see why we can't let you continue to live here," the Princess said.
"No."
"Time passes on its own, sometimes people manipulate it who shouldn't... the Ocarina of Time is a sacred treasure of the Royal Family. Its powers should not be used lightly. And the Master Sword is the key to the Sacred Realm. They cannot be used as mere tools for..."
"Are you saying I shouldn't keep the Ocarina?"
"No... well... yes."
Link frowned.
"Believe me, it is not my choice," the Princess continued, holding the shiny Ocarina tightly. "Were it my decision, I would keep you here. But you belong in your own time, with your own kind. You do not belong here as an adult. You..."
"I don't belong in the Forest," Link said grimacingly.
The Princess appeared flustered. "That's... not what I'm trying to say...!" She couldn't seem to keep her usual poetic tone. Finally she just gave up talking altogether and siezed Link in a tight hug.
"I will miss you, Fairy Boy," she said, "but I can't, by my own will, keep you."
This worried Link a bit. He stepped back and the Princess released him, looking slightly sheepish.
"Return the Sacred Blade to the Pedestal of Time," she said. "Do it, now." She looked on the verge of tears.
Without another word, Link walked up to the pedestal and dropped the sword into it. Seven years flew by, and the Gold Gauntlets, Goron Tunic, Zora Tunic, and Great Fairy's magic faded off into nothing. He would never get them back again.
Everything whited out. When it cleared, he was back in the Forest, lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling. Exactly where he had started, like nothing had changed.
He sat up, looking around for Navi, but she was not there. Nor was she hiding in his hat, or circling around some enemy. He jumped down from the ladder and nearly ran into Saria, who was coming up to meet him.
"Hi, Link!" she said, sounding cheerful as usual and yet rather nervous. "Where's your fairy?"
"Saria? Why... why are you here?"
"What do you mean? I've been here quite a while."
"Why are you back in the Forest? You should be in the Chamber with the other Sages..."
Saria gave him a confused look. "Sages? What sages?"
"Forest, Fire, Water, Shadow, Spirit, Light..."
At this she seemed to recall something. "Kaepora Gaebora said something about a Sage," she said. "He said they were very wise, and they lived in Temples, but I don't know what you mean by a Chamber, Link. I'm really sorry. Perhaps it was something you dreamed?
"Anyways, where's Navi?" She looked around.
"I don't know." Link looked at his feet. How could she just leave him? He hadn't gone that far back in time, if Saria still remembered. "I have to leave," he said.
"What, leave the Forest?"
"Yes. I mean... I have to find her. Or... maybe if I don't, I'll find something." He kinda-sorta wished the whole adventure had never happened. It was like his life had been put on fast-forward and rewind too many times. And there were things he was missing. Like why Nabooru was always winking at him. Why did she do that, anyway?
Saria seemed to understand. "I'll let you go. You need to find your friend. Do not miss me." She wore the same painful look that she had when giving him the Fairy Ocarina, which really made it worse. "Go," she urged, her voice wavering.
I'll never understand these females, Link thought, as he ran out of the forest once again.
The first place he decided to go was Lon Lon Ranch, since he figured he could get help there. Hyrule Field seemed so familiar, yet so different. It seemed somehow emptier. The sky was clear, and there was no sign of life around, no Stalchildren, no Peahats, nothing but the sound of the wind.
He stumbled into Lon Lon Ranch at around 22:00. Expecting it to be quiet like the outside, he was surprised to hear the sound of someone singing. A girl. Malon. She was singing Epona's Song, and what a pretty voice she had... she sounded somehow older.
Despite her constant cheery attitude he'd always seen her in, she sounded slightly mournful and depressed. Link recalled what one of the Gossip Stones in Hyrule Castle Town had told him: "They say that Malon wishes a knight in shining armour would sweep her off her feet." The poor girl, all she had was to tend to the animals she loved so much.
Wishing he didn't have to bother her, Link walked slowly up to her. She didn't notice him at first, then jumped in surprise as he grabbed her hand.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! I'll stop singing! I--"
"No, it's okay," Link muttered, feeling rather rude. "It's okay. Malon, I need your help."
"Eh?" she said. "Fairyboy! ...Er, wait, where's your fairy?"
"That's what I need your help with."
"Oh. Do you need to go look for her? Can I help you? Can I give you anything? Something that could help?" Malon was eager and joyful once again.
Epona, the wild horse Malon was training, trotted up next to Link, tossing her mane around. Malon grinned. "...Actually, I think it's just found you," she giggled.
"What? Oh, Malon, no, I couldn't take your horse... no..."
"She's not my horse anymore," Malon said. "She's yours. Take her. (And soon, before Dad wakes up!) I have a feeling you two will be great friends one day."
"Well, I... thanks, Malon." Link smiled and climbed on Epona's back, recalling how familiar it was... riding through Hyrule Field as an adult, charging down enemies and random bushes... he thought for a moment that if he could have had that back, if he could have ridden through with his Gold Gauntlets, Master Sword, and Mirror Shield shining in the moonlight like some magestic, powerful hero of legend... he just might have swept Malon up and taken her with him.
Link rode first to Hyrule Castle Town (feeling a bit silly riding Epona through town, he left her just outside the drawbridge). He ran straight in the direction of Hyrule Castle... maybe he could find another way out through there? He didn't get very far before almost crashing into Impa, who was standing at the top of the ivy on the side of the wall. Quite startled, he tripped and nearly fell off. She caught him by the hand and pulled him up next to her.
"Going to see the Princess, are we?" she said, grinning.
"Impa! You... how did you get here? Why are you here?"
"Why wouldn't I be here?"
"You're... the Sage of Shadow!"
"Sage of Shadow, eh?" she chuckled. "Not yet, dear. At least, not for seven years or so. But by then, you will be gone."
"What...?" Link was confused already. "How do you know this?"
Impa pointed to the symbol on her chest. "Eye of Truth, my dear. It tells we Sheikahs things... things you would not understand. That's not important right now. What's important is that you get out of here."
"But... I need to talk to Zelda...!"
"You were sent to the Forest for a reason. That's where you must go. You are needed."
Link felt he had better not argue. "Yes, ma'am," he said, bowing, and ran all the way back til he reached Epona.
Link rode for days through the forest, still searching for Navi. The whole time he thought about what Impa had said... Not for seven years or so... By then, you will be gone. Did this mean Hyrule's history, the seven years that he missed, was going to repeat itself? And what about Ganondorf? Where was he going that would keep him for so long, he wouldn't return to Hyrule?
In the midst of this thought, something jumped into the path ahead of him...
Forward a bit.
Romani Ranch. Considerable larger than the last Ranch he had been to. Removing the Goron Mask and brushing the dust from the Podwer Keg off his shorts, he ran across the field towards the house.
A girl stood outside firing arrows at a balloon shaped like a Poe. She had an oddly cheerful look about her. Behind her was a barn, a house, and... Epona.
Excited, he ran over to her. "Hey!" the girl called. "Stranger!"...