This story takes place at the end of Ocarina of Time.

"Link, I will send you back to your own time." Zelda said softly as she took back the Ocarina of time. The Princess of Hyrule looked at the Hero of Time sadly, but she was not the only one looking at him. A woman with red hair and blue eyes watched the scene. She stared into the young man's eyes, as if desperately looking for something within. As if she couldn't find what she was searching for, the woman sagged against the remains of a pillar, all happiness erased from her visage as the first notes on the ocarina sounded. There was no need to intrude on this farewell. Playing sadly, Zelda watched as the Hero of Time dissolved in a column of blue light. The Princess bowed her head, tears trickling down her tired face. The red haired woman moved forward.

"Princess..." Jay started.

"I know." Zelda replied to her friend and ally. It had to be done; he had to live his own life. Though he had saved Hyrule, what was the Hero of Time but a boy trapped within a man's body? The enemy was finally defeated, messages needed to be sent, but neither women wished to face the Re-dead in the market place just yet. The pair sat down on the edge of the ruins. Jay looked up to the sky, the air above Death Mountain was normal; the air around the ruins would soon be clean.

Zelda brushed away her tears; Jay knew they had been friends.

Turning her face away, Jay wiped her eyes on her sleeve.

A young boy, almost a man, made his was from the forest. His face wore a scowl, he fists clenched. He was sick of this. He wanted to help. Why should he remain in hiding? For seven long years? How could he watch his world go to ruin, as the people hoped for a hero that wasn't come for another six years?

It had been one year since Link had returned home, one year since that strange journey into Termina. It had been great to see Saria again; she was the only one he had trusted with the truth. Well, part of the truth. But now he had no home. Soon, it would become apparent that Link was not a kokiri- and Navi was still missing. Link felt helpless, he had returned to his own time, right after when he first left. Zelda was in hiding, the royal family was dead, Ganondorf was gaining power and fear and uncertainty were sweeping Hyrule. Link clenched his fists; his greatest desire was to kill Ganondorf now, before people died. But he could not. Link was not strong enough; and he feared disrupting the time line. Everything had to be in order for that day, that day in six years. Link thanked the goddesses that a few precious items had remained with him on his journey to his own time. The tunics, a few of his weapons, though he had collected a few in Termina. Along with the Ocarina of Time and his beloved Epona, Link could keep an eye on things, history. But how could he live-

"Oof!" another figure collided with Link. It was a girl, about his age, her red hair covered most of her face, but what he could see was a mask of fear.

"They're coming!" She cried, not recognising Link as she readied a small bow in her hands. Link looked around wildly, drawing his own fairy bow. Sure enough, a small group of bandits was racing towards them, swords unsheathed and yelling wildly. Looking further back, Link could see the pillar of smoke streaming from what had been a peaceful village. The girl wiped her grimy face clean, before selecting some arrows and aiming at the charging bandits.

Of course, the bandits weren't about to let some pretty little girl get away.

Determinedly, the girl shot arrow after arrow at the bandits, but they had armour, and they were charging on horses. One man went down, then another. But this just angered the remaining bandits further. Link pushed the girl out of the way and ran at the nearest bandit with his sword. He never saw the girl run to fight alongside him. They had killed her family, she told him as she bandaged his wounds later.

Although he couldn't tell her this, the dark years were only just beginning.

Jay surreptitiously wiped her now streaming eyes. Luckily, Zelda seemed too distracted to notice.

"You know, he snuck past all my guards, just to see me, when we were young." Zelda said softly with a sad smile on her face. Jay smiled too, she had heard this story many times, it had comforted the friends when their spirits were low after many a mission for the rebellion.

"He visited again, just to tell me that things were going to be alright. He spent a few days with me, and I gave him the ocarina." Zelda's hands caressed the smooth surface of the Ocarina of time. The ruins of the black tower smouldered in the distance, darkening the sky around it.

"We had best be moving Zelda." Jay said thickly, standing offering her hand to the Princess. "Are you strong enough? Our allies will be waiting." Zelda smiled at her old friend, allowing herself to be hauled up. Jay drew her sword and Zelda readied her Sheikah knives, neither of them wanted to fall victim to the re-dead of the old marketplace. Jay saw Zelda look at her side long.

"You would have liked him." The Princess said softly. Jay had always refused to meet the Hero of time. She had seen him once, which was enough. Jay had always been busy with numerous missions; sabotage, spying, anything to hurt Ganondorf and his reign. She had seen the Hero once. That was enough. He wasn't the man she wanted. Jay looked at Zelda,

"I know."