Prologue

"I'm tired of being treated the way I have been. I'm tired of the Headmistress looking at me and telling me that I'm a demon spawn!" A teenage girl, no older than sixteen, ranted as she began packing her few things in a burlap bag. One of the boys was sitting there with her, trying to talk her out of leaving.

"Tori, come on. You know you're not a demon spawn like that old hag says. You know what will happen if she realizes you vanished, right?" The boy asked in response.

Tori's crimson eyes, which stood out against her pale skin, turned to daggers as she glared at the boy, only momentarily halting in her packing. "Why should I stay? You know damn good and well I'm not welcome here." She stepped aside and brushed some of her ear length snow white hair out of her face before gesturing to herself. "Look at me! I'm not like ANY of the others. My eyes are not a normal color, my hair isn't a normal color either, and the only thing about me that matches some of the kids here are my ears!" She pointed to her elven style ears, which stuck out slightly from under her hair. "I'm never going to find a family that actually doesn't believe what the Headmistress says about me. So, I will ask you again. Why should I stay?" She folded her arms in front of her chest, catching the fabric of her olive colored tunic slightly. She had a dark brown pair of cloth pants on and a black pair of leather boots, as if she was going to spend a couple years traveling on the road.

There was no comment from the other boy.

Tori huffed and resumed her packing. Sixteen years were spent in that orphanage. Sixteen years' worth of glares, snickers, and having been told she was worth nothing more than a house servant. Sixteen years of staring out over the giant brick walls that surrounded the place, wondering what things would be like on the outside world. She may not have found a home, but she was leaving and never coming back. It was morning, before anyone else woke up. Tori finished her packing and looked at the boy.

"I'm sorry. I have to leave. I'll have a better life on the outside."

She slung her sack over her shoulder and sneaked her way through the halls, finally coming to the front door. She gulped nervously as she quietly opened the door. She stepped out, quietly shutting it behind her. She turned to face the somewhat empty streets of Hyrule Castle Town.

She was free.

In a forest to the south of Castle Town was a young man, no more than eighteen years of age. He sat on the balcony overlooking the village, teeming with life. He wore something similar to what the inhabitants of the village wore. Mostly green.

The young man straightened his green, belted tunic out just slightly, as it was starting to bunch up under the belt. On top of his head was a matching cap, with blonde hair sticking out from underneath it. His legs, which were covered in a pair of white leggings, dangled off of the edge of the balcony, kicking his feet, which donned a pair of brown leather boots. His elven style ears were highly noticeable, as they stuck out from under his hair. His deep blue eyes gazed out over the village, almost like he was expecting something.

"Link!"

He blinked a couple times and looked down below him. A green haired child in a green dress was waving at him with a huge grin on her face. A fairy was following her. He smiled and stood up, dusting any dirt that may have gathered on his leggings. "I'll be right there!"

Link climbed down the ladder in front of the door to his tree home. He reached the ground and grinned, looking at the girl. He towered over her. "Hey Saria!"

"Link, I can't believe it. You went from a baby that was brought in by his dying mother to being eighteen years old!"

Link chuckled. It was different, living in a village full of children. They never grew up. That was just a trademark of the Kokiri. "Well, I've been thinking lately."

"About?"

Link sighed. "Some of the Kokiri don't seem to be happy with me staying here. I've been thinking about getting another home, outside of the forest. There's a whole world out there, Saria, and even though you guys can't leave the forest, I can. And I have. I'm not a kid anymore. I don't fit in here."

"Link, you're just as much family to us as Mido or the Deku Tree." Saria replied, her smile fading.

"Yeah, I know. There's this little village just outside the forest here that seems appealing. I just don't know where I'd stay."

Saria sighed. "Link, I'm sure you'll find somewhere. You've been out enough, someone would be bound to help. You know you are more than welcome to come back."

Link smiled. "I know. And I plan on it." He bent down and hugged Saria. "I won't forget any of you."