"I had a dream... In the dream, dark storm clouds
were billowing over the land of Hyrule..."
-Zelda, Ocarina of Time

The weeping sky was inky blue, the thick rolling clouds black and alight with lightning, thunder roaring in his ears. A terrified horse frayed in the background. A stretch of grey-white walls were in front, separated in the middle by a large wooden drawbridge. With haste, the bridge lowered directly in front of a small green clothed boy…

Chun-chun-chun-chun-chun-chun-chun-chun. Chun.

In a split second, a royal white horse galloped out, and on its back sat a woman in blue and a girl in white, golden blond hair peeping from the sides. They caught eyes for a moment, sapphire blue, and then the horse was out of sight, taking the two women with it. The green-clothed boy turned-

"AAAAAAAAAIEE!" screamed several voices, as the sound of thundering crashes echoed around the castle, the walls and floors vibrating dangerously. Links eyes snapped open, leaking tears, adrenalin pumping through his body. Now wide awake, Link shot straight out of his upturned bed, the handle of the master sword tight inside his sweaty grip. His head was aching, his throat dry and vision blurred. All he could register was fright, noise, enemy? Not stopping to question, or even noticing his flushed face and rugged breathing, he threw his boots on and then himself outside- right into the Princess.

"Link!" she gasped, catching him gently when he almost landed on her. Her plain silk gown was tight around her slim figure, her hair slightly messed up and eyes dark. She paused, watching his ill-looking face, a face that looked so frightened, so lost, so alone...

He fixed her with his sky blue eyes, and yelped, throwing himself backwards from her, almost falling to the floor.

Sapphire blue… he gasped trembling. From the short glance in that strange dream, that little girl looked like, well, a smaller her. A smaller Zelda. What was this horrible sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, the worry, the fear, the sadness all combined?

Smaller Zelda. Green clothed boy. Them?

"Link!" Zelda gasped, motionless. She stayed where she stood but leant closer. "Link, what's wrong? It's me!"

Brown hair… she's got brown hair… Link, you fool, it was a dream. A dream that felt like a nightmare. Link shook his head, even though his vision blurred to do so. "I-I'm sorry, Princess, I wasn't thinking." Eyes fluttering, he made the first excuse he could think of, "y-you're in your nightgown after all."

A tiny smile broke on Zelda's lips, "Link, half my castle just collapsed, I really don't care."

She darted past him, and he heard the sound of the corridor doors slam with a bang behind him. He stood hunched on the spot, just realizing how hot he was, how sweaty he was, and wondering how could a meaningless dream do that to him?

Deciding it really didn't matter and that he had bigger problems, he made to follow the Princess.

A small crowd of the people who had dared to spend the night in the Castle huddled just outside the main hall. Half of the castle had indeed just collapsed, slanted and leaning into the sides. The left side looked normal apart from the angled stairs, but the right side had shattered chandeliers in dust on the floor, archways cracking the slabs and undoubtedly the damage would be worse behind the forbidding doors. The sick dawning light crept in through the holes in the walls, the broken windows and doors and cracks in the ceiling, but a grand amount of the castle was submerged in darkness. Link, in his white under shirt and leggings, beginning to color yellow through lack of wash, walked right up to Zelda, receiving the latest damage report from her disapproving head servant and chief of guards.

"All the closed off areas are ruined. Your Highness, the castle… it's…" he said, forcing back choked sobs. "I will have the jobs of the inspectors who told us the castle was secure! The liars! How could they miss something like this happening? They underestimated the damage... damn them!" He was a man, Link thought, who held material possessions too tightly. They cut your hands when you do that. The castle wasn't even his anyway...

"And in the early hours of the morning too." Zelda sighed. She had already preformed the personnel check, and found no one to be hurt. It was fortunate that she blocked off the now non-existent areas, unfortunate she did not see the further damage coming. It was almost shameful in her eyes, how she herself did not notice this before. She kept that bit quiet. Link felt the tips of his lips grinning. Hyrule Castle, indeed a beautiful place, was not a favorite of his. Plus, the Princess had made a joke.

The Guard, wide awake from the shock and trembling, talked to Zelda. He had a tone that was concerned with the princess's light humor. "The damage… our constructors can't repair it."

Zelda bit down gently on her lip. She had to keep a cool head, a calm control over the situation. Even so, the castle of her ancestors reduced to slipping chunks of brick. It was heart wrenching to see her home in ruins, just as it had been cruel to trap her inside her own castle during the reign of Zant. She was still attached to this castle, despite its hideous history. Maybe because of its history was why Zelda still saw the building as a home, for this castle had been in legends, stories and myths. While she loathed her imprisonment, she desired the legend with a strange unexplainable need. Link couldn't help but sympathize. If his old home in Ordon burnt down, he would be devastated, even though he never planned to return.

Zelda gave Link an apologetic look. Of course, she had not wanted to put him through all this, as it was simply after effects of the struggle Ganondorf put them through. She motioned to her servant, "please see that they," she motioned to the other few huddling people, cooks, cleaners, soldiers and advisers all shivering in a chill morning air and struck to the heart at the loss of the beautiful castle they slept in, "arrive home safely."

"Your Highness," came a tall man with a long brown beard- an adviser of the princess, "we have found accommodation in the hotel at the east of the market town. I think it will be suitable to you also, if you wish."

Zelda paused, the nodded. "Advisers, we are having a meeting in that hotel in two hours from now. All of you, if you can wear proper clothes do so, and make your way to where you need to be."

"Right," the servant said, "come on you." He told Link gruffly.

"No," Link replied, credulously. He wasn't exactly going to leave the Princess's side now, was he? He was hardly going to get ushered away by this guy, a servant who had no idea who he was talking to.

Link, you don't treat people like that.

When the stubborn servant did not stop, Link growled, "I said no."

"You may he an honored guest, but we are not in a position to attend your needs!" the servant angrily pointed at the sloping ceiling as if Link was too stupid to have noticed it himself, "now, please leave!"

The servant tried to push Link back. Instinctively, Zelda shot around immediately, to see the older man on his hands and knees on the floor, the heel on the master-sword on his neck. "Link!" she snapped, rushing forward.

"Don't touch me." Link spat, and Zelda withdrew with her hands by her sides, backing away slowly. Link had actually been telling the servant, and panicked when he saw Zelda's alarm. "I meant him," Link told her, anxiously all of a sudden, moving several steps from the kneeling man, "I don't mind- I mean- you can touch me, Princess-!"

"Insolence!" the servant stumbled upwards, "how dare you speak to her Highness like that?"

"What?" Link spat, and then flushed at realizing what the servant was getting at. He avoided looking at the Princess, but didn't see her shadow moving any closer to him. He caused a shift of space between them, and she was afraid to cross it. That, more than shoving the servant to the floor, made him feel guilty.

"It is fine. Link stays," the Princess said, "if you want to, that is, of course."

"Yes." Link answered, braving a glance upwards. She smiled encouragingly at him. Yet it looked pained, forced, and she was hurt by his order. He hadn't meant to have commanded her, just her servant. Commands... pets and masters... He couldn't find the voice to apologize.

Zelda turned slowly away from Link, and said: "Guard, the Royal chambers are still safe, but can you please bring down some of the more valuable items?" she turned back to Link, a voice of a leader and commander which made him appreciate just how good of a princess she was, "Link, let's get dressed, and move your belongings elsewhere."

She tried a smile, but Link noticed it never quite reached her eyes. Her own face was surprising pale with rings forming beneath her eyes. She looked a lot like how he felt.

"Princess, are you-?" Link tried to ask, but Zelda had already walked away in several purposeful strides.

He thought nothing of it.

"Verily, thou hast felt it."
-Deku Tree, Ocarina of Time

Link helped Zelda and the Guards carry things out of the castle and into the grounds, leaving the servants to shelter them with covers. He even accompanied her to the meeting, having promised to meet her in Telma's bar afterwards. He had helped out, done his bit; he wanted a break from work, a break from needy people. It was quite early morning, so things were rather quiet. The sky was only just beginning to lighten up with pinky blue, and an almost invisible mist hovered above the pavement stones. It was cold.

Nowhere was open this early in the morning, and he didn't fancy waking Telma up. Not yet, anyway. Even though her bar was always open, Link imagined that at this moment, his presence might be unwelcome. Even the southern stalls were empty of goods.

Several cats scattered towards him, around him, away from him, furious patting of paws against pavement in the essence of fear, rushing towards Jovani's house.

Why did everyone else have a place to be? A place to go?

What if Link... just ran? If he just left the town dressed as he was, with that he had, and just ran anywhere? He could. He could go. Leave Zelda to her stupid meetings, her stupid highness duties, and escape.

But those thoughts, it wasn't temptation he felt, but a sickness. He didn't dare leave Zelda and be on his own. He felt ill just comprehending it. Why on earth would he leave Zelda anyway? She had duties, yes, but she didn't exactly choose to be a princess anymore than he chose to the hero. If she didn't feel bitter about his role, he shouldn't feel bitter about her role. It was the same thing, wasn't it?

No. Yes it was, Link decided. He would wait. And in the meantime, wander around aimlessly in a freezing street. A golden coated puppy ran up to him, pawing lightly at his leg and letting out airs of a whimper. Link picked it up (it was rather heavy) and held it to his chest, warming them both up but just finding it oddly nice to hold something.

"Where did you come from? You're not a stray..." Link whispered, checking the tag around its neck for a name or address. It read: 'If lost, please return to Fanadi, Fanadi's Palace, southwest street...'

Fanadi the fortune teller? He didn't even know that she owned a dog. Or since this little thing was a puppy, maybe she hadn't for long. She normally told Link where to go and what to do next. He offered her some money, and she either told him his love life or his next move.

Actually... that's not a bad idea, Link reasoned. Zelda asked him what his future plans were, hadn't she? So if he hadn't a clue, Fanadi could tell him. Fate wasn't something he seemed to have control over, so he might as well see what she had to say.

The dog rested its head on Link's shoulder, licking its nose, releasing a soft growl.

When Link arrived outside Fanadi's home, he knocked three times, struggling to balance the chubby puppy under one arm. The door opened immediately, and out came Fanadi dressed in a large woolen dressing gown with her surprisingly white hair lose around her shoulders. When she saw her dog, she let out an exclamation of joy.

"My sweetie! My baby!" Fanadi gasped, her arms open for her pet. Link handed the puppy over, feeling a small sense of loss but his arms felt relief at letting the heavy animal go. "Oh, my heart, where have you been?"

Even though she had clearly been talking to the dog, Link answered. "He was just outside..."

"He's been lost for hours, haven't you?" Fanadi asked, petting its head, "Bad Rerun! Silly doggy. You had me worried sick." Turning her attention to Link, she explained, "I only got him recently, I am afraid he doesn't know the town very well, and with cats all over the place, well, I can't say I trust his feral instincts not to kick in, do you? And then who knows where he could go?"

"Er… wouldn't you know?" Link asked, and when he received a blank stare in return he elaborated, "fortune teller and all."

The color drained from the woman's face. "Of course I would!" Fanadi exclaimed quickly, "and I knew you were going to bring him back, young man."

Link wasn't sure whenever to believe her not, especially after she asked, "so, can I help you?" If she was a fortune teller, she should have already known. He didn't have a lot of knowledge about this area, but he was pretty sure it didn't take ten rupees to make the future appear. And here Link had been just about to go to a fraud about his problems. But she helped you, all those other times, didn't she? Did you just imagine that, too? "Tell you what," Fanadi said, "come inside. I shall reward you."

"Er, no, that's alright, it won't be necessary." Link said, taking steps back.

"You don't want your fortune read? For free?" Fanadi asked.

Oh. Right. Well... why not? It should be a laugh, right? Link followed her, shutting the door behind him, relieved to be out of the cold. The room was fully lit with candles, Fanadi perching in her normal seat behind a tiny table, letting Link take a seat opposite her. At least the incense were not burning, sometimes the smell of several perfumes alone was too much for Link to bear.

Rerun curled up beside Link, resting its head against his leg. Link gave him several warm scratches behind its ears.

"Welcome to the fooortune-telling house, Fanadi's Palace... The fates swiiiiiirl about you, and only I can tell what they have in stooore... The dooor to the future will ooopen... for ten rupees." She said, enthusiastically.

"You said I could have it for free." Link pointed out as Rerun gave a little bark in agreement.

"Just the formalities, dear." Fanadi said, slightly irritably, "so what would you like to hear about, love or career?"

Love...?

Career...?

Link debated both options. Love... that was all about heart pieces. She had always told him where to find these strange objects which changed his body somehow, making him stronger and tougher. Besides, he wasn't going to fall in love any time soon. Ever, as far as he could see.
Career... wasn't so much about his plans for life, more about what his next move should be. He didn't have any. He hadn't a clue what to do next. His future was whatever Zelda was doing, and hadn't she promised him that he could do that? Whatever her duty as a princess was next, he would help her out with it. That was his future.

He didn't want to ask any questions. He just wanted to be in the warmth, and this one curtained room was so cozy, so comforting… but yet, still, so foreboding. He wanted away almost as much as he wanted to stay.

"Hello? Anything in particular you would like to see?" Fanadi asked.

"… not really." Link admitted, "I can't think."

"Oh?" Fanadi asked, grinning, "Men and women ask me about their love lives, just as many want to hear about their career, but you are undecided? You have a question you don't know how to ask?"

Link stared at her, resentment beginning to climb up into his chest. What on earth was she talking about? She didn't invite him in to ask about riddles, did she?

"Alright, what is my career?" Link asked, snappily.

Fanadi looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "if you don't mind me saying so, dear, I'm going to ask about your love life. I don't think you are getting any; you are far too frustrated for such a fine young gentleman."

Fighting an angry blush, Link watched her mumble something, her hands hovering about the ball. The room went a little bit darker, the shadows stretching up across the dark purple walls. Her eyes snapped open, and she said in a hollow voice, "I see… I see… a girl… with the brightest blue eyes…"

"Blue? Blue eyes?" Link gasped allowed, immediately thinking of the girl in his dream, who had had far brighter eyes than the Zelda he knew.

"Blue… yes… it is a color…" Link growled, not in the mood for jokes. Fanadi continued oblivious, "she… his red… her blue… his red…"

"Red?"

"Yes… it's another color…"

Blue? Link wondered, ignoring her now, his red? What does that mean?

Just when he opened his mouth to ask, Fanadi woke from her trance and shook her head. "I am sorry, it's gone. It wasn't very clear." She tried to face him with a friendly concerned look, "it may be possible you have never met these people, before, or the chances of them appearing in your life are very slim."

Link rubbed his eyes, trying to concentrate. So, basically, this woman was full of nonsense. At least, he reasoned, he had managed to kill a bit of time.

"Thanks…" he said, standing up to the annoyance of Rerun, "I should go now. Thank you for everything." His thanks sounded dead, even to him, but he was done dealing with this foolish old woman, and he was starting to feel shame at letting her draw him in in the first place.

"You're welcome, dear. Please, come back again." Fanadi called after him. "Please."

He had already shut the door.

Rerun plodded over to Fanadi and sunk his head to rest on the ground, whimpering in time with his owners' small sigh.

"There! On the horizon!"
-King of Red Lions, Wind Waker

Everything he owned, mainly weapons and his tunics, were in an enhanced pouch Midna had left with him... a parting gift. Currently, however, he sat in the quiet warmth of Telma's bar, a cozy room with tiny tables and chairs and no windows, as the woman herself sat behind a wash bucket and scrubbed at his clothes. She had found him some plain brown trousers and a cream colored baggy top to wear. The stools and tables had always been rather small, so Links back was beginning to ache. He stretched, feeling it click, and moved over to the bar, resting his elbows on the counter.

Telma watched him with a smug look, "it doesn't open until midday, I'm afraid."

Louise, her cat, jumped beside Link and rubbed her head against his arm. He scratched her behind the ears, remembering how she helped get Midna to Zelda. He whispered "thank you" and Louise purred.

"Where are the other four?" Link asked, casually. The four warriors of Hyrule, Ashei, Auru, Rusl and Shad normally circled a table with a map and discussed areas which to check out next. Telma was part of that group, but she owned the bar, and was not much of a fighter as far as Link knew.

"They are in the meeting with Princess Zelda." Telma said, "one of her henchmen are convinced the castle collapsing was an enemy attack, and demanded they attend to give details and what-not, oh I don't know what on earth happened. One second it's there, next it's exploding."

"It collapsed, not exploded."

She gave Link a suspicious look, "you know, don't you?"

"Wha-?" Link asked, but did not continue. A slow and awkward silence passed between them, Link struggling how best to distract the sharp woman from the truth... something he didn't even want to share with her.

"Fine, keep your secrets," Telma moaned, "from the poor young woman who has to wash your clothes for you, oh, without so much as a by-your-leave..." Telma grinned, seeing Link chuckle lightly. "Hey, I'm young enough."

"Yeah, yeah you are." Link agreed. He then stood up and motioned towards the washing, "Though maybe I should-"

"No!" Telma sang, protesting, "a man can't do a woman's job, you hear?" Then her smile fell slightly, but her eyes softened with fondness. "Say, how is that Ilia girl? Is she looking after herself?"

Links face also fell, but instead of fondness it was worry. Ilia was a childhood friend, whom he had grown up with in Ordon. Despite being bossy, he had generally liked her for her sweet heart and unlimited kindness. It was a tradition in Ordon for couples to be wed when they reach adult hood. It was clear, from a very young age, both had known they were to be wed, but so young they had not understood it. Then they grew up, understanding it and accepting it. Willingly. Link had had a crush on her, she had had a crush on him. It was just natural in their secluded village, and right in their hearts.

At the time.

Then Link had met Midna, and discovered someone amazing inside the impish body. A cheeky sense of humor, an attitude that really didn't care for insults but for others well-being and a sense of justice that came with leadership and authority. A character, that's what he thought, interesting and someone you would want to know. He hadn't immediately liked her, finding her plain rude and annoying, but she had a heart in the twilight and Link fell in love with it. Midna became everything to him before she left, a companion of both maturity and immaturity, of war and peace. Finding Ilia's memory was because they needed it, and a sense of moral righteousness, but it was not due to the sort of love that resulted in marriage.
So really, Link didn't know how Ilia was. He hadn't returned to Ordon, and he was in no hurry to see his childhood friend. They neared the age when they would have to wed, and if Link knew anything, he knew he could not go through with it. But to break his childhood friends heart? He was a wolf, not a monster.

Not to mention he would be seen as the bad guy, because everyone liked Ilia. They had no idea.

"Oi. Kid?" Telma asked.

"Kid?" Link asked snappily.

"You're alive. Good." Telma said, "How is she?"

"She's fine." Link answered, as convincing as she could. "Glad to be back, obviously."

"Hm..." Telma said, in a voice that didn't sound over all convinced. She then grinned, flicking her dreadlocks back, changed the subject, content to talk and let Link think. Which he needed to do, as the dream that night had not left his mind. Why was a ten second dream so... important? Why on earth was he trying to interpret a trick of imagination?

White walls... a drawbridge, meaning a moat, so there must have been a moat on his side of the white-walls. All the stories he read as a child described moats that ran around the edge of a castle. Hyrule Castle, to that effect, had been a surprise to him, but he decided to wonder about that bit later. So, let's just say Castle. A green clothed boy was standing outside a Castle. And it happened to be a really bad dream, so clearly something was wrong. What else? Well, the green tunic looking- tunic? Just like mine. With brown boots... but no, no leggings, no under-armor, and the kid was too small, anyway. Link reassured himself. Maybe he was imitating a childlike version of himself in that dream? And then there was the girl and woman on the horse.

Hang on... what? He couldn't remember that very well. Blond hair, blue eyes, but the girl? Who was she again? And the women, who he had never seen before either, why couldn't he remember their details that well? What had they been wearing? The details were a little vague now, he was forgetting them. White dress, but what colored top? It looked pinkish. And her face... not unlike the Princess Zelda he knew. Well, at the time he thought so, but now he had forgotten. He had never known her as a child, so must have been imagining it. The clearest part of that dream was now standing opposite a lowering drawbridge. Chun-chun-chun.

"Link?" Telma asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. Link jumped, moving away sharply, snapped out his thoughts. "You sure you're okay?" Telma asked, not noticing Link's flinch beneath her hands.

"Yes, I'm fine, I mean it." Link said through grit teeth, annoyed that he had been caught out. Had he not heard a thing Telma said?

"If you say so, honey." Telma shrugged. "Actually, the bar is now open, help yourself."

Link smiled at her, and took her up on the offer. The line of barrels behind the counter had taps on, and he fetched himself a wooden cup from beneath the bar itself. He sipped a small cup of a reddish looking liquid, and slowly began to enjoy its blunt tang with fruity aftertaste. He started gagging after taking a mouthful.

"Oi, that's wine, you fool!" Telma gasped, striding over to him and yanking the cup out his hands, "you sip and in small portions. Get me?"

"Clearly." Link said, but putting the cup on the counter where Telma could see it. She nodded approvingly, returning to the wash-bucket to finish his shirt.

"You know, hun," she said quietly, speaking louder with she summoned up her courage, "a man can keep his secrets. I am the same, well, except..." she grinned and spoke on, "basically, I won't pry, promise. But if you do ever need to talk about it... just know..." she tried to catch his eyes and once they did they couldn't break it, "you aren't gonna get judged by me."

He nodded. But she had made an offer he could not accept. He hadn't even spoken about his true feelings to Midna, well, not that much. But even she wouldn't have taken his silly dreams as seriously as he was. He wouldn't get taken seriously by anyone. Well, except-

The door swung open, and Zelda emerged, dropping her cloak hood from her head. She had a slightly grave look about her features.

Telma bobbed her head. "You'll forgive me, your Highness, for not rising, however I am enslaved to the master." she nodded towards Link.

Both Link and Zelda had a moment of extreme gratefulness towards the bar-owner.

"Ah, Link, taking liberties?" Zelda asked, a small smile upon her still slightly ill face.

"From sweet old Telma, would I really, Princess?" Link asked, a grin rising to his lips.

Telma gasped, "old? Pardon me!"

"My apologies, wretch." Link said, causing Zelda to burst into laughter and Telma to grin like a naughty school-girl. Hearing the Princess's laugh seemed to radiate happiness around her. Telma letting out grunts of laughter herself was so satisfying... Link felt... well, he felt alright.

Zelda sat in one of the stools beside Link. "The meeting was long, but we have sorted out a plan." Link nodded, so she continued, "The idea that the castle was attacked has been ruled out. It collapsed, or at most the gunpowder reserves beneath the castle went off... I can't remember." Zelda paused, glancing at Link while he snickered, "well, the Gorons are miners and builders, so I am going to go to Death Mountain to speak to the chief. The Castle was made of a special rock that the Gorons pride themselves on mining."

"When are we going?" Link asked. Zelda didn't seem taken aback that he had assumed they were going together, so clearly she expected as much. Link wasn't sure whenever he felt glad that Zelda didn't feel the need to question his feelings, or annoyed that she just assumed he would follow her heels, from one master to another.

"As soon as we can. And I would rather without the dozen or so guards," Zelda said, waving her hand dismissively, "I do not need a guard dog."

Link paused, but had to say: "hows about a wolf?"

Zelda also paused, but gave him a small smile. "Well, I guess I will have to manage."

"Ah hem," Telma interrupted, "the Hero's going nowhere until his tunic is dry, which will take some time yet. Give me a few more hours yet, it shall be done by noon."

Link averted his eyes from both the women; Zelda brushed her skirt clean of false dust. Telma watched them both, the amusement thickly coated on her face.

Zelda rose from her seat. "I should send a message ahead so they know to expect us. Link, I will return here for you at one o'clock. I'll bring some spare clothes, just in case. I must add there isn't a lot of time to waste."

"OK." Link said, and Zelda left with a "thank you, Telma" and a swish of her cloak through the bar door. He let out a tiny sigh once she had left. He admired these Princesses for their leadership, and how they always knew what to do when Link always felt helpless and needing instructions.

Wet fabric collided with his face, and Telma demanded, "go stick that in the steam room, you day-dreamer!"

Link peeled it off his face, grinning. Telma was laughing as well. Caught in the moment, the blissful moment when he was laughing in a cozy place where he felt wanted and welcome and free to wander, he completely forgot about the dream which only a few hours ago had made him begin to question his very sanity...

"You feel all warm and fuzzy! inside! Sigh..."
-Narrator, Majoras Mask