I finally found you. First entering the Forbidden Woods, I hiked for hours trying to find a single trace of you. All of a sudden I knew I wasn't in Hyrule anymore. Like you, I left my duties to go a quest to find an invaluable friend… because I want to see you again. So I can actually look into your eyes yet again, even for a moment.

The breeze is swayed, danced with my hair, playing tricks on me. I didn't know which direction I was going. It didn't matter, as long as it was towards you.

Then, something peculiar was shining under the light. It was a tree stump. Its carvings were so detailed, but what intrigued me was the picture of you. You were with a strange figure, and two fairies, one color of day, and one of night.

What surprised me the most was your smiling face. I missed that face, which I barely saw. Your smile reassured me that we had won, that you were happy to have found me, that I could smile back.

I wonder… do you like this place better?

Do you have someone special in your heart?

Oh how I could wish for you to hear the melancholy of my voice.

But these thoughts buried me further into doubt, thinking that I should retire. No, I can't. I'll find you, and smile if you have found someone else to fight for. I moved away from the tree stump, putting but a small kiss upon it. Struggling my way through the forest, I pressed on. Suddenly all of these puzzles in front of me became difficult to overcome.

I saw a door at the end of this maze, and it led me to a whole new world. I carefully and slowly sauntered up the stairs, and emerged this wide town in front of my eyes. I yearned to wander around for new surprises, and to find out why you were so very well known in this town, and where you could possibly be. Everyone spoke of you, the one with the courageous talents with a funny hat as well. I ended up in a fountain in the northern part of town, where tiny fairies danced around me.

I heard the sound of a sword drop. Turning my head I finally caught you. Searching for so long, wanting and waiting. I smiled.

"Link"

…

The sound of a pin drop could be heard between the silences in the air. Link stood there looking at the girl dipping her feet into the calm waters of the fountain. His eyes shot wide open, he did not know if the rush of blood through his veins were filled with anger or relief.

"It's been far too long; I just wanted to see an old friend again. Hello Link." She flashed a big smile, her eyes doing the same, and she blushed. Kicking her feet into the water she said, "Do not worry, my duties as princess still stand. Currently the status of Hyrule is still under my father's rule. Please be at ease. I do not wish to see that kind of face."

Link stared at her. His expression softened, and slowly memories began to reminisce through his head, "Ho-How? How did you get here?"

"These fairies aided me. Without them, I wouldn't have made here." She said, swaying back and forth. Zelda saw the worry in Link's eyes. She knew that there was a distance between them now. What happened? The last time we saw each other like this he was so happy.

He shook his head. "Princess, with all due respect you must return back to Hyrule."

"But…"

"Princess, I vowed to protect you. And to keep that promise I must send you back. You are needed there, the people of Hyrule will terribly miss you." He tried to persuade her, the look in his eyes were full of mixed emotions, he couldn't decide what to do and how to gently tell her to leave. What's this gut wrenching feeling in the pit of my stomach?

Zelda looked down into her lap, then back up into his cold eyes. She could feel the chills his aura emitted. "Not as much as I missed you." She whispered very quietly. Link couldn't hear her but knew her lips moved. The princess stood up, walked towards Link, and caressed his cheek, holding it in her hand. "You're…well I just thought…" She quietly quick laughed to herself.

Link closed his eyes. I forgot what her touch felt like. It's almost, sort of… sad. He felt a slight breeze, and when he opened his eyes, she was gone. He picked up his weapon and shield and dashed out of the fountain, trying to think of where she went. The leaves picked up where she went; they had swayed in the wind to tell Link which direction she headed. Maybe she's going north.

The hero tried to escape the town through the North Clock Town exit, but was stopped by a soldier of security. "Excuse me mister, but the road to Snowhead is a dangerous one, I suggest you have equipped… oh a sword. My apologies sir, you may head out." His cold armor was very noisy when he moved aside for Link. As he resumed his normal stance of position, he thought to himself, "Hmm, he seems oddly familiar."

She ran, fast. Disguised as the former Sheikah she once used to be, running to the farthest place away from Link. Tears were swelling in her eyes. The air was cooling, drying up the tears gathering. The air was getting thinner, and the snow was rising. She ran so fast the nearest shelter she could find was miles away from Clock Town. She entered what looked to be a blacksmith shop.

"Hello, are you the people that own this cottage? May I stay here a little?" Looking like a princess again, she calmly stepped closer.

The small man spoke, only because the much bigger one named Gabora only knew small language, and fluent gibberish. "Ah, of course! Gabora prepare some coffee! The weather warmed up around here, but that still doesn't make it ok for you to travel around these parts. It's dangerous, and you could get hurt."

Zelda remembered Link scolding her of the dangers around here. After finally warming up, she stood in front of Zubora, the man in charge, and asked, "May I ask for you to make me the best and strongest sword you can make?"

"Well, that will take some time. But nothing's impossible. Come here tomorrow morning. I think we'll have it done by then." Zelda pulled out her wallet in case of an emergency fund. She pulled out 2 gold Rupees. "Why… this is 1000 Rupees! I'll definitely get you what you want! Oh and while you are waiting why don't you check out the Goron races taking place near here. Here's a map to guide you there."

Right as soon as he said that, the igniter went off and a big slam against the counter scared Zubora and Zelda. Gabora went straight to work, and with his big bold muscles the clank of the metals made screeches too harmful for Zelda's sensitive ears.

The princess thanked them on her way out, covering her ears at the same time. She used the map, and headed out, into the colder weather. Climbing up the hills, trudging through the snow, and jumping off high cliffs she made it through to the water hole of the Goron Village. Hearing the soothing sound of the fish splashing in the water, the tree branches swaying, and the Gorons making their way to the races, she followed. A new area unfolded; in her eyes were rocky hills and muddy terrain. Gorons stretching and cheering them on, she saw a young looking Goron. In her melodic voice she asked, "Hello may I ask what the prize is for winning the race?"

He looked upon her beauty, and instantaneously started turning bright red, feeling hotter than lava heated Dodongo Rocks. "Oh uh it's a secret. I can't really say, but if you're thinking of entering, you better not."

"Why can't I?" she questioned. Zelda crossed her arm, serving as a pedestal for the other where she put over her mouth in shock.

"Well, there's going to be a whole huddle of Gorons out there rolling around hitting each other. You're definitely going to get hurt, and besides, I'm going to win anyway. Wouldn't want you breaking a nail of yours out there." He held his chin high, and gave a proud smile.

She chuckled at his pride. "I apologize for laughing, but you should never underestimate the power of anyone. If you should win I will cheer you on and give my wholehearted support." She smiled, and in that moment transformed into Sheik. "But I do intend to win that prize."

His eyes shot wide open with her new appearance. "Well, I guess you seem serious." He scanned her appearance, fully suited in deep blue, with the emblem of a gossip stone on her chest, and body wrapped in bandages. " Ok, you're on! By the way, I'm the noble son of the Goron Elder." He readied his position.

Zelda mimicked position, looked towards him, and gave a petite smile. "Nice to make your acquaintance, my name is Zelda, Princess of Hyrule." Link had entered at that moment, seeing Sheik again for the first time in a while, and shocked.

The race had started; the sound of a bullet rung in everyone's ears. Sheik had zoomed and left the Goron Elder's son speechless at the starting line. "Prin-Princess? PRINCESS? Oh no! The race!" Remembering he made a bet, and proudly predicting his victory. Exerting all his energy, at full speed he tried to catch up.

During the duration of the race, the two were neck and neck, but the Goron Elder's son couldn't keep up with Sheik's speed, even when cutting corners. Sheik had left everyone in the dust and with her skills, won the title of fastest Goron. The Goron Elder's son finished 2nd and almost died from the consumption of energy. "I guess we have a new winner." He panted and fell to the ground.

She giggled, took out a bottle with red glowing medicine in it and gave it to the Goron Elder's son. "You were very fast, I'm impressed." She collected her gold dust and took a pinch and sprinkled a little on the Elder's son. "For good luck in the next race." She smiled.

The sun was setting in the mountains. 60 hours left until the Carnival of Time. But another Goron was rolling in the way after all the others made their way past the finish line. "Darmi! He's back!" The Elder's son pointed to the Goron rolling towards their way. "That's my friend over there." He waved to signal for him to come over.

Link was that Goron. All this time he had kept the transformation masks, because it was easier for him to navigate through each terrain he crossed on his personal journey to find Navi. He stopped in front of the Sheikah. Uncurling he greeted the Elder's son and pretended to meet Sheik. "Hello, I am Darmani, great warrior Goron." His voice was a lot lower than average, but his syllables prolonged, some of the qualities a Goron would have.

"Hey Darmi! This is Zelda, she might look like this now, but in her real appearance she's actually a PRINCESS, and boy is she fast! I couldn't believe a human, let alone a PRINCESS was capable of beating a Goron. Zelda, this is Darmi, who saved our mountains from a terrible ice age years ago. Where have you been? Everyone keeps saying that you died or something."

Saved the mountains? Suddenly things clicked in her head. Thinking this made her realize Link was right in front of her. "Darmani, it is a great pleasure to meet you." She bowed in front of both of them to show respect. "I'm terribly sorry but I really have to go now. There are other things I must attend to. " She rushed her words and started her escape.

"Oh no! But I guess being a princess has its duties. I really liked her. She's so…different. And I get this feeling in my stomach that almost hurts, but I feel happy about. Darmi, what is this feeling?"

Link ignored him, and rolled away to chase after Zelda. He gets the same feeling I do when I'm around her…. What is it? I'm not even certain myself. He was catching up to her, the high cliffs had stopped her in her escape. He had her. "You can escape a Goron's speed, but it only takes a Goron to make that kind of jump." He unmasked himself.

Zelda was stuck, she had no choice, and reverted back to her princess self. "How could you? Transform like that?"

"During my time here I had to seal the souls of those who passed on into masks." He said, and looked at the mask of Darmani. "They were good people. But that's not the issue here; we must return you to Hyrule Zelda." He tried getting nearer, the snow crunching with each step, but Zelda was holding herself and moved away.

"How did you find me here?" She asked.

He pointed to the floating fairy near his hat. "Tatl, she and I were partners in my time here."

She interrupted. "Yeah! We had to search everywhere to find you! Good thing we went to Zubora first! Link saw you heading into this direction. He's careless, but he's smart too."

"Oh I see, so you still haven't found… Never mind." She looked down into the white snow. She saw her feet deep into its frozen blanket and she tried to refrain from showing the little happiness in her. So he tried to find me.

All of a sudden Link embraced her. "For you to be in this freezing cold weather, you worry me too much princess. I have to travel all of Hyrule to find you, and now Termina." He could feel the warmth of her breath repeatedly on his neck.

Zelda couldn't contain all of the happiness inside of her. Now this is the Link I remember. Tears started to swell and she hugged him back tightly. "I've missed you Link. At least I know I won't be taken away when you touch me." They both smiled at each other arms.

The night sky veiled the horizon and the cold weather became worse. "With the weather as cold as this, and it being this dark, I guess we can't do much. We have to sleep here tonight."

They're sight became foggy as the air thickened with a snow falling. Trudging into the snow further and further, the three of them tried to find somewhere to shelter them from the raging storm, which grew ferociously.

"Look a cave! Just our luck!" Tatl spotted a small inlet nearby and they slowly made their way through the snow to get there. Link's arm was around Zelda to keep her warm as they were both hand in hand on their way there.

Link set her down gently and unhanded her. He sat across from her in the small cave of shelter. Contain yourself Link, it would be inappropriate for any other type of interaction. She's a princess, you're just a commoner.

He saw, the princess was shivering. She cupped her hands and breathed into them while her knees were bent to keep her warmer. "Even when the Zora Domain was frozen it was never this cold."

Link, she is in need of warmth. Why is my heart beating so fast? Calm down, you're just a friend, who is going to help another one out. "Princess, if you don't mind," he stood up and sat next to Zelda. He put his arm around her and interlocked his empty hands in-between both of hers. He laid her head on his shoulders and quietly sang her lullaby. "Just sleep, don't think of the cold." Stop Heart, or she'll hear you.

Tatl huddled right inside of Link's hat, as he waited for Zelda to fall asleep before he slept himself. The night grew quieter, and the heat between them grew. Soon he drifted into dreams.

With the last medallion in his hands he headed for the Temple of Time.

There he saw the last Sheikah of the tribe that protects the Royal Family.

Suddenly, a beautiful silhouette was right in front of him.

"I'm sorry, Link."

She gave him the light that would banish evil for good.

With his slight touch, the temple started to shake.

She was trapped, and taken away.

The morning sun rose, with 48 hours left until the Carnival.

An emptiness caused chills, which awakened Link, "PRINCESS!" He woke, startling Tatl as well. "Princess? Princess? Where are you?" He looked around. Zelda, who was in his arms disappeared, yet again. "Tatl, where'd the princess go?" Daylight peeked into the small cave they slept in. The snow calmed, and gently they dropped into a new layer that blanketed the land.

"Zelda? Oh she headed for the blacksmith." She drifted back into the sanctuary of Link's hat for more sleep. "She didn't want to wake you. Something about a surprise." And then she snoozed.

Last night…"Be still Link, we're only friends, right?"

REALLY hope you guys are enjoying the story!