The boy sat on the bank, watching the water as it steadily fell into the stream with a gentle hiss. He removed his boots and took a step into the cool spring, his toes sifting through the sand. Whenever he needed a place to think, or to unwind, he would come here; alone with his thoughts. It was bliss, not to worry about one thing or another, bliss to allow himself the treat, once in awhile, to think, even if he experienced agony over these thoughts.

It was so long ago, when he was told he was the one destined to save Hyrule, in this very spot. He was told that he was chosen by none other than the gods, the one destined to save Hyrule from the spreading of Twilight, which was like a disease as it bled across Hyrule's fair lands. The gods had chosen him to be the sacred beast so often talked about in ancient scriptures. Yes, he thought bitterly, he was the beast. Every time he enterred the Twilight, he would undergo a painful transformation into a wolf. However, he was still the same farm boy on the inside. Yes... It all happened here. The awekening of the Hero inside him, the green tunic symblic of the one before him... The boy himself was differently known however, for he was awoken as the Hero of Light, not another.

He picked up a stick and began doodling in the sand.

He sometimes returned here, after riding all over Hyrule for awhile to think. What a turn his life had taken since that fateful day! He soon learned of the Triforce, and how he was the sole bearer of the Triforce of Courage. He had travelled far and wide, facing monsters and nightmares no one ever would experience in their entire lives! He still couldn't get over the shock of it all, that was, perhaps, his biggest shining moment of his life! He sometimes wandered, however, how his life would have been had it not been for the Triforce engraved into his hand. Certainly, things would have been much different, almost even normal perhaps...

He got bored scratching mindless scribbles into the sand, so he looked up into the sky, sighing.

He usually ran away from everything...Running, that's what he usually did; ride all over Hyrule's vast plains, just to escape his thoughts. Only sometimes, like now, he allowed himself to ponder past events. It was easier to run than face his thoughts, easier to run away then face the hurt the thoughts brought. But after awhile, things would pile up inside, and not even running could help ease the tight knot in his chest. The biggest thing that impacted his life was the loss of his best friend, that was what cut him up the most on the inside... True, she had treated him with sarcasm, sass, and an attitude of higher superiority in the beginning, but things changed after awhile, and he began to see a new side of her... Caring, noble, trustworthy.

He had lost track of the time, as he sat there pondering everything over, and was only brought back when the horse behind him nudged him softly on the back. He laughed and stroked the horse's muzzle.

"Uneasy, are you, Epona?" He said softly. His horse was his only companion now, the only one he could stand being around for more than a few minutes.

Epona shook her mane, and playfully clipped a stray strand of his hair. He laughed again, as he picked up his boots, and slowly began putting them on again. Again, as if unconsciously, his mind wandered again. Precisely six months back, to the time when he had seen her for the last time.. He could not help it, for as much as he tried to push this particular thought it away, it would bound back stronger, like an annoying parasite, festering happily on his mind. She had shattered the Mirror that connected the two worlds, the only known link between both. He didn't know why it had hurt him so much when she did it; perhaps he felt an attachment to the realm itself. Perhaps he felt as if she owed him for saving her more than once, or maybe he left betrayed that she left without a proper good-bye.

He began replaying her last words in his mind, before she left him forever... "Link...I...See you later...". And just like that, she shattered the Mirror and disappeared forever. At first, he was shocked, then incredibly angry. He then began blaming himself for her departure. He spent many sleepless nights trying to cope with his mess of feelings, trying to find some logical explanation to this insanity he was facing.

Nevertheless, after a few days, he left Gerudo Desert accompanied by Princess Zelda, and returned home.

His days back home were not peaceful either. All he wanted was some time alone, but it proved to be impossible. If it wasn't the children who desired with attention, it was Fado, the farmer. If not Fado, then it was the mayor Bo and his daughter, Ilia. Although they all loved him, and he them, he still didn't seem to have the patience to speak with anyone nowadays. So shortly after he had came back home, he left, and embarked on his long journey across the plains of Hyrule. Sometimes visiting the proud, mountain dwelling people, the Gorons, or visiting the Zoras, who always welcomed him back warmly since he had rescued their prince Ralis. However, he did visit Ordon now and again, but only for short periods of time.

He jumped onto Epona, and together, they rode towards Ordon, Link's mind preoccupied the entire way. He didn't realize he was there until a voice brought him back to the present.

"Link! How good it is to see you again!"

He looked down, and saw a pair of green eyes boring into his.

"Hey, Ilia." He said, and he grinned. Ilia was one of his best childhood friends.

She smiled at him, and watched him descend, then threw her arms around him. "I missed you so much!" She exclaimed, her voice muffled as she buried her face into the crook of his neck.

"Me too," he replied, as he hugged her back.

"Father would love to see you! He has a proposition for you!" She continued on. She grabbed Link's hand and ran deeper into the village. They were stopped numerous times as the villagers welcomed him back warmly. Link shook hands with many, hugged the children, and threw compliments left and right, even if some were untrue.

Bo was the last to welcome Link.

"Link, m'dear boy!" Ho boomed, his face split into a gigantic smile.

Link grinned., "Bo!"

"Father, Link has returned!" Ilia shouted gleefully as she ran up to Bo.

"Indeed he has!" Bo replied, as he studied Link for a moment. Link looked down at his clothes; was there something wrong? Discretely, he sniffed his arm-pits. A bit smelly, but not totally noticeable. What could Bo be looking at him like that? It made Link uneasy, and he began shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

Ilia beamed and hugged Link again, smiling even brighter.

"Link, listen, me and the villagers got a proposition for ya," Bo said, "be ready by evening, we're all having a feast to celebrate your returning!"

His returning?

"But sir, I haven't returned to stay." Link interrupted. They always did this! They always assumed he was coming back to stay, and then later, he would just end up disapointing everyone when he would creep out of his home at the dead of night, and leave.

"Nonsense, once you hear this proposition, there's no way you can turn it down!" Bo said, waving a hand airily. "Now, why don't you go freshen up, Ilia and I will prepare dinner."

Ilia turned towards him, gave him a fleeting kiss on his cheek, and ran into her home. Link touched the spot where she kissed him, dumbfounded. What was that for?

Bo cocked an eyebrow at the strange, blank expression on Link's face. "Link, shouldn't you be getting ready? We've got big news for you tonight, son."

He shook his head to clear it, then he reluctantly nodded, and headed to the direction of his home.

Epona had taken her customary spot in the grass, and was now lazily grazing. Link climbed up the ladder to his home, and opened the changed since the last time he had been here, other than the fact that there was now a fine layer of dust on every surface.

"Home sweet home," he sighed, as he began freshening up.