Author's Note:

F'in straight I'm hyped! Must love Linkin Park baby!

P.S: Thanks to all reviewers, favoriters and alerters!

"Link, you can stay at the castle for the night. It's dark already," Zelda said softly. "You won't be of any trouble."

"I'll be okay," Link mumbled blankly. "I have my lantern." He blew his horse charm quickly. Epona would find him in a minute.

"Then you are leaving already?"

"I'm afraid so. Goodbye, Zelda," Link said. His voice was starting to crack and the hurt was now showing on his face. "Take care of yourself."

"Goodbye, Link. You, also, take care. If you ever need anything…I'm here," Zelda murmured slowly, brushing her bangs out of her heart shaped face. She wanted to say, "Be strong," so badly, but couldn't will herself to. Her lips remained frozen. Epona came rushing towards Link noisily.

"Hiyah!" Link kicked Epona to a gallop, his teeth gritted. Epona seemed to sense his sadness and obeyed him without protest. He immediately stopped. He twisted his torso towards her. "Thank you…"

Just as she was about to ask him why, he turned and kicked Epona to full speed.

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It was already morning when Link got to Ordon, and he wasn't going to stay awake much longer. Hurt kept him awake in the night, but now he felt like he had nothing. Nothing besides an emptiness that left him helpless.

The kids must have not assumed he would be at his house, because they weren't waiting for him. That, however, was fine with him, because his face must have been streaked with his feelings. He tied Epona to the small post by the ladder and then wearily climbed to his home.

He lay down on his small futon mattress and tried to sleep. When he closed his eyes, all he saw was her tear, shattering the mirror…

Eventually, he fell asleep. He woke up well rested, but still greatly in pain. It felt like someone had ripped his living heart out and then expected him to grow a new one. He could never be hers. How stupid of him to even remotely think that. She couldn't have felt the same way. And he was a farm boy. That's all he was.

Link woke up around dawn the next day. He shook his head, as if to say no. His pain wasn't gone, but rather tucked away, waiting to spring out at the time when it would hurt him most. How could he ever forget her?

He dressed in his Tunic, even though it needed to be washed badly. His farm clothes, too, were tossed aside somewhere in his basement. Link didn't bother to grab the Master Sword, which he would keep until he thought it was right to return it. He did, however, bring his slingshot, which he would lend to the kids for the day.

No one was awake yet, so Link decided to wash his farm clothes in the small 'river' that ran through Ordon. He went into his basement to retrieve them, shoving small chests and bookshelves aside to find them. The outfit was strewn onto the second shelf of an oak bookcase.

As he brought the clothes to the shallow end of the river, by the waterwheel, he heard a small whine from Epona. If he didn't tend to her, then she would throw a fit, as Ilia called them. He hustled back and noticed her water was dry. Why didn't I remind myself? Poor Epona. She'll die of thirst deprivation if I don't get her more. "Hush, Epona. I'm getting you water."

Link filled the trough in which Epona's water was supposed to be with water from the small well he owned and then sighed. He wasn't going to accomplish anything if he couldn't remember. Ilia would be up soon, and she would be happy to know that he was safe. He would wash his clothes and wait for her to come outside.

Swish, slosh. Swish, slosh. The sound of the clothes running through the water soothed Link. It was a warm, welcoming sound for him. He grinned to himself and then chuckled. His pain wasn't healed but he was learning how to ignore the hole in his chest. Everything that happened before her was making it easier to handle.

Link smiled when he lifted the farm clothes out of the water. The dirt stains that were on them had disappeared and they smelled fresh. He quickly set them out on the grass to dry and then took off his brownish shoes. He walked to the log bridge that he so often played on when he was a child and sat down, swishing his feet through the water.

Ilia stepped out of her house soon after he finished washing his clothes. She didn't see Link until he turned the corner and said, "Good morning."

"Link! Link, you're home!" Ilia beamed, rushing to him and then hugging him. She let go and smiled. "Welcome back, Link."

"Thanks, Ilia," Link said, also smiling.

"Are you here for good, this time?"

"Yes, Ilia, I'm staying."

"Thank you." Ilia murmured.

"For what? You stayed here, waiting for me to come home and you aren't asking me to apologize? Not even for leaving the ranch unattended?" Link was puzzled. He lifted an eyebrow, earning a small giggle from Ilia.

"You came back, safe and sound," Ilia stated plainly. "That was what I asked you, and you did it."

"Well, still, I'm sorry for leaving everyone like that."

"Oh, Link. Come on, let's wash Epona together. Do you want to?" Ilia asked, stroking her sandy blonde hair out of her face. She was dressed in a new outfit today, her top being blue with white stitches and she was wearing her normal brown shorts.

"Sure."

Ilia walked at a normal speed, scuffing slightly at every step. Her sandals were old and looked dusty, but had no holes. She held her hands together lightly, swinging them when she walked.

Epona looked pleased when Ilia led her to the spring. The leaves in the forest were already starting to turn brown. Some had already fallen to the ground, leaving the trees looking bare in some areas.

Ilia grinned. "You took good care of Epona, Link."

"Mhm."

"Thank you," Ilia said happily. "For everything."

"I should be thanking you. Not the other way around, Ilia," Link tried to sound solemn, but ending up with a crooked smile.

Epona took a long drink from the stream while Link and Ilia grabbed the small bucket they had put behind a tree when they were younger. Smiling, they both tried to grab it at the same time. Ilia ended up with it, dunking it in the water and then gently pouring it onto Epona. They traded between two jobs; patting Epona on the back and pouring water on her.

Eventually, Epona was clean and it was already midday. Link grabbed her reins and walked her to his house, Ilia right behind them. "So, do you want to have lunch with us all? It's harvest time, and even though we don't own any crops, we're all having a picnic, as always."

"Village picnic food is always good. And I get to make my grand entrance for all the others," Link grinned. It's so easy to be around Ilia, but when I'm alone it all comes back…

"Great! I'm going to go set up with the others. You stay here. I promise nobody will know you're here!"

Ilia hurried off towards town, grinning.

Link threaded some grass together into a bracelet for Ilia to pass time. He picked up some leaves, too, and threaded them into the grass. Soon, Ilia came running back to him and smiled.

"Here. You remember those silly little bracelets I made for you when we were small? I've had a lot of practice since then," Link handed her the bracelet and smiled.

"Thanks. Well, everyone is at the ranch, waiting for me to bring some napkins. They'll be so happy that you're here!" Ilia brushed her hair out of her eyes.

Ilia wasn't taller than Link in any way at all. He had to bend down and she had to keep her arms to her sides so the villagers wouldn't see him immediately. Rusl tilted his head to the side in confusion.

"Are you okay, Ilia?" Bo said, confused also. "Why don't you have the napkins?"

"I have something better!" Link stood up and then stepped beside Ilia.

"Link! You're back!" "Link, welcome home!" Everyone was talking at the same time.

The kids rushed up to Link. "Wow, Malo! You've grown a lot! And you, Beth! You all are going to be so tall when you grow up!" Link smiled. Collin tagged along with the kids, not letting anyone push him around as he ran to Link. "Collin, you're tall too! Wow, have I been gone for years?"

Collin spoke louder than the other kids now. He talked over them. "Link, I'm so glad you're home! Everyone thought you weren't going to come, but I knew you were! I just did!"

The other kids now spoke. "We're glad you're back, too! What…never mind."

Link knew they were going to ask, "What did you bring us?" and so he handed his sling shot to them. They grinned and quickly said thanks.

Link sat down on the ground with the other villagers and served himself some beef stew with carrots, celery and onions in it. It tasted like it had garlic, too, but he couldn't be sure. It was wonderful to be home, but he was missing something.

Perhaps a someone.