"What are we going to do Link?"

Link glanced up at Zelda's question. He'd just finished moving Lorenzo out into the hall. He'd placed the unconscious nobleman by his cohort before returning to find Zelda still in the same spot he'd left her. She stood stock still by her bed, one hand gripping the bedpost lightly while the other toyed with the heavy canopy that cascaded down at each corner of the bed. He wasn't entirely sure of what she meant by her question. It seemed pretty obvious to him that what they were going to do was escape the castle but he couldn't be certain that was what she had meant.

She gave him a small smile as if sensing his confusion. "My Father will immediately expect that we've gone to help Kafei and Anju. We aren't going directly to them are we?"

"The way I see it there are three places your Father will look the minute he realizes we're both gone. Termina, because he knew you wanted to help Kafei and Anju; Lon-Lon Ranch, because that's not only where all my equipment is but it's my home, and Zora's Domain because you're close with Ruto." Link ticked each point off on his fingers as he spoke, "Lon-Lon Ranch is unavoidable; I need to get back there to get the Master Sword at the very least."

"So you're saying we'll avoid Zora's domain and Termina?"

"No, we're just going to have to be careful. We'll head for Termina but we're going to have to take a different route."

"So we won't be going by way of Termina Pass that lies on the edge of Lost Woods?"

"The first thing your dad will do is fortify that Pass. We'd be better off finding a less travelled route there."

Dropping her hand away from the bedpost, a sigh escaped her as she crossed over to the screen set up on the other side of the room. "I'll leave it to you to decide how we'll proceed. I wish I could say otherwise, but you're more familiar with the country side." There was a slight rustle of fabric before her dress was flipped over the top. "I hope you have a plan to get out of the castle. My own was shot to hell the minute my Father locked me in my room."

Slightly uncomfortable with the idea of just a thin screen in between them he struggled to focus on what she was saying and not what she was doing. An arm reached out from behind the screen to grab at the pile of clothing on the chair beside the screen. Watching that slender arm disappear back behind the screen it took him a minute to realize she'd asked him something.

"S-sorry, what was that?"

"Do you think we should hide in Castle Town for a day to avoid the guards?" Zelda peeked around the edge of the screen, keeping herself hidden behind the protective barrier save for her left arm that was curled against the screen. "Like you said, the first place they'll look is Lon-Lon so why not stay here. We could stay one step behind the guards instead of ahead of them."

"There are things in my room I'd rather they didn't get a hold of." He replied as he gazed at a point behind Zelda's head without quite looking at her. She studied him for a moment before shrugging a bare shoulder and disappearing back behind the screen.

"Oh? What things?" Her voice floated over the top of the screen, slightly muffled as if she were pulling something over her head.

Things? He frowned, what were they talking about again? Oh right.

"The Master Sword for one and a lot of my equipment I would rather they didn't get a hold of."

"And I suppose those things you have up in the attic from your previous travels."

Previous travels? Oh, the masks and medallions.

"Ya that too."

Zelda stepped out from behind the screen and Link felt a strong sense of déjà vu. Dressed in a blue body suit with a loose white tabard displaying the symbol of the Sheikah, her feet were encased in knee high blue boots, and a white scarf wound around her neck, almost hiding the bottom half of her face. Her hair was bound in a braid, the end curling against the small of her back. She looked like Sheik—well almost. The last time he'd seen her dressed as the Sheikah she had gone to great lengths to hide her gender, this time there was no mistaking the gentle curves beneath the tight body suit...

"What the hell are you wearing?"

Grinning, Zelda twirled in place, her braid swinging out from her body. "What do you think? Impa suggested I travel in disguise as a Sheikah."

Link tried really, really hard not to stare at her backside—really he did, when what she'd said hit him. "Impa suggested this? This!? The body suit, the..."

Sauntering up to him, she gently ran her fingers over his chest. "Well, maybe not exactly this. What's wrong Link? Don't you like?" She grinned at his flushed expression. "Or is it that you 'like' a little too much?"

He wasn't sure if he should answer her but by her mischievous grin he had a feeling he really didn't have to. Turning away she walked back over to the chair by the screen and he swore she was swaying her hips like that on purpose. As she stooped down to grab the remaining item draped over the chair, Link averted his gaze. He struggled to remember that this was the Princess he was ogling, but boy was it hard to remember that, dressed as she was. Shaking the dark cloak out with a flare of her hands, she brought the cloth around to settle on her shoulders, enveloping herself in the garment.

"There, is that better?" She asked innocently.

Honestly...no but smart man that he was, he kept that opinion to himself. He had to grudgingly admit that the disguise was a good one. No one would believe that Sheikah running around was actually the Princess. Meeting her violet gaze, he realized there was actually one way they could possibly know.

"As long as no one looks you in the eye, you should be able to pull off that get-up."

"Oh that!" Closing her eyes, she passed her hand over her face. When she opened them, her violet hues had been replaced by a deep crimson. "Better?"

Again, seeing those familiar crimson eyes, a sense of déjà vu settled over him. It took him a while before he found his voice again. "Ya, no one will mistake you for anything but a Sheikah."

He turned to go, hoping she wouldn't be able to see the sudden look of loss on his face. As her hand closed over his arm to turn him back towards her, he realized he should have known that she would pick up on his melancholy.

"Link? What's wrong?"

Her eyes searched his—a bit concerting too considering the change in eye color. "You...just reminded me of something."

"What was it? Something from..." She paused, obviously she'd been about to ask if it was something from his past but was that really accurate? Could it really be considered his past when it never really happened? Her mouth settled into a firm line before finishing what she'd been about to ask. "Was it from your past?"

Guess that answered that question, he thought idly, his gaze shifted to the open window. "You've...hidden yourself as a Sheikah before. Though... last time didn't have quite these results."

"Did I make myself look like a boy?" Zelda asked with a grin. "Impa wanted me to use an illusion to change even my gender but I didn't feel the need to go that far with the disguise."

"Of course, Impa thinks you're still going to change your appearance doesn't she?" At her answering grin, he rolled his eyes. "Then I feel obligated to say that you should do as she intended."

"Nope, I plan to stay just like this."

He shook his head at her insolent look. "Oh, I know, but I want to be able to tell Impa truthfully that I told you to change your appearance, as she wanted, when she sees you."


Now that he'd found Zelda, he used the Ocarina of Time to travel to the Temple of Time in a blink of an eye. The Temple was silent. This late at night or more appropriately, this early in the morning, no one was at the Temple. It didn't stop him from doing a casual sweep of the Temple though. It would be just his luck that he would manage to get away from the castle only to stumble across someone making a late night visit to the temple. He faltered slightly when his gaze reached the chamber where the Master Sword was normally housed. In the dim light he could just make out the metallic gleam of the Master Sword resting in the Pedestal of Time. It was only an illusion created by Impa. After it had been decided to keep his identity as the Hero of Time a secret, they had decided they would have to do something to make it look like the sword was still in the Temple of Time.

Unsure if replacing the Master Sword would such a good idea with Fia, Neela and Eden still running about. They decided their only option would be to create an illusion and there was only one among them who could maintain an illusion continuously without having to be nearby. The Sage of Shadows.

"Link! I see you managed to break out! Thank the Goddesses!"

Tearing his gaze away from the illusion, he turned in the direction of the voice, instinctively placing Zelda behind him to protect her. Seeing Rauru making his way towards them had Link lowering his defenses. As Rauru approached them he kept casting curious glances at Zelda, not recognizing her right away.

"Who do you have with you? I didn't realize the King had requested another..." The Sage's mouth fell open in shock before closing with an audible snap of his teeth. "Princess! Just what do you...Link I can't believe you would stand by and allow her to walk out in public in-in..." The old man fell silent, clearly at a loss for words.

"Oh Rauru, lighten up will you? Impa knew I would want to accompany Link and figured this would be the safest way for me to travel inconspicuously with him."

"Impa suggested this?"

"Oh no, not this exactly." Link smirked, mimicking Zelda's earlier words. She shot him a glare, a silent warning to keep quiet.

"Then exactly what was Impa's idea?"

Again she glared at Link, warning him to keep quiet before answering Rauru. "She felt it was necessary to alter more than just the color of my eyes with an illusion but I think it is unnecessary of me to run around looking like a boy."

"I think you should reconsider."

"Of course you would say that!" Shaking her head in exasperation, Zelda threw her hands up in the air. "I have made my decision Rauru!" Turning on her heel she marched towards the doors. "Link, come on! We're wasting the night here!"

Offering Rauru an apologetic shrug of his shoulders, Link hurried to catch up with the Princess. Thankfully the old Sage didn't try to stop them. As he caught up with her, he was just able to catch the tail end of her rambling.

"...It's not like this is would be considered unusual for anyone else! These garments are exactly what a Sheikah would wear! Compared to Impa this is rather conservative!"

He bit back a laugh and reached out to grab her hand. She turned to look back at him, blushing slightly when she realized he must have heard what she'd been mumbling. "Well it's the truth! I'm still completely covered in this! Why does this have to be such a big deal?"

"I think you know the answer to that already."

She sighed, her head dropping in a nod. "I suppose. It just gets tiring Link. Always having to be so proper because I am the Princess, I am expected to always dress a certain way. To always conduct myself in a manner that is proper for a Princess."

She stared at their joined hands, wiggling her fingers a bit. "I...like that I can be myself around you. That I don't have to continually monitor my actions. The only other person I can truly be myself around is Impa."

"So that is the purpose of adopting this disguise? Not to only hide your identity but to escape from it for a bit?" He asked, gently placing a finger beneath her chin so that she was looking at him and not their hands. "Alright Princess, if that is what you wish." Smiling softly, he dropped a quick kiss on her mouth. "I won't say another word about it."


They walked swiftly through the twisting back alleys avoiding the main streets and anyone who might be out on a midnight stroll. Twice they had to stop and back track when the way became a bit too public , worried someone might spot them. The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon when they reached the main gate and their next obstacle. The drawbridge that spanned the water that passed by the Southern wall of Castle Town was still raised and didn't look like it would be lowered anytime soon. Link pulled Zelda back further into the shadows of the alley as they decided what to do.

"There are usually only two guards posted at the gate. One outside and one in the guard house." Zelda took a small stick and drew in the packed dirt, outlining where the guards would be. "Maybe we could take them out and lower the drawbridge ourselves?"

Link studied the crude drawing before slowly shaking his head. "It's too risky and the mechanism to lower the drawbridge might be further up inside the guard house or might require a signal to another guard who operates the winch. Is there a postern gate anywhere? One that wouldn't be so heavily fortified?"

"No, this Gatehouse is the only way into and out of Castle Town." Exasperated, Zelda threw her stick. "If there had been another way it would have made sneaking in here to get the Master Sword so much easier!"

"So...we wait until they lower the draw bridge?" Link walked back to the mouth of the alley and peered around the corner. "By then they'll know I've escaped and that drawbridge is not going to come down until they find me."

"Then maybe we'd better take our chances and hope the winch is in that gate house."


Back pressed against cold stone, Link suppressed the urge to lean out and watch her. He had to be mad to have agreed to this plan. It was bad enough they were putting their trust in fate that the winch would be in the guard house. What made it worse was that it was up to Zelda to set their plan in motion. It wasn't that he didn't think she could handle it. If anything Zelda was the most capable woman he knew. A typical Princess she was not. His problem lay with how they planned to take out the guards. Their plan was a simple one, Zelda would entice the guard stationed outside to follow her back to the alley way where Link would be waiting to make sure the guard took a little nap. With the outside guard out of the picture, they hoped to repeat the ruse on the guard within as well.

He should be the one taking the risks, not Zelda but considering he was an escaped fugitive, the guards would have a much different reaction to seeing him than Zelda. The guards were more likely to sound an alarm if they saw him. Zelda planned to appeal to their...baser instincts. She'd left her cloak behind, the heap of fabric lay abandoned by his feet. Repeating the simple incantation that would keep the changed eye color in place, she'd given him one last reassuring smile before she'd walked out of the alley. Now he was waiting for Zelda to lead the guard back to him, but it was taking so long.

Throwing caution to the wind, he risked a quick peek. By now she had reached the guard and they were talking. What they were saying he couldn't tell but what he could tell was that Zelda shouldn't have bothered with her illusion. The guard had yet to look above her shoulders. In fact he was seriously beginning to think he could have done a song and dance routine and the guard wouldn't have noticed. Gritting his teeth, he pulled back before he stomped over there and smacked the guard upside the head. Zelda's overly loud laugh floated back to him but he wasn't sure if that meant they were finally coming this way.

That jackass better not get grabby...Adjusting his grip on his sword, he brought the blade up so that it was resting crosswise against his chest when he heard the soft crunch of gravel. Zelda came into view, a strained smile on her lips as she guided their unsuspecting prey.

Still playing the seductress, Zelda let go of the guard's hand to turn and face him, still walking backwards. "This way Bryan..."

Bryan was oblivious to Link's presence; his total focus was on Zelda. "Don't be such a tease you little minx, get over here." Managing to grab Zelda's hand, he pulled her closer until she was pressed up against him. "You sure I can't get my buddy to join us? I guarantee you wouldn't regret it."

Zelda's eyes widened. "Wouldn't four...be a bit crowded?"

Bryan blinked in surprise at her reply. He started to turn to see who else was in the alley but it was too late. In that short time Link had easily snuck up behind Bryan. Using the pummel of his sword, it took only a quick blow to the back of Bryan's head. As the man slumped forward, Link pulled Zelda out of the way so that she wouldn't be trapped beneath the scumbag.

"Sweet Nayru, I really don't want to do that again." She said with a shudder. Taking her cloak back from his outstretched hand, she gave him a grateful smile. "Convincing him to not get his partner was a challenge."

Gaze still stuck on Bryan's prone form, Link's mouth twisted in disgust. "So that's what was taking so long?"

Crossing her arms, she nodded, gazing warily down at Bryan. "He isn't going to wake up anytime soon is he?"

"Not the way I hit him."

"Good." She paused, as if contemplating an idea. "But Bryan's hang up with getting his partner gives me an idea. We're going to change our plan a little bit. I want you to be there with me this time."

"And how exactly is that going to work? One look at me and he'll sound the alarm."

Zelda grinned. "Well, it won't be you that he sees with me." Her eyes dropped back down to Bryan then looked back at him.

"Oh no, you can't be serious." Backing up, Link held up his hands. "You are not making me look like him..."

"We'll be able to disable the remaining guard quicker if I do."

"But-but holding an illusion that long..." He was grasping at straws but he refused to do it without fighting first. "I've only known Impa to be able to hold a complex illusion..."

"Don't insult me, Link." She scolded but the glint in her eye belied her stern tone. "I would never be able to hold an illusion at a great distance like Impa is doing with the Master sword but I can certainly handle altering your appearance for the short time it will take us to take care of that guard."


They stood by the door, both hesitant to go inside. "What if he sees through the illusion?"

Adjusting his collar, her eyes met his. "If he's anything like his friend I doubt he'll even really notice you're there."

He snorted in reply to have his own thoughts echoed from earlier. "So you'll take the lead and I'll follow?"

"Just get behind him quickly and knock him out." Turning her back to him, her hand dropped to the handle when Link's hand closed around her arm.

"Zelda." She turned to him, her eyes not quite meeting his but he was able to see the discomfort in their depths regardless of how hard she tried to hide it. "I won't let anything happen."

She smiled back at him and his hand dropped away. Squaring her shoulders, she pushed the door open. Inside, the guard jumped to attention, trying to look like he hadn't been leaning against the wall in an attempt to sleep standing up. He perked up further when he saw Zelda.

"Found another one, eh Bryan?" Pushing away from the wall, the guard ran an appraising eye over her. "Gotta say buddy, you're gettin' better at pickin' 'em."

He shrugged in reply, not quite trusting himself to speak. The guard either didn't notice or didn't care that his friend was unusually quiet. Moving away from him, Zelda sashayed her way towards the guard. Arms instantly closed around her, swinging her around until he had her pushed up against the wall he'd been previously using to take a nap. Figuring now was a good a time as any. Link started forward, intending to put their charade to an end.

He made it no more than a few steps when the guard turned on him. "What's the big idea Bryan? You know the deal, you bring 'em then you wait."

His gaze shifted to Zelda, he wasn't surprised to see his own surprise reflected back at him. They'd made a mistake. Bryan had been insistent about including his friend because his friend was, for the lack of a better word, the dominant one of the pair. Catching him off guard wouldn't be easy, as was demonstrated just now. Bryan's friend was still staring at him and Link could tell he was wondering why he hadn't backed down. He made a quick decision, the only way they would be able to succeed would be if he threw Bryan's friend off by acting out of character.

Raising an eyebrow at Zelda, she discreetly nodded her assent. She would go along with whatever he did. Now hopefully she wouldn't kill him later for what he planned to do.

"Ya well I'm sick of your leftovers." Pushing past Bryan's friend, he took up the guard's former place. "I think since I found this one, you should be the one to wait." Caging Zelda in with his arms, he bent down to nuzzle her throat. "You said yourself that I did better with this one. Why should you be the lucky one to go first?"

Grabbing his shoulder, the guard tore him away from Zelda with a snarl. It was exactly what Link had been hoping for. Playing into the momentum, he allowed himself to be pushed almost half way across the little room. As he expected, the guard followed, momentarily forgetting about Zelda.

"My, my, must we resort to violence? A simple 'no' would have sufficed."

"And you're really pushing it Bryan. Or did you forget what happened last time you suggested you this?"

Well, if he were to be honest, he'd say 'no'. But what fun would that be? "I can't believe you would think I would want to keep with this set up!"

Taking a swing at him, Link easily ducked, using the opening to get close enough to get his arm around the guard's neck. "The King really needs to invest in some better training for you guys."

"Bryan! Let me go this minute or I swear that beating I gave you last week will look mild compared to what I'll do this time!"

Link rolled his eyes; the guy was dumber than he thought. Did he really still think this was Bryan? Tightening his grip, he swung the guard around, managing to lift him off his feet. A choked cry was all the guard could manage as his air way was blocked further. As his struggles became weaker, Link figured it wouldn't be much longer before the guard lost consciousness.

It took a bit longer then he thought, but finally he was able to lower the unconscious guard to the ground. With Zelda's help, they propped the guard against the wall behind a couple of barrels to keep him out of sight should someone peek in. With both guards now out of the way, they turned their attention to finding the winch to lower the drawbridge.