Disheartened does not own Ame or Legend of Zelda, but she does plan on eventually becoming Queen of Hyrule.

We were soon once again on our way. Riding bareback on my magnificent Taenak, we proceeded towards the Lake Hylia. It took us two days of riding and camping, plus slaughtering whatever monsters got in the way, to get there. The first night was the worst.

"Link, I'm going to sleep over there," I pointed towards the trees a number of feet away. "And you can sleep in the other direction."

"Not happening. What if one of Ganon's cronies is hiding over there? Or if one of those crazy boars that hang around gets spooked and charges? We're only safe when we're relatively close together."

"I'm not chancing anything!" He rolled his eyes.

"That's what I mean!"

"No, I mean physical harm via 'uncontrollable' masculine desires."

"Huh?"

Again, Midna popped out of nowhere.

"She means she's afraid you'll feel the need to play 'squeeze the melons' amongst other things."

It took him a moment to comprehend what she was saying, then his face turned bright red. His expression was a cross between rage, embarrassment, and disbelief. Nonetheless, he sighed and gave in.

"So long as she takes Taenak and you stay with her, fine. Just don't go too far away."

As I began to pull my horse away, I heard in a very low voice, "I just wish you would trust me Ame. I'm not that kind of guy."

He traveled to a more open space, closer to the cliffs for safety. Ganon's creatures were stupid. If they were even the least bit distracted they would walk themselves right off the edge. I watched from the trees as he dismounted Epona and removed his gear. He didn't even bother to picket her. Like that morning, when we came down from the village, Epona was where she was supposed to be. I didn't doubt that it would be the same the next day. The whole idea of it went against the nature of horses, but these two seemed to be smarter than most others of their kind. A few feet away from where he left her, he put down his sleeping roll and turned to face me. I didn't think that he could see me, but he smiled and returned to his spot, wrapped himself in the cloth, and went to sleep.

I then turned to unload my stallion. I caught his muzzle in my hands after I unburdened him of gear and found myself telling him not to wander off. And, should Link "wander" over during the night, to kick him where it counts. Hard. When I released him he threw his mane back and set himself to munching grass between Link and me. The moon began to set as I finally fell asleep.

I woke to the sound of a cracking branch nearby. Immediately I shot up and threw one of my hidden knives at it, but no sound of pain came. Only a crack as it hit a tree.

"Great merciful- Are you trying to kill me?"

It was only then that I realized that it was the green-dressed fairy boy who had woken me; in his hand was a pack with what appeared to be food. Epona was prancing around with my mount while he eyed her with great interest. My attention returned to Link as he plopped himself next to my bedroll and handed me the pack.

"Everything is either cheese, dried, or fruit, so eat the fresh fruit first, before it goes bad. There's a stream a little ways back if you want to wash and fill your water skin."

I pulled an apple and some dried salted meat from the bag, took Taenak's reigns, and began to lead him towards the forest.

"Hold on a second!"

The irritating small voice of the irritating small fairy had returned.

"How do we know you won't take the horse and run, huh?"

I stared at Navi as she sat on Link's shoulder in annoyance. Before Link could protest the idea, Midna, too popped out.

"I know Ame, and she won't run."

"You could just be covering for her."

"I could, but I'm not."

"I don't believe you."

"Navi, would you just shut up and let Ame go? Midna, go with her."

"But Link!" The man caught the little fairy between two fingers.

"I believe in her."

With that, I continued on my way, leaving the fairy and the fairy boy to argue. Midna transferred from his shadow to mine, allowing her to travel without being noticed. When we stopped again, it was at the wide, shallow stream far enough into the woods that we couldn't see or hear anyone. Around me wild life went about their morning, and my mount set to chewing on clumps of grass. I stripped and knelt in the cool, slow water, splashing it over myself and scrubbing to get rid of the dirt of our trip and the Death Mountain soot that had caked onto me. My hair was wet but knotted to the point of no return and quite painfully so, so I found my dagger and cut off the nasty, grimy strands at my shoulders. Years worth of hair were tossed next to my clothing for burial so that we couldn't be tracked.

"Nice cut. Some of those knots did look uncomfortable," A voice said. I jumped and turned to cut the neck out of whoever it was, only to realize that it was my new shadow.

"They were. I missed you Midna."

"I was worried about you, but you're in good hands now."

We were again silent. Eventually Midna floated off, Taenak close behind. I continued to attempt to remove the grime from my hair and skin, only to hear more rustling behind me. When I turned around, it was not Midna as I had expected.

It was Link.

But it wasn't.