Hey guys! This one's relatively long, for the time it took me to actually post it .' Nearly 3,400 words, not including this part. Woo-hoo!

But really. I need to work on my post consistency. *sigh*

-Nessa


"Wake."

I gasped audibly and sat up straight, sleep torn from my darkness-blinded eyes by a tight grip around my wrists. What was going on?

I nearly shouted in surprise when I found Link staring at me from a few inches away, his expression impassive and his blue eyes bright in the moonless, cloudy night. He was staring straight past me like I wasn't even there. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

"You can't save them." His voice was completely normal, even on the verge of casual.

I caught my breath. "What?"

"You can't save them," he repeated. His eyes found mine, and he stopped staring at empty space. "Your people. They will die. They have no hope."

My brain frantically searched for an explanation to this terrifying behavior. "What are you saying, Link?"

His left hand released my right wrist and reached up to touch my face fondly. A few beads of something warm and thick dripped down onto my neck—blood. His, more specifically, from his sword arm. He laughed quietly. "Foolish child," he murmured, lowering his eyes and leaning in very slightly. "You don't understand these words only because they come from this puppet here. A fine young man, he once was...but his strength is quickly deteriorating. And you, little princess, are not prepared to take on the challenges ahead...no, you will not save them, not on your life. You are too selfish. You shall stand in the ruins of a place that no longer breathes and stare at the dying spirits of your people while the world burns before your very eyes in flames of vengeance and terror. They shall call out to you, and you will not help them. Tell me, daughter of Zora, where your heart truly lies: with your people, or with your equals?"

"My people are my equals," I whispered. My hands were shaking.

He smiled mirthlessly, the look in his eyes one of a man about to do something crazy, his clammy, ice-cold hand pressed against my cheek. He leaned in so close our noses nearly touched. "Wrong answer, Sage."

Then the light in his eyes died and his image disintegrated and was blown away by the wind.

And in that moment, I was so scared, confused, and hysterical that I just went back to sleep.


You were not supposed to tell her that much, witch.

Our apologies, Madam Sage.

Our Lord will not be happy.

We didn't tell her anything important, Madam Sage, no indeed, we kept ourselves quite concealed, we used the boy as a puppet, Madam Sage, we spoke in riddles.

But that is specifically why I am angry! You shouldn't have used the boy, now she knows exactly who spoke with her. And the 'daughter of Zora' bit! She is only supposed to know that she wasn't born a princess, but now you've gone and sparked her curiosity, no doubt! Can I trust you two with anything?

O-of course you c-can, M-madam Sage! Our deepest apologies, we'll d-do better next t-time for sure!

I do not believe you. I should kill you now, but I suppose our Lord would not be happy with that, either. Begone, witch. I have no need for you here. Tell what I have told you to your sister.

Yes, Madam Sage, I'll be g-going now.

Get out!


It was dawn when I woke. I sat up, immediately awake, and looked to my right. Link was lying there, sleeping peacefully. I glanced a way's away to where Sheik slept. He, too, was still asleep. Had I imagined what had happened? It had seemed so real...

I stood quietly and rummaged around in my knapsack for a dress—say what you will, but I just feel more comfortable in skirts. I'm a princess, remember? I pulled out a pretty ocean-blue one that reached a bit above my knees, then tied my hair in three braids behind my back, like usual, and put on white stockings and brown leather boots. Doing this distracted me from my paranoia at least temporarily and I hoped the soft noises would wake Link up. Maybe I could ask him if he remembered anything.

However, it was Sheik who awoke first, predictably. He purposely made a bit of noise so I'd notice him, which was nice. He sat down next to me at the edge of the lake.

"I'm going to go looking for Ttoren again," he said in a half-whisper.

I suddenly felt a brick drop down into my gut. I'd completely forgotten. How could I have forgotten? "I want to come."

"We'd best wait for Link, too. He isn't going to want to be left out again."

I nodded. "Sheik," I began slowly, "did you, by any chance...hear something weird in the night?"

He frowned. "No. Why?"

I swallowed and shook my head. "No reason. I just...nothing."

I could tell he was curious but he didn't ask any more questions. "Yesterday I checked around outside of the Domain," he said, "but today I want to go inside, if we can find a way."

"Where there's a will, there's a way," I muttered bitterly. "D'you think he could've survived that, if he really did get caught?"

He shrugged. "I have no idea," he admitted, which surprised me a bit. Sheik hardly ever said stuff like that. "If his skull's as thick as yours, there's no doubt about it."

I made a face at him and stood to begin tacking up Epona. The brown mare was a bit jumpy for whatever reason, but she stood relatively still as I put on her saddle and bridle. Probably still freaked out by Dr. Mizumi. Poor thing. I ran my fingers through her knotted mane to take out some of the tangles, but she whinnied in protest and shook her head. I withdrew my hand.

Sheik and I both turned at the sound of Link's awakening (SEE WHAT I DID THERE) behind us. "Hello," he said groggily. "Why's Epona freaking out?"

"I was wondering the same thing," I told him. "She's a bit shaken up."

Link stood and my eyes were drawn to his left armit was still bound tightly and cleanly in white cloth, no blood showing through. I touched the spot on my neck unconsciously where his blood had fallen last night. It was just skin, no dried blood there. Maybe it really had been a dream. Or maybe I was going nuts, who's to say. "What are you staring at, Zellie?"

I started. "Hm? Oh, nothing, just...nothing."

"She said the same thing to me ten minutes ago," Sheik grumbled.

Had I? I shrugged. "I'm just...worried. About...stuff."

Link nodded. I noticed he looked slightly uncomfortable. "We all are," he said. "Even Epona, as it seems."

"I was going to go check out the inside of Zora's Domain, if we can," said Sheik. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah, of course," he responded. "Zelda, do we have anything to eat?"

I suddenly realized how hungry I was; I hadn't eaten anything in at least a day. "I don't think so, but I can go to the ranch and get something quickly, if you want."

"Okay, Sheik and I will—actually, we're coming with you," Link said abruptly. "We need horses too."

Sheik's expression tightened. "And because of that, all of us can't go," he said. "You and Zelda go."

I looked at him and remembered how uncomfortable he'd been on Epona before. "Alright then. You wait at the entrance to the Domain...or what's left of it...and we'll be there in, maybe, and hour or so. Now, let's go, all this waiting is getting on my nerves!"

"Okay, okay, we're going!" said Link. He turned and took a single step towards Epona, who shook her mane and moved backwards nervously. Link frowned. "What's wrong, Epona?" He put his hand out tentatively, trying to touch her—

And she reared with a loud, panicked neigh and nearly hit him in the skull with her hooves.

He shouted in alarm and fell backwards into the sand, and Epona took off at a canter for a few meters before stopping at the water's edge, the whites of her dark brown eyes visible. I knew better than to try and approach her but I was in so much shock that I didn't know what to do. Why was she so afraid? She loved Link, just as much as she loved Malon! I'd never seen such a thing as this happen before with her, except with Ingo.

But...horses and animals could sense things that humans couldn't, wasn't that right? Like they could smell fear, almost. Maybe Link was afraid? But of what?

Did it have to do with the strange dream I'd had last night?

After a split-second I snapped out of my shock and rushed to Link. "Oh, goddesses, she didn't hit you, right, you don't have a fractured cranium or anything like that—"

"Relax," he interrupted, "I'm fine. Just...surprised. I've never known her to do anything like that. Something must've really spooked her." I offered him my hand, and he pulled himself to his feet, frowning. "I just wonder what made her do that..."

I turned to look at Sheik. He'd completely blanched and seemed quite shaken. Despite all the confusion in my brain, a little portion of me at the back of my head was thinking, Aww, he's afraid of horses, how cute! Something else to tease him with!

When I turned back, Link was very, very slowly approaching Epona, who had calmed down very much in the past minute or so. She still wouldn't let him touch her but she was definitely not trying to get away. I could very faintly hear him humming the Ocarina song he used to call her—or in a case like this, to calm her down. He had also used that song to get her to like him when he was younger. Sheik and I stared in silence for a good three minutes before Epona let him touch her muzzle.

I walked forwards slowly, still staying a good two meters away from them. "She's...she's okay now?" I confirmed.

"Yeah," he said, "she...I really don't know what scared her, but she's better now. I think it was me for some reason."

I swallowed. I thought it was him, too. I took a step closer. "Can I...?"

He nodded. "Go ahead."

I reached my hand out and placed it gently on Epona's strong neck. She eyed me strangely but didn't move. "Link," I said very quietly.

He blinked in recognition but didn't look at me. He understood I didn't want Sheik to hear whatever I was about to say.

"I need to tell you something. When we get to the ranch."

He gave a very small, slow nod, then turned around. "She's fine now," he called.

"That's...good," said Sheik, coming as close as he dared. "We'd best be going now."

Link very carefully mounted Epona; she didn't even move. He helped me up slowly (I decided to ride sidesaddle) and we waved a quick goodbye to Sheik, who, for some reason, watched us leave before turning towards the lake and heading in the wrong direction. What was he doing?

It took us fifteen minutes or so to get to the ranch at a canter from Lake Hylia, but they seemed like a very short fifteen minutes to me. There was so much on my mind that Link actually had to say my name thrice to get me to pay attention to him.

"Zelda!"

I started and nearly fell off Epona (and nearly took him down with me, seeing as I had my arms around his waist). "What? What?"

"I've been saying your name!" he said. "What's up?"

"Er," I said intelligently. "What do you mean?"

He looked over his shoulder a bit, frowning. "You wanted to ask me something."

Oh. That. I bit my lip. "Um, yeah...last night, did you, uh, hear anything strange?"

"No, not that I remember," he said. "I had a funny dream though."

I felt my heartbeat quicken. "What was it about?"

He reddened slightly, embarrassed. "I was attacking a cuckoo, and then I think it tried to talk to me or something? I dunno."

I felt a strange urge to laugh and then cry from relief. "Um, yeah, that's not really what I meant..."

"Why? Did you hear something strange in the night?"

"Well, no," I admitted, "but I...I had the weirder dream of the two of us, and I hardly ever dream." I stopped, unsure whether or not I should tell him. "But it was just a dream, of course."

Was it, though? If Link really had been possessed by Twinrova for a second time, it would probably explain Epona's crazy behavior...and why shouldn't they erase it from his memory? Maybe it really had happened.

"Tell me," he said.

I rested my head in between his shoulder blades. "I don't want to," I mumbled. "It doesn't make sense."

"Talking cuckoos don't make sense," he said. "Please tell me, Zelda."

I opened my mouth, about to start explaining, then shut it. No. I couldn't tell him. I hadn't even thought this through. How might he react? Something bad could happen. There was a long silence.

"Okay," he acquiesced, understanding I'd changed my mind. "I'm not going to force you."

I shut my eyes. "Thanks."

There was another pause. "Was it scary?" he asked.

This surprised me a little bit. I hadn't really thought about it. Had that so-called "dream" actually frightened me? "Yes," I decided eventually, then said suddenly, "You were in it."

I felt him stiffen against my arms. "Was I the scary part?"

There was perhaps an even longer pause. "Yes."

When he looked over his shoulder at me again, he looked genuinely concerned, and, honestly, a bit hurt. "You think I'm scary, Zelda?"

I shook my head. "No! How could I love you if I was afraid of you?"

He didn't answer. We rode on in silence.


When we arrived at Lon Lon Ranch, at first I didn't think anybody was there. It was completely quiet as we dismounted, no sign of Talon anywhere, but as we journeyed in a bit further we saw Malon with the horses in the corral. She noticed us quickly, and turned and waved with a bright smile. Link waved back but I didn't have the heart. Epona whinnied and tossed her mane, but in a friendly way this time—not out of fear.

Malon was clearly excited at the sight of her favorite horse. She actually greeted Epona before she greeted us. "Hii!" she said, hugging the mare's neck. "Hi, sweetie, I've missed you!"

Link seemed amused. "Looks like she missed you too," he said.

Malon gave him a big smile. "Hi, Link," she said. "I haven't seen you in so long. Why are you here?"

"We were actually in need of some food," he admitted. "Also, Epona was acting up a little bit this morning, we were wondering if you might help us explain that."

She frowned. "Really? Normally she's very well-behaved, isn't she?" She turned back to the horse. "She does seem a bit nervous..."

"She almost kicked Link," I interjected quietly.

Malon looked at me with wide eyes. "Really?" she gasped, visually upset. "Oh, Epona, you could've hurt them!"

"She didn't mean any harm," Link assured her quickly. "She was spooked by something. I think it was me."

She frowned. "Did you put any funny-smelling stuff on? Sometimes that's it."

"No," he said, "I don't think so."

She thought for a minute, then shrugged. "Well, she's okay now. If she does it again, please let me know. And you were saying you needed something to eat?"

"Yeah," he said, pulling out a pouch of rupees. "Here, I've brought some money for it—"

"No," she said firmly, handing him back the rupees, "you will not pay for anything here. You freed us from Ingo, we're still repaying that debt." Then she turned to me and curtsied slightly. "Princess Zelda, Your Highness, I apologize for not addressing you sooner."

I shook my head. "It's fine, Malon," I assured her. "Stop bowing and don't call me that. I'm human."

"If you say so," she said cheerily. "Is that all, just food?"

"Um, no," said Link. "We were actually looking to see if we could borrow two—"

"One," I interrupted. "Sheik hates riding."

He frowned. "But—"

"He'll find a way," I said. "He always does."

He was clearly skeptical but went with it anyway. "I guess just one horse then. It'd probably only be for a few days, though I can't make any promises."

"Of course!" said Malon. "And I assume that'll be for Princess Zelda? Link, you go on inside and find my father, he'll get you some food. Please come with me, Your Highness." She led me into the corral.

"You're used to riding on Epona, right?" she said, although it wasn't really a question. "Her brother's a lot like her, you can borrow him. His name is Takumi." She led me towards a tall, very dark brown stallion, almost black, with white stockings and a white blaze down his muzzle.

"They look nothing alike!" I marveled. Was this really Epona's brother? Epona was a much lighter bay, with a white mane and tail.

Malon nodded. "They had different fathers."

"Oh," I said. I reached out and patted Takumi's muzzle. He snorted and nosed at my hand, looking for anything edible. I smiled. He really was just like Epona, at least in that sense.

"He's strong and tall," Malon said, "but he's actually really wimpy sometimes. He's afraid of frogs."

I laughed a little, unsure if she was joking or not. "How did you find that out?"

She shrugged. "I rode him down to Lake Hylia and he freaked out when the Lake Scientist came out of his house and showed us a dead frog."

Oh, of course. "Are you sure it's not Dr. Mizumi he's afraid of? 'Cuz that guy is pretty weird. Epona doesn't like him either."

"That might be it too," she agreed evenly. "Do you want to ride him a little? Here, I'll get you his tack."

"No, it's okay," I said, but she was already handing me his saddle to hold while she put the two blankets on his back, then grabbed the heavy leather saddle from me and slipped the reigns over his head before strapping the girdle in place. She was fast! Guess it comes from living on a horse ranch your whole life.

"There!" she said. "All done. And look, here comes Link. Hi Link!"

He had his hands full with two canvas saddle bags full of food and a large bottle of Lon Lon milk. "I don't think we could eat all this if we tried," he grumbled, shaking his head.

"I'm sure you'll need it," Malon said with a smile, strapping a bag to each of the horses' saddles. "You guys are good to go! This is Takumi, by the way. He's Epona's little brother. They're three years apart."

"Oh, really?" said Link. "That's interesting." He mounted Epona, and I took that as my signal to mount Takumi, who seemed very well-behaved. "We'd best be off, Malon. Thanks again for everything."

"Anytime!" she said cheerfully. "Have a safe trip!"

I waved, then kicked Takumi into a smooth canter behind Epona as we rode out of the ranch and back into Hyrule Field.

The ruins of Zora's Domain were waiting.