Wow! Ok, here we go guys, halfway through the story! I am flabbergasted by how wonderful you have all been; seriously, I can't even begin to thank you enough! This is the most reviews that I have had on any story EVER! Seriously, I can't even handle your awesomeness... thank you to TheMysteriousDude, PrincesscharmingKnight, Adventuregirl1, ShadowNinja1011, SxDsX, prettyguardianofhyrule, Azulhada, Bleachshowlover1, Franne, CreCra,and Hanyoualchemist1!
In another note, if you haven't already, please go check out my collaboration! It's called Adventure in Skyloft and it would really mean a lot to me and my lovely collab partners if you guys would check it out for us!

Thank you to Princess Zelda figure skater for beta reading!

Zelda's POV:

The air is warm around me and I inhale deeply, shifting my position a little in my sleeping bag as I roll over. I'm nice and toasty where I lie snuggled up under my many layers of clothing. Between the tights, my pyjamas, undershirts, tracksuit bottoms and fleece, I really couldn't be cosier. I curl myself in a slightly tighter ball, shielding myself against the rest of the world so I can continue sleeping in my beautiful little cocoon. All around me I can hear the heavy breathing of my friends and my twin brother, Sheik. All of whom sound to be asleep. I daren't open my eyes and look, I'm too happy in my sleepy little paradise.

As I lie back on my pillow, I can't help but think about tonight's revelation. The way Midna and Sheik sat down, with their hands clasped adorably… I've never seen anything so cute. I've never really been a head in the clouds hopeless romantic, that's not really my style. The belief that there's a perfect 'one' out there for us all is outnumbered by the overwhelming scientific odds. In our world, full of an ever increasing population and busy lives, it's extremely unlikely that you'll ever actually meet the perfect 'one' for you. But as I think about Midna and Sheik, it's like two pieces of a puzzle fitting perfectly together. I can't think of anyone more suited for one another as those two.

If I'm completely honest for you: I don't think that is ever going to happen for me. It's hard to find someone who fits every criterion you've ever dreamt of in your perfect other. In our crazy world, we have to learn to compromise, to overlook each other's minor flaws and learn to love one another, because of, or in spite of, every aspect of their personality. I know it's crazy for me, a fifteen year old girl, to be thinking about life and the philosophy of love, but I've always found it strangely fascinating.

All the different theories about love are intriguing to me, some people say we love those who we think we deserve, some say that our ideal partners reflect who we aspire to be, and some even say that they're just like our parents. Now, these theories are all well and good… but I have a theory of my own. I don't think it's possible to calculate love, you can't break it down to science or hormones or chemicals… I think it comes from the heart. We learn to love those around us, no matter what, and it's not just our own conscious decision. Circumstance, location, timing, and peers play a large role in what happens to our love lives. It's something we can't always control, you don't always fall for people who you think are right for you, and you certainly can't pick those that we love… but that's just the way it is.

I sigh a little in the dark of the barn. This always happens: I wake in the middle of the night and set my mind into motion, thinking about life and love and every other philosophical conundrum out there. Then my brain starts whirring, coming up with my own personal solutions, and before I know it, I'm wide awake. I blow out my cheeks into large balloons, rolling over onto my front as I push open my tired eyes, taking in the room around me. The fire has now stopped flaming, leaving just a few hot ashes scattered on the floor of the barn. Guessing by this, it must be about two or three in the morning. As I listen, I can here loud grunts and snores coming from my friends as they all sleep blissfully around me. I quickly grab my torch, deciding just to check and see if anyone's awake. As I flick the light on and cast it over all my friends, I'm greeted with the response I was expecting. That is until finally, I turn the light to Link's sleeping bag… at least, where it should be.

There's a large open space on the floor between Midna and Dark, exactly where Link should be sleeping. I frown, scouring the room with my torch, searching for something. My stomach churns sickeningly as I realise that his bag is missing too… oh no… Where could he have gone? He didn't go home; he would have told us if he wanted to go home… what if something bad has happened to him? What if he's in trouble?

A thousand thoughts are frantically dashing through my mind, though I know deep down inside of me what's really going on. He hates it here, he always has, and now that his mind's set, he probably always will. He's been going on about wanting to escape, wanting to go back to his home, how he can't stay here. I swallow hard, trying to void my throat of the large lump forming there as I run my hands through my hair. I should have seen it coming, I should have known… Link is running away.

I shuffle uncomfortably where I sit, trying my best to wriggle out of my sleeping bag. I must admit that the pit of nerves forming in the bottom of my stomach isn't making it any easier. Eventually, I rid myself of the confining blankets, clambering up to my feet. I fumble around for my brown boots, slipping them over my feet in the darkness. It's ok Zelda. Just stay calm. He can't have gone far. I'm sure he'll be alright. But no matter how much I try to make myself relax, I know that it's no use until I find Link.

I drop to my knees beside Sheik. His body lies crumpled up in his sleeping bag as he hugs his knees to his chest. A small trail of drool runs from the side of his mouth, though I don't have to time to worry about it.

"Sheik," I hiss, leaning over him, "Sheik, wake up!"

He lets out a low, indecipherable moan as he shifts where he lies. He smacks his lips together lazily as he sleeps… and I can't help but wonder if he's dreaming about food. I sigh, quickly growing frustrated with his blissful ignorance. I reach out, gripping his forearm as I give shake his torso.

"Sheik! Wake up! This is important!"

"Five more minutes mum…" He groans as he lazily pulls his arm from my grip, rolling over and turning his body away from me. I press my lips together firmly, deciding to give it one last try.

"Get up, Sheik!"

But the only reply I'm met with is a quiet snore as he begins to drool again. And with that, I decide that enough is enough. I can't waste any more time trying to get my brother to help me. For every minute I waste here, Link gets further and further away. For all I know, he could already have left the village. Where would he have gone to? I pull myself to my feet, taking my coat from my bag and dragging it over my shoulders. There's no way I'm letting Link walk away from us all.

I turn, running towards the exit of the barn. The door is stiff and heavy as I reach it. Its metal lock is cold to the touch as I pull it, trying my best to force it open. Eventually, with much work, the door swings outwards, allowing me to exit. I quickly proceed out of the door and onto the dusty pathway. Which way would Link have gone? Where would he go? I try hard to cast my mind back over the thoughts of the last few days. I know for definite that he wants to go back to the city. That one's given. But how could he get there? Link isn't old enough to drive, and he must have gone alone. This leaves only one solution… the bus.

I break out into a run. My feet are pounding hard against the dry dusty ground as I race through the cold winter's night. The wind bites against my face. It works its way through every gap in my clothing, freezing my skin and turning my cheeks bright red. It claws through my hair with its long, icy fingers, throwing it behind me. My pointed ears are beginning to sting with the cold as my heart rate fastens inside of my chest. I swallow, clenching my fists harder as I press on. I can't afford to walk, I might lose Link.

As my feet blindly stumble along the path, I can't help but wish that I'd thought to bring my torch. I hesitate for a moment, unsure whether or not to go back for it. But as I clench my jaw, I decide that there's no time for such things. A friend needs my help, and that's exactly what I intend to give him. I can feel my heart thumping against my ribs. I swear it could jump right through my skin at any moment. Air rushes in and out of my lungs, feeding my aching muscles. Tears begins forming in the corners of my eyes as the frustration rises inside of me… why is he making this so difficult? I reach the end of the field, coming to a gradual stop as I stare wildly around me. A large slope drops down below me, leading down to the lake, and two pathways extend out to the left and right. There has to be some kind of sign, some give away as to which direction he headed in. As I desperately scan the fields, something catches my eye.

Far on the horizon, where the peaceful lake lies, my eyes fall on something special: a small silhouette walking fast along the water's edge. He holds a large sports bag pressed against his back, and his feet clumsily stumble over the uneven ground. The reflection of the moon on the water's surface illuminates my path as I stumble down the steep slope, trying my best to catch up to him. I can already feel blisters bubbling between my toes but there's no time for me to stop. It's a race against time. For every time I stumble, for every moment I hesitate, he's only getting further away.

Eventually, I come to the bottom of the slope. My feet are sore, the leather of my boots scuffed and even ripped in places from the sharp rocks. My ankles are aching with the persistent pressure, and my fingers are numb from the cold. But I can't stop now that I'm so close.

I can feel the determination pouring from my heart as I force my weeping muscles to run again. This is it Zelda, this can make a difference. It's the final leg of the run… I just need to catch up to him. I can speak with him. I'll find a way to talk him out of it. I watch as his shadowed figure presses on, back hunched away from the silvery light of the moon. I'm so close; I can almost hear his breathing. I'm about to call out to him, to shout his name. And that's when it all goes wrong.

My body is propelled forward, continuing at my running speed, but there's something holding me back. My feet have snagged on a small piece of jagged rock. Its pointed edge rips through the leather of my boot. My body collides with ground with all the force of my desperate sprint. The impact of the dry ground makes my body shudder, and I can already feel the skin being peeled from the back of my lower arms. A small yelp of pain passes through my lips as my torso hits the dirt, knocking my cheek against its dusty surface.

And that's when everything returns to real time. Link's footsteps stop dead in their tracks as the wave of pain passes over my body. I can feel the raw sting on my freshly exposed skin. It's enough to make me whimper in pain. I can't do this, no, there's not time. I need to speak with Link. I push my face away from the dusty dirt, forcing my body up to look at him. But he's already stood still, carefully watching me with his stunning blue eyes.

"Zelda?" He asks, turning to look at me under those sparkling stars.

I nod as I slowly push myself up from the ground. My arms are stinging from their grazes, but I'm mostly ok. Link steps cautiously towards me, holding out one hand to help me to my feet. I gratefully accept his offer of help, letting him support me as I get up. I carefully reach down, dusting off my night clothes as he looks me up and down. His blue eyes are confused, unsure.

"What are you doing here?" He asks.

"I could ask you the same thing," I reply, letting my eyes meet his.

He sighs, looking down at his feet for a few moments. He doesn't dare to utter a word, just simply turns away, collecting his large sports bag and shrugging it up over his shoulder. His tipex tattooed converses leave footprints in the dust as he slowly walks away.

He only turns back momentarily, to say: "Go home Zelda, you shouldn't be here."

I frown, a look of determination settling over me. "And neither should you!" I shout, marching up to him and taking his arm in my hand, spinning him around to face me. "What do you think you're playing at, Link? It's the middle of the night and you're wandering off! What if you'd gotten hurt?"

He takes a step back, casting his eyes upwards in exasperation. "I didn't get hurt, Zelda. I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself. And right now, I'd really appreciate it if you'd just go back to your perfect little life and forget all about me."

"I'm not giving up on you, Link!" I say, meeting his gaze once again. "And you shouldn't give up either!"

A small laugh escapes him as he sways where he stands. "What are you talking about?" He asks.

I set my jaw forward in determination as I take step closer to him. "I'm talking about this, Link. All of this! You're running away! Life threw a few problems at you, sure. Maybe you didn't get on well with the school bully. Maybe your parents don't always understand your point of view. Maybe you're living in a B&B for a few weeks. It shouldn't matter, Link. Everyone has problems. But instead of dealing with them like any sensible person would, you run away!"

He opens his mouth to speak, but falters for a few moments. His blue eyes look hurt as he inhales deeply; his breath misting in the air. "Yeah, Zelda. Everyone has problems, and right now, I can't help but feel like I'm the cause of those problems! People around me are suffering and that's my fault!"

"What the heck are you talking about?!" I exclaim, cutting him off.

"I'm talking about my family, Zelda!" He shouts, angrily gesticulating. "Did it never occur to you that maybe they'd be happier without a moody sarcastic teenager?! They can't afford to repair the house, and not paying to feed or dress or house a teenage boy could make that difference for them!"

"Link, your being ridi-" But before I can finish he puts up his hand, pressing one finger against my lips and forcing me to fall silent.

"Would you just shut up and listen?" He yells, "I can't do this, Zelda! I can't be that kind of burden on my family! And for your information, it's not just them! It's you, you and your perfect little countryside friends!"

His words confuse me, what kind of burden could he possibly be on us? We care about him, he's our friend. He's done nothing to upset us… so what could he mean? He takes a step closer to me, his rugged blue eyes dragging me in. One of his strong hands clasps my shoulder as he leans in, suddenly becoming more intimidating. His face is twisted with resentment and distress, and I swear I can almost see tears in his eyes.

"I am bad news Zelda," he says slowly, shaking me a little to emphasise his point. "I'm reckless, sarcastic, rude and insecure. I don't know when to let things lie and I have a hard time accepting people even when they're nice to me. It doesn't matter what you say or how friendly you are to me. I won't believe that we're actually friends, Zelda. I can't let go of grudges. I'm paranoid, passive aggressive, and I have a horrible habit of hurting people that I actually care about. I insult people when I get nervous. I'm painfully stubborn, and I swear to God that if anyone jokes about my artwork then I will never ever forgive them. Look… you and your friends have been great, but if I stick around, I'm going to end up hurting you. I don't want to do that."

And with that, he gives me one final, serious nod. Then he turns away, slinging his bag a little higher on his shoulder as he paces away from me. His hands are clenched and his head is held low. His words wash over me… reckless, sarcastic, rude, insecure… grudges, paranoid, passive aggressive, stubborn… I've seen all these things in Link Faron since the day he arrived… but it didn't make a difference. I still believed in him, and I'm not about to change that now.

"Like I said," I shout, "I'm not giving up on you, Link Faron!"

He grits his teeth, turning back around to face me. His expression looks angered… and frankly it's rather scary. His jaw is clenched and he approaches, fury burning in his stunning blue eyes. His converses thump against the dirt, sending small cracks along the surface. He reaches out one powerful hand, gripping my arm with it as he bares his teeth in frustration.

"Haven't you got it yet, Zelda?" He growls, "I don't fit in here! I don't belong here! Groose is right," his face looms ever closer as he begins to shout out of pure rage. "I'M NOTHING BUT A CITY BOY!"

I stare at him in silence for a few moments, my mind rushing with thoughts. In those few minutes, in the time he took to pour all his insecurities out to me, I saw the real Link. I didn't see the boy who strolled into the B&B last week, acting like he couldn't care less. I didn't see the boy who dived across the canteen to confront Groose. And I certainly didn't see a boy who'd just run away from all his problems. I saw a real, honest to the Goddess human being. One with problems, one who'd been bullied his whole life. One who'd expressed all his emotions with a paintbrush and watercolours. And one who was only trying to do anything for his friends and family. As I stare up at that poor boy, I know there's only one thing I can do in this situation.

I reach up, wrapping my arms around his neck and locking them behind him. I move in closer, resting my head against his heaving chest. There are a few moments of stunned silence, before I eventually feel him return the hug. His arms hold my waist tight, his head falling onto the shoulder of my pink fleece. There's a soft snuffling, sobbing sound as I feel his shoulders shake underneath my arms. His bag falls down to the floor with a loud thud but he doesn't even look up. I can already feel his tears soaking through the shoulders of my clothes, but I honestly don't care. If anything, I'm actually relieved. He needed to let it all out… you can't just bottle your emotions like he tried to.

"You'll be ok, Link," I whisper. "I promise."