Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Warnings: Minor violence in later chapters and boyxboy (Link x Sheik). If you're not a fan please don't read.

Epilogue

A few months had passed since Link and Sheik had returned from the desert. Sheik had forgiven Zelda, even though it had been hard. She told him she didn't deserve his forgiveness but Sheik gave it anyways. She had been lost and scared too. But as the months went by Zelda had really changed and matured. She had been wed to a Prince from a neighbouring land and now they ruled together. Roark, the new King of Hyrule, was young but level headed. He was much better suited to the job than Link ever was. And he dotted on Zelda, and his adoration for her was obvious and Zelda was smitten with him back.

The match was perfect. Zelda was thrilled with it and the marriage strengthened the bond between the two countries. If Hyrule was ever attacked they'd have the added force ofMestval to help defend the country. Overall, Zelda's grand ball had been a great success. She had made many new allies an trading prospects. The people of both Hyrule and Mestval adored her.

Despite their mutual love for Hyrule, Link wanted to travel and Sheik wanted to accompany him. They were preparing to travel Termina, and land to the west of Hyrule that wasn't well known. Link thought it would be a grand adventure and he had been quite enthusiastic when he had suggested it. Sheik had rolled his eyes at the other man's antics but had affectingly agreed to go with him, no matter where he decided to go. He knew deep down Link missed Navi and he wanted to search for her but had put off looking for the fairy in search of him in the beginning. Zelda was less happy about their decision to go, but she understood. She made them promise that they'd return home frequently.

Sheik was just adjusting Calibri's saddle and saddle bags that contained their supplies as Link did the same with Epona. Both horses were in high spirits, they could tell they were going on an escapade and they looked forward to it. They led the horses out of the castle's stable and walked them down towards the Castle gardens where they knew they would find Zelda. She was sitting at the small table in the gardens speaking to one of her council members. When she saw them approaching she asked the man to excuse her as she rose to bid them farewell.

"Be safe," she said as she hugged Link. She turned to Sheik and hugged him too. "Good-bye," she murmured into his ear. "Thank-you."

When they parted Sheik gave her a small smile. He no longer wore the cowl around his face. He was no longer a Sheikah Guardian to the queen and so he chose to wear more modern and practical clothing. Link loved that Sheik bared his face now. Link loved how much more carefree Sheik had become since he awoke in the desert for the second time.

"Bye, Zelda," Sheik said, and the girl grinned at him and said a playful "finally!" as they mounted their horses. She had tried for years to get Sheik to call her Zelda and not Princess, or Princess Zelda, or Miss or Highness or all those other titles she hated.

With a grin on Link's face and a contended smile on Sheik's the two boys rode out to Hyrule field together.

The horses trot side by side amiably, snorting now and again as their rider's chatted as they rode through a heavily forested area. Both riders were on alert for danger, but so far the forest is as peaceful as it was beautiful. They were careful to keep to the marked path to ensure they didn't get lost. The sunlight shined down through the trees and created a mottled pattern on the path and formed pillars of sunshine.

Link was telling Sheik a joke he had heard in the market one day and the blond man was animated and happy, and watching him made Sheik smile. When he finished the joke they both laughed and Sheik wondered how he used to be so stuffy. Meeting Link was one of the best things that had ever happened to him.

They continue to ride and slowly the forest darkens as they sky overhead is covered by clouds. It makes the forest feel slightly ominous but Link is not concerned and Sheik is wary but not truly vexed. As they round a bend on the forest path both horse spook slightly, snorting. They cluck them to encourage them and proceed to ride into the forest towards Termina when a pair of fairies fly up and startle both horses and Link is knocked from Epona's back when the mare jerks.

"Are you okay?" Sheik asks, swinging from Calibri's back and catching hold of Epona's dragging reins.

Link stands, annoyed. "Do you mind?" he asks the pesky fairies.

The fly backwards and Sheik tightens his grip on the reins of both horses when they hear a noise in the trees. A skullkid emerges, looking giddy and wearing a strange mask. Link and Sheik watch him warily, but he seems harmless. Skullkids tended to be mischievous. Quick as lightening the skullkid darts forward and grabs the Ocarina out of one on Link's saddle bags. He darts around laughing.

"This thing is kind of neat!" he exclaims to the fairies.

"Hey," Link snaps, trying to grab the skullkid. "Give it back!"

"Nuh uh," The skullkid mocks. He jumps at Epona and scrambled onto her back before he kicks her sides hard. She bolts, wrenching the reins out of Sheik's hand in the process. Calibri see's her friend galloping away and she rears up and takes off and Sheik and Link are left horseless.

"Hey!" Sheik calls after them. "Cali!"

But the horses don't stop. They are horseless and supply-less. Sheik turns and looks at Link.

"You wanted an adventure," he says and just Link grins at him.

The End.

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