*author's note: If you have been waiting years for this chapter, I highly recommend reading it all from the start because this massive edit has changed a lot. I fixed a ton of grammar, spelling, and even some plot. If you're new to the story, know that this is where the rewrite ended from 2016 and it is much better than it used to be. Okay, no more author's notes unless necessary. Enjoy!*

*Zelda's P.O.V.*

We had rode miles away from the village. The recent events kept running through my head, and I could only imagine what was going through Link's. Neither of us had spoken for a long time, and the silence was getting a little unbearable.

I saw a river in the distance and remembered that I needed to wash the grungy clothes I still wore. "Link," I spoke carefully, "can we stop by that river?"

Silence.

"...Please?"

Still nothing. He ignored everything I said and kept going.

"Look, I know that you're probably upset-"

"Probably?" That was the first word he had spoken since Kakariko.

"Okay, actually upset about what happened, but we need to stop and get everything together. Your tunic still needs sewing and all that stuff."

He didn't respond, but he did slow down Epona and stopped at the river. I got off and grabbed the bag with the recently bought supplies.

"I'm going to go behind that bush and change so I can wash these clothes. Then I'll fix your tunic."

He glanced at me in acknowledgment before getting off Epona as well. I just shrugged and went to change.

'It feels so nice to have fresh clothes...especially fresh underwear.'

Once done, I returned and found a few things I could use as a makeshift washboard. I noticed Link had changed as well into a basic blue tunic with Hylian designs on the sleeves and dusty brown pants. I cautiously walked up to him.

"Are you alright?"

All he did was raise an eyebrow.

"Okay, I'll rephrase. I'm sorry about what happened back there to your father and everything. I understand that it upset you. I just wanted to see if you were alright."

He tightened his lips. "Why are you being so nice suddenly?"

"What?"

"You're being nice. Since when are you this nice?" He was getting louder.

"Excuse me? I know how upsetting it is to lose someone so quickly. I'm just trying to be somewhat helpful. Pardon for not being rude to you in this scenario."

"I'm honestly surprised you're not being rude. We could have saved him! But you insisted we just leave him behind. He's with those people now, and who even knows what they'll do to him."

I stepped back. "Are...are you blaming me for this? Matthew told us to leave him behind, and believe it or not, he was right about not being able to join us. Epona can't sit three people regardless; she can barely sit two. Don't you see? He made a sacrifice for us, for you. Isn't that what parents do?"

He glared at me. "You would know, wouldn't you?"

"What are you talking about? Both of mine are dead, remember?"

"So is my mother."

"But your father isn't. Why can't you be slightly happy about that?" By this point, we were shouting at each other.

"Because he was taken from me again, and we could have done something if it wasn't for you pushing to leave him."

"Why are you blaming me for something that wasn't my fault?"

"Why aren't you?"

I gave him a puzzled expression. "Link, what are you even getting at? I'm so confused." I spoke quieter than before. "It feels like you're trying to blame me for something that happened...oh." I held up a hand. "Don't tell me...this isn't the first time you're blaming for something like this, is it?"

He stared at me with a hateful expression.

*flashback, nine years ago*

"Momma, where are we going?" I spoke.

"Remember the nice lady named Caroline? We're visiting her today. She makes medicine for my stomach pains."

"Oh, her! She is really nice and really pretty too. But you're also pretty, Momma."

My mother laughed. "Thank you, Zelda. You're beautiful too."

I giggled.

"Also, isn't her son one of your friends? That Link boy?"

"Oh. I guess. I play with him at school sometimes. Why?"

"You'll have someone to play with while I wait for the medicine to be made."

I skipped a bit. "Okay."

"Momma, what are those? They're so gross looking! Are they monsters?"

"Zelda, sweetie, come here!" My mother grabbed my arm and swung me to her backside, backing away. "Caroline, do you know where your son is?"

Before Caroline spoke, a man came around the corner. "Here, I have him. Take care of him, I'll be back soon! And be careful!" He ran off to fend off some of the monsters. The four of us ran somewhere, I don't really remember where exactly. A monster was getting closer to us, and Caroline had turned around to fend it off in defense.

My mother screamed out. "What are you doing? Shouldn't you be running?"

"Take them and go!"

"No! I'll scare them off. Besides, aren't you...?" I remember them speaking quietly to each other before another monster showed up. I screamed, mother fought...and lost. Caroline rushed to get me and her son to safety. I was grabbed by a monster and dragged away a bit.

But Caroline saved me and ended up sacrificing herself in the process.

By then, the man from earlier had shown up to see two crying children and a dead woman. We were taken somewhere safe before he ran off.

*present day*

I felt a tear run down my cheek. I hadn't thought of that day in a long time.

"You blame me for your mother's death, don't you?"

Link stared at me in silence. His expression hadn't changed, and it was almost unsettling.

"After all these years, never truly knowing why we didn't get along, it was all for something out of my control? Every single time we argued over meaningless things, it was because you hated me for...that?"

No response.

I narrowed my eyes. "I can't believe you. I was a child. A small and helpless child."

"And you still are. How many times have you been saved over these past few days? If you ask me, too many. I should have just let you fall back in the Forest Temple, or let the skulltula feast on you. Maybe you should have fallen into the magma like that dodongo I first saw."

"Do you resent me that much?" I stood there, appalled. "You know what, forget it. Why can't you just be happy that your father is alive? Both of my parents are dead, and they aren't coming back. You have a second chance. I'm sorry if you blame me for the death of your mother, but you should be the least bit grateful that you have a chance to reconnect with your father, because it's a chance that I, nor most of the children in Graces, will never get." I glared at him. "And you know, I thought that maybe we could have gotten along for the rest of this. It was going a lot better. We may have even ended up as friends. But I guess not since you can't let go of the past." I turned around and walked away.

*Link's P.O.V.*

I watched her walk away, rage still fuming through my veins. 'She doesn't understand. My mother could have lived if she had just been able to run. That's all she had to do. One simple task, and she screwed it up. Of course I'm happy my father is still alive, but she doesn't know how it felt to watch him go again.'

'We may have even ended up as friends.' Her words kept running through my head. 'Friends...'

I shook my head and picked up all of the clothes I needed to wash. 'That's the last thing we'll end up as.'

*Tenebris' P.O.V.*

"Oh, Tenebris, you really should have been there. They were at each other's throats!" Blade laughed. "It's great! It seems Lord Ganondorf won't have to turn them against each other. They do it themselves."

I smirked. "This is really pleasing news. I knew it would be a good idea to launch an attack on the Hylians. People will do anything to land a large sum, even if it means going after innocent people. They'll be on the hunt for more. Perhaps they'll find this so called village...Graces, was it?"

Blade nodded. "It's so strange, though. I've scoured the land for it, and I can't seem to find it myself. I don't believe it's on Hyrule's land. But no matter. Those villagers are desperate for rupees, and we have a ton to spare."

"That is correct, pet. This way, we can rid Hyrule of those Hylians. It would be a good distraction for those two nuances once something drastic happens. Now, what do you think we should do with him?" I nudged the body lying beside me on the dungeon floor. A groaning noise came from it.

"Burn him at the stake? I've been wanting a bonfire for a long time. Nyx especially. She needs human remains for some potion she's been working on."

I thought for a moment. "I think she'll have to find a different body. I think I'll keep this one alive." I crouched down to the waking person. "He could be great bait." The man sat up and shot me a glare. I flicked his light red hair. "After all, the hero would love to see daddy-o again, wouldn't he?"

He spat at my feet. I stepped away quickly. "So disrespectful. Anyway, I have to take my leave. Blade, as much as it may pain you, make sure he gets food and water. We'll have to keep him alive. And don't even think about starving yourself," I shot at the man. "We have unspoken ways of bringing back the dead. Besides, I'm sure you want to see your darling son again, don't you?"

After receiving a final glare, I laughed and left the room.