Daulta Street, West Clocktown, Termina

She let out a gleeful giggle as he raised the instrument to his lips once again, his fingers fumbling. The note he played was flat, causing her to laugh at him again.

"Wait, I think I've got it," he muttered, adjusting his fingers over the holes. Dark blew into the ocarina again experimentally, this time producing a sound that approached the realm of music.

Sienna couldn't stop laughing at his attempts to play the instrument. They were strolling through Clocktown's busiest shopping district, and once he'd laid eyes on the beautiful, pristine white ocarina, he'd had to have it. The mouthpiece was inlaid with a small crimson gem, and the shopkeeper had claimed the exterior was carved from seashells.

It certainly was beautiful. Sienna sighed wistfully, wishing she had money to pay for something like that. Dark worked at the archery shop in town, as well as a second job at a tavern, so he had money to spare.

He'd moved into his new home in Clocktown a week ago, and she found herself missing him already. She was taking full advantage of the afternoon outing, spending as much time with him as she could.

He stopped playing and looked over at her, his mouth quirking into a smirk. Sienna looked down at her shoes before he noticed her blush. She never could look into those eyes very long. They were such a striking shade of blue.

"I think you could use a new dress," he announced, pocketing the ocarina and reaching for her hand.

"What?" she sputtered as he dragged her further up the street. "What do you mean?"

She'd already bought some groceries to take back to the cottage in Snowhead, and even gifted herself with a new pair of shoes. She had assumed her shopping was over. Dark had already bought new furniture for his house and some clothes to fill up his new wardrobe.

He pulled her along, his fingers gently curved around hers. They passed a street sign and Sienna noticed with surprise they had turned onto Sarlon Boulevard. It was a notorious shopping street for rich folk.

"What are we doing here, Dark?" she asked urgently, distressed by her plain workers' dress and dusty shoes. Even her shawl was patchy.

"Shopping," he answered, clearly amused.

She scowled at him, wanting to die of embarrassment when a pair of women dressed in expensive dresses looked down their noses at her. Dark stopped outside a fancy dress shop, examining the items on display in the window. Sienna stood next to him, trying to ignore the glances from the richer townspeople. She noticed the rich women weren't as averse to looking at Dark as they were at her.

She sighed, glancing sideways at her handsome friend. Not that she could blame them. With his raven hair and striking blue eyes, not to mention his fine build and aristocratic features, women found Dark as appealing to look at as Sienna found the gorgeous gowns in the window.

Before she knew it, Dark was steering her inside. The boutique was modestly sized, despite its prices. A sign near the door politely requested they remove their footwear before entering the shop. Dark ignored it completely, sliding his boots once on the opulent rug to remove any dust from the street. Sienna had to hold back a gasp as she discreetly slipped off her own shoes, hurrying after him.

The lighting was dim, excluding small alcoves where display gowns stood proudly, surrounded by a halo of sensuous coloured lights. Thick velvet curtains had been tied aside to reveal mirrors placed at intervals along the walls. In the middle of the room were more dresses on display, these ones obviously the most expensive, as they were woven from the finest material and some even had precious jewels sewn into the fabric.

Sienna was busy marveling at the opulence surrounding her when a thin man with a hawkish face approached her.

"May I help you, madam?" he asked, his tone stuffy. He spoke the word "madam" as if it wasn't a title befitting her.

Sienna stumbled over her words. "Um, no. I, um…"

Dark swooped to her side, giving the salesman a cheeky grin. "We're just browsing," he said, his eyes glinting with mischief.

The salesman studied Dark from the top of his dark head to the toes of his boots. Upon seeing these, the man choked a little, before regaining his composure and carefully straightening his silk vest.

"Of course…sir," he said stiffly, giving Dark a hawk-eyed glare before gliding gracefully away.

Sienna rounded on him, her voice a low hiss. "What are you doing!?"

His elbow locked, he took her arm and adopted a stiff-backed posture similar to the salesman. "Why, browsing for a dress, my dear," Dark told her, mimicking the vested man's nasally voice.

She stuffed a hand in her mouth to stop her giggles as Dark paraded her about the room, carrying himself with all the elegance of a haughty nobleman. He paused to examine several gowns, pretending to scrutinize them closely with an imaginary eyeglass. Apparently dissatisfied, he would throw up his hands dramatically and call out loudly that the gown simply wouldn't do. The salesman watched their progress from the shadows, giving them the noble approximation of a dirty look.

Sienna studied Dark's profile as he bent over another dress—a simple emerald green with white lace accents. Dark never missed an opportunity to mock the noble class, those who had been born rich. It wasn't so much their being rich that he minded, it was their attitude towards low-born people like them.

Sienna bit her lip as she remembered. Having previously been ignorant of his parentage, they had assumed Dark was a commoner, like herself. But he had shared with her the revelations from Fierce about his mother and father. His father might have been a common solider, but Dark's mother had been a noblewoman. Even if she had been disowned by her family before her death, the noble blood of one of Hyrule's oldest families ran in Dark's veins.

It hurt a little to know that they were no longer equals, in terms of blood and class. Somehow, she had always entertained the notion that their shared circumstances had brought them together, and would keep them together. The story of his parents' elopement had given her a sort of hope; a romantic story like that was uncommon, though.

Sienna shook her head sadly as Dark turned towards her. "I have found the perfect dress!" he announced, discarding the faux noble voice.

"Huh?" she asked, suddenly finding herself propelled towards one of the velvet curtains with her arms full of silk and lace.

Dark stepped back from her, and the velvet curtain tumbled into place, blocking her from view. She turned to face the mirror, uncertainly studying her simple appearance. The dress in her hands was the simple, but beautiful, emerald green one. It would match her eyes perfectly.

She shrugged out of her plain cotton dress, setting it carefully aside. After navigating her way through the folds of the dress, she managed to slip it on over her head. She turned to look at herself, surprised by the result. Despite the small amount of make-up and her simple hairstyle—her curly brown hair hung loosely around her shoulders—she looked lovely.

The lacy white hem hid her bare toes, and the full skirt tapered to her waist, emphasizing her feminine figure. The bodice was brilliantly green, interwoven with lace. It was a simple, but eye-catching design. The sleeves halted at her elbows, clinging tightly to her arms. Her shoulders remained bare except for a thin covering of white lace that encircled her neck and covered her upper back. It showed off her delicate complexion in a sensuous, yet innocent way. She couldn't help but smile.

"Madam?" inquired the shopkeeper. "Do you require assistance?"

Sienna looked over her shoulder, twisting to see the lacings that needed to be tied up at the back. "Oh, yes," she called back. "One moment."

She stepped beyond the heavy curtain, turning her back to the salesman, who expertly tied up the bodice at the back. Once the ties were secure, but not uncomfortably so, Sienna turned to Dark. He was grinning from ear to ear, a sight rare enough that it made her blush crimson for the second time that day.

"It's perfect," he said. "You look gorgeous."

She laughed nervously, moving to untie the laces at her back. Dark's next words shocked her.

"How much?" Dark asked.

The salesman gave Dark another haughty glare before reaching for the price tag hanging from Sienna's dress. "Six hundred rupees," he announced dryly.

Sienna blubbered incoherently as Dark rummaged for his money bag. "How about five hundred?" he asked.

The salesman bristled, obviously not used to having to haggle. "Five hundred and seventy-five," he replied.

"I'll only give you five hundred and thirty at the most," Dark countered.

The salesman regarded him for a moment, uncomfortable. Finally, he caved and said, "All right, five hundred and thirty rupees."

Dark handed over the funds, turning to the appalled Sienna. "Go change," he said, grinning at her. "We'll go back to my place so you can get ready."

"Ready for what?" she asked, not sure she wanted to hear the answer. She fumbled with the ties on the dress.

"I'm taking you out to dinner tonight."

She gave him another surprised look, but slipped behind the curtain to remove the dress. She put her own clothes back on, and carefully brought the beautiful gown over to the counter so the salesman could wrap it for her.

"Enjoy, madam," he said, his mouth twitching slightly.

"Thank you," she replied, nodding her head politely.

Dark smirked, taking her arm and leading her towards the exit. Sienna paused to put on her shoes, and she noticed from the corner of her eye that she salesman was watching Dark like a hawk.

It was only after they'd reached North Clocktown that Sienna realized why. Dark had stolen a pair of matching emerald earrings. When she'd protested, Dark had merely shrugged, uttering a few choice words about the nobility.

"Serves him right for his rudeness," he commented.

Sienna sighed, knowing it was a hopeless case. She raised a hand to shield her eyes from the orange afternoon sun as they made their way to Dark's new house.

~oOo~

Weak sunlight warmed his face, and a soft wind whispered around him, rustling the blades of grass beneath him. When he opened his eyes, the familiar, shady ceiling of treetops greeted him. The rays of sun that managed to break through were a deep orange color; it was late afternoon. There was a distinct coolness surrounding him that revealed he must be lying in the shade of a tree.

Link sat up, and his eyes fell on the momentous and proud form of the Great Deku Tree. He was in the grove where it all began.

Link got slowly to his feet, his eyes tracing every distorted knot, every rough line of greying bark. The leaves of the giant tree had withered. Most of them brown and decorating the base the way flowers decorated a headstone.

Navi hadn't said anything since they'd left the forest temple. She hovered in front of the dead tree, the glow from her wings dull.

Link closed his eyes against the sight. It was easier to think. He'd been so overloaded with knowledge and responsibility that his mind had struggled to make sense of.

There were several things Link accepted, merely because there was no other possibility. Hyrule was in danger, that much was obvious. The second was that he was the Hero of Time. Given the choice, Link wasn't sure if he would've chosen this fate for himself or not. It wasn't important, however. Hyrule needed help, and he had been chosen.

When the Great Deku Tree had revealed his destiny, he hadn't fully understood. When Zelda had told him of the Triforce as a child, he still couldn't have understood the ramifications of his actions. But he was an adult now, and he understood what it meant to be the Hero of Time. He accepted that there was no one else. Something inside of Link had resonated with the words of the Deku Tree and the words of the Princess. Rauru's revelations had incited the same feeling.

The more difficult part of his choice, however, was the necessity of letting go of his childhood. Part of him had held on to it, not quite ready to leave it behind. Link had to accept that the past seven years had indeed been lost to him in the river of time. He could not go back. His destiny lay ahead of him.

Link opened his eyes again, but he couldn't bring himself to raise his head and look at the remains of the Great Deku Tree. With his eyes lowered towards the ground, he noticed something odd. Among the mass of dead, browned leaves remained a single, determined green shoot. It thrust out of the ground, a tiny sprout seeking the sunlight.

"Navi…" Link said, kneeling down and clearing away some leaves to get a better look. "Come look at this."

Navi flew over, resting on Link's shoulder as he cleared a spot for the little sprout. Even in the shade of the mighty tree, a trickle of sunlight had managed to find the budding plant. There was a sudden, muted rumbling sound. It was the only warning they got before the sprout shot upwards, wrenching a new tree out of the soil with it.

Link jumped back in surprise, unable to believe his eyes as a new, stout little Deku tree shook itself free of dirt. Small knots in the tree's flesh made up a tiny face, and it seemed to smile at Link.

"Link," it greeted him by name, its knot-eyes turning up in a smile.

Link crept forward, peering at the tree curiously. "You know my name?" he asked the magical tree, and it nodded, its budding branches swaying with the movement.

"I'm the Deku Tree Sprout!" it announced cheerfully. "Whenever a Great Deku Tree dies, a new one like me begins to grow. However, I couldn't grow because of the darkness emanating from the forest. But now that it has been dispelled, I can grow and flourish. Thanks!"

Link raised a brow. The tiny tree spoke in a high, sing-song voice. Its knot-face continued to smile, but its tone became serious.

"There is something I must tell you, Link," the sprout began. "As you saw, none of your childhood friends recognized you."

"The Kokiri never grow up," Link said, repeating the words of Mido and the skullkid.

The sprout nodded again. "They didn't recognize you in your grown-up body. That is because you are not a Kokiri, but a Hylian."

Link mulled that over. The unanswered questions that had plagued him were clear now. Suspicions he hadn't paused to answer himself had been confirmed. He had been able to leave the forest with no ill effects at being cut off from its magical energy. He had aged from a child to an adult. It also explained his desire to explore the world outside the forest, something the Kokiri had considered odd.

Navi flew off Link's shoulder and spoke to the sprout. "If Link is a Hylian, why was he raised here as a Kokiri? I always thought that outsiders couldn't enter this forest…" she trailed off, confusion marking her features.

Link snapped to attention, interested in hearing how he had come to arrive in Kokiri Forest.

The sprout straightened, its leaves rustling. "Some time ago, before the late King of Hyrule unified this country, there was a fierce war in these lands. Escaping from the fires of war, a Hylian mother and her infant son entered this forbidden forest."

Something clicked in Link's mind. The Kokiri didn't have mothers. They were given life by their guardian, the Deku tree. But Link was a Hylian, so it stood to reason that he had had Hylian parents as well.

"The mother was gravely injured," the tree continued. "Her only choice was to leave her baby in the care of the guardian of the forest, the Great Deku Tree. He took the baby into the forest, sensing that he was a child of destiny. The baby was then raised as a Kokiri, and the Deku Tree waited for the day when his destiny would come."

Link swallowed. "So...I was the infant. And my mother…"

The tree's knots inverted, creating a frown. "Unfortunately, she passed soon after. The forest was meant to keep you safe until the time of destiny came. And so, you were always bound to leave this forest, Link."

The sprout looked up at him, its leaves swaying with the breeze. "The forest has been set right again, thanks to your efforts. Your friends are grateful, though they may not know it. Now you know what you must do," the young tree finished.

Its high voice held a note of finality. The knots rearranged themselves and moved no more.

Link stood, missing pieces all fitting together in his mind. He had been meant to leave the forest. He had been right. The only way was forward. Link reached back for the hilt of the Master Sword. It fit perfectly in his hand, as if it had been molded just for him.

"Where do we go from here?" he asked Navi. The knots on the sprout had frozen; the tree had become dormant for the time being.

Navi spun in a circle, her eyes resting on the north. Her wings fluttered and specks of blue dust were shaken free. "Kakariko," she said with certainty. "The Sages are said to come from all corners of Hyrule. The second Sage is the Sage of Fire."

"Death Mountain," Link concluded, following her gaze to the imposing peak, just barely visible even from this distance.

"Come on," Navi urged, zipping away. "I know a shortcut back to Kakariko."

~oOo~

East Clocktown

Sienna peered over at Dark, who was busy studying his menu. For perhaps the hundredth time that evening she pondered what he could be thinking. He had become quite adept at hiding his thoughts from her. His gaze flickered upwards, meeting hers.

"You look lovely," he complimented, hiding the lower half of his face behind the menu.

She smiled and gave him a polite thank you, but inwardly she frowned. He was infuriating. She wore the green dress he'd bought her earlier, and had done her hair up. She felt very overdressed in the cozy, laid-back restaurant. But Dark had insisted on it. It was, after all, her favorite eatery.

"I had a great time today," she told him, setting her menu down.

Dark mimicked her actions, revealing his expression. He seemed distracted to her, but she couldn't be sure. "I'm glad," he replied, giving her a smile.

"Dark," she said, her brow furrowing when she noticed the lines of strain around his mouth. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," he said quickly.

"I know you well enough to know when you're lying," she commented. Dark sighed. Sienna continued, "If you're having buyer's remorse, we can return the dress."

Dark actually laughed, reaching across the table for her hand, capturing it between both of his. "It's not the dress, Sienna. It's yours."

"Then what is it?" she persisted.

His fingers twitched and he made as if to pull his hands away. Sienna tightened her grip, looking up into his face. Dark stared back, his eyes shifting warily. "There's something I haven't told you," he finally said.

She fought to keep her expression neutral. "What is it?"

Leaning close so as not to be overheard, Dark quickly filled her in on everything Fierce had told him about his younger brother and the role he would play in Hyrule's future.

Sienna reached for her glass of water with her free hand, taking a sip. Finally, she said, "If I didn't know him better, I'd say Fierce was joking around with us."

"The sentiment is shared," Dark said, freeing a hand to reach for his own water glass.

"What are you going to do now?" she asked.

His reply was interrupted by their server. The pair placed their orders quickly and Dark waited until the young woman was far enough away before answering Sienna.

"About what?" he asked, lifting his water glass to his mouth.

"Don't play dumb," she said, her voice low. "Your brother."

Dark set the glass down with a muted thud. "Even if I did want to go looking for him, I have no idea where to start. He's probably in Hyrule where I can't reach. He has his own quest to deal with, and I have a life."

"He's your brother," Sienna said with a little more force. "Don't you want to know what happened to him? If I found out my family was still alive, I would—"

"We're connected only by blood," Dark interrupted. "Other than that he's a stranger. He probably doesn't know I exist."

Sienna sat back in her seat, snatching up her water glass. "I don't understand you," she told him. "I would be overjoyed if I were in your shoes. To have some of my family back?"

"I'm being practical," Dark replied. "Fierce told me our paths aren't meant to cross yet or something like that. I can't interfere, even if I wanted to."

"I'm sure we could find a way to get you back to Hyrule."

"I'm meant to stay here," Dark insisted. "It's where I'm supposed to be."

Exasperated, Sienna said, "What's holding you here? Fierce told you everything you need to know. You don't have to bide your time anymore."

"Sienna."

"What?" she asked, looking up at him through blurry eyes. For some absurd reason, tears had begun to well there.

"I'm staying here," he said quietly, as if to reassure her. His hand slid across the table again, grasping hers. "You're holding me here. I'm not leaving you."

Sienna bit her lip to keep the tears from falling. "You've already left," she whispered. "You're delaying the inevitable. Fierce always told me you'd have to go back to Hyrule. Why in Nayru's name are you staying?"

It had been torture, knowing her time with him was finite. The eve of his birthday, she had known. Her time was almost up. Dark would have to return to Hyrule and live the life he was supposed to have.

Today she had assumed would be her last with him, and it had taken all of her strength not to cry. Now it was next to impossible; silent tears escaped and stained her cheeks.

"Sienna," Dark repeated, and she felt the tips of his fingers touching her face, brushing aside the first tears.

She inhaled, squeezing her eyes shut and dusting her own fingers across her face. Her tears under control, she forced herself to meet his eyes.

"I'm still here because of you. I want you to come live with me."

Stunned, Sienna asked, voice cracking from the crying, "What?" She wanted to be sure of his meaning, rather than assuming the request was romantic in nature.

"I want us to live together," Dark repeated. "I want us to be together," he added after a slight hesitation.

Her hands gripped the edges of the table tightly. She squeezed her lips together, trying not to laugh—it was the only thing she felt she could do in light of the shock. Seeing her expression, Dark laughed first. It was a bit shaky and awkward, which made her laugh in return. Her hands slowly released their grip, coming to rest on top of his on the other side of the table.

"Dark," she spoke softly, like a mother delivering bad news to her child. "We tried this already, when we were young. It didn't work."

"We're not young anymore," Dark told her, rolling his eyes at her excuse. "As young," he added quickly, seeing her eyebrow raise. "We're not stupid kids anymore. I know what I want, and I want you. I love you."

Sienna pulled away from him, her eyes sad. "You've told me that before, Dark. But you didn't want my love."

Dark sighed heavily, giving her a remorseful expression. "I meant it. I did love you then. But I didn't think I deserved for you to love me back."

"Don't be stupid."

He sighed again. "You know I'm a not a good person. You've known me all my life."

She laughed. "Why do you want to be with me now, then? You might ruin me," she joked.

He smiled back, amused. "Maybe you're my salvation, love."

"Doubtful." She giggled as his hands slid across the table, seeking hers.

"What's your answer?" he asked, all seriousness now. He gripped her hands tightly between his, looking up at her through his lashes. She cursed him silently. She'd never been able to resist that look.

Hours later she sat next to the window, studying the unforgettable landscape. Snowhead's gorgeous summits stretched out before her, coupling beautifully with the peaked roofs of the sleepy Greywood Road.

Fires had been lit all along the top of the city's walls, the light rising into the night and meeting the stars themselves. She smiled, enjoying the view. Her eyes drew away from the outside to gaze instead at his reflection in the window.

Noticing her stare, he grinned back and walked over to stand behind where she sat at the window bench. She watched him move in the glass, her eyes devouring the sight of him as a warm hand slid over her shoulder.

She still wore the green dress, though it was untied at the back, the strings hanging loosely. His fingers easily pushed the sleeve aside, baring her shoulders and upper back. Watching their reflections still, she admired the way his tan skin looked paired with hers as his fingers traced her clavicle. His head lowered and she felt his mouth press against her exposed neck.

"I missed you," he murmured.

She felt familiar, stable. It was something he'd been lacking and had desperately wanted back. She was like a song he had enjoyed hearing ages ago and had almost forgotten the name of. The rush of pleasure touching her skin brought him reminded him of the many stupid decisions and the many missed opportunities.

"Five years is much too long," she agreed, turning to look at him over her shoulder. "I don't want to regret this again," she warned him, her eyes searching his face. "This is your last chance to walk away."

"I won't," he promised, his fingers clasping her chin and tilting her face upwards.

Her smile was bright in the darkness, her beautiful lips coming to rest against his ear. "Then I'm yours," she whispered.

She stood, coming to face him. He groaned with pleasure when her delicate hands slid up his neck and threaded themselves through his hair, tugging him down for a kiss. Her dress quickly pooled at her feet and she stepped carefully out of it. Standing as barren of any garments as he, she wrapped both arms around him, pulling his body intimately close. They wasted no time becoming reacquainted.

~oOo~

Death Mountain Trail

True to her word, Navi had known of a shortcut back to the mountainside village. It had saved them a lot of time, which would prove to be a blessing. Death Mountain was an active volcano, and Kakariko was under constant threat from the mountain's eruptions. Thanks to the efforts of the Goron tribe, however, the temperamental mountain was kept under control.

Link had planned to stop in Kakariko the night and set out for Goron City in the morning. Things hadn't gone as planned, and the pair now found themselves climbing the steep mountain pass as quickly as they could. They didn't have much time to waste.

The mountain was on the verge of collapse.