Malon took my hand and led me outside. When I shut the door behind me, I let my hand slip from her grasp. She smirked and inched back towards me, but held herself back. Not acknowledging it, I walked beside her in silence around the track.

Standing in his usual spot holding his pitchfork, Ingo stood leaning against the wall of the stables, his leg wrapped tightly. As we reached him, I eyed him carefully. He jumped in fright as he saw me, recoiling further into the wall and grasping his leg in pain. I grinned viscously at him. I still wasn't sorry.

Malon moved towards her house, but I turned to the stables. I slipped inside quietly, seeing the flash of red hair follow quickly behind me. Inside, I stared. I could see the dark spots on the floor where the blood had stained it, despite the fact that it had been scrubbed and scrubbed. She appeared beside me, saying nothing.

I went to Epona who was whinnying wildly for me. As I reached my hand for her nose, she stopped and blew out her nose hard at me, bobbing her head and up and down. Hugging her tight, I kissed the brim of her nose before unlocking the stable and guiding her out.

"I still wish you wouldn't take her." Malon said innocently, looking towards the ground.

"I know." I replied, approaching her. "But as I said before, she is mine and you can do nothing to change that. I'll bring her back for visits."

I tapped under Malon's chin with my index finger before leaving the stables. Outside, Talon was standing in the frame of his front door. It was as if he was expecting me. Not saying a word, I let him make the first move.

"I see you've come out of the crate room." He said and I turned my head away from him.

"So I have." I swallowed.

"Is there anything you wish to say?" He questioned and I moved my eyes to him before scanning them to Ingo.

"No." I said sharply.

"Very well." He huffed. I just wanted this to be over. "Are you sure you're strong enough to be going out in the field again?"

"Yes." I said, taken aback. "I'm perfectly fine. Now, I'll be on my way."

I hopped on Epona and steered her away from the ranch. As I was about to turn the corner of the exit, I heard Talon's voice call towards me.

"If you need anything, you know where we are."

"Mhhmmm." I know only I had heard it, but at least I acknowledged him. I don't know when I'll go back to the ranch, probably sooner than later. It was only about ten days or so, but I needed out of there. I couldn't have those constant reminders staring at me in the face.

I looked at the castle. It's been a while since I've seen the princess.

"Are you serious?!" I didn't even take one step into the castle courtyard before I was hauled back into the tunnel entrance and into the shadows. "Is it true?"

Waving my arms and catching my footing, I stood straight and turned to see Impa with her hands folded on her hips, glaring down at me. She was furious, I could tell just from the look on her face – and the redness in it.

"A lot of it may be true." I nodded. "It depends on how much you know."

"Well, for one," Impa began, "Saria was there for Mido so she had to do her job as a sage. And she also heard your cries during whatever you were doing at the ranch! The rumors of Ingo being injured, I can only put two and two together."

"He betrayed us all!" I snapped, stepping closer to her. "He deserved it!"

"He has no recollection of anything that has happened." Impa stood tall.

"He still did it." I said, harder. "And he'd do it again in an instant."

"Look, kid." She had to say kid, didn't she? "You can't punish someone for something they didn't do."

"Too late, isn't it?" I sneered. "So you're saying if Ganondorf came back with 'no recollection'," I mocked her, "of what happened, you'd just let him waltz around the castle?"

"Well, no, but –"

"Exactly!" I interrupted. "Now, I'm going to go see the princess."

"Not on my watch!" She wrapped her hand around my shoulder and hauled me back, looking at me sternly in the eye. As she did, I heard the familiar high pitched giggle. We both turned our heads into the courtyard and saw Zelda skipping across the field. I licked my head back to Impa, smiling dauntlessly.

"Link!" Zelda cheered towards me. "You finally came back! It's been so long!"

"Well," I said, rubbing it in, "I guess the princess decided for both of us if I get to see her."

I stepped away from her.

"You know I'll be here the whole time."

I raised my arm back to her, giving her a thumbs up, walking away. When I reached Zelda, she jumped towards me, throwing her arms around my neck for a hug. Hugging her back, I smiled, laughing for the first time in a while. I let go and stared into her eyes. She grabbed my hands and pulled me with her, running.

"Hey!" She said. "Want to see something funny?"

"Sure." I smiled, trying to hold back my feelings for her. It was hard, but we are both young and she doesn't remember me. Though, I can hardly imagine what it might be like if she did remember. I keep asking myself 'what if'?

The next thing I knew, there was a small rock in my hand. I stared at it for a moment before she rolled her eyes at me and formed my fist over it. She stepped closer and whispered into my ear, pointing at the window.

"Throw it at the window." She whispered and stepped away. I looked at her and watched her nod. Smiling, I brought my arm back and chucked the rock at the window. I dinged off of it and fell into the small stream. I waited and looked at Zelda who was giggling under her breath, pointing at the window.

I looked back just in time to see a guard poke his head out the window and point down at me. He seemed annoyed and tired, as if he had done this a thousand times. He breathed in deep before yelling.

"Hey you!" He shouted. "Don't cause any trouble!" I heard him mutter under his breath as he poked back beside the window. "Kids."