September 7th

It's approximately 9 in the morning. My mind is set. This evening, when the multitude of businesses are shuttering for the day and the town bustles at its peak, I effect my escape as but a drop amidst the sea of faces, the moment my most opportune to ready my horse and depart Central Hyrule, never to return. I've removed a number of articles from the bag I had packed for the conference and have replaced them with essentials to sustain us until we have procured a new home, ideally a considerable distance from here. I can envisage no other solution.

A few hours ago I penned a letter to the princess, at last expressing my love to her from the innermost realms of my heart. I extended my fondest wishes for her future, and my deepest, most profound apologies for our past...for my having failed her so utterly. Such a pitiable substitute for a gift, and yet, perhaps my removing myself from her life is in fact the best one I can grant her for her birthday.

I had no choice but to cast her letter into the post office's outgoing mail bin, a torrent of grief all its own. She had indicated weeks ago that she would be required elsewhere on this occasion, but I had simply assumed I'd be partaking in her celebration a day soon thereafter. And now...now I faced the certainty I would never see her soft, shining face again. Even a final pass through the castle was out of the question, for which I've also my own hand to thank.

And yet, Hylia must have seen fit to pity the pathetic efforts of these final hours, for as I approached the post office, I encountered a peculiar young Sheikah woman who stood over the bin, evidently struggling to insert a paper tube that was a mite too wide to fit into the slot. I waited behind her for several moments, remaining on keen alert lest I fall prey to an ambush on the part of that man or one of his comrades, and finally I decided to inquire if I might be of assistance. Anything to get her out of my way.

"Ma'am?"

She flinched dramatically, emitting an odd, gasp-riddled shriek, then spun around to face me.

"Crud bucket, you scared the wits out of me!"

Well past any inclination to engage in formalities, "Allow me to lend a hand," I said, taking hold of the tube before she could refuse. I began to squeeze one end in order to manipulate it into the mail slot, but she quickly took issue, snatching the tube back from my hands.

"No, you'll bend it! This is a very special document requested by the princess. I tried to deliver it myself, but the guards won't even let me into the castle. They told me to just mail the thing, but the post office isn't open and the stupid slot is too small and I have fifty billion things to do and I don't have time for all this!"

An idea spawned within my musings as I watched her catch her breath, one intent on expediting my own intentions. "...I work within the castle. I can deliver it for you." A lie at this point, yes, but one of no matter to me considering my predicament. Nothing here continues to matter.

She gazed pensively upon the mail bin, appearing as though she hadn't even heard my offer, but seconds later her head turned quickly toward me. "You do? You can?" She nudged her glasses up a bit, glacing me over as best she could in the faint hues of dawn. I simply nodded. "That...that would be perfect. Really. This way it doesn't get torn or smashed in the mail, and I can go ahead and head back to the lab. Yeah, that'd be great. Thank you! What's your name?"

"...Mister Stettonaux." May as well couple protection with a little payback.

"I'm Doctor Prentou." She smiled and bowed slightly. "Thanks again."

I hastened back home once I'd deposited my own envelope, and I promptly loosed the tube that the woman had given me and unrolled it across my desk. It was an enormous picture print, one of remarkable, lifelike detail, of each of the special "Champions" recently appointed by the king. In the midst of the chaotic scene was the princess herself...and that knight. My every failure and woe in my life stood mashed together between the massive hands of the Goron in the rear. Overwhelmed, I broke down into sobs over the scene.

Included with the print was a brief letter from Dr. Prentou, which read as follows:

Happy birthday, Princess! Sorry this took so long. Snap, what a picture! Hee hee! Enjoy, and be careful out there!

Best regards,
Purah

I grasped the note and tore it into fragments so tiny that not a single word on it could be discerned. The picture print I rolled back up and packed into my bag.

At least now I have a means to see her again, whenever I wish.

I'm sorry, Princess. And farewell.

Author's Note: Looks like we've reached the turning point in the story, and it only took, what, almost three years, thanks to my getting stupidly sidetracked? Lol, anyway, hope you've enjoyed part 1! If you could please take a moment to post a review with your comments, good or bad, it'd be very greatly appreciated!