Moonlight shone through the window as night settled upon Hyrule. The trial was over. Everyone had returned to their little holes in the wall, awaiting whatever came up. Here he was. Laying on the bed. The trial going through his mind, again and again. What was said. What wasn't.

When he'd first been gifted the Triforce, the responsibility was clear. Give everything he had to saving Hyrule and slaying Ganon. And now was the goal was to keep Ganon dead. He'd been willing to sacrifice his life before; centimeters from death every day as he fought through the hordes. And he'd won. And now that victory was in danger of being taken from him. But Ganon being dead is the victory...right?

"HUUUUURNGNGNHG!"

Zelda had an arm draped over him. Curses, she'd fallen asleep before him. Link lifted the covers. Zelda's arm twitched at the feeling of him leave her, but she relented soon enough. Quietly slipping out of bed, Link changed into his green cap and garb.

There had to be leftovers; especially considering dinner had been skipped today. Searching the cool pantry, he found a cucco leg wrapped in cloth. Link heartfully tore into the cucco leg. Delicious as always. Better than when he had been on the Dragmire plantation. And especially better when he had been off in the wilderness all by himself. With only salt from the local salt mines to preserve his food, Link had to choose between scarfing down all his food at once and become bloated, try to stuff it down in his pockets, or worst of all, discard it entirely. Wasting food out in the wild was a horrible idea. You never know where your next meal is going to come from. Scrounging for berries and vegetables worked in the forests, but the wastelands, deserts, and beaches where different stories.

Picking off food was one of the few things he liked using his bow for. He didn't even bring the bow along, he found it in the Eagle Dungeon at the start of his quest. He never actually bothered to give it a name, did he? What would be a good name? Ummmm, Uhhhh, Eagle Bow. Yeah, that's it. Eagle Bow was as a good name as any, supposedly. He had actually been extremely fortunate to find the Eagle Bow, as it had turned out to be that the only weapon that could kill Ganon was a Silver Arrow. However, despite all that good the Eagle Bow did him, he much preferred using his swords. So much easier to control and use. Now that he thought about it, did he ever thank that one old man for giving him the Master Sword?

"IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS!"

And Link had never gone to see him since! I hope I haven't hurt his feelings. All the way out there in the caves, alone. Surely he would enjoy some company. The old man was a magical sage that had been captured by Ganon's forces. He probably left the dungeon once Link killed all of Ganon's monsters. Perhaps he had even found himself a girlfriend. Who knows how long he had been trapped in that dungeon.

"Up rather late, aren't we?" A figure emerged from the shadows. Her blue contrasted with her tanned skin, white hair, and the distinct red eyes of the Shiekah. "You can relax," She sat down next to Link with a cup in her hand. "I'm not here to kill you. At least not yet. Are you sure you don't want to plot an escape? I can leave you to it, you know?"

"Hyrule is my home."

Of course. As if the coward's way out would even be a possibility to him. It almost made Impa smirk. Almost. "If the king deems your death to be best, you'll just accept it? You don't care what happens to you?"

"I do care. I don't want to die. But so many others have sacrificed their lives to protect Hyrule."

"And they all left a grieving family behind. Think about what will happen to Zelda if you're executed."

"I..."

Zelda had given everything she could to Link's defense. If he were to be killed..

"I need some air. "

"You're not permitted to leave the castle," Impa's placement of security meant no one should be around here. But you never knew if someone felt peckish. "I can sneak you out. But not for long." She produced a blindfold from her pocket. "To the stables. Quickly. Let's go."

"Can I get my weapons back?"

"Why?" Impa raised an eyebrow. Perhaps Link wasn't so passive to his fate after all.

"I'm being hunted by our many enemies, Impa."

"Fair enough."


"Hey girl. Nice to see you." Link gave Epona a tender pat as the steed nuzzled against him. "Yeah, I've missed you too."

Impa handed him his Hylian Shield and Master Sword. "Well, here's your gear."

While they were important, Link had expected...everything. "Thank you but...where is the rest?"

"It would be too long and too far for me to get everything. I only have two hands, Link."

That seemed a little strange. The red and blue rings could have fit on her finger, and the boomerang and rod weren't that large, and the flute...oh what was the thinking. Impa had been more than gracious to him. If she thought best not to try it, who was he to complain to a ninja about stealth. Impa had left him at the stables for a while, so she was probably trying to figure out the best way to do it anyway. For him. "Fair enough." He saddled up on Epona. "I won't stay out long."

"Have fun. And For the record Link, I believe that Lord Dragmire's speech was better."

The cool night air felt nice. A few owls hooting and crickets chirping created a nice serene peace.

The only disruption was Epona thundering down the road. It took a little bit of effort to reign her in, but Link wasn't trying to too hard. It had been a while since Epona had been allowed to roam. She had spent a lot of time in the stables, and the gated 'pasture' was no place for a horse like her. But still, it was nice being alone. A castle had too many feet always wandering about. Always some loud argument. Always a few prying eyes and judging looks. Despite him knowing that it would never happen, he had always hoped that he and Zelda could capitulate the throne and live their lives out here and free from all that, really just settle down and start a fam-

An ax came flying out of the trees. Link fell off Epona to dodge it. It whizzed past Link's ear and lodged itself into a tree.

"We've found him!" A monstrous voice rang out. Emerging from the bushes were 2 Daria and 3 Geru. The Daria were half-Hylian, half-gator, the product of forced and twisted mating. The Geru were lizards that evolved naturally grow their arms and legs. None of them were wearing armor to hinder them. They were scouts. This close to Hyrule Castle Town. Unacceptable.

"We have orders to bring you to Lord Aghanim!"

"Flee, Epona! Now!" Link unsheathed his sword as the steed galloped away. This is no place for a horse. Especially one as fine as her.

"We will resurrect King Ganon!" The Red Geru swung his mace. Instead of trying to block such a heavy blow, Link jumped back. The Daria tried to encircle him. As he kept backpedaling, Link had to fight the urge to stop from breaking into a full run. Daria and Geru practiced throwing their weapons with the ease of common stones. It was easy to go out on a battlefield and find a poor Hylian laying face down with an ax gouged into his back. With all those axes to weigh them down, the Daria moved rather slow, so Link could stay out of their trap.

"BLEED HERO! BLEED!" The Orange Geru threw his spear right at Link's center mass. Dodging wasn't an option. If he fell off his feet, he was good as dead. Setting his feet straight and bracing himself just in time, Link blocked it with his shield. He stumbled back but kept his balance. The Blue Geru swung his mace at Link's side. Link blocked again with his shield and tried to move with the momentum of the blow and spun backward.

The Red Geru came barreling forward and swung his mace again. Link blocked the blow with the Master Sword, falling down to one knee. Link sprung back up and thrust forward, cutting one of the Geru's fingers off and ripping into the arm. The Geru screamed in pain as his flesh had been ripped open. Link slashed his knees, dropping the beast. Right before Link could cut his head off, he noticed out of the corner of his eye the Daria that had flanked him, axes at the ready.

Link fell on his back as the axes came rocketing towards him. As he scrambled to get up, a spiked shield came crashing down on him. Link barely blocked with his own shield and found himself looking straight into the eyes of the wounded Geru.

"I'LL TEAR APART YOUR FLESH APART WITH MY TEETH!" The Geru opened its mouth to display several long rows of sharp teeth and a long forked tongue to go with it. The Geru raised his club to kill the Hero when-

GGNKGUUURK!

Link drove his sword into the side of the Geru's head. Link felt the Master Sword piece the skull before it dug into the cushy, soft brain. The Geru's eyes went wide with shock as he dropped the mace and fell limp.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" The Blue Geru brought his mace down. Link used the body of the dead Geru to block. He was running out of options. Only one thing left to do.

Goddesses, give me strength.

The Triforce of Courage came to life. The triangle on his left hand erupted to a brilliant shine of gold. The power of the goddesses flowed through his body.

Reflect.

A shockwave pulsed through the air, sending everyone off their feet.

Link pushed the dead Geru off of him. Time to finish this.

The orange Geru reached for his spear. Link stepped on it, leaped up and swung his sword, lopping the beast's head off in one slice.

"HE'S ACTIVATED THE TRIFORCE!" The monster backpedaled; ax wavering in the Daria's hand.

Link was already upon him.

"WHA-"

Link slashed with his sword. The Daria's arm went flying, ax still in severed hand.

The Daria screamed. Desperately reaching to his side to grab another ax, the last thing the Daria saw was Link chopping off his other arm before Link slit his throat open and silenced him forever.

"DIE!" The Blue Geru swung with his mace. Link blocked it with his sword and went for a thrust. The Geru blocked it with his shield and pushed forward, knocking Link back. The Geru went for another swing and Link jumped out of the way.

The Master Sword began to glow. A beam of light emerged from the sword and blasted the shield, sending it crumbling it to bits. As the Geru looked upon his destroyed shield in shock, Link plunged the Master Sword into his foe's chest, running him through. Link smoothly pulled his sword out of the Geru, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of the monster. The Geru gave a few death gurgles as his blood spread out across the ground, before finally falling silent.

Taking a moment to catch his breath, Link looked around to see he was the last thing standing. He fired off a Master Beam shot into the air to clean the blood. He examined Only one of the Triforce slots glowed. The Triforce of Power had returned to the Great Palace under watch of the Thunderbird. Not an unwise way to protect the Triforce pieces, but that second one would be really useful to him right now.

The other Daria snuck up behind him and pounced, swinging his axes down to chop link to bits. Link put up his shield to block and-

FWSHNG! FWSHNG! FWSHNG! FWSHNG! FWSHNG! FWSHNG!

The Daria gasped as blood started dripping down his stuck out from the back of his head, the nape of his neck, and along his back.

The last Daria fell at Link's feet. Sheik made his presence known.

"Scouts. Good. Didn't have anything better to do. Hold on" He leaped back into the trees. Some of the nearby foilage ruffled around Link before Shiek reappered in front of him. "Just them. Honestly, not worth getting out of bed for. "

Every monster was worth getting out of bed for. Especially so close to innocent people.

What was wrong with this ninja? Numerous times on his journey to defeat Ganon, Link had been aided by Sheik. Whether with healing potions, advice on how to make his way through the land and dungeons, or a helping hand in combat, Shiek had always been watching over him. He was an incredible warrior to witness. sometimes breathtaking with the way he could move in the air. Other times capitating with he way he charged into combat.

And yet, his attitude; saying things like that. Just, why? Sheik didn't understand. Why couldn't he understand? And the worst part. Sheik held up his right hand. The Triforce of Wisdom glowed brightly in the night. "All glowed up and no one else to kill. What a shame. "

A Triforce user. Disappointed at not being able to kill.

And Sheik had the Triforce of Wisdom talking like this. Doesn't she realize what an example she sets for other people? For months, she would tell anyone who listened tales of their battles against Ganon. And everyone was mesmerized by her. Especially the kids. What Sheik never conveniently mentioned was that it's only fun if you survive. And plenty of people haven't. It wasn't an adventure. It was a war. It was a responsibility. Sheik was lying to these people, saying that murder is fun. That putting your life on the line was fun. Almost being eaten by every manner of abomination imaginable was fun. All the skeletons he passed in the dungeon-some fresher than others. He'd paid his respects to as many as he could. To say their death was an 'adventure' was the peak of inanity. If that ax had split Epona open and killed her, would it still just be a funny story? Would Sheik bring that up?

They were Triforce users. The future was in their hands more than anyone. They had a responsibility to always do the right thing. And what could be more right than teaching people to not play games with their lives? Ever since he married Zelda, he'd been studying more on his duties a prince and a key figure on society. He was even getting closer in his bond to the Triforce; learning to cast spells and control them with this sword. He hadn't really figured any of it out, but he was working on it. He was trying. Sheik couldn't even bother to care.

This was more than what he set out for, he was ready to go back to bed. The road back to the castle wasn't too long. A walk would do him some good.

Sheik was looking down the road. "I'm sure Aganihm will give me a much better fight in the morning."

Link stopped in his tracks, turning right back around.

"Ganon's hordes are coming for you. Roaming around in small bands like these and picking off whatever Hyruleans they come across. If they converge, I don't think Hyrule's defenses can stop that many bodies."

"Why are you just telling me that now?"

"I heard them talk about it before they ambushed you. So now that you know that, you're probably going to sprint back to the castle and tell everyone. That's not as smart of a move as you think. He might have you killed before you even know it. And we're going to need you to repel this invasion."

"Well, they have to know an attack is coming." Link held up his Triforce. "And we need to coordinate our defense. You have to take us back."

Sheik couldn't take a chance. "Hey. Listen." He laid a hand on Link's shoulder. "Promise me that you'll try to stay alive."

Link felt something strange against his neck. Magic. He turned around and bashed his fist right into Sheik's face. Then he dropped to his knees. His entire body felt drained of energy out of nowhere.

Sheik got back to her feet, a mark forming under his eye. That sleep spell would put Link down for a while.

"Sleep well, Hero."


Tearing up through life
Million miles an hour
Blinding all in sight
Surging rush of power