That's about the time I came too. I tightened my grasp, squishing the mud between my palm and clenched fingers.. I had been lying on my stomach, along the bank of the river, the end nearest the moat which preceeded the marketplace. I guess the Zoras had dropped me off here. I pushed myself onto my knees, my outfit had been caked in moist dirt.. Which was surprisingly cool and relaxing on my aching torso. Without looking about me I turned to the water.. However, before I could wash off, I saw the reflection of the setting sun grace the reflective surface of the river.

"...It's that late, already..?!"

I quickly scooped water into my cupped palms and splashed it on me, allowing most of the dirt to roll off and back to the ground. I quickly pushed myself up, my boots sinking with a sickening squish into the mud.. I held myself about my stomach with one hand, for I was still in discomfort. I trudged out of the mud, onto the more solid field of Hyrule.. Squinting my eyes at the saffron glow the sun emitted. I could faintly see the rising violet hues begin to creep in, replacing the awe inspiring gold of the sunset.

Despite how heavy my own weight felt upon my joints, I raced towards the drawbridge Epona stood next to. It seemed like forever, despite it truly being moments, until I reached my faithful equine companion.

".. I can't let her see me like this.. Not tonight."

It was getting late, and not many people strayed out of the marketplace at sunset.. Especially since bone dogs had been wandering around recently.. A fact that only added to my haste. I quicky tossed off my cap, and hastily undid the ties of my collar.

...Quickly...
...Quickly...

Quite clumsily, one hand was well at use to shed my dirty attire, another to rummage through one of the bags slung over Epona's back. Finally, my gloves were dropped, boots kicked.. And well, I thought it'd be nice to not wear mud caked..Well..I wouldn't call them tights, but most Hylians did. I slipped into a new pair, flawless ivory in hue.. Boots, dressier than my normal ones, but not by much different.. With the exception of their polished ebony color. Crisp to fit, but romantic white undershirt, ruffled about the collar and down the sternum.. Wasn't much to my taste.. And above that, a black tunic.. Velvet to the touch, and trimmed with gold, along with embroidered gold about the low v-neck collar (which vaunted the ruffles of my undershirt). I almost dropped the belt as I rushed to fit it about my waist. The same ebon and gold buckle. Finally.. I donned a matchinbg noble cap, not as long as my usual green one; after raking my fingers through my hair.. Untangling the locks.. This special attire was a gift from the late King Harkinian.. I never wore it, except to his funeral.. I guess I can finally put it to use.

I decided to abandoned my ruined attire.. Such could be replaced.. The chance of a lifetime to be with Zelda could not. I wrapped one arm around my waist, the lavender and violet shades had begun to consume the sunlight.. Only dying gold glimmers were faintly visible past the mountains.. I wasn't going to ruin it.

...I'm not going to ruin it...
...I'm not about to loose her...
...It hurts so much...

My grip around my lower torso tightened as I ran across the drawbridge and into the marketplace. I was only briefly stopped by the guard of the gate.

"Why do you run? Fleeing?" He inquired.. I guess I seemed a bit too panicked for my own good.

I stopped, panting.. It was a short distance, but I was already winded.. I must've taken more serious injuries to my ribs than previously thought. One hand remained upon my wounded lower torso, the other on my knee as I caught my breath. I barely recognized the man, he looked like all the other guards.. But I knew him as that particular one, with the obsession for ghostly creatures, and all else that was off or strange in this world or any others.

"..Fleeing..? From what?" I tried to vaunt that juvenille smirk of mine that always seemed to cheer him up.. It was something about being a rebellious youth that stirred the man so much.

"...Well. I never seen you get winded so quickly.. Unless you've been hurt badly. I recall you panting in just the same fashion in the past.. Right after you've takin' an ass whoopin' kid." ..Kid? "..'sides.. You've been holdin' at your chest."

"..I'm fine." I didn't quite appreciate the term "ass whoopin" to describe my past adventures.. I'd like to see him sacrifice everything I have.. Then he could tell me how to be a hero. "I'm hurrying to the castle."

"Oh..! So you want to court the princess, eh?"

I only blushed, drawing my watch away from him and casting my glance upon the stone pavement.. Rising to my full height.. Lazily, I lifted the hand which held itself upon my torso, and grabbed onto the collar of my tunic to keep my arm around my ribs.

"You heard about the legend of the sun and the moon?"

"I heard it was two moons."

"What are they teaching you, what are they teaching you.." He knew very well that I wasn't a scholar, and if you weren't you didn't recieve a real education.. Other than the crafts and trades of your family or master. ".. It's our moon, and the sun of another world. It only looks like two moons because the second sun is so far away that it isn't any brighter than our moon.. But.. Ho! It's about the same size!"

...I had to get going...
...There was no sunlight left...

To my left was the steady and subtle glow of our moon.. To the right, the faint shine of the foreign sun.. They were only beginning to pass the mountain tops.. The sun and the moon would be rising as one, I had only a matter of hours until they crossed paths above the temple. I started running back on my path, to hear his voice echo behind me.

"I say it's unnatural! Ho! The sun and the moon as one? Ha. It comes with a price, opening, reopening the long forgotten worlds and alternate dimensions.. But in a short window of time lies a miracle.. Unnatural, unnatural."

I didn't listen to his babbling.. Since it trailed off. I went straight through the market place.. It was empty.. I guess since it was getting later.. And there were hours to go before that ceremony.. I didn't get to notice the erie silence over the thudding of my boots against the pavement.. It wasn't even spoiled by the howls of stray mutts.. They weren't out tonight.. Perhaps somebody took care of the canine infestation? That wasn't a worry, and if it was, not one of mine.. I needed to meet the princess. If not for the country, about the creatures, then for her..Me..Us..

I had a while to go before the castle.. And a while to think before I met the princess.