I run to the castle. I run as fast as I can. But it doesn't seem to be enough. The day is fading fast. I look around. The only place that I seem to be near is Lon Lon Ranch. I guess I will have to stay there for the night. The castle is still a fair distance away.

I slow down my run as I near the entrance of the ranch. It is getting so dark. . .I guess I should be grateful that I made it this far this soon.

Oh!

A cold gust of wind cuts through my dress. It's so cold! I forgot how cold it got out in Hyrule Field. The way the night could set in so quickly if you weren't watching. . .I shiver. And certain creatures come out at night. I remember my run in with the skull children. It was so dark before, too.

I was wandering the field alone, desperate to get away from my responsibilities. It had gotten so cold so fast. But I was enjoying myself so much, so I didn't return to the castle right then. But when I saw how high the moon had risen in the sky, I realized that the sentries at the palace would be fretting over my absence. It was then that I had decided to make the long trek back. And it was then that they had attacked.

I was so frightened. I was alone in the middle of a large expanse, no one within yelling distance; I had multiple attackers; I was defenseless. I began to panic. And there was nothing and no one to alleviate my panic, only the black hollows of the Skull Children's eyes to stare into.

That didn't help. Those hollows. . .Even now. .I shiver. It was so frightening. I'm still amazed that I got out alive. But I suppose it was a stroke of luck. I had accidentally activated one of my powers.

When I had tripped and fell before the Skull Children, I felt the misery of defeat rise within me. I hadn't even had a chance to fight them! No, I had to try and run away! And then I fell. Oh how very graceful. So I lack the talent to fight adequately and the grace I am supposed to have as a princess. Great. Just great.

Even as the misery began to multiple, I felt this, well, spirit rising within me. Like it was some guarded power that I could only fight with in the most dire of situations. And when I felt that spirit in me, I felt this great confidence. Like I had the skill to defeat these merciless fighters. It seemed difficult to believe, but I managed to accept it. And just in time, too.

I used the newfound confidence to push myself up from the ground and stand solidly in front of my multiplying opponents. What? Do they just duplicate themselves? They don't even give a lone wanderer a chance? One of the Skull Children's bony faces split into a malicious grin. That's it. I won't be taken advantage of. Not even by some walking zombie with odds of about 20 to 1. Nope. Won't give up. The only thing they had against me was that there were more of them than me. But I had been filled with this feverish that I could beat them.

And with my bit of seemingly unrealistic confidence, I felt this power welling between my hands. I raised my hands so they were several inches apart and in level with my bosom. The Skull Children looked at me with their bony jaws agape. Evidently they had never seen magic like this before. And, evidently, they had never expected it from a frail looking young woman. They probably thought I was an ideal person to prey on.

I guess I showed them. Because, even in their surprise, they chanced attacking me.

They lost that bet.

I let lose this energy between my palms that had taken on an azure shade. It decimated all the Skull Children. And after that little encounter on that night, not another one bothered me as I made my way to the castle.

I shudder. Though I best the Skull Children easily, I still have no inclination to even tempt the chance of seeing them again.

Trudging a bit more quickly, I enter Lon Lon Ranch while twilight was finishing. Once inside, I make my way to the gate that lay between the house and the small field for the horses. Even though I have only been here a few moments and have said nothing, Malon immediately spots me and comes running.

And as she comes running towards me, I see her red hair billowing free in the gust, her dress flopping around her, and her eyes alight with eagerness and excitement that is easily clear in dark sky. She stops just before me.

"Zelda!" She reaches around me and gives me a quick, tight hug.

"Malon!" I hug her back.

"Oh, I have missed you so much! Why did you wait so long to visit?" She asks, breathless from her short run.

I shrug my shoulders. "My duties at the castle keep on piling up, so I can rarely get away."

"That's okay, do you want to come in?" Her eagerness has yet to fade; I admire that in her, I really do. Even though we are the same age I seem to lack some of her youthful qualities. I guess she is the opposite of me: careful, fun, happy. While I tend to be more serious and tend to go into "bitchy" mode every now and then. It really is amazing how the two of us can be such good friends. . .We are so different.

She leads me inside the house and to the kitchen with a table in the center of it. I sit down while she makes some tea.

"So, Zelda, tell me, what have you been up to?"

"I have been doing the normal, you know, princess duties." I hear her stifle a snort. She knows how much I hate doing such duties.

"Is that all? How is Link doing? Have you had any word from him?" Her worried tone matches both her face and mine.

"I. .haven't heard any word from. Malon. .it's been two years! Two years! Since I last saw him," I whimper slightly. "Do you think he is alright?" My tone is soft and scared.

She sets the tea cup in front of me then walks around behind me. Without realizing what she is doing, I give a small start as she suddenly wraps her arms around me. I sigh. It has been so stressful lately. . .

"I'm worried. . .That's all. . .I don't want him to be hurt. . .Malon?!"

She abruptly lets go of me and stalks around to the other side of the table and sits down, glaring at me.

"Malon?"

"Zelda," She snaps. "Have more faith in him! You, of all people should know better than to doubt him!" She folds her arms over her chest and looks stubbornly at me. I concede.

"Yes," I say softly. "I should know better, but sometimes. .it is just so hard not to have him there. I miss him, Malon." A small tear trickles down my face.

Her expression softens. "Oh Zelda. . ."

I wipe away the tear and put on a determined face. "But I know what I am going to do!"

She looks at me with surprise. "What?"

I grin triumphantly. "I'm going to go find him!"

It expression lessens to one of more mild surprise. "Zelda. . .Why am I not surprised? Actually, I'm surprised you didn't do it sooner. When are you leaving?"

"As soon as I get to the palace and get certain items that I need to travel to where he is."

"So. .probably the day after tomorrow, right?"

I nod my head.

"Perfect!" She exclaims, clapping her hands together. "I will have plenty of time to pack!"

My face faults. What is she talking about?

"Malon? What do you mean?"

"I'm going with you!"

__________

AN:

Ah ha! Now I have it set up! In the next chapter there will be a complete scene change. I will update as soon as I can. Sorry this update took so long, but now I have more ongoing stories. So, I need to update them to. Especially Healing Sorrows, I have a ton of inspiration for that, so it will probably be getting updated the most. I'm really sorry about neglecting this story for so long, I promise it won't happen again!

I would like to give a special thanks to my reviewers!