"Hey, you okay?" A voice asked him.

"Uhh..Yeah, but my head kinda hurts." Link answered eyes trying to adjust from the sleep. Everything was a blur and he could make out fuzzy shapes, but soon everything became sharp and he saw the ceiling of a house and could feel the warmth of blankets wrapping his body.

"Where, am I?"

A young girl whom he faintly remembered came into view. "You're on Windfall Island. I found you unconscious in your boat. You're lucky to have drifted to this island Link."

"Mila?" Link managed to say, his tongue felt sluggish and his throat dry.

The former rich girl tucked a stray lock of dirty blond hair behind her ear. Her face was smudged with dirt but there was still a certain beauty about her that Link found attractive. And with all the past visits to the Island, the two had become friends.

"Aye. Now that we know your memory is in tact, I know you'll be fine." The poor girl smiled a bit."

Link forced himself to sit up and found he was in a small room. "How long have I been out?"

A shrug. "A little more than two days."

Link raised a brow at her. "Where you, where you with me the entire time?"

At this, Mila's eyes widened and she turned away quickly. "Of course! I found you so you were my responsibility! I couldn't just dump you onto another person."

"I'll have to re pay you for your care." Link said. Mila turned back to him then all in a huff. She had her hands on her hips in a no-nonsense-pose if Link ever saw one.

"Don't you dare! I will not take money for a favor that I am returning." A warm smile.

"Hey, can I ask you something? Did I say anything or scream in my sleep."

Again there was a slight smile. "You know it's not very becoming of a hero. I'm sure the Hero of Time would never of embarrassed himself like that."

"That's not fair Mila, I can't defend myself when I sleep like that." Link griped. At this, she swatted him upon his head sharply, wagging a finger at him.

"Don't be that way. Just be a man and accept your fault. You are going to be the new hero of time right?"

The smile from Link's face faded when he heard Mila say this. " The new hero of time?"

She nodded. " Yes you've got a lot of training to do if you're going to fashion yourself up to be just like him." It was then that Mila noticed the down look on Link's face and she replied quickly; "But you're doing a great job so far, everyone is impressed. You've got potential. Believe me I've seen a lot of people who are just all talk and no action."

Even though it did little to cheer him up, Link forced a smile.

"Thank you Mila. Say, did you want to go out to eat today?" The boy asked. "I feel starved. Let's go out." Link didn't want to talk anymore about the earlier topic. It was kind of making him uncomfterbal for some reason. He wouldn't even listen to Mila's protests about how he was moving too fast, or that he needed more rest or even that she didn't want to have him pay for her. But Link didn't listen. And the two found themselves at a small café enjoying soups and sandwiches. Mila mentioned to Link that his feats across the ocean have been heard on this island too. But many people were doubtful and didn't want to get their hopes up since the last Hero had seemed to abandon them. How could they trust a small child?

Link didn't say much except to answer the girl's questions here and there. But whenever he spoke about the kind of monsters he would fight, Mila always gave him a skeptical look. He was sure she didn't mean to; but why does it seem so impossible to them? Link kept all the major details away from Mila of course, he didn't want that kind of talk floating about, or he'd never have peace, or worse.

Mila decided to break then, saying that it was time for her to get back to work. The Shopkeeper was kind enough to allow her a few days off to watch over Link, but she had promised that as soon as he was well she would return.

"This was fun, we should do it again sometime." Mila said shyly. It struck Link as strange since Mila wasn't the shy type. But he nodded in agreement.

"Maybe when I finish my business out there, we should."

"I hope to see you again. Drop by the shop some time okay?" With that, Mila left Link alone to his own thoughts.

***

Link wandered about the streets of Windfall Island a bit. He wasn't quite ready to take to sea, and he had lots on his mind, but that was soon to change. While he wandered the streets, he kept having this nagging feeling that he was being watched. But every time he looked over his shoulder, the islanders where just carrying on their own business. But it was when he passed the gossip ladies, he could have sworn he heard his name being said. When he looked, he found their eyes dropping to the floor. They had been looking at him. Link pretended not to notice. And he even tried to put it out of his mind, but his talk with Mila didn't really help much except perplex his thoughts greatly. Maybe he was being watched here, by all the people, being watched and judged.

He furrowed a brow in frustration, "Man, what a head case I'm becoming. I need to stop being such a baby. Zelda still needs my help.." At the thought of Zelda, Link reached into his pockets, his fingers grazed the Triforce shard. He had to collect seven pieces to reunite the Triforce as a whole, and he only had one.

Link thought about the strange episode he had upon finding the first shard. It was another dream, with the same mysterious player, and a place he didn't know. It played on his mind as he remembered the whole episode clearly.

"Hey!"

A voice woke Link from his thoughts. He looked around and spotted a group of young boys running after him.

"Oh it's just you guys."

When they reached Link the leader frowned. "Oh Ouch! What was that suppose to mean?" He then mimicked Link's enthusiasm to meet them. "Oh, it's just you guys."

Link laughed apologizing for his mistake. "Sorry about that I didn't mean it. I was just thinking about other stuff."

"Guess what Link? Miss Marie taught us about this really cool legend." The leader said.

"Really?"

Another piped up. "Yeah, it was about the Hero of Time."

"She told us about all his adventures about how he saved the lands." Said another.

Link's face fell. But he tried to fake his interest. "Oh, really? That's great."

"They said he did all this great stuff for the people." The boys continued on not noticing.

"But you know, it's stupid, if he was so great, why couldn't anyone remember his name? Even our teacher didn't know, and I thought she knew everything."

"And what happened to that land that he protected? Where is it now?"

"Are you trying ta be like him Link? Is that why you dress like him?"

"He's not so great, I'd at least leave my name behind, that's why I joined the Killer Bees. Everyone will remember our names." The little group began to agree and excited chatter rose as they began to talk amongst themselves.

Link began to feel irritated and then dizzy, but somehow he kept it in. But being around all these boys made him feel like he couldn't breath.

Why does everyone keep talking about the Hero of Time? Why couldn't they talk about something else? Don't they see that he's doing his best for their sake?

Link shook his head in dismay, and motioned to the small group that he needed to get going. He left the circle quickly and decided that it was time to leave before he got mobbed by more stories.

He just couldn't understand what was going on. He himself used to love hearing stories of the Hero of Legends. He even had daydreams of become just like him. But some how some thing was different.

"Ah, Link, it's good to see you are well." A deep voice startled him and Link found the King of Red Lions calling to him from the docks.

"I'm sorry for the trouble." Link said as he made his way over and boarded him. "But I'm fine now, let's get going."

The boat looked to him questioningly; "What's the rush? You've just woken up today, and you are quick to cast off?"

"I thought we were in a hurry to find the other shards." Link quipped.

"We are, but your health comes first. You won't be able to face the waters if you're not in good health you know."

"I'm fine." Link insisted. " I just need to get off this island, too many people prodding where they shouldn't, and it's no good to tell people what's going down anyway."

"Ah, I see." The boat said. But he sounded skeptical. "Very well then, as you wish."

Link untied the boat from its post with no hesitation, and in a matter of moments the two were off.

****

"King of Red Lions, can I ask you something?" The boat gave a solemn nod. It had been awhile since Link said anything aside from any 'yes' or 'no' s. The boat wasn't sure what was on the young boys mind but it seemed to bother him so. But he didn't say anything, only feeling that Link would tell him if he wanted him to know.

"Ask of me anything you wish and I will try to answer it to the best of my ability."

At this, the boy finally smiled even if it was just a small smile, and he continued, if not a little more encouraged.

"Did you know the Hero of Time? I mean, when you spoke of him before, I thought, perhaps you've met him or something."

Red Lions shook its head, carved features a little sad.

"I know I have been around for a long time, but not that long. I never had the pleasure of meeting with him myself. I only recall the stories passed down in the royal family." After this, an inquisitive look crossed its face. "Why Link? Why do you ask?"

Link shrugged a careless shrug, and said; "I guess lately I've been feeling a little, a little, oh, I don't know how to describe it. It's like when ever people see me they get this look in their eyes, and I feel like they're not seeing me, but 'him'."

The last part was said with a tinge of bitterness that the Red Lions could feel. But he said nothing and allowed the boy to continue.

"And then they talk of him like it was only yesterday he saved the world. Now, they push all their expectations upon me, and make me feel that I'm just some carbon copy of him. This is all my life will ever amount, a would- be Hero of Time with no name."

The King of Red Lions listened to the small boy's despair intently. He could see now why the boy was hesitant to speak his mind. Many young lads wanted nothing more but to follow in the Hero's footsteps, to be just like him. Many people would have thought Link ungrateful or crazy for Link lived a life that others could only dream of.

"You do not wish to stand in his shadow." Red Lions said finally, and Link nodded.

"I do not like it when others throw his image on to me. But I guess it's not their fault." Link raised a sleeved arm as if to demonstrate his point. "Perhaps it's too much to ask, but I want to be remembered for me, not the Hero of Time. I don't want to be remembered for the deeds he did. Some times I wonder if it's because I'm not even as good as he was, that people recall his memory often when they talk to me. But then again, what happened in times of peace? Did the people ever embrace him as a friend instead of just a hero? Why is it that his name wasn't ever recorded anywhere? Did his name not matter as much as his title?" The bitter questions rolled off of Link's tongue

The boat swayed gently with the ocean's every movement, and it seemed as if it were trying to comfort Link. Red Lions had never heard the boy so sad before, and he wondered if the Gods weren't making the same mistake in choosing one so young to bear the burden of saving the realm.

"I must admit," Red Lions spoke in a low voice. "It disturbs me deeply of your resemblance to him, even your situations are very similar. It is like history is repeating itself.".

"Let's head for the Earth Temple. I need to speak with Medli." Link said solemnly.

The Red Lion look at him. "Is it about this new dream?"

The fact that the boat knew about the dream caught Link off guard. He really wasn't going to tell him about it till much later, if at all.

"How did you know?" The boy asked.

"You kept the stone in your pocket. The one that Tetra gave you, I heard you talking in your sleep again."

Link ran a hand through his tousled blond hair. "I feel like I'm losing my mind or something. Last night, in the dream the stranger asked for help. He wrote it on a piece of paper in a language I couldn't read, well not at first. And then he played music that led me to him."

"The same music as before?" The boat queried. But Link shook his head.

"No, something different. And then I could read the paper as it translated itself before me."

"And that's when it asked you for help?" The boat asked.

Link slumped against the neck of the boat. "Yeah, and I don't get it. I've got a billion other things to worry about and now this. I don't want to put my quest on hold for this, but something about it seems so urgent. I feel like if I don't deal with it now, I'll lose something."

"Lose something? Like what?"

The boy shook his head again in dismay. "I don't know, I can't really explain it, but maybe Medli can."