Part Three

Impa helped him to lie down, since his pain had come back after the voice had left and he had calmed down. His entire body hurt, his fever wasn't any better, and he couldn't keep his eyes open. But he didn't want to sleep. Not now.

"Impa, I have to go. You don't understand...I'm in a hurry..."

"You need to lie down." The Sheik warrior hushed him with a finger to his lips. "Right now, you are a young, hurt boy, who needs better medical attention than I can give. Now, sleep."

Link tried to fight her, but she kept shushing him. Eventually, his eyes wouldn't stay open anymore, and he closed them into sleep.

It was dark in his dream too. But not the threatening darkness, just dark. The sky, when he looked, was a hazy orange-red-like dusk. A cricket chirped nearby, and Link's ears twitched. He knew this spot. When he turned to look at his surroundings more, he noticed the pain had left his body. Reaching for his forehead, his skin felt cool, and his arm was in no pain. Feeling closer, he realised he had no bandage, nor did the skin feel broken.

"Wha...?"

Deciding he should walk around to get his bearings, though he was still confused, Link took in everything around him. The smells, the look, everything was so familiar. He never thought he'd be back here, especially not like this. He was confused, but happy at the same time. Over to his left, he noticed the small stream he had used to play at. Memories of him and Saria trying to see who could jump the farthest came to mind. He smiled at the warm memory. Walking around some more, he took in some more of the landscape, remembering all these little things he never thought of before.

There, beneath the store, was where he had played tag with Navi once when they had stopped back here, taking a break from the Quest. And behind that building was where a bunch of his friends and him had played hide-and-seek. Over near Saria's treehouse he saw the spot where Mido had beaten him up when they were eight. He couldn't really remember why that fight had occurred, though...

All these memories came flooding back as Link stood, watching the sky change from a mellow orange-red to a darker purple. This was his home, the place he belonged. After all the smells and sights, Link started to wonder if any of his friends were here.

"Link-kun! Link-kun!!"

Link turned at the sound of his faerie's voice. Navi flew to him, her arms outstretched and a smile lighting up her tiny face. The diminutive faerie had tears in her eyes as she hugged Link's neck. Link smiled and cupped her in his hand, lifting her up to his eye level.

"Navi-chan...what are you doing here?"

She giggled. "Coming to get you, of course. Everyone's waiting, we gotta go."

Not sure what she meant, Link allowed himself to be pulled along, back towards wherever it was she had come from. Link knew, without any more doubt, exactly where he was. It had taken this one object to totally convince him.

I can't be here. This must be a dream.

Navi dragged him towards his treehouse, and then she left him at the base of the ladder as she flew up into the house. Link heard hushing noises, and then Navi flew to the edge of the balcony. She beckoned him up, her tiny face enthusiastic.

Link's premonitions about this being a dream evaporated, and he succumbed to the happiness he felt. He was home; he had no care in the world. He let Navi lead him up the ladder. The roughness of the wood felt so familiar to his hands. This can't be a dream. No dream is this real.

At the top of the ladder, Saria greeted him, her green hair bedecked with flowers. She smiled at him and shuffled her feet. Her smile was the best greeting Link had ever had.

"Link, come on. We have a surprise for you."

The young elf followed his friend, his mind blank. Nothing was wrong, he told himself. But something tickled his thoughts, and whenever he tried to catch it, the feeling fled. Something about a pale skinned, golden-haired girl...and a Quest...

Inside, all the Kokiri children stood, dressed in their finest. Link stood speechless. Even Mido was smiling at him, genuinely happy to see the younger Kokiri.

"Welcome, Link," Saria spoke up beside him. She had stopped a little behind him, so all the people he had grown up with surrounded him. "We have decided something." All around him, the Kokiri murmured amongst themselves. Link couldn't understand them, but a dark shadow seemed to pass over the happy atmosphere. Suddenly, Link felt uneasy, and the tickling in his mind suddenly developed a voice.

"Don't listen, Link."

Huh?

"We have decided," Saria stepped closer to him, and suddenly everything became cold. Link's spine froze, and he had the unpleasant feeling of a dagger in his back. His friends' faces became shadowed blurs, and the murmuring stopped. The air condensed, and Link suddenly wanted to be very far away. But...this is my home...

"You, Link, are banished from this place!" Saria's words stabbed Link as well as any sword could have.

Everything crashed around him. Suddenly, tiny hands grabbed at his body, dragging him down. He tried to cry out, but no sound emerged. Saria stood above him, an evil smirk on her face. Her eyes were shadowed as she held something behind her back.

"Saria...why?" Link struggled against the mass of bodies pinning him to the ground.

"Didn't you know, Link? Outsiders aren't welcome in our forest." She produced a dagger from behind her back, and it shone in her eyes. Dull, lifeless, black eyes.

He looked around. All the Kokiri had eyes like that. Dry, lifeless beings. Link tried to cry out again, but someone stuffed his mouth with a scarf. Tears formed in his eyes.

"Link, you must not listen!" The voice was louder now. It sounded oddly familiar.

Why? Why are they doing this to me?

"This is a dream, Link. It is a dark reality. This vision was created by the shadows in your heart, by your unspoken fears."

Fears?

"Yes, Link." The voice chimed, and Link thought he could feel it smile. For some reason, he was calmed by it. "Please Link. Don't give in. You have to believe in your heart. Trust yourself and your friends. Don't let your judgement be clouded."

He blinked, the calm feeling gone. What...do you mean?

The voice conveyed fear and hurry. "Please, Link. Trust me. Don't let anger and fear cloud your reason. Don't give in to them."

Them?

"Goodbye, Link. I have to go now."

"Wait!" Link screamed through the scarf, wishing he knew what was happening. Everything was happening so fast. He didn't know what was what anymore. I just want to go home! Saria's laugh brought him back to this grim reality just as the dagger came down.

"Link, wake up. Link. You have to wake up now."



Navi pulled at his hair unsuccessfully, then started beating on his chest. However, her tiny hands received no response. Looking up at the tall Sheik woman above her, Navi's voice was frantic.

"Impa, he can't hear you. What should we do?"

She was wondering the exact same thing as the faerie. Link had suddenly begun thrashing in his sleep, and then this faerie had arrived, claiming she was his. She seemed sincere enough, and Impa remembered a sprite from before, when Link had first arrived at the palace, but...She went over to tend to Zelda, her thoughts jumbled. Too much was happening too fast, and Impa was having difficulties following it all. True, physical battles she could deal with, as well as some magic, but...this was a lot different.

With an irritated sniff in the apparently uncaring Sheik's direction, Navi began pulling at her friend's hair again, and again, no response.

"Link-kun. Oh please, Link-kun. Open your eyes." She pulled again, and tore some hair from his bangs, but still, he wouldn't move. "You dumb boy, why won't you wake up?" Collapsing against his chest, she buried her face in his tunic when he refused to respond.

A hand rested lightly against her back. "Nnn...Na-navi-chan?"

Said faerie raised her head from his chest, blinking tears from her eyes. "Link...kun?"

"Oh...." Link dropped his arm to his side, and turned his face away.

Impa hurried over when she heard the boy groan.

"Link, are you better? What's wrong?"

Link was blinking tears from his eyes. He remembered Saria holding a knife, then...

"Oh, Goddess...why? Why?!" he whispered to himself.

He covered his mouth with his hand, as though he was about to retch. Impa knelt beside him and lifted him up, holding his shoulders, her face worried. Navi fluttered away as the boy was moved, and hovered in the air. Impa didn't even notice, her mind was so occupied. Zelda still hadn't revived, and she had had no sleep. She didn't need the boy to be even sicker now.

Deciding he was steady enough now, Navi fluttered to him, then hugged his collar. "Link-kun?"

Link pulled his hand away from his mouth and gave Navi a small smile. "I'm fine, Navi-chan. I'm fine."

Impa still held him. "Are you sure you're fine? You look pale."

The young boy nodded as he pushed away from her to sit up. He didn't feel that well, actually, and his dream still troubled him, but they needed to get going. He looked back from where they came, and could still see remnants of the flames that had forced them to flee.

Slowly, his limbs still pained, Link forced himself to his feet. His head spun, and he placed a tentative hand to his forehead. It burned, but he ignored it. "Come on, Impa. We have to get going. I have something I have to do."

Nodding slowly, the Sheik stood, then walked to her princess' side, where she knelt. She didn't stand back up, though. Some things needed to be answered, and she wasn't about to continue travelling blindly.

"What really happened, Link?"

"What do you mean?"

Navi fluttered into his vision, her hands on her hips. She was facing Impa. "What are you implying? Are you calling my Link-kun a liar?"

Impa shook her head. "No, but I want the whole truth of what happened before the castle caught fire. And on that topic, how did it catch fire, Link?" Now she was staring directly at him.

Link stood straighter, and tried not to stare at her, his eyes narrowed. Her piercing gaze cut through him in a way he didn't like. Like he were some cattle waiting to be bought. "I don't know. I already told you that." He was becoming angry at all the incessant questions. How was he to know what had happened, when he could barely remember? Nothing seemed to be going right anymore.

Navi fluttered and turned to face him. She had never seen him look so angry, or so unsure. "Link-kun?" Right then, his eyes scared her.

Link didn't answer, but instead turned on his heels and walked a short distance off, where he crouched down and refused to look at them.

Navi hmphed at Impa, then fluttered over to her charge.

"Link-kun, she didn't mean it like that. Don't be angry...please? For me?"

The small hero shook his head, his bangs swaying before his face. "I don't understand what's wrong, Navi-chan. I'm not angry, not really, but...I don't understand."

The faerie sighed, and her wings drooped. She didn't know what to do. Something was wrong with Link, and she couldn't help him. Was it because he was away from the Kokiri? No, that couldn't be it. He had been away before as well, and for even longer. Ever since he had left her behind, Navi was lost. She had never felt so distanced from Link. Not for as long as she'd known him, at least.

She sighed again, then tried to cheer up. "Well, Link-kun, if you think of anything, just tell me, okay? I'll help you. Always."

Link smiled weakly, then nodded. "I will. It's a promise."

Navi fluttered and clasped her hands at her chest. "Yeah! Come on Link-kun, let's go back to Impa and the princess. I'm sure everything will be alright."

He smiled and stood, letting Navi lead the way. He wanted to believe her, but...If everything is going to be ok, why do I feel so empty inside?



Impa didn't question Link anymore after his outburst, but let him sit beside her and the princess. Zelda was still unconscious, but if one were to only look at her, it would seem as though she was simply sleeping. Her pale hair framed her equally pale skin, and her thick eyelashes lightly touched the upper curve of her cheek. Despite this calm beauty she still possessed, Link ran his fingers lightly over Zelda's forehead, not really looking at her. Impa didn't know what to do. On one hand, she had an eternally sleeping-not dead-charge to protect, and on the other, she had a very confused, sad little boy. A boy that might not be in full control of his senses.

She didn't want to think it, but Impa was beginning to doubt the boy's sanity. He had seemed fine till now, but...Having so much responsibility at such a young age might do something to a child's mind. The faerie didn't seem to notice, or chose not to, but Impa worried anyway. They needed him, but if he was going insane...

"I don't know what to do, Impa-san." Link stared out into space, not even really understanding the fact that he had just spoken. His eyes were distant and clear, though not in the most healthy of ways. They looked more vapid than thoughtful.

Looking at him, Impa bit her lip. What was with the sudden formality and the dull looks? She chided herself at that thought. He looked so sad, and lost, and she had been questioning his mind. Guilt washed over her, but she pushed it down. "What do you mean?"

Still running his fingers in Zelda's hair, Link didn't look up. His eyes seemed unfocused, now. "I don't know what to do."

Impa reached out and placed her hand on his lower arm. He was warm to the touch. "Link, are you well?"

He refused to look at her. "It won't stop."

"What won't stop, Link?"

Now, he seemed to notice her. He blinked, then lifted his head. "We should get going soon, Impa. We shouldn't be here."

The boy stood, and Impa only watched as he walked off a bit, and crouched down, the faerie fluttering next to him. What had he been about to say? The boy wasn't making any sense.

Shaking her head, Impa also stood then, and picked the princess up in her strong arms. They had to keep going. And she knew where to.

"Link, come on. We have to go to Sahasrahla's."

The boy didn't look at her. "Why?"

"Because. Zelda Hime told me to."






Coool. I made this from barely three pages to four, then to six by skipping lines. Of course, I got a lot of help from my sister, that I did. Okees, anywho, it's time for...

LINK NO MIKO'S LITTLE CORNER OF TALKINGNESS

Teehee, nice title, eh? I figured, I'm gonna be doing this every chapter, might as well name it. I hope it doesn't bother anyone that I do this, but...I feel like I need to explain things. And first, I shall explain something I had meant to at the end of my first chapter.

As you've all noticed, I use some Japanese phrases/honorifics. Well, I'm gonna explain why, so as that you all don't think I'm just trying to put words in to sound smarter than everyone else (that's my onesan, she's real smart).

First, Hime. Hime means princess, but I think everyone's figured it out by now. I hope, anyways... I used Hime instead of Princess when they talk to Zelda because I wanted to show different degrees of formality. In English, you can't do this. Let's face it, Princess-sama looks real dumb, ne?

This directly goes into -sama. Link uses this term because he's very formal with the Princess. He doesn't really know her, and she's also royalty. Impa just calls her Zelda Hime because she knows her well. And I highly doubt Impa would subjugate herself to anyone.

-san is the same way; it's formalities.

-chan and -kun mean basically the same thing, only -kun is for BOYS ONLY. So between Navi and Link, it's kinda like a friendly term.

Onichan (or did I write Onisan? I canna remember) means older brother. I made a mistake, there. Saria's sposed ta think of Link like a little brother...oh well, my bad. At least I admit to it!

I think that's all, that I can think of. And no, I am not Japanese, nor do I speak it. I'm attempting to learn it, but that's different. So if any of the above is wrong, PLEASE tell me. I'd rather be corrected than be wrong.

Now, onto a different subject (damn, this is getting long). I want to thank all the people what have written reviews. I dunno if you realise, but they do mean a lot. I thank you all, and I would rather thank you personally, but no one leaves email addy's. But that's all right, it doesn't bug me that much. So, I'm thanking you here, instead. And yes, it's rather corny, but no, I don't care. All I've gotten is good reviews, and that makes me happy. Now watch, though, I'll suddenly get a gabillion flames. Oh well.

I think that's it. Sorry to drag this out so long... Well, anyways, till next chapter. Hopefully it won't be a bitch like this one was. I spent A WEEK trying to edit this puppy to be readable. I actually like it, though. So, enjoy!