Part Seven

Light was painful, very painful. Even the tiny pinprick that broke through the slit of his eyes caused pain to shoot through his head. But gradually, he allowed the light to filter through his tired eyes, and, after a while, he could make out a shape. A worried shape, standing above him. Above? Why is he above me? Where am I?

He tried to sit up, but was pushed back down by firm, gentle hands. The boy panicked slightly. He didn't recognise the old, withered hands on his shoulders, nor the kind face above him.

The old man smiled warmly. "It's going to be alright, child. You're safe here, as long as you trust me."

His eyes squinting from the light, Link nodded, but still held onto the fear deep inside his heart. He couldn't remember what was happening…where he was, what he was doing there. He only remembered…

"Zelda!" The covers flew off as Link sat straight up, eyes wild and looking everywhere. However, such sudden movement was too much too fast, and the boy doubled over in pain, his eyes squeezed shut, holding his abdomen. Through his gritting teeth he could hear the old man "tut tutt- ing" his way back to the bedside.

"The other child is quite alright, thanks to you, young man. Now, if you would please calm down and rest…" He moved to push Link down again, but the small Kokiri-boy moved quickly, much to the man's surprise.

"Please…where is Zelda? Zelda Hime, I mean… And Navi-chan and Impa?"

The old man named Sahasrahla stared at Link for a few seconds before responding. Link shivered; he felt as though he were being scrutinised by some horse dealer. "You are unwell, Link." He completely ignored the boy's question.

Link shook his head. "No, I'm fine. Really. Just…a little beat up from that fire…and that fall. And maybe a little overtired…"

But Sahasrahla was shaking his head in disagreement. "I did not mean your physical body, and we both know that." Link looked away and refused to meet the old man's eyes. And yet, the man kept on. "There is something inside you, Link. Something that you are hiding, and I fear it may be killing you."

The boy shook his head again. "There's nothing inside—"

"Then why are those women out there worried for you? Why can I sense fear from them? Fear of you?"

Link squeezed his eyes shut and continued to avoid the ancient man's eyes. "I…I don't know. But I'm not sick. I'm not." Link kept repeating that to himself, but the more he thought it, the less he believed. "Why does everyone think I'm crazy?"

Sahasrahla knelt before Link, and cupped the boy's chin in his own wrinkled, gnarled hands. Turning the child's face towards his own, the man smiled. "I don't think you're crazy, child. But there is something wrong, and we cannot ignore it. Now please, allow me to help you, as well as the princess."

"Why are you asking for my permission to help Zelda? Zelda Hime, I mean."

"No need to correct yourself. And I ask because you are the princess' protector."

Link shook his head for the third time. "No, Impa is her protector. I'm just along to help."

"No, Link. I heard you make the pact. 'I said I'd protect her, Impa. I meant it. Zelda…I won't let anything else hurt her…not anymore…' I believe those were your exact words, or is my hearing defective in my old age?" Again, the old man smiled.

"But," Link stuttered, unsure of what to say. He clearly remembered saying that, yet everything else was a blur. Why do I remember that…but nothing else?

"Because, my boy, pacts like those are not made by your mind." Link looked to the old man, but Sahasrahla had nothing else to say. Instead, the old man took the boy's left arm in his hands, and gently applied a salve to the slowly healing wound. Once done, he placed his hand against Link's forehead, but, finding nothing wrong, removed the hand and sat back in his chair beside the bed.

They sat there, in silence, Link sitting, wincing every now and then as the salve began to numb his arm, and then heal it with heat. Through the single, curtained window, pale sunlight dappled the end of his bed, and Link could hear birds chirp their songs of life and joy.

Sahasrahla…the man was a mystery to Link. They had been travelling all this time, just to find this old man. Why did Zelda—Zelda Hime—want them to find such a sad old man? He is sad, Link thought. I can sense it in him. He's lonely out here…but why, why is he here then?

The old man smiled sadly, and shook his head. "We both have duties to this world, child. And you and I both know those duties do not always coincide with our wishes." He moved as if to stand, but stopped to look at the young boy lying, wrapped in the dull brown blankets the man possessed. "And you have no need to correct yourself. Thoughts…peoples' thoughts change with actions, child. Because they may not conform to what others think, does that mean your thoughts are wrong?"

"Huh…? I'm sorry…I, I don't understand…"

Sahasrahla patted Link on the head, ruffling his pale blond hair with his grey-tinged hands. "No, I didn't think you would. As much as you have matured, young child, you are not completely grown. However," the man walked away, his shuffling gait speaking of old bones and tired muscles, "that is not necessarily a bad thing either." The door closed silently behind the old man, leaving Link to himself.

Counting to twenty, just to make sure no one would be listening at the door, Link waited. When he had silently reached his chosen number, he threw the warm blankets from him, and climbed from the bed. He only then noticed they had changed his clothes. Instead of his green Kokiri tunic, he wore a long white under-shirt, laced at the top with loose pieces of cloth just below the collar. Link fell backwards, leaning against the bed, unable to support his own weight.

Everything…everything was reminding him of that time… He plucked at the pale cloth. It was the same. The same shirt he had worn—

"In the future…in that time…" Memories flooded through him. Memories of Hyrule Castle Town, of the Re-Dead and the deserted homes, of the ghosts that made Hyrule Field their home, of the Sages. Of Kokiri Village, where no one recognised him. Saria, one of the Sages, who he never thought he would see again. And Ganon, the true form of Ganondorf, and that last battle and flight from a crumbling, broken fortress, unable to support itself any longer.

And a darkness that surrounded it all, blacker than anything he had ever seen. A void, impervious to light, to color; encircling him from all sides.

Link's legs gave out underneath him, and he slid to the ground, one hand gripping the soft blankets as a lifeline. His wide eyes surveyed everything around him, but took nothing in.

"Why…why do I keep seeing these things? That's not how it happened. It's not!" He blinked his eyes to clear his vision, but was confronted by a shadow, emptier than even the black of sleep. Snapping open his eyes, the room was as it should be. Light filtered through the ragged curtain, and a bird flew past, just barely visible through the part in the fabric.

Standing on shaky, unsteady legs, Link stumbled to the door, reaching out with his right arm to open it. His left arm was both numb and fiery hot, as the salve worked to heal his long untended injury.

Outside the door, a long corridor awaited the small boy. Dropping his arm to his side, forgetting to close the door, Link shambled forward, his bare feet carrying him to the next door down, where he heard voices.

"The princess will be fine, don't worry. The boy managed to cover her in his fall; she received no massive injuries, only a bruise or two."

"Thank God." Impa breathed a sigh of relief. A pause. "And Link? How is he?"

Sahasrahla chuckled lightly. "He's doing fine. That child doesn't seem to understand when he's hurt. I gave him a poultice for his arm, and he has no more fever. He should be well within a few days."

"Poor Link-kun…he's always pushing himself." Navi's high-pitched voice made itself known, and Link smiled. She was right. He was pushing himself too hard. Shaking his head at her innocent love for him, Link walked into the room, his smile still on his face.

"Good morning, everyone." Navi flew to him and landed in his hair. "Good morning, Navi-chan. I hope you slept well."

Navi glared at him. "How can you be so careless? I was worried about you! I haven't slept well in the past two nights!"

Link blinked. Two nights? "Have I been asleep that long?"

Impa nodded as she came over and plucked the faerie from his hair. Navi managed to pull some strands out in the process, and Link winced. "Yes, Link. But you needed it, so don't worry. I never should have pushed you so hard. I'm sorry." Impa bowed her head, and Link stuttered. Impa…was bowing to him?!

"Uh…it's ok. Really. No need to worry." Link bowed back slightly, his eyes wide in surprise. "Um, how is Zelda Hime doing?" He remembered to add her title at the last minute. Strangely, Sahasrahla sighed and shook his head sadly. Link blinked, then understood. 'No need to correct yourself'. Those were the old man's words. But Sahasrahla didn't understand. Zelda was a princess. Link couldn't just call her by her name only. That would be rude and intolerable. As it was, Impa disapproved of his dropping the formal –sama. He didn't need her to be more displeased with him as she already was.

"Zelda Hime-sama is fine, Link-kun. Sahasrahla says he can help us to wake her up! He just has to figure out how."

The old man himself chuckled as he held out his hand for Navi to alight upon. "You put too much faith in me, young one. But I will try everything I know to help you, so don't worry. Why don't you get some sleep? We wouldn't want that lovely glow of yours to dim, now would we?" He nudged the faerie, and Link saw that it was true. Navi's glow had diminished some. She was in need of sleep, even if she protested.

"Come on, Navi-chan, I'll make a bed for you to sleep in. How's that?"

"But…I wanted to make sure you were ok…"

"I'm fine, Navi-chan, and you need to sleep, otherwise you'll be in a worse condition than I was. Then I would be the one worrying. You don't want to make me worry, do you?" He blinked his eyes, making them overly large and innocent looking. Navi crumbled under his gaze.

"Fine…"

Link smiled and trekked back to Sahasrahla's room, where he took his hat and some feathers from the pillows to make a bed for the faerie. She snuggled into the bed with a happy sigh, and fell asleep almost immediately.

The young boy smiled at her; the first genuine smile he had had in a long time. She was so innocent and peaceful. Her race was perfectly suited to the Kokiri. They both loved to play and appreciated everything—perfect creatures of the Deku Tree.

Leaving Navi sleeping in the room, Link closed the door as silently as he could, making sure to keep it slightly open for when she would wake up. Navi hated doors, mainly because she had difficulty opening them.

Past the room Zelda Hime slept in, Link found Impa and Sahasrahla sitting around a table next to the fire, drinking tea. He pulled up a chair for himself, and the old man poured him a cup of the warm liquid from a pot he had over the stove. Link accepted the cup graciously, and smelled the warm, inviting scent of berries. He wrinkled his nose.

"You don't recognise those berries, do you?" Link shook his head. "Those are berries that only grow in this region. They have great relaxing powers, and don't taste half bad, either. Go ahead, try it."

Link took another sniff from the cup, decided it smelled too good to pass up, and took a gulp before he realised what he was doing. He turned from the table and fanned his scorched tongue.

When he could close his mouth without pain, Link turned back to the others at the table. "It'th hot."

Impa could only shake her head while Sahasrahla tried to hide his smile behind his cup. Link decided to be the adult one, and sipped his tea while silently sulking.

It was strange, to be sitting at this table with his elders like he was. Link had never really known adults before, and even when he had been an adult, he wasn't truly one. He let out a quick sigh as he took another sip. He had never been allowed to grow up. Seven years of his life had passed by in an instant, and then he had been placed with the daunting task of saving Hyrule from Ganondorf's reign. But then again, he had never been allowed to have a childhood either.

Sahasrahla set his cup down, the ivory looking very pale against his grey skin. Impa looked over to him, then nodded. She stood then, setting her cup down on the table. "I think I should go check on Zelda Hime. If you'll excuse me."

Link watched as she left, completely confused. Adults always had that ability to confuse him.

Sahasrahla also stood. "Would you mind taking a walk with me, child? The garden is especially lovely this time of year." He held out his hand, inviting the boy to join him. Link nodded and set his cup down, then thought better of himself, and grabbed his cup and the other two, and took them into the kitchen. He found what he thought was the washing basin, and set them in there, then returned to the smiling old man.

"You didn't have to do that, but thank you anyway." Link followed the old man outside, holding his arm to steady him as they walked down the few stairs leading to the door.

Outside, the air was crisp and the sky was clear; the sun's light was pale and inviting, a soft golden color covering everything in sight. The long golden grasses swayed in the gentle breeze, and flower scents filled the air. Two birds winged by, both the dark blue of the ocean, and danced through the air, ignoring the two Hylians below them. Link gasped at the beauty of it all.

"I told you, the gardens are most beautiful at this time of year." The old man chuckled softly. "Not that this time of year changes much."

"Huh?"

The old man shook his head and turned to his left, walking with his old man gait, and expecting Link to follow him. His expectations were met.

Link walked beside Sahasrahla, looking around at all the flowers and trees, the birds and other creatures. He saw a horse grazing far away, and felt a pang of guilt. Did Epona think he had abandoned her? Was she all right?

"Your horse is fine, Link. She returned to LonLon Ranch after the fire. You don't need to worry. In fact, she's more worried about you than anything right now."

"You know a lot, Sir. But it's very disconcerting when you read my mind like that…"

Sahasrahla chuckled again. He liked doing that. "Yes, well, when you're as old as me, you can see some things others can't. And your worry sticks out like a beacon in this peaceful place."

"It feels like all I do is worry now…" Link clapped a hand over his mouth. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that out loud."

"Would it have mattered, do you think?" Link shook his head as Sahasrahla smiled at him. "So, tell me child, what's on your mind? It helps to say things out loud."

"I…" Link paused. It felt silly, telling this old man what he was thinking, but what he said rang true. Saying things out loud usually made them easier to deal with. "I'm confused. I keep having dreams and…hearing things." Saying it, however, made Link feel even worse. How crazy am I now? What other type of person hears voices?

"Well, what do these things tell you?"

"I don't know. I try not to listen to them. My dreams are always nightmares, where…" he cut off, not able to continue. He didn't want to confront those dreams.

"Where what, child?" Link looked up, only to find the old man's face in front of his. Sahasrahla had long ago stopped walking, and had turned and knelt to face the boy.

"Where…where everyone dies. …Because of me…" Tears trailed down Link's small face. "Where Zelda is trapped. Zelda Hime, I mean. And…and…"

Link took a big gulp of air and forced himself to stop the tears. Crying got him no where, and served no purpose. He had to stay strong, to protect everyone.

Sahasrahla shook his head sadly. "Is that what you really think? You cannot take all responsibility onto yourself."

"But I have to! I'm the Hero of Time! I had to save Hyrule last time, and that took responsibility. If only I can do it, doesn't that mean I have to be responsible?"

"But you are no longer the Hero of Time. That person disappeared when you placed the Master Sword back in it's stone, and Zelda used her song to give you back your childhood."

"And then used it to call me back after two years." Link wiped his face clean. He was angry, now. Somehow, that anger made him feel better. He was no longer the Hero of Time, or so said this old man. So why, then, did they have the right to call on him again? Why was everyone else allowed to live their lives, but not him?

Sahasrahla grabbed his arms in his, forcing the boy to look at him. Link's beautiful warm eyes were now hard and cold; no light shone in the pale orbs, only a bleak deadness. The old man shook Link. Hard.

"Child, wake up!" Link growled, deep in his throat, and tried to pull away from the kind old man. Sahasrahla sighed, and lifted his right hand from Link's arm. The boy smiled in triumph, but quickly fell to the ground with the old man's slap. Rubbing his cheek, Link blinked and hoisted himself onto his elbows. Why had the man slapped him like that? "Hm, I see. So that is the reason for it."

"Sir…what, what happened?" Link's eyes opened wide. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get angry! It's just…" he left it hanging.

Sahasrahla knelt beside him. "I understand. And I agree. It is unfair, that they had to call on you again. But just because your life as the Hero of Time is over, that does not mean that you are not needed for another purpose. So do not think badly of the princess. You are the only one she could count on."

Link allowed himself to be helped up, and dusted the shirt off when he was standing. "I'm sorry, I got your shirt all dirty. I'll clean it for you, don't worry."

"It's all right. You're too nice for your own good sometimes. Now, shall we keep walking?" He ushered the boy forward, and they walked in silence for a time. After a while though, Link had to bring forth the question that had been on his mind for some time.

"Sahasrahla, sir. Um…" the old man turned to look at the little boy, who stood, his shoulders slumped and his ears slightly drooping. "I…I have a question." He didn't wait for the man to ask him to continue. "Mikomi," he blurted out, "is she… Is she really…?"

"Your mother?" Link nodded. "I…I'm sorry, child. But what good would that knowledge do you?"

Link sniffed. "I just…I want to know. I don't know what I would do with the knowledge. But I want to know."

"Even if knowing would be more painful than the ignorance you now possess?"

Link nodded. "Yes."

Sahasrahla squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, Link still stood before him, head bowed, pale hair being tossed by the playful breeze. He was not looking at the old man. "She is."

Link hiccuped, and his shoulders moved slightly.

"But you cannot talk to her, nor are you allowed to see her. She's gone, and there's no way to change that. She knows that, and you need to accept it."

Link words were barely audible. "Then…what is she doing here?"

"I don't know. She's not supposed to be. Something brought her here, and I think you know what it was."

"The evil Zelda Hime told me about." Link rubbed at his eyes, still looking at the ground. "But…" he looked up into Sahasrahla's eyes now, his own glossed over with tears, "at least I know. I…heard her talking with Impa. She didn't say it exactly, but…she said she was proud of me, and that she always was. Isn't that nice?" Tears flowed down his cheeks, and he smiled at the old man. "She said she was proud of me, and that she always was. I never knew a mother, but I always hoped I had one that could be proud of me. So, even if I can't see her, isn't that enough?"

The old man reached down for the twelve-year-old boy's hands, and led him back to the small hut. "Yes, I do believe it is."



The next day dawned bright and clear, and Link rubbed the sleep from his eyes as the birds woke him up. Beside him, Navi slept in his hat, her small wings fluttering with her heartbeat. Link smiled and crept out of bed, making sure not to wake her.

He felt different this morning. Somehow, something was different. He remembered the conversation he had had with Sahasrahla, and smiled. Maybe that was it. Many different things had been bombarding him from so many different angles, to have just one piece make sense was enough to still his anxiety. For a little while, at least.

So, that was what was different. Link was refreshed. He didn't feel the same weight or anxiety he had felt earlier through this journey. He was still uncertain, and still confused about many things, but at least one thing was sure to him now.

"Mikomi…" he said her name softly, not trusting it. "Mother…" He smiled. That sounded better. He could finally acknowledge her as such.

Stretching, the young boy yawned widely and scratched his head. He needed a bath; his hair was full of dirt and greasy. Dressing quickly, Link left the door slightly open and left to find someone who could direct him to some sort of waterhole.

He passed Zelda's room, but stopped and turned around. He should at least make sure she was all right, since he was her guardian. That still felt weird, thinking that. He was just someone she needed help from. Impa would always be her guardian, right?

The princess was covered in pale lavender blankets, her head resting on many soft pillows. Link crept into the room, being as silent as life in a forest had taught him to be. He made his way to the head of the bed, and stood, looking at her. Her face was paler than he remembered, but otherwise, she looked just the same. Even with her silky hair all mussed, surrounding her face in a sea of gold.

"Zelda Hime," he remembered to address her as such, "we made it to Sahasrahla's, just like you asked. I don't understand why we're here, but…if you think he can help you, then, well…I think he can too. So don't worry. We'll find out what happened to you, and make you all better, and then we can find whatever it is that's hurting Hyrule, and stop it. I just wanted to say I was willing to fight again, that's all. I didn't mean to get angry earlier, really, it's just that, well, I thought I wasn't needed anymore, and that I could be normal again, you know? Not that I seemed to be very normal in the first place… Um, I have to go now, sorry to bother you, Zelda. I mean, Zelda Hime. Sorry about that. I know you asked me to just call you Zelda, but that's not right, you know? Urgh, I'm not making any sense now. I'll just go now, ok?" He wrung his hands, unsure of what to do, and bit his bottom lip. He hadn't meant to talk so long. Semi- bowing, Link made his way out the door on silent Kokiri feet, making sure to close the door behind him.

Outside, he leaned against the door and let out his breath. He had gone on a tangent. He hoped Zelda Hime wouldn't mind when she woke up. Link let out a small laugh. She'd wake up, and the first thing off her lips would be "Link, why do you talk so much?" Shaking his head, Link made his way to the kitchen, hoping maybe to find Sahasrahla there.

Unfortunately, no one was in the kitchen, and he couldn't find anyone outside, either. Curious, he walked the gardens, thinking maybe they had travelled out here, away from the house and his view from the windows. Still, he found no one.

Where are they…? They wouldn't just leave without saying anything, would they? Link kept walking, hoping to find someone nearby, but knowing he probably wouldn't. The birds kept him company through his trek, which made him glad. He didn't fancy the idea of wandering off alone. Link was tired of being alone on journeys. He had tired of it the moment he had returned home in the future, only to have no home to return to. That hollow, empty feeling of being completely, utterly alone. He couldn't face that, not again. So, even if his companions were only birds, they were enough for him.

Turning a corner, trees gave way to sparse foliage, and a small pond shimmered with the morning sunlight. Link shielded his eyes from the glare reflected off the still waters. When his eyes adjusted to the extra light, he slowly lowered his arm, and opened his eyes in wonder. This place was beautiful!

Flowers carpeted the ground, nearly blocking out the soft green grass that grew. The trees that he had been walking through were gowned in lavender, their blossoms full and sweet smelling. The waters themselves shown a soft aqua, similar to the way Lake Hylia would shine with the noonday sun over her. Link just stared at it all, watching as a pair of butterflies passed him, playing at their own game.

Why…why didn't Sahasrahla mention this place to me? He never showed it to me before.

"Because you didn't need to know about this place just yet. However, now that you're here…"

Link turned suddenly, reaching for the Kokiri Sword that wasn't there. His moment of panic was broken, however, by the appearance of a small boy, similar in height to Link, his hair a shimmering flame red, his eyes green. He wore a brown smock, and had a staff with him. Link frowned.

"Who are you?"

The boy smiled and sat down. He beckoned the Kokiri-boy forward, then smiled as he watched Link make his way through the shin high grasses and flowers, to sit with him a few feet from the water. The boy produced a flask tied to a string around his neck from under his tunic, and offered Link a drink. The green-clad boy declined.

"Well, to answer you," the boy uncorked the flask and took a long swallow, then replaced the cork and tucked the water bottle under his smock again. "My name is Eon. I live around here."

"I thought Sahasrahla was the only one who lived around here…"

"Well, yes and no. I live here." He spread his arms wide to take in Link's current surroundings. "See, I'm very similar to you, Link. Heh, nice face there. Yes, I know who you are, so you can wipe that look of surprise off your face right now."

Link closed his widened eyes and shook his head, but when he looked again, Eon was still there. Link raised an eyebrow in questioning.

Eon chuckled. "See, I'm a lot like the Kokiri. I can't leave this place that formed me, or else I die. This pond you see before you," he motioned backwards without turning his face from Link, "is my mother, just as the Deku Tree is the Kokiri's father. Except, my purpose is different from your people's."

"The Kokiri aren't my people, though…"

Eon tapped Link's head, then winked. "Your little faerie already had this discussion with you, I do believe. They are your people, since everything you know and believe is derived from them. They raised you as their own, so don't take that away from them. They're very proud that they raised the Hero of Time." His voice lowered. "Of course, they were ordered to, but that's beside the point…"

Link ignored that last part, even though it was extremely easy to hear. "So, what were you saying, about me not needing to be here yet, or something?"

"Oh, that? Well, I wasn't really supposed to say that. Haha…" He placed his left arm behind his head and laughed nervously. "Anyway," he was suddenly serious again, and made Link fall backwards, "I think you should go now. I'm not sure where the old man and lady were, but they shouldn't have left you unattended, and you shouldn't have left the princess. What kind of Hero leaves the girl all alone and incapacitated? I mean, sheesh, some Hero you are."

"Hey!" Link stared the boy down, nose to nose. "I didn't leave her alone! I was going right back, I just needed to find someone to watch her for me so I could take a bath."

"If it's a bath you need," Eon smiled slyly, one eye squinting, "why didn't you say so?" He snapped his fingers, and a sheet of rain poured down on Link, soaking him through. Link eyed Eon, his eyes flat and his fingers tapping the ground. Eon laughed.

Link sighed indignantly and stood. If that was how he was going to be… Link pulled his ocarina off his belt, the one Saria had given him before he left home, and placed the instrument to his lips. The tune returned to him slowly, his eyes closed and concentrating. Suddenly, his eyes opened, playful vengeance dancing past, and trilled a song he hadn't played in years. The air above Eon misted and congealed, and quite unexpectedly for the sprite-child, sheets of rain cascaded down, completely soaking him.

Link tied the ocarina back to his belt, a smile on his lips. That had felt good. "Well," he said to the staring, speechless boy, "I guess I'll see you later. Bye!"

He left Eon sitting behind him, and ran back the way he had come. For some reason, Link liked that small red-haired boy. He couldn't wait to tell Navi he had made a friend.





Navi, for her part, seemed less than enthused. Link found her flying on the stoop, alternating between wringing her hands and biting her fingernails. When she noticed him running towards her, a smile on his face, her reaction was not the one he had expected.

"WHERE IN ALL THE WORLD HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Link pulled up fast, and stared, wide eyed, at the small, panting faerie.

"Well, I went to find Sahasrahla and Impa, because someone had to stay here and watch the princess for me. I also had to ask them." his voice dimmed to near nothingness, "where a pool was so I could take a bath."

"Why didn't you wake me and let me know?! I would have found them for you! You were being irresponsible!"

"I…I'm sorry, Navi-chan. I didn't mean to upset anyone…"

But Navi would hear nothing of his apologies. "You swore to be Zelda Hime-sama's protector, and then you run off! How irresponsible can you be?! And I thought you were raised better! Does your word mean nothing to you?!"

Link blinked. His word? "I never swore to be anyone's protector, Navi-chan! Why does everyone tell me that? Please, calm down. I'm sorry I left, but I was looking for Impa. Is she back yet? Or Sahasrahla?"

Navi blinked at him and bit back the reply she had been forming in her mind. He didn't need to be yelled at some more, not now. "No, they aren't back yet, Link-kun. Come inside." She fluttered over to him and landed on his shoulder, her small, bare legs crossed. "Sorry I yelled. But you scared me, being gone and all… And I was worried about Zelda Hime- sama, too, I guess." Her puffed out cheeks told him Zelda had been the least of her two worries.

He walked inside, the sprite perched on his shoulder. "Oh, Navi- chan. I wanted to tell you I met someone while searching for Sahasrahla and Impa. His name was Eon, and he's a Kokiri-type person too!"

"Really, Link-kun? So, he's like you?"

Link shook his head no. "Mhm, he's more like Saria. He made it rain on me! Then I played the Song of Storms and made it rain on him! You shoulda seen his face! But that's something else I wanted to tell you! I can play the Songs on Saria's Ocarina, too! Isn't that neat? I didn't know I could still play magic songs…"

Navi cupped her chin in her hands. "Hmm, that's strange. I wonder why you can do that?"

"I don't know." Link untied the ocarina and looked at it closely. It was just a normal ocarina, nothing special about it at all. "Maybe, because Saria is a Kokiri? Maybe the Kokiri magic is still within this ocarina? But, Eon also told me something strange." Link sat down at the small table by the fire and placed the ocarina before him. Navi flew down to land beside his hands. "He told me the Kokiri were made for a certain purpose, and that they were proud to have raised me. I guess that was their purpose. Then he muttered something about them being forced to take care of me. What was that about, do you know?"

Navi shook her head. "No, I don't. All I know is that I was born for your sake, Link-kun. I don't know about the Kokiri. I'm sorry."

"It's ok, Navi-chan. I plan on finding Eon again and asking him."

"It's good that you found someone to have as a friend, Link-kun." Her voice was rather pouty, and Link took a minute to realise why.

Hugging the small faerie to his cheek, Link said: "You'll always be one of my best friends, Navi-chan. First and foremost, just like Saria. You've always been with me, and you're the only one who knows everything that's happened to me. I'd never abandon you, so don't worry."

Navi smiled and hugged him back. Well, as well as she could. "I know, Link-kun. So, let's go."

"Go? Go where?"

"Well, I'm going to go and find Impa and Sahasrahla, and you can sit here like a good guardian and watch the princess, ok?"

Link sighed. "Yeah, I guess. I feel kind of useless, though, just sitting around. And I don't think I'm her guardian. That's always been Impa's job."

Navi shook her head in resignation, tapped his nose, and then flew off, going up through the cold chimney. Link watched her small form skitter off, until her pale light no longer cast shadows down the dark tunnel.

"So…what am I supposed to do now?"

He decided sitting was out of the question. A raised Kokiri, Link could never sit still for very long. It was do something or bust, for him. So, he decided to walk around the house, making sure everything was in its place. After a half-hour of this, however, he began to tire of the same landscape: cramped corridors, three rooms, and nothing moving an inch. So, he went to plan B.

Sitting. He slid down the wall beside the door to Zelda Hime's room, his hair brushing before his pale blue eyes, and looked at the floor between his knees. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a normal, wood- panelled floor. Link scratched his knee. A fly flew past.

"Argh!" Jumping up, Link paced back and forth. Plan B seemed to have flopped as well. And where was Navi? She hadn't returned in some time. It had to have been more than half an hour since the boy had begun his pacing, so where were the others?

What if… He stopped his pacing suddenly as the thought intruded into his mind. What if something's happened to them? Navi-chan isn't irresponsible, and I can't think that either Impa or Sahasrahla are either. So…what if…what if…?!

Taking a quick look at Zelda Hime's room, Link fought against conflicting plans. One: he leaves the princess here alone, trying to find the others. But the princess was supposed to be his main concern. Therefore, that led into plan number two. He takes the princess and looks for Sahasrahla and Impa. Impa had always been there with the princess; Zelda Hime would not approve if Link left the older woman to fend for herself, or possibly die. And Sahasrahla… Zelda Hime had sent them here for him. He was the only one who could help her. So Link was stuck between two very dangerous ideas. Either he leave the princess alone, exposing her to danger…or he take her into the heart of what was more than likely danger.

Straining his eyes together so hard he saw spots, Link came to the only conclusion he could. "Forgive me, everyone," he whispered as he moved towards his irrevocable decision.







LINK NO MIKO'S LITTLE CORNER OF TALKINGNESS



Hiyo, peeps! I finally got off my ass and posted this! Actually, I'm still working on it. You see, this is really only a part of the real chapter. Part one of three, actually. -_-x *ducks as people throw things at her* I wanted to end this chapter at a COMPLETELY different part, but when the beginning of this one was on page 39 (overall; I just write these and then break them into parts, not already have parts written) and is still going on page 51, I figured something was wrong. So, the real chapter seven, the original chapter seven, will include eight and nine. This chapter is still rather long, I know, but hey, now you can spend days reading it while I work on the rest, ne? That's the plan, please help me out here. ^-^x



Anywho, I hope you all enjoy this, and THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO IS STILL WITH ME EVEN AFTER MY LACK OF UPDATES. I reeeeeeeeeeally mean that, peoples. I thank you all for sticking with me. *bows* Thank you all very, very much.