The feast lasted throughout the day.  There was food, dancing, singing, and even a talent show of sorts.  All the Kokiri children wanted to show off to Link's friends, so nearly every one of them placed themselves before the group, one at a time, and did something only they could do.  There were stunts involving leaping over each other, juggling, even breathing fire.  Link couldn't stop smiling the whole time, and his hands hurt by the time the last Kokiri took her bow and rejoined the group huddled before the Deku Tree.

                The most amazing trick, though, came half an hour later, as the sun descended through the sky and the stars came out, illuminating the midnight blue sky.

                All the Kokiri faeries—except Navi—gathered before the Deku Tree, and then they began to dance in the air.  The myriad of different lights spun and twirled, forming patterns in the sky that reflected in every eye watching.  There were many "Oohs" and "Ahhs" throughout the gathered Kokiri and Hylians as the light show progressed.

                Link leaned over to Navi half-way through the show.  "So, can you do that?" he asked, smiling widely.

                Navi sniffed and turned her head away.  "If I wanted to."

                The young boy smiled slyly.  "Sure you could."

                The faerie ignored that.

                The light show ended a little later, and the faeries all separated and returned to their charges as the sky darkened to a deep midnight blue and the stars began to shine.  Link sighed and looked up, trying to peer through the thick branches of the Deku Tree.  A slight wind rippled through the leaves, sending one down to fall beside him.  Picking it up in his small hands, Link turned it over, his thoughts guilty. 

                What if he could have done things differently?  The Deku Tree had died because of the curse Ganondorf put on him, and although he had assured Link there was nothing he could have done, the boy still felt guilt.  What if the Deku Tree had been wrong?  What if he hadn't had to die?  Everything was fine now in the forest since the new Deku Tree was born, but looking at the small leaf from the nine-foot-tall tree, Link couldn't find any solace in that thought. 

                "Hey," Navi said as she fluttered down by his head.  "The rest of the Kokiri are leaving…"

                Link looked up quickly at the faerie's words, just in time to see Saria direct the last of the Know-it-All Brothers out of the Deku Tree's glade.

                "Why is she making them all leave?"  He asked quietly, not really expecting a response.  "The party just started…"

                "Because you know Kokiri parties," Navi answered, startling him slightly.  "If Saria didn't make them leave now, they wouldn't for another day or so."  She smiled widely.  "Us forest creatures love our parties."

                The boy smiled at that.  "Yes, I guess we do."

                "So then," both boy and faerie turned at the sound of Saria's voice.  She walked towards them, dusting her hands off in a professional way, Ceres trailing behind her slightly.  "I guess it's time to get to business."

                Zelda nodded her head once, sitting up, her legs folded beneath her.  Saria took a seat beside the princess, but not until after she laid a gentle hand against the Deku Tree's trunk, saying something under her breath.  Link and Navi edged their way closer to the girls as the Deku Tree stirred a bit, a sure sign he was about to speak.

                "So," he said, his deep voice resonating through the clearing, "what is it you wanted to speak to me about?"  Link noticed a hint of amusement in the guardian's voice, but paid it no mind as Zelda began to speak.

                "We came here to ask you some things about where we're supposed to go from here.  We also came to see if you could help heal Link, but…"

                "That has already been taken care of, yes," the tree supplied, smiling gently at the fair-haired girl.

                She nodded her head.  "Yes.  Yes, it has.  So that leaves the other reason we came."

                "You want to know about Dark Link."

                Everyone but Saria tensed at the Deku Tree's words, having not expected him to know what they were really after.  There was an awkward silence until Link cleared his throat, drawing the attention onto himself.

                "Yeah."  He nodded.  "Yeah, we do.  The elder Sahasrahla told us some things, but…"

                The Deku Tree smiled.  "He told you some things, did he?  And what would those things be, might I ask?" 

                Link shrugged.  "…Things."

                "I believe he told you that you needed to find out who—or what—he was on your own, and then defeat him."  The Deku Tree raised an eyebrow as he said this, staring directly at the young Hylian-raised-Kokiri.  "Did he not?"

                Link refused to meet the Deku Tree's eyes.  "Something like that, yes…"

                Again, the guardian smiled at his young adopted child.  "And yet you still came to me for help?"

                Shaking his head, the boy sat up straighter.  "No, not really.  Well, I mean…  I would like to learn more about him before I have to face him, something to help me along.  We know nothing about him—nothing at all.  Even though I have to find out who he is and how to defeat him on my own, I think…  It's just…"

                "Some hints would be appreciated, you know," Eon cut in dryly, sitting up slightly from his prone position apart from everyone else.  "The old man told us absolutely nothing."

                "That's not true, Eon," Zelda reprimanded harshly, turning her head to face the hot-headed boy.  Eon smirked at her, but said nothing else.  When she realised he wasn't going to respond, she turned back around to face the newly born forest guardian, her back straight and head held high.  Even in a place as informal as the Kokiri Forest, Zelda was in her diplomatic element.  "Sahasrahla elder did too say things about Dark Link."

                The Deku Tree focused his eyes on the young girl.  "And what did he say, child?"

                If it was at all possible, Link swore Zelda's head went higher and her back straighter.  "Well…it's not really in what he said but how he said it…" Beside her, Eon snorted, and Zelda cast him a quick reproving glare before returning her attention to the Deku Tree.  "I'm not sure if this is important or not, but whenever anyone would mention how evil Dark Link is, he would frown and say something cryptic…"

                "Like…?"

                "Like…." Zelda trailed off, and Link thought that this may be one of the first times in her life she didn't know what to say.  "Like…he mentioned something about judging him before we knew things, I think.  I can't really remember what he said, just that he seemed to think Dark Link wasn't so bad.  And—"

                "Which gives me the impression that the old man is batty," Eon said, which earned him a few heated glares and a smack upside the head by Impa.  Eon narrowed his eyes at the Sheikah, and when she turned her back, stuck his tongue out at her.

                "I saw that," was all she said, and Eon quickly withdrew his tongue.

                "So," the guardian said, effectively putting an end to a possible fight, "is that all the elder told you of him?  Or, at least all he hinted at?"

                Zelda sighed, and shook her head.  "Yes, but…  I was going to say," she cast Eon a reproachful glare, "that when I was possessed, I didn't really feel malevolence or evil, only…  Well, I'm really not sure what it was that I felt…"

                The Deku Tree nodded.  "I see."  He turned to Link then.  "And is that all the information you have on him?"

                "Yeah," Link said, then shook his head, his eyes downcast.  "Well, no.  He told me this will be the most difficult battle I'll ever face.  Maybe he said some other things, and I can't vouch for Zelda's feelings, but that's what I remember the most…"

                Impa rolled her eyes at the small boy.  "The wonders of a youthful mind," she muttered under her breath, and then rose, addressing the talking tree.  "What Zelda Hime said does concern me, though.  Why would the elder hint at something like that?  It sounds as though he is protecting that monster.  And her own feelings, as well."

                "Monster is a bit of a strong word, isn't it?"  Saria said, finally joining the conversation.  As happy as that made Link, knowing his friend also had input on the situation, he couldn't keep back the slight pang of jealousy.  Why did it sound as though she was worried about that creature?

                "But he tried to kill Link-kun!"  Navi chirped indignantly.  Ah, Link though, good old Navi, always there to defend my side of things.

                "Yes, well, so did Eon, didn't he?"  Saria responded softly, smiling at the faerie.  Navi could only sputter.

                "That's not the same thing…"

                Link eyed his best friend, defiance in his gaze.  "So, are you trying to tell me he's misguided, or something?  That there's this other, larger me on the loose with the Master Sword and the Spiritual Stones and he's trying to kill me but, hey, it's only because he's misguided?"  He could hear the bitterness in his voice, but right then he didn't care.  Was Saria trying to go against him?

                "She's not saying that, Link," the Deku Tree broke in as Saria blushed, averting her gaze and opting instead to look at the ground by her feet.  Link looked at the tree, trying to banish the anger in his gaze.  "But perhaps the elder knows something we don't."

                "Then why not tell us," Link shot back, the anger surfacing again.  He couldn't help it, and had to fight with himself to bury it again.  Why would Saria take Dark Link's side like that?  "Is this part of that 'you have to figure it out on your own' thing?"  He crossed his arms and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.  He continued, feeling slightly pouty.  "Saria said she could feel the evil, anyway.  When I left the forest a few months ago, she told me about it."

                The green-haired girl shrugged.  "Well, I didn't really tell you about it, Link.  I just sort of…mentioned that I sensed the evil…" Why wouldn't she meet his gaze?  Was she keeping something from him?  She was taking Dark Link's side, wasn't she?

                "Perhaps," the Deku Tree interrupted again, "what Saria sensed was the same threat Sahasrahla sensed."

                "And that would be…?"  Link, Eon and Navi all said at the same time.  Link looked at his brother out of the corner of his eye, and Eon shrugged and grinned.  Navi's aura turned pink.

                "That perhaps they didn't sense the threat he is, but what he could become."

                The clearing was silent as everyone stared at the talking tree.  Link's eyebrows quirked into the air as he finally managed to say something.

                "That doesn't make any sense."

                "I know."

                Link growled.  "Is this another thing I have to figure out on my own?  I'm so sick of these things!"

                "Link…" Zelda laid a cool hand against his shoulder, causing him to snap his head up, his eyes large as he looked at the pretty girl beside him.  Once she had his attention, she nodded, then turned back to the Deku Tree.  "Great Deku Tree, that still doesn't explain something…"

                "Hmm?  And what would that be?"

                "We know that Dark Link had the Master Sword and the Spiritual Stones.  How is this possible?"

                The tree grew quiet, seeming to draw into himself, his previous humor fading.  Finally he sighed and his branches swayed in the form of a nod.  "I suppose you would wonder about that…"

                The Deku Tree had everyone's full attention, including Eon's.  Zelda was the one to answer, however.  "Yes, please, we would greatly appreciate it."

                He sighed, the sound echoing through the clearing.  "Dark Link has the Spiritual Stones because it is his only link to this world.  They are his life force, of sorts.  Without the magic inherent in them, he would surely perish."

                "What?!"  Link was on his feet now, outraged.  "What do you mean, his life force?  How could he use them, anyway?!  They are given to the one who proves worthy to obtain them, and the only one who's done that anytime soon was—" He cut himself off, his eyes wide.

                There was a pause, the stillness in the air palpable.  When the Deku Tree talked, it was barely above a whisper.  "Yes, Link.  You.  You were the one to gather the Stones."

                Link slid to the ground slowly, dazed.  "And he's me…"

                "Link…" Saria said, her voice soft and full of worry.  That worried tone ripped through Link, and he forced himself to look at her and smile slightly, trying to ease her worry away.  Her large eyes met his, and she nodded.  That nod comforted him more than any words ever could.

                Zelda bit her lip, also worried, but Link turned his gaze to her next, the smile still there.  He didn't want either of them to worry.  She also met his gaze and nodded, albeit reluctantly, and then took a shuddering breath, turning back to face the Deku Tree.

                "Then…what of the Master Sword?  I can see how he may be able to take the Spiritual Stones from the Temple, but without the Ocarina of Time he cannot get to the Master Sword.  So how can he possibly have it?"

                "That…I cannot tell you yet."

                "Hey!"  Eon shouted, sitting up straight, his fangs showing clearly in the moonlight.  "This isn't fair, you know?  Brother needs help, not half-assed answers!"

                "Eon!"  Both Link and Zelda shouted at him, causing the younger boy to growl.

"Don't yell at me!  It's true!  No one ever helps you, Brother!  They always expect you to get the answer the first time, all by yourself!"

"Eon…" Navi tried to interrupt, but he knocked her away with his hand.  Beside him, Volvagia chirped softly, his body curled up tightly.

"Eon, please," Saria said, a bit more forcefully than Link thought she intended.  "You have to stop this.  It's no ones fault, ok?  Just calm down, please.  It doesn't help anyone."

  Link's brother stared at Saria, meeting her gaze with a fierce one of his own, but then he sighed and turned away, walking from Saria as far as he could while still being in hearing range.  Folding his arms over his chest, he mumbled a barely audible "This sucks," before he sat down, his back to everyone.

                A hand on his arm took Link's focus off his errant brother and to Saria's deep eyes.  She smiled the smile she reserved only for him, and it calmed his heart.  "It's ok, Link," she told him softly.  "You'll do fine.  I know you will."

                "Thank you, Saria."

                "Yes, well, so long as you promise me you'll be careful…" She added, and he nodded, leaning back.

                "I will," he said as he watched the stars above him.  Behind him, he could hear the others saying their goodnights to the Deku Tree, and he smiled.  His smile vanished, however, as he kept staring towards the sky, his eyes widening in horror.  How could he have forgotten…? 

Someone called him, tried to get him to come say his own goodbyes, but his mind was rooted on one thing.  Promise…  The stars blinked down on him, mockingly.  I made a promise…

                ~"You know, in the Kokiri Forest, you can't really ever see the stars very well unless you know of a really good place to sit.  When I was younger I found the perfect spot, but it's kinda hard to get to.  It involves a lot of climbing and hard work, but it's worth it.  Did you ever look at the stars when you had free time?"

                Zelda shook her head.  "I've never had free time…"

                Link shook his head regretfully.  "Really?  Well, then I guess we'll just have to make you some free time, won't we?  But you gotta be in good shape to go to this spot, and you only have about a week to do it in.  But I'm sure Zelda will be ok, since she's already very strong…"~

                'It's still early enough, Link, you have no need to worry about breaking your promise.'

                The boy nearly jumped from his prone position on the ground as the voice intruded into his thoughts.  Sitting up faster than was good for him, Link fought off the dizziness and looked around.  Saria stood to his left, a look of confusion on her face, but Link ignored her, scanning the rest of the assembled.  Zelda and Impa stood before the Deku Tree, talking quietly, while Eon and Volvagia sat farther away, talking amongst themselves.

                Who… he thought, unable to figure out whose voice he'd just heard.

                'It's ok, Link, it's me.'

                The boy paused, then sighed and slumped.  Great Deku Tree? he thought, and earned a chuckle in response.

                'Of course.  Who did you think it was?'

                Link refrained from making a snide comment about how, only months before, he'd been hearing the voice of Dark Link in his mind.  Instead, he opted for being polite.  I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention.  He paused, then the realization that the Deku Tree was prodding around his mind struck him.  Hey!  Great Deku Tree!

                The tree chuckled again.  'Sorry, Link, but your thoughts were so strong at the time, I couldn't help it.  I hope I haven't offended you too much.'

                Link shook his head.  No, no you didn't.

                'Good,' the Deku Tree told him in his mind, while at the same time he spoke to Zelda.  "Goodnight, Zelda.  I'll see you again before you leave."

                "Goodnight, Great Deku Tree."  The princess bowed politely, as did her Sheikah guardian.  Link smiled to himself.

                So, did you only want to embarrass me, Great Deku Tree?  He thought, the humor he felt ensuring that the Deku Tree wouldn't take that the wrong way.

                'No, but I do want to tell you that the promise you made was sweet.'

                Oh, be quiet… Link felt his face burn.

                'Not quite yet.  I did want to tell you something else, though, in all honesty.'  The chuckle that had prevailed through his words before disappeared as he talked, and Link blinked, almost hesitant to hear what the Deku Tree had to say.  'I'm sorry you have to go through this, Link.  I was hoping your days of battle were over when you vanquished Ganon…  I am sorry, my child.  But I believe you can make it through this.  You have more strength than you give yourself credit for.'

                Link could only stare at the Deku Tree, his eyes wide.  He didn't even notice Navi flying around the tree's branches, her voice like music as she said her farewells.

                "Goodnight, Great Deku Tree.  I've missed talking to you."

                "And I to you, Navi."

                "Goodnight, Great Deku Tree," Saria said right after the faerie, placing one of her small, delicate hands against the bark of his trunk.  "I'll see you tomorrow."

                "Yes, goodnight, Saria."  To Link, he added: 'Are you well?'

                Nodding, the boy made his way to his feet.  Yes, I'm fine.  Thank you.

                Before the Deku Tree could respond to that, Eon made his way towards the exit of the glade, Volvagia following behind.  Link was sure the small dragon had already told the Deku Tree goodnight in it's own strange way, but he was quite sure he hadn't heard his brother.

                "Eon!"  Impa's shout drew the two boy's attention.  "Don't be rude, come back here."

                The red-headed boy turned, not looking happy.  "Why should I say goodnight?  I don't like him."

                "Eon!"  The two girls in the group yelled at him, and Link shook his head.

                I don't think he's ever going to learn…

                "Get over here and apologize!"

                'That's fine, he's just being himself.'

                "How dare you speak like that to the Great Deku Tree?!"

                I know. 

                'Take care of him, Link.  He needs you, too, you know.'

                "Fine!"  Eon stomped his way over to the Deku Tree, and Link watched, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.  When he finally reached the guardian, Eon made a mock bow, then stood and started walking away, waving one hand in the air.  "'Night, 'Tree.  Thanks for all the help."

                Link choked back a laugh as the girls pounced his brother, Impa following close behind.  Well…tried to pounce.  Once the words were out of his mouth, Eon took off running, scooping a startled Volvagia into his hands, hooting and hollering for all he was worth.

                Thank you, Great Deku Tree, Link thought as he followed after his brother.  Thank you for trying to help.  I'm sorry to have given you trouble about it.

                'Nonsense, Link,' the tree thought back, the fatherly warmth Link had felt all his life flooding out of the words and into the small boy.  'Goodnight, my child.  I know you'll be alright.'

                Goodnight, Great Deku Tree.  Link left the clearing then, entering into the passage that would lead him back to his home.  Zelda was waiting for him, and he smiled.

                "Are you sure you're alright, Link…?"  The worry in her voice made his heart ache, but he didn't know why. 

                Nodding, he smiled and held out his hand, making her blink.  "Of course."  When she didn't take his hand he reached farther, taking the one she held at her side.  "Come on."

                Looking at their hands with an expression Link couldn't make out, Zelda shook her head.  "What…?"

                "I promised Zelda I'd show her my favorite spot, so I'm keeping that promise," he said, as though she weren't even there.  Her face instantly went from her previous expression to one of indignation.  Ignoring it, Link continued on, keeping a careful watch on her expressions.  "But I guess she forgot, or just isn't interested anymore…"

                The beaming smile she gave him lightened his heart considerably, and was answer enough.  Squeezing her hand slightly, he continued down the passage with her following beside him.  

He led her into the village, careful to stay near the wall.  Even though Saria had kicked the Kokiri children from the Deku Tree's glade didn't mean their partying had to stop.  Lights in treehouses were still on, and the sounds of singing and revelry rang through the air.

                Zelda looked at him out of the corner of her eye.  "Why are we hugging the walls?"

                Link smiled.  "Because I don't want anyone else to know where we're going.  This place is secret to only me…and maybe Saria."

                "What about Navi?"

                Link shrugged.  "We share everything, we aren't really separate.  If I know, she knows."

                Zelda looked around.  "Where is she now?"

                "With Saria and Impa, I would guess.  She doesn't follow me everywhere you know."

                "Oh," she ducked her head, a slight blush coloring her pale cheeks.  "I didn't know that."

                "That's ok.   ...Hey, Zelda?  Can you use your magic and make a light?  I have to check where we are."

"Ok…" she said, then focused in, and within moments, a small glowing sphere appeared above her hand.  Link smiled and dropped to his knees, checking the ground around them.  While he did that, Zelda looked about her, checking their bearings.  They were behind one of the large trees bordering the village, half hidden by a giant root.  She was about to walk around to the front of the house, to see where exactly in the village they were, when Link made a sound in his throat.  Curious, Zelda turned back to him. 

Leaning over, one eyebrow quirked, Zelda watched as he pushed back blades of grass and crawled over the roots.  "Link, what are you doing?"

The boy didn't stop his perusal of the ground.  "I'm looking for something." 

"Obviously…"

He made that sound in the back of his throat again, and Zelda took it for displeasure.  He was obviously having a hard time of finding…whatever it was he was looking for.

                "Ah!"  Link beckoned her over triumphantly, still on his knees beside the largest root of the bunch.  "Here we are."  He pointed to a small patch of dirt on the ground, right beside his feet.  Patting it happily, Link made his way to his feet, and it was then that Zelda noticed the small blue flower, its petals closed in the night.

                "That's rather pretty.  What is it?"

                He smiled and stood up, brushing off his knees.  "That is our ride to the place we're going."

                "But…isn't that just someplace for beans?  I've seen the castle gardens, and patches of dirt like this are used for beans."

                Link beamed at her.  "Not this dirt.  See that flower?  That's what makes it special."

                "I don't…"

                "You will," he answered her unspoken question.  Silently, he pulled the faerie ocarina from his pouch, then looked around, making sure no one could hear.  When he was sure of their privacy, he closed his eyes, letting the Song of Storms come to him.  The melody flew quietly in the wind, and the small blue flower began to shake violently.

                "…Link…?" Zelda pointed at the quivering flower, worry creasing her brow.  "Link, is it supposed to do that…?"  He kept playing.  "Link…?"

                The song finally came to an end, and instantly everything became hectic.  Link quickly put the ocarina away as the flower shook even worse, growing larger and larger.  Grabbing Zelda's hand firmly, Link muttered a quick "hold on!" and then everything went crazy. 

The now giant blue flower reared backwards, grabbing the two in its "mouth," and they were forced to curl into little balls, Link curling around Zelda to protect her.  Then everything lurched painfully, and they were spit into the air, circling round and round, seeing everything at once but not being able to make out a single detail.  And then suddenly, they stopped.

                Link landed hard, still tucking Zelda against him so she wouldn't get hurt.  Unfortunately, this meant he couldn't roll to absorb the impact, and as soon as they landed, he let her go with an "oof" and searing pain in his side.  Zelda, once free of his arms, rolled a few feet away, the little ball of light she'd made clutched protectively in her hand, her eyes squeezed shut.

                It took a minute or so, but eventually Link could roll over onto his side.  Shaking his head to clear it, he stumbled onto his feet and walked drunkenly towards the princess, who was just then beginning to stir.

                "Ooh…what happened?"  Link smiled as she blinked up at him, her eyes gaining back their usual spark of life as her head cleared.  "Link?  What did you do?"

                "Heh…I got us up here."

                "Here…?"  She turned her head, taking in their surroundings.  Tall trees blocked out the sky all around them, and the wind blew fiercer than it had down in the village.  "Where is here?  Last I knew, the sky was spinning, and then we suddenly stopped."

                "Yeah, sorry about that," he apologized, putting his hand behind his head and grinning sheepishly.  "There wasn't any time to explain…"

                "There was plenty of time before you played the song."

                "Yeah…but I was afraid it would scare you off."

                Zelda gave him an evil look, and Link flinched.

                "Anyway," Link continued, helping her up, "we aren't quite there yet.  There's a path through the trees we have to go through, and then we'll be there.  Got your light ready?"  She nodded and held the light aloft, illuminating the trees around them.  "Good.  Then let's go."

                They set off, Link holding Zelda's hand, leading her through the dense foliage.

                "Hey, Link…"

                He turned his head as Zelda trailed off, a smile on his face.  "Yes, Zelda?"

                She gestured towards the trees around them.  "Where exactly are we?  And how did you find this place?"

                Link shrugged.  "Oh.  Well…we're in the Lost Woods, somewhere beyond Kokiri Forest.  Those flowers have a lot of power in them.  As for how I found it, well, that was an accident."  He blushed, but kept going.  "While I was planting beans around Hyrule, I came across that patch of dirt.  There's a nice patch on the other side of the village, where I did plant a bean.  But this one already had a plant in it, and no matter what I did, I couldn't find a way to use the extra space beside it.  So I got mad and started playing the ocarina…and then I played the Song of Storms and…"

                "And you suddenly found yourself in a different place.  But how did you get back down?"

                Link licked his lips.  "Uh…you might not wanna know."

                "Does it involve another trip like that?"

                He shrugged.  "It might…"

                She made an incoherent sound in the back of her throat and he laughed, Zelda soon joining in.  They continued like that, smiling widely and laughing every now and then, until the trees thinned and they reached a clearing of sorts.  Zelda stopped dead, her eyes wide.

                "Link…what...where is this place?"

                Before them stretched all of Hyrule, far below.  Looking around, Link realised he'd taken a wrong turn, and brought Zelda to the Precipice—a huge cliff with sheer walls that led back down into Hyrule Field.  The view was amazing, but even the most fearless person could find themselves cowering from the height of the drop.  Link winced as Zelda squeezed his hand tightly in hers, but he smiled reassuringly.

                "Don't worry.  I won't let you fall off."  He smiled at her, then turned back to look out at Hyrule.  "I call this place the Precipice.  You can see all of Hyrule here, even into the Gerudo mountains, if it's a clear day."

                "It's beautiful…  Frightening, but beautiful."

                "Yes," he said as he nodded, and took a tentative step forward.  Zelda dug her feet into the ground, and Link took the clue that she didn't want to move any closer.  "Don't worry, Zelda.  We're still far from the edge.  I just wanted to point some things out to you."

                "…Ok."

                He led her forward slowly, only a few feet.  Before them, Hyrule Field spread in all her glory, and Link smiled.

                "I love it up here.  I love looking down on Hyrule, seeing everything and knowing it's safe now.  You can feel the land, too.  It's grateful, happy…"

                "Really?  I…I don't feel anything…"

                Link looked at her in wonder.  "Really?  You mean you can't feel anything?"

                She stared back at him blankly.  "No, not really.  Not this far away.  Should I?"

                He shrugged.  "You're a Sage.  You should feel the energies."

                "I can…if I'm right there.  And only then, there are only certain places I could.  But…we are higher than anything else.  Everything is so far away…"

                "Yes, but…" He pointed towards something small illuminated beneath the moon.  "You see that, over there?  That's the ruins of a village that existed before the Great War.  …Before we were born."  Zelda looked where he pointed, to the south of LonLon Ranch, close to the Wood's borders and about three-fourths of the way to Lake Hylia from the ranch.  "That place has an aura.  And there," he pointed to another area where old buildings lay in ruins, "that's another town similar to this one.  But the ruins near here…  I'm afraid of them.  They feel…I don't know.  They feel strange."

Zelda looked at him, her eyes wide with curiosity.  "Oh?  Why?"

Link shrugged. "I don't know.  Like I said, they aren't the only place in Hyrule where I can feel these energies.  Looking towards Hyrule Castle Town, Kakariko, Death Mountain…anyplace and everyplace it seems."

Zelda looked at him out of the corner of her eye.  "What other places could you…" She stopped, realisation dawning on her.  "The Temples."

He nodded.  "Yeah.  They all feel…different.  I don't even have to be near them.  Like I said, all I have to do is look."

"What do they feel like?"

Link smiled.  "The Shadow Temple feels cold; a cold that could suck the life from my body.  The Spirit Temple feels like it lords over all, mighty and impenetrable.  The Fire Temple is aggressive, and the Water Temple placid.  Although…there is an undercurrent of power in the Water Temple."  He laughed to himself, remembering.  "It's in no way 'placid,' let me tell you.  The Temple of Time feels welcoming, as though it were my home."

He trailed off, thinking of the feelings the Temples gave him.  He'd never thought about it before, and all of a sudden these words were coming to his mind, as though he'd always wanted to say them.

A gentle hand on his arm made him blink, and look over to the princess standing next to him.  "And what about the Forest Temple, and those ruins?"

He looked away again, not towards the ruins but back towards Kokiri Village.  "The Forest Temple is home.  I've lived all my life feeling it—that's the purpose of the Lost Woods.  They conceal the Temple, but they also channel its power.  I spent my whole childhood here, and the feeling is a part of me now.  A part of all the Kokiri.  I couldn't really tell you the feeling because…" She nodded, and he turned back towards the ruins in Hyrule Field.  "Those…they feel dead.  I know they're ruins, but…  They feel like they don't want to come alive again.  It's painful.  Like the land itself is in pain."

"And these are the only places in Hyrule that feel this way?  The Temples and these old ruins?"

Link shook his head.  "No.  There are places all over that give off these auras.  LonLon Ranch does, although that's just a cozy feeling, and isn't very strong.  The Temples and this ruin are the strongest, although there are some other ruins over near Gerudo that are pretty strong in their own rights."

                "That's very interesting, Link," Zelda said, taking a step even farther from the edge than they were.  "I've never known of someone who could feel the earth like that.  Could it be because of your connection with the Temples?"

                "I'm not sure.  You're connected with the Temples too."

                "Yes, but I didn't traverse them.  And it's not just the Temples, either.  Maybe it's because you were raised Kokiri, and they are more in tune with nature?"

                "It could be that…" Link trailed off, then smiled.  "But it doesn't really matter anyway.  C'mon, let's get to that place I was going to show you."

                He took her hand again and turned them around, away from the Precipice.  Once back on the path to his special place, they were stopped by only one other detour.

                "How do we get through?"

                Zelda pointed to the large mass of fallen trees blocking the path, with even more trees and foliage making it impossible to skirt around the sides.  Link stood, his chin in his hands, and sighed.

                "We climb over it, I guess.  Unless you don't want to keep going…"

                Zelda lifted her chin and stood her tallest.  "We climb."

                Link laughed and nodded.  "Well then, why don't we make it exciting?  A race.  A race to see who gets there first.  We can even make a bet, if you want."

                "A bet?  Like what?"

                "Like a bet.  You know.  If I win, you have to do such-and-such, and if you win, I'll do something for you."

                "Ok then…what would you bet?"

                Link opened his mouth to respond, then closed it.  What would he bet?  There really wasn't anything he could think of.  "I…I don't know."

                "How about if I win, you let me come with you?"

                Link looked at her, surprise written all over his face.  Zelda met his gaze with a defiant one of hers, and in the light of her magic he could catch a bit of a blush on her cheeks.

                "But Sahasrahla said—"

                "I know what he said," she interrupted, and lowered her gaze.  "I know what he said.  But I really want to help.  Last time…last time I couldn't do anything to help you.  This time I can, and I want to."

                "You did everything you could to help me, Zelda," Link said quietly.

                "No," she replied as she shook her head.  "No, I didn't do anything.  Sheik did."

                "That's just being picky."

                "That's the truth!"  She turned to face him quickly, her hands fisted at her side.  "Now that's my bet.  Take it or leave it, Link."

                "I…  Fine.  I accept."

                "And your bet?"

                "If I win…  I don't know."

                She slumped and put her hands on her hips.  "Come on, Link.  You have to have something in mind…"

                "If I win, you cook for a week."

                "That's stupid, Link!  I made a serious bet…"

                He sighed.  "I know you did, and I wish you hadn't.  But there isn't anything I can think of instead of 'you go back to the castle.'  I don't want that to be my bet."

                "If it isn't, then I won't go back, you know that."

                Link nodded.  "Yes, I know."

                She smiled at him, and placed a hand on his shoulder.  "Well, then, I guess there's no point in betting.  Since we all know…that I'm going to win anyway!"  Before she even finished her sentence, Zelda darted off, taking the ball of light with her.  Link barely managed a shout before he, too, was off, following the princess.

                They darted in and around fallen trees, Link still a few steps behind the young girl.  Despite a life of luxury, she was fast and agile, and fit easier between the branches than he did.  She also had the added bonus of light.  Link only had moonlight to guide his path, and more than once the young Hero found himself less than an inch from crushing his nose against a tree.  By the third time, he was seriously beginning to question the impetuousness of having a race.

                He finally caught up to her as she had to climb a particularly large log.  Link reached it just as she was getting her legs up the side, the orb of light bobbing above her.  Smiling cockily, Link jumped and grabbed a branch, hauling himself to the top of the log with ease.  Zelda glared at him as she finally pulled herself up.

                "Well, I think we know who the winner here will be…" Link said smugly, rubbing his knuckles against his tunic.

                "Oh, yes, we will," she smiled and answered back, then suddenly pushed him, making him lose his balance.  As he flailed his arms to save himself, Zelda made a cute little laugh and jumped down the other side, continuing to run, her braid flying out behind her.

                Finally catching himself, Link growled low in his throat and jumped, landing in a roll and going under another log in his way.  There was no way she would win—especially not with dirty tricks like that!  Coming out of the roll instantly, Link was on his feet, his attention focused on winning.  He was so focused, in fact, that he almost couldn't stop himself when he caught up to her.

                Zelda stood forlornly, gazing out towards the clearing that was illuminated in the moonlight.  Still running, Link couldn't figure out why she wasn't continuing, when he noticed the pit before her.  If not for the orb of light, he would have totally missed it.  Grinding his feet into the ground, Link forced himself to stop inches from the hole, then promptly collapsed onto his back.

                "Link!  Are you ok?"  Zelda was by his side in an instant, sitting on her heels, the orb defining her features in the dark.  Link smiled and nodded.

                "Yeah, I'm fine.  Almost didn't see the hole there."

                She pouted.  "You never mentioned a hole…"

                "I never knew about a hole."

                She was absolutely sulking.  "Well you should have…"

                Laughing, Link rolled onto his side, then pushed himself to his feet.  Brushing his tunic off, Link stepped back a few feet as he talked to the princess.  "Yes, well, I didn't.  But it's apparent who the winner here will be."

                "What do you mean…?"

                Link didn't answer, but instead darted forward, putting all his strength into the dash.  When he reached the edge of the pit, he jumped, feeling weightless and invincible.  Zelda screamed behind him, obviously unaware of what he was doing, but Link had no way to signal that he was fine.  He had to land, first.

                The ground met his feet with a hard thump, and Link barely caught himself from falling forward.  The pit was larger than he'd thought, and when he turned around and stepped forward, he realised he only had a foot or so between his landing place and the edge.  Whistling softly under his breath, Link looked up and waved at the princess that stood on the other side, her eyes wide in fright.

                "Hiya, Zelda!  Looks like I win, huh?"

                "That's all fine and good, but how am I supposed to get over there?"

                He hadn't thought of that when he'd made his mad dash.  Pacing for a bit, he racked his brains for something he could use to help her.  All his gear except the boomerang was back in his treehouse, and that wouldn't help him much here.  And even if he'd brought the hookshot, he was too small to be able to handle it properly.  So then, what could he use…?

                Of course!  Smiling, Link walked back from the edge a few feet, then focused in on himself.  Chanting the ancient words under his breath, Link performed a strange dance, then threw his hands down.  Bright light filled the area, and when it left, a green orb floated before him.  Nodding towards it, Link backed up, made his running start, and jumped the hole.  It was a lot easier the second time around.

                On the other side, Zelda stared at him in surprise.  He smiled at her, one hand behind his head and a blush on his cheeks.

                "Farore's wind.  I can teleport us back to the other side now.  Here, take my hand."

                Instead of taking his hand, she pointed to the orb.  "If you could make a light…why didn't you before?"

                Taken aback by the question, Link looked to where she was pointing.  "Well, Farore's Wind isn't really a light…it's a gateway of sorts.  And besides…I can't control how bright it is.  If I'd cast that at the bottom of the tree, everyone would have known I was up to something."

                "And you can't cast it down there now, to make an easier way back?"

                He laughed and shook his head.  "Nope, sorry.  I have to be there.  Now, are you ready?"

                She smiled and put her hand in his.  "Of course."

                Nodding, Link repeated the incantation, visualising the glowing orb and transferring the magic he felt welling up into a channel from where he stood to where it was.  The world around him seemed to melt as he did so, and the same odd sensation of nothingness came over him as he disappeared and reappeared at the orb.  Once they were both completely anchored back, the orb evaporated, taking the warm feeling within Link with it.

                "Well, Zelda…here we are.  My special place.  It's the most beautiful place in the Woods, and you can see the stars beautifully from here."

                Zelda let go of his hand, stepping away from him and into the clearing.  Before her opened a huge glade, almost like a meadow.  A stream ran through the center, the water reflecting the moonlight and making the trees and grass shimmer.  The ground was carpeted in flowers of all kinds, and the area had a feeling of peace and calm that could be found nowhere else in all of Hyrule.  "It's beautiful, Link."  She spun around, looking up at the sky above her, laughing.  "I've never seen anyplace like it!"

                "Yes, and you won't ever.  Even the Sacred Forest Meadow, mine and Saria's special place, isn't as beautiful.  It comes close, though."

                "Thank you Link!"  Zelda turned towards him, opening her arms and hugging him tight.  "Thank you so much."  Impetuously, she leaned forward and pecked him delicately on the cheek; her lips were soft and warm.

                Link blushed as she laid her head against his chest.  "No problem, Zelda.  …It was no problem at all," he whispered as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight as he looked up at the night sky.

LINK NO MIKO'S LITTLE CORNER OF TALKINGNESS

Woo, that was a long wait, wasn't it?  But look, you get fluffy Zelda/Link-kun goodness!  And some information on Dark Link-kun, too.  …Not that much, really, but some.  I have almost all of the rest of this plotted out…in a very loose way.  In good fantasy format, there will be a Quest.  Soo…yeah.

If you check my new bio, I mention that I…sorta…lied.  The next chapter won't be action.  -_-x  I'm sorry!  But there is something that I need to do yet, and this chapter is already 10 pages long.  It wasn't meant to be that long, so…I have to make another.  It makes more sense to have what I want in a different chapter, anyway.  I just hope you can enjoy it. 

Sorry about the delay.  I'm now done with the show I was working on, but I'm in a student production of Shakespeare scenes, so I'm still busy.  I also have to write a one-act.  Yay!  Root for me, please!

Thanks for everything, you guys.  You all rock.  I love you all.  *huggles*