Chapter II:  The Way

            I awoke early that morning, my dream of Zelda fresh on my mind.  I yawned and stretched, then jumped out of bed and quickly threw together the items I'd need for another quest.  Extra tunics, boots, bombs, bow, arrows, my boomerang, my hookshot...I walked over and reached in my closet, grabbing a plain, black tunic and a pair of comfortable boots.  Changing into those, I reached for my mirror shield and the sword that the Biggoron had made for me.  I'd long since returned the Master Sword to the Temple of Time, in hopes that I would never have to use it again.  I'd kept, however, the Biggoron sword, knowing I might again need it.  I also took the small Kokiri sword that I'd used as a child.  Though it wasn't useful for fighting monsters, I always managed to find small things I needed it for, and it was handy to have along.

            I wondered if that was everything I would need.  It certainly seemed that way.  I grabbed my wallet as I walked out the door of an apartment in Hyrule that I'd been occupying.  I'd already grown much older than the Kokiri, and staying with them felt strange.  I quickly pushed that thought out of my mind and replaced it with things I needed to be thinking about in stead.  What would I need to do for today?  I'd have to stop by Lon Lon Ranch and pick up Epona, and then I'd head to the Lost Forest.  I always dreaded returning to the forest that had once been my home...the Kokiri there regarded me strangely, some still politely friendly, but most afraid.  Saria and I would have an occasional chat, but nothing was the same.  Nothing would ever be like it once was.

            I stepped out of Hyrule city and into Hyrule field, feeling a cool breeze playfully blow through my hair.  The spring air was sweet, and I realized it'd been quite awhile since I'd left Hyrule.  Most people by now knew that I was the Hero of Time.  But instead of feeling safe around me, most were afraid.  As if I were some sort of monster who'd destroy them.  It was as if the second I'd step out on the street it would clear.  Only those who knew me during that quest weren't afraid.  And yet even some of them didn't want much to do with me.

"Grasshopper!"  I heard the familiar voice of Malon cry as a blur of red and yellow pelted into me and caught me in a fierce hug.  "You promised me you'd visit more!  Where have you been?"

"Busy in Hyrule," I lied.  The part about Hyrule had been true, but I was far from busy.  She didn't need to know that, though.  I felt guilty lying to her, but it was better than the lecture I'd get.

"Well what brings you here?"  she smiled cheerfully.  Malon was one of the few people who didn't fear me.  Stress on one of the few.

"I've come to get Epona."

"Good!"  Malon beamed.  "She's missed you a lot,"  she said sadly, then smiled again.  "It's a good thing you've come to visit her! I bet she thought you forgot about her!"

"I haven't," I confirmed, following her.  I pulled out my Ocarina and played Epona's song, and my horse came to meet me.  "Thank you for taking such good care of her, Malon."

"Aw, it's nothing,"  Malon smiled, watching me hop onto Epona.  "Wait," she said sadly.  "Are you leaving?"

"Nayru has sent me on a Quest.  I can't wait around.  I'm sorry, Malon."

"When your quest is over, you'll come visit me more, right?  Right?"

"Right."

"Promise?"  she stared up at me with big, innocent eyes.

"Promise," I nodded, riding off.

"Bye!  See you soon!"  Malon waved as I rode to the Kokiri Forest.

            Epona resisted going in, as she always did.

"Epona...c'mon...please?"  I begged.  "Won't you help me?  I may need you in Labrynna..."

            Still, stubborn as she'd always been when it came to getting around water, cliff edges, or anything else she didn't like, Epona wouldn't move.

"Go back to Malon,"  I sighed, quickly scribbling a note on a piece of spare paper that explained why Epona was returning and putting it in Epona's saddle.  "Go on, if you're not coming with me, go."

                        Epona galloped off, and I sighed.  Alone again.  Why didn't this surprise me any?

            With a heavy heart I walked back into my old home.

                                                                                                ~//~

            Some of them 'just happened' to finish up their outdoor chores the second I walked in.  Others gave me a wary glance, but didn't do anything.  Some gulped and stood perfectly still, as if I might mistake them for statues.

            I walked past my house on the way to the Lost Forest.  Part of me wanted to climb that ladder and go back into the place that had once been my home, but that was part of another world.  That place wasn't part of my life anymore, and I had no business going back.  So ignoring the urge to revisit some old memories, I walked on towards the lost forest.

"Link," came a small, quiet voice.  I glanced down. 

"Saria," I said just as quietly, unsure of what to say to the girl who'd once been my best friend.

"What brings you here?"  She asked.

"I'm going on another quest," I explained.

"...what evil has entered this world now?"

"None,"  I said.  "Nayru's sending me on a quest to meet Farore."

"And Farore is in the Lost Forest?"  Saria tilted her head slightly to the right, making her look younger than her already child-like appearance made her look.

"No, but the Lost Forest will lead me to the world of Labrynna and...it just goes from there," I explained, seeing no need to give Saria the details of my entire quest.

"Best of luck, Link,"  she smiled slightly, handing me a tiny, crystal bottle where two small faeries rested within.

            "They always trap just one of the poor things in a bottle," Saria had once impatiently sighed.  "Everyone needs a friend!"

"Thank you, Saria," I took the bottle and walked into the Lost Forest.

            Golden sparkles flew around, and it took me a moment to realize these 'sparkles' were a bunch of tiny faeries.  They paused a moment, then began flying at an insanely fast speed through the forest.  I raced to follow them, wishing I still had the Pegasus boots.  I couldn't memorize the twists and turns I was taking, and had no idea how I'd ever get back to the Kokiri Forest.  I kept running, running, running until...

            I was in a different forest now.  The faeries flew around aimlessly for a moment and then left. 

                        So this was Labrynna.

                                                                        ~//~

A/N:  WARNING!  This does NOT follow the storyline of The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages any at all!  Zilch!  Nada! Nil!  The only thing that Ages and this fic have in common are that I've used the name of the world and the towns, and that the Din, Nayru, and Farore are all oracles.  So if you're expecting an Oracle of Ages FF, I'm sorry.  This isn't one of them.  Um, so yeah, is it allrighty so far?  Is it bad or okay or…?  Seeking opinions, please?  ~Xifa~