Part V: Growing up alone.

The sun sat lazily on the rim of Death Mountain. The weeks had been fading into each other so fast that Link had barely noticed the change in himself. Small things that he took for granted over the past few months were slowly starting to dawn on him this evening. Lifting rocks had become a little easier, and the sword was becoming lighter and was slowly becoming smaller in his hand. Sometime soon he would have to venture into Hyrule and perhaps find a shop. His tunic, too, seemed to be getting tighter. He smiled inwardly as he lay his back against a boulder and watched the blazing sun on its final moments in the day.

Navi zoomed in and landed on Links' knee. She let out a soft sigh and sat down. Link looked at her, "What's wrong, Navi?" He moved his leg closer to his face so he could make out the features on the little faeries face. She seemed sad, as if she had been crying for a long time. He knew she was gone for most of the day. She usually left him alone at midday and would go out to search for new food sources.

Link had decided the safest way to live for the both of them was to isolate themselves from everyone. If Ganon had the same memories as Link, then it would be safe to just stay as far away from eyes that might report to the dark king. Safety and the element of surprise would be the only way that things would change the land this time around. He had chosen this way of life, and could only hope from day to day that he had made the right choice.

Navi wiped a hand over her eyes as she sat on his knee. "Things are terrible, Link. The land is in ruin and complete chaos is starting to set in all over the land." A soft sob passed through her tiny body, "It was so much easier to just come back and see things in ruin. It was easier to accept… but to watch it all happen." She flew to him and hugged herself to face. "Oh, Link. It's horrible! I don't know if I can stay sane and watch everything go down in ruin."

Link reached up and patted the tiny faerie on her head with a finger. "I know Navi, I may not be able to see things that you see. But… I can feel it. It's as if the land is calling to me, and all that it knows now is grief and suffering. But this is the way things have to be, Navi. We just need to have faith that everything will work out."

Navi sobbed and fluttered to his chest. "I know… it's just… it's so much to take in." She cast a glance to sun and smiled wildly. "At least Ganon can't take everything away from us. You are right, the land is calling to us. It knows what we are planning, and it hurts that we can't do something sooner."

Link sat for a moment without saying a word. He closed his eyes and sighed. Slowly he started to stand and head to the little cave that they had found on the plateau. He looked back at the sun and moved inside the cave. The thoughts and feelings of the conversation laying heavy on his heart. What if this was all going to fall apart? What if it didn't work? What if this time around Ganon became more powerful?

"What if, what if?" Link whispered to himself and sat down and began making a fire. The nights were turning colder. Every once in a while he would find himself missing the comforts of the forest. He missed having his own house. He missed being able to eat whenever he wanted. He missed just not doing nothing and not having a care in the world. "But, maybe this is what growing up is all about?" He thought to himself.

So much to worry about. So much responsibility to be met. The being alone and living on the edge of everything that he had once known. Growing up was hard, but he could manage, he had to, for the sake of everything. But the words that Navi had said, about it being easier to just find things as they were and it being harder to live through it all. He sat with his back against the wall as Navi fluttered into the room and perched beside him.

"Navi?"

"Yeah, Link?"

"Do I look older than I did when I left the forest? I mean… do you think if people didn't know me, that they would know me now?" He looked up to her.

"Well, if they didn't know you before… how would they know you now?"

Link hung his head at his own words. Maybe the months of being alone was starting to weigh in on him more than anything else. He chuckled a little. He had to, it was just too funny.

"Change of plans, Navi. Get some rest. Tomorrow we are going to Kakariko Village."

Navi slowly turned her head and looked down at him, "You really have lost your mind. I thought you said that the best way to do this would be to stay away from everyone and just wait until…"

"Right, I did say that. But, even if Ganon is sending out people looking for me, it's not like he has a good description of what I would look like now. He's really only had a good look at me when I am grown up. I should be able to blend in with everyone."

Navi was quiet for a moment. "Link, there is only one problem with this plan."

He looked into the fire as it started to roar to life. "What's that?"

"He would still remember me. And I don't change. And if you go into a town with a faerie, it will throw up signs. I… I wouldn't be able to come with you, I am sorry."

Link stared at the fire. That was one thing he hadn't thought of. It was true, she had always been with him. A faerie by his side would only bring attention to them. Only the children in the forest were the ones who had faeries, it was common knowledge through out the lands.

"Don't worry… I'll think of something. Get some sleep now."