Part 4: Vivid Reminiscence

It was one of a kind. This stupendous garden featured various species of trees and flowers planted in orderly rows. There was one tree that was different from the others, so different that it was planted in the far corner of the garden away from all the other plants. It was basically a small oak tree with green sunflowers branching from its trunk. This odd tree-flower hybrid was called Sala'dah in old Hylian, roughly translating to 'harmony and peace'.

Zelda recalled joyful memories as she admired the Sala'dahtree. In fact, it happened right here fourteen years ago (seven years in the future, then seven years back again). This was the place where Zelda first encountered the green-clad forest boy. It seems like I met him seven years ago.

Her expression brightened up when one of her treasured memories struck her head like a hammer; her eyes widened and a big smile covered her face as she recalled that one afternoon. Link wanted to celebrate his successful securing of the Goron's Ruby from Death Mountain…

…And he asked her to join him.

(>)Fisherman's Lake is the most popular spot in the southwestern waters of Hylia, where rest and relaxation can be obtained for all men. After all, as the Hylian saying went: worms are bait for catching fish, and fish are bait for relaxing men.

In this cloudy Saturday afternoon, only three people were present in Fisherman's Lake. Young Link and Zelda were preparing a celebration picnic, and the third individual had yet to be seen. The two youngsters were 'setting up camp' adjacent to the glimmering, fish-crowded lake – Link was spreading a red 'n white tiled tablecloth on the comfy green grass whilst Zelda began taking out parts of her royal tea set from her straw picnic basket.

"Link, I-" The young princess stopped in mid-sentence, as she placed the exquisite creamy-white and gold teapot on top of the tablecloth. "-Really want to thank you for bringing me here," she finished with a blush, stroking her arms continuously with the tip of her index finger.

The cocky Kokiri boy raised an eyebrow, scanning her tense actions amusingly. Zelda didn't seem to notice his stares; she avoided eye contact with him as much as possible, and she also kept herself busy fumbling either with her finger or with the top of the teapot. Link noticed her rather nervous behavior, yet he decided not to say a word. He shrugged, and thought it was best to start a conversation.

"Uh…you're welcome Zelda. I've been meaning to share this place with yo--I mean," he trailed off, stuttering between his words. "-With somebody – for – some – time - now…and you happened to be in the right place at the right time! Heh, heh, heh." All of a sudden, the blonde boy began scratching the back of his head involuntarily as if it were a reflex action from his sheepishness. In an effort to mask his emotions, he veiled his face with the widest, toothiest smile he could ever muster. Too bad he didn't try hard enough…

The fair maiden giggled madly; never before in her life had she observed such unorthodox yet funny actions. She continued to laugh her head off as Link gave her a puzzled look.

"Do I amuse you princess?" He said in a surprisingly calm tone. Due to her current uncontrollable state, the giggling girl hadn't noticed the hero's villainous expression.

"That…smile…was…so-" The words barely came out of her mouth, for Zelda just couldn't stop laughing.

"Zelda, the time is right. There's something…I've been meaning to tell you," Link started, a spice of seriousness in his voice; it was more than enough to silence Zelda in an instant.

"You've been hiding something from me, princess. And now that I know what it is…" He kept her hanging in suspense, his cold glare sending a chill through her spine.

Indeed, Zelda was frightened and confused; she had never seen this side of Link before, and she didn't know what in blazes he was babbling about. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but the words just wouldn't come out.

"Zelda, I know now…you-"

What am I?1 A girl, a thief, a slut, a lesbian! WHAT FOR GOD'S SAKE! Link's unexplainable attitude had indeed affected her – mentally, she wasn't thinking clearly; and physically, she was feeling numb. It was as if her hero had cast a petrifying spell on her.

Finally, after inhaling deeply, Link concluded his 'incantation'. Butterflies filled Zelda's stomach when the hero paused briefly between his two simple words.

"…Are – Ticklish!"

Immediately, Link leapt to her side and started to move his hands from the ribs to the armpits to the neck, tickling each body part rapidly. Zelda wobbled on the grass like a fish out of water trying to block Link's 'attacks', but to no avail; her out-of-control laughter had turned her into a helpless damsel in distress, and her friend was currently a foe. Who would save her now?

"Link, stop!" Zelda muttered between her laughs.

"Not unless you yield, monster," Link said teasingly.

"Okay, okay…I – give up!"

She would never forget that 'date'; they finished their lunch and watched the sun depart, engaging in conversations animatedly after that. Sid, the owner of Fisherman's Lake, acted like a 'date planner'; he cleared the whole area for the day especially for the young couple and provided free rods for some 'fishy afternoon entertainment'. As their date came to a close, he kissed her goodbye in a polite, friendly way. She couldn't resist blushing of course.

The sulking princess thought of it as their last joyful day together, due to the fact that she ruined the forest boy's life from the moment she threw the Ocarina of Time into her castle's moat. He was so innocent, so oblivious to the legends of Hyrule – it was as if Zelda took advantage of him due to these characteristics, and she had a feeling that Link thought of her as a manipulative she-devil. But in fact, she wasn't. She was just so young, so distressed back then; she didn't mean it, she didn't want it to be that way. Desperate times require desperate measures, she debated against herself, and I was in a tough situation back then…heck, Hyrule was in a tough situation, and he…he was the only hope. Heroes are supposed to sacrifice their lives for the sake of others, right?

But…did he even want to be a hero in the first place?

The young princess shivered at the thought. Did she force Link to become a hero?

I didn't physically force him…mentally maybe? God, I'm so confused. All I wanted was to be with him. It looks like the only thing I can hold on to is our memories.

She wept hysterically, her hands covering her angelic face tainted by these tears of sadness. Then suddenly, ever so suddenly, she heard a boy's voice calling her name harmonically. She stopped crying yet she still covered her face. Was it déjà vu time? Was she just dreaming again?

It didn't matter to her anymore; dream or no dream, she just had to keep her hopes up. It was now or never. It could be now and forever.

She uncovered her eyes slowly, and lo and behold he was standing before her with a worried look on his face.

Her face brightened up with joy as she swiftly embraced him in a hug. Link returned the gesture by curling up his arms around her neck.

"I thought I would never see you again," she whimpered softly in his ear.

"So you…remember everything?" The young maiden released her grip and backed up a little.

"Link…I was foolish back then, I didn't mean to use you in any way for my own purposes. It was a matter of life and death, and…after you got the first two spiritual stones, I knew you could do it; I knew you could save our land…I knew you could save me.

"I was selfish…I don't know why…I didn't even consider your well-being, nor the consequences of time travel. Please Link, forgive me, I didn't mean…to force you into being a hero," she started crying again, cuddling into her hero's chest.

"Shh…it's okay Zelda. I was asking for it actually, I'm even beginning to think that I was born to be a hero."

"Really?" She sniffed, as her weeping began to subside.

"Yeah…I feel that a weight has been lifted off my back already. Maybe I dragged my burden along with me too much it got weaker and weaker," Link said happily. Zelda lifted her head from his chest and looked at him, only to see a disappointed face. Link sighed.

"But this whole 'erased-from-existence' matter," he began to say, "it scarred me in the chest…the only way to heal it is by looking…regaining the trust and love of the people around me."

"So you must leave again," she said in a disappointed tone.

"It's the sad truth Zelda. But please understand; I have to do this."

Zelda nodded slowly, trying to absorb Link's words and understand his decision. She felt sad again. But just when her emotions were getting the best of her, her face suddenly brightened up again as if a light bulb was floating on top of her head. Waving her hands in a random pattern, the princess enchanted a couple of words in a foreign tongue. With a flash which temporarily blinded Link, the Ocarina of Time appeared in the palm of her hands out of nowhere, shining in its azure-blue hue.

"I see you still have some magic left in you, eh?" Link joked.

She grinned. "Please, take it Link, to remember me by."

He did as he was told, tucking the ocarina in his satchel. Finally, he gave her one last hug.

"It's like my quest is half-done already," he whispered.

"Why?"

"I got you back, Zelda…I got you back."

As soon as he released her, she kissed him goodbye on the lips. Shades of crimson covered the blonde boy's cheek.

"Wh-wh-what was that for?" He stammered.

"Remember Fisherman's Lake? An eye for an eye, laddie," she giggled.

"But I kissed you on the cheek back then."

"Well, my kiss is a bonus for being a good boy," she gagged again.

The young lovebirds waved to each other from afar as The Hero of Time rode off on Epona, the afternoon sun filling the land with love and hope.

I'll find you Navi…whatever it takes. His new quest had just begun.

Zelda watched her courageous knight riding off in the distance, smiling to herself. Now she had nothing to do but wait.

Author's Note: thanks for reading everybody. This story got more than 1000 hits according to the stats in my account, and it's all thanks to you. I'll probably post a link to the "lyricized" version of the story once I get it up on another site. Until then, please read my other stories in your free time!