I'm cutting straight to the action here. I'm putting up an Author's Note, so I'll credit all you reviewers there. :3

Living the Legend

Chapter Ten: Separation

Link and Zach were close to Goron City now, heading right where they wanted. They just had to walk a little downhill, turn left, and go a little and they'd be at the entrance. But a sudden tramp of feet stopped them.

"Who are you?" King Byral asked in a sort of hiss. Before Link could answer, Byral pierced Zach with his gaze. "My son, you are found. Come." Zach suddenly grabbed the hand of the Hero of Time. He shook his head, unable to find words. "Zachary, please stop being irritable. Now come here, son."

"Y-you have no right to call me that!" Zach shouted, pressing closer to Link's side. Link took no notice in Zach's behavior. He kept glaring at Byral. "You are not my father, therefore, I am not your son!"

"How can you say that?" Byral roared, causing Zach to cringe and hide his face in Link's tunic. Meanwhile, the Hylian stared intently at Byral with his blue eyes, now glazed over like ice. "Get away from that...that peasant! He has practically brainwashed you!"

"No!" Zach screamed, eyes shut tight.

"This man has possessed your mind, Zachary. I order you to come to my side!"

"No!"

"Zachary, you are toying with my patience. If you do not come here this instant--"

"Sir," Zach interrupted, detaching himself from Link's side. He could not bring himself to call Byral "Father" anymore. "Nothing you do will remove me from my father's side."

Byral stared at Zach for a moment. He let out a nervouce laugh. "Zachary, you jest. I am your father. Not this commoner." Byral pushed the thought from his mind that they looked exactly alike.

"You see, you are the only one who does not know yet," Link spoke for the first time since Byral and his men chanced upon them.

"What in Goddesses' name are you speaking of?" Byral hissed.

"Zach is the son of Link and I," Zelda spoke, surprising everyone with her appearance. Behind her was Malon and the King's two men.

Byral took minutes to digest the thought. Meanwhile, no one spoke, letting him think. Then,

"Zelda--I thought--"

"The night before our nuptials, Link met me in my room...he snuck by everyone, and wanted to say good-bye before I was married away, and left Hyrule. Things got out of hand, but I was going to marry soon. So I pretended the child was ours..." Zelda said, eyes downcast.

"Zelda--how could you--" Byral said, on the border of rage and misery.

"I do not love you, Byral," Zelda spoke firmly. "I never did. I love only Link."

No one spoke. Zach went back to holding Link's hand. Finally, Byral managed, "Zelda, how could you? The night before our wedding?"

"May I remind you, sir, that this was an arranged marriage. I have no desire to marry you, and I am positive that I am the least woman in this world that will make you happy," Zelda spoke firmly.

"I think this matter best be discussed at the Castle," Link announced.

No one said anything, but everyone somewhat agreed, as they all simultaneously turned down the path.

"Zelda, you put me to shame," the King said in a distressed tone.

"I have already felt my guilt, Father, so you need not pressure it anymore," Zelda said icily. "I told you I did not want to marry Byral."

"If you married Link you would have lost everything!"

"No, you just wanted to have an alliance!" Zelda snapped.

"Well, you cannot hold a divorce now," the King ordered. "You will rule your country and Zach will rule Hyrule when he comes of age."

"I don't want to!" Zach cried.

The group was gathered in the dining room. The King sat at the head, with Zelda on his right and Byral on his left. Next to Zelda sat Zach, and Link next to him. Malon sat across from Link, a seat away from Byral. Zach had been forced out of his commoner clothes and into his royal attire.

"You're going to have to, my boy," the King replied to Zach. "The Royal Family's blood runs in your veins."

"Well, so does the Hero of Time's!" Zachary retorted, crossing his arms defiantly.

"There can be a simple way to solve this," Link spoke up. "Everything else goes along as normal. Zelda, Zach, and Byral will return home. Zach will come back to Hyrule. I will go back to the ranch."

Zach threw his arms around Link's waist. "No, no, don't make me go back home! I want to stay here, with you!"

"As much as I'd like to keep you here, my son--" Link began.

"You may be his biological father, but I am Zach's true father!" Byral interrupted.

"As much as I'd like to keep you here, my son," Link continued, in the same tone, "your duty is tied to your parents."

"But you're my father!" Zach whimpered. "I-I don't love King Byral. I never did...he doesn't love me, either!"

"What are you talking about?" Byral stood up.

"You never took time with me to train or play! You scorned me for my left-handed techniquies!" cried Zach, tears pouring down his face. Zelda placed a gentle hand on his back. The boy went back to clutching Link and crying into his tunic.

The Kind said, "But Link, I must ask you, how could you take my grandson away from me?"

Link didn't look startled for being accused of such an action. "I didn't bring him with me. He came with me. He wanted to."

"That's right," Zach looked at his grandfather. "I ran away. I met him in Hyrule Field; he saved me from the stalchildren."

"Why didn't you bring him home?" the King asked Link.

"I couldn't deny his wishes of longing for an adventure," replied Link. "He is my son, and I love him dearly."

"It is settled, then," the King cried. "Zelda, Byral, you two will return home tomorrow with Zachary. Link, you may go back to Lon Lon Ranch with Malon."

"No!" Zachary screamed. "I want to stay here in Hyrule!"

The King ignored the Prince and called some servants. "Make sure these three are ready to leave by tomorrow morning."

Zach tore away from the group and ran out to the courtyard. He stopped by the fountain, gazing at the reflection. He did look a little like Link, minus the Royal garments. Zach sighed and sat by the edge, playing with the water. He was going to leave Hyrule, and his father...

"Zach..."

The Prince turned to see Zelda by his side, tears in her eyes as well. "I'm so sorry, Zach. I never told you the truth."

"Why?" Zach said, still looking at the water. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was afraid..." Zelda was reluctant. "I was afraid you'd be mad at me...and you would hate Byral..."

"What's wrong with that?" Zach snapped suddenly. "He doesn't even truly love us."

"I know...I'm so sorry you were born into such a mess..." Zelda embraced her son.

Soon a third figure joined them.

"This will be our last moment with all of us together, as a family..." Link spoke.

"No..." Zach said, not wanting to move from the entanglement of his mother and father's arms.

They sat like that for what seemed like a long time. Finally, the King came out.

"Zachary, you must retire now."

"No!" Zach cried. He pulled closer to his parents.

Zelda stood up, first to leave. Zach felt more tears coming as his mother moved inside the castle. The King stared at Link and Zach sadly.

"As much as I'd hate to separate father and son, I must. Your duty lies to your kingdom, Zachary. Come."

At the word "Come", three servants came forth and took the boy. Zach immediately began to struggle.

"Let me stay! Let me stay with Father! No! Link!" Zach cried frantically as Link became farther and farther away, just standing at the fountain and watching Zach be carried away. Soon Link was entirely gone; the servants closed the door.

Soft rays of sunlight streamed into Zach's room. The Prince opened his eyes, momentarily forgetting about the awful night. He looked about him before getting up. But something at the foot of his bed caught his eye. It was a sack with a piece of parchment pinned to it. Zach pulled the sack up onto his bed and read the parchment.

Zach,

We never really got to say good-bye. I'm sorry to let you leave Hyrule, and I regret it deeply. I would have done anything in my power to kepe you with me, but you know that is not allowed, as you are a Prince. Use your wisdom and courage to get through, and one day, you'll come back to Hyrule, not as a Prince, but as a King. Keep the weapons I gave you--they're in the sack.

We'll see each other again. I promise.

Your father,

Link

Tears streamed down the boy's eyes as he read the note over and over again. He wiped them hastily away and proceeded to get ready. He was glad he had convinced the servants not to throw away his tunic, and put it on. He dressed exactly as he had only almost a week ago. Taking the sack, he hung it around his back, then looked out his window. The horses were getting ready for departure. Byral stood by one, talking to a servant. Zelda was nowhere to be seen. Zach took a deep breath, and looked at the ranch in the distance. Link was probably there, working hard beside Malon. Zach wiped his eyes again and prepared to meet King Byral outside.

The End

I have decided to write a sequel. OH YES! That should make all you peeps happy, ja? Okay, sorry for the weird language, but you all kept "crying" in your reviews, so I couldn't help it...