"Link, give the Ocarina to me… as a Sage, I can return you to your original time with it."

His chest began raising and falling rapidly as his hand twitched with the sacred instrument. Link didn't understand. Go back? She wanted him to go back? Back into a time where nothing would ever be the same again? Link couldn't be who he once was if he went back. He would know how everything would play out, he would know of a time where Hyrule fell into Ganon's grasp. All his friends would turn into Sages, or, well, were already Sages.

How could he look at them the same way again?

How would he go about his days knowing that information?

Tears welled up in his eyes as Zelda took the Ocarina from him, getting into position to play the Song of Time one final time. Link wanted to scream, beg her not to play it and allow him to continue on as an adult in the current flow, allow him to help her rebuild her Kingdom or maybe even help her find somewhere else to live. But he didn't.

Instead he watched. He watched as she began playing, magic flowed around him to summon him back to the Temple of Time where he would put the sword in the stone, sending him backwards one final time. He knew once that happened, he'd head to the castle and reveal Ganon's intentions to the royal family and would stop him from ever taking over Hyrule, from completing the Triforce.

No one would remember his heroic duties as the Hero of Time. He'd vanish from this timeline and nobody would remember him. This entire journey was for nothing in the end.

Why did he even bother saving Hyrule if he was just going to get sent back? Why did he bother helping when they wouldn't remember him?

Blinking, he found himself back in the Temple of Time… as a child. His shoulders shook as he forced himself to stop the tears from following. At least he still had Navi, that was a plus. When he turned to his best friend, he frowned as he was met with nothing but emptiness.

Where had she gone?

"Navi?" Link called out, flinching at his voice. "Navi, where are you?"

Silence.

Nothing.

His heart pounded as he rushed outside, not bothering to look back as the Door of Time closed itself to hide the Master Sword away. He glanced around and felt himself getting frustrated when he still couldn't find Navi. Where was she? Was she not supposed to be with him until the end?

Shaking it away, Link headed off towards the castle, ignoring everyone and everything as he snuck in like it was old news. No guard caught him since he knew the route to go, they didn't even hear the rustling of the bushes or steps onto the wooden steps or if they did, they didn't do anything about it.

Walking into the garden, Link's eyes fell on a much younger Zelda who was staring into the window. Ganon's figure came into his view and he scowled, feeling the urge to kill him right where he stood but he held back, knowing there was no way he could take him in his ten year old body compared to the body of his seventeen year old self who could easily take him on. This time Ganon wouldn't get the chance to kill the King and destroy Hyrule.

He'd be dead soon enough.

"Princess Zelda," Link called out knowingly and she jumped, turning with shock. He ignored it as he bowed. "I have news about that man meeting with your father."

Zelda swallowed, eyes darting back and forth. "You do?"

"Yes." Link walked up, glaring into the window, not flinching away when Ganon turned his head slightly to stare at him. The older man blinked but chose not to do anything about it. "He's going to kill your father and take over Hyrule. He seeks the Triforce. His eyes only see power."

Zelda gasped as she paled in color. She was grateful for his boy's advice but how did he know this?

It wasn't like she doubted his claim. Ganon gave her a horrible feeling despite what her father said about the ally he claimed to have in the Gerudo. But it was the fact how strongly the boy in green said his statement. How he didn't flinch when Ganon met his eyes in the window rather he stared at the man in challenge, daring him to come and fight him. However the boy managed to gain his information she wouldn't question it. She had a feeling she didn't want to know the answer.

Link waited for Zelda to reply, but when she didn't, he turned on his heels and began walking away. He knew she would handle it. She always handled it. Besides, he still had a slight grudge against her for sending him back in time.

Impa stood where she did, eyes narrowed in wonder at him. Link stared back, unflinching.

"I was just going," Link answered the silent question. "I only came here to tell her some information about the man the King is meeting today."

"Sir Ganon?" Impa said.

Link bristled. Ganon had a title, of course he did. "Yes, about Sir Ganon."

Impa nodded slowly taking in the child's appearance, her eyes darted towards her princess before landing back to Link. "Well, let me take you out of here. The guards won't question it if you're with me."

As the pair left, Zelda watched with growing concern and wonder. Concerned for her father's life and Hyrule, wonder about the boy. She was sure she had seen him before, hadn't she?

Ties That Bind Us

Zelda didn't waste time as she rushed into the Throne room, ignoring the way her father glared at her interruption. Ganon frowned in obvious displeasure at the young princess while everyone else whispered amongst themselves. What was the princess doing here?

Wasn't she supposed to stay away from this meeting?

And wasn't Impa supposed to be watching her like always?

The King frowned heavily as he leaned back in his throne. "Zelda, my darling, what are you doing here? I thought I told you not to interrupt daddy's important meeting with the King of the Gerudos."

"Daddy, this man's evil!" Zelda pleaded as she stopped in front of her father. "He's plotting to take over Hyrule and the Triforce."

Ganon's jaw dropped. How did she find out?

Gasps were heard and his head whipped to the sides, feeling himself starting to sweat. The King looked at him and then back at his daughter. Ganon knew he wasn't sure who to believe; his beloved daughter or the man he was allies with. The Gerudo hoped to the Goddesses he would be trusted, it would make things so much easier for the Coup.

"Where did you learn this?" The King asked.

Zelda shifted where she stood. "An informant came. They, uh, were looking for you but when they learnt that you were holding a meeting with Ganon, they asked me to tell you."

"An informant? Well, remind me to seek them out, darling."

Ganon bristled. "Your majesty!" He stood up roughly in disbelief. "Are you seriously believing her, a mere child, over my word? To which I haven't even defended myself from these claims?"

"It was an informant," coughed a nobleman, "and whenever they bring information, it's typically correct information. I highly doubt they would start sending out false information now of all times."

"I never really trusted that Gerudo," added another.

"Indeed. His words are far too honeyed for my tastes."

The King nodded in agreement, standing up as he pushed his daughter behind him to stare at what was once his ally. Now Ganon was nothing but his enemy. He could see how Ganon was shaking in his boots at the distrust; the sweat on his forehead as he tried to think of something to say to manipulate them onto his side. Such words once worked on them but not anymore. Everything that man had ever told him was a lie, he knew that now.

"King of the Gerudos," The King said with his voice rising, filled with authority. "King of Thieves, Ganondorf Dragmire, you are no longer an ally for the plotting coup of Hyrule and to take the Triforce for yourself. You are sentenced to death and the leadership of the Gerudos falls to Gerudo, Nabooru." He waved his hand at his most trusted knights sternly. "Take him away. We shall decide on his death day later. Lock him up in the toughest of cells."

"Yes, your majesty!"

Ganon snarled as he allowed the knights to cuff his hands behind his backs, pointing their spears at him as they led him away. He sent one final dark glare towards the future queen, making her shiver. She would rule the day for this crime. She wouldn't get away so lightly for stopping his plan.

He would get that damn throne one way or another along with the Triforce.

He would become the King of Darkness!

Ties That Bind Us

Link stared out at the field, debating if he should go back to the forest. He knew everyone would be happy to see him back, even Mido who pretended to hate him with a burning passion. Yet without Navi at his side he doubted he would be allowed in, especially since he wasn't a true Kokiri like he once believed. A Hylian in Kokiri Forest, that was the joke of a lifetime. He would one day be kicked out because he grew up and the others didn't.

He could go off and search for Navi but that would mean leaving Hyrule. While that did bring joy to him, he didn't know if he would actually find his beloved friend again.

Maybe the Great Deku Tree would be able to help him?

It was tempting and Link knew he would be able to survive outside of Hyrule; he had his sword and shield with him. He could get far and could get close in finding Navi, but what was the point? She would just leave him when he was old enough. Why would she stay with a non-Kokiri anyway? She probably left to avoid the humiliation.

Where could he go so that he would be accepted?

Kakariko would probably accept him, but he doubted people would let him live with them. The Gerudos wouldn't. The Zoras wouldn't either nor would the Gorons, well the two races would accept him but he didn't know if he could survive their different temperatures and ways. He didn't even know if he could survive years with Princess Ruto, who was his self proclaimed fiancée. Link wouldn't count living in Hyrule Castle Town as an option.

There was only one other place…

Link set off before he could even properly decide. He sent a silent apology to Navi for not following his urge to find her. But if she had left, then it was clear she didn't want to be found or near him anymore, right? She had fulfilled her quest sent by the Great Deku Tree which set her free to do whatever she desired.

She clearly desired to get away from him and she did.

"Fairy boy?"

Link glanced up to see Malon staring at him with concern. He hadn't realized what he was feeling was written all over his face. "Hey," he waved. "Do you think I could stay here? I can help out with the horses."

Malon wanted nothing more than to get to know him, be with him, be his friend. She also knew there was something more to his sudden decision to come ask this. Whether he wanted to talk about it was entirely up to him.

"I can ask my dad about it but I'm sure he'll let you stay," Malon smiled reassuringly. "I think we need more workers here anyways. Ingo never wants to talk and when he does, he's always talking about taking over the Ranch. It'll be nice to have someone my age around."

"Thanks, Malon."

Link followed as she headed towards the house, standing behind her confidently as she woke up her father to talk about the possibility of him helping out until he got enough money to be on his own. Talon eyed him before shrugging tiredly, not really caring if there was another extra pair of hands on the Ranch. As long as he got work done, he was happy.

"We'll have to clean out the guest room," Talon yawned. "But you got yourself a deal, kid. Think of it as a thanks for waking me up at the Castle. You start work tomorrow with Malon."

Link gave a weak grin. "Thank you sir."

Talon yawned again as he headed up the steps to clean out the guest room, the kids following in order to help him out knowing he probably wouldn't do a thing. Once that was done and everyone was in their respective rooms for the night, Link could only stare up at the ceiling.

This was his new life.

A Rancher instead of a Hero.

A peaceful life compared to a dangerous, risk taking life.

A life he could enjoy that had some people remembering him, even if it was just as a Rancher who worked with the family of Lon Lon Ranch. He'd take anything if it meant he got remembered instead of forgotten.