The River Dragon: Hey everyone! Im SOOOOOOOOO sorry for not updating my story during the Winter break. So much was going on that I was barely home long enough to write a paragraph of this story. It was a wonderous break though, I hope you all had a wonderous break too, anyway, here's the next chapter as you all have waited ever so patently! Special thanks to Yuffigal23, Silverpistola, Dragonmaster101, Nonnahs and Robinfan! Dragonmaster101 was bugging me everyday at school, everyone hit him for pressuring themighty River Dragon! Hahahaha! Enjoy!

Chapter 7

Malon rode her mare to Hyrule Castle, hoping Zelda was there and not busy. A guard at the entrance recognized her as she dismounted and took her mare.

"Princess Zelda is in her room." He told Malon who nodded in reply.

She walked up the spiraled stairs to the east tower, the same route she took every time she visited Zelda. She reached the top and knocked on the large wooden door.

"Impa! I told you that I'm fine and I'm not sneaking out!" Zelda said impatiently. Footsteps could be heard approaching the door and it swung open to reveal the princess. Zelda's eyes widened and a large smile appeared on her face. Malon stumbled backwards as her friend hugged her tight.

"It's been so long since I've seen you Malon! Impa wouldn't let me outside to see you and I was worried you were in mad at me for not coming." Zelda blurted out rather quickly. Malon managed to grasp it all and smiled half-heartedly.

Zelda let go and pulled Malon into her room.

"So what have you guys been doing? Nothing too interesting, right? I don't want to miss anything!" She asked. Malon shook her head. No matter what, Zelda was always cheerful which made what Malon had to say that much harder.

Zelda blinked at her unusually quiet friend. "What's wrong Malon? You seem sad." She asked, touching Malon's shoulder.

"Zelda, I have to tell you something I don't think you're going to like. Please forgive me."

Link sighed deeply, boredom taking over him. Now both Zelda and Malon were gone.

"I swear the gods are laughing at me, you're having too much fun little boy! You are supposed to be serious and ruling the Gerudo's! All your friends must leave you!" He said in a very high pitched voice. Epona snorted at this. Link laughed and petted her nose. "Okay, okay! So not all my friends are gone. I didn't forget about you Epona, how could you ever think such a thing?" He laughed.

Epona snorted again.

Zelda looked at the floor as silence washed over the two.

"So he may not know right?" Zelda asked. Malon nodded. "I'm sorry Zelda, I didn't mean it to happen, and I knew you liked him. I shouldn't have done anything." She said, her head bowed as well.

"It's okay. I'm just happy you told me all this. If I was the one who had to say it, I don't think I'd be able to. I'd be too scared." She said, hugging Malon.

'I can't tell her that I was jealous. She's sad and I only told her the not so bad things.'

"Malon, I don't suppose you know if Link came around here a few days ago? Do you?" Zelda asked. Malon looked up and nodded.

"He mentioned that he wanted to come but he was a bit unsure. I think he was worried that you'd get in more trouble if he was caught. Why?" Malon asked. Zelda looked at her window for a moment.

"I think Impa saw him. She said she felt someone's presence outside the other day. And I felt it too." Zelda replied.

Link ran out of a house in Kakariko Village, a small pouch in one hand and his ocarina in the other. Yells could be heard from the house he had robbed and his smile only grew. He played the song to summon Epona and ran down the stairs to Hyrule Field.

He jumped onto her back and nudged her into a run. The rain still poured down in the small village providing coverage from the eyes of the villagers. The sun had just set and the dark helped him further.

'How I love this rush.' He said to himself, his eyes turning to the right to see Hyrule Castle. He nudged Epona to turn towards it and she instantly responded.

The River Dragon: Did you like it? Please review!