A/N: Hey, I'm really sorry that this is almost a week late. It was a crazy week, but I'll try my best to update within a week from now on. As an apology, I'm uploading two chapters this week. This was all supposed to be one chapter, but it kind of got away from me. Anyways, I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think.
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Saria met us about halfway back to help direct us back to the village. Apparently, she was connected enough to the whole forest that she could feel the evil presence being exterminated. We told her about the fire and asked if we should do something about it, but she just gave a small smile and said, "Sometimes the forest benefits from the cleansing of a fire; it gets rid of the excess, allowing new life to grow. Besides," she continued as she felt the air around her, "it should rain in an hour or so. There's a very small chance it will spread close enough to village to be of concern." It was a little off-putting to hear that kind of insight from a girl who looked as young and innocent as her.

As soon as we made it back, Saria immediately sent for a healer to tend to Trenton's arm. I felt bad when a bleary-eyed Kokiri stumbled towards us, obviously having just been woken up, but Trenton's arm was further torn and dirtied from falling a few times, so he needed treatment as soon as possible to avoid infection.

I tried to object when he moved on to my injuries. After all, I just had the scratches on my faces and a few minor burns. However, my objections were just met with comments about how I needed to stop being so pigheaded.

"Besides," Landon said, "if the healer doesn't take care of those scratches now, they might permanently scar your pretty face. And Link," he looked me dead in the eye with a false seriousness, "think of all the pretty girls you would disappoint."

He danced out of my reach as I tried to hit him. That earned me a scowl from the healer. "I used to know a Kokiri by your same name."

"Really? What was he like?" I asked faintly amused. I knew exactly what the other Kokiri thought of me or, well, my younger self.

He straightened his green hat while thinking about his answer. "He was a stubborn boy, always in the middle of trouble it seemed." Yeah, that was exactly the answer I was expecting. "But he had a good heart. He was always doing things to help other people. Not that he let anyone know it was him. If someone had a problem that he overheard, he would go about quietly trying to fix it, expecting and receiving no thanks. He even saved the The Great Deku Tree, which means he saved all of us since we're protected by The Great Deku Tree's magic."

"He never thought anyone noticed," Saria commented, her voice casual but her eyes staring intensely at me, "but we did."

"Yeah," the healer continued, not aware of Saria's intent, "maybe not all at once, but after he left and we started comparing stories of what we saw him do, well, let's just say, he's been sorely missed." He finished with me and moved on to Landon.

I was completely taken aback. How could he say that? I never belonged here, never fit in. That punk Mido had said as much my whole time here, and he was right. I'm Hylian, not Kokiri, so they should be glad I left. Okay, I guess killing the oversized bug in The Great Deku Tree could have earned me some points, but I thought only Saria knew about that. After all, Mido went around and told everyone that I tried to kill it. Huh, I kind of forgot how much I hated Mido.

"So why did he leave?" I asked, unable to help myself

Saria gave me a pained look, but she bit her tongue. "Well, I can't know for sure as I haven't seen him since, but it's almost like he outgrew this place. I know that sounds crazy since we all stop aging physically, but, I don't know, it seemed like he had a destiny outside the forest." He shook his head as he finished patching Landon up. "Then again, it has been many years; time could be skewing my memory. Anyways, it's late, and if you would excuse me, I'd like to go back to sleep."

We thanked him, and he left for his hut. Saria then directed us to the guest quarters where we could stay the night. Landon and Trenton trudged to their beds and collapsed on them, falling asleep instantly. I set my pack down next to a bed, but I wandered back outside and sat down next to the river. By the moon's light I could make out all the different areas I spent my childhood in.

Soft steps sounded behind me, and then Saria sat down beside me. "Do you remember playing on those floating pieces of driftwood?" I asked her, pointing across the river. "We used to bet on who could use those to make it to the other side without falling in."

"Yeah I remember. You should have won almost every time since you could jump the furthest, but you would get too excited and jump before you had good footing. You made some excellent face-first flops that way."

I laughed at the memory. If I was good at anything when I was younger, it was falling. I couldn't even count all the times I had literally fallen into trouble.

"Link," she started softly, "you really should get to bed. You have a long journey tomorrow."

I knew she was just thinking of me, but I couldn't help the bitterness that coated my reply. "Yeah, after all, staying here any longer than necessary isn't an option. I don't belong, so it would just be better if I left."

"You know that isn't what I meant. But if we're being honest, no, you don't," she countered, surprising me with her bluntness. "As much as I would like for you to stay, there are far greater things waiting for you in the outside world."

"Ha, there's nothing great waiting for me. Just a lot more places where I don't belong. My Kokiri-raised, Hylian-born status makes sure of that."

Her blue eyes filled with compassion. "Link, you have an amazing destiny if you will just accept it. Sheik told me-"

I grabbed her arm and cut her off. "Sheik? How do you know Sheik?"

She looked troubled at my tone, and tried to pull away, but my hold was firm. "He came by a few days ago and told me you would be arriving shortly. That's why I wasn't surprised to see you. He said he'd meet you just outside the forest to fulfill his end of the bargain after you finished your goal."

"Did he tell you anything else? Do you know who he is? Do you know what he wants with me?" I asked desperately.

She looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry, he didn't say much. I saw him for the first time a couple weeks ago when he came in the forest and asked about our troubles. Then he went into the woods. When he came back out, he said he'd send someone to come take care of it soon and left. Then he came back a few days ago and said you would be coming and that I should let you know that he would be waiting after you succeeded."

Disappointed she didn't have more information, I released my hold on her. She grabbed my own arm, however, and looked me directly in the eye. "I know he seems strange, Link, but I think you can trust him. At least listen to what he has to say and give him a chance." I nodded and we sat there a few minutes more before I stood and walked away, deciding to at least try for some sleep. I knew Saria was right about one thing: tomorrow would be a long day.

We left after a small celebratory breakfast the Kokiri held to thank us for ridding the forest of evil. It felt nice to be riding Epona again, after our slow progress through the Lost Woods. The nice slow rhythm of her trot was very relaxing. Maybe if I just rested my eyes for a moment . . .

"Are we supposed to be going anywhere in particular?"

Landon's sudden question caused my eyes to rip open and my head to whip up. I shook my head a little to try and focus. Delaying sleep always seemed like such a good idea until the next morning. "What?"

"I know Saria said Sheik would meet us outside the forest, but did she say where?"

"No."

"Then how are we supposed to find him? Where is he?"

"Here," a voice from behind us called. I turned as far as I could on my horse to see Sheik standing where our horses had crossed not thirty seconds prior. I guess appearing in front of us wouldn't have been mysterious enough?

I jumped off Epona, too impatient to turn her around, and approached him quickly. "Alright, we defeated the spirits in the woods like you wanted. Now it's your turn to give us the explanation you promised."

"And payment?" Trenton asked eagerly as the two of them reached my side.

Sheik ignored him and focused his blood-red eyes on me. "Your end is not yet fully complete. I need a report of what happened in the woods first. How you defeated the Poes. Then I will explain."

I wanted to grab him by the throat and demand he tell me now, but I gave a quick recount of our journey with Trenton and Landon filling in occasional gaps. He kept his face neutral throughout the whole story except at the end when he shook his head slightly and muttered something under his breath. I couldn't be sure, but I thought I caught the words "lots of work."

"Alright," I said, "no more delay. It's your turn."

After a couple of seconds of just staring at me, making me want to scream, he finally started talking. "This was a test meant to confirm our suspicions. It did."

"Stop being so maddeningly vague," I cried in frustration. "What do you mean by 'our suspicions', who are you, and why do you have her ocarina? That's all I want to know. It's super simple stuff."

He raised an eyebrow at that last statement, but continued anyway. "Fine, but you might want to make yourself comfortable; there's a lot to explain."

I remained as I was.

"Ever since Ganondorf's siege, there has been a very small group of people, myself among them, preparing and plotting to dethrone him. After all this time, our plans are finally almost ready to put into motion. My part involved testing you. Knowing her ocarina would motivate you, it was given to me by Princess Zelda herself."

He was interrupted by a collective gasp from the twins. They both looked at me with wide eyes. "The princess? The friend you were worried about was the princess! I thought you were basically a street-rat when you were younger."

"I was, but I can explain later." I turned back to Sheik. "How do I know you're really a friend of Zelda's? You could have stolen the ocarina."

He rolled his eyes, but he pulled out the instrument in question and started to play a familiar tune. A tune I had only ever heard in one place: Zelda's garden. "Only members of the royal family and their most trusted associates know that song. Is that evidence enough for you?"

I nodded my head. "So what you said is true? Zelda's alive. She's really okay?" I held my breath, waiting for him to cruelly rip away my newfound hope.

"It's true."

My relief was greater than anything I had ever felt. The burden I carried with me for the past seven years was finally removed from my shoulders. It felt as if a weight had been lifted from my very heart. "How? I mean, I heard rumors that she escaped from the castle before Ganondorf could take her, but I could never find anything definitive. And believe me, I looked. How have I not heard anything since then if she's really still alive?"

"Impa received a warning right before he attacked. She used the time to grab the princess and a horse, and they were able to flee just in time. You haven't heard anything about her because, out of necessity, Princess Zelda has become very proficient at disguising herself. She has spent this time preparing herself in both mind and body, but she now believes her days of waiting in the background are over. She wants to start her attack on Ganondorf. That's why I'm here; she sent me."

"Hold on," Trenton cut in, "as strange as it is to hear, I can accept what you said about the princess being alright this whole time. But what does she want with Link? Even if they were friends, why would she go to the trouble of sending you to find and test him? And test him for what?"

Even though I couldn't see Sheik's mouth, the look he gave me made me sure that he was smirking. "Interesting. So you haven't told them?"