Author's Note: WOW! I was not expecting people to actually read this not even a day after I published the first chapter! Thank you guys SOOO much!

I don't own The Legend of Zelda, or any of the other characters in it :(

Chapter Two

A day had passed since Link had left Zelda. She was greeted with open arms by the Sheikah people, their jubilation that their princess had finally returned filled them all with great joy. Many of the villagers went to their homes or shops to begin their work with some extra flair. Rola began selling her fire arrows at half price, Cado even cooked one of his Cuccos, and Lasli let fireflies out of her home, as the entire village reveled in the light they provided when the evening hours rolled in. All seemed right in the little village.

However, late that night, when all was still, and only the crackling of the fire outside the Impa's house disturbed the peace, Princess Zelda was sitting on the cliff that housed the Ta'Loh Naeg Shrine, overlooking Kakariko Village. Thought the festivities in the village had lightened her mood, the events of day before still clouded her thoughts. Even at dinner with Impa and Paya, she barely touched her food, wondering what she would do without Link, why he had left, and if she would ever see him again. Only now did she realize that she had truly enjoyed his presence, and that maybe she should have let him be himself.

Wait a second, she thought. Why should I have regretted what I asked? Why did he have to be so strange, to be social and cheerful, then suddenly have a mood swing and become reclusive. Why—

"Zelda?" a weary voice called, breaking Zelda from her thoughts. "Are you up here?"

The frustrated woman turned to see Impa, still in her night clothes, hobbling up the hill that led to the shrine.

"Impa!" Zelda exclaimed. "What are you doing, climbing up here?"

"I could ask you the same thing, my dear Princess," Impa replied, a knowing smile appearing on her face.

"Umm… I simply could not sleep, Impa. I felt that I needed a breath of fresh air. I am not used to not having to constantly keep Ganon in check."

"Lying was never your forte, Zelda," Impa chuckled, as the Princess's face flushed, though she kept her composure. "But never mind that, dear. I have a question."

"What is it, Impa?"

"Where is Link, Zelda?"

Zelda froze. A sea of emotions flooded her face: shock, anger, but finally sadness.

"I… I..." She stammered.

"You what, Zelda?"

"I don't know, Impa!" Zelda cried, as her composure broke down, and tears began to fall. "He left me yesterday morning!"

"He left you?" Impa questioned, not believing what she was hearing.

"Y-yes, Impa!" She replied, her voice cracking. "When we were setting off from a stable to get here yesterday, he had acted strangely. H-he was joking around at first, but then he started to close up, and he became as reserved he was 100 years ago. Eventually, when we reached the entrance to Kakariko, I asked him why he acted like that, and then he said that he had to follow his "knight's oath," so then I told him that I was releasing him from his duty as my knight, and that he could go along with me only if he pleased, and then he…. And then he… he…"

"Oh, my, Zelda!" Impa replied, shocked. "I never thought he would be one to act like that. Don't worry my dear. I am sure that he hasn't strayed far."

"Even so, why would he want to come back? He only did this because of the oath! I was simply a target, and I never meant anything to him. Why should ever return to us?

"Because he is your friend, Zelda."

"Is he really?! Would a friend act like that? Would a friend abandon you when need them the most?!"

"Zelda… Please don't worry about it now dear. Let us go home. It is not good for you to stay up so late."

"Very well, Impa. Maybe I will feel better about this in the morning."

Impa took Zelda by the hand, who was now starting to feel the fatigue of sleep deprivation. As the two of them worked their way back down to the house, the wind picked up, blowing the princess's hair all over the place. When the duo reached the house, however, Impa stopped. Her eyes widened as she noticed a gash on her front door. The Triforce on the back of Zelda's hand began to glow, waking her up. Both she and Impa turned around, the hair on the back of their necks rising.

Standing in front of the Goddess Statue in the middle of the village was a Yiga Clan Blademaster. By his side, both Cado and Dorian, the guards that stood outside Impa's home, were on the ground, unconscious.

Before either of them could do anything, the Blademaster lunged at Zelda and Impa. His blade held high above his head as he rushed at surprising speed, Zelda closed he eyes, as she waited for the blade to pierce her flesh.

Suddenly, the sound of sizzling and an object rushing through the air graced Zelda's ears, and before she could open her eyes, a loud boom echoed, throwing both Impa and Zelda back up the stairs.

As Zelda were staring at the sky, her ears ringing, she saw the Blademaster screaming like a banshee as he flew over them, then the sound of something hitting some rocks, a loud crack, and a splash as the Blademaster fell into the pond underneath the house. Zelda sat up, and noticed that Impa seemed to have been knocked out from the explosion. She looked out at the village, and saw that the ground in front of the house seemed to have burned up. Then, the familiar sound of wind rustling as red paper slips appeared in the air, and the Blademaster fell from the sky. He landed on his feet, but he was soaking wet, and his left arm was bent at a peculiar angle, as he dragged his Windcleaver behind him. He raised his sword once more, preparing to strike, but before he did so, His body jerked forward, and something protruded from his chest.

It was hard to tell at first, but blood was spurting from the newly formed hole in his chest, and a diamond-shaped thing was jutting out from where the Blademaster's heart would be. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the diamond shape disappeared. The blade master dropped his sword, and fell forward with a sickening thud. As she tore her eyes away from the Blademaster's body, she noticed a shadowy figure standing before her. His head was underneath the cowl commonly seen on a Hylian Tunic, and his shirt seemed familiar. However, what gave him away was the item in his hand.

The Master Sword glinted in the moonlight, it's tip covered in blood. The man holding it twirled it in his hands, and in one smooth motion, sheathed it in the scabbard on his back, shedding it of the blood that had been all over it just a moment before. The bow on his back seemed to have just been used, with a bomb arrow sticking out of his quiver. He looked up at the wide-eyed princess, and though the feature of his face were hidden by the shadows, his blue eyes pierced the darkness like a ray of light.

"Link?"