Chapter Three: Strong are the ways of friendship

Now think about it. Isn't it odd that the Hero of Time, one of the possessors of the Triforce should seek it out?

Link wondered at that thought and smiled ironically. Fate works in mysterious ways, the Great Fairies being proof of that. He let his mind drift to the great and (scantily clad) Fairies of Hyrule. They seemed so carefree and granting requests was their way of saying, 'I did what you want now go away'

It's not wonder they spend their lives in locked up caves.

At first, the sheer relief at Zelda's permission had sent him into a great euphoria, the kind that came once he had finished that idiotic cryptic underwater maze known to most as the Water Temple. He had been so glad to get out of that place that he avoided water for a week straight. But then he began to think about it. How exactly was he going to find the Triforce?

He wondered around aimlessly in Kakariko, talking to some rare Sheikah that bothered to endure Hyrulian company. One interesting person he met was a boy, about the same age as himself.

Named Sheik.

"So do you know Zelda?" Link asked.

Sheik was with him in Kakariko and they had been spending a lot of time with each other. To say the least, Link wasn't expecting Sheik to be so….

Not like Zelda. No cryptic messages, no vanishing into thin air…he could get used to this, he grinned suddenly. The 'real' Sheik was rather laid back and hated getting into Sheikan rituals such as 'studying'. Apparently the grown-ups there teach you what you need to know about Hyrule. It was a useless system in his opinion. It's better when you tried to actually experience Hyrulian life to the fullest. That was the memory is glued onto you forever. His first Wall Monster was proof of that.

"Yup, though we don't see her often," Sheik said, the gold hair brushing over the tip of his eyebrows, "She lived in our caverns during the time of the Dark Prince," Link winced at that name, "And then afterwards she shifted to her palace." Sheik turned to Link, his red eyes clouded over in puzzlement, "Why?"

"She used to dress up like you," Link quirked, watching the horrified look filter through Sheik's face, "Pulled it off pretty well also."

"You're not serious, are you?" Sheik said, pushing his bangs off his face and saw the neutral look in Link's eyes and huffed, "That explains why I had a death warrant on my head that time."

"You had a death warrant on your head?" Link looked at him in approval.

Sheik snickered, "Yeah. My mom joked that if Ganondorf wanted me dead so badly, he could have me," A mock scowl entered his face, "Such nice family I have, wouldn't you say?"

Link smiled, "I wouldn't know. I've never met my parents. In fact, I didn't even know who they were."

Sheik choked on something (Link wondered vaguely what he could be choking on when he wasn't eating nor drinking anything. Ah, the mysteries of Hyrule)"Really?"

"Uh-huh," Link said shortly. His past was not a topic he discussed with anyone. ANYONE. Not even Saria or Navi or anyone else he had the pleasure of meeting.

"Wow," Sheik mulled over that thought, "I would have expected the Hero of Time to be of some great lineage like Royalty or maybe a Chief Sheikah…"

"Maybe I could be a Goron and I never knew it," Link said jokingly.

"Well you eat like one," Sheik said, watching Link's face turn red in embarrassment and smirked, "Who knows? Maybe you're related to Zelda. Her long-lost brother or something."

Link rolled his eyes, "I hope not. Goddesses help me if I was in ANY way related to her. She'd rip me to shreds!"

"Yeah, considering you'd be in line of the throne instead of her," Sheik was enjoying himself, "Either she'd assassinate you when you're reading your favourite novel or you guys would go and commit incest."

"Sheik, you just grossed me out with that last comment of yours," Link said grimacing "Besides I don't have a favourite novel."

"You don't!" Sheik's ruby eyes twinkled, "Then I'll show you some of mine and you can pick one."

It wasn't a start and he had no idea where to start off on this stupid quest-thing-something. But under the fading twilight discussing what genres of books are the best with someone who doesn't see him any differently than the kid next door, Link felt a burst of gratitude for the Goddesses who gave him something he had needed for the longest time ever; a friend.

"So why exactly brings you to Kakariko?" Sheik said, lounging on his bed which was enough to fill two sleeping Gorons. When Link inquired on the size, Sheik shook it off saying that the Leader of the Sheikah was his aunt so some privileges often came his way.

Link briefed him through (though he left out the part on Ganondorf. Sheikah were no great fans of Ganondorf and even though he trusted Sheik, he didn't trust him enough to tell him the truth. That feeling left a pit in his empty stomach) and Sheik listened quietly, rubbing his chin in deep contemplation.

"Your best shot," He said quietly, "Is to see Sasarala."

Link ran his memory through, "Isn't that the Elder of Kakariko? I remember seeing him before."

Link had met him once before Ganondorf took over. He was a pleasant man, but spoke about weird things like destiny and pearls and so on. To others, he was the picture of respectability, but to Link, he seemed quite mad.

"That's the one," Sheik said nodding and stretching on his large bed, "He should know what you need to do."

"But how does he know? What does he know?" Link queried curiously. He was starting to regret thinking Sasarala was one screw loose. If he could help him, Link was willing to call him a Sage as long as he can do it.

"I've heard," And by the lowering of his voice and conspiratorial tones changing his words, "That he has a way to enter the Dark World and still retain his sanity."

Link's breath caught in his breath. A way to enter the Dark World without losing his sanity? Is that possible? He leaned closer, that sole thought occupying his mind.

"He has an item that you need for the Dark World," Sheik's face edged closer, "But you need to pass a test in order to do it."

Link's shoulders sagged. What is it with people with magical items and ridiculous tests? Can't they just lend it out like normal people? It's not a hard thing to do when you think about it.

"Can I go with him?" Sheik pleaded with his aunt while Link hovered in the background, torn between horror and amusement over the circumstances.

Impa gave him a disagreeable look that could have frozen dragons on the spot, "Absolutely not. Your mother would have a field day if she found out you were going to the Dark World."

"But I'm not going alone!" Sheik whined, his red eyes pulsing, "Link's going on his own!"

"Link doesn't have parents and he already gotten permission from Zelda," There was a sour look in her face, "Plus, he is the Hero of Time and doesn't need you to bother him on his quest," She stated, giving Link a glare that clearly said, 'You-better-not-say-anything-for-your-own-sake'

However, Link never took orders from anyone, least of all Impa.

"I dunno," Link mock-pursed his lips, "An extra hand would be helpful since I can't take Epona with me…" He inwardly grinned at their expressions, Sheik looking angry and Impa looking grim. He could enjoy this, "I think he would be useful."

Impa looking torn between obeying him or facing her sister's wrath and one look at Link's dead-set eyes made her choose, "Fine, he can go. But try and make it back alive, okay?"

Sheik let out a whoop of joy, but Impa turned away. That dead sunken look….had she done that? Link's never looked at her that way… Had something gone wrong?

She turned to face Link who had turned away to congratulate Sheik. But that look…

She must inform the other Sages. They can't lose control of this one as well.

A/N: I don't know why I introduced Sheik. XD It just felt right at the time.