Wow that took a while to edit. Darn you, real life! *shakes fist angrily at the sky* Anywho, I'm sorry for the wait. I'll try to hurry up this last minute editing so I can post it and y'all can review it so I can edit it again! Yay!

On with the story!

Disclaimer: Still do not own the rights to Legend of Zelda. Probably won't change anytime soon.

~7~

-I will teach this to you for when that time comes... The song to return you [here]-

Zelda hollered at him about the whole fiasco for days. "Oooh you are sooo lucky I can't tell Impa what you did! She'd kill you so many times! You are by far the worst Sheikah ever, being seen like that! Talking to her! We're supposed to be in hiding! I should not have wasted my energy in healing you if you're just going to screw everything up! You should have just never gone back there!" Sheik tried not to indulge her. He took her jokes and verbal stabs silently. He was having a hard time understanding it himself.

Why did he take sanctuary at Lon Lon Ranch that night? Why did he reveal himself to her? Why did he speak to her? Was it that he felt like he owed her something? He didn't: he had saved her, she had saved him. The debts were paid. Not that he had needed her help, he probably would have been fine. Maybe. So why did he say he might return? Why did he want to return? Why was he so busy trying to leave that he forgot his bloody shirt?

He was astounded Zelda couldn't sense these thoughts. She would have made his life a living hell if she was actually paying attention. Especially the part about the shirt.

A week after the event, he was running across a moonlit Hyrule Field after a recon mission to Lake Hylia. He was enjoying the cool, soft breeze that caressed the hillsides when it suddenly carried a soft and distant tune. Stopping, he searched for the source. His eyes fell upon Lon Lon Ranch.

"Oh no you don't. You are not going back there." Zelda argued angrily. "You've already made a mess of yourself – don't make it worse Sheik!"

Sheik was confused. She was right. He shouldn't go. But he wanted to go. Why did he want to return? What compelled him to go see that girl that he thought of so often, that called his attention? These thoughts distracted him from reality: the reality that he was running to the ranch.

He barely realized that he climbed over the rough, wooden wall, nor when he landed soundlessly in the grass on the other side. He did realize what he was doing when he saw the girl sitting on the corral fence scarcely twenty feet away.

"You know, she hasn't noticed you. You could just leave and no one would know the wiser." Zelda mentioned.

Sheik knew this. So why did he sneak closer to her?

Malon sang with eyes closed, her face turned up to the moon. She sounded sad. The rims of eyes seemed red, and her face was tear-stained.

Zelda was nearly cursing at him to leave. He ignored her and listened to Malon's song. It was her mother's song, the one she sang to Epona. It was the same one he had hummed to the horse about a month and a half ago. He allowed himself to hum it again.

Malon stopped singing and looked around wildly, trying to find her mockingbird. Her turning caused her to fall off of the fence with a yelp. Sheik caught her easily. "Hello." He said quietly.

The girl opened her eyes with a gasp. "Shadow boy! You came back!"

He helped her stand and gave her a performance bow in jest. She giggled and curtsied. She scanned him with her bright azure eyes. "You're not hurt or anything, are you?"

He shook his head. She smiled and climbed back on the fence. She patted the wood next to her, offering her seat. Sheik climbed the fence before thinking. When did he get so impulsive?

"When you let yourself be fed and taken care of like a dog."

That was unnecessarily harsh. Says the royal princess who can't even save her own kingdom. Zelda mentally clamped her mouth shut.

Malon examined him. "You haven't gone and hurt yourself again, have you?"

Sheik shook his head and viewed the stars. "…So why are you out here?"

Malon's smile melted, and turned her face up to the sky as well. "Honestly? I couldn't sleep. It wasn't nightmares. Things are just… a bit rough. That's all."

Sheik studied her face. He saw tears lingering in the corners of her eyes. "…You've been crying." He stated. She blinked and nodded.

"My Pa lost the ranch. I'm not even sure how. Ingo, our farmhand, is in charge now. He's okay, but he makes me work everything: horses, cows, and cuccos. He only minds the store." Sheik's eyes hardened. He felt like she was lying a little there, but he wasn't sure what she had lied about. Malon sniffed and shook her head. "Life moves on, though. I'll stay with the horses and ranch." Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile and said "So what's your name? I can't call you 'Shadow Boy' forever."

Sheik smirked under his mask. "Actually you could."

She frowned, eyebrows knit together. "Very funny." She said, glaring at his cheeky expression. "It's not fair that you know my name and I don't know yours. Come on, tell me!"

Sheik chuckled. What harm was it to tell her?

"A lot, if Ganondorf ever tries to track you down. You think she could truly keep you a secret from him?"

Sheik suppressed snorting in response. Shut up Zelda. He said as he shoved her consciousness away.

He turned back to the stars and answered Malon's question. "You can call me Sheik, if you dislike 'Shadow boy' so much."

"Sheik – like the Sheikah?" Malon inquired.

"Yes."

"Tell me about the Sheikah." She asked. He faced her curious expression, illuminated by the moon's light.

"They're dead."

She frowned again. "But you're a Sheikah, right? If you are, they how can they be dead?"

He shook his head. "It's best if you believe they're dead."

Malon glowered. "That doesn't make sense."

"Life generally doesn't." He responded lightly. He ignored her pout and returned to gazing at the bright stars above.

"Oi, lover boy. If you're done wooing your lady love, we should be heading back. Impa's waiting for you, remember?"

Sheik swelled with anger at Zelda's snide comment, but jumped off of the fence to go. Malon looked down at him with a sad expression. "You're leaving already?"

He fixed his eyes on hers and nodded. "…I have a job to do."

"Like what?" He turned away, not wanting to lie to her or give away his secrecy. "You certainly like not telling me things, don't you? Whatever. But would you come back sometime? I like talking to you. Especially when you talk back."

"Perhaps." He gave a small salute, ran off and climbed over the wall. He stopped on the top of the wall balanced like a cat to gaze back. Malon waved goodbye from her spot on the corral fence. Sheik jumped down the other side and ran off, hearing her sing again into the lonely night.

Zelda finally decided to speak as he climbed the trail up to Kakariko Village. "I hope you're happy."

Oh, she sounded angry. Sheik feigned ignorance. What do you mean?

"You know what I mean."

And if I don't?

"You. Like. Her. Don't deny it. I can tell, I'm stuck in your mind for Nayru's sake. Not to mention she's a liability to our hidden existence."

That first part was not true. He just liked her company. Rather than arguing, he decided to pick at her raw nerves. As if. By the way, how long has it been since you fled the castle? Five years? I wonder how long the Hero of Time will be gone.

He could sense Zelda's torrent of emotions. After a few minutes, she finally responded meekly. "That wasn't fair"

Life's not fair, Princess. Sheik slowed as he entered the outskirts of the village. He began to sneak into town, sticking to shadows.

"Do you have an idea as to how long he'll be gone?" Zelda sounded wistful.

No more that you, but we'll know when he returns. Sheik entered the graveyard in the back of the town. He walked past the gravestones to reach a particular grave. The gravestone was not any different from the others, but this one was the one he needed. Activating a rune-spell on his hand, he touched the grave. The stone glowed and disappeared, showing a hidden hole and metal ladder. He climbed on to the ladder and slid down the metal as the grave reappeared above him.

He slowed his fall before he hit the bottom. The tunnels were completely engulfed in darkness with no torch to light the way. Closing his eyes and placing a hand on the cold, wet wall, he began walking forward, letting his memory guide him through the familiar path.

He came across a staircase. There were two staircases here, one going up, and one going down. He hugged the left wall and went up. After that staircase was another. Feeling for the right wall, he went up again. Another staircase, down. A fourth staircase, down. Putting his right hand against the wall, Sheik followed the hallway. His shallow breathing and light footsteps were the only sounds in the heavy darkness. The air was cold and thin as he approached an intersection. The intersections were four-way intersections, he remembered. He turned left. Another intersection came, right. Left again, and right once more.

He finally came to a dead end. He traced on the brick wall two letters: B, A. The bricks that he touched glowed dimly. The whole wall glowed lightly and disappeared. After passing it, the wall reappeared.

This new chamber was lit with torches. It was circular, with four doors. The first was the one Sheik came through. The one to his left was a heavy, ancient door sealed with a Sheikah symbol. That was the way to the Shadow Temple, the resting place of the dead. Sheik had entered it a few times, and even though he was of the shadow race, it was still horrifying. The right door had a royal crest on its sealed surface, which led outdoors towards the graveyard and the old, stone platform of shadow. The final door, plain stone and the one Sheik wanted, was across the room. Reaching it, he activated another spell that materialized a golden harp into his hands. He played a simple tune, one the echoed around him. The door faded away, revealing a staircase leading up to the hideout and home of his people.

He entered the first room, the 'war' room as he called it. This was where the Sheikah used to plan their missions. It was an open cavern with a large wooden table and many chairs lining the sides. Sheik remembered a distant time when the room had been full of his people, planning and exchanging information from the Gossip Stones. Now it was empty, cold, and bare, save one person.

Impa was waiting there, sitting before a swath of maps, notes, and papers of all sorts. She looked furious, to put it lightly.

She glared at Sheik with hard, red eyes. "Ooo, you're gonna get it now." Zelda crooned excitedly. Sheik wished he could punch the princess.

"Where have you been?" Impa demanded, her tone threatening.

Impa was very good at reading lies. Sheik knew that it took a lot to get away with something, but luckily, he had practiced extensively. He was ready for this. "Personal recon mission." He said with an unwavering lack of expression.

"Ganondorf has taken over Hyrule, is terrorizing its people, and you took the time for a personal recon trip." It wasn't a question. Sheik knew better than to answer. "Go sleep. Now. Your arm still isn't what it should be, even after doses of blue potion and Zelda's healing. I have a lot of missions for you, and you're falling behind."

Well, she didn't exactly buy it, but she went with it, which was good. Sheik bowed and exited out the door across the room. He followed the hallway to his room. Closing the door, he relaxed soundlessly. Without a word or thought, he collapsed face first on his bed.

"I think she knows Sheik. She always knew what I was doing behind her back. Seeing as she raised you too, I think she knows."

Know what, Zelda? There's nothing to 'know'. His thoughts bit at her like a snapping wolf. She scoffed.

"Whatever. You know as well as I do." She paused long enough to lead Sheik to hope she was done talking. No luck. "Sheik, seriously, why do you keep going back to Lon Lon Ranch? That girl's already a huge liability. Do you realize how dangerous it is for her to know you?"

Sheik turned his head to sigh. I know! He responded angrily. I know. It's just… I don't know, interesting? There's a reason I told her the Sheikah were dead.

"Yeah, but she knows you're Sheikah. It doesn't help you parade around with the symbol on all the time."

It's traditional to bear the symbol, Zelda, and you know that. Sheik thought of his memories of the Sheikah – how each and every single one of them bore the symbol proudly. Even if he and Impa were in hiding, they would not hide their heritage.

"I'm just saying it kinda points out your loyalties to the crown." Zelda responded with her own memories of all the Sheikah guards loyal to the Royal Family. Visions of Sheikah walking freely amidst the palace flashed through Sheik's mind.

How about you take that up with Impa?

Both Sheik and Zelda mentally shuddered at the thought.

"Fine. But going back to the ranch girl-"

Her name's Malon.

"Whatever Lover boy." Sheik blushed in response. "Point is, you're a danger to her by association. If you care about her on any level, you would stop seeing her."

No. Sheik thought immediately.

Zelda huffed. "And why not?"

Because we're friends. Sheik responded. Both he and Zelda paused, wondering where that thought came from. Did he really think they were friends? Could a boy born and raised in the shadows ever have a friend like the ranch girl?

"Sheik…" Zelda sighed softly. "I…I'm not saying you can't be friends. I'm just worried about the safety of both parties. Just… be careful. And we do have a mission – we can't get sidetracked."

I'm fully aware of that Princess. You know my jobs to prepare for the coming hero come first. Zelda felt an unusual wave of loyalty and dedication emanate from Sheik's thoughts. It warmed her consciousness with relief and filled her with gratitude.

"Thanks Sheik. I mean it. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Probably doing it yourself in some awful disguise. Sheik quipped. She scoffed.

"Whatever." She responded mildly. She began to drift away. "For the record?"

Yeah?

"I consider you a very good friend Sheik."

That makes one of us. Sheik responded, his emotions betraying the mutual response he felt.

Chuckling at his sarcasm, Zelda left him alone.

He turned and stared at the ceiling above him. It was stone, being as he was in a hewn cavern. He pulled the mask from his face and exhaled softly. Rubbing his left shoulder, he thought of Malon, how she had nursed him without asking a question. How could someone be that trusting, that compassionate? Was he worthy of such a friend? Maybe not, but if he could, he would like to be her friend.

Sheik turned to his side to sleep. Her song slipped into his head - the one she hummed when she attended his wound. With his last train of thought before drifting off to sleep, he remembered he still needed to get his shirt back from Malon.

Kudos to those who got this chapter's easter egg. ;) Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the next episode of Dragonba- wait, wrong fandom. Stay tuned for the next chapter!