A/N: NEW REVIEWER! Huge thanks to RoseWing-chan (applause and confetti)! Oh wow, I didn't think the story would do good enough to get even one reviewer, but daaamn. Thanks again!

Those last two chapters were really short, right? Let's try and make this one a bit longer. XD

Chapter 9 - Waiting

Zelda has been living at Daisy's care house for seven years. Long years, in fact, but still years. During this time, Ganondorf's rule had gotten more noticeable. The Gorons had all but disappeared, an ominous crimson cloud appearing above Death Mountain where a dark grey one should be. News had been confirmed that the Zora's had disappeared as well when a fisherman discovered Zora's Domain had been covered in ice, King Zora trapped as well. Ruto, princess of the Zoras, had disappeared, and not under the ice either.

Many people had begun to travel to the village, as it was the safest haven for them now as the Hyrule Market began to get infested with Redeads. Shops were set up, businesses restored, albeit far away from home.

All this and yet, no news for Zelda about the whereabouts of her family.

She had grown as well, the charmed Sheikah outfit growing along with her. Daisy had to repair it many times as Zelda ripped it on bushes and nails sticking out of poorly crafted houses, yet she was surprised it hadn't actually fallen into pieces. Either Rauru had placed a durability spell on it, or it was a lot tougher than she had first thought.

She had enjoyed her time at the village, eating the fantastic food made for her by Daisy. A few more people, however, had long since occupied the other spare rooms of the care house, so much so that Daisy had to reject people's pleas for housing every day.

'It's really terrible having to do that,' she'd say after she rejects yet another poor person's request.

The only thing Zelda seemed to enjoy is talk with Dampé, Kakariko's graveyard keeper. He was so optimistic for having such a horrid job, with only a tiny hut to go back to at the end of the day. Those graves depressed Zelda. For such a small village, with so many graves, tragedy must have befalled it quite regularly.

Dampé's face lit up whenever Zelda had walked into the graveyard. Even if he was busy, he would stop and talk to her, even if it was hours. He enjoyed her company, and she enjoyed his.

The perfect gift for a lonely soul.

He smiled again as she walked in, recognizing the 'trademark' Sheikah suit from a distance.

'Dampé!' she shouted across, and ran to where he stood. He couldn't really move that fast because of his humped back, but he still made the effort to shuffle the few feet to meet her.

'Hello, young fellow! Who might you be?'

'Dampé! It's me!' Zelda laughed. He did this every day. She couldn't tell if it was a joke or not, but he seemed to recognize her after a few seconds.

'Oh, Sheik!' He also laughed, and Zelda smiled at his enthusiasm. 'How've you been doing?'

'Oh, usual,' Zelda sighed, 'You?'

'Same. Nothing out of the unusual to report here.'

'That's good.'

'Want a drink? I've got a tea brewing right now, if you'd like.'

Zelda loved Dampé's teas, yet she still struggled with the concept of boiling water with leaves tasting so good. It was relaxing as well.

'That'd be swell,' she smiled.

'Good, good,' he nodded, 'back in a jiff.'

'I'm coming with you,' Zelda said. Dampé turned around, a baffled look on his face. 'Well, I'm not letting you handle boiling water by yourself! Especially with those eye problems.

'You'd help, then?'

'Of course.'

'Okay, then,' he said before shuffling off. This happened every day as well. Zelda was worried he had a mild form of amnesia he wasn't telling her about.

They were back at his hut in a matter of minutes, Zelda pouring out the water into the small cups laid out by Dampé. The water stained brown as it touched the leaves, and Zelda added milk, like always. Dampé kept his black.

'Questions you'd like to ask?' he inquired politely.

'The usual, Dampé. What's happening to Hyrule?'

'Also the usual answer, Sheik. Ganondorf's evil is spreading. Unless it is stopped, it will spread, until all of Hyrule, nay the entire world is overcome,' he paused to take a sip, then set the cup down on the table. Still too hot, Zelda assumed. 'Is this what the goddesses hoped for? For an evil world? I think not!'

'Indeed, Dampé. I still struggle getting to grips with that myself.' She also took a sip. Still too hot.

'Why does anyting happen, Sheik? Why do good people die? Why do bad people flourish while the good die out?'

'It seems that way, doesn't it?'

'Yet it'll get better,' he wagged his finger at her, 'I can feel it with all the fibres of my being.'

Zelda laughed. 'Let's hope so, Dampé!'

'How's the old hotel doing?' He smirked.

'I've told you already, it's a care house!' she also laughed.

'Well I heard you'd gained a couple of 'friends' over the years.'

'No way! That old woman from the Market is really ratty,' she sighed.

Dampé laughed. 'I wonder she feels about you...'

They laughed and joked for hours, the tea cooling within the first half hour enough for Zelda to drink. By the time they had finished, the sun in the sky had fallen until it peeked over the mountains in the horizon.

'Oh, wow. That time already?' Dampé asked, gazing out toward the setting sun. 'Well, my works begins here, Sheik. You could say I'm nocturnal,' he joked.

'I hope you won't be too tired now, Dampé...'

'Oh, pshaw! I'm not that feeble that I can't stay up a few more hours.'

Zelda smiled, counting ten seconds up in her head. When she finished, Dampé's head drooped forward, a snore escaping from his mouth. Zelda laughed quietly.

'Goodnight, Dampé,' she whispered.

Suddenly, after seven years, the landmark which got her into this outfit began to consume her. The feeling that she was being dragged into unconsciousness. The familiarity of it disappeared after all the years, so she was scared at first, fighting the feeling. However, she remembered why this was happening, and just let herself relax, head drooping like Dampé's.

In five seconds, she was away.

A/N: Okay RoseWing and alwaysingirl, here you are! A longer chapter as promised. Keep reading and reviewing, and I'll update as regular as I can. :3