A/N: Again, big thanks to alwaysingirl and RoseWing. Yep, alwaysingirl that was exactly my reaction when I saw the extra reviews. Though a bit more excited X3

Also, RoseWing, I am honoured that you're reading my fic. In all honesty, I didn't think it will do all that well, but your reviews motivate me to continue. Thanks!

By the way, see if you can spot the Pokemon reference in the dialogue. :3

10 chapters landmark! Let's make it a good 'un.

Chapter 10 - Notes

Zelda awoke in a place she immediately recognized. There were waterfalls coming from nowhere falling into an endless crevasse. She lay on a raised Triforce crest, with six coloured crests surrounding it. Water surrounding these crests too, running into the crevasse where the waterfalls flowed.

'Hello, Zelda,' a somewhat familiar voice greeted her. On the yellow crest stood a large man in bright yellow robes, a white beard covering the bottom half of his face.

'Hello, Rauru.'

'The time has come, Zelda. He awakens.' He stood aside to let Zelda see what exactly what he was talking about. Laying on a raised platform was Link, tossing about in sleep, the familiar fairy on the floor next to him. The only thing that had changed was his height. Zelda knew it had been seven years since she last spoke to Link, granting him the Song of Time. Had he been sleeping all this long? Was such a feat possible? Only the goddesses know.

'His power has been fully opened. He is now the Hero of Time.'

'So what happens now?'

'He shall awaken from his sleep very soon. But now I have an important quest for you.'

'What is it?'

'Here,' Rauru handed her a small harp from inside his robe. It was beautifully adorned with all kinds of colours, bright and immediately eye-catching. It was pristine, and the strings glowed subtly in the low light.

'I... It's lovely, Rauru,' Zelda smiled.

'It is an extremely special harp. With this harp, you will aid Link in his mission.'

Zelda looked at the instrument in disbelief. 'How?'

'I shall teach you six songs. With these, Link will be able to travel to important places as he wishes. This will help him dramatically in his quest.'

'What is his quest exactly?'

'Somewhere, in the land of Hyrule, there exist five people. These people are actually sages, like myself. Link must awaken each of these sages, and they will help him defeat Ganondorf once and for all.

'There are, in total, six sages. The Sage of Light, Sage of the Forest, Sage of Fire, Sage of Water, Sage of Shadow, and the Sage of Spirit. Each of these are dotted around Hyrule, yet do not know of their responsibilities. That is why Link must awaken each for them to grasp their position as a Sage.'

'Okay, Rauru.'

'Okay, the first you must teach to him is the Minuet of Forest. Listen closely.'

He paused as he brought out a harp of his own. Then, he expertly flicked his fingers over the strings, the happy tune cleanly ringing off the unseen walls. Zelda watched in awe, the simplicity of the song making it immediately catchy and memorable.

'Think you can do that?'

Zelda hoisted the harp between her shoulder and cheek, like Rauru had done. 'I'll try.'

She plucked some of the strings to get acquainted with the notes, then began playing the simple six-note melody, her bandaged fingers flitting along the strings with relative ease. Her father had always told her she had a good ear for music, and it showed as she played the song. She hardly missed a beat, and the timing was spot-on to how Rauru had done it. As she played the room became shrouded in a green light, which both Rauru and Zelda ignored. When she finished, the room returned to its usual colourless black.

'Excellent. You really have an ear for music,' Rauru acknowledged. Zelda smiled. With those regal garments and the beard, he was the almost spitting image of her father.

'With this song, you must make haste to the Sacred Forest Meadow. There you will find the Forest Temple, where the first sage sleeps. The Sage of the Forest.'

Link began to toss even more, and Zelda hadn't noticed up to that point.

'He is beginning to wake. Zelda, take the harp and hurry to the Kokiri Forest!'

'Yes, Rauru. Thank you.'

The feeling something was dragging Zelda into unconsciousness happened again, and Zelda took a last look at Link before falling to the ground, dead to the world.

XxX

She woke up in the same place she was when she first fell unconscious. Dampé was snoring in the chair opposite her, obviously still too tired to work. If the moon was any indication, she had been asleep for at least two hours. Stretching her back out, she realized what this meant for her. She was leaving Kakariko behind, and all the friends she had gained over the seven years.

Worst of all, she had to say goodbye to Dampé, who had been her closest friend since she first set foot in the village.

She looked at Dampé one more time. He snored obliviously, not aware that Zelda had awakened. She rested her hand on his shoulder, and he snorted softly. Knowing she would have to leave behind this, all she ever loved. Him, Daisy, Enyd, everyone. How would they react when she says she will be leaving.

'Sheik?' Daisy's voice called out softly to her from the entrance to the graveyard. Zelda stood and walked over to the voice's origin.

'There you are, miss! Come on, I saved leftovers for you at the house,' Daisy rambled. She grabbed Zelda's arm and attempted to lead her to the house, but Zelda pulled back staying resolute.

'Sorry, Daisy. I can't.'

Daisy sighed as if she understood. 'I already told you you're not getting fat, dear! Stop being so self-conscious!'

Zelda laughed inwardly at Daisy's naivety. Oh how she wished she could stay, but as Rauru had already said, she had to leave immediately.

'Sorry, Daisy. It's not about that,' she whispered.

Daisy's hand fell away from Zelda's arm.

'I have to leave. Right away. I don't know how long I'll be away.'

Daisy burst into tears and hugged Zelda strongly with her strong arms, to the point of Zelda's face turning a light shade of blue.

Daisy finally released her, and she gasped for breath.

'I... I knew this day would come, some time. All girls leave home some day, right?' Daisy blubbed through cracked speech.

'I know it's hard, but do not cry. I'll visit sometime, okay?'

Daisy nodded, seeming to understand why Zelda had to leave.

'I'll tell the other villagers,' she whispered, and began to shuffle off. Zelda put a hand on her shoulder.

'No. That would only delay my departure.' She winced at the curtness of her reply. 'I'm sorry, but I must go right now. It's a matter of importance.'

'I... uh, okay.'

Zelda wanted to cry, but a show of emotion would have delayed her departure even longer. She followed Daisy back into the village, who was whimpering softly.

'Go back to the care house, Daisy. I shall be gone by the time you sleep.'

'So, this... this is it? Sheik?'

'Yes, Daisy. This is goodbye, but only for now.'

Zelda dug out an orange rupee from her satchel, tossing it up and down in her hands. The potion shop was still open at this time, but it would close soon. She had to be fast.

'Goodbye, Daisy,' she whispered, glancing back at the sobbing woman, shuffling back to the care house. She shook her head once before entering the potion shop.

'Four reds, please,' she said to the woman behind the counter.

'Sure thing, Zelda. Got the bottles?'

Zelda nodded, taking the bottles and placing them carefully on the counter. The woman quickly and professionally pouring a red liquid into each.

'Still healing, are you? After all these years?' The woman chuckled. Zelda smiled as she lay the orange rupee on the counter.

'Yes,' she lied. The woman took the rupee and placed a red one in Zelda's outstretched hands from the small 'till'. Zelda thanked her and quickly walked out the door.

Her brain ached with excitement, anticipation and grief, all at the same time. Her legs felt heavy as she approached the exit. The guard standing beside the door saw her leaving, and waved at her.

'Hello, Sheik! Little late to go exploring, doncha think?' he called out. Zelda nodded briefly in his direction, then turned away. He looked after her in bewilderment.

Zelda mentally slapped herself for being so rude, so uncaring. All these people in the village, sleeping peacefully in their beds, would not see her by morning. They'll search for her frantically, trying to find their best visitor to the village. Daisy would then tell them what happened last night, and...

Zelda couldn't bear to think about it. But there was much worse. Something that Zelda felt would haunt her emotions for months to come.

She didn't say goodbye to Dampé.