It only took Link an hour to pack his things up and load Epona. He knew he could only bring a few things, the necessities, which meant that precious photographs, furniture he made with his own hands, and childhood remnants had to be left behind. Only a handful of food, some water, and goat milk bottles could be taken along, along with two pairs of clothes. Even mementos from his friends and loved-ones were left behind, regardless if he could take them or not. Soon, he would be embarking on a new chapter in his life, one he knew would require erasing the old; Rusl and the other men made it clear Nani would not be welcomed into the village, which meant the same to Link as excluding himself, as well. It was true that the others in the village were more than accepting, especially his godmother, Uli, who did everything in her power to allow them to stay even for this long. Those people had fought the men-folk hard, and even arranged the adoption (Link wasn't stupid, he knew the men were just going to kill the babe on the way), but they were only prolonging the inevitable. Because of this, Link packed as silent as a thief that night so that he would not have to face saying goodbye to them.

Once everything was done, Link took one last look at his house. He replayed all the memories he had had in it: every Day of Giving, Halloween, birthday, Day of Thanks. He remembered the day Rusl gave him his first wooden sword and taught him how to fight. He remembered how they grew so close that day, as they had shared everything and learned together. His heart grew heavy... Rusl had been the closest thing he had ever had to a father in his life; his own father was a random drunk that knocked up his prostitute mother. He didn't know him at all, only a single story he had heard from his late mother, but Rusl had filled that void in his heart. Now, he made an even bigger hole.

With a deep breath, he closed his door for the final time and carefully brought him and his son to the bottom of the ladder. Refusing to take another look back, he hoisted himself onto his loyal stead. After placing Nani inside his shirt against his chest, he grabbed the reigns and began a slow trot. This was goodbye. He rode through the path in the forest, noting every tree he passed as another memory in his past and another landmark erased. He could hear the spirit of Ordan weep for him silently as he passed, lamenting on the injustice that befell them. Passed more land, a fence, and across the bridge, Link rode on, refusing to cry as everything was erased with each stride of Epona's fine legs.

Suddenly, the swish of wind whistled passed and Epona reared her legs up with a wounded scream, knocking Link off her back. Having landed on his back, Link wheezed as his body mourned the loss of the air that was knocked out of him. He was disoriented as he looked up at the night sky, clear as day the full moon was as it radiated proudly, holding on to the crying child on his chest- Nani was shaken, but otherwise uninjured. Finally, he found his senses enough to see that Epona had an arrow in her knee (:D) that was bleeding heavily. Grunting from the pain, he sat up and reached for the arrow the rip it from her, he was suddenly in the same prudicament as another arrow went through his palm. Instinct took over as he dodged ten more and hid behind his horse. Clutching the child, he stood and ran for cover in the trees passed the bridge. Another arrow struck his shoulder. He gasped and fell to the floor. With a deep breath, he wrentched it out and bit his bottom lip from the massive sting.

"Come out, Link, we know you're hiding," the mayor called. Link nearly sobbed. It wasn't enough they were kicking him out, but they were going to kill him, too? "Don't make this harder than it needs to be!"

"He's a child, for Farore's sake! Leave him alone!" Link retorted, crawling into some bushes.

"How dare you insult our Lady! That THING is nothing more than a monstrosity!" Talo and Malo's father roared.

"His birth circumstances condemn him to death!" the Mayor replied. "No good can come from someone with sinful parents."

"What about me?" Link pereservered. "My mother was a prostitute who slept with a drunk she did not know. Both of them were grease in the Godesses' eyes, and yet I was chosen as the Hero of Light!"

There was silence for a while, and Link was sure his words had hit home. Then, there was a sudden rustle in the bushes beside him and he was dragged out. The mayor threw him against a nearby tree, probably giving him a concusion, while talo's father was quick to tie him up. After he was finished, he grabbed for the child screaming inside Link's shirt- only to have his hand viciously bit by its mother. He drew his hand back with a yelp, kicking the teen across the face. The mayor pulled him back.

"It is true that you had become a hero, and as such, in gratitude, we shall give you the option of ending its life yourself. If you do, we welcome you bac-"

"And then what- pretend like none this happened? I'd rather die! This is MY child, and Nani needs me! I won't give up on him just to go back to a bunch of people who pretend to love me! I'm sick of your conditional love- Nani looks at me, and he shows me REAL love in those eyes, and I will NEVER EVER let him die," Link protested. Rusl and Mayor Bo exchanged glances. They seemed remorseful.

"Then there is nothing more we can do. Rusl... He's your godson- I'll let you do it," Mayor Bo sighed, handing him a dagger before heading off with the two other men. "We'll tell Fado later... He won't be too thrilled."

They were alone then, Link and Rusl, as a gentle breeze rolled passed them. The moonlight cut through the peaks of the trees, enveloping them in a clear light- if Rusl was really prepared to murder them, he would have to watch the whole act without shadow. They eyed eachother for a long time as the wailing child became merely white noise. They both knew whatever relationship they had between eachother had been shattered since the day Link came back from his horrific ordeal, and yet a melancholy chill nipped at their eyes.

"Please, Rusl," Link mumbled. "He hasn't done anything yet... Give him the same chance I had... If anything, take my life- I'm the one who has done wrong."

"So you would die for this monster?" Rusl questioned.

"For my son? Yes... I would give anything," Link replied. Rusl was quiet once more. Then, he began to stroll, dagger in hand, toward him with a menacing look. Link tensed. "Please Rusl! Let him live, PLEASE! What if this was Colin or Layly?! Please Rus! Don't let your sense of duty overrun you sense of justice!" Suddenly, Rusl's hand was around his neck threateningly.

"I have children to protect, too!" He barked. "Yes- Colin, Layly..." Then, he released him and fell to his knees. "And you." Link squeezed his eyes shut, tears falling from his eyes. "I don't want to do this... I love you, too, Link... You were my everything at one time, and I fought everything and every hell to keep you... But this is a different circumstance- the child contain's Ganondorf's spirit... It has both your's and his triforce... That is too dangerous to allow to live..."

"Or, too valuable to allow to die... I can raise him to be kind and benevolent, and if everything goes to Hell, I'll destroy Ganon once more," Link answered with an almost bitter tone that threatened even Heaven's gates. Rusl lifted his knife above his head, Link covered his child in protection, and suddenly, he let it fly. Instantly, the ropes around Link fell to the ground and he was released. Puzzled, Link blink a few times before he was launched and to his feet.

"Go far away, and never return. You're dead to us all." With that, he sliced Link's arm with his knife and headed back to the village. Ignoring his stinging wound, he nodded and hurried off, leaving behind everything.