Disclaimer: I do not own Link (although I wish I do ^^) or any characters from The Legend of Zelda. I write this fic for your enjoyment only (and mine too) I hope you like it! On a note, this fic takes place a few years after Link returns from Koholint Island and he is about 21 years old and ready to marry Zelda, his fiancé. ^^ Enjoy and please review!

Pray, Love, Remember

It was early evening in the tranquil kingdom of Hyrule, the sky painted in hues of amber and violet as the sun dipped below the horizon. After reveling in the breathtaking view from the balcony of his castle room, Link retrieved his cherished ocarina, fingers deftly dancing over its surface as he began to play a hauntingly beautiful tune.

This melody, the 'Ballad of the Wind Fish,' had been a gift from Marin, the young maiden he had met during his fateful shipwreck on the elusive Koholint Island. That enchanting song had become a beloved anthem in Hyrule upon his return, its soothing notes weaving a tapestry of calm that washed over all who heard it. Before sharing it with the kingdom, he had first presented it to Princess Zelda and her father, the wise Hylian king. When they inquired about its origins, he crafted a tale of a foreign bard encountered on his travels, carefully omitting any mention of Marin or the dreamlike island that had now drifted into myth.

Although he abhorred the idea of deception, especially towards those closest to him, Link deemed it necessary to keep hidden the true reason for his prolonged absence from his homeland after six arduous months at sea on his journey of enlightenment. The tale he could tell—of being shipwrecked on an uncharted island, a mere figment of the imagination conjured by a being known as the Wind Fish—was so fantastical that he feared his sanity would be questioned. Zelda, too, would likely doubt his fidelity and integrity if she ever learned of Marin, the girl who had cared for him during his time on that surreal isle.

For the sake of his own peace, Link resolved to speak as truthfully as possible about where he had discovered the haunting 'Ballad of the Wind Fish,' carefully omitting any mention of Koholint or the compassionate girl who had found him washed ashore. Fortunately, Zelda accepted his vague explanations without pressing for further details, sparing him from the turmoil of unraveling his hidden truths.

As the notes of the ocarina filled the evening air, Link's thoughts drifted to the radiant girl who had symbolized a moment of solace in his life. Without the exquisite melody she had gifted him, he might have doubted her existence after the mysterious disappearance of Koholint and its inhabitants. He couldn't deny the initial attraction he felt toward her; she bore an uncanny resemblance to Zelda, igniting a longing he had thought dormant. Over time, however, he came to cherish Marin not merely for her likeness to his lover, but as a true friend and companion. Their shared melodies created a harmony that resonated within him, a fusion of two souls dancing to the rhythm of the waves.

Yet, despite the bond they forged, he felt compelled to keep her at a distance, aware that her feelings for him were deepening, much like the many other maidens who had admired him after his ascent to knighthood and triumph over Ganon. It wasn't that he regarded her with indifference; on the contrary, his heart had already been given to another.

"When I found you washed up on the shore, my heart skipped a beat! I feel as if this person has come to deliver us a message…"

Those words had lingered in his mind like a haunting echo. Link pondered her statement, reflecting on the islanders' obliviousness to the world beyond their shores. Marin's belief that there was life beyond Koholint was a solitary flame of hope in their dream bound existence, and perhaps finding him had only fueled her desire to escape the confines of their reality.

"I want to know all about you, Link…"

When he first heard her words, the young hero felt a rush of dread wash over him. The enchanting island maiden had done the very thing Link had feared most: she had fallen for him. He vividly recalled the moment he had gently grasped her wrists, pushing her away just as she leaned in for a kiss. The anguish in her beautiful eyes struck him like a dagger, and though it pained him to cause her sorrow, he knew he could not betray his vow to Zelda, regardless of how closely Marin mirrored her in spirit and beauty.

"Marin, I am honored that you feel this way for me, I truly am. But I can never give you any more then my friendship for I have already pledge my heart to another and cannot break it. However, you are still very dear to me and I will always treasure you as a friend as well as be grateful for everything you've done for me…"

He held his breath, anticipating anger or sorrow in her response, but instead, she stepped back, her head bowed in quiet acceptance.

"I see… I understand. I would never be so selfish as to ask you to choose. I know you will leave this island someday. But please, don't forget this song… or me. If you do, I shall never forgive you!"

Her words were laced with both sweetness and a playful challenge. Link chuckled softly, enveloping her in a gentle embrace.

"Of course not; I could never forget you, Marin. Not ever…"

And he never did. The memory of that song remained etched in his heart, a melody that would ultimately awaken the Wind Fish and facilitate his longing to leave Koholint behind. Yet, as he found himself on the brink of escape, a shocking revelation at the Face Shrine threatened to upend everything he believed about the island and his experience there.

"To the reader of this message, the island of Koholint is but an illusion… Human, monster, sea, sky… All a scene on the lid of a sleeper's eye. Awaken the dreamer, and Koholint will vanish much like a bubble on a needle… Castaway, you should know the truth!"

As if the unsettling words themselves were not enough to rattle him, Link was further tormented by the realization that the message seemed to be directed exclusively at him, as though his arrival in Koholint had been foretold long before he ever set foot on its shores. There could be no other explanation for the ominous inscriptions carved into the ancient walls, for the entire shrine itself bore the weight of centuries, steeped in mystery and foreboding.

In that moment, Link found himself grappling with an agonizing dilemma. To leave Koholint meant sacrificing the island and its inhabitants, not to mention the enchanting Marin. Never before had he faced such a heart-wrenching decision, and he felt utterly adrift, unsure of his next move. Though the thought of spending the rest of his life on Koholint filled him with trepidation, the idea of abandoning the island and its people chilled him to the core.

Yet, he knew that staying was not an option; Hyrule awaited his return. He was not merely the betrothed of Princess Zelda but also the heir to the throne and the protector of the Triforce. It was his solemn duty to safeguard this ancient relic from falling into malevolent hands, for if it fell into the grip of another like Ganon, calamity would surely ensue. With that realization crystal clear in his mind, Link understood his path. His uncle had once imparted wisdom that the needs of the many outweighed those of the few, and now, this was bigger than his own desires. He had to leave Koholint and return to Hyrule; there was no other way.

Resolute, Link pressed on in his quest, gathering all eight of the siren's instruments until he stood before the Wind Fish, overcoming the final nightmares that stood in his way. At last, he awakened the timeless being that would facilitate his departure from Koholint. As the island faded from existence, Link found himself adrift at sea, the waves lapping at his raft, but his heart lingered on Marin and the void she would leave behind. Had fate been different, had he not known Zelda, he would have been more than willing to usher Marin from the island back to his homeland, cherishing her as a soulmate.

"I'm sorry, Marin… please forgive me..."

Though the Wind Fish had warned that the island would vanish with their awakening, he also offered a flicker of hope. He hinted that a day might come when Link could remember the island, but the meaning escaped him until he awoke to the sound of Marin's voice drifting across the waves. Even in the absence of Koholint and its people, her song echoed in his heart. Straining his eyes against the horizon, he could have sworn he glimpsed a seagull soaring through the sky, its call stirring a memory of Marin's melody. Was it possible that she had found a way to fulfill her wish? Just as the Triforce was rumored to grant desires, perhaps the Wind Fish held similar powers. The thought sparked a smile on Link's face; even if Marin lost her memories of him, as long as she found happiness, that was enough.

"I wish I were a seagull. Then I could fly all over the world and sing for everyone! Do you think the Wind Fish would grant my wish if I met him?"

"Maybe. Who knows? You'll never find out unless you ask! I'm sure one day you'll meet him, and he'll make your wish come true..."

Looking back on his time in Koholint, Link felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. Initially consumed by the desire to escape the island and return home, he now cherished the memories of his challenges, the friendships forged, and the enigmatic owl that guided him. This chapter of his life would remain unrecorded in history, existing solely in his heart, for Koholint and its people would live on only in his memory. While Princess Zelda would forever claim the deepest corner of his heart, Marin would always hold a special place there too, their bond never transcending friendship. He had vowed never to forget her or the song that brought them together, and he intended to honor that promise.

"Link?"

He turned to find Zelda standing in the doorway to his balcony, radiant and warm. A smile broke across his face.

"Good evening, Zelda. What brings you here?"

The princess blushed, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, nothing much. I was simply enraptured by the sound of your ocarina playing as I entered. You truly cherish that song, don't you?"

"Absolutely. It brings back fond memories. Not that I'm eager to travel anytime soon, mind you. I never want to be away from Hyrule—or you—for that long again."

With a gentle embrace, Zelda closed the distance between them. "I'm relieved to hear that. I hope you won't have to leave again for such an extended time. Perhaps once you're king, you won't have to; my father traveled often in his youth until he ascended the throne."

"You're probably right. As keeper of the Triforce and your betrothed, my place is here now, especially after our wedding."

"Right… it's hard to believe we've known each other for almost seven years now. Our wedding is less than a month away! Time really does fly."

"Indeed, it does. I can hardly wait to spend the rest of my life with you by my side."

Zelda leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. "Me too. I worried so much during those long months you were gone years ago. I feared that something dreadful had befallen you or that you'd forgotten about me."

"Never, Zelda. Please don't think that. There will always be only you for me. I faced many trials at sea, but nothing short of death would have kept me from returning to you…"

"Thank you, Link..."

"Anytime. By the way, I know it might be premature to discuss this, but when we have children, how would you feel about naming a daughter 'Marin'?"

Zelda's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of children. "That's a lovely name! Where did you come across it?"

"It belonged to a nurse who cared for me during my travels. She encouraged me to heal quickly so I could return to you. Sadly, she passed away shortly before I came back."

"Oh, really? That would be a beautiful name for a girl. It's certainly unique here; I know no other maidens with that name."

"Heh, true enough. Just a thought, though; we don't need to decide our children's names now. We can always revisit it after the wedding," Link added with a cheeky wink.

Zelda laughed. "Of course! I actually came to see if you'd like to join me for a moonlit stroll in the palace gardens. It's still early."

Link beamed. "I'd love to." He extended his arm to his fiancée. "Shall we, princess?"

"Yes…"

As Link stepped into the night, arm in arm with Zelda, he cast a lingering glance back at the star-studded sky above his room, his heart briefly drifting back to the island maiden etched in his memory.

Farewell, Marin. Be happy...

A/N: And there you have it; I hope you like my new rewritten version of this Zelda one-shot! I had fond memories of playing "A Link to the Past", and "Link's Awakening" as a young teen back in the 90s.