Link was gone. The changing rooms were available and when Bato got in he asked about his ward.

"I'm sorry, sir. He was very adamant of wearing what he came in with." He really messed up. Venting at a kid was not a good idea. "How long ago was this?"

"Twenty minutes, sir," a maid chimed in. "He said something about going towards the front of the castle." Bato thanked them and dashed out. If he was lucky, he could catch him.

The sun was setting when Bato found Link. He was in his Kokiri wear, sitting and looking at the castle. When he approached him, Link got up and was about to run.

"For the love of," Bato was running for him. "Link!"

Turning, he started to run down the hill. But just as he was to dash off, he tripped and began to roll down.

"Link!" Using an unnatural burst of speed, Bato dashed over and cradled Link as both were falling. Rocks and stones cut Bato's clothing and skin. The ride was mercifully quick and both crashes down to a small ravine. Link was unharmed but Bato had a couple of bumps and bruises. He was also wet. "Well, that was fun," Bato said as he tried to inject some levity. Turning to Link, he saw a look of horror on his face. He quickly sat down on a nearby rock and curled up in a ball. Shaking himself off, Bato walked towards the young boy. "Link."

"Why are you here? Do you want to yell at me some more? Maybe it'll make you feel better after that tumble." Both anger and sadness mixed in with his voice.

"I'm sorry, Link. I lost my cool. I shouldn't have yelled at you in the first place."

Scoffing, Link unfolded himself, still sulking. "That's a lot more than what I get from the others."

"Others?"

"Kokiri." He looked away. "This reminds me of all the times I messed up back in the village. It was always Mido and the others yelling for one reason or another. Saria and some of other girls looked out for me. But that didn't help when it happens constantly."

"You were bullied, huh? For being different?"

"I didn't ask to be different!" There was rising anger coming from him. "But I was. Chosen hero of the kingdom. My only purpose." He got silent. His fists were shaking. "But she sent me back," in a small voice. "To relieve my childhood, taking it away again." Bato walked towards Link, and the boy avoided eye contact. "You don't have to be here. I can take care of myself. Just as I've always done."

"No. I want to be here." Bato said, softly.

He laughed at him, depreciating. "No, you don't. You want nothing to do with me."

"Since when did I say that? Not once had I said I wanted nothing to do with you. I rather feel for you."

"So, you pity me!" A flash of anger overcame the young boy, fierce glare towards the man. "Like everyone else!"

"Goddesses' grace, Link, listen!!" Bato yelled louder and both looked at each other. Between the waters of the ravine and the rustling of leaves, both stood still in silence. "I feel for you because the entire situation you're in is bullshit. You played your role as the hero, selflessly I might add, and both times you had little to show for it. You faced terrible, horrendous things, and you've been left with nothing but nightmares of your fears and failures. Even at the end, when you think that you had a place to belong, you get sent back to zero."

Link broke his gaze and wistfully watched the stream. "Being Hyrule's Hero was the greatest thing I had in my life. It was mine. She didn't understand I wanted to stay. She should have known."

"Zelda said she wanted you to live your childhood. But she didn't think about what would happen when you got back. What would your purpose be? How would you live? I don't know. You're in this new timeline now. This timeline isn't the same one that she sent you back from."

Link jerked his head away from Bato. "It doesn't matter. Her face. Her name. It reminds me of what happened." Standing still for a moment he looked at the farmer. At once his face twisted in pain. "Why are you here, Bato?"

"What?"

He started to yell at him, inching closer. "Why are you here?! Why did you save my life?! Why do you protect me?! Why do you feed and take care of me?! Why do you comfort me when I'm sad and scared?! Why!? Why?! WHY?!" Now, in front of him, his limbs went limp, and he looked at Bato. As he gasped from exhaustion, the looks he gave Bato was fear and desperation. Link, needing to know, whispered, "what do you want from me?"

Bato took a deep breath. This was a lot to take in. Link hated Zelda for sending him back to being nothing. But more than that, Link was asking Bato what did he mean to him? He dropped to his knees and met link's eyes. "To comfort and protect you from all the horrible things. To teach how to live life to the fullest. To be finally happy with what you have rather than what you've lost." Tears start to form in his eyes. "You can go and keep on running away into the darkness, Link. But I'll always be there to bring you back. Like it or not."

There was nothing between the two others than silence. Soon, sounds of the party goers for the feast came from the castle.

Link wouldn't even look at him now. His eyes towards the earth, he clenched his hands in fists. "I've always taken any challenge. Any obstacle. I never ran away." He looked up at him, looking miserable. "Why is it that I only want to run from you?"

If Bato could hazard a guess, it would be because Link never had anyone to care for him, personally and this was all too good to be true. That this was some sort of fantastical dream, and he would wake up alone. But, instead of voicing this opinion, he silently embraced the young boy quietly.

Link returned the gesture.

Link made no resistance in coming back to the castle. When they arrived, one of the servants saw Bato and his torn clothes and immediately rushed both to a designated changing room. When they were about to change Link, Bato stayed their hand.

"He's not feeling well. He'll be staying here until after dinner." Link was silent as the servants continued to dress him.

One of the maids came up to him. "I'm sorry, sir. His Majesty and the court expect the boy to be there with you.

"Then I will take whatever consequences that may arise due to his absence."

"Bato. Please stop." Link went up to the maid. "I'll get ready."

Bowing, the maid turned towards a group of servants. Bato, surprised at the reversal, asked "why the sudden change of heart?"

But Link shook his head. "Not here."

When finished, both were taken up to the Great Hall. Hyrule Castle knew how to throw on a feast. Linens of gold, blue, and red dotted the tables. The kitchens working up a storm with courses of meat, fish, and vegetables. Some vegetables came from Bato's farm. The Royal Family spared no expense in getting the finest cutlery, food, and linens to show off to the rest of the nobles.

The head table were especially given special attention. Even though this was a common occurrence, adhering to the high standards of the nobility was a given. No dereliction in the household's duties would be tolerated. Especially when the Royal Family wanted to flaunt their power and authority.

The two grabbed a nearby bench as they both saw servants running around and guests arriving. "Before, I avoided visiting the castle." Bato turned to Link, who was talking quietly. "I…I didn't want to see her."

"So, you were avoiding Zelda?"

He nodded. "I know that she's my friend. But every time I hear her name. Every time I hear her voice. It just reminds me of all the things that happened to me. I didn't want to remember what I lost." He looks up, thoughtfully, "I'm probably kidding myself. It just hurts. I know it's wrong. She isn't the Zelda that sent me back." He closed his eyes, tightly. "But I can't stop thinking about that."

Bato looked around; saw a scroll, an ink pot and a quill. Grabbing these things, he gestured Link towards a table. "As you were told before, time is like a river. The port is the Temple of Time, and the ship is the Master Sword." He drew a straight line. "When you go back through time, you go back to a certain point." He made a dot on the left most side of the line." Now, obviously, you didn't want that dark history to happen, right?"

Link nodded his head. "So, you changed events in the past to create a different future." He drew a divergent line right beside the first one."

"There are two lines. Two…timelines?"

"One, where the dark future happened. And now, the one we are in, where it didn't. So, tell me Link." He pointed on the second line. "The Zelda in this time would be different because of changed events." He tapped on the first line. "Would she be responsible for what happened in the first timeline?"

Link thought on it for a moment. "No."

"Because they exist in two different places of time. One who has experienced the dark future. The other, who didn't." He started to draw more lines stemming from the first line. "Each time we make a change in the past, the future alters. Every so often it's a little change, like the clothing you're wearing or when a party might be. Or a big change from a ruling kingdom, or the elimination of an entire race."

It looked like Link's brain was about to fry. All this information about timelines? At age eleven? "So, the events that happened in the first place…"

"Still happened. You and I are just in a brand-new timeline." Putting the quill down, he knelt to Link again. "So, I ask you again. Is this Princess Zelda? The Zelda of the here and now. Is she responsible for what happened to you?"

The boy's breathing quickened. "N-No. Because she never did anything in the first place." He sat down and rubbed his eyes. "This is hard."

"The explanation that was given to you applied because there was only one timeline. Now that you changed the past, it means that the future is changed. Different events changed sets of people. Multiple timelines. That includes us as well. We might as well be one iteration of the main one." That would open a new can of worms, but Bato decided to talk about it, later. "I know, it's difficult to forget what happened. But it's not fair to judge your Zelda for the actions of her future self in another time. This is a new beginning. For the both of you. Don't squander it in doing something you'll regret."

The crowd was becoming thicker, and the dignitaries were taking their seats. "We better go. Lest we be the ones everyone will look to as the last ones arriving." He got up and went towards the head table. He could see Zelda sitting down with her father. She looked so down.

"Friends, countrymen, lend me your ears!" The king stood tall and addressed the whole crowd. "Today, we celebrate and acknowledge all the wonderful deeds that these people have done in the name of Hyrule!" Thunderous applause ran rampant for a moment before it settled down. "Their contributions have changed the realm, bringing peace, prosperity, and change! For that, I will be forever grateful for all that you've done." He raised his glass. "And I look forward to your future contributions, I'm the near future!" The king continued to speak and while Bato pretended to listen, he was more interested in what was happening between Link and Zelda. Impa was right beside her, clearly paying attention to what was as well.

The kids were playing a game of chicken with their eyes. Zelda would look at Link when he wasn't playing attention, then look away when he did. The reverse also held true. This played out a couple of times before Bato decided he had enough. He looked at Impa.

Stone-cold eyes met his. He looked down at his hands. She did so as well. He put two of his index fingers together. She nodded. He looked at the open balcony and gestured towards it. She nodded again. The message was clear: when free, get them to the balcony.

The castle masons excelled in their craft. Coming out from the busy hall, they made their way to a lone balcony. Intricate designs on the pillars and guardrail matched the gothic look of the castle. Besides the lights from the outside and in the hall, they couldn't really make out the colour of it. Over the balcony, they had a bird's-eye view of what was happening below them. The people who walked under were like tiny ants running around.

Bato looked out towards the castle grounds. "You know what's about to happen, right?"

Link nodded. Ripping off the band-aid. Link would have to confront her sooner, than later. He could have said 'no.' He could have just left right then and there. But he didn't. He just had a face that screamed resolve.

"Do you need me here?" asked Bato.

"Yes," Link muttered quietly. He looked at him with such sad eyes. He truly didn't want to go through with this, but this was happening now. Bato made sure of that.

"Well, okay then." The two waited for the other parties to arrive. It was a dull moon. Down below, there was a changing of the guard happening near all the gates. Some of the guest started to leave, some by themselves or in a group. There was a gentle southeasterly wind blowing. It was a while, and some people were wondering why the farmer, and his little boy, were hanging out on the balcony.

Finally, Impa walked Zelda towards them. Keeping a fierce, guarded expression, she guided the downcast princess towards the two. Stopping near the opening, Impa gestured Zelda to the balcony. Bato gave a nod, and walked away for the two could be alone. She briefly looked at him before turning her attention to Link.

Impa and Bato stood nearby. "This is her first time seeing him in a long while. She believes that he was avoiding her."

"He was." Impa looked at Bato, surprised. "It's a long story. What did you tell her to make her come?"

"…I said do it for Link's sake." The two watched as they awkwardly greeted each other.

Link's heart was beating a mile a minute. This was the last place he wanted to be, in front of Princess Zelda. Once, he had called her friend and were close. But the feeling of abandonment from her future self made, it hard not to correlate that Zelda with this one. Nevertheless, Bato got him into this situation, and he was right. He would have to confront his feelings down the line, so why wait?

There was an uncomfortable silence between the two. Contrasting this was the great hall where they came from. But it wasn't brought out by a first cordial greeting but why? Why did he avoid her? What did she do to make him angry?

"I know, it's difficult to forget what happened. But it's not fair to judge your Zelda for the actions of her future self in another time. This is a new beginning. For the both of you. Don't squander it in doing something you'll regret." Bato's words rang in his ears, and he wished he unheard them. Matter of fact, he wished he never met him. Things were so simple back then. Live off the land, help those in need, everyday he was moving. That would have been his life or, at least, that was the plan. But then he made him face all the harsh truths and the lies he kept for himself; trying to convince himself that everything was okay. Until it wasn't.

He had stalled for long enough. He was about to say something before Zelda beat him to the punch and spoke first. "I'm sorry, Link."

"Princess?"

"For whatever I did. I am truly sorry." She bowed to him, solemnly.

"Princess? I – You didn't, I mean-"

"Why else you would be avoiding me?" Link looked down and held his arm. She was apologizing for nothing.

"Why are you apologizing when you didn't do anything?" he asked quietly.

"Why is it that you have not been to see me ever since you returned from your journey? That you made no attempt to see me at the castle?"

"It's…It's complicated, really."

"Is it?" Her eyes were filling up with tears now, slightly shaking. This pained his heart. She asked quietly, "am I not still a friend to you."

"You are!" Stammering, he desperately tried to think of a reason, any reason, to assuage her fears.

"You told my father and everyone what Ganondorf had done. Although the time together we spent was brief, it was the happiest for me. When you departed from Hyrule, my heart ached for you. Praying to the goddesses that you would be okay and one day you would return to me." Tears started to fall from her face and her voice was becoming more uneven, losing all decorum. "When you did, I was elated to see you! But it seems you didn't feel the same. The more time apart, the more I thought that you didn't want to see me."

"I still do!" Link yelled. But it wasn't out of anger, but out of fear.

"Then why are you avoiding me then? What wrong have I committed to you that would make you act in this way?" Her plea matched Link's fear-filled yell.

He was trapped into a corner. His frustration grew, and his mind was drawing blanks in trying to find an excuse. It grew until it could be contained within him any longer, and he lashed out on her. "YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!!"

Bato and Impa looked at the two for a moment with a face of shock. He mumbled to himself and held his palm up into his face, "holy shit."

Zelda took a step back, surprised and unnerved by this proclamation. "W-What?"

He fell, knees first, onto the hard stone. "Not you," he said, weakly. "You're future self. When I went forward seven years into the future, I was grown up. I had a purpose, and I knew what to do. Saving the people. Protecting the weak. Slaying monsters. All to defeat Ganondorf and save Hyrule. Even after all of that, I still wanted to stay in that time. To continue to be the hero. But then your future self sent me back. A time when I'm just a kid, not a hero. Where I'm weaker than I was. But the most terrifying thing was that I was alone, again." Zelda knelt before him as he continued to talk. "Even after Termina, it was just me and Epona. Everyone had someone, except me. Every time I saw your face or heard your voice, I was reminded of what I lost. Because of her."

"There must be a reason why she sent you back, isn't there?"

"She said that she felt guilty about getting me mixed up in all of this. She wanted me to 'relive my childhood.' That's the reason. But where do I go from here? What was I to do? Where was I supposed to go? So that's why, princess. You did me no wrong here. If anything, I was wrong by not explaining myself to you." He started to cry. "Princess Zelda. Please forgive me."

He was expecting rejection. That she would walk away and banish him from ever seeing her. Instead, he felt an embrace. "I was never mad at you. I just feared that you didn't want to be my friend anymore. I had no idea that you felt this way. I didn't know."

"Because I didn't say anything. I'm supposed to have courage; to deal with these things myself!"

"Wrong. While there is courage in facing any danger, there's also having the courage to ask for help. Especially now." She held his shoulders and smiled at him. "From now on, I want you to speak with me whenever you feel this way. If I can't help you, I'll bring you to someone who can. You've done so much and helped so many people. Now's the time to repay that debt."

"Princess…"

"Zelda. It has always been Zelda to you. Just as you are Link to me. My friend. One of the people I treasure in this world."

Both smiled gently at each other.

While glad that Link and Zelda were friends again, he had an uneasy feeling. He turned to Impa. "Well, despite yelling at each other for a short time, I think this came up okay. What do you think?"

"What do I think? I think this whole thing was terribly executed, and a lot more tact was needed."

"Yet you agreed to this, anyway."

Impa scoffed at him. "Like I said before, we cannot risk divisions now. If the princess and Link didn't reconcile now, this would gnaw at her until it presented too big of a problem."

"How pragmatic of you."

"Call it what it is. Be it a rekindled friendship or water under the bridge. The princess has her friend back. Now, she can focus."

"On what?" Impa stared at Bato who first had a look of confusion. Then, understanding. "Of course, you still intend to train her. Is that it?"

"Ganondorf can attack at any time. His assault on the castle caught us unawares. It cannot happen again. We must be ready."

"I can't fault you on that. Only my main concern is to make sure that the princess is not being deprived of a childhood, like Link has."

"The princess is of my concern, not yours." She raised an eyebrow. "Besides, you're not training Link in combat. He's experienced in fighting already."

"That may be so. But there are more to life than just fighting." He paused for a moment. "Unless you see them as tools, rather than people."

This shocked her for a moment. She growled, not to disturb the children. "Never insinuate that I see the princess as a means to an end."

"Do you, though? She would be the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom. She will train in ancient Sheliah arts. Given a couple of years, she could even be considered a force."

"Are you questioning me of my methods to train the princess?"

Bato crossed his arms. "No. But from what I remember, your methods were brutal due to necessity. We are not in that immediate danger, right now. Have a care to raise your pupil, not only train."

"If I don't?" Impa looked at him squarely in the face. He didn't know whether she was triggered by his line of questioning or was, she is testing him for something.

"Then my association with the Royal Family ends. My offer of taking the mission, rescinded. You can send as many people as possible to try to capture or kill me." He inched closer to her. "But I wouldn't. I would crush you, until there is nothing left of you."

There was an impasse. Both staring each other down. Impa slightly bowed towards him. "Forgive me, Bato."

She didn't mean any of what she said before. She just wanted to see how far Bato would react. "Don't test me again," he growled.

"I needed to be certain. We are facing no ordinary foe. What type of person are you, Bato? Where would your loyalties lie? With yourself, the kingdom, or the people around you?" The two children were heading towards each other. "Despite your insistence of doing everything out of self-preservation, this is hardly the case, isn't it."

"I'm going to my room." He turned to Link. "Say goodnight to her Majesty and Lady Impa, Link."

"Ah, oh! Good night, Zelda. Night Impa!!" Link had a cheerful smile, not know what had happened. He followed Bato who was already walking away from them.

"Good night, Link." Zelda turned to her protector. "He looked angry. What did you two talk about?"

"The future, princess." Impa knelt and patted her head. "You were eager to learn how to defend yourself, and I will teach you. But you must also balance that with being a good friend to Link."

"Will I see him often?"

"That's up to Mr. Bato. But I will have a standing order ready to let Link see you as long as we're not in danger."

Zelda smiled at her. "Thank you, Impa. I'm going to see Father."

"Of course. I will see you inside, princess."

As Zelda made her way inside, Impa started to feel guilty about what she put him through. "You're a good man, Bato. I'm sorry, truly."