Princess Zelda of Hyrule woke in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, a hand to her hammering heart. Her nursemaid, Impa, seemingly separated from the shadows, gliding to her young charge’s side. “Princess? What’s wrong?” In a flood of emotion, Zelda lunged at Impa, clutching her nightshirt as she silently wept. Impa sat on the bed next to her, stroking the young Princess’s blonde locks, murmuring to her soothingly. When Zelda calmed down, Impa asked, “Now, what is this all about? You haven’t woke like this since you were a babe.”

Wiping her eyes with a sleeve, the princess took in a calming breath. “I…dreamt terrible things. It…was so vivid…as if I were there, helpless as Hyrule was tainted with a evil power and fell into despair.” She managed a weak smile. “But then…Someone clad in green came from nowhere, clearing the land of all traces of evil…Everything was so wonderful, Impa!” Her face fell. “And then…And then…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words. Tears flooded her eyes; she began to sob in Impa’s protective embrace.




Link rose with the sun, a habit he had built up as he had traveled around Hyrule. He washed his face in a basin of water, starting at the image on the surface. Nervously, he fiddled with his hair, trying, and failing, to get it under control. Giving up, he took to pacing around his room, rehearsing things in his mind, mumbling incoherently to himself while wringing his hat in his hands.

Saria crawled up onto the landing of Link’s house, moving the heavy cloth aside to enter. She giggled, holding a hand to her mouth at the sight inside. “Are you okay?”

Link jumped, falling over his own feet onto the floor, staring wide-eyed at Saria. He was so absorbed in his thoughts, he never even heard her entrance. “S*Saria! You caught me off guard!” He stood, dusting of his bottom as Saria burst into more giggles.

“Sorry, Link.” She sat down at the small table, intelligent blue eyes observant as he continued his restless pacing. Her eyes fell upon his pack, tucked clumsily under his bed. “Are you going somewhere?”

That stopped Link in his tracks. He sat down on the bed, sighing. “I can never hid anything from you can I, Saria?”

The girl smiled. “And you will never be able to. I can tell you’re upset about something.” She moved from the chair to his bed, resting a comforting hand on his knees. “What’s the matter?”

He smiled, even though his eyes told a different story. “I…I can’t stay here.” His voice was scarcely a whisper. It grew in intensity as he continued. “But I can’t leave…I don’t want to leave! But there’s no way I can stay!” It wasn’t only the forest he spoke of.  The rest of the Kokiri would find out his true heritage soon enough. He couldn’t stay in Hyrule. Something was pulling him, calling him out of Hyrule. Part of him truly wanted to leave, leave for good. He couldn’t face all the people he befriended on his journey through time, seeing their blank stares when they remembered nothing of him. It would be better if he just disappeared from Hyrule, no matter how much it pained him to leave the friends he did have.

Saria watched him closely, face thoughtful. She stood, looking out the small window by Link‘s bed. Finally, she spoke. “You‘ve changed, Link.”

Link looked up at her, confusion in his eyes. “Changed?”

Her back remained to him. “Ever since you returned to the forest, you’ve been…different.” She looked over her shoulder at him, a smile lighting her face. “You’ve really grown, you know? You’ve only been gone a month or two, but something you’ve seen on the outside really changed you. I’m really proud of you, Link!” She grabbed his hands in hers. “I know there’s something you need to do. And I know you can’t stay in the forest forever. But I want you to know…No matter where you go, or what you do, I’ll always be there for you.” Her smiled brightened. “Because you are my very precious friend.” She headed for the door, moving aside the curtain. She took a final glance back at him. “Just remember that on your journeys, and promise to visit me again someday.” With that, she left.

Link only watched as she left, dumbstruck.  Slowly, his expression softened, sapphire eyes over bright with unshod tears. He chuckled, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. He really couldn’t hide anything from Saria…Even the things he didn’t know himself.



Link left the forest without a word not shortly after his talk with Saria, a pack full of all his valuable possessions slung over his shoulder. He didn’t plan on going back to the forest…at least, not for a long while. He walked along the beaten path toward Hyrule Castle Town, enjoying his burst in spirits. The beauty and liveliness of the field shocked Link at first; he had grown accustomed to the darkness coating the land. For now, he soaked it all in, relishing the warm rays of the sun on his skin, taking in the vibrant colors of the foliage around him. Despite his peacefulness, something in the back of his mind unconsciously hurried him along, eager to see Zelda’s smiling face again.



When he finally arrived at the courtyard deep in the castle, he didn’t find what he expected. He couldn’t bring himself to walk straight through the gates; After yesterday, he didn’t expect he would be warmly welcomed. So, he had snuck past the guards with finesse, making it to Zelda’s courtyard easily. She was standing in her usual spot, looking through the glass into the castle. She was dressed much more simply today, wearing a light blue dress with a darker bodice, her hair falling free over her shoulders. He could immediately tell something was wrong; her whole body was tense. He approached her slowly, tapping her on the shoulder. “Princess?”

Princess Zelda jumped with a shriek, startling Link. He stumbled backwards, almost tumbling down the stairs. The young princess looked at him, a tinge of pink creeping into her cheeks. “Oh, I apologize. You just…startled me.” She looked at her feet, her face lined with worry.

Link looked up at her, a bit confused. She startled me! Something bothered him; Zelda was never this formal to him. She wouldn’t even meet his eyes. It was usually the other way around!

Working up his courage(a sad thing for the holder of the Triforce of Courage to be doing), he asked, “Is…something the matter, Princess?”

She turned to him, looking at anything besides his face. “What? Oh, nothing is the matter! I’m simply superb!” Her face shone with happiness, but her eyes betrayed her true feelings.

Link was thoroughly unconvinced. He tried and tried again to get her to tell him what was bothering her, but she avoided his questions with the proficiency he had used to avoid the guards, quickly changing the subject to him, his life, what he had been doing, how he gotten so good at fighting. Link, frustrated, finally stopped pestering her, going off to watch the flowers.

Not knowing what was bothering the princess was bothering him. Every time he saw the look of distress on her face, it ripped him apart inside. He was at the end of his rope trying to cheer her up. Almost subconsciously, he brought the small ocarina Saria had given him to his lips. He had always played the instrument when he was upset or homesick. The clear notes wafted through the air, crafting a soothing melody the young princess knew too well.

She could feel her body relaxing almost instantly, her mind filled with pleasant dreams.

The melody had served as a lullaby for her since she was little, and it had always succeeded in calming her down. She drifted over to sit by Link, closing her eyes as she soaked in the tune. When it was finished, she let out a sigh, opening her eyes to stare at the azure sky.

Link noticed the pleased look on the girl’s face, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He let the peaceful silence reign, gazing up at the sky with the princess.

After a while, Princess Zelda broke the silence. She looked a Link, face curious. “How did you know my favorite lullaby?”

Link froze; he hadn’t realized he had played what he shouldn’t had known. He stammered for what seemed like an eternity, coming up with only, “I–I heard it somewhere!”

It was a blatant lie, and they both knew it. Luckily for Link, the princess didn’t question it.

They spent the rest of the day chatting up a storm, talking about everything from castle life, to the monsters Link had fought, to the things they had for breakfast. The day slowly turned to night, twilight creeping up on the two.

The princess sighed, looking up at the darkening sky. “I guess we lost track of time.”

Link nodded, getting to his feet. He didn’t want to leave, especially since they were having such a good time.

Once again, Princess Zelda caused his heart to stop, coming inches from his face. “Will you come again tomorrow? Please?”

Link nodded rapidly; how could he refuse? She beamed at him, making Link’s face red all the way to the tips of his long ears.

“Good! I’ll be waiting!” She hurried out of the courtyard, Link following at a much more subdued pace. A shadow detached from the wall; Impa’s face was pensive as she watched him disappear from sight, skillfully avoiding the guards notice.



He rented a room at the inn in the town, ignoring the strange stares he received from being such a young patron. The plump woman had asked him over and over again where his parents were, and why would they let such a young child roam by himself. Being young had its drawbacks. He lay sprawled on the bed that was much to big for him, looking up at the dark ceiling, a smile still on his face. His journey was all but forgotten, the image of Princess Zelda shadowing all other thoughts. He picked up the ocarina, playing Zelda’s favorite melody. The same melody that lulled the young princess to sleep worked its magic on the young hero; he fell sound asleep before the song was even finished.