Young Link
Legacy Name: Young Link

Those were the words the Happy Mask Salesman had first spoken to Link. And he couldn't have been any more right.

He wasn't even sure where he was anymore. The forest stretched on around him. Miles behind him, fireworks exploded as Clock Town's yearly festival began. Still his beloved horse walked on, none the wiser to her partner's internal struggle.

Suddenly from somewhere deep within the vast forest came a great wind. Branches rustled, trees bent, and small animals scattered to find cover from the gust. Even his horse gave into it's might and soon they both were on the ground.

"Epona! Are you alright?" the boy in green cried out as he scrambled to check on the horse. As the wind subsided Epona righted herself, nickering in apology. The boy just chuckled in relief. "You didn't mean it girl. That was one strong wind wasn't it?" Epona bobbed her head in agreement, understanding of Hyrulian language as always.

"....Link..."

A voice echoed throughout the forest almost halting time itself. Link's head whipped around, attempting to locate the owner of it. As far as he could see, Epona was the only other creature in the area. But they had both heard the voice, Epona's twitching ears proved that.

"Link...please..."

He knew that voice. Link knew that voice but he couldn't place it. No...that was a lie. He could place it as well as he could shoot down a Poe in hyrule field. He refused to place it was a better way of putting it.

Dropping onto the grass, Link allowed his eyes to wander to the sky above his head. Epona trotted away, nibbling at the greenery around them.

Why did that insane man have to say that? Link didn't need to the reminder of how he was constantly left behind. 'A parting is sure to follow...and with me it TENDS to last forever.' he thought bitterly. It just didn't seem fair to him at all. He never asked to end up in the Kokiri forest. He never asked to be the chosen one. He NEVER asked to have a fairy that would up and leave him without any warning.

His fairy...Navi. That's why he started this journey. Navi left him after he defeated Ganondorf and he decided to search for her. She was all he had left of his old home.

"Is she really, Link?"

This time the voice caught him off guard. This time the voice sounded like it was speaking in his head. Startled, he looked around again for the person who wasn't there.

"Please go away!" he cried out. He didn't want to think about her. She left him too after all.

"I will not, Link. You forgot didn't you?" came the response, sounding closer than ever.

"All I remember is that you're gone. Everyone leaves me. I know that now, ok? I...you...promised not to leave. You said you wouldn't leave me."

Epona's distressed cry brought Link to his senses. Link didn't realize something was wrong. Only when he looked up at the horse did Link realized he was crying. Tears flowed down his cheeks rapidly, giving the boy no chance of hiding them. Epona whinnied softly, nuzzling his face in a show of comfort.

"Saria..." Link said, his voice little more than a murmur, "Why did you leave...?"

"Oh Link. My dearest friend. I did not leave you. I cannot exist in your world anymore, but I will always be with you. My song is my promise of that. Link...you remember my song don't you?"

Then all at once...he heard it. A soft melody echoing through the forest and filling up the silence. Epona neighed, her ears twitching to the song. Link's memories began racing through his mind. He recalled those who were still waiting for him back in Hyrule. Promises he had to keep.

Pulling himself to his feet, Link wiped his tears away. He only then noticed how tired he was. Tired of traveling, tired of fighting, and tired of getting lost.

He's the Hero of Time. People are supposed to leave him. Time was his controller. It had taken much from him, and given much back.

"A thing that doesn't change with time is a memory of younger days...". Link muttered to himself. A wise piece of advice given to him by a long gone friend.

It was decided. He had given all the time he could spare to his wallowing. He had saved Termina, and even met the little Skull Kid from Kokiri forest again. Epona was back with him, Tatl and Tael are back together, and his Ocarina was safe.

'Link?' came Saria's voice, echoing through the forest she protected. Her tone implying she knew what he was thinking.

"Yeah. I got it now." Link responded with a firm nod. With one good jump, he was back on Epona. A pat to her neck, and the horse took off as fast as she could toward their destination.

Somehow he knew...Navi was happy. Tatl hadn't been her -not exactly-, but he still felt it. Navi was proud of him, and content wherever she was. So there was only one thing left to do.

Link was going home.

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Art by: Ease (Fullsize)

Profile by: Faber

Story by: Vixien

Background from: www.pexels.com