“Link.” His name in that cold voice could send chills down his spine.

“Yes, Impa. I’m here.” Link was leaning against the tree in the meadow outside of Hyrule palace.

“The Deku Tree Sprout is calling the sages and yourself to the forest.” Impa stood there smirking at the boy.

“Why? What’s wrong?” He slowly stood and dusted his hands.

“No time now. You slept too long.” She smirked again. And as a reward the Sheikah warrior got a scoff. “Why don’t you sleep at night like the rest of us? You and Sheik are always off.” She elbowed him.

“Please Impa, don’t imply anything. You know night is the only time those things come out.”

“So you are off playing hero again?” Impa chuckled at his discomfort. “And it is those monsters that the Sprout wishes to speak to you about.”

“Alright. Give me awhile. I don’t want to warp. Epona needs some exercise.”

“Don’t run her too hard. She is still recovering from the incident at Lake Hylia.”

“I won’t. She’ll let me know if she’s in any pain.”

“Be careful Link…” She paused. “And don’t keep us waiting too long.” The Sheikah let out a disturbing chuckle and was gone in a purple flash.

Link huffed at the few sparkles of light remaining. “Show off,” he said good-naturedly. He shrugged and went toward the Royal Stables. All the guards were watching the “hero” as he walked. Link could sense some of the dark emotions: jealousy, rage, hatred………… one mind screamed RAPE. “YIKES” his mind screamed. Link quickened his pace. As he was nearing the gate of the arena, Link’s nose caught something sweet….a mixture of sandalwood and vanilla….. That could only mean one thing.. Sheik! Suddenly his mind screamed to duck, roll then lift sword. He never faught what his mind told him to do nowadays. Since Navi was off with the Sprout most of the time he had to rely on the abilities he was forced to keep quiet all those years ago. But now he obeyed them. He ducked to miss a shove that Sheik was going to surprise him with. Once he ducked Sheik almost flew over his head. Now Link rolled to his left and Sheik did a contorted back-flip. In the next second Link raised his sword and Sheik his dagger. Both weapons were aimed at the other’s next. Neither was out of breath, Link just grinned at the exasperated Sheikah.

“Man, no matter quiet and stealthy I am, it is getting harder and harder to sneak up on you!” Sheik’s grin was hidden behind his scowl, but the merriment shone in his eyes.

Link laughed with his friend. “Nice to see you too!” Both then lowered and sheathed their weapons to embrace in a friendly hug. “Now why aren’t you watching Zelda?”

Sheik shrugged “She said, ‘Go find Link. Bring him and yourself to the forest immediately.’ Then she went ‘poof’…. Man why can’t we make her do that when she gets so annoying?”

Link laughed at his friend. “I don’t know. I just don’t know.” He was shaking his head trying to the slow the giggles that threatened to escape. “Come on. We had better get going.” He opened the arena gate.

“Yeah…” Sheik closed the gate…  ‘Man, I’ll bet he was the one that the saying, ‘No use closing the gate once the cows are out’, was made for. Ya’ know, come to think of it. I’ll bet our front door is WIDE open.’ Sheik thought to himself. He shook his head, ‘Goddesses I worry about that boy sometimes….’

“SHEIK! COME ON! YOU WANT TO HAVE TO FACE IMPA AND RAURA?!?!”

Link’s shouts pulled the boy from his thoughts. ‘Oh boy…’

Both Epona and Sheik’s mare, Cerlis, were saddled. The boys mounted and started at a slow pace. Link looked over at Sheik. “NO!”

“Come one Sheik!”

“No.”

“But it will make things easier for Epona.”

“Then warp to the Forest Temple.”

“Come on, even you can see she needs exercise.”

Sheik let out a rough sigh. “Fine, but hold on to her.”