The Company You Keep (BotW Link x Reader)

Left Behind

Very early in the morning, you wake up suddenly from a strange dream and sit up on the bed. It is still very dark out so you assume you have only been sleeping for a few hours. You look over to the left of you to see if Link has left yet. You are a little surprised when you don't find him next to you. You didn't expect him to leave this early. You slump your shoulders in disappointment. Unable to get back to sleep, you get out of bed and put on your boots. 

Back at home, whenever you couldn't sleep, you went for a walk on the beach. It was so peaceful at night, as you would just listen to the ocean waves. There is no ocean in sight in Kakariko but there is a waterfall and lake. As you leave the Inn, you are greeted by a cool breeze. It's a bit chillier than you are used to. As you head to the waterfall, you pass the area where you left Vanilla. She is there alone. A part of you hoped that Link's horse, Cocoa, would still be there. 

"He's really gone," you whisper to yourself. Once the words leave your mouth, the situation seems more real. You sit by the lake for a while until even the water isn't enough to lighten your mood. You realize just how much you miss your parents, your sister, your best friend, and your village. Kakariko is nice and all, but it isn't your home, and without Link, it has no special meaning. 

Still feeling wide awake, you decide to spend some time with Vanilla. You offer her some apples, which she happily takes. As you stroke her mane you say, "It's just you and me now girl. Where should we head next? Maybe if we leave now we can catch up with him. No, that's a bad idea." 

You are lost in your thoughts when you hear an old woman's voice say, "The youth these days talk to horses, do they?"

You whip your head around in surprise, slightly embarrassed. "What? Oh no. I was just thinking out loud is all. Don't mind me." You peer down at a very old woman who is no taller than the size of a child. She has wrinkles all over her face and bright white hair tied up under an extravagant hat. 

The woman begins to speak again, "Are you the young girl Link mentioned he was traveling with?"

"Yes, I am. Are you Lady Impa?" you inquire.

"Indeed. Link spoke of me, I presume."

"He did. He seems to think highly of you."

The woman smiled sweetly. "That warms my heart."

You smile back at her to be kind. 

"I didn't come out here to talk about me though. I came in search of you actually. When Link and I spoke earlier, he seemed different. He seemed more at peace with himself. The boy has a lot of... baggage... per se," Impa says.

"What do you mean?" you question.

"I do not know how much he has told you if anything, and I really shouldn't be the one informing you of this, but Link lost all of his memories. He has a few of them back now, but some are still missing. For a boy his mental age, he has a lot resting on his shoulders. He puts on a good face for everyone, but I can see in his eyes how lonely he is."

"I don't understand. Why are you telling me this?"

"He won't tell you himself, but I think you need to know. I'm sure you've picked up on the fact that he is a bit abnormal. His purpose is far greater than most are willing to comprehend. You seem rather curious, so I thought you might want to know. That way you can help him properly, without upsetting him with questions. His past is a rather touchy subject," she explains.

"Not to be rude, but this information is not really useful to me. Link has left already," you explain.

"I'm aware. This is me asking you to go after him. He needs someone out there with him, to look after him. I can sense you are special. Not everyone can have such an effect on Link."