Linked

The Secret

Even after Sailor leaves, I continue to add to the drawing, and eventually, start a few new one's. One's of the sea and of islands, as I let my imagination guide me. Pictures of places and people and battles. By the time I stop, the sun is gone, and the moon is shining brightly in the sky. I look at all the pictures I have, and smile. Then, carefully, I walk over to my shelf, and take out a blank notebook that Goro got me on his last trip to Castle Town. 

I open it up to the first page, and begin to write.

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When I wake up the next morning, I smile to myself. I stayed up almost all night, trying to finish this new book. I think that Sailor will like it. 

"Morning" says Ranch hand as I come downstairs. "Morning. Where's everyone else?" He shrugs. "Either still asleep or hiding. All six of us let Warriors and Legend have it as soon as we got back to our room last night. Are you alright kid?" I nod, and then look up at him as I start to make breakfast for myself. "Why do you guys have funny names?" he looks down at me, and laughs. "What?" he asks, still laughing. I shrug. "Well, Legend, Warriors, Captain, Veteran. Not to mention Bird Boy, Ranch Hand, Sailor, what's up with that?" He stops laughing and looks down at me. "Well, has your father... shared with you.... his adventures... from when he was younger?" I look at him, confused. "You mean, the fact that he's a night, and friends with the queen? Yeah, I know that. What adventure?" He raises an eyebrow. "The whole Hero of Time thing?" he asks. 

"Hero of Time? I've heard the stories. What does my father have to do with it?" His face goes pale. "Oh, never mind.... Um... They're just nicknames" he smiles, calmly. "Oh.... what's your real name then?" I ask. "Um.... well.... My real name is Twilight..... I just work on a ranch so..." Someone comes in. "What are you guys talking about?" asks Ruto, stretching and walking into the kitchen. "Um.... Nothing...." says Twilight. "We were talking about the Hero of Time. Do you know if dad knew him" Ruto looks at me, then at Twilight, and forces a laugh. "What? N - No! Of course not! Why don't you go get out of your nightgown and get some real cloths on" she tells me, then turns to Twilight. "We need to talk. Alone" He nods slowly, and I run upstairs, and into my bedroom. 

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"Sit down" Ruto demands. It feels odd, being bossed around by a girl who's over four years younger than me. But I obey, and sit down at the table, across from where she's sitting. Finally getting a good look at her. She has tanned skin and long red hair, like her mother. For a moment I wonder, could she be Gerudo? And if she's either my aunt or my mother. Does that mean that I'm... I shake off the thought. "I wish you hadn't talked about the Hero of Time around her" she says, pushing her hair away from her face, and revealing her deep brown eyes. "Do you know?" she cuts me off. "Yes, Goro and I know. Dad told us when we were fifteen, and he was going to do the same with her. If he lives that long. But Twilight, she can't know. There are people, and demons, who want to see him dead. And the more people who know, the more at risk we, and our friends, are at risk" I nod slowly. "But don't you think she has a right to know?"

"Yes, she does" says a voice. We both turn to face the Old Man, who is leaning against the the door frame, and watching us both. "Oh, dad.... I was just...." his eyes flicker to Ruto. "Why don't you go wake up your brother. Tell him we need all the help we can get today. Your grandfather is coming home today" she nods and scrambles away. "I'll tell the others once they're up.... I should have told you all earlier. Kokiri doesn't know.... she can't know" I think about telling him about the whole drawing thing, but keep my mouth shut. "Hey Time?" I finally ask as he begins to walk towards the kitchen. "Yeah pup?" he asks. "Is Malon Gerudo?" I ask as he picks up a plate and begins to serve himself breakfast. He drops it and it shatters on the floor. "Time, what's wrong?" He shakes his head and begins to pick up the pieces. "Oh... nothing... butter fingers I guess. Malon's going to kill me...."

He never gets to answer my question. "GIVE IT BACK!" comes a voice from the other room. "What's this, a love letter?" asks Goro, teasing Kokiri, coming into the room and sitting at the table, ignoring Time and I. He opens up the small book and reads the first page. "Or to the Hero of Winds" he teases. Kokiri grabs the book. "It's not a love letter. It's a present. Dad! Goro keeps taking my stuff" she informs Time. "Goro, leave your sister alone" Goro grumbles something and sits back in his seat. "What is that anyways?" asks Time, looking at the book in her hands. "It's a surprise. For Sailor" she says, grinning. "I stayed up all night writing it" Time rises an eyebrow. "Well... not all night" 

"What's it called?" asks Goro, only half paying attention. "The Wind Waker" she replies. "I had a dream a few nights ago about the ocean, so I made it into this" She shrugs and looks up at me. "Where did you get that tattoo?" she asks. "Oh... um... I got it from..... a friend. She did it for me" I lie. "What's her name?" she questions. "Midna" I say a little to quickly. "Her name was Midna" Kokiri raises an eyebrow, and then shrugs and nods. "You're grandfathers going to be home. Just for the day. To pick up a few things before he makes his next delivery in Castle Town" She looks up. "Oh, great!" says Kokiri, excitedly. "I'm sure he'll love to meet them all" says Malon, coming out of seemingly no where. Time rolls his eyes. "Oh, Talon doesn't believe half the stuff I tell him" Malon rolls her eyes. "None sense he loves to hear about your adventures as the hero of...." she looks at Kokiri. "As a knight" Time laughs. "He loves to humor me, that's for sure. I swear, if it weren't for the kids he would have kicked me out a long time ago"

"Oh please, Talon and you get along just fine" she says, kissing him on the cheek. "Yeah, he was fine with me marrying you until we actually started dating. Damn, the things that man would say when you weren't around" Kokiri bites down on her lip, hiding a laugh. Malon rolls her eyes again. "Oh please, he easily gave you his blessing to marry me" Time's eye widens. "Easily... yeah... sure...." he smiles and kisses her, before heading for the door.