The Legend of Zelda: Oneshot Compendium

Sands of Time (Link x Sheik)

A/N: before we begin, Sheik is male, don't like don't read. And don't argue either, to each their own opinion, and last time I checked, I didn't ask for your opinion either.

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"I'm going to send you back seven years.. Thank you for saving Hyrule.. For saving us all.. Now go Link, regain your lost time!"

Zelda was about to send Link back to the day before it all happened when his voice stopped her in her tracks. "Wait! I can't go back! Not yet, not now!" Zelda looked at the hero puzzles by his sudden outburst. "What do you mean, Link? You gave up your childhood, and now that you have the chance to regain that time, you dont want to? What's keeping you? What have you not finished?" Link hung his head low, keeping his gaze trained on the ground before him. Truth was, there was something keeping him here, something he wasn't going to leave without knowing. "I need you to tell me the truth about Sheik..." Zelda's eyes widened. "What do you mean? In the Temple of Time I-"
"Zelda I just need to know! I know what happened in the Temple of Time, but every part of me thinks that you're.. that you-" Zelda looked up at him. "That I'm what?" She asked, genuinely confused by the heroes behaviour. He couldn't have figured it out, could he? "That you're lying! Sheik wasn't really you in disguise.. was he...?" So he did figure it out. Zelda sighed softly. "No Link, he wasn't... He was just as much his own self as you or I. How did you figure it out?" Link didn't know how to answer. He honestly didn't know what made him come to that conclusion. "I just.. don't know. He seemed different from you. The vibe I felt from him, the way he acted, and I wouldn't think that you would have stuck around by my side knowing Ganondorf was watching me the whole time." Zelda smiled softly. "You're very wise Link.. but why does the mystery of Sheik keep you here?" Why did the thought of never seeing Sheik again stop him? That was something Link could definitely answer. "Because I.. really liked the time we got to spend together.. I really like.. him." Zelda smiled brightly at the hero. "I can't tell you where he is, because I honestly don't know where he went off to after our meeting in the temple, but Impa could surely tell you. If you are absolutely certain that this is what you want, then I will not send you back." Link nodded, he was more certain of this than anything else.

After their talk, Zelda informed Impa of what they had discussed. Impa had agreed to tell Link where Sheik had gone, but not just for Link's sake. Impa had seen Sheik after he had left the temple. She watched him as he hid in the shadows of the hallway, tears in his eyes at having to leave the hero's side, having to live his life knowing that the hero didnt think he was ever real. The sight broke Impa's heart. Sheik did a lot to help Link save this land, and this is what he got in return? Impa wouldn't be able to live with herself if she hadn't taken this chance to reunite the two. "You will have to go very deep into the Gerudo Wasteland if you'll ever find him. Sheik returned to our village to take over as general just after leaving the Temple of Time." Link looked up at Impa confused. "I thought Kakariko was your village?" Impa chuckled softly at his confusion. "It is a village I have founded and live in yes, but it is not the Sheikah tribe's village. We make our home far past the desert, away from prying eyes. Unseen by any and all, such is the Sheikah way. But my princess has told me to reveal that location to you, and I am in no position to oppose her majesty." Link nodded before Impa continued, "And.. I suppose I would be lying if I said I had no desire to do this. Sheik hasnt been himself since he had to leave. He misses you terribly Link. I cannot stand to see one of my own go through such torment." Link smiled sadly. It would seem that Sheik was feeling just as he was.

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Impa had given Link a map which included the Sheikah Village before sending him on his way. Link happily accepted before taking out his ocarina and playing the requiem of spirit that Sheik had taught him not that long ago. Sheik.. he couldn't wait to see him again.

As he stood before the desert colossus, Link examined his map on which way he should continue from there. It seemed almost simple, just go straight back from the sandy goddess for a while and you'll be there, too simple really. This made him weary, but he pushed on anyways. Nothing was going to keep him any longer.

The sandstorms were brutal, knocking him back time and time again, and yet he continued forward. Even as sand threw itself to his eyes he persisted. He had to be somewhat close, he had to. Exhaustion was taking its toll on him, forcing him to his knees in the swirling landscape of dunes known as the wasteland. His eyes grew weary, slowly slipping closed. He could have swore he saw a group of people, at least five, circling around him. Link knew he should have gotten up to defend himself, but his eyes were already closed tightly, tired body slumping to the sandy floor beneath him

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Hushed voices surrounded him, a cacophony of panicked and agitated whispers filling his ears. "How did he get so close?" One said. "Who told the hylian where we were hiding?" A more agitated voice said. The panic and arguing continued to flood the room before a voice steady as a river's flow, yet strong like a raging storm stopped them all with a single word. "Enough." That voice.. Link swore he knew that voice. "Now one of you tell me what has caused this panic to arise." That same voice said. Link was now trying to force himself awake, he needed to see the owner of that voice. "It is a Hylian, sir. No one knows how he found us. He collapsed in the desert just outside the village gates." Link scoffed inwardly at himself. Right outside the gate? Really Link? "A hylian you say? Stand aside." A voice protested, "Sir I think it would be best if we removed him before he could wake up." No response. The owner of the voice Link so desperately wanted to know was now approaching him. The footsteps slowed and soon came to a complete stop as a soft gasp filled the room. "Link..? How did he.. I dont understand, how could he-"
"I sent him." It was Impa. "I sent him because you've both been miserable. He knows, Sheik, he knows the truth of you. He had it figured out by the time Ganon was sealed away. He demanded us to be honest, and so the Princess told him everything. It was she who commanded me to reveal your whereabouts to him." Silence filled the room. Did Impa say Sheik? Sheik as in, his Sheik? "He.. demanded to know the truth about me..? He's never demanded anything in his life, Impa are you certain that this is the truth? Or are you just covering his arrival?" Link slowly worked his eyes open, gazing upon the scene unfolding before him. Slowly and quietly, he rose and sat up on the edge of the bed he had been laid on. "I speak only the truth to you Sheik. The hero refused to be sent back to regain his lost time. He demanded to know the truth. He pleaded to know where to find you. I can see how this might be a shock to you, but that boy. That hylian. The Hero of Hyrule himself was not going to be content until we told him." Sheik was absolutely dumbfounded. He came all this way.. just to see him? "I still dont understand.. why would he give up the chance to have his childhood back.. just to see me?" Impa smiled softly. "For the same reasons you wished for him to return. Now here he is, and you still question the how's and why's instead of turning around, noticing that he has been awake for five minutes now, and embracing him." A look of pure confusion blossomed across Sheik's face, but he slowly turned around to face the hero behind him. Ruby red met Sapphire blue, and in a split second, faster than anyone in the room could comprehend, Sheik was in the hero's arms, hands clutching desperately into the thick green material of his tunic. Impa smiled at the sight before clearing the room, leaving the hero and his shadow guide alone with each other. Tears had made their way from Sheik's eyes, lightly soaking the hero's tunic. Link pulled him back slightly, hands still gently clasped onto the Sheikah's upper arms. "I was afraid that.. that you would live your life thinking that I was just Zelda in disguise.. that you'd go off with her and forget about everything we went through together.." Link pulled him against his chest tightly.

And for the first time

The Sheikah finally heard the Hylian speak

"How could I ever forget you?"