FWIP! FWIP! FWIP! "Nailed em!" Link said exited, pulling out a new arrow. The heat of the desert was intense, but it too helped his training. He couldn't be sure where his battles would take place, so he would be sure that he could fight in any kind of environment. He had spent his last month shooting icicles in the ice cavern, and now he was nailing bulls eyes at the Gerudo training grounds. Winning the trust of the gerudo's was training in itself. they were fierce in battle, and Link's strength at least doubled when he did so. He was now welcomed to the fortress, but he would still battle with them occasionally, to try out new techniques, and battle styles.

He was content with his training for today. The sun would set soon, and he still had to make a stop in Kakariko. His teleporting gem was still resting around his neck, but if he walked, he would become stronger, even if by only a little. He did feel bad for Epona though. Link only rode her when he had to carry heavy cargo, delivering things for the royal family. He felt compelled to do so. He was officially the body guard to princess Zelda, but she didn't need too much guarding lately. not to mention he was never at the castle, he was always busy training.

Link made one stop on his way to Kakariko. There was a small flower patch growing near Lon Lon ranch. He stopped there, and picked two white flowers. They were a bit wilted, but he had a feeling nobody would mind.

"Knil." he said to the grave in front of him, "you'll be pleased to know that my training is going well. That bastard Zak, he will pay for doing this to you buddy." Link smiled, as he put one of the flowers against the grave. He walked to a nearby grave. "Ken, you won't be as pleased. I haven't been practicing my magic as much as i should, but to defeat Zak, i'll need to be able to match him in sword play. though, you will be happy to know that i've finally learned to cook something. Just a loaf of bread, but it's better than nothing." he smiled again, and left the second lower.

The wind picked up as he began to leave. His long bangs, and his cap began to move slightly. "I have a bad feeling." he said, entering the village. He could stop by the shooting gallery, but the owner might not allow him entrance. Link had claimed many prizes from him, including his dog. He was once offer the owner's wife as a prize, though he quickly turned her down.

No, going home was his best option for now. Princess Zelda would always tell him how much he worried her. Though when it came right down to it, he wasn't sure why. Yes, he once had feelings for the princess, but now, he felt it was because he had to. He felt that, because he was the hero, and she was the princess, they were supposed to be together. Now, the spark he once felt had died. He had no woman who he could call his woman. He had never felt anything towards Malon, and if he did, he would be disrespecting Knil, and Princess Ruto... well, she was a fish. Saria was more like a sister, and the little girl forever thing got in the way as well. He knew other girls, but no body made him feel like he was in love.

He couldn't care less about woman right now, though. His main priority was becoming stronger, so that he could defeat Zak. His friends said he was over doing it, but he didn't care. Becoming stronger was for the best. He knew that once Zak was brought done, a new evil force would show up, and he would need to destroy that evil too. It seemed that it was destiny, that the goddesses never wanted Link to rest.

Link had arrived at the market's front gate. The princess had ordered the guards to keep the bridge open, until Link returned at night. They had no problems with this request, as monsters no longer showed themselves at night. Link had taken care of that problem when he destroyed the Zombie King, and his magic black stone.

He could hear the bridge closing as he slowly walked through the town. The market stalls were all closing up, and the dogs were being let loose. Link couldn't stand them. Once they started following him, they never stopped. He picked up the pace, jogging towards the castle. He knew he would be scolded by Zelda, and decided he would just get it over with. The guards all knew to let him through by now, it had been near 5 years since he had become one of them. A few of them weren't on his good side though. They were the ones who he had snuck past as a child, and now at such a young age, he out ranked them. Very few actually treated Link as a friend, one of them was actually good friends with him. His name was Aloc. He was once the partner of Zak, but was never on the side of evil. He practiced a strange art, known as alchemy. Link didn't understand much, but it was indeed useful. He once saw Aloc make a bar of gold from a brick of, lead he beleived it was called. When Zak showed his true colors, Aloc decided to join the royal guard, and Link was able to make it happen.

"LINK, Where have you been!?" the princess yelled from the window above.
"I was in the desert today!" he called up, "didn't i mention that this morning?"
"NO, all you said was you were going to train, again." she said again in an annoyed tone.
"Sorry, I'll be sure to be more specific next time! Hold on, I'll be up in a minute!"

This time Link sprinted as fast as he could into the castle. If he took more than a minute, he would hear it from Zelda. A few people gave him various looks, he didn't care though. Impa tried to stop him, she had some papers in her hand, but Link just kept on running. He went up a set of stairs, and turned a corner, "OOOF!" he nocked into somebody, and started to fall back towards the stairs. He thought fast, drawing the dagger at his side, and sticking it into the wall. The dagger supported him, and he was able to keep his footing.

"I'm sorry," he said, looking at the girl he had bumped into, "I really shouldn't be running around like... that..." Link was awe-struck. She had shoulder length, silver hair, and beautiful silver eyes. She wore a long white dress, with a black vest over it, and she was about three inches shorter than Link was. "Are you okay?" she asked. Link realised he was staring at her.
"Yeah, I'm.... I'm great, excellent." he responded with a big grin.
"Really, well... sorry." she stood up, and walked past Link, heading down the stairs. Link pulled his dagger out of his wall, and put it back in it's sheath. "Wow!" was all he could say, as he started to go after her, but stopped, "Right, the princess." He turned around, and went right to Zelda's room.