Zelda was staring at me intently; my own eyes were turned to the floor respectfully, but I could practically feel her gaze burning into the side of my head.

Impa came back into the room. "I believe we can speak now without interruption," she said. Like me, she no longer seated herself in front of royalty, and stood, tapping one hand on her elbow. She nodded to me. "If the Queen wishes, you will tell her your story."

"Impa, don't be rude!" exclaimed Zelda. "I'm not going to command him to do anything. He is the Hero of Time! And the man who saved me from Ganondorf!" Then she looked at me; after seven years, it had become more than just habit to wear the face mask and head wrap at all times, and I had donned it just after her graceful faint. Her eyes were uncertain as she asked, "You are him, aren't you... Link?"

The corner of Impa's mouth twitched, but she remained stern. I sighed. "Yes. I was Link."

"Tell me," she said, but it was not a tone of command. "Please? I beg you."

"Yes, your Majesty," I replied, and as she cringed, amended, "Yes, Zelda."

Seven Years Ago

A brilliant flash of light. For a moment I was frozen, unable to move. Then I let go of the Master Sword and stepped away.

I stared at it: yes, I was once again in the Temple of Time. But had it been seven years?

"Look!" Navi said, in excitement. "Look, Link! You're small again!"

Oh, no. I closed my eyes in anticipation. I remembered her saying something to that extent (except quite the opposite) a very long time ago, just as I had emerged from the Sacred Realm for the first time, horrified and clumsy.

Now I opened my eyes, extending my arms before me. A great gush of something like relief flooded through me at the sight of my small hands, rounded arms that just barely showed the promise of adulthood. The wretched tights were gone once more, I discovered, as were my weapons. I could have danced for joy.

"I'm back, Navi!" I shouted, and skipped once around the Master Sword, feeling more free than I ever had. The war with Ganondorf seemed like a game from a previous life: I was a kid again!

Someone behind me cleared their throat; I could have died when I turned and saw Impa, face impassive. "Welcome back, Hero," she said, and I fidgeted. "The Evil One has been defeated?"

It took me a moment to realize what she was talking about. "Yes," I answered, suddenly feeling very young and stupid, especially with my squeaky boy's voice. "Ganondorf is locked in the Sacred Realm. Hyrule is safe."

"Good," she replied, husky voice seemingly indifferent to the fate of her land. I watched her warily as she approached me. "Let me tell you what has transpired thus far. Zelda has been taken far away, beyond the Lost Woods, where Ganondorf cannot reach her. In the meantime, he has killed her father and taken over dominion of Hyrule. I had planned to remain with the Princess..." her voice grew deeper here, and I feared what was coming next, "... but a dream sent me back to Hyrule Castle."

After a moment of silence, I gulped and asked obligatorily, "What dream?"

She suddenly smiled, and some of the intimidation left my heart. "That the Hero of Time would return and be of great use to his people a second time over." She paused to take a deep breath, then continued. "I was to return to the Temple of Time and take the Hero, returning anew from his battles with the Evil One, to train as one of the Sheikah." With some asperity, she added, "Meaning that you are to become my novice, Hero."

One of the Sheikah? I was to join... I gaped at her as a small, excited hope sprang into my heart. "You mean... am I going to get to train with Sheik?!"

She didn't even blink. "Since that is the name we use for novice Sheikah, and as of right now I have no apprentices, I think it more likely that you are going to become Sheik."

There was a long silence as my jaw worked and I tried to think of something to say.

"Wow!" exclaimed Navi, in my ear. I could happily have swatted her.