Dearly Departed

Zelda was as confused as Konbei was. "The fact is, you're back and I'm just so happy."

She looked at the two of them. "Know this, I would never leave you guys behind without saying anything."

Deserax had rushed to the castle after seeing the huge light burst form it. Soon enough he was where the commotion was. He looked in the crowed and saw Konbei, Gwene, and a sight that made him fall on his knees. His brother. He rushed past a few people, knocking them down in the process. Once he got to his brother he gave him a hug like it was the last one he would get.

"Where the hell have you been!" Deserax shouted.

"Woah woah! Deserax? That you?" Dalikos said after seeing how much older Deserax was. Deserax explained the five years to him.

Out in the desert, a shadow of someone sprinted through the sand towards the Arbitor prison.

"Yeah I know," Konbei said. "You're not hurt or anything are you?"

"Not at all." Gwene said looking over herself, she did notice that her bust was a little bigger, but that was something she felt she didn't need to mention.

The crowd behind her had began to disperse, seeking to continue their lives.

"Well... What now?" Konbei said, still a little confused and surprised.

"Well. I could imagine it would be hard, but we could keep going with where we were before." Gwene said. "Unless, in the five years you found someone else, in which case, I completely understand." her voice fell soft.

"There's no one else," Konbei said. "You don't ever have to worry about that. You've always got dibs on me."

Gwene couldn't help but smile, she leapt into his arms and held him closely.

Konbei wrapped his arms around her, it felt good to hold her again. Her familiar scent was warm and it made him feel at home again.

Gwene looked at him and smoothed some of the hair from his face "The years have been kind to you. You look even more handsome."

Konbei smirked at the ego-boosting compliment. "Heh, I'm glad you think so," he said. "

"I feel we should make up for lost time." Gwene said, kissing him on the lips. "I still wish to fulfill the promise I made... back then. Remember?"

"Yeah, of course I remember," Konbei said. "Why don't we go do that now?"

Gwene raised an eyebrow and smirked "You read my mind." she said "Seeing as we are together, take us to the hot spring up in Death Mountain."

"Sure," Konbei said and warped them both to the hot spring.

"Perfect." She looked around them and spotted a few gorons nearby, but they hadn't spotted them. She took Konbei's hand and quickly lead him to the cliffs, to a hidden path. "This way."

Gwene lead Konbei down the path for the next 20 minutes to what seemed to be an Oasis. The greenest of grasses growing around them, a cool water supply flowing from a small fall into a rockpool. A hotspring was also nearby and the steam issued from it. One final pond which was nice and cool was close to the water supply. Over near the hot springs were a few bushes and tree's growing, rich fruit was growing there. All around them they were surrounded by small cliffs, it was a nice secluded area that no one knew about.

Gwene looked at Konbei for his approval. "What do you think? I happened across this place by accident during the investigations."

Konbei looked around and nodded. "Yeah, I like it, it's pretty."

Gwene wrapped her arms around his neck and proceeded to kiss him on the lips "No one knows of this place, so now we are free to do what we wish."

(To the Citrus.)

After most of those that had been missing for the past 5 years had gone, a little girl was still there, looking around for someone.

Zelda spotted the little girl and went over to her "Hi there. What's your......" she paused when she got a better look at her "....name?"

The little girl looked up and Zelda "Niamh. I'm looking for my Mama."

Zelda nodded "I see. It is getting a little late, why don't you come with me and we can look for your Mother in the morning."

The little girl smiled up at Zelda, it was all to familiar to Zelda to see that "Okay!"

Zelda held out her hand and the little girl took it and Zelda lead them both back up to the castle.

Dane walked down the familiar street to his mansion. There were small changes to the surrounding buildings that he had never seen before. The gentry shrugged and continued walking. He probably just never noticed them before.

Suddenly he stopped in the middle of the street; his last memories rushed back into his mind. It was the middle of the night when it happened. He had heard the back door open and close, so he seized Turpis and Laevus to investigate, assuming that a burglar had picked the lock and came to rob him while he slept. It was incredibly dark, but Dane couldn't afford to light a candle and alert the robber that he was awake, so he crept in the blackness while relying on his ears to detect where the theif was.

When the young gentry felt he was close enough to strike, he leapt at the theif. The bastard must have heard him coming because he moved out of the way and kicked him into one of the porcelin vases. The two fought blindly throughout the mansion, neither being able to get a grip on the other. The theif must have won, because he woke up in Hyrule Castle. Had he been abducted?

Dane ran to his house to make sure nothing had been stolen. To his shock the door had been changed, as well as the lock on it. He jossled the knob in frustration and eventually started banging on the door.

A man in his mid-thirties unlocked the door and stood in the doorway. "What is it?" he barked.

"Wha? What are you doing in my house?!"

"I'm not in your house, I'm in my house!"

"Since when?!"

"Since the previous owner disappeared five years ago!"

"That's impossible." Dane stared, shocked at what he was hearing. "I've lived here for three years now! All my things are in here!"

The stranger opened the door fully and moved to the side, giving Dane a look inside. "Do you mean these things?" the stranger asked.

Dane couldn't believe his eyes. All his furniture, all his books, all his art; everything was gone. In their place were possessions of the man.

"I...I don't understand..."

The man clearly had enough of his madness and closed the door in Dane's face. The young gentry banged loudly on the door again, trying to get the man to open it again, but his cries only got strange stares from people across the street. Eventually he left the doorstep steamed and shocked.

"So I'm homeless." he told himself. "Uncle Attics would be able to help me."

With new resolve, Dane made his way to the castle in search of the captain.

Zelda had bought Niamh into the castle, she knelt down in front of the curious girl who was looking around and taking in her surroundings. "What do you think?"

"It's so big!" Niamh exclaimed.

Zelda smiled "It is, isn't it." she paused for a moment, not sure what else to ask "Are you hungry or anything like that?"

Niamh nodded.

"What would you like?" Zelda asked

Niamh shrugged, she normally ate what was put in front of her and didn't have a choice.

"Why don't we go to the kitchens and see if we can't find something you like." Zelda said.

Niamh nodded and let Zelda lead her to the kitchens.

Dane tried looking for Attics in the banquet hall connected to the kitchen, but could not find him.

Zelda had bought Niamh to the kitchens, where cooks were preparing food, they all froze when Zelda entered. She smiled at them and they continued to work.

She took Niamh around each of the stations where Niamh tasted one of everything, but seemed to enjoy the Pumpkin Soup the most. Zelda found that to be a little strange, because the person Niamh looked oddly like enjoyed Pumpkin Soup also.

With their minds made up, Zelda took Niamh up to one of the guest bedrooms where the soup would be bought to.