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Dawn breaks on Lake Hylia, as it has ten thousand times before and will ten thousand times afterward- but this once, the sight is different. Today, for the first time in seven years, the sun's rays sparkle down on clear water rather than dry, lifeless riverbeds.

It means one thing: the Water Temple is cleansed, the new Sage has awoken, and all around, the lake is coming back to life.

"You did it, Link...." she murmurs, looking out at a world restoring itself.

She must be very distracted, because at that moment a hand grasps her shoulder. Startled, she twists to the side and pulls out a dagger toward-

"Sheik! It's me!"

The hero of the hour himself throws out his hands, looking a bit sheepish.

"Link? I'm sorry-"

"No," he shakes his head, somehow laughing. "I shouldn't have startled you."

Behind him, Navi the fairy lets out a tinkling laugh. "Now look who we caught daydreaming."

"Hey," Link chides, "I thought I got in a pretty good sneak attack. I'm glad I caught you, Sheik. Ruto wanted me to thank you for her."

"She did?" Somehow, she hadn't expected that. " I see... we have to return peace to Hyrule for her sake, too. Right?"

"Yeah." He grins at her, and its a terribly charming smile for a man who spent his last week neck-deep in monsters. "So long as I never have to carry her around again. I think I've done enough of that for lifetime.

She has to look away; thankfully there's plenty of distraction. "I think she'll be busy for the forseeable future. But look around, Link. Do you see? The lake is filling with water... all will be as it was."

For a moment, they stand side by side, looking into the wide world about them. And she thinks... it's almost tempting....

Then Navi calls out to her companion, and Link turns aside to answer; the spell of the moment breaks.

She takes a step back, not tearing her eyes away (from the lake? From- no, that's absurd-) and escapes in a flash.