"A Trail of Tears and Deceit"

As Zelda approached the castle gate, her eyes scanned the ground, searching for any sign of Link or Sofia. The blonde hair she had found earlier had given her a glimmer of hope, and she was determined to follow every lead, no matter how small. As she rounded the corner of the gate, her heart sank. There, on the ground, lay a long, blonde ponytail. Zelda's eyes widened as she recognized it immediately. It was a ponytail she had seen before, one that she had grown accustomed to seeing on the hero of Hyrule, Link. Her mind reeled as she processed the sight. It was a ponytail that, if it had been up to her, would still be attached to Link's head. A pang of sadness and worry washed over her as she realized that Sofia must have cut it off. Zelda's eyes welled up with tears as she knelt down beside the ponytail. Next to the ponytail lay a piece of parchment, folded into a neat square. Zelda's heart skipped a beat as she recognized Sofia's handwriting on the front. Her hands trembled as she unfolded the paper and read the note. "Dear Zelda, I'm taking him away from you, just as I always planned. You think you're so much better than me, with your precious hero and your perfect kingdom. But I'll show you what true power looks like. I'll show you what it means to cross me. Link is mine now, and he'll never be yours again. You'll never see him, never speak to him, never touch him. He's mine, and I'll make sure he knows it. You'll never find us, Zelda. We'll be long gone, and you'll be left with nothing but memories of the hero who was supposed to save you. Yours, Sofia" Zelda's eyes burned as she read the note, her heart heavy with sorrow and anger. She felt as though she had been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. How could Sofia do this? How could she be so cruel and heartless? Zelda's mind reeled with thoughts of revenge and anger, but as she looked down at the ponytail, she felt a wave of sadness wash over her. She had grown to care for Link, to rely on him, and now he was gone. Taken by the very person she had trusted. Zelda's face twisted in a mixture of sadness and anger as she crumpled the note in her hand. She would find Sofia and Link, no matter what it took. She would make Sofia pay for what she had done, and she would get Link back. The thought drove her to her feet, and she stood tall, her determination burning brighter than ever before. She would not rest until justice was served, and until Link was safe and back in Hyrule.