Hyrule Field

Link's blue eyes widened in awe and fear when he saw that he was no longer in the forest when he stepped through the tree hollow. There were a few trees alongside a set of rocky walls, but they were not packed or vibrant like those he had known all his life. They were still green and bore leaves, but it seemed that the nourishment of the forest didn't reach them, making them smaller and thinner in size. The environment Link stepped into was drastically different than his home, and he found himself stepping back, somewhat hesitant to continue. He wouldn't vocalize it, but he couldn't deny his fear.

"It's ok," Navi assured him. "Just take a few steps more," she urged him. He then, albeit slowly, walked forward. "Yes, that's it," the fairy encouraged. "Go on; you can do it."

Link continued, his fairy's words pushing him forward. True, he was still scared (even if he dared not say so), but the boy remembered why he had gone outside of the forest's borders. He had to leave the woods to go to the castle. For The Great Deku Tree and Saria. Eventually, Link turned a corner and was blinded by a great sphere rising over the horizon. Finally, after a few moments, the boy could see what the sunlight had revealed.

As far as his eyes could see, a sprawling plain of green grass lay before him, a few sparse trees littering the landscape. High stone walls surrounded the area, and at that moment, Link's fear and trepidation were replaced with sheer awe and bewilderment. So this was what lay on the other side of the Lost Woods? It was all new to him, but so far, it didn't appear threatening. Daresay, Link felt excitement welling up in his chest and a sense of familiarity. This place looked familiar, a sight from one of his dreams.

"You ok?" Navi questioned. Even if Link was relatively quiet at most times, she wanted an answer as to whether or not he was all right. Finally, realizing that she was asking him a question, Link nodded. "Well, ok," she said. "So," she looked ahead at the massive field before them. "Guess it's time to set out."

Link nodded. "Guess so," he said quietly. Then, with a few more steps, he was officially in the great field. And once he took his first steps, he continued walking, the fairy following close by.

From on high, a pair of eyes were watching him. "The Cycle has begun yet again," then a brief period of silence followed. "Only now, I sense this chain of events will change everything."

Far Away Distance

"He did not kill him when he had the chance." one of the two figures in the darkened chamber said; they and their twin looked over the vast cauldron of black, the image of a boy in a vast field in the liquid's reflection.

"For once, his growing arrogance has paid off," the other figure said, eyes watching the boy intently. "I was fearful we would have to go and collect him from the Lost Woods ourselves."

Both figures had women's voices, yet significantly aged, indicating they were elderly, or perhaps even beyond that. Indeed, hundreds, maybe thousands of years separated them and the young child they spied on; neither was entirely sure. Moreover, they had long forgotten such details, only remembering significant events. And much of those were feats of violence and bloodshed to get to where they were now. Finally, all their efforts would come to fruition.

"Our dear ruler found our ally in the forest," the figure previously speaking continued. "If that boy has what that tree denied our King, then our dear friend won't be controlling the forest as he thought."

"His ambitions are too small to be concerned over," the other figure argued. "He only seeks conquest of a forest. He cannot comprehend the importance of our work."

"True, yet he may prove to be of use later. And not just for giving directions to the Kokiri Forest," both twins stared down at the young boy that had just started his journey, having traveled a reasonable distance already.

"Still, I wonder if this is the right child," one of them wondered, the cooler head of the two. "He seems quite clueless about what he is getting into."

"All the better," the other answered. "Then he'll be easy to string along."

"Perhaps. Assuming he listens to that fairy companion of his." Both figures continued to observe the image of the boy traveling across the vast field. "He is our enemy, yet those are the ones that should be kept even closer than allies," both smiled. "It's even better when your enemy has no idea you exist."

Hyrule Field

He needed a break.

Despite his previous drive to move forward, Link couldn't deny his legs rest any longer. Finding a sizable boulder nearby, the boy sat down and sighed, his limbs feeling quite tired from walking. "Don't get too winded just yet," Navi told him, sitting on his shoulder. "We've still got a long way to go."

That was easy for her to say, Link thought. After all, she was the one that could fly. But nevertheless, he was curious about how far they had traveled. Looking back, he could still see the entrance to the Lost Woods in the distance, yet just barely. So that must've meant he traveled far, right?

"We've only gone a few miles," Navi told him. "We're still nowhere near the Castle."

What?! Link couldn't believe it! He was about to protest, but a growing need for food distracted him along with his groaning stomach.

"Of course, perhaps you need to eat a little something before you continue," the fairy suggested. "What did Saria pack for you again?"

Oh yeah, he nearly forgot! Link removed his shield and sack from his back and looked inside, finding some apples and water, along with the jar of pickled radishes. Link's choice was immediate, setting the apples back into the sack and opening the jar. He reached in, took out a thinly sliced vegetable, and bit into it, the crispness of the crop and tangy flavor making his tastebuds melt. Saria's ability to pickle her crops was unreal.

It was then that Navi noticed the boy's smile falter, clearly thinking about the green-haired girl. "Hey, it's not all bad," Navi assured Link. "After you go to the Castle, maybe you can pay her a visit," she said. "After all, I trust you'll stay with her for a while."

Link thought about Navi's words and found himself comforted. True, he could always go back and live with Saria. But, after what happened, he was still unsure if he would ever be welcome in the Kokiri Forest again. Saria said the forest would be fine, but Link still had doubts. Of course, he wouldn't dare call his friend a liar, but what could she do?

She was just a Kokiri, like himself. They didn't have power like the Great Deku Tree, so how could she do anything? But then, he realized something he thought he would've discovered long ago. Any Kokiri that exited the forest would die, but here he was, totally fine. As far as he knew, he was still among the living.

But Link shook his head, the distressing thought that had come to his mind banished immediately. No, he was a Kokiri. He was allowed to go outside the forest on behalf of the Great Deku Tree, and that was all. Once his task was done, he would return to the woods and live as a Kokiri, just like the others. But, unfortunately, the others probably still wouldn't let him back in.

"It seems you have quite a bit on your mind, my boy," Link jumped up, startled by the voice. Navi scanned the area for any sight of the one that had just spoken. "You spilled your jar, you know."

Link looked down and saw that he had dropped the radish jar. Quickly bending down and retrieving it, Navi was astonished by his actions. "Forget the jar! You can't get distracted! This person might be an enemy!"

"Enemy?" the voice spoke again. "Hoooo, well, that depends," the voice was male and deep, somewhat elderly. It almost reminded Link of the Great Deku Tree. "Usually, I am an enemy to those I catch," then, a great shadow came over Link from behind, the source standing atop the boulder. "But for you, I may be a great asset."

The boy and fairy turned around to see a behemoth bird sitting on the sizable rock Link had reclined against, one the blonde child had never seen before. But he believed he had heard of them; he sometimes saw them in the Lost Woods at night, burrowing in the trees and making their nests, hunting only at night. But what were they called? And even more, why did this one talk?

"Who...are you?" Link questioned, thankful that he was able to work out his words.

Despite possessing a beak and no lips, the bird appeared to grin. The bird was primarily dark brown with a lighter chest and bore long feathers that served as "eyebrows," allowing him to express emotion more than his more animalistic counterparts. However, these brows quirked in amusement as if the bird found what Link said humorously naive. And, indeed, this boy was. He had no idea of what lay ahead of him.

"I am, firstly, an owl," the bird answered. "But, if you must call me by a name, then address me as Kaepora Gaebora," he looked down upon the green-clad boy. "And I know who you are, Link of the Kokiri Forest."

Far Away Distance

"What is this?" one of the shadowy twins questioned, the arrival of the giant owl unexpected.

"It looks like a talking bird." the other answered sarcastically, which the former didn't care for much.

"I know what it is!" they retorted, folding their arms in frustration. "But what is he doing here? And what connection does he have with this child? Better yet, how does this owl speak?"

Neither could answer that question. So instead, the boy and owl continued to converse, the two continuing to observe the image presented in the cauldron's water. But, while neither said so, both were steadily growing nervous. While neither believed this owl would get too involved, any allies this child could gain could spell trouble in the future. Especially before he just barely got started with his journey.

Hyrule Field

"K-Kaepora...Gaeb-bora?" Link questioned, struggling to pronounce the owl's name. It was shocking that the owl even had a name, let alone the ability to speak.

"Indeed," the owl, Kaepora Gaebora, answered with a nod. "Don't force yourself to speak," he told the boy. "I will admit, it is not the easiest to say," he chuckled. "But the name is mine, so I am content with it."

"You've introduced yourself," Navi interjected, flying between Link and the brown-feathered bird. "And you say you know Link, but I don't think neither he nor, especially I, know you."

"No, you do not," the owl agreed. "I am friends with the Great Deku Tree," he told the two. "Well, I was," he noticed the boy's head lower. "I am deeply sorry about his death, yet your guilt is unnecessary," he assured the boy. "Without you, that foul creature and its spawn would've consumed the entire forest. But, instead, you succeeded in protecting your fellow Kokiri and the whole forest."

Link was shocked at what he had just heard, along with Navi. "Wait a minute," the fairy said, shocked. "You know about that? How?"

"The Great Deku Tree is not the only one who knows the whereabouts of the forest," Kaepora Gaebora answered. "I was the one who spotted the intruder in black enter, and I watched your journey through the Lost Woods to where you found that sword you carry," he then extended a great wing and gestured to Link's Kokiri Sword. "You may not have known it, but I have been observing you for some time, my boy. More than you realize."

Had this owl been watching him all this time? Link was unsure of what to make of this mysterious bird. Still, if he had been watching the boy, Link wanted to know why.

"The Great Deku Tree, despite the wound that took his life, knew that he was growing old, and his time was short," Kaepora Gaebora told Link and Navi. "Indeed, for as long as trees such as he lives, they do not live forever," he sighed, shaking his head. "Knowing this, he asked that I watch over you as you undertake the task he laid before you," he explained. "For while I trust my friend's judgment, your quest will not be easy. Indeed," he looked out at the vast field all around him. "You will face many things along your way, and not all of them will be as friendly as I."

Link, despite the warning, found himself growing curious. Just what kind of things was Kaepora Gaebora referring to? "Like...monsters?" he questioned.

"Perhaps," the owl confirmed. "But not just that, it is also who those beasts serve that you should be wary of," the bird told the boy. "The Castle is still a good few miles away, so I suggest you get going," he instructed Link. "Come night; the roads will become more perilous...?!" He paused, silencing himself.

"What's wrong?" Link questioned.

Then, Navi sensed it too. There was a foul presence nearby; a creature will foul intent. The only question was, where was it? What was it? "Take Link and make haste," Kaepora Gaebora told the fairy. "I shall take care of this."

What was it? Was something watching him? Link grabbed his sword, but the fairy shook her head. "You can use that later. But, for now, let's do as he says." Link was surprised, seeing as Navi had distrusted the owl not long before.

"Go on!" Kaepora Gaebora urged Link. "I shall watch over your journey! Focus on the main task at hand!" then, he spread his great wings and flapped, creating gusts of wind that made Link's clothes flutter in their wake. Navi had to hold onto the boy's hat to avoid being blown away. "Good luck, young Link!" Kaepora Gaebora bid the boy farewell, taking off into the air. "Keep on your way to the Castle! Find the Princess! Show her the Emerald!" with that, he departed, flying off.

The owl had left them. "Well, shall we?" Navi asked.

Link didn't entirely understand who this Kaepora Gaebora was, let alone if he could genuinely be believed, yet nevertheless, he still had a task to complete. Gathering his belongings, he sealed the jar and placed it back into the sack. Then, putting it and his shield onto his back, the boy and his fairy continued, the owl that had spoken to them spotting the one listening in on their conversation. In a nearby tree, a small, thin bird with dark mauve feathers and a bright, orange beak with a bald head and red-rimmed eyes looked down at the boy and fairy. But, unfortunately for it, the creature would no longer be able to continue spying, as a far more giant avian came to put a stop to it.

Far Away Distance

"Blast it!" the angrier of the two figures cursed; the Guay that had been sent out to track the boy had been broken and crushed in the great owl's talons. "Accursed bird!" they then looked up at their twin. The image in the cauldron disappeared, for it displayed all that was seen through the eyes of the Guay.

"He may be trouble," the figure's twin observed. "But he cannot be everywhere at once, no matter how quickly he flies," then, they snapped their fingers, and another Guay was summoned, flying out from the darker keeps of this foul place and to its masters. "And he can't kill all of these, no matter how hard he tries."

"That won't stop him from trying," the other argued. "And I doubt that he will be the only one that will wish to assist the boy in his task."

"Likely not," the twin agreed. "Still, if that's the case, they shall face the same dangers as he." They went to a darkened corner of the room, opening a cabinet full of various potions, elixirs, and other foul things they had mixed up for vile purposes. After a short period of searching, they finally found what they were looking for—a single bone, old and nearly reduced to dust. "There's never a shortage of these in the desert."

"Another lost soul?" the other figure questioned. Then they gave a dark chuckle. "When will they learn? Then again, they've been giving us a steady supply."

"And given that the boy's already slain the Gohma Queen, he will only get stronger," the old figure that held the bone crushed it with a bony hand, fingers long and wrinkled with extended, sharpened nails. "So, why not test his strength?" the dust from the crushed bone fell into the cauldron, caught in the vapors created by the heat of the boiling liquid. "And slow him down. Our dear King needs more time to prepare."

Then, they extended one digit in the direction of the floating dust, then pointed to the long, dark shaft going upward, out of the hidden, darkened chamber where terrible, dark things were done in secret. So the dust floated up, traveling on the vapors as it rose higher and higher until, at long last, it reached the outside. It rose above a vast, barren desert, traveling along the winds that flowed to the central part of Hyrule. Then, directly toward the enormous field of green, the sun was about to set over the horizon, just in time.

Hyrule Field

"You look like you've got something on your mind," Navi observed, Link, looking up at the fairy. "What's up?"

The blonde boy pondered how to word an answer. "I-It..." he began, yet, to his dismay, found his tongue not cooperating with him. "Isn't...it..." his face scrunched up in frustration, despising that he couldn't control when he could speak.

"If it's too hard, you don't have to," Navi assured him. "Take your time."

Link tried to calm himself, but he still could not properly articulate what he wanted to say. If he could get a single word out, that might be enough. Still, he had to say that word first. "E-Em...pty." he stammered.

"Huh?" Navi asked.

"Emp...ty," Link repeated. "This...place. It's...empty."

"Empty?" Navi questioned. Looking around, she wasn't entirely sure what Link meant. This grassland field wasn't completely void of other plants or landmarks. There were a few trees and bushes, so it wasn't empty. "What do you mean?" Link gestured to the area around them, unsure if he could speak anymore. "Like, no one else but you and me are out here?"

Link nodded. While he had known little of the world outside the Lost Woods, having just entered it today, he found that most of the terrain he had traveled was lacking in almost everything. The small space of the Kokiri Forest still had other homes and evidence of a community or civilization. But out here, there was no sign of that, no small villages, no houses, no one living anywhere. This entire field, while beautiful, felt very vast and lonely. It was almost sad in a strange sense.

"Look," Navi then said, getting the boy's attention. "The sun's going down," she observed, the great sphere of gold setting in the distance, the skies painted in smooth strokes of orange, pink, and violet. Then, she looked out into the distance, spotting something. "Hey, look!" she told Link, directing his line of sight. "There's a river running nearby!" Indeed, to the right, a short distance away, a long, winding river ran, the setting sun and colorful sky reflecting on the water's surface. "Wherever there's water, there's sure to be those using it! Let's follow it!"

Link agreed, running alongside the running water. In the clear, clean surface, he saw the great orb above him slowly sink behind the mountains in the distance, the orange, pink, and violet skies darkening to deep indigo and pitch black, the dark abyss filled with stars and the revealed moon. The field wasn't overly dark, primarily thanks to Navi's light, but Link couldn't help but feel nervous traveling at night. Unbeknownst to him, the dust of a crushed bone was riding the winds nearby, falling to the ground below, permeating the soil. Now that the dust was buried, the enchantment cast on it would allow those summoned to rise—not from underneath the earth but far, far more profound, darker places hidden away from the world.

"Scared?" Navi asked Link.

"N-No!" Link responded, putting on a brave face.

"No shame in admitting it," the fairy told the boy. "You're somewhere new, so it's a little scary."

Link shook his head. "Not scared!" he affirmed, puffing his chest out.

"Ok, if you say so," Navi answered. She then flew a short distance to see if she could spot anything. "I don't see the Castle yet," she said. "But there's something a few miles away. I think it's a house."

A house? So, there WAS someone that lived out here, Link thought. The only question was, who lived there? And, even more, was there anyone else out here?

"We could see if they know anything about how to get to the Castle," Navi suggested. "Even if he said he'd help us, I don't see that owl anywhere."

Indeed, Link thought. While he didn't know the owl, this Kaepora Gaebora hadn't been seen for a good while. So where was the owl now, if he was even anywhere nearby? Just who was he? He claimed to have known the Great Deku Tree and Link himself, yet the boy had just met the bird. He was still unsure what to make of him; should he be trusted?

The blonde thought he'd help fly Link to the castle. Then again, that could have been too easy. He didn't entirely understand it, still unsure of many things, but the main thing Link kept in his mind was to get to the Castle. From there, he would have to see what came next, when he would meet the Princess. It was then that it dawned on him: he was going to meet a Princess.

A real Princess.

His mind began to swim in possibilities, wondering everything all at once. What would she be like? What was her favorite color? How would he meet her? Where would he meet her? And even more, how would he get into the Castle to meet her?

"What's up with you now?" Navi questioned.

Link found himself able to verbalize what he wanted to say this time. "P-Princess," he muttered. Again, it was a little shaky but understandable.

"Oh, the Princess," the fairy said. "What about her? Are you worried she won't like you?" Link shook his head. "You're thinking about all those stories. About a Hero and a Princess?"

"N-No!" Link protested, yet Navi chuckled, still able to see pink come to his cheeks.

"Hey, no shame in admitting it! You're excited about meeting her, aren't you?" Link didn't answer, yet his silence was enough.

Unbeknownst to either of them, a shape began to stir from underneath the ground nearby. A body called from the darkest depths of the hidden realms no mortal could venture into. And it would use the vessel of the unfortunate souls lost to take shape in this world. Those lost to the fires and bloodshed that once stained these lands.

"Well, did the Great Deku Tree say anything about her?" Navi questioned Link. True, she had heard the tales the Guardian of the Forest told his children but nothing of the actual Princess in Hyrule.

Link shook his head, for the day prior was the first time he realized that there was a real Princess. Of course, there were many in the Great Deku Tree's stories, but none of the Heroes or Princesses were consistent with each other. For all Link knew, they were all different people, just living out similar scenarios to those that came before them and those that would come after. While he liked those stories and would give anything to hear the Great Deku Tree tell one more time, the boy couldn't help but notice they all followed similar beats. A Hero, a Princess, and a Villain or Monster that had to be conquered.

It was all very similar, as if, ever so subtly, the Great Deku Tree was telling the same story over and over again.

"Hey!" Navi hissed, getting the boy's attention. "Look alive!" she said. "There's an enemy nearby."

From high above, the great owl flew, his dark feathers concealing him in the night. Kaepora Gaebora sensed a series of dark presences beneath him, indeed the work of dark magic. The winds that carried this twisted spell came from the desert, and its target was the boy below him. The owl would have to do something; otherwise, Link would be swarmed with several foes summoned by the black magic. Then, he spotted a moving object in the distance, his keen eyes determining that it was not far away.

Until then, however, the boy would have to wait. After that, the bird would try to move as fast as he could, so he hoped the boy had a good grasp of how to use that sword!

An enemy?! Link wasted no time going to draw out his sword, but as he reached back to grab the hilt, he felt something place itself on his shoulder. The boy froze, the touch deathly cold and sending a shiver up his spine. His widened, blue eyes looked at Navi, who only fluttered nearby, stiff and unsure of what to do. Just what was behind him? Dare he look?

The grip on his shoulder grew tighter, and Link reached to try and free himself. But as he did so, his fingers felt another set of digits, only they lacked skin. Instead, it felt as if he were touching a solid bone. He didn't want to, he was frightened, but his head involuntarily turned to face what was holding onto him. The sight of the creature made the boy's flesh break out into chills and his heart race in his chest, all the signs that he was among the living compared to the dead, for his assailant was indeed among the dead.

A skinless hand of pure bone clasped onto the boy's shoulder, that hand attached to an arm, and that arm attached to a joint connected to a visible ribcage and spine that led down to a pelvis covered by a brown loincloth. Legs, ankles, and feet, but the ends of the toes were sharpened and red, resembling claws. The fingers of the bony hand were also fashioned the same way, and the enlarged skull had cracked, rotting teeth and vacant holes for eyes—the only sign of life in the unholy creature was the bright glow in the center of its sockets, the lights boring into Link's soul. The boy finally managed to wrench himself from the emerged skeleton's grip, stepping back in shock at what he was seeing. Yet upon doing so, he bumped into something from behind, another skeleton having risen from the ground.

Then, all around him, Link and Navi saw several bony fiends crawl out of the dirt, uprooting the grass and dragging their dead selves to the surface. Soon, Link realized they were all closing in, trying to surround him. "Um," Navi began. "I'd suggest you get that sword out. Now."

He didn't need to be told twice! Link drew out his sword and swung at the skeleton that had formerly grabbed him, his blade slicing the skull off from the rest of its body. The head burned away in green flames, but its body was still quite mobile. The headless skeleton grabbed Link with its red claws, but the boy slashed at the ribs, the blade separating its upper half from its lower. This maneuver appeared to do the trick as the rest of the skeleton burst into green flames before those flames dissipated.

That was one out of several others. And they continued to multiply. "Where are all these Stalchildren coming from?!" Navi questioned aloud.

Link looked around, the skeletons continuing to approach. "F-From the ground?" Link answered, partially sarcastically. Still, he legitimately wondered where the bony menaces originated from.

"They're evil spirits possessing the bones of the dead!" Navi explained. "Then..." She looked at the ground. "That would mean...?! Hey!" she called out. "Watch out!"

A Stalchild swiped its red claws at the boy, Link moving back just in time to avoid them. But, of course, this only led to him bumping into another, who grabbed him by the cap. Link stabbed his sword backward, separating the spine from the rest of its body. Despite this, the Stalchild continued to hold onto his back, and, suffice to say, the sight of tiny, glowing orbs made Link shiver. Not to mention that an actual skeleton was hanging onto him.

"GAH!" Link shouted in panic, swinging around violently to try and dislodge the upper half of the Stalchild.

"Hey, calm down!" Navi urged Link, all the while trying to dodge his sword swipes. "Watch where you're swinging that thing!"

Link couldn't even register the fairy's words in his panic, unknowingly taking out several Stalchildren with his wild movements, the Kokiri Sword cutting through ribs, arms, necks, etc. At that point, Link was utterly unhinged. Then, finally, at long last, he felt the skeleton on his back let go. It then began crawling away. Finally, Link saw bones burning away in green flames, the Stalchild that had released him doing the same. Had he done it?

Ha! He had done it! He had slayed all the skeletons!

"Don't get cocky!" Navi warned him. "You just got lucky with all that swinging you did. Of which, is NOT the proper way to wield a sword."

Well, it worked, didn't it? Well, whatever, Link thought. He thought it was an accomplishment.

"Those Stalchildren didn't just come from anywhere," the fairy continued, studying their environment. "They had to have bones to take control of and twist for their purposes," she bit her lip. "But what could've called them?"

Then, the ground began stirring again. Link prepared himself, yet he couldn't deny that he was growing nervous. Soon, more Stalchildren rose from the dirt, and after those few, more followed. It wasn't long before Link found himself surrounded by dozens of child-sized skeletons, all with the intent of going after him. Link considered running, as much as the thought made him feel like a coward, but found he couldn't, even if he wanted to. They were everywhere!

There was nowhere to run.

"I told you, get lost!"

Suddenly, Link and the Stalchidren looked in the direction of the voice, shocked and startled by its unexpected arrival. Then, they all saw a wagon with a large hood over a few slopes and a large bird constantly swooping down.

"Get away! Get!" The driver shouted, waving his fist at the troublesome avian. Finally, at long last, the giant owl flew off, seemingly having lost interest in pestering him. "Stupid bird," the driver grumbled, twitching his mustache. Then, he spotted something in the distance. "Eh?" he leaned forward, unable to see well outside his lantern's light. "What's that?"

Then, just as quickly as they rose out of the ground, the Stalchidren sunk back down, burying themselves underneath the dirt, the grass growing over the overturned soil. There was no evidence anything had risen from below at all.

"Hey, kid!" before Link could ask Navi what had just happened, he became aware of another presence nearby. When he turned to see the one addressing him, Link froze.

A large wagon pulled by two large quadripedal creatures was a few feet away, the animals towering over the boy and fairy. The driver was one of the big people, an adult. He had to be, for Link had seen no child with facial hair. Speaking of, the man had brown hair with a comically large mustache, along with prominent eyebrows. His eyes were blue but suspicious and harsh; his figure was lean (with a slight stomach), and he was dressed in a green shirt with pink overalls, a pair of brown shoes, and simple socks on his feet.

"What are you doing out here?" the man questioned, his voice somewhat accusatory. "Where'd you come from?" he then looked around, seeing no one else. "Where are your parents?" Link didn't speak. "Well? Can't you talk?"

Still, Link said nothing. The two animals that pulled the wagon both captivated and terrified the boy; his mind was conjuring up images from his dreams, specifically the one where he saw a white and black variant of the same creatures. However, unlike those two, the wagon pullers were a light, sandy color and had brown manes and tails. They stared down at Link with their large, dark eyes as he stared back with his blue. None of them knew how to feel about the other, as, despite the size difference, the larger animals appeared to be as nervous as the boy was.

"Whatever, I don't have time for this. I'll never get to the Ranch at this rate." The man grumbled, turning the wagon around. "Get on home, kid! It's dangerous out here!"

But then, as he began to pull away, he saw the kid running alongside the wagon. "Look, I don't have time to take you around!" the driver said. "I've got places to be!" he then sighed. "At least I'm near Castle Town."

Wait a minute, Castle Town?! "W-Wait!" Link called out. "WAIT!"

The driver continued, leaving the boy behind. But, after a few moments, the man slowed down, allowing the green-clad youth to catch up. "Ok, fine, get on," he told the boy. "But you had better be going somewhere close! Otherwise, I'm dropping you off!"

"Thank you, Sir," Navi thanked, sitting on Link's shoulder. "We just need to get to the Castle; then we'll be on our way."

"Eh? What's that?" the man leaned over toward Navi, surprised at what he saw. "A fairy?!" he jumped back. "What's a kid like you doing with a fairy?!" he grumbled. "No fairy came to me as a kid."

"He's from the forest," Navi told the older man. "We're here on behalf of the Great Deku Tree to see the Princess of Hyrule."

The man quirked a brow. "Eh? So, you want to see the Princess? You?" he then laughed. "Yeah, good luck with that, kid!" Link scowled at the adult's response, feeling like he was being talked down to. "Still, that's just a few miles away," he said. "It'll probably be morning when we get there, so you'll have to be patient."

Link nodded in agreement.

"Ok, fine. Just don't talk too much. I'm not a fan of chatty people," the man told him. "But, if you have to call me, I'm Ingo."

"Link." the boy answered as he climbed up the wagon.

"Link?" Ingo questioned. "Huh. Weird name. Well, whatever," he then got the large animals to begin pulling again. "We're off!"

The wagon continued, taking off and allowing Link and Navi to look around. So far, there have been no more Stalchildren coming after them; perhaps the driver's presence made them hesitant to reveal themselves. Regardless, Link and Navi were glad to be rid of them, even temporarily. The land was again back to normal, with plains of grass and sparse plants and trees. Despite the run-in with the skeletons, Link found the scenery pleasing, and the moon shone high in the sky, lighting the darkened environment along with Ingo's lantern.

"So, where are you from, kid?" Ingo questioned, finding the silence boring.

"He's from the Kokiri Forest," Navi answered for Link. "We're on a mission for the Great Deku Tree."

"From the forest? As in, the Lost Woods?" Ingo asked. Link nodded. "How'd you get out here? I thought the Forest Children didn't go into the outside world."

"Well, we're doing something important, so I think we make an exception," Navi answered the older man. "But yes, as I've said, we have been tasked with going to the Castle and meeting with the Princess."

Ingo scoffed, still unable to believe the boy could pull it off. "Yeah, whatever. Good luck with that," then, he noticed the boy studying him, particularly his ears. "Hm? What? Haven't you ever seen ears before?" Ingo questioned, raising a brow. "You've got them too! It's nothing unusual for a Hylian."

Link tilted his head. "Hylian?"

"Yeah, Hylian," Ingo answered. "As in, the people around here? Oh, I forgot, you're from the woods," He spied Link's ears. "I guess Forest Children just have them too," Ingo continued driving, quiet for a short while before the silence got to him again. Seriously, did this kid talk at all? But then again, at least he wasn't annoying. "So, you got no one else with you?"

Link shook his head but wondered what Ingo was talking about.

"I just thought I saw other people with you when I pulled up," he said. He then shrugged. "Must be seeing things. I'm working too hard," he then sighed and grumbled. "If that blasted Talon would pull his weight around, I wouldn't have to get fodder in the middle of the night."

"Excuse me, Sir," Navi spoke up. "Forgive me if this is a grim question, but is anyone...buried out here?"

Ingo laughed. "Buried? This entire field is a graveyard!" he answered. "Especially after all the fighting that took place."

Both Link and Navi were puzzled. "Fighting?"

"Yeah. Lots of fighting," Ingo explained. "I keep forgetting you're from the woods, so you probably don't know anything," even if that was true, Link couldn't help but feel the man was being a little condescending. "But this field didn't always look this empty. The Ranch had a lot of business because there were places where people lived all around. But now, that's all changed. We must rely on Castle Town folks to keep going, and even that's becoming harder."

"Why?" Navi asked.

"It was the war," Ingo replied. "The war destroyed everything out here," he answered. "It ended around ten years ago, but the country is still recovering," the mustache man then looked out at the land before him. "Loads of folks had their homes destroyed, and a lot of lives were lost," Link didn't hear him say the last part, but Ingo muttered, "My folks' lives were lost."

Link said nothing, surveying the grassy fields around him. So true; while the land was still beautiful, its image now had an added element of sadness. He didn't imagine things when he said this place felt empty.

"Hey, there's the gate!" Ingo spoke again, pointing to a towering, white wall surrounded by a moat. Link stared at the structure in awe, his blue eyes spotting a familiar crest above the gate composed of three golden triangles. "Through there is Castle Town," the wagon's driver said, having brought the wagon to a stop. "It's still a ways to get there but follow the trail, and you'll eventually reach the Castle," he said. "Well, go on. Get off."

Link did so, hoping off and to the ground. But, instead, he looked up at Ingo with a thankful smile. "Thank you for the lift, Sir," Navi told the man. "We appreciate it."

"Look...don't go walking around alone at night, ok? It's not safe," Ingo then turned the wagon around. "Now, I've got to get the wagon back to the Ranch so Talon can deliver milk to the Castle," he murmured. "Goddesses know that he's probably still asleep. Lazy bum..." he went off, leaving Link by the gate.

The skies began to light up, the sun soon rising over the mountains to shine down on the green field. Link saw no more Stalchidren rose from the ground, assuming that the sunlight kept them at bay. However, he was still determining if they would come back.

"Halt!" a voice called from above Link. Indeed, above him stood a figure clad in armor with a spear. "Who goes there?" the armored man looked down to see Link below. "Eh? Who are you, kid?" he called out to some other men. "Lower the drawbridge!"

The large bridge blocking the way inside was slowly lowered by chains, and Link found the passage to his destination laid out before him. But before he could walk across, the man from above called down to him again. "Who are you? Where are your parents?"

Link bit his lip. He would probably have to talk. "I..." he began. "I need to...see the...Princess."

"The Princess?" the adult questioned. He then chuckled. "Uh, yeah. Sure thing, kid, come on in."

Link's face brightened up. "T-Thank you!" with that, he ran across the drawbridge, leaving the guards operating the way in and out of Castle Town.

"You think it's ok just to let him through?" one of them asked the guard atop the gate.

"He's just a kid; he's probably from the village," he said. "He'll be fine. Who knows? His parents probably left him at home, for all we know."

That was true; no one had ever seen the boy in green before. Regardless, no one saw any harm in letting him inside. If the kid wanted to pursue his foolish task of meeting the Princess, he was free to do so. Of course, he wouldn't get far; he would never get to meet her, but who were they to disrupt a child's silly fun?