Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda…if anything Zelda owns me. Why else would I be writing a fanfic instead of something that could make me money?

Chapter 2

About a ways in, Aveil had the procession halt and called out, "I know you're there, Wren."

Three figures in garo cloaks landed in front of them. The one in the middle stood above the other two and removed his hood, revealing a scruffy but youthful face with red eyes and a knowing grin. Under his right eye was a black tattoo of a four-pinioned wing similar to the Hylian crest. His hair was dyed blue.

"Aveil, well met and lovely as always," he said.

The Gerudo was unimpressed, "You know that you may not come to the Fortress without invitation."

"We aren't in the Fortress."

"Then why are you here?"

"The Village of Outcasts got word that Hylian knights had crossed the border to speak to the chief. Some of us are nervous that we'll be extradited back to the hospitable Hyrulean gallows. I'm just here to see if that's something we should be worried about."

"Worried that you have to answer for your crimes?"

"Hey, a lot of us aren't really bad people."

"If that's so, then why did they put you in charge?"

Aveil put her hand on her hip as she said this, her brows knotted with annoyance. Wren chuckled. Link looked back at Fezzik who shrugged. Gremio however, spurred his horse forward to take a closer look at the man.

"I thought I recognized that name. Lightfoot Wren." The old man's words caught both Aveil and Wren's attention.

"You know this man, Gremio?" asked Link.

"Aye captain, he's a fugitive wanted for trespassing, theft of goods, resisting arrest, assault, and loitering. They managed to catch him once in a homestead in Lanayru, where they caught him trying to rob a young maiden of her virtue. Apparently her yelling gave him away so they said. That was the only time they had him in irons before he slipped out and was never seen again."

"Until now," said Fezzik. He sneered at the thief.

Link turned to Aveil, "Did you know about this?"

"The story about the girl is…new." She gave Wren a glare as she said that. "However, we are aware that he was a wanted man in Hyrule. Whatever his past crimes may have been in the past, Wren has proven that he is trustworthy enough to join our tribe. He is Gerudo, Sir Link, as are the rest of the men in the Village of Outcasts. If you tried to arrest him here, it would be seen as an act of hostility."

"We are here to negotiate peace, not collect bounties on criminals. We will not make such attempts to capture anyone who is under your protection so long as no actions are taken against us during our stay," Link said not only as an assurance to Aveil but as an order to his men, especially Fezzik. They all nodded as he met their eyes. Aveil accepted that response and told Wren to return the Village.

"You'll be sure to tell Nabooru about our concerns?"

"Of course, I'll inform it to her as part of the reason we kept them waiting. I'm sure that will make her even fonder of you," said Aveil with a roll of her eyes, but Wren nodded and disappeared with the other two rogues.
Red eyes, thought Link, I wonder-wait…did he say Nabooru?

***

Just as Link remembered, the fortress was an angular, pragmatic structure situated in the corner of the rocky wall of the valley giving it natural protection on the north and west. It was constructed of stacked adobe bricks and plaster with lintels holding the weight over each doorway. The only sort of ornamentation was the flag bearing the Crescent Moon and Star of the Gerudo instead of the Eyes of the Dragonfly that once hung there. The host of the fortress was gathered. The riders dismounted as they approached them.

Link recognized her immediately, standing front and center of the ranks of sword dancers, glaive guards, and archers. She wore similar garb as before except her top was more modest, covering her bust and neck, with the same ruby jewel and embroidery. In addition she now wore pauldrons and a familiar pair of silver gauntlets with red gemstones set on the back of the hand plates. Her status as chief was marked by the gold tail feather of a kargaroc in her hair brooch.

Apparently she remembered him as well. "Link?"

"Nabooru, it's been a while."

Link could not tell who was more stunned, his riders or the Gerudo. Aveil looked from him to Nabooru incredulously. "You know this knight?"

"This knight?" Nabooru looked Link up and down. She smiled in a way that made Link blush slightly. "Aye it was a long time ago, but he aided me in a challenge that nearly took my life at the Desert Colossus. I, Nabooru, chief of the Crescent Star Gerudo, name Link a friend."

On that last statement, she addressed the host of Gerudo Fortress who gave a unanimous salute and grunt. Link scratched the back of his head and unsure how to reply to this kind of welcome. He was equally unsure how he would explain this to the riders. Fezzik and Byron were appropriately nonplussed. Lysander laughingly muttered something about him always being full of surprises. Only Gremio seemed unsurprised.

"Umm…well met then," Link said sheepishly. "So uhh…we are here on behalf of King Harken Gustaf Hyrule of the Royal Family to open diplomatic relations with the leadership of the Gerudo."

"I see, so you are sworn to the Royal Family," said Nabooru. Link realized how strange it must be for her, she had offered to make him a member of the Gerudo after the events at the Spirit Temple. "This is a rather unexpected choice your king has made. We have awaited some form of retaliation from Hyrule ever since the incident seven years ago."

"So this must be a pleasant surprise then?" Link asked.

"Perhaps…but decisions such as this must be made before the wise circle."

Link understood. In lieu of a king, the leadership of the Gerudo was divided between the current chief and a council of elder healers, shamans, as well as former chiefs. The wise circle typically oversaw domestic affairs such as farming, weather reading, law, and medicine. The current chief of the Gerudo was tasked with hunting, gathering, and leading the tribe in times of war. When it came to decisions such as going to war or diplomacy between tribes, both the chief and the circle would meet to discuss the matter.

"By the way, we ran into Wren on the way here," said Aveil.

Nabooru's smile turned sour. "What does he want?"

"Just to say hi and hopes you consider the interest of the Village of Outcasts during the negotiations."

"I don't suppose we could just hand him over to Hyrule."

"He'd just slip out of his shackles and come back here."

"I suppose you're right. Prepare our guests to meet the circle. Then set up the embassy tents."

Nabooru made for the Fortress, leaving Aveil and several Gerudo to tend to Link and his band. Their horses were taken to be fed and stabled. Link asked Epona to behave herself as she was a led by a white-clad Gerudo. Next their weapons and concealed belongings were to be taken before anyone was allowed to meet with the circle. Lysander, Gremio, and Byron gave their armaments with little fuss. Fezzik however absolutely refused to relinquish his knife to the tall Gerudo before him.

"Like hell I will!" he said. "It's bad enough you take my axe and my horse but I'm not going to be sent to a den without my sword, yeah?!"

"This is our way, half-giant," said the tall Gerudo. She wore iron gauntlets and had a similar uniform as Nabooru, only it was purple. "No one may see the wise circle with a sword in their hands. They are too precious to us to take any chances."

"Half-giant?"

"That's a refreshing attitude. Respect for one's seniors is very rare these days," said Gremio as he handed his sword over to a petite white-clad Gerudo, who smiled.

"Or they're just going to throw us in to some rottin' prison after makin' it so we can't fight back," said Fezzik.

"Trust me," said the tall woman. "If we were planning to do that, I would take your weapons after I had beaten you to a pulp, broke one of your arms, and pinned you into the dirt."

Fezzik raised an eyebrow and tightened his lips. He suddenly faced a conundrum. There were few men who could say that to his face and expect to walk away with a full set of teeth, but Gerudo or not the woman who taunted him was still in fact a woman. He only realized this now as his usual response that insult would clash with the knightly conduct that he aspired to. As much as he distrusted the Gerudo, he could not bring himself to strike a woman. Link decided to arrest him of this internal conflict.

"Hand her your weapon, Fezzik," he ordered.

"Uh yes cap'n." Fezzik took off his giant sword, sheath and all. As he presented it to the tall Gerudo, "It's very heavy. You'll need to carry it with both ha-."

She took the hilt of the sword and raised it above her head with just her right hand. Then she rested the sheathed blade against her shoulder and the rest of Fezzik's belongings tucked under her left arm. The tall Gerudo walked away with a satisfied grin leaving Fezzik stunned and speechless. Lysander was on the verge of tears from fighting back a fit of laughter.

"You were wise to step in, sir knight," said an amused Aveil. "Falboora has fought with Dark Nuts twice the half-giant's size."

"I have no doubt," said Link. Even without the armor, he knew an Iron Knuckle when he saw one.

***

The wise women of the circle sat before them, cross-legged and hunched in the shaded chamber. The room was filled with a strong sweet scent from bronze incense trays that hung from ceiling. There were no chairs, the Gerudo preferred low tables with pillows for seats and recliners. The oldest amongst them was a very short and shriveled crone with silver hair tied in a bundle and her eyes closed, half blind, but still vastly more aware than others her age might have been. Nabooru sat to Link's left while his riders line from his right their backs towards the door way.

"Nabooru speaks highly of you, Green Hylian," said the crone as she half opened one eye to get a better look at Link. "She says you helped her recover the Silver Gauntlets from the Desert Colossus and aided her escape of the sisters Twinrova. All of this when you were naught but ten years of age. When our king was captured, the sisters attempted to rally an invasion of Hyrule to either avenge or rescue him. Nabooru spoke against this rash course of action and gained leadership of the tribe. Many of our daughters owe their lives to her and you by extension."

"I'm glad to know that I was of some help to your people. Perhaps I can be of further help by building a bridge of peace between Hyrule and the Gerudo."

"Perhaps. However, before we proceed further with this discussion, I must ask: what has become of our king, what has become of Ganondorf?"

Link closed his eyes for a moment then answered. "I did not witness his fate, but I was told that the Royal Family executed Ganondorf for treason."

There was neither wailing nor outrage. The wise circle whispered amongst one another but otherwise showed no indication of lament or pleasure to this news. Even Nabooru kept a stoic disposition, despite having no love for the King of Thieves.

"I see," said the crone sullenly. "Ganondorf was our king, for better or worse. More importantly, he was a child of our tribe. In the desert, we cannot afford to waste a drop blood anymore than a drop of water. Therefore every child is precious to the Gerudo. We chose not to wage war in his name because we could not bear more of our blood to be shed. Still we mourn his passing."

Link held his tongue. Try as he might, he could never forget the monster Ganondorf had become in the years that never were. Even if he could, Ganondorf would always be the man who terrorized the Zoras, starved the Gorons, and murdered the Great Deku Tree, the man who haunted his nightmares as a child. None of the other riders spoke either, though they held similar opinions. Even Fezzik kept himself silent thanks to a few choice words Link had shared with him before this meeting.

"However, this leads us to another question, one more relevant to the subject of this meeting. Why has the King of Hyrule sent you here?"

Link could have sworn he answered this before. "We are here to neg-…"

"Yes yes, I remember that tale you have been telling us of peace," she opened her right eye again, "But my question is why has he deigned to reestablish ties to the Gerudo when he has more reason to wage war on us? Why does he send a company of five soldiers to negotiate peace when it would make more sense to send a host to demand our fealty?"
Clever old keese, thought Link. "You wanted to know if we were holding Ganondorf hostage, if we would ransom his safety for your servitude."

The crone closed her eye and laughed. The woman to her right spoke, "My boy, you do not live this long in the desert with just good looks. You have slain our king, yet you come here to make peace with us despite our betrayal of hospitality. It is only natural that we must suspect some ulterior motive for our demise."

Link tightened his fist. This is not going well.

"However, Nabooru has named you a friend. You proved yourself trustworthy to the Gerudo. Proof of trust is what we require of one who makes words with our tribe be he a boy or a king. Tell me, how far would you go to bridge the gap between our peoples?"

"As far as it takes," Link answered without a second thought.

"Careful, child," said an elder next to the crone, "The desert is filled with the bones of those who promised more than they can deliver."

"I can say for all the water in the world that he makes no empty boast," said Nabooru. Her eyes met Link's and he knew she meant every word. Now he knew why Zelda wanted him to lead this mission.

"Then we and Nabooru shall consult a task to suitably prove your tribe's trustworthiness," said the half-blind crone. "Until then, you and your company are guests to our hold; we shall provide you with food, water, and shelter. You shall be free to travel the grounds at your leisure save within the walls of the Fortress. May the Goddess of Sand smile upon your path."

Link thanked the circle and rose prompting, his men to follow suit.

"One more thing," said the crone. "I ask that neither you nor your men tell anyone outside this room of the fate befallen King Ganondorf."

Link looked at the riders, who each nodded to his wordless order and he turned back to the crone, "We shall not say a word, you have my promise."

***

"And this is your pavilion, Sir Link," said Aveil as she opened the entryway. She had taken them to a pair of tents east of the main village, which was south of the Fortress, that were raised to serve as their living quarters during their stay. Fezzik, Lysander, Gremio, and Byron had just been given their tent to share. Being a higher rank, Link was given a private tent.

"Just call me Link, thank you," he told her. He used the honorific to inform his status as a knight but it was embarrassing hear people refer to him with it.

"Link," Aveil repeated. She followed him in.

The pavilion was furnished with all of the necessary provisions: a down filled cot with sheets, a storage chest detailed with intricate curving patterns, two low recliners with leather upholstery, a table holding up a water basin and silver goblets. There were two support beams adorned with Gerudo warding masks and dream catching charms. In the center of the room was a fire pit filled with coals directly underneath an opening in the roof flap. Flint and tinder, bellows, and pokers were arranged next to the pit. Link's weapons and effects were laid out on a rug next to the cot.

"There are some cloths better suited for the desert on your cot," said Aveil. "Unless those tights are enchanted, they will not do you much good in the desert. You might want to take off that chainmail too. Is there anything else that you may need?"

"Everything is fine, thank you Aveil." Link examined the clothing laid out for him and decided to change into the baggier, light brown, desert trousers and keep the rest of his outfit intact. He took his hat off, followed by his leather gauntlets, boots, belt, tunic, chainmail. He was in the middle of taking off his undershirt when he noticed that the Gerudo had not in fact left the room. "Umm…"

"Hmm?" she replied. "Is something the matter?"

Link blushed. She could not be serious.

"Oh…I see: Hylian modesty. Forgive my ignorance. My tribeswomen and I are used to being undressed in front of one another."

Against all odds, Link pushed certain distracting images out of his head. Aveil faced away from him until he was redressed. He realized that she was looking him differently since their first meeting. She had a playful grin and eyes like a hawk searching a field for prey.

"Is there any further business you have with me?" Link asked eager to have some privacy.

"Further business? Right! Sorry, sometimes I just get lost in thought." Aveil giggled and tossed her bangs. "At sunset, we are holding a banquet in the Fortress as a welcoming for you and your men. I trust you will attend it?"

"Of course." Link had grown accustomed to such receptions.

"Good, Nabooru will be pleased. She hopes that this will ease the tension between your company and our tribe. Personally, I hope we can get a chance to learn more about each other. I've always wondered what life in the green is like."

Aveil had closed the distance between them as she said this. She stretched her arms back, which noticeably gave Link a better view of certain assets. There was even a certain shine in her eyes as Link fought to keep his vision focused on them.
Gods' sake, she's toying with me, Link thought. With a wink and a beat, Aveil left the pavilion and Link sighed in relief. It took him seven years to learn he was what women liked to call handsome. Malon had often teased him with how oblivious he was to the furtive glances and shy hair tossing maidens, widows, and even wives would give him. At least he better understood his own desires this time. Suddenly waking up in a man's body with naught a bit of experience growing up had led to more than an awkward moment during the years that never were.

***

Aveil walked through a pass on the way back to the village. She wondered when he would actually show himself to her. Why were men from the green lands so shy?

"So you fancy the captain of the emissaries?" said Wren. Aveil smiled and turned to see him. He was perched on the branch of a dying tree, as only he could do with the equipment he concealed beneath that cloak. She mused that the green landers were right to call him Lightfoot. He still had that cocky grin on his face that simultaneously annoyed and amused her.

"Are you not forbidden from setting foot here?"

"I'm forbidden from the Fortress and the embassy, but not the roads between them. So do you like him?"

"Who?"

"Sir Link the Green, the Hero of Hyrule. Who else?" Wren hopped to the ground and approached her.

Aveil backed into a rocky wall of the pass, feigning vulnerability. "What makes you think that?"

"Not much, just that I recall telling you all about Hyrule during our sparring sessions."

"And you thought that meant I fancied you?"

"No, what you did when you had me pinned gave me that impression."

Aveil giggled as he leaned inches away from her. Wren had never complained when she won their bouts. As he placed his hand on the wall next to her head, she sprung. Grabbing and twisting that arm behind his back, she shoved him into the wall. He made no complaint this time either.

"That's the law of the desert. The winner can do as she wishes with the loser. I simply chose to indulge my curiosity."

"So why are you curious about that knight?" Wren asked the question over his shoulder, still grinning. Annoyed, the Gerudo released him and backed up with her hands on her hips.

"So who was that girl in Lanayru?"

That disarmed him. The smile vanished from Wren's face and he sheepishly scratched the back of his head. His red eyes betrayed a hint of melancholy. Aveil smirked in triumph.

"She was the daughter of the farmer who was giving me shelter while I was on the run," he reluctantly answered. "I knew they'd be punished for helping an outlaw if I was found out there, so I made a plan with them in case some riders came to the homestead. We made it look like I was hiding there without their knowledge. To avoid further suspicion that they were helping me, I feigned attacking the daughter in the barn."

For a moment, neither spoke. Then Aveil broke the silence. "I see."

"So you believe me?"

"I have no reason not to. You're too clever to let yourself get caught violating a weak girl of the green."

"Glad to know you have such confidence in my character," Wren noted wryly.

Aveil shrugged. She'd be dammed before letting him know how relieved she was to hear the truth. "What you did in the past is of little concern to our tribe, it is what you do and will do that we care about. The past merely informs the hazards of the present and the future."

With that, she turned away to leave, but stopped when she heard Wren speak sullenly, "Maybe I only care what you think of me."

Aveil spun around to voice her retort but saw no one to receive it. Wren had vanished as was his talent. More importantly, he had vanished after having the last word. The Gerudo clenched her teeth and tightened her grip. She angrily turned about again and marched for the Fortress. Sun's heat, are all men supposed to be this difficult?

***

"Give it back!" Byron shouted when he saw Lysander picking up his keepsake. He reacted on instinct. That only encouraged Lysander to keep the satchel out of his reach. What had just been a curiosity was now a source of entertainment for the licentious rider. Just as Byron made to grab his keepsake, Lysander leapt back with a wicked grin.

"What's this? The fledging rider has some valuable secret in this little pouch?"

"Lysander, I'm serious. Give it back." Byron's cheeks were red now. He was used to hazing but this was extremely personal.

"Oh I will, I just want to see what dark item our innocent little recruit has stowed away on his person. It's soft…some lady love's favor I'll bet." Lysander sat back down on his cot and untied the pouch to reveal a down-filled doll shaped like a three tailed fox. "Eh?"

Byron's heart nearly stopped. He waited for Lysander to burst out laughing and berate him, but the latter just stared at the doll. On the other side of the pavilion, Fezzik did not stir but remained cross-legged on his cot as he had been since they came here. Gremio lifted his head from his lute to observe the commotion.

"Oh…is that Keaton?" the old man remarked.

"Keaton?" said Lysander, unfamiliar with the name.

"It's a fox spirit in from songs and folktales in Eldin and Faron. It's quite popular with children."

"You don't say. Never heard of it in Lanayru. In Bippin, the mothers like to entertain their children with stories about the Minish."

"The Minish?"

"You know the little folk. They were yay high," Lysander raised his hand and pinched his thumb and forefinger. "The Minish live unnoticed in the holes and small spaces of people's homes. Legend has it that when you hang a kinstone above your threshold and leave a bowl of milk in the corner, the Minish will help keep the house clean and fend off pests…or something like that."

"Oh, you mean the Picori." Gremio laughed, "That's what we called them in Faron."

"Huh. Say Fezzik, what kind of creatures did you're village tell tales about?"

"Yeti…big hulking, white fur covered creatures that like to eat reekfish and bad children by cooking them in a soup," Fezzik answered without moving. Drops of sweat were streaming down his face.

"Are you ever going to take off that armor? I feel like I'll die of heat stroke just looking at you," said Gremio.

Everyone else had changed out of their surcoats, chain, and platemail. They were now wearing white front-laced shirts and desert breeches that had been laid out for them with swords sheathed at their sides. Fezzik, however, had chosen to remain suited for combat.

"The big lug just does not want to be taken unawares by that Gerudo who disarmed him," jested Lysander.

At that Fezzik got up. Lysander hastily leapt behind a dumbstruck Byron for protection. However the mountain man just carried himself to open flap of the pavilion, muttering "arse" as he passed the archer and left. The latter blinked.

"Well that was…" Lysander knitted his brows, confused and almost disappointed. He looked at Byron, who was just as perplexed and handed him the Keaton doll.

"Here, Keaton Boy. Don't keep boring secrets." With that, he left the tent.

Gremio rose with the lute slung to his back. The old man told Byron not to worry and that plenty of recruits kept sentimental keepsakes with them even after leaving the Barracks. The youth thanked him and was promptly left alone in the pavilion. Byron sank to his cot, the Keaton doll in his hands, not at all relieved by Gremio's words.

When he was little, he would love to listen to the stories about Keaton the ghost fox, how it hid in rings of tall grass on the field and played tricks on stupid Wolfos. Byron would collect Keaton toys and trinkets that his family found or made for him. For the longest time, he would play pretend with the other children of his village running around and imagining himself as the three tailed fox spirit. It was not that he still liked to play pretend. It was just that he slept better when he had it with him. It reminded him of home.

Byron sighed and lightly tossed the doll aside. Seeing the look on Lysander's face, just reminded him that he was no longer home. In fact, he was as far from home as he had ever been. While other men his age were carrying a woman's favor, telling bawdy tales, or leading a company of riders, he still slept clinging to a childhood keepsake. After everything he had endured at the Barracks, he could ride a horse, shoot a bow, and swing a sword, but he was no more knowledgeable of women and war and all those things Hylian men should know. Perhaps he was still playing pretend. Perhaps he was still a child pretending to be man grown. Or was he was a man pretending to still be a child? Gods!

He reached for the Keaton doll lying beside him on the bed. He felt it resisting his pull and thoughtlessly looked back. A smaller hand was gripping the doll, belonging to a crouched cloaked figure. Byron's eyes widened and he rose. The sneak thief took advantage of his surprise, snatching the fox doll from his hands and vanished beneath the flap of the tent!

"Hey!"

Byron dashed out and around the pavilion. The figure had a good head start, but the rider gave chase. That chase took them from the embassy to the village. The small and nimble thief dashed between stalls and under the legs of civilians. Byron navigated around such obstacles but he never lost track of the thief.

They reached an area Aveil called the Water Plaza, so named for the well at the center that was dried up this time of year. The thief circled around the rim, too small to climb over it fast enough. That was Byron's chance. He hopped on the stone edge of the well and vaulted forward, landing right in front of the thief, who yelped in surprise. She backed up only to lose her balance and fall. Her hood fell back, revealing a head of red hair, a pointed nose, and olive Gerudo skin. She could not be more than eight or seven years old.

"Al-….alright," said Byron between pants. "That's enough. Hand it over. Come on, I chased you all the way here. I caught you fair and square-…I mean it's wrong to steal! How would you like it if other people took your-…Why are you looking at me like that?!"

The Gerudo girl remained silent, unmoving, clutching the doll to her chest, and staring at Byron's face for some reason. Her eyes were widened and her mouth quivered in an expression that bordered on panic. Then Byron realized that this child of a fearsome warrior tribe was absolutely terrified of him. For as long as he could remember, Byron never frightened anyone in his entire life. Yet here he was now, standing over child looking at him as though he would throw her down the very well he had jumped over.

He liked it not.

Byron looked around for moment, noticing the Gerudo, Zuna, and other inhabitants watching the commotion. Why was no one trying to helping her? Did they not just see a full grown Hylian chasing a frightened little girl? He shrugged off the questions and turned his attention back to the latter, who was still staring at him. He crouched down and looked at her eye level.

"Look, I'm not going to hurt you. Just hand Kea-….what you stole back to me and you can go, alright?"

The girl looked down pensively and then met his gaze and nodded.

"Okay good. Now can you stand up?"

The girl looked down again before nodding a second time.

"Alright then."

Byron rose to his feet and extended his hand. Instead of accepting his help, the child handed him the doll and rose to her feet on her own. She looked up at him as if awaiting his permission to leave. Replying "thanks", he held the Keaton doll up for a moment, examining the black tips of its ears, legs, and tails and feeling the down stuffed beneath the faded yellow fabric.

"Ummm…do you even know what this is?"

The girl gave him a queer look as if to say, "I'm not stupid, it's a doll." But she said nothing.

"I mean do you know what this doll is called?"

She shook her head. So Byron made up his mind.

"I tell you what. This doll is called Keaton and if you promise not to try and steal anything else from me or my comrades, then you can have him."

The girl's face brightened up.

"So do you promise not to steal from us?"

She eagerly nodded with a beaming smile. Byron silently said to goodbye to Keaton and handed him back to the little thief.

"Would you like to hear the Tale of Keaton?"

The girl nodded once more so Byron sat and rested his back against the dried up well. The little thief sat across from him, hugging her newfound friend.

"There once was a fox with three tails called Keaton," Byron began. As he told his favorite stories, several other children and even adults gathered. They joined the little thief to hear these foreign tales, fascinated by this odd Hylian man.

***

Author's Note:
This chapter was going to include more scenes. I intended to explain more about what happened with Gerudo during the seven years between the story and the game. Not to give away too much but there is a reason Nabooru calls herself chief of the Crescent Moon Gerudo. Yes, it is the Crescent Moon and four-point Star that earlier versions of Ocarina of Team had. Most importantly, I was going to introduce the quest Link will be going on with Nabooru. Unfortunately, bloody original character development took up more space than I intended it to. So we end on Byron chasing a little Gerudo child. The next chapter will actually move the plot forward a bit.