Link walked into the townhouse, and plopped himself down into a chair. Ingo sat across from him, delicately munching his milk and oats. The boy unenthusiastically stared at the lanky man. Ingo absentmindedly crunched away, but he soon noticed the green-clad kid watching him. The farm hand put down his spoon.

"What're you looking at?" Ingo questioned. Link didn't reply. He scowled, and stayed silent. From behind, Malon and Talon walked in.

"Oats?" The large man asked his daughter.

"That's all we have, Papa." Malon reminded.

"Oh. Oh yes. You're right." Talon bumbled.

"Good morning, Link!" The little girl greeted. Scanning the room, she caught Ingo staring at her. She smiled half-heartedly. "And good morning to you, Ingo."

"And you, Link, oats?" Talon asked. Malon rolled her eyes.

"Yes please." The boy said, returning to his state of glaring at Ingo. The four of them ate their breakfast, and then went out to do their daily chores. All of them except for Link. He caught up with Talon on the way out of the townhouse to talk.

"Mr. Talon, sir, I have to ask you about something." Link said.

"Please, Mr. Talon was my father… wait… no his name was Balon…" Talon trailed off.

"..." Link stood, waiting for the man to catch his train of thought.

"Anyway! What's your question, boy?" The fattened farmer asked.

"I was wondering if… if it wouldn't be too much to ask… if I could stay here for a while. I'll pull my own weight. Any job you need done, I can do it." The young Hylian went on.

"Didn't Malon tell you that you were welcome here?" Talon asked. Link stopped for a moment.

"Well, yes, but-" The boy was interrupted.

"But nothing. You're allowed to stay here for as long as you want. My daughter has had a skip in her step ever since you came in here." Talon said. Link was gracious, but he had a quarrel.

"That's very kind of you, but I can't just stay here for free…" Link protested.

"Why not?" Talon asked, folding his arms.

"Well… I can't just use you guys for a place to stay… please let me work." Link was nearly begging at this point. Talon shrugged.

"Well of course you can work. I won't argue with free labor. Are you good with horses?" Talon asked. Link shook his head 'yes'. "Perfect, you can help Malon with them today."

"Thank you." Link said, walking off to the horse's pen.

"Not a problem…" Talon accepted Link's thanks with much confusion. "What on earth could make that boy want to work for free?"

Beautiful beasts of many colors galloped around the pen. Malon leaned up against the wooden railing, carefully watching the horses. Link, walking up from behind, could really tell that she had a deep love for those animals. Epona, likely brought from the stable by Malon, was also in the pen. The mare seemed giddy when the boy in green appeared. Malon turned around to see what the little horse was so excited about, and saw Link standing behind her.

"Hey, what's up." Malon asked, a delighted grin forming on her lips.

"Not much, but Talon told me I'm gonna be helping you out today." He said.

"Oh really? That's fun!" She exclaimed, her face full of excitement. They went on to spend the entire day together. From after breakfast to just before dusk, they cared for the horses, made good conversation, and frolicked through the grassy pasture. For once, Link finally felt his age. He felt like a kid again.

THE PRESENT

"That's just about enough. It's time for you to pay up." Fanadi demanded. Shad, who was still enthralled with the history that had been unfolding before his very eyes, shook himself out of the time-traveled-induced trance.

"Oh… But I can pay more for a longer view, can't I?" The scholar asked. She rolled her eyes, and crossed her arms.

"Honey, using this stone here gives me a headache. We need to take a break for now; come back tomorrow maybe. For now, I'll be needing that fat deposit of yours…" Fanadi said, gesturing to the packed rupee purse. Shad sighed, but he couldn't argue. He'd just witnessed ancient history before his very eyes. That young boy… he had to be none other than the Hero of Legend...

Once outside of the Fortune Telling Shop, Shad strolled down the road. He desperately needed to refill his rupee purse, but that truly was the last of his funds. What was he to do?

"Mew…" An alley cat whimpered as it brushed against his leg. He looked down to see the stray feline. His heart warmed. He always did love cats. "Mew…" It sounded again.

"What's that, little guy? Got something to say?" Shad said in baby-talk.

"Mew… " The cat replied. It pranced across the street to a nearby house. With its head, it pushed open the door. Shad was about to let it go, but something about the house's interior caught his eye.

"What the…" He mumbled, walking over to the house. The faintest light from the streetlamps illuminated a sparkle from within the place. The door creaked open to reveal a vast sea of gold and riches. Shad's mouth fell agape. Rupees, shining treasure, dazzling gemstones, and more. A larger sum of money than he had ever seen in his entire life all stuffed into this tiny little house. The cat, oblivious to the untold millions that beholden it, found a particularly comfy diamond, and laid down.

"Hey!" A voice cried out. "Hey, who are you?" Shad looked around, and soon noticed a golden man sitting atop a crimson velvet armchair. "Can you help me?"

"Um... Who are you?" Shad asked, uncertain if this really was his waking life and not some strange dream.

"My name is Jovani! I need help!" The statue-like man yelped.

"I can see that… Listen, can you move?" The scholar questioned.

"Well, no. That's what I need help with!" Jovani squealed. Shad, ignoring the golden man, began filling his pouch with gold and rupees. "HEY!"

"Listen, this is for a good cause. It's for the acquisition of knowledge!" He said, pushing his glasses up while he shoveled the immense wealth into his rupee purse.

"That doesn't make it ok!" Jovani whined.

"I'll pay you back…" Shad consoled, topping off his bag.

"You mean it?" Jovani asked hopefully.

"Of course…" Shad said, backing out of the house slowly. "I'll be back tomorrow…" He nearly tripped over the cat, but he continued walking out. "I'll definitely be back…" The young man took off with the money, most likely never to be seen by the golden man again.

"That's ok, I don't really know what I'd use all this for anyway." Jovani admitted to the cat, who stretched out over the exposed jewels and diamonds.

"Mew…" The cat said before it laid down for a good and long nap.

It was the next morning, and the young scholar had barely slept the night before. His excitement over what could possibly happen next to the Hero of Legend brought him more joy than anything else in the world. He entered the Fortune Telling Shop once again, and dropped a gem the size of his fist onto the table. Fanadi was amazed.

"You must be the richest man I've ever known! You're not looking for a partner, are you?" She seductively asked. Shad blushed.

"Let's continue our session." He said, ignoring her wooing.

"You've got it, hon. One magical time travel session coming right up!" Fanadi shouted, running into the back to get the blue ball. Today he would learn more about the Hero from so long ago… what he had seen thus far was captivating, but it wasn't anything groundbreaking. The stories end after he returns home from his inter-dimensional quest, but what was this Termina he spoke of? There was so much to uncover, and Shad was itching to decipher each and every detail.

"Alright, hold onto your hat!" She said, clapping her hands.

"But I'm not wearing a ha-" He was interrupted by a flash of blue light. They were returning to the world from so long ago…