How long had it been since Link last saw Hyrule? Days had blurred into months, then years. Alone with his trusty steed Epona, he had travelled far and wide in search of Navi. Even though he was not a Kokiri and therefore did not need a fairy, he could not forget her. She had been with him through all of Ganondorf's schemes to claim the Triforce. Yet after that final fight and returning to his original timeline she left without a word. Her movements were caught in a trance that left her silent even when he called for her. The fact that she had disappeared so suddenly concerned him. He feared that his final fight with Ganon and the exposure to his dark aura had hurt Navi.
When Link arrived back in Temple of Time, he could not pursue Navi immediately. He had to warn Zelda of the possible future in store for Hyrule. The possession of the Kokiri Emerald as well as the crest of the Triforce of courage on the back of his hand validated his story. However upon their meeting where she treated him as a perfect stranger was a stab to his heart. Instead Princess Zelda listened to his tale and immediately went to inform her father about the matter. He could still remember her return in the castle courtyard. She merely entrusted him with the Ocarina of Time and the Song of Time along with the instructions to hide it. After all, she would need more time before her father saw the truth. At least with the ocarina missing, Ganondorf would have no way of entering the sacred realm.
Within the week he was on the road, fleeing Hyrule as a wandering swordsman albeit a very young one. Hyrule would be saved from the future Link experienced when the Gerudo king claimed the Triforce. Such a fact was the only cold comfort he had on his lonely journey. The effects of the Ocarina of Time seemed to allow Link to retain his memories of alternate timelines. Everything he had experienced had never really happened. All the people he'd befriended treated him as an outsider. If anything that drove him to find Navi again.
He had now been searching for five or maybe six years, his travels had taken him through Hyrule's outer provinces and to the lands of Termina, Holodrum and Labryanna. Although his journey had strengthened his skill with a blade, he had still not found any trace of Navi. With a heavy heart, he finally steered Epona towards Hyrule. His time in exile had worn him down and all he wanted were the comforts of home. The rural plains of Ordona province came into view. It was mostly peaceful farmlands on the edge of thick forests. A few farms were scattered around the grasslands but there was no proper town to take shelter in.
Link found a suitable place to rest by the river in the early morning light. In the distance he could already see farmers beginning their routines of tending to their crops and herds. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the river, noticing how he had become a young man during his time away. His blue eyes reflected a maturity beyond his physical age. He thrust one of his hands into the water, dissipating his reflection. Gazing at the back of his hand now, it felt like a lifetime ago when the Triforce of courage appeared on it. Oddly in the months that followed his departure from Hyrule it seemed to weaken then vanished completely. He now wondered if anyone would even remember him upon his return. Epona neighed in the background as she fed on some nearby grass. Time had turned her into a fine steed for any legendary hero. Link splashed cold water over his face to fight off sleepiness.
He glanced over at his travelling pack, the sheathed gilded blade and the sorrowful face of the mirror shield leant on it. Memories of his time in Termina came to mind, for it was in that land that he found that decagonal shield in the haunted kingdom of Ikana. The blacksmith, Zubora, from the northern peaks was responsible for transforming his humble Kokiri blade into the gilded sword that had kept him safe from foes. Now he was thankful he could wield the long sword with one hand easily. Briefly he thought of Skull Kid, Tatl and Tael, wondering what had become of them since he defeated Majora's Mask.
As morning broke and the land was bathed in sunlight, Link rode down the main trail. For the most part the farmers ignored him, too preoccupied with tending to their crops and herds. The trail eventually led back through a verdant forest, known to Ordona as the Faron Woods. That particular region appeared to be the main path linking Hyrule to the outer provinces. It was also the first forest Link had seen that was devoid of any kind of magic. Unlike the Lost Woods, the plants here were vibrant and you could even see the sky watching the ground with curiosity beyond the treetops. The wind had a similar scent to the Kokiri Forest. The air here was clear of any fairies and magical sprites that were abundant in the Kokiri village due to the Great Deku Tree's magic.
The path narrowed with the presence of ancient cliffs. Epona crushed the snapping jaws of Deku Babas with ease as she galloped onwards. The tunnel ended in a glade occupied by a spring of shimmering water. The trail continued on the opposite side and went deeper into the forest. The waters rippled around collections of strangely carved stones. Softly curved lines wove and danced along the surface of the rocks, yet it was difficult to tell what manner of creature had engraved them this way. The water also looked much clearer than any source of water Link had seen before. He furrowed his brow, recalling seeing this same spring years ago. The fact it seemed locked in time and unchanging felt peculiar to him. From spending his childhood in the forest, he had learnt from a young age that nature was a being of change and growth. To see a place like this only concerned him as he steered Epona towards the trail and away from the water.
"L…Li..nk…"
He stopped at the sound of that weary voice, it sounded just like Navi. Immediately dismounting, he looked around for the source of the sound. His hand did not stray far from the handle of his sword.
"Link… is that you? You look so different."
The water of the spring rippled, a ball of light danced from its surface and soared over his head. Finally slowing its pace, translucent wings emerged as it took the familiar shape of a fairy. The light then took on a soft blue colour.
Link could hardly believe his eyes "Navi? Is that really you!?"
"Yes Link, I'm sorry I left you without explanation," her wings drooped "Ganon's evil was so strong… I needed to purge myself of his aura so I came here." She floated over the surface of the water "There are springs like this hidden within the provinces of Hyrule. No one knows where they came from and they have a tendency to disappear then reappear as the land shifts, but they are said to be enchanted by spirits of light." She dove through the water and emerged before him "Being immersed in these waters… it was the only to cleanse my soul and be free of his evil."
"I've been looking for you everywhere. Finding you has kept me going for the past few years."
Navi observed him, he still wore that same green hat that allowed his untidy bangs to part around his face. He had grown beyond a humble Kokiri tunic as well, now favouring the clothes of a wandering swordsman. A faint glimmer of chainmail was present beneath the collar of his dark green surcoat. Tights were tucked into his high leather boots. His forearms were protected by leather bracers with a pair of fingerless gloves concealing his hands. Despite the changes to him, two things remained the same, the first being the presence of green in his clothes and the second were his eyes.
The fairy felt overwhelmed with a mix of pride and happiness "And you've become a fine hero in your own right. I bet you've done a lot of good deeds in that time."
"A few," he laughed to himself "I still can't believe I've finally found you. I don't know what to say… Saria told me that when fairies leave they return to the heavens. For so long I didn't want to believe it…"
"I did ascend to the heavens and sadly my emergence is not a happy one." Navi's wings tilted with low ringing tune "I fear a monster has set its sights on Hyrule, the only thing I know about this evil is that it's cunning and strikes from shadows. The only detail of its appearance is that it has golden eyes."
"Then we make haste to the castle, Zelda must be warned."
Link mounted Epona once more and galloped off into the distance. His mind was a whirlpool of elation from being reunited with Navi, yet consumed with panic from the threat to his homeland. Even after all these years, he still found that the very suggestion of Zelda in danger was enough to send him to her side. He rode on through the morning light as Faron Woods passed in a blur. He knew he could make it to the castle by nightfall if he kept this pace.
At that moment, in another forest lost to the realm of the Golden Goddesses. The Woods of Mystery shared that familiar comfort of a home to Skull Kid. The scent of an ancient forest was hard to miss with such acute senses. He had found a similar atmosphere in the Lost Woods of Hyrule. Even to this day he did not understand why he found solace in such places. He could not for the life of him recall any memories of his true past or even his family. Only faint slivers of befriending the Giants of Termina, a Hylian who lived among the Kokiri named Link and two wayward fairies, remained fresh in his mind.
Since the thwarted wrath of Majora's Mask, Skull Kid had assumed a new life by tagging along with wayward wanderers of Termina. They appeared to be in tune with the ancient ways of magic that made him feel at ease. The presence of such power would have typically scared away most, but to him. This ability to wield darkness and the elements was normal to him. He also suspected by staying with them he could learn more of his lost memories given that it was suggested that he was a wild deity. A type of immortal who had migrated to Termina from the Twilight Realm, each was diverse possessing a variety of forms and powers.
He had met with two such wild deities who chose to dwell in the mortal coil. The Great Fairy of the Twilight Realm who reincarnates as a mortal named Veran along with Twinrova, a higher arcane wild deity who lived in the swamps in the form of two witches. Standing in that glade now, he could not fathom how old it truly was. The plants here were reminiscent of a distant era before any part of Termina was civilised. Amidst the flora was a pillar of jet black stone etched with angular patterns. Half were coloured red and the other side was blue. All the lines and elaborate flourishes met in the centre to create a visage of Majora's Mask upon the surface of the black gemstone. It stood the height and width of a Goron, although its existence was known only to those who had a link with the Twilight Realm.
However how could he possibly even think he was some form of deity? His face was lost to a weave of straw and shadows. Two gleaming balls of light served as his eyes while a beak functioned as his mouth. His frame was small and agile, adorned with all manner of scraps he found littered through the forest. Surely the deities were mistaken that he of all mortals could possess any semblance of power. At least that was what he told himself to drown out the truth. The fact that Majora's Mask could draw such immense magic from him never strayed too far from his mind.
He could still recall his first visit here before the mesmerising crimson and azure patterns of light. They pierced through the black stone and writhed as living creatures. If he was to truly believe it, he was the one responsible for bringing this piece of the Twilight Realm to the forest. The specific use for this relic was also unknown other than that it revealed the true forms of wild deities when their mortal masks wandered too close. An anomaly caught his attention as the crimson and azure patterns faded. They went black then flashed a brilliant gold before disappearing once more. The familiar pulsing of red and blue returned as the stone resumed its usual splendour. Perplexed by what this deviation meant, Skull Kid jumped down from the branch he was perched on and ran off through the woods and back towards the swamp.