Today marked Link's year long journey to defeat the enormous Sumo King. He packed his satchel with everything he would need. It wasn't much since the stable offered a minimalist lifestyle. What belongings he did have was few and was gotten from the rupees he had earned from his winnings from past tournaments. He packed a few bottles from the shelves for potions and water, a reasonable sized bag of rupees, a neatly folded mawashi, and a couple of plainly colored kimonos in a few select colors. Once he had packed everything, he'd put it on him, slung over his shoulder. That day, he chose to wear a green kimono with a white belt and trim and wooden sandals.

As he headed out, he stopped by the mirror that was placed on the door of his room on the way out. He checked to make sure his hair was tidied and his face was clean. He had noticed that his long, shoulder length, brown hair was messy and so he took out a brush that he kept on a dresser in front of his bed and brushed his hair until it looked presentable. He then grabbed a hair band that laid next to the brush and tied it into a traditional sumo top knot that he had learned how to do from Katsu. He placed both his brush and a good amount of hair ties in his bag. He then smoothed his kimono and straightened it out to make to make sure that there wasn't any folds or wrinkles that could be easily noticed. He took another glance at the mirror as he double checked how he looked.

He took another breath as he stared at his own reflection. He thought back on how he appeared when he first started versus currently. Back when he started his sumo lifestyle, he was slim yet toned in his body. Over the course of a year, he would bulk up, losing that slim look. Now, under his loose kimono, he grew slightly rounder with a slight belly, a chest that looked like two small mounds, and arms and legs that were noticeably bigger than what they were before. He was nowhere close to the fabled appearance of a sumo wrestler, but he was on track. Link looked up to the other sumo wrestlers at the stable and dreamed of having such an appearance; a great mass of fat with the right amount of muscle that was hidden underneath. Despite his tone being lost, he still had his boyish looks and a bold demeanor that followed him wherever he went. Whether that was around the marketplace or in front of a crowd in a tournament.

All his life, he had seen and admired the very same giants in the ring. He grew to have so much admiration for the sport and the athletes, that he got into Hyrule's most prestigious stable after a few years of being a knight as soon as there was an opening at the stable. Since he had the conditioning as a knight, it made entering easy for him. He also studied a little bit of the sport on his free time. That gave him a qualified edge among other Hylians that had tried for that spot. The stable owner and a few of its top rikishis noticed Link and decided he'd be a good fit for the stable. Ever since then, he would train and learn with the other rikishis, as he placed his old life aside for the life of a sumo wrestler.

Three months would pass and his first ever tournament would arrive. During that period of time, he grew from 170 pounds to 185 pounds. He had lost his defined tone that he developed from his time as a knight. That morning, he was particularly nervous. He sat on his bed in silence. The silence broke when he heard a knock on his door. The door opened. Katsu walked into the young rikishi's room. Katsu was already wrapped in his mawashi. Ready for the extra brutal training before the tournament.

"I was sent to get you." Katsu told Link. He looked at him and easily spotted his emotions. "Everything alright?"

Link looked at him, "Just nervous. That's all."

Katsu sat on the bed next to the small rikishi. He placed a thick hand on his shoulder. "You're going to be fine." Link gave the big guy a confused look. Katsu sympathized, "I've been where you're at."

"Really?" Link was both astonished and curious.

"Yep! Every new rikishi felt what you felt. Even me."

"What did you do?"

"I had a fellow rikishi come into my room, like I am here, and helped me put on my mawashi. You know it takes two to put one on. We then joined up with the other rikishis in the dojo and practiced for some time. That took away the nervousness I had. And speaking of practices and tournaments, I think it's time I help you put on your mawashi."

Link nodded. The boys stood up from the bed. Link disrobed. Katsu grabbed Link's mawashi and started to put it on him, Link twirled as Katsu tied it tight. Katsu gave a few tugs to make sure it would be tight enough and wouldn't come off during any sparring matches. Once tight enough, he gave himself an assured nod.

"Let's get going. They're waiting for us." Katsu told Link. And so Link followed Katsu to the main training area to train with the other rikishis before the big tournament later that night.

Ever since then, he stayed best friends with Katsu. Katsu would be Link's number one mentor while he trained. Sometimes, Katsu would give Link private lessons that would benefit Link in later tournaments. They stayed close friends even outside of training. Even to the point to sometimes be the ones to run errands for the stable, whether it was getting the right groceries for the stable or smaller tasks that needed to be done around Hyrule.

Link snapped back to reality. His mind now focused back on his task: To train the entire year to take down the intimidating Sumo King. That nervousness that was present before his first tournament came back now. He wasn't fearful at all. The nervousness came to the importance of the task that was given to him, just how much his actions meant for everyone in Hyrule. He didn't want to lose against the Sumo King and have him take over Hyrule. This gave him the motivation that he needed to proceed. The motivation for his much needed year long journey that presented itself in front of him.

He went out the door and through the hallway to the dojo. There was already wrestlers clad in their mawashis training. Sweat coated their well developed bodies as they performed shikos around the ring. They counted altogether until they reached fifty. Then they stopped, relaxed. They quickly noticed Link as he stood watch over them. Link said no word as he clung to the strap of his bag. In that silence, a few rikishis gave their farewells to Link.

One rikishi said, "Good luck."

Another had said, "Take care."

Link stood there as he took in every farewell. He felt honored as if it was a rite of passage. He had left an impression on the newer rikishis that encouraged them to try even harder. Already, he would leave a legacy there. Link would turn a new page. A quest he felt he needed to do. He was about to leave a year's worth of memories and challenges behind him for a year's worth of training and adventure. As he entered the training area, he saw the guys for the very last time. Then he spoke, "I guess this is my goodbye." said with a smile, "Off on an adventure unknown. Wish me luck." He waved and headed to the door.

"Wait!" Katsu exclaimed. "There's something I want to give you before you left." Katsu ran down the hallway to his room and returned with a box. His sweat still fresh from training.

Katsu gave the box to Link. He looked at it. It was small and wooden. Easily able to fit within the confines of his bag. He was puzzled by it since he hadn't any clue of what was inside. Regardless, he thought of it as a kind gesture. A going away present from a very good friend and he greatly appreciated it.

Link gave Katsu a bow. "I appreciate your gift greatly. But, can you tell me what's inside?"

Katsu gave a hearty laugh, "That would ruin the surprise."

"I suppose you're right." Link smiled again. "I suppose it's now time for me to actually go this time."

Link waved the guys once again as he turned his back on the stable. He stashed Katsu's gift inside his bag. Behind him, he could hear the rikishis continue their goodbyes. He hesitated. Then, he pushed open the doors to the city.

He stood there. He felt the sun and the wind on his face. He watched as many Hylians walked past the stable. If he was ready or not, it , it was time that he set foot on his year long journey. He clenched his bag and proceeded to the city of Gorons. Death Mountain.