Ever since they were young, Her Highness had encouraged him toward the role of the hero. It was because he bore that mark – the mark of the Triforce of Reason. Many of Lorule's legendary heroes were linked to the virtue of Reason in some way or another. Hilda took great pride in those old tales, often pointing out his similarities when she read aloud to him. Although lacking in courage at times, the heroes were said to be youths with wisdom beyond their years. Their sense of good and evil was unparalleled. He went along with it, although he'd never been completely convinced he was cut out to be the hero. And while he didn't begrudge the mark on his hand, he'd always wished that peace in Lorule would go on forever. He didn't want to think about facing the same hardships of those past heroes. He hated confrontation and didn't want to fight.

Ravio was reflecting on these things as he made his way to Hilda's study. He was in good spirits, despite his concerns. Getting a brief reprieve from training to talk to the princess was always welcome. He wished he'd brought Sheerow along, but after the incident the day prior, he couldn't be too careful. He adjusted his long, purple cap and finger-combed his dark purple hair, before knocking.

"You may enter," a sweet, but stern voice answered from the other side.

Pushing open the grand double doors, he saw the princess looking out the window. Sunlight streamed into the room, glinting over her crown as she turned her head from the window to face him.

"Good morning, Your Highness. The Captain said you wanted to talk to me?" He grinned. "Here I am."

"Greetings, Ravio. I hope you are well."

"I am," Ravio answered. He noted that her expression today was more austere than he could ever recall. "Are you?"

"I am, but..." She hesitated a moment. "I'm going to ask you something, and I know I can trust that you'll be honest with me. I won't be angry with you... You know of the bracelet of legend, yes? You... have it, don't you?"

Ravio looked down at the floor. "Yes... I apologize, Your Highness."

Hilda gave a relieved smile. "It's alright, Ravio. I'm not upset. Had I thought of it earlier, I would have given you the bracelet, but may I inquire why you took it?"

"Your Highness... I hope you don't think me rude, but that bracelet is the only defense against the staff Yuga carries. I mean, don't you see how dangerous it could be in the hands of someone like him? Goddesses, Hilda... Can't you see he's no good?" Ravio waited for Hilda to either rebuke him or brush off his warning as she always had when he spoke against Yuga.

A grieved expression crossed her features, although he could tell she was doing her best to conceal it. "I understand."

Ravio couldn't believe what he was hearing. Had Yuga done something to make her question him? "If you agree with me, why don't you do something about it?" He pressed, growing concerned.

"What can I do? What wrong has he committed?"

"There's just something about him..." Ravio tried to explain, although what came out was a gross understatement. "At his best, he's nothing more than a worthless social climber, and I don't want to consider what he could be at his worst. You'll listen to my words about anything else, why not this?"

"You think he's after the Triforce?" Hilda asked.

Ravio's emerald eyes widened, feeling his stomach lurch. It was as if she'd read his worst fear. If someone wanted the Triforce, they'd come for him and Hilda first. This was the absolute worst case scenario in his mind. Of course, he wouldn't put anything past Yuga. To Ravio, Yuga was exactly the kind of person who would try to take control of the Triforce.

"I think given the opportunity he wouldn't think twice about betraying you for it." Ravio finally replied.

"So what's stopping him? Why hasn't he done it yet?" Hilda asked.

"You know why... You know better than anyone else. The bearer of the Triforce of Beauty has yet to make themselves known." Ravio explained. "But knowing Yuga's obsession with beauty, he'd be looking for her first."

"You believe the bearer of the Triforce of Beauty is a woman?" Hilda asked, intrigued.

"It's only a theory. Your Highness, what's going on? Has something happened?"

"I-I can't say..." She frowned. Her tone became more abrupt. "I meant it when I said I would have given you the bracelet. I think you should keep it. Please take care of it, be discreet about it, and above all, be careful. That's all I wanted to say..."

Why is she being so cryptic?

"Please be careful, Your Highness," said Ravio, his dread mounting.

He turned to leave, but before he could reach the door he heard Hilda give a bittersweet giggle. Ravio froze, looking back over his shoulder.

"You know...He was quite angry when he noticed it was missing..."

A chill ran down his spine, not knowing how to respond to her behavior which was growing stranger by the moment. The princess had already turned to look out the window once again.

oOo

Ravio sat at a writing desk in his small, one-room home. The weight of the bracelet on his wrist was a reminder of what had transpired earlier.

He glanced over his previous journal entry.

I didn't get to talk to her today. That man almost turned Sheerow into a painting. I hope she comes to her senses soon.

He grabbed his quill and began to write the next entry. He would have smiled if he didn't feel so on edge.

She wants to do the right thing. I don't know what's stopping her, but the good news is that she's letting me keep that thing I took.

He lifted the quill from the page, stroking Sheerow with his outstretched pointer finger. He always wrote in vague terms on the off chance someone read his journal. He pulled the bracelet from his wrist and placed it back in its hiding place in a drawer.

Ravio knew the history of the bracelet all too well. Hilda had read the legend to him many, many times when they were younger. The bracelet had once belonged to a nefarious sorcerer who misled the matriarch of the Royal Family. Ravio couldn't help but liken the sorcerer in the legend to Yuga. He'd once joked about it to Hilda as she was reading the story to him for perhaps the umpteenth time.

"I didn't ask for your commentary, Ravio. Now pay attention," she'd scolded. That particular story about the goddess reborn and the sorcerer was her favorite.

Ravio looked around his house. It needed organizing, but he didn't feel much in the mood for cleaning at the moment. He stood up, stretching. Sheerow came to light on his shoulder.

"Well, buddy, let's head out to the Milk Bar. I'm sure you could use some fresh air after being cooped up all day." Ravio said to the small blue and white bird. He went to his wardrobe, taking out a long purple robe with an attached rabbit hood which he'd made himself.

oOo

Despite rumors of an underground group of thieves in town, Ravio felt relatively safe. The Milk Bar gave him a chance to socialize outside of the castle. Even better, Ravio knew Yuga would never step foot in this place, but then again neither would the princess. Ravio frowned. They really were worlds apart.

The Milk Bar owner, Ingo was grumbling to himself and drying empty jugs. There was a young woman with long pink hair, styled in a ponytail. A guy with a bag over his head sat not far from her. There were a few oddly attired women seated around a table. Lovely and witch-like in appearance, these women were surely members of the all-female tribe that hailed from the swamp. Ravio had heard many rumors about them – the sorceresses of Misery Mire. The women giggled amongst themselves.

It wasn't difficult to spot the Captain with his magenta bobbed haircut, purple uniform, and cap. Over the years of training, Ravio had struck up a sort of friendship with his superior. Ravio lifted his bunny hood and strode over to the man, who had already drunk most of his milk.

"Ravio, why do you insist on wearing that ridiculous get-up? You're a knight in training after all."

"I dunno Sir, this just feels more like myself."

"Suit yourself then." The Captain shrugged.

Ravio sat down and ordered himself a jug of milk, placing a red rupee on the counter. Ingo heaved a sigh, taking up the rupee. A moment later he shoved a jug of milk down the bar to him.

Between sips, Ravio stole glances at the various women around the bar – their hands in particular. This didn't escape the Captain's notice, who was grinning at Ravio in a devious manner.

"I know what you think I'm looking at – and I want you to put it out of your head," Ravio said, without missing a beat.

"I said nothing."

"Good. Unlike you, the Princess and I still believe the bearer of the third piece is out there somewhere, and I fully intend to find them." Ravio whispered.

The bards started to play a song, to which the man with the bag over his head began to make up his own lyrics. His tipsy serenade seemed to be directed towards the pink haired girl, who he referred to as "my thief girl." The thief girl shifted uncomfortably, clearly annoyed by the unwanted attention. Ravio tried to drown out the man's singing.

"Had any run-ins with the princess's handler recently?" The Captain asked Ravio.

Ravio spit-taked. He knew exactly who the Captain was referencing. Gossiping about the princess was the Captain's favorite pastime. "Sir, you can't talk about Her Highness like that."

"Why not? Wherever she is, he is almost always in tow. I'm telling it like it is."

Ravio cringed. "I asked him why Her Highness would give him that staff, and he said 'to protect her.'"

"What's he protecting her from? Would-be suitors?" The Captain scoffed.

Ravio didn't laugh. The thought churned his stomach. He didn't order another round of milk for fear of earning Ingo's ire.

The 'thief girl' got up abruptly as her admirer carried on singing, making her way to the exit. "Hey, where you goin'?" he called after her in a singsong voice "It was just a song!"

oOo

Ravio and the Captain stepped outside the bar and began to walk the perimeter of the town. The sweet scent of spring hung in the air, even though the sun would set in just a few hours. They neared the northern strip of town. Sheerow, who'd been quiet the duration of their time at the bar, began to chirp frantically. The Captain continued to talk. He was rambling at this point, paying no mind to the younger man's bird companion. But Ravio saw what had captured Sheerow's attention. At the edge of the forest, which was often referred to as Skull Woods, stood a figure robed in a faded hue of purple. The figure stood completely still a few moments, and Ravio had to double take to be sure he actually saw something other than trees. Then the figure stretched out its hand. It appeared to be beckoning to him. Ravio couldn't be sure if he was just imagining it, but the figure seemed to be rather skeletal looking.

Nope...

Ravio pretended to not have noticed as he averted his gaze. He had some difficulty slowing his breathing as he imagined the figure continue to beckon to him. He tried to tell himself that he'd just imagined it - and when that line of thinking failed - that the Captain was by his side.

As they continued their walk and distanced themselves from Skull Woods, Sheerow, at last, quieted down, but Ravio could not forget what he'd seen and the memory of it would circulate his mind for many nights to come.