I wrote this chapter on a whim. I've always liked this story and hated to see it just hanging there. My writing's improved, so deal with it.

I'm also going to try updating more with shorter updates but more regularly.

-goldenrhino

"Seriously? A 'chance' encounter in the street? How more cliché can you get?"

The Mask Seller sighed deeply as she turned herself away from the accompanying wagon and stared at the stone-ridden roadway below. There was a time when she wouldn't have hesitated to respond to the Puppeteer, but today she was so tired that she simply didn't care anymore. There were reasons she was taking the long, hard, bumpy road to Holodrum, and not simply warping there; even basic magic would be difficult at this state. Thank the Goddesses the Puppeteer was never particularly confrontational.

"About as 'chance' of an encounter as us meeting in this caravan, I suppose," she noted after a long pause, leaning back wearily against the side of the wagon. "I don't think you've come to simply critique my techniques."

The Puppeteer leaped up onto the back end of his own wagon precariously, looking peculiarly like a pigeon perching on a rooftop. His already gaunt look had apparently gotten even thinner, his yellow robe a little faded, and his face…was that a scar?

"I've been away from these parts long enough that I've been missing out on the news!" he said excitedly, finally finding his balance on the wagon and staring at her with curious intensity. "Tell me, how has the wondrous, golden, goddess-blessed land of Hyrule been fairing recently?"

"You've been away for, like, a day."

"We don't need to argue semantics," he chuckled, almost falling off in the process.

"Well, it was a lot better when you were away…"

"Ha! That's the mask seller I know!" He shifted his grip as the horses swerved around a bend in the road. "Why are you heading to Holodrum anyway? Trying to prevent some apocalyptic end-of-the-world scenario? Or has some new villain appeared that can only be stopped by your direct intervention?"

"Indeed, the worst of villains!" she laughed, smiling for once. "A dastardly craftsman in Horon by the name of Sakon has been copying some of my father's work and passing it off as his own."

The Puppeteer's playfully looked on in shock. "He didn't!"

"Well, he is," she insisted. "And he's quite talented too, that bastard. When word of his work came to me, I took it upon myself to go and…dissuade him."

"That's terrible!" he said, shaking his head in mock disgust. "He's worse than I am."

"Maybe you should take notes," she replied with a smirk. "How's the troupe? Did they appreciate you gallivanting off randomly to the Dragon Lands?"

"Didn't even notice I was gone." He grinned, producing an apple from his pocket and began chomping on it. "You want one?"

She nodded, and then deftly caught the apple he tossed at her. "Tell me some details, and I might return the favor before I fall asleep."

He jumped onto her wagon and settled himself down beside her. "The Dragon Lords are still discussing whether to negotiate or wage war with Labrynna. Their dragons are, as a whole, more level-headed and better smelling than their masters. I suspect that these discussions will last for a few more months before completely dissolving into chaos."

"Who's leading the discussions?"

"No one. They're just yelling at each other," he said between mouthfuls. "To be fair, there was one of them who…well, pity your duties only have you guarding the destinies of Hyrule. There's a lot of interesting people in the world; people who'd suit your cause well." He smirked as he chucked the apple core away. "Your turn!"

"Hyrule itself is rather stable, though there was a disturbance in the Wasteland not too long ago that I'm convinced you had a hand in," she began, as the Puppeteer chuckled softly. "The Mage Council is nervous. They've offered to help speed negotiations as they're not eager to see a war. Neither Labrynna and Holodrum are strong enough to take on the Mage Council alone, but together…"

"Now, let's not get into a discussion about supply chains and logistics and military tactics—"

"Rumor has it that Labrynna has perfected their airship technology."

He raised an eyebrow. "Come to think of it, a Dragon Lord and his apprentice disappeared a few weeks ago. I wonder…"

"Probably. This changes things."

"Well, it'll be a more interesting war, to say the least," he said, leaning back contently. "Anything else?"

"Fairies are disappearing in Faron Woods."

Second eyebrow raised. "Two surprises in a day? You're on a roll, Mask Seller."

She laughed for the first time that day, genuinely amused. "I do my best."

"I might just have to pay a visit to the Woods, then." He said, standing up to stretch. He shuddered in mock horror. "Too spooky for me, ha!"

"…oh, just shut up."

And surprisingly, he did. He sat back down, and while she nodded off he watched the sun set slowly in the sky.