It was strange coming back into the light after being in the dark shop. It took a few moments and several blinks for Zelda's eyes to adjust. By then, the sun had passed overhead and the sky had turned orange. Zelda knew they'd have to hurry if they wanted to leave here before dark. She didn't think she could handle spending the night here.

"What's the plan?" she asked eagerly.

"Find the forest girl and hunker down for the night," he said with a shrug.

Zelda winced. "Here?"

"Unless we can leave in time."

"I don't want to stay here.'

Ganondorf took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Remember the kiss," he said softly. "I will keep you safe.

Easy for him to say. Zelda wished she could believe him as easily. But arguing would do her no good and would only waste the daylight.

"Okay. So where do we start looking?"

Ganondorf pulled the map from his pocket and eyed it carefully. "They should be close."

"Should" was the operative word. The capital was large, crowded, and complicated in real life, but just a small square on the map. The tree symbol almost completely covered that square on its own. The moon and sun symbols finished the job.

"We'll never find her." Zelda exhaled a long, heavy sigh.

"We will," Ganondorf insisted. "We have to."

Zelda eyed the map carefully. Maybe it wasn't impossible. Maybe there was a clue in there. And maybe their ally was in southwest Castle Town. But each maybe was bigger than the last.

"Golden goddesses, guide us," Zelda mumbled.

It was then that a golden butterfly fluttered past her face, then circled her head a few times. Zelda had never seen a bug that sparkled like gold before. It had to be a sign. Zelda wouldn't complain. The goddesses had heard her, and she would follow the sign they gave.

The butterfly flew down an alley, then turned around when it realized it wasn't being followed. That was proof enough for Zelda. It was definitely a sign.

"Let's go," she said.

"Where?"

"Wherever this little one wants us to go."

Ganondorf opened his mouth, then slowly closed it and grit his teeth. His crimson brows furrowed. "Fine," he said. "You lead."

Zelda didn't need him to tell her twice. She hurried after the butterfly, which always stayed just a few paces ahead of her. Luckily, it was always close enough to see and follow. Finally, it went throw a hole in a window and didn't come out.

Ganondorf stopped a few paces behind Zelda and panted big, heavy breaths. "Is… Is this it?"

Zelda glanced at the map. There was only one symbol now – Zelda's sun, outlined in black and green.

"It must be," she said.

She handed the map back to the Gerudo king and quietly approached the front door. Cream-colored knuckles rapped against the ornate wooden door twice before Zelda's hand fell to her side.

Hurried footsteps and energetic giggles moved towards the door before it opened. Inside was a girl not quite of drinking age. Her hair was tied in two pigtails with butterfly hair ribbons. She wore a strange, poofy dress in a style Zelda was unfamiliar with. Three dots – one magenta, one cyan, one orange – rested beneath both her wide blue eyes. But perhaps the strangest thing about the girl was that she was decked head to toe in butterflies – butterfly dress, butterfly ribbons, butterfly gloves.

"Oh, thank goodness Miss Butterfly led you to here alright!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands with glee. "I was beginning to think you'd never come!"

"You… knew we were coming?" Zelda asked, a bit taken aback by the girl's energy.

"Yes, indeed. The golden goddesses blessed me with a dream just a few days ago.'

"And what was in that dream?" Ganondorf asked as he looked into the girl's house with noticeable curiosity.

The girl followed his gaze before realizing something. "Do forgive me! It's impolite of me to leave the King of the Gerudo and the Queen of Hyrule outside!" She stepped out of their way and skipped deeper into her house.

Ganondorf and Zelda exchanged a worried glance before following the girl inside. The king shut the door but hung by it, ready to leave if things took a turn for the worst.

Zelda was too curious to stay in one place. She eyed the tree in the center of the house with awe until she saw all the bugs crawling on it. A chill ran down her spine. Just what kind of Hell was this?

Zelda took a seat on a fancy white couch and sat there quietly.

It wasn't long before the girl returned with a beetle teapot and a platter of ant-shaped sugar cookies, iced and sprinkled to perfection.

"Enjoy!" she said cheerily.

Zelda glanced at the treats uncertainly. She couldn't tell if they were poisoned or not. She didn't want to take the chance.

"Do you not like sweets?" the stranger asked.

Zelda's faced paled. "No, I do. I just-" she stammered.

Ganondorf was more direct. "Just who are you?"

"I am Agitha, princess of insects. Though you may better know me as the Hero of Forest."

"Hero of Forest?" Zelda repeated. "What do you mean?"

Agitha's brows furrowed. Zelda could tell she wasn't expecting such a reaction. Seemed she knew things Zelda didn't.

"Start from the beginning," Ganondorf said.

Agitha clasped her hands in her lap and her pink lips pursed. She was silent for a few moments, then she began speaking carefully.

"A week ago, I had a dream. An elegant lady walking stick greeted me, calling herself Farore. Then she metamorphosed into a Hylian with green hair and golden robes. She told me the king of the Gerudo and the lost princess of Hyrule would come for me – the Hero of Forest. And you did."

Zelda listened carefully, nodding a few times to show she was listening. Agitha knew things a girl her age shouldn't know of, especially not without being told. What especially struck Zelda as odd was how Agitha knew Zelda was the princess when she was supposed to be dead.

She absent-mindedly reached for a cookie and brought it towards her mouth.

Ganondorf leaped towards her and snatched it away. "Sheik!" he snapped. "You still don't know if she's truly our ally or not!"

"But she said-"

"She could be lying! It's not like she's had a cookie of cup of tea yet. She could be trying to lure us into a false sense of security."

Agitha puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. "You really think me a Hylian of such poor upbringing that I would try to poison you?" she asked

Ganondorf did not answer the question directly. "I cannot allow Sheik to die."

"Fine," Agitha said. "I'll prove myself honest then."

Agitha picked up a cookie and ate it. Nothing happened. Then she poured a cup of tea. She took a sip but, again, nothing happened. The self-proclaimed Hero of Forest survived both treats. They weren't poisoned.

Ganondorf settled on the couch next to Zelda and ate freely without a care. Seemed his suspicion was appeased.

It was then that Zelda remembered something. "Ganondorf, do you still have that map?"

"Mmph?" His words were cluttered by the food in his mouth, so he swallowed and tried again. "What about it?"

"May I see it?"

He gave a small shrug. "Sure."

He handed her the map and she turned it over. Sure enough, there was Agitha, listed as their Hero of Forest. She really hadn't lied. Now if only they'd thought of this from the start. Zelda made a mental note so she would never forget again.

Zelda handed him back the map and poured herself a cup of tea. She extended her pinkie and took a sip. The drink tasted faintly of ginger spice and chocolate. Chai, perhaps? She decided it really didn't matter.

"Agitha, I need you to do something for me."

"Yes, my queen."

Zelda grimaced. "Please don't call me that."

"Princess then?" Agitha offered.

"No."

"Zelda?"

"Sheik," she said. "Call me Sheik."

"But you're worthy of such great titles-"

"That will get me killed." Zelda's words were harsh but delivered gently. "I can go back to being a monarch when I am truly the one ruling again."

Agitha nodded slowly. "Yes, ma'am," she said. "I will help you with whatever I can."

Zelda's lips curved in a weary smile. "You will be in danger," she said. "You will become an enemy of the tyrant and could very easily be killed." It was best not to sugarcoat things. Agitha deserved to know the truth, not some idealized fantasy.

The girl chewed at her lip nervously before her resolve returned.

"I used to think Link to be a kind grasshopper, but he's really a destructive locust. I may be princess of insects, but I will not serve a locust who hurts his own people. I would sooner die if it meant a proper monarch butterfly ruled again."

For a girl with such a gentle smile and innocent eyes, Agitha was courageous. Few of her nature would take such a stand. No wonder Farore was Zelda's messenger to Agitha.

Zelda covered her mouth and yawned. It was getting late. She wondered if Ganondorf was still eating. One look to her right proved just the opposite. His feeding frenzy had come to a halt. His arms dangled off the back of the couch and his head hung back. Ganondorf opened his mouth wide and release a loud snore. They were both tired and in need of rest.

Agitha smiled knowingly. "You poor dears," she said softly. "I have a guest bed readied for you, Sheik. I'd readied one for Ganondorf as well, but I think he'll be quite content here. Let us rest now so we can make a different tomorrow."

Again, Zelda realized it. Agitha was truly something else. A light in the dark. A reason to have faith in this dark age. Zelda was grateful she was their first ally.

"Yes," the princess said. "Let's."