Gerudo Desert, seven years ago

"How is she?" Josh steps to the makeshift infirmary the Hyrulean makes, glancing at the medic apprehensively. They just won the battle against Ganondorf's minions, Zant and Ghirahim, and took back the Gerudo homeland. In his part, he amassed his people from the refuge Cia forced on them a year ago and led them gloriously. Princess Midna of the Twilight Realm, his friend and ally, rounded up her people to aid him.

But it was Lana who made the ultimate sacrifice. The heat of the desert pushed her to use excessive amounts of mana, so when she distorted time and space to bring the heroes of the past to the present, she used whatever mana she had remaining plus endangered her brittle soul. She collapsed on the battlefield after doing so, and at Josh's command, Zelda and Midna brought her here while he and Link dealt with the Usurper King and the Demon Lord.

"She's been resting since she got here. I'm no expert on magic and how it affects the soul, but even I know when a body is teetering on life and death. I...can't do anything, but maybe you can."

Joshua comes closer. "How?"

"Speak to her. Maybe your voice-and the right words-can bring her back." The medic leaves to tend to another patient, leaving Josh alone with Lana. Sighing, the Gerudo King kneels down beside the White Sorceress, watching her breathe calmly. The doctor is right-she looks perfectly healthy. But anyone who can sense magic can feel the dry well of mana within her, her soul struggling to stay in this plane of existence while also being drawn to rejoin its other half.

"Hey, if you can hear me. I guess you can recognize my voice. Anyway, we won, thanks to you. You made the ultimate sacrifice, and I thank you for it. But I wish you didn't end up like this. No one should die like this, not even Ganondorf. Although he should." He reaches down and grabs her hand. "If you wake up, even if you can't get up, call for me. If you can somehow get up, and you tell me that you will help us fight Ganondorf, I'll be stupid enough to say yes. Midna says I'm stupid and reliant on women, but that's how I was pretty much raised. However...if you don't...we will defeat Ganondorf, just for you."

Josh raises her hand, and with a kiss to it, says goodbye to Lana. He stands up, nods to the medic, and leaves the infirmary. Unbeknownst to him, Lana heard every word he said.

Lanacia

"Hey." Josh appears underneath the doorframe to Lana's quarters. He watches as she switches from healing her arm to looking up to the Gerudo royal. He steps in, looking at the furnished room with a sense of familiarity. This was his quarters years ago, after Cia's defeat, due to the destruction of the Gerudo city and the retreat of his people deeper in the desert. It had taken him months to find their exact location, but during this time he moped and brooded. The loss of his people, the girl who was his lifelong friend, and the girl he was falling for took its toll.

Now it belongs to the latter. Lanacia gazes at the warrior as he by a chair beside her, looking to the fireplace they circle around. He seems uncomfortable, given the opposing relationships he had with Lana and Cia when they were younger...when he was physically younger while she hasn't physically aged since she took the task of Guardian of Time centuries ago. Lana returns to healing her hand, figuring that when he's ready to speak he will.

Two minutes later, the silence annoys her. "What is it, Your Majesty?".

"...Link and I met one of the dragon knights. Dodonga, he calls himself, after the Dodongo. I think we scared him a bit, but despite that, I know that the power he displayed today is enough to beat Link and Zelda."

Which means, as he is, Joshua would lose. That's the words he's too prideful to admit. However, saying that is just a testament to the enemy's power. Link, as it stands, is the strongest warrior of the group. Zelda, unless Lana gets a handle on the Triforce of Power (or Josh takes it back), is the most powerful. If those two can be defeated by Dodonga… Lana frowns. This isn't good. "How strong?"

"Remember that Link and I both barely beat Volga. I almost died myself when I did finally make him submit. Volga was serious in each encounter then. This one was toying with us. I could tell when Link was fighting him that he was testing us. Impa and Link apparently passed."

"You didn't."

"Yep. I had to make a bluff, saying that what he experienced is but a taste of my power. Truth be told, I'm not as strong as I use to be. I wield a new weapon, so I have to learn how to use it before I can consider myself ready." He sighs as he folds his arms, glancing at Lana. "We leave tomorrow morning for Kakariko. I still doubt Volga betrayed us. But no matter what... From there, we'll see what needs to be done." He looks away to the unlit fireplace. To Lana, they are the one and the same, Joshua and the fireplace. Both unlit, their flames burned out long ago. If one desires, the fireplace could have its flame returned to burn once again, but the Gerudo King...there's not even kindling within him.

Maybe he's right. She would hinder him on this journey. She can handle herself, but the history between them is too great. He doesn't trust her and she is split on her trust as well. "Joshua… I know you hate me, both sides of me, so… You can go alone. I'll just join up with Link and Zelda."

"No." Joshua continues to stare at the pit, but his voice is stern, and dare she say longing? "No, I...can't do it alone. Today proved that none of us need to be alone. Since Zelda is taking Link... Impa and I may be able to do it, but..." He stops there, but the rest is understood by Lana. She smiles, then attends back to her healing.

Eight years ago, she came to him for help. Now he silently comes back to her to ask of the same. "Just like old times, then? You won't try to burn down a forest, right?"

That manages to make Joshua smile. "I'll try not to."

Impa

Seeing Link all by himself in the castle garden is unusual for the Shiekah Guardian, much as her not being stuck to the Queen's is a rarity. She remembers the many days and nights she would find the younger Hero and Princess/Queen here in private, not once interrupting unless her arrival was important or she had to keep them from doing dangerous things. Of course, those days possessed a different Link and Zelda, fate's power couple deeply in love. Today, a huge rift separates them and Impa can't help but feel responsible for it.

If Link understood everything, maybe he would direct his anger at the one who truly deserves it: himself.

"You asked for me?" Impa walks out the shadows, engaging the Hero Across the Ages. He looks up from the coned hat in his hand to Impa, nodding silently. She takes a seat on the bench next to him, placing her sword on the ground. She looks to the small fountain in front of them, remembering how a young Zelda would splash around in it while ignoring Impa's demands to get out. "What is it you wish to speak of?"

"...What is your take on this? For seven years, we have peace. We rebuild. Now we're back where we began." Link sighs, stuffing his hat with the hair on his head. "I thought my part of destiny was over."

"If you truly believed that, why you wear this tunic and retake the Master Sword?"

"I don't know. You know how I was when I got it. You told me to be worthy of this tunic and I...have tried my best in the last few years. The Master Sword... It was hard to put it back the first time, literally to the point Zelda had to help me, but now... It feels like it is the only thing right in my world."

Impa leans back, crossing her legs as she thinks. Link has had it hard since the war. First, he's the hero Impa searched for months before the invasion. She thrust that responsibility upon him and he willingly agreed. Afterward, he became a leader, a beacon of hope during the rebuilding. Then he was Zelda's lover. Whatever role he maintained the last three years, it changed him. No longer does she see the courageous young hero, but a worn, matured warrior. Only in the battle against Dodonga did he look like his old self. "Well, I believe that we must make do with this situation. The more we know, the better we can fight it."

Link slowly nods. "I guess. Now we know why they targeted Zelda, at least. I didn't understand his language, but the knight referred to me as 'The Lion' and 'Hylia's little lover'. If I remember, Hylia was already in Hyrule and still had her divinity when Demise attacked. If they know of the goddess and of me first predecessor, then...going back to Skyloft is truly our best bet, right?"

"If they know of you, they might've taken part in the war against Demise, but now with that piece of information, it couldn't have been much longer after the dragons. The Triforce was used then too. Could be, seeing how much power it had, Demise took his chances to make the Triforce his own. But that is not worth worrying about."

"Yeah, I guess."

Impa senses Link wants to speak more, but not on the topic they just discussed. "Link, I cannot stress to you how important your mission is. I do know that some encounters will be unavoidable, but I must make this clear, that whatever you do, make sure you do not interfere with the Link and Zelda of the time period. Hopefully, you two are placed at a time the hero is on the surface searching for the maiden. Nothing much should change them. Don't expect Groose or Fi to remember you either. The anomaly we faced is not the same as you will experience."

"I think we've been drilled enough on that subject."

"Maybe. Also… This is me asking you as a friend. Please...get along with Zelda."

Link frowns, looking to the castle with a sigh. Ironically, the gardens just so happen to be under Zelda's former chambers when she was a Princess. Ever since she became Queen, the room was repurposed for a guest. Zelda's new quarters that she shares with the king is down the hall, to the far left of the garden. Zelda has long remarked how she misses the view. "I...will do my best."

"I think you'll do more than your best." Impa leans back, a knowing smile on her face. "After all, you cannot hide the truth from me."

Link looks back to her, mortified that Impa would even suggest such a thing. "What makes you think I love Zelda still?"

"I know you do, Link. You aren't Joshua. You wear your heart on your sleeve. Now, Zelda, she's oblivious to this, but I saw it each time you asked if she was okay. I saw it when you engaged Dodonga. Now, you can say you're acting like this for the sake of Hyrule, but don't lie to yourself. You're aren't the only one."

"You mean…"

"To be honest, we never thought Joshua would return. I had to convince Zelda to write to him. But you… As soon as she got back to the castle, she was all 'We have to find Link' and all that. Alduin, of course, saw this as overexaggerating the situation, thinking I could handle it myself, but never did she once waver in thinking otherwise. Whether she did it for herself or for Hyrule, the Queen has not forgotten her Hero." Impa stands up, picking up her blade. She turns to Link one final time, smiling warmly to him. "We didn't fight the war against Cia for nothing, Link. That truth, even though the events that have taken place between you and her, is still evident."

Link shakes his head. "If that is true, then why she marry Alduin?"

Impa bites her lips. "That is...it is complicated." Link was about to respond, but at that moment, several soldiers marched in the garden. Link stands up beside Impa, the Sheikah narrowing her eyes at the surprise arrival. "What is this about?"

"Lady Impa, Master Link, we have an intruder who especially wanted to see you." The soldier steps aside, allowing the other guards to bring their captive to the forefront. It was a woman of Link's age and near-uncanny likeness, from the blonde hair and blue eyes to the small green cloak she wears above her white shirt and brown skirt. Long leather boots ascend her legs to her thighs, and on each of them is a crossbow holstered to the side. She looks up to the pair with a smile and a wave. "Impa! Link! Hiyah!"

"She's fine." Waving the guards off, Link folds his arms as he stares at his doppelganger. "What are you doing here?"

Dusting her boots off, the woman proudly mimics Link's stance. "Why else would I be? Heard of a dragon attack and rushed as fast as I could to the castle. This time, I didn't lose my way. Besides, Link, while you might be the legendary one, you're not the only hero in this country. I want to help!"

Impa smiles at Link's building annoyance. Ever since her appearance after Ganon's defeat and her meeting and acceptance of Link's status, she hasn't dropped the idea that she's her own hero. When she went with him to investigate the disruption in time that leads to an alternate reality of Hyrule being a sea, she annoyed him more. What's more humorous is that her name closely resembles Link. "Hello, Linkle. Nice to see you after all these years. And I think you can help us after all…"

The next morning

Link, Zelda, Linkle, Impa, Lana, and Josh assemble in the garden. The latter trio stands off to the side while the other three groups up. At Linkle's arrival, Impa determined that the woman was better suited going with Link and Zelda, for she will have the smallest chance of attracting attention and she is also an outsider to Link and Zelda's issues. That'll leave Impa with Josh and Lana, so she'll join them on their way to the Eldin Caves.

Lana holds her Sorceress Time, approaching the trio that will travel back in time. She tries not to giggle at the sight of the Queen wearing much simpler clothing than her status presumes, but it was Zelda's idea to dress more like a commoner to fit in. Link and Linkle's tunics, according to the hero, fits in with Skyloft's knights. "I'm going to send you to Skyloft during the correct time period, but at which point, I cannot dictate. I pray it is after Demise is finally defeated, but you might not be so lucky."

Link sighs. "We'll make do. Having gone to Skyloft once before, at least some version of it, I know where we can get some information possibly."

"We won't be able to communicate, so you three are on your own." Josh then grins at Link. "And you, Cassanova, don't have too much of a good time in the past, you hear?"

"Whatever."

"If that's all," Zelda, looking to the men, "let's be off. More we dally, the more our enemy's plan progresses."

Lana nods. "Very well." Outstretching her hand, the book glows in response to her magic being used. "As its Guardian, I order Time to open a gate to the Era of Sky!" Blue light emits from Lana's palm and shoots behind Link, Zelda, and Linkle. It expands, forming a blue portal similar to the Gates of Time Cia formed years ago. Her task complete, Lana drops her arm, nodding to the time travelers. "That's all there is to it."

Link nods. "Then we'll be off. Wait, how do we get back?"

Lana points to Zelda. "I prepared Zelda with a jewel that'll return you to the present at my location. It is a one time use, so be sure you need to use it."

"Very well. Then good luck."

"See you soon!"

"Take care, everyone."

"You too, Your Majesty, Hero and… Heroine."

"Try not to screw up time. Kinda like the one we got."

"Don't you worry about us, we'll take care of everything here."

Link, Zelda, and Linkle turn away from their allies, walking through the Gate of Time to thousands of years in Hyrule's past. Hoping to prevent any dramatic changes in the timeline, the trio begins their search for any and all information on the war against dragon-kind. Once the gate closes behind them. Impa looks to the younger warriors, leading them out of the garden. Their expedition to Impa's hometown, Kakariko Village, begins immediately. There, they hope to find Volga, the Dragon that once allied with Cia eight years ago and prove his innocence.

Unbeknownst to the six heroes, they were being watched from above.