After passing through, they stood before an immense stretch of land, filled with various green and golden-mushroom looking trees, towering green-gray hedges with vines, and many enormous ape statues. A wooden sign beside them read: Eastern Palace of Darkness. Outsiders Forbidden.

Beyond the forest and maze, which was unsurprisingly littered with monsters, they saw the palace on a hill, surrounded by various columns, with horned ape statues outside its blocked entrance. It wasn't too far from where they stood, but the path leading there would not be easy.

To their right, they noticed another structure, this one much smaller with phoenix bird statues at its entrance, and after bypassing the cyclops, they stepped inside. What awaited them within was nothing but an empty room with six tall stone pillars, skulls littering every corner, and a lone green sapling swaying from side to side.

Actually, it looked like a miniature tree... How strange.

"Hey! Who goes there?! If you're here to bully me, then forget it! Leave me alone!" The small tree shouted, its small voice reminding them of a child.

"We're not here to bully you," Kagome reassured, jumping off Link's back to approach the small creature. It was even smaller than she was! "We're looking for the elder. Have you seen him?"

"An elder? No, can't say I've seen anyone like that. In fact, you're the first people I've seen in a long time. Well... nice people who don't bully me, that is," The sapling revealed. "Did you come looking for the Power of Gold?"

There it was again. Golden Power. Power of Gold. Was it truly linked to the Legendary Triforce? Link took a step forward to inquire further. "When you say Power of Gold... do you mean the Triforce?"

The sapling tilted its head. "Triforce? Hmm... is that what you call it? All I know is that it grants wishes to whoever touches it. But it's gone now. An evil man claimed that power and wished for this world."

"Do you know who that evil man is?" Kagome asked. "And do you know anything about princess Zelda?"

"Nope!"

"Are you confined in this room?" Link asked.

"Yep... have been for many many centuries," It admitted. "You see, I was transformed into this a long time ago when I went out in search of the Power of Gold. This is what happened to me," The sapling admitted. "That's what happened to a lot of people who ended up in this world. They tried to steal it for themselves, and that power transformed them into many things that reflect their hearts."

Kagome and Link exchanged a glance. The Triforce not only cursed their appearance but also sentenced them into this ominous world? Then... that meant this world couldn't possibly be Hyrule. They were so confused.

The sapling continued. "You must have also tried searching for it, so that's why you both look like that. At least you aren't horrendous looking and have feet to walk around," It said before sighing.

"To be honest, we didn't come searching for it. One minute we're looking for the elder and the next thing we know, we're in this weird... place," Link said, and Kagome nodded.

"Is this... not Hyrule?" Kagome asked almost hesitantly.

The sapling nodded. "People here call it Lorule. Supposedly... it's a mirrored world similar to where we all came from... I'm sorry I can't be much help, but maybe someone else can," It said, pointing its branched hand behind it. "See that stone over there? It's helped me plenty of times when I felt lonely and down. Maybe it can help give you advice."

"A stone?" Link and Kagome asked.

"I'm not sure what it is, but there is a voice that speaks from it. Maybe it can help you find that elder that you're both looking for."

A/N

Not going to lie, but in alttp, the small sapling is so precious looking. xD I couldn't resist adding it into the story. Also, in case no one is aware, Lorule is mentioned in Zelda A Link Between Worlds, which I haven't yet played... Figured it would make sense here.