Central Hyrule – Mabe Village

Link slowly and groggily awoke to the sounds of Cuccos crying outside his window. The sun was only just cresting over the horizon, not even bright enough to light up his modest room. Normally, he would detest waking up so early—as most four-year-olds would agree upon—but his eyes snapped wide open when he remembered what today was.

Jumping out of bed, he ignored the chilly Fall air and cold floorboards—training his body to endure hardship, as his Papa would put it—and dashed down the hall to his parents' room. He gleefully jumped onto their bed, just as his papa was rousing himself from sleep.

"Papa! Papa! You promised to take me! Today!" Link gleefully shouted.

It took a moment for Sir Revan Faron to reply, considering that his son had just knocked the wind out of his lungs with his enthusiastic greeting. Next to them, his wife Marin chuckled and reached over to ruffle Link's hair. She was spared from enduring their son's physical wake-up call. "After breakfast, sweetie."

"Why is it you're always sleeping in every other day?" Revan grumbled.

"You promised!" Link repeated.

"Bet a purple rupee Link will be back to sleeping in after the shine wears off," Revan said to his wife.

She laughed. "No bet."

They ushered Link out of the room, conducted their morning business, and trotted into the kitchen before their enthusiastic son could start bouncing off the walls.

Link could barely contain himself. His mama had even made his eggs scrambled!

"We'll head for the Knights' training ground so you can see what we do," Revan said. "Maybe even let you pick up a practice wooden sword. No swinging, though. And don't even think about touching steel. Your muscles aren't quite ready for that, and I don't want you getting hurt, am I clear?"

Link frowned a bit at some of the rules, but his good cheer returned vigorously, and he nodded happily. "Papa, can I wear one of the knight's helmets, too?"

Revan pretended to think about it. "If you're good, perhaps I will allow it."

"Enough talk. Finish your meal," Marin sternly said. "Don't even think of wolfing it down like you always do."

Link comically paused, his spoon halfway up to his mouth in an attempt to shovel as much as he could in one go. Slowly, he ate, keeping his face the picture of innocence.

Marin shook her head. "I understand boys will grow, but how do you eat so much and not grow wide? It doesn't seem fair."

Revan rubbed Link's hair affectionately. "At least he has a healthy appetite."

"Well, if you wish to look at it positively—Link!"

Link grimaced and guiltily looked up at his mama, his cheeks filled with eggs to the point where he looked like a chipmunk. He thought he could sneak in a couple of quicker bites while his parents were conversing. He slowly chewed and swallowed, trying desperately to look innocent while avoiding his parents' judgmental gazes.

After a hearty breakfast, with no further attempts to speed things along, Revan finally stood up and motioned to Link to follow.

Knowing that was a test, Link first turned to his mama and opened his arms.

Smiling, Marin bent over to give him a hug and a kiss on each cheek. "Don't bother the knights overly so, Link. And stay out of trouble!"

"Yes, Mama."

Under his papa's approving look, Link bounced after him, beaming.

At the stables, one of their cattle hands, Cemani, was saddling Kaepora.

"Thank you, Cemani," Revan said kindly.

Cemani smiled and curtsied before double-checking if the bit and bridle were comfortably set. Nearby, Cremani's sister, Romani, and humming a song into a nearby stall.

To date, Link still had trouble saying Kaepora's name and simply called the stallion Kae. According to his papa, Kaepora Gaebora was the name of a mythical sage that took the form of a wizened owl that aided Hyrule's knights and heroes in the distant past.

Link wanted to approach the stall Romani was tending to, but the day was growing brighter and they had a big day ahead of them. His papa scooped him into his arms and settled him onto Kaepora before mounting behind.

"Ready to go, Link?" Revan asked.

Link nodded. "Ready!"

Urging the horse onward, they trotted out of the stables and out of Mabe Village. They waved at the early-morning passerby before finally getting to the main road and increasing their speed to a brisk cantor.

Link had only been near the outskirts of Mabe Village, but like the other children, he was forbidden to go further because of the threat of monster attacks. Soldiers and knights often patrolled the fields around Hyrule Castle, but occasionally, reports of aggressive and foolish Bokoblins would arise.

It was Link's first time this far from home, and he was taking everything in with wide-eyed wonder. He also paid rapt attention to his papa as he explained different locales and their importance, such as Mabe Prairie or the Sacred Grounds.

Revan also told Link what to expect when they got to Castle Town and the battlements where Hylian knights and soldiers trained. The stories completely enraptured the young child, and he found himself bouncing with glee when the towers of Hyrule Castle could finally be seen in the distance.

"Is that it, Papa?!" Link asked.

"That's it," Revan answered. "Remember: always stay by my side when we're in town. It's crowded, and if we lose sight of each other, it could be hours before I find you. Rest assured, I will be very cross. Understand?"

"Yes, Papa!"

"And do not bother anyone while they are training. You can sit and watch, but no stepping into the sparring rings, understood?"

"Yep!"

"And above all, do not bother the Knight-Commander unless he addresses you directly, clear?"

"Very!"

Revan chuckled and rubbed Link's head. "Very well, then. I shall show you around."

~o~O~o~

Central Hyrule – Castle Town

Keeping Link atop Kaepora, Revan led the horse by the reins and walked. They milled around Castle Town. He showed Link the marketplace (Link wanted to buy all manner of baubles), restaurants (he wanted to stop and eat again despite having eaten breakfast an hour earlier), the stables (he wanted to buy a saddle), and the entertainment district.

With some time left before he had to report for duty, Revan chuckled and allowed Link to play a few games for fun.

In particular, Link had been drawn to the STAR game, run by the flamboyant Purlo.

Revan, and most of Castle Town's residents, knew that Purlo's game was a scam of some kind, so only the tourists or small out-of-townspeople ever tried their hand at it.

Still, losing can be character-building. It should be good for Link.

After paying the amount of rupees, Purlo explained to Link that all he had to do was clamber all around the obstacle course, touching as many of the colored orbs as he could within the time limit. The course consisted of several towers to climb, tubes to crawl through, gaps to leap over, and slippery surfaces to navigate. If he could touch half the orbs, he could play again for free. Three quarters meant they would win their money back, plus a bonus. If he was able to get all the orbs within the time limit, he would win the grand prize.

Excited at the prospect of a 'grand prize'—even though he had no idea what it was—Link set off immediately when Purlo started the timer.

Revan watched with bemusement as Link clambered all over the arena. He found himself suitably impressed with how the boy was able to climb on surfaces that didn't even seem climbable.

"How is he doing that?" Purlo asked.

"Perhaps he's part monkey, or part spider," Revan replied jokingly. He had seen Link climb up all manner of things back home: trees, counters, and to Marin's extreme displeasure, the cupboards. "He certainly doesn't have a fear of heights."

Ultimately, Link's enthusiasm wasn't enough to win the day. In fact, if Revan had to guess, it was his enthusiasm that cost him, because Link had just run around without any semblance of strategy or plan.

And likely because there was some measure of cheating going on, but there was no way to prove that.

"And time!" Purlo shouted. "I'm so sorry, dear boy! Don't let this discourage you overly much! It was a courageous attempt!"

Link frowned when he lost, his brows knitted together in confusion.

Revan laughed and rubbed Link's head. "Better luck next time, son."

"Can I try just once more?" Link asked.

Revan was about to say no, not keen on wasting money on more life lessons—or to swindlers—but the look on Link's face showed determination instead of a petulant tantrum after a loss.

"Oh, all right. Once more and only once. Accept the outcome, whatever it may be, clear?" Revan said.

Link nodded, but it wasn't his usual childlike exuberance. There was intent in his eyes this time.

Purlo happily accepted the rupees and restarted the timer.

For the second time in as many minutes, Revan found himself impressed. The second attempt was like night and day. Enthusiasm gave way to resolve as Link started running the most optimal path he could, touching the greatest number of orbs with the least amount of effort, climbing only when he had to and avoid wasting time, whilst prioritizing his targets.

Admiration changed to shock when Link already got three fourths of the orbs before the halfway mark on his timer.

The last set of orbs was far too high for Link's tiny arms to reach. Revan consoled himself with the fact that at the very least, Link had won the money back, so there were no monetary losses this attempt.

Not giving up, Link started climbing one of the tall towers as quickly as he could. Seeing what the boy was planning, Revan shouted, "Wait, don't—!"

Recklessly, Link leapt from the tower, hitting the last remaining orbs on the way down, before tucking into a roll when he landed. It was still ungraceful, and Link tumbled until he flopped onto his back, panting heavily but grinning widely.

Both Revan and Purlo's jaws dropped when timer finally hit zero.

Link stood up and ran over to them. "Papa, Papa! I did it! Did you see?! I did it!"

Revan mutely nodded before realizing the implications. He smugly turned to Purlo and held out his hand.

Looking like he'd sucked on a batch of lemons, Purlo grudgingly handed over Link's winnings and grand prize.

~o~O~o~

Leaving the tent, the pair were walking along the cobblestones of Castle Town. Revan led them to a relatively quiet courtyard near Telma's Bar before looking down at his son.

"That was extremely irresponsible, boy," Revan said as sternly as he could.

"But you once said that fortune favors the brave," Link replied, his brows knitted in confusion.

"And that's true, but the line between bravery and recklessness is thin and blurry," Revan said. "You must always exercise the best judgement and caution. Always. You could've broken your legs over a game, you understand?"

Link nodded. "Yes, Papa. I'm sorry."

Revan studied Link's face and found genuine chastisement, so he let the matter drop there. He picked Link up and seated him on Kaepora. "Well, time to report in. Let's go see the training arena."

Link bounced excitedly on Kaepora's saddle. "Yay!"

Revan chuckled, amazed at Link's resilience.

Link glanced at Revan's full rupee pouch, then mustered his cutest look. "Um… Papa? Can we buy that saddle we saw earlier?"

"Nice try."

"Aww…"

~o~O~o~

Central Hyrule – East Castle Town

"Well, now you see where I report in," Revan said. "Over there are the barracks for the soldiers. Knights' quarters are elsewhere. Let's see, the armory is over there. Sparring grounds is here. Archery range is at the far end of the field…"

Link nodded in time as he held his father's hand. They were walking down the pathway in the shadow of the castle itself. Even craning his neck, Link still couldn't see the top, causing no end to his amazement.

"How did people build this castle so big, Papa?"

"By being cleverer than I," Revan said. "To build such a structure was their talent. Mine lies elsewhere. I'm sure someone else can answer your question. All I can say is: hard work, money, and time."

"Have you been inside?"

"Of course, many times," Revan answered proudly. "I was even fortunate enough to have an audience with the royal family a few times in the past."

"Wow! What are they like?" Link asked.

"Well—"

Before Revan could answer, a few shouts from across the courtyard called their attention. One of the training officers was waving Revan down.

"Duty calls, Link. Stay in the immediate area, stay away from sharp metal objects—"

"Do not bother anyone while they are training. I can sit and watch, but no stepping into the sparring rings. And no matter what, I don't bother the Knight-Commander unless he wants to talk to me," Link dutifully said.

Smiling, Revan rubbed Link's head and pointed at the nearby weapons rack. "Okay, Link. See those short wooden swords? Why don't you pick one up and give it a few test swings? If your arm starts getting tired or hurting, it's too heavy. Put it down and find a lighter one," Revan said. "It's fine to push limits, but not to injure yourself, okay?"

"Okay, Papa!"

Satisfied that things were in hand, Revan headed down to the spearman-in-training.

The late morning went by quickly. Revan and Link shared lunch with some of the senior knights. They enthralled Link with tales of their exploits and acts of heroism, though under Revan's critical gaze, they kept their stories free of disturbing details and colorful language.

Following lunch, Revan had to oversee orientation for some new recruits. Lately, the king wanted to expand the Hylian Army and was funding it accordingly. No one knew why, especially since the king also sent envoys to the neighboring races, requesting assistance under the banner of peace.

It was as if the king was gearing for a war only he could see.

"Revan, glad I caught up to you."

Snapped out of his musings, Revan turned to see Knight-Commander Glenn Taggart approaching. He snapped off a knight's salute. "Something I can do for you, sir?"

"At ease, Revan. I have mission orders for you," Taggart said. "Deployment. Could be some time. How's your spearmanship? Still good?"

Revan nodded. "No rust to speak of. Parameters?"

"Unknown, but low-risk," Taggart answered. "It feels more diplomatic, though I wasn't given any details. This is a direct request from the Zora royal family. You're being sent to Zora's Domain."

"The royal family?" Revan repeated. "I've been to Zora's Domain a few times, but I don't think the royal family knows anything about me."

"Well, they do. You were requested by name, especially when inquiries were made regarding who was our greatest spearman in the Hylian Army," Taggart said. "Universally, it was decided it was you. You'll make for Zora's Domain in two days. Get your affairs in order and prep to head out."

"Yes, sir." Again, Revan snapped off a salute.

Taggart returned it and left.

"Ow, damn it!" someone said.

Revan looked around for the source of the curse and saw one of the new soldiers down on the ground, clutching his leg. Link was standing nearby, a tiny practice wooden sword in his hand, and comically wearing a metal helmet that was too large for him, causing it to wobble to-and-fro on his head. He was cheering while the soldier moaned piteously on the ground. His fellows were all laughing and jeering at him.

Revan walked up and offered a hand. "Letting my boy win, hmm?"

"I wish," the soldier—Cayne, if Revan recalled correctly—grumbled. "Saw the lad taking a few practice swings. Form looked decent, so I offered to train him for fun. We were going to do a bit of fake sparring for sport, and the next thing I know, the little bugger cuts my legs out from under me and gives me a solid whack on the chest. Down I go."

Revan arched an eyebrow. "Truly?"

The soldier looked reluctant to answer and settled for nodding instead. "Downright embarrassing, it was."

"Didn't even see the swing," another soldier said. "The boy just darted forward, then Cayne was on his knees, then came the finishing blow. If you blink, you'd miss it."

One of the Knights, Xavier, sauntered up and slapped Revan on the back. "Been teaching your boy some moves, huh?"

"Couldn't be," another knight said. Malcom. "Revan's talent lies with the spear. His swordwork is fine, but Link was something else."

"Papa?" Link inquired, curious about the sudden interest and crowds around them.

Revan turned away from the conversation and regarded his son. "Link, how about another match? I will be the judge."

Link's eyes widened with glee. "Really?!"

Revan nodded and pointed at a soldier at random. "You there. Into the ring with the boy."

The soldier looked startled. He gave Link a once-over and grimaced. "The lad is, like, five. You want me to strike a five-year-old?"

"He's four, and only practice weapons, but pull your blows all the same," Revan said. "I just want to see something."

Link held his sword ready, the helmet on his head still flopping side-to-side. Revan rolled his eyes, walked over, and pulled the helmet off Link's head before stepping off to the side.

"Look at the boy's form," Malcom said. "How much did you teach him?"

Revan observed Link's stance and noted that it was a flawless ready stance, ideal for striking at taller targets… which would mean everyone compared to Link.

"I didn't," Revan confessed quietly before clearing his throat. The soldier stood ready, relaxed, perhaps a bit lazy, in contrast to Link's serious visage.

Revan raised a hand, then swiftly brought it down. "HOI!"

~o~O~o~

Central Hyrule – Hyrule Field

Their walk home was filled with silence. Revan was still amazed at what he had seen. Link was wondering if he was in trouble.

Link had bested several soldiers and a few knights in a series of practice matches. He had lost his fair share of bouts but had asked for rematches and promptly regained the upper hand, often emulating the same maneuvers his opponents had used that led to his earlier defeat. His only real remaining losses were against opponents that used their size, skill, and experience—opponents that had treated Link seriously and cautiously. It was rather extraordinary watching grown men treat a four-year-old with such gravitas. Once Link hit his growth spurt, developed some muscle, and garnered more experience, the victor of those matches was certain. Even so, watching his son was so mesmerizing that Revan failed to discern that Link was slowing down, taking panting breaths, sweating heavily, and favoring a leg or an arm… It shamed him to admit, but it had taken far too long for Revan to notice that Link was covered in bruises or that he had been sparring nonstop for a couple of hours, far more than a child his age had any right to do—on top of the fact that a child that young should not have been sparring against fighters more than five times his age in the first place. He immediately called a halt and ordered everyone to go about their business. All told, Link had taken his losses yet earned his fair share of victories… adding to the fact that he was only four years old, and moving as well as he did, taking down full-grown adults…

Revan felt dizzy at the implications.

They were riding together as they did in the morning, with Link sitting in front of Revan. The sun was still above the horizon and setting fast. Their delay was attributed to Revan's insistence that Link be taken to a healer at once following the matches. She applied some salves and said to let the boy rest. He was young and strong. He would bounce back like children often would.

Revan was relieved, but now he wondered if the healer would be able to patch him up after Marin was through with him.

"Are you're leaving again, Papa?" Link asked.

Revan jumped a bit, startled by his son's sudden question. The words were processed quickly, though, and he nodded. "I'm sorry, Link. This is the responsibility I have."

"Will you be gone long?" Link asked, cradling a large helmet in his arms, a trophy he was allowed to keep, in addition to a wooden practice sword he had sheathed on his back. The new saddle Revan had bought at Link's insistence—driven by guilt over letting his son be hurt under his watch—was wrapped up and dangling off the side of their mount.

"I won't know until I go. I don't want to get your hopes up," Revan answered. He let out a sigh when Link's eyes became downcast when an idea struck. "Hmm… how would you feel if we broaden your horizon's a bit?"

"H-horizons?" Link repeated the unfamiliar word. "What does that mean?"

"It means to see more of the world than what you already have, Link," Revan explained patiently. "You know of Mabe Village, a little bit of Castle Town, and one or two battlements, but you haven't been to the other provinces, right?"

Link's eyes grew wide. "You'd really take me to other places?!"

"Well, I would, but convincing your mother might be difficult," Revan said. He shot Link a conspiratorial smile. "I may need your impish ways to help me."

~o~O~o~

Author's Notes:

I don't know why I'm doing this to myself. I was playing Breath of the Wild AND Age of Calamity on an airplane ride back to med school, got (re)addicted, and now this popped into my head. And that's on top of the other epic works I'm supposed to work on…

Why, oh why do I do this to myself?!

I blame the author Lyxie. I read her stuff and got stuff stuck in my head in return.