Link was never satisfied. He was always on the move. Freedom was too big of a gift for him as to not use it. Some may call him a fool, and rightly so, yet he still awaited someone who could logically bring him down. The townsfolk of basically everywhere he travelled to remembered him as a hero, at least, those few who still remembered him. Tales were told of the Great Calamity that had been stopped just before Hyrule would have gone to ruin. A hero who legends spoke of, an eternal spirit who, just like Link, was never satisfied with slaying evil. Tomfoolery, honestly. He wasn't a hero. For Hylia's sake, couldn't they see? It was written pretty clearly in his official documents: he was now a bounty hunter.

Many considered his shift from heroic figure to a mere worker of sorts to be rather inglorious, a downfall, some said. Sure, he had slayed a dragon in the past, and countless creatures of the dark, but now he got payed for doing it. Perhaps people were envious. Link didn't know and was far from caring. For all he cared people could believe him a murderer. Hell, even Princess Zelda herself could call him a dishonourable, putrid joke of a man, and he would brush it off and go get an ale. Perhaps a fine wine.

Why was he a bounty hunter? Many people, both angry and indifferent had asked him that question. He never answered. Did it matter? Of course, it didn't. That was his life now. Aimlessly wandering and stopping whatever rich folk considered "evil". Well, he wasn't exactly aimless. He had travelled through all of Hyrule, even the rather untrustworthy lands, cast away, covered by the shadow of the glory of Hyrule Castle. Link was not sure what came first, the shadow or the betrayal of morality of these places. Hyrule was defined by its glory and the pride its citizens felt for it, but all glory had a cost… Hebra and many lands to the west had been tucked away by the royal family and governors. Which was the sole reason he was travelling there. One could only see the stars if besieged by shadow, just the way the more… unsuspecting missions were given in the most unwary of places. Tabantha Village was a small town in which, apparently, great deeds had been made. In the past, people spoke of Thaluses and crimson beasts, but now, word was it something else was brewing in the city. Something that originated not from evil, but of politics. He had been called upon Tabantha village by the governor of the city himself, one Lord D'Anton, a figure much different from the crime lords and rich merchants he had been accustomed to. Certainly, it was an important mission, for the pay was quite generous for a simple tracking and capturing. Sure, it was rather treacherous, but experience had taught him to remain quiet and blind. Eyes see not, a heart feels not.

After a few days of riding through snow covered paths with little to no company, he eventually reached the plateau where Tabantha village laid. Hebra was a difficult region to live in, especially in a winter as harsh as the current one, but life and crime always found a way. Link was well aware of the misdeeds committed in regions such as these, misdeeds to which the Crown turned blind to. A governor was limited by the royal authority, but for that to happen, the royal authority had to be present in the governor's land and had to care about the royal part of their name. More often than not, he had found that in little towns and villages that people just tried to get by and couldn't care less about the trivial matters of the Crown and government. While sad, it was also reassuring that most people had a mind of their own, though that same argument could be debated. Was a man who cared solely for his own wellbeing and who was ignorant to outside matters intelligent? Link had not the answer, but he didn't care.

Upon reaching the town through a rather bland and unceremonious entrance, he was met with the usual looks of distrust from the villagers. A distant flute sounded somewhere in the city, probably coming from a tavern of sorts. He slowly but surely guided his mare, Epona, a brown steed as strong as a goron and as valiant as himself, through the snowy and rocky city streets. Some men would raise a drink to him, some children tried to play with the horse, but many were wary of him. Strangers must have been a strange sight in Tabantha Village. In other cities, the guard and law officers had a strong dislike towards strangers and foreigners, and so were incredibly strict with them, as opposed to their conduct with locals. He wondered if that was the case in Tabantha, which surely was, but he needn't worry nor care, he had a job and that's all he was going to do. A couple of minutes later, he eventually reached the town hall, a big stone and dark wood building facing a small plaza with a statue of a soldier in the middle. "To the fallen and yet to fall" it read. The soldier wore Hyrule's armour and stood on one knee, his sword buried in the stone. Rather morbid, Link thought, but surely there were some who appreciated it. With the horrors of war, at least some could get recognition, even if it wasn't personal or specific. He stopped at the entrance of the building, guarded by an armed woman. With an educated voice and a neutral accent, he spoke to her.

'Greetings, kind guard. I'm here at the request of one Lord D'Anton.'

The woman turned at him menacingly. 'Kind traveller, if I may, I need your name.' it seemed as if she had a dislike of speaking in such an eloquent manner.

'Ah, yes. I'm afraid I cannot tell you my name, although I have been given a password. Does "loose end" sound familiar?' He always tried to hide his identity. He didn't want the word of the fallen hero Link being in town spreading, it would only cause him inconveniences. The governor had given him a password to identify himself as the man for the job when they had first exchanged letters so he would go undercover. It seemed Link wasn't the only one interested going under the radar…

'So, you're the bounty hunter…' she mumbled under her breath. 'Why yes it does sound familiar. Lord D'Anton awaits you in his office. Enter and wait in the hall if you would.' She opened the door for him, but she entered first in an abrupt way. She didn't like bounty hunters or mercenaries, one would say.

'I would.' Said Link, following the woman, not before securing Epona outside, tying her to a pole. He looked around. The townhall's main room was decorated with weapons and paintings of old lords and warriors. Link noticed there were no mentions of the royal family or governing body except in the flag, bearing the winged Triforce. 'Nice place.' He commented.

'Thank you… I will notify Lord D'Anton.' And with that the woman left up the stairs, leaving Link to wait alone.

Moments later, the door flung open, and a big man from foreign lands entered, getting the snow off him while cursing.

'Mindless beasts, curse them, I tell ye… These people need to learn some respect…' he hung his coat and noticed Link. 'Morning to ye, pal.'

'Morning.' He answered. He examined the man thoroughly, a nasty habit he had picked up through his most unpleasant journeys. He was there for a reason, for he seemed to be from very far away, perhaps from the east. Link decided he had to be a mercenary, since he had all kinds of weapons with himself and had a rather unpleasant attitude around him. He didn't know Tabantha or any of the lands of outer Hyrule, so that was a clue. He waited some more until he heard footsteps from the direction of the stairs. The guardswoman from before came down and at her side, a man in elegant red robes and clothing smiled down to him as he made his way to where he was. The woman hurriedly left the building. The man greeted him, shaking Link's hand.

'Ah, Master Link, a pleasure to finally meet you.' He spoke slowly in a ragged voice.

'Likewise, my lord.'

'Oh, please, do drop the titles. I was merely chosen to lead the city, you made your name for yourself, Master Link. Now, to the matter at hand. I'm sure you read my last letter?'

'That I did. Capture a prisoner if I'm not wrong.'

'Yes, precisely. As you would have seen, should you have arrived yesterday, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. We managed to capture her, and you were to deliver her safely to Hellas.'

'What's the problem?'

'It appears we have lost her. She managed to escape the cell we put her in. She is highly dangerous and must be imprisoned at once.'

'If I may, what had she done?'

The mercenary who until that moment had been waiting in silence spoke up. 'Been a nasty witch, she has. I tell ye, these Osternians are birds of a feather… We caught 'er up in the tavern and got 'er thrown in jail, but now she's gone. Nasty business, my friend. Tried to kill and rob and pull out many dirty moves in Ylisse against people and government. Cursed witch, she is, I tell ye.'

'Has she?' Link raised an eyebrow. Unlike many, he was aware of the situation, or supposed situation of Ylisse, or should he say the Ylissian Empire. While suspicious, he had nothing to do with it, and thus, he didn't care. Why do it? Clearly, all it could bring you were enemies.

'Well, yes… I'm afraid she has committed much wrong far away. She has come here to Hyrule to either escape or wreak havoc. Who knows…? Still, we cannot afford to have someone like that here. It is a matter of safety, you surely understand, Master Link… That and the Ylissians are very interested in having her and will pay Tabantha a large sum of money.'

Link noticed an odd word choice. 'Tabantha?'

'You must understand, it is merely a local matter. The Crown is not interested in it…' answered nervously the mayor.

'That wasn't what I meant.' He lied in a joking manner.

'Oh, right. You will have your share, Master bounty hunter, worry not.'

'You can be certain, bounty hunter, that Lord D'Anton will keep his promises. Were he to fail in the payment, surely lightning would strike him where he stands' an unfamiliar voice came from the stairs yet again. He saw a woman clad in blue and a hidden armour not visible to an unkeen eye was walking down, looking smugly at Link. She had cold and striking blue eyes and long blonde hair tied down. Her face was soft and beautiful, but it bore semblances of war and fierceness, showing off a few scars, just like Link's face did. She came down to the main room. 'Gentlemen.' She greeted Lord D'Anton and Link.

'Lady Aran…' the mercenary said. 'We've got those messages ye wanted…'

'Later, Geggle…' she then looked at Link. 'My name is Samus Aran.'

Link shivered. He recognized that name. All bounty hunters and mercenaries and hired men did.

'Leader of the Raven's eye.'

'You've heard of me?' she asked rhetorically. She knew everyone did.

'Well, you are known in this little world of ours, bounty hunters. You're famous for your great victories. Army or not, it's said you can handle yourself in battle quite well.'

'Well, many things are said, and most may be true.' She replied smugly.

Link, not wishing to make any dangerous enemies (more than what he already had managed to do, anyways), decided to start on the right foot. As far as he knew, he was still hated in the deserts of Hellas for a little misunderstanding with the treasure arcs of a city and his pockets. 'They did fail to mention your beauty if I may…' A cheeky remark, but a way to somewhere far from enmity.

'Oh please, stop the flattering. You're not precisely unheard of, Master Link.'

'How so?'

'Dragons, Lynels, Calamities and olden spirits, is there anything you haven't fought against?'

'I'd say death itself, but in these trying times, who knows?'

'Clearly… Escaped convicts, riots, famines and winters… Only thing that seems safe is Ylisse…'

'Clearly…' he said with a pinch of irony. He deduced Samus had had some sort of treatment with the Ylissian Empire; to what extent he didn't know.

'And yet here we are, cleaning up after their messes, as always.' The mercenary leader continued. Upon examining her closer, Link could catch a glimpse on her neck of a black mark shaped like a raven with a big eye drawn in him. Link assumed that was what differentiated members of the Raven's Eye from the rest, but still, it was certainly a curious thing to bear. Even if it was stylish, it seemed to have scars all around it. Was there something more to that mark, hidden away?

'Yes, well, there comes a moment where you fail to care…' he replied, wanting to put an end to that part of the conversation. He had had some run-ins with members of Osternian nobility, and he couldn't say they had been pleasant. Zelda had managed to keep his behaviour in check with those royal people, but just barely…

'Indeed…' said Samus.

'Truly, how good to see you two bounty hunters have gotten along well. Lady Aran was tasked with finding the escaped woman, and has managed to follow her, and has collaborated with our guards.' Lord D'Anton spoke up.

'We had other jobs in Hyrule as well, after this one. Hence why you were hired to take the prisoner to Hellas and then Ylisse, yet we find ourselves in a difficult position…' Samus continued. She glanced towards her mercenary; the man named Geggle. With a menacing look, Geggle's expression turned to that of fear and looked down at the tiled floors. 'We are indeed busy with our own matters, and thus you'll have to find the escaped prisoner.'

'You'll have all the help you were to need at your disposal, master bounty hunter.' Offered the mayor, walking towards the door. He opened it, letting the cold winter wind break through the otherwise warm building. He led Link outside, next to the woman from before, who was still standing at the doors, talking to another man. Link shook the mayor's hand and exited.

'Thank you, my lord. I'll do my job.'

'Very well. Captain Ponthos…' the man in armour talking to the other woman turned. He had a pale face and a sharp and thin head, with black hair and a twirly moustache. 'The bounty hunter… Farewell, Master Link.' With those words, Link left the building, leaving Samus Aran and Lord D'Anton alone to speak. The lower-ranked mercenary spoke out of pure curiosity.

'Lady Aran, what was that? Ye have interest in the hylian?'

'Oh, Geggle you'll see… Soon…'

The man known as Ponthos introduced himself to Link. He was captain of the guard of Tabantha and an old member of the royal guard, though he had walked away to start a family. It seemed as is royal guards had it more difficult than ever. The brief moments he had been with them, he had seen how much they were put through. Poor devils… He lead him to the local prison, a small tunnel-like building made of grey stone with no decorations where cells laid at the sides, cells in which mostly men who had bar fights or pick pocketers were locked up for trivial matters. Down in the floor, with a ceiling of black iron bars that served as well as part of the floor to the main building, there were other cells were more dangerous individuals were kept, constantly guarded. A goron named Tanko, a rare sight so far away from Death Mountain, let them in into the lower levels of the prison. Amongst many men (mostly foreigners and some rito people), they eventually came across an empty cell with most of the bars cut off. At the other side of the hallway, the wall was blown up, its bricks scattered around, leading to a snowy path down a cliff. Link examined the cell. The bars had been cut off in a brutal way. He could see remnants of fire, and some ash on the crooked floor bricks. That must have been how the bars had been cut off. He moved then to the destroyed wall. He could also see signs of burning there, but he doubted fire could do that. A powerful magic had been conjured, probably energy or thunder. He stepped outside the prison to a small ledge with no pathway to anywhere except a big fall into the forest. Scouting that immediate area, Link could see a hint of footprints in the snow from yesterday what went off into the forest, though those signs were diminishing by the minute. He turned to the goron.

'Was this prisoner a mage?' he asked looking at the cut and partially melted iron bars.

'Umm… Unknown.' The goron replied, scratching his chin.

'Well, she appears to be… Did she have any equipment with her?'

The goron's face brightened with excitement. 'A sword! Although she took it while Tanko slept, Tanko thinks… Tanko's sorry, sir…'

'No worries. Call you captain.'

'Right up, sir!' the goron left the cell area and went upstairs to speak with Captain Ponthos. He was a man obsessed with perfection and purity, a man Link would hate, but he was willing to do anything to achieve it. He was so righteous he sometimes was unrighteous. The guy had spirit, and Link appreciated that.

'Master bounty hunter? What is it you need? Apart from a hot bath…' the Captain said as he entered the area, followed by Tanko, who started to play cards with an inmate.

'Captain, this woman is in some form a mage. To what extent, it's unknown… I'm sure your troops would know what to do if they ever crossed paths with her.'

'Yes, they would. We save those potions that cancel spells for these cases.' He replied adamantly. 'Must you use them, master bounty hunter?'

'Precisely' confirmed Link. 'I'll need more thing, still. Would you be kind enough to give me a dead body?'

The captain was unfazed at first, but quickly picked up an ironic posture. 'Yes indeed, we keep them at the back of every store. Are you out of your mind?'

Link was merely joking with him, but the man didn't seem to be a big fan of sarcasm or playfulness, at that.

'My apologies, captain. I need something humanoid. A training dummy may serve.'

'That is reassuring, truly… Yes, you may have one.' The guard called the goron Tankos, who came moments later with a dummy and some potions of an azure tint. 'Should you need further assistance?'

'Not really, but you have my thanks. I wish to inform you that your prisoner escaped into the woods. Following the footsteps, she roughly went north, perhaps northeast, to the skirt of the mountains. She can't have gone far, and if she has, she'll have to stay somewhere until the coming blizzards are over.' He explained while signalling with his finger the various paths this westerner could have taken.

'Footsteps? Can they be seen?' the captain asked incredulously, looking at the pure white floor.

'Not by the naked eye, captain. But hey, thanks the goddesses I'm not your common hylian.'

'Yes well, you must understand, master bounty hunter, that your legend is at times too whimsical to believe…'

'That's only because most of it isn't true. You show a nobleman from the citadel an eagle and they might as well think they've seen the Phoenix itself.'

The captain didn't seem amused by his joke. Still, he didn't care. Most of his jabs at things were merely to get his thoughts out of his head, a place where they solely bothered him.

'Well, I'd better start my hunt. We want this woman alive, right?'

'Indeed. But master bounty hunter, I must ask: will you really go out there into the wild wearing... that?' the soldier pointed towards his clothing, a green tunic with a silver chest plate, brown hylian trousers and boots, a scarf and a thin cape with some fur on it.

'I do intend on doing so, why?'

'It is merely an observation, do not get me wrong, but the weather may be too cold for such clothing.'

'Worry not, Captain Ponthos. I can stand both heat and cold.' He joked.

'How so?'

Link smirked. He adjusted his boots and went near the cliff, then answered his question.

'I just don't care.'

And he jumped off into the frozen forest.