Chapter 22: Skyview Village
As the next morning dawned in Kakariko Village, half would say the dawn came too soon and the rest would say it didn't come quickly enough.
Not that it made much of a difference, since practically no one got any sleep anyway.
Link and Kelli were no exceptions. Though long years of questing abroad, where sleeping too heavily could mean a stealthy enemy might make a long nap become permanent, had trained both to function even on little to no sleep, both were grimacing and grumbling when the ever-punctual rooster crowed. Still, both grimly got dressed, eager to travel to Lost Hyrule in the hopes of turning around Hyrule's dire situation.
As Link glanced out the window, it quickly became apparent that things hadn't gotten any better while he'd been tossing, turning, and having staring contests with the ceiling.
Though Kakariko Village had been robustly fortified during much of the recent troubles, yesterday's assault had smashed through the defenses with horrifying speed and ease. The recently build stone walls at the small gap in the mountains lay in ruins and, in their place, was a pitiful pile of rocks and other debris being hastily added to by the remaining villagers and soldiers, most of whom looked like they'd slept as little as Link himself had. Though Link couldn't hear anything they might be saying through the thick paned windows and couldn't make out their expressions from this distance, he could guess at what they were feeling.
Fear and desperation, verging on panic.
He wasn't surprised. He was the Avatar of Courage, and he was feeling nervous himself.
Hyrule had been through some hard times lately, beset by mysterious enemies and with their best defenders abroad. Then, in one terrifying blow, those same enemies had knocked the remaining defenders flat on their faces and, though the enemy had been repelled, more could come at any time and finish them off.
It brought back some rather unpleasant memories of Termina, when he'd blundered into a meeting between Clock Town's Mayor, Dotour, and his advisors, whom were stuck in a panicked deadlock about whether to evacuate the town in the face of the moon descending towards them.
In hindsight, it was not a pleasant memory, and Link was quite certain that, this time, flashing the Couple's Mask would not restore calm and get everyone thinking straight again.
Before getting dressed, Link took a sip of potion and did a few quick stretches to make sure he had recovered enough to go out adventuring again. He'd already disobeyed Daphnes once, and his impetuousness had nearly gotten him killed. And though he remained certain that had been the only real option at the time, he also knew he couldn't cause yet more stress for the ailing monarch.
Granted, Link was no doctor, but remembered how, in Termina, he saw the effects Kafei's disappearance had had on his mother, Madame Aroma, and his fiancée Anju.
Both women seemed to eat very little and likely hadn't slept at all in the ever-repeating three days. Both seemed to always be working, albeit distractedly, likely to crowd out thoughts of how they missed Kafei. What smiles they gave were clearly painted and, when they either had nothing else to do, or worked themselves to exhaustion, both would lapse into sullen silences that caused Link's young heart to crack.
For Daphnes, whose only child had been missing for some time and whose kingdom tottered on the brink of ruin, it must be even worse. And, he was not a young man either.
Link frankly had no idea who would govern Hyrule if Daphnes were to pass away with Zelda still missing and, quite frankly, he didn't want to find out.
Still, well aware that he likely wouldn't fully recover himself for a while, Link knew that Daphnes had to be assured that he was ready to go before he departed.
Like everybody else, the king showed no improvement since the near-death experience all of Hyrule had just had the previous day.
But what really bothered Link was that Saria hadn't either.
He wasn't sure what was wrong with Saria, as he'd never heard of what ailed her. All he did know was that, ever since the attack, she'd been withdrawn and quiet one moment and then anxious and depressed the next. And, with worrisome frequency, he'd find her staring at nothing in particular with a wide-eyed, but blank and unfocussed gaze, seemingly for hours. And, half the time when he spoke to her, she didn't seem to hear him. Then, when he'd impulsively hugged her, she'd started in his grasp like a frightened animal and, later, began sobbing uncontrollably.
Link had drawn a blank on what the problem might be, but he knew it was serious. And, he knew that seeing his best friend suffer like this, and being unable to help her after she'd done so much for him back in Kokiri Forest, left a bitter taste in his mouth.
That, along with how vulnerable the village now was to further attack, made Link feel very nearly guilty about leaving. But he also knew that, if he stayed, these troubles might never end.
So, after a bit of indecision regarding the now fragile Saria, he simply told her he'd be back and, after being answered with silence, he departed.
Kelli, meanwhile, apparently had a comparatively uneventful time preparing herself. Aside from taking stock of her supplies and ensuring her equipment was still in good condition, she worked on mending a rip in her tunic. Link was surprised and yet not surprised at the same time that Kelli could sew. She hardly seemed like the type to do so, as she was quite the tomboy as far as Link could tell. But then again, since she'd been on her own for several years, it stood to reason that she'd have learned how to take care of herself while far from civilization. Besides, being able to mend clothing was still a handy skill to have. Link always ended up having to pay a tailor to keep his clothes in good shape whenever he could come across one, which usually meant his clothes were ready to fall right apart then. He considered whether he could ask Kelli to help him, or even learn to do it himself once they camped for the night. Though Kelli's skills were very basic, with her stitches being readily visible and somewhat awkward, they could still get the job done.
But, then again, Link had been a bit…uncomfortable around Kelli since she'd kissed, and tongued, him while he was resuscitating her the other day. Since it had happened in front of audience, it had felt like a slap across the face to end an already painful day. It was also most certainly not how Link wanted to have his first kiss.
And, that was leaving aside Navi's insinuations about just who he'd rather have given his first kiss to.
Aside from that, however, there had been…something else.
Link wasn't sure what to make of it but, whenever he overthought the notion of Kelli unconsciously kissing him, it caused an odd feeling in him. Something like nausea or even disgust.
Granted, he didn't dislike Kelli. Despite the occasional friction between them, they did make a good team. But, the notion of them being…like that, just struck him as somehow wrong. Perhaps Kelli's close relationship with Judo had something to do with it? He did have a far closer connection to her. Whatever it was, however, Link could not be certain.
His displeasure must've shown on his face, for Kelli's expression soured as he drew near.
"Don't tell me His Majesty turned us down?" she groused.
After a moment's perplexity, Link shook his head.
"No," he said. "I mean, he said I can go. Sorry about that, just had a lot on my mind."
"Well, that's a relief."
"I'll say! His Majesty wants to me to avoid combat as best as I can right now though. And I can understand, firing that arrow at the Dragolfos was painful."
"I see. We're only going to that village I learned of for now, so we should be alright there," Kelli replied. "I'll catch up with you in a little bit. And I haven't forgotten about teaching you the mortal draw either, don't worry!"
"Alright, sounds good!" Link agreed. "I'll be outside. By the way, you sound much better today than before. Glad that cold is getting better."
"Oh, yeah! You're right. Me too."
With that, Link headed outside, the fairies deciding to follow. Navi and Vira were both eager to continue the journey, and after their partners had each had a brush with death, were keen to provide any support they could as well.
"I rather hope we do find someone living in this village," Navi spoke up. "But at the same time, how long has it been since they last had any visitors, I wonder?"
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Vira agreed. "If this region hasn't been part of Hyrule for many years, does that mean the inhabitants have been alone all this time? They might not be friendly to strangers."
"Good point," Link replied, recalling…quite a few first meetings that didn't go well. "Still, I've met with…wary strangers before and have been able to show them I can be trusted. Odds are Kelli has as well. We'll just have to do it again, and make it clear that we're just seeking some information. Nothing else we can do, really."
"True," Navi said.
The three lapsed into a brief silence as they continued waiting for Kelli. However, it was quickly broken when one of the Hylian soldiers came running up to Link. The man skidded to a halt, very nearly out of breath, but the expression on his face was one of elation, almost hope.
"Sir Link! Sir Link!" he rasped out. "I must speak with His Majesty immediately! It's important!"
"Whoa, slow down. What's going on?" Link wondered, sighing irritably. "Can't this wait until I get back?"
"Oh, no, no! I actually have good news, at long last! His Majesty has to hear this, and I wager you'll want to as well!"
"Oh! Well in that case, let's—!"
As the two turned around to go back into the house, the front door opened to reveal Daphnes himself. He still looked weary and careworn, but he regarded the elated sentry with intense curiosity all the same.
"I thought I heard a commotion out here," he said guardedly. "What's the matter now?"
"Ah, Your Majesty!" the soldier gasped and gave a hasty bow. "Don't worry, we're finally catching a real break! One of the knights has returned!"
"What?!" Daphnes gasped, his eyes lighting up. Somehow, he suddenly didn't look nearly as ill as he had a moment before. "You're serious?"
"Yes! He's on his way up now. I'm afraid I don't know why it's only one of them, but this surely means that he has news of the others!"
"I see. Thank you for letting me know. I will wait here for him. If you haven't already, direct him here and tell him I must speak to him immediately."
"I'd like to stick around and listen too, if that's alright," Link put in. "Kelli might want to hear this as well. He may also know about Judo."
"Ah, indeed…" Daphnes agreed, his words trailing off a little, and rather awkwardly. "I do hope they're all faring well and will be here soon. After what happened yesterday, we need every ally we can muster."
"Yeah…" Link agreed. "Hey, I see the knight, I think!"
Sure enough, he spied a mounted figure riding up to them on a huge black charger. Link quickly got an impression of why the knights were so well regarded as, despite signs of wear and combat, the knight's armor was a splendid suit of plate mail emblazoned with a crest, whether of the knights or this man's family, Link couldn't tell, of a red rose imposed over a crossed sword and jousting lance. As the man reined in and dismounted, Link saw a Hylian Shield, all but indistinguishable from the one Link had carried in the Dark Future, strapped across his back, and this coaxed a small, nostalgic smile from his lips. The knight then pulled off his helm, a bassinet flanked by two facsimiles of the legendary Loftwings' red wings, and tucked it under one arm.
Link didn't see much of the knight's face, however, as a very peculiar sensation suddenly came over him. He'd never seen this man before, and he couldn't even remember seeing armor like that either, but something about the approaching knight seemed…familiar. Hazy impressions intruded on Link's vision and, when he tried to focus on them, he got the impression of seeing armor like that, dents and all, laid across a table and an older man laughing boisterously as he pointed to one and began saying something, though the words were lost to Link.
He was at a loss as to what that might've meant, if anything, but he had no time to ponder it as the knight arrived. He seemed almost as much out of breath as the soldier had been. The soldier was dismissed as the knight took a knee before Daphnes.
"Sire! You have my deepest apologies for our failure to maintain consistent contact," he said.
"Don't worry much about that now," Daphnes replied. "I'm just relieved beyond words to see you safe. What of the other knights? Please, tell me they're soon returning as well!"
"Actually, they are!" the knight gladly reported. "We managed to break through the enemy horde bivouacked along the Mayia border. No doubt they were the same foes who kept our messengers, and yours I'd imagine, from getting through. Anyhow, the other knights were encamped in an area not far from here for the previous evening. In the morning, I was ordered to ride ahead to inform you of our return. General Judo and the others are on their way here as I speak!"
At this, Link's jaw nearly hit the ground. Judo?! The…GENERAL?! Then…Kelli's friend…and Malon's crush… Ohhh goddesses…
"Oh, praise the goddesses above…" Daphnes gasped out, almost falling to his knees, nearly overwhelmed with relief upon hearing this news.
Before the conversation could continue, however, the front door of the house suddenly banged open, loudly enough to make everyone jump. This time revealing Kelli, fully prepared to depart. However, the expression on her face was not much different from Link's still-gaping look.
"Did…Did I hear you say…General Judo?!" Kelli gasped, barely managing to get the words out.
At this sudden outburst, both the knight and Daphnes were left stupefied as well. After a long moment's pause, the former brought his hands to his head in apparent embarrassment and the latter slapped his face with one hand irritably.
"Ahh! You must be Lady Kelli!" the knight deduced, seemingly turning green. "Oh nooo…! I've really messed up! The general's going to kill me for this…"
"If I don't beat him to it!" Daphnes stepped in, annoyed. "Oh for the goddesses' sake…!"
"Wait… Your Majesty, is this…what you meant when you told me back in the castle dungeon that there were some things that were better left for Judo to explain himself?" Kelli inquired.
"…Yes," Daphnes admitted with a sigh. "I am afraid so. Judo is indeed one of the knights. More than that, he is their leader as well. And… I also hadn't exactly been honest when you and Link rescued me from my castle dungeon. When I'd said Judo was planning on a journey, that wasn't the whole truth. He was sent with the knights to Mayia. I couldn't tell you, because Judo had confided in me that he wanted to surprise you with the news. And, if I may say so, I felt it would be unwise to give you news that might…distract you from our current situation. Or, worse, encourage you to travel to Mayia when you're needed here."
As Daphnes had said that last sentence, he gave the knight a warning glare.
"I am so very sorry…" the knight apologized again. "I was so excited to report our return and I had no idea you were nearby, my lady. Judo told a lot of us about you and explicitly ordered us not to breathe a word of his knighthood and rank to you so he could tell you himself. When he finds out I blew it, he'll have me mucking stables for years!"
Kelli did look a bit incredulous for a stretching second but, at the last, she calmed herself down and let out a long, irritated breath.
"I understand, both of you," Kelli replied, and then turned her attention only to the knight. "He probably is going to be disappointed by your blunder then. But it seems like it was an honest enough mistake. I doubt he'd punish you too harshly."
"Yeah, I hope he doesn't."
"But…wow…" Kelli continued, shaking her head in awed stupefaction. "Judo… My Judo… He's a knight and a general now! That's amazing. That letter he tried to send to me that ended up getting torn… He must've been trying to tell me that he was away on this mission."
"Indeed," Daphnes said. "But we can talk more about that later. Right now, I would like to know why exactly we lost contact with the knights. What's been going on in Mayia?"
"Ah, yes," the knight remembered. "Thanks to my stupid blunder, I suppose there's no point in leaving out any details. As you recall, sire, we were ordered to repel assaults against Mayian cities as well as to investigate a number of mysterious incidents. Disappearances, abductions, trade routes being cut off, and such."
The knight went onto explain that during the time Hyrule had been hanging on by her fingernails, Mayia had also been in peril. Most of the Mayian soldiers and the Hylian knights had their hands full driving away marauding bands of monsters, many of whom were much like those Link and Kelli had encountered and likely had the same master, as well as investigating the incidents. A recurring event was the discovery of strange monsters that would appear abruptly, cause all manner of trouble, and then disappear just as quickly. They would rob and sometimes abduct people, vandalize property, ransack trade caravans, and other such crimes. Yet strangely, these probing attacks were never followed by larger raids. It was more as if…they were just toying with the weary allies.
"Eventually, General Judo began to suspect those raids might be more than they appeared," the knight continued. "They always happened in isolated locales, but ones which were vital to Mayia's economy. Mining towns, fishing villages, places that were out of the way but Mayia couldn't afford to let get burned down. So, he led some of us into the mountains in the west, having anticipated one of these raids against a quarrying town. To make it look like we'd taken the bait, he obligingly had the group split up to cover more ground. Problem was, a trap you know is there can still get you. We were ambushed, sure enough, by a small army of powerful monsters. The two groups were supposed to be close enough to reinforce each other in case that happened, but both groups were attacked simultaneously, and the enemy's numbers overwhelmed us. It was only by some clever strategic thinking on General Judo's part that we all escaped with our lives. Unfortunately, many of us were still wounded, some seriously. It was clear that forcing a march without giving them time to recover would kill them, and likely sign the rest of our death warrants too, so we decided to let them recover while our scouts searched for a way out of the mountains. Unsurprisingly, our initial route had been blocked by a rockslide. Courtesy of those charming fellows with claws, fangs, and drooling problems, no doubt. We did manage to signal the group that was left out in the plains, though. They'd been able to break out of the ambush and were looking for us, but were unable to do much else. Unfortunately, there is a bit of dire news. There was another skirmish some time before we went into the mountains and…two of the knights fell."
At this, everyone fell silent for a moment. They had figured that the knights could have suffered casualties, and they certainly had. Though there was some comfort, at the very least, that only two had been lost out of hundreds.
"That is tragic news indeed," Daphnes intoned solemnly, breaking the silence. "But the news that you are safe and will be here soon has gladdened my heavy heart. Last I heard from all of you, you had indeed become scattered and some were missing or presumed dead. But tell me, how did you catch wind of our situation?"
"To be honest, I wasn't sure until I got here," the knight admitted. "After we made it back down the mountains, General Judo and Deputy Commander Conan sized up all the hard intel we had and noticed something. Yes, the monsters were scaring the hell out of the locals and even abducting and killing a few here and there. Yes, the monsters were doing a number on the local economy. Yes, the monsters were running us ragged as we raced from this brushfire to that. But you know what they weren't doing? Taking over. No towns were taken. No one was abducted in great numbers. The monsters kept running when faced with direct confrontation. And what land they did hold had no real tactical value. General Judo realized all this could only mean one thing: the attacks on Mayia were only a diversion. This was confirmed later when he sent several of our fastest knights, disguised as simple messengers, to check the route used to relay news between Mayia and Hyrule. Sure enough, the enemy was, and I emphasize the past tense, guarding it."
"Then the route is clear again?"
"Indeed, sire. And it's a good thing too. Now that I know General Judo was right, and we were intentionally lured out there to leave Hyrule vulnerable, we must get word to him before the enemy cuts us off again. At this point, I think it's safe to say there's a connection between Hyrule's situation and Mayia's. Either way, now that Hyrule is under siege, and since the cat'll be out of the bag soon enough, I suspect that the monsters no longer need bother with Mayia. Hopefully, they'll leave the place alone once they realize their dog and pony show just lost its audience."
"Indeed," here, the king paused to mop his brow and gather his breath. "With no word for so long, I had feared the worst. It is such a relief to hear this news. With the knights having returned, we have a better chance of defending Hyrule until Link and Kelli can gather the last of the essences we need to end this plague of evil. For now, our priority is to alert Judo that you've confirmed his suspicions and our situation. Once you have prepared as best you can, ride back to him, tell him what has happened, and inform him that he is to come see me as soon as he can."
"Yes, your Majesty," the knight obliged. "I'm certain that with him back, we definitely can turn the tide!"
"I hope you're right," Link commented. "We've barely been able to manage so far. Whoever's behind this crisis is a force to be reckoned with, and I don't know how much longer we can last without more aid. The attack yesterday nearly finished us off, and we were as ready as we could've been."
"Don't worry. General Judo alone would make a difference. We'll be in good hands, if we can hold out long enough for him and the others to arrive."
"Is that so?" Link said, his eyebrows rising.
"Yeah, you really mean that?" Kelli added.
"Are you kidding? Judo is the strongest warrior in all of Hyrule," the knight replied. "During that ambush, he beat back an assault on our flank single-handedly! One swing of his mighty blade and monsters were sent flying. I even saw him yank a monster by the neck and throw it over his shoulder like it was nothing! The guy is a beast in a fight, I tell you."
"Whoa…" Link said, his eyes widening.
"I was with him when he first joined up," the knight continued. "Back then, he seemed like any other new recruit. Well, besides how he just loved to clown around, I suppose. We used to take bets on when the sergeant, who had all the humor of a bombchu that ran in reverse, would blow his stack and kick him out. But, despite that, his dedication is quite impressive. Trained every chance he got, once he was done cracking jokes and leaving rubber snakes in our bunks, that is. I've never once seen him lose a duel and, believe me, I've seen him duel a lot. Nobody could figure out what made him tick, but when it comes to his prowess as a knight? Nobody can deny his power."
"Indeed. He is still young, but Judo is a valuable asset," Daphnes agreed. "It's why I was most concerned for his safety after learning of the crisis in Mayia. As bad as things are now, his capture or death would've crushed the spirits of our remaining troops."
By now, Kelli had been left stunned by the anecdotes the knight had given. Judo had gone from the irreverent, comedic boy she played with in Kakariko to this incredibly powerful man she now heard being praised on high. It seemed unreal, and yet she could sense it was true even without Daphnes's corroboration. The gallant knight she had seen in her dreams, who had claimed to be Judo and even acted somewhat like him, though with one conspicuous exception, was now looking to not be such a dream after all.
At the thought of that knight, so handsome and…passionate, she felt her cheeks grow warm. But she shook herself back to attention before anyone noticed.
Judging by Link's raised eyebrow, he likely suspected something, however.
"Wow…" she said again, hoping the big smile on her face would be mistaken for pride and admiration in her friend's achievements. "That is so incredible. I'll have to tell him that I'm so proud of him. And his mother must be too! Which reminds me, is she well? I learned she went to Mayia with him and the other camp followers."
"Ah, I'm not sure about that," the knight admitted. "With all the havoc that's been going on lately, we were still taking stock of who was still with us and who…wasn't. You'll have to ask him when he arrives. And yeah, we're all glad to have Judo on our side, that's for certain. I'd tell you more, but I've already blundered badly enough as it is, so anything else will have to come from Judo himself."
"That's fine. I want him to tell me anyway. I can't wait to see him!"
"Yeah, me neither," Link agreed. "Hearing all this makes me want to spar with him! He sounds tough, but I love a challenge! Besides, being able to duel another Hylian would be a nice switch from Stalfos Knights, Iron Knuckles, and Lizalfos."
Despite his show of eagerness, however, Link couldn't forget the revelation that Judo is the famed general of the Hyrule's knights. Learning that the man Malon had her little crush on and the friend Kelli had been longing to find were the same person had presented some…complications. How would either of them react when they realized this? Link had no way of knowing exactly how serious Malon's crush was and, more seriously, whether Kelli might consider Judo as more than a friend herself.
Oh, she hadn't come out and said it, obviously, but Link had had too many encounters with…interested ladies to overlook the signs that somebody had a crush, and Link had noticed that Kelli had blushed rather strongly at hearing of Judo. The longing in her tone when she talked about him beforehand hadn't escaped him either.
If both Malon and Kelli were interested in Judo…well, that'd complicate things.
Worst case scenario, they might even fight over him, and that was something Link did not want to be caught in the middle of. Yet, he also knew he couldn't just keep it a secret either. They could easily find out through other means, and their reactions would likely be just as bad, if not worse. He'd at least have to tell Kelli, he figured, since they were close allies in this latest fight for Hyrule.
"Well, you'll have plenty of opponents among us knights," the knight continued. "We've heard rumors about your exploits in the past. And if you were that good then, we'd all be eager to see what you can do now. But I'll be off now, I also have to report back to Judo as soon as I can."
With that, they all said farewell to the knight and Kelli turned to Daphnes.
"Your Majesty, I still want to visit that village, but maybe Link and I ought to wait for Judo now," she suggested. "If the enemy is aware that Judo is on his way, they might try to attack us again before he can arrive."
"Yes, that possibility crossed my mind as well, but I feel it is best if you two go to the village now as planned," Daphnes replied. "Every day you two are stuck with us in this defensive position means victory inches further away. The sooner we have the information we need from that village, the better."
"That is a good point," Link agreed. "Don't worry, Kel, we'll make sure to come back soon."
"Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. Let's get moving then!" Kelli said, then turning to Daphnes. "Your Majesty, I hope you're feeling a little better now that we got some great news. Please be well."
"Ah, I must admit, I already do feel much better. But we're still not out of the woods yet. Please be careful," Daphnes warned. "I fear getting the knights back will do us little good if we lose the Sky Guardians."
"That's a relief to hear. And of course. Let's go, Link!"
"Right," Link agreed.
The two then departed, bidding farewell to Daphnes, and headed towards the area behind the windmill.
"Oh, hey," Link spoke up, forcing that persistent hesitancy out of his tone. "You're still going to teach me that mortal draw, right?"
"Yeah, but we need a sturdy practice target for me to be able to show it well enough," Kelli explained. "This technique kills; no ands, ifs, buts, or maybes. So, showing it to you the way I have before is out. There's dense woods beyond that previously fenced off area behind the windmill, so we'll find a tree there."
"Alright, sounds good."
After climbing up to the entrance to Lost Hyrule, Link felt his heart begin to race a little. He'd ventured outside of Hyrule before, but not via this route. This was the first time he'd get to see the area Kelli had spoken of from her tales of how she'd first embarked on the path of the Guardian of the Sun. He was also glad she was there to lead him too. With Lost Hyrule having been cut off from the rest of the country for so long, it came as no surprise that the area was completely overgrown, and he felt like he could easily get lost in such dense woods and overgrowth.
Yet, despite the encroachment of snarling roots, there was still a barely discernibly road remaining. This had to be how Kelli was able to find the Sun Temple and the sign that pointed to the mysterious village. After navigating through knee high grass choked with weeds and saplings, the pair came across a broad plain where the woods thinned out as they continued further and further away from Kakariko.
"Well, I'm glad to see we still sort of have a path to follow," Link commented. "We could easily get completely lost here otherwise."
"Yeah," Kelli agreed. "It is nice not to have to hack our way through any brush. That'd take ages, and we'd likely attract monsters will all the noise.."
"Yeah, especially since we don't actually have any equipment that's meant for that sort of thing. So which tree are you going to use for that mortal draw?"
"Hmm… I guess any of these will do," Kelli decided and led Link over to the tree that stood closest to them. "Over here."
"Okay, we can begin now then? I'm eager since you said this was a skill I'd really like," Link remembered.
"Don't worry, I know," Kelli replied. "Alright, the mortal draw is great because not only is it powerful, it's surprisingly simple to pull off. First, I actually have to sheath my blade, which it already is, so I can skip that part."
Link then raised one eyebrow, wondering what exactly Kelli was up to.
"Now watch this," she continued.
Suddenly, Kelli grabbed her sword with both hands, and yanked it from its sheath.
"HAAA!" she cried as she drew her blade and swung it, almost too fast to see. Kelli struck the tree so soundly that it was very nearly cleaved in two. Link found himself jumping backward a little.
"Whoa!" he cried. "That is something! That speed and precision! I was actually caught off guard. Completely. And that doesn't happen often."
"That's the idea," Kelli explained with a smile. "You sheath your weapon like you're about to surrender, so the enemy lowers their own guard, and then you strike! The enemy won't know what hit them!"
"I see. Thanks for showing me this! I want to try it right away."
With that, Link approached another nearby tree and repeated Kelli's mortal draw. After a few attempts, he managed a strike that actually did cut the tree in half. Both halves of the split trunk ground against each other for a long moment, and then slowly fell to the ground. Along with both of the young heroes' lower jaws.
"Hey, that was impressive!" Kelli complimented. "I guess we know what to do if we ever need firewood. Heh heh."
"Hah, yeah, I suppose this is one way we could chop some wood. And that attack was pretty satisfying! Can't wait to use it in a real fight!" Link cried excitedly, bringing up a fist to punch his open palm in confidence. "Whoever's buffing up these monsters has been trying my patience, and a little payback would be grand!"
"Yeah, I bet! I find it satisfying too," Kelli agreed. "Oh, by the way, if you want the Flame Staff back, I still have it with me."
"Oh, I forgot all about that," Link realized. "You can hang onto it for now though, it might be useful for us to keep sharing equipment."
"Ah, that is a good idea! Alright then. Let's keep moving though, that sign pointing to the village is still a way's off."
"Right. Lead the way!"
With that, the two continued to follow what was left of the path. Eventually, it became so hidden by vegetation that Link, after a few more mortal draws, began driving in roughly hewn stakes to mark their course while Kelli kept an eye out for the few landmarks she'd seen during her last trip. The bridge that spanned a stream soon came into view, and then of course, so did the sign pointing the way to Skyview Village.
"You know, maybe someone does live out here," Link said, breaking the silence that had fallen over the pair. "I'm not sure this bridge would still be here otherwise."
"Yeah, I thought the same thing when I first found it," Kelli agreed.
"And that is indeed the case," a familiar feminine voice suddenly interrupted.
Link and Kelli whirled to see the Fairy of Winds as she appeared amidst a small, but strong gale. Kelli had nearly forgotten that the fairy had promised to impart more information once Link was well enough to travel.
"Fairy of Winds!" Link said. "…You probably know what had happened to me already. I am sorry for causing such a setback."
"Yes, I'm aware," the Fairy of Winds replied. "I was as concerned as the rest of you. But now, thankfully, you both are here, and it's time I gave you a little more advice."
"Yeah, what more can you tell us?" Kelli eagerly wondered.
"You are making the right call in visiting Skyview Village," the Fairy of Winds began. "This is another area I've been watching over for a long time. It had long been important to the Sky Guardians and their legend throughout the ages. Those chosen by destiny came to this village many times to prepare for their journeys through the two temples, as well as to rest when needed. What they discovered was also recorded and preserved to aid future neophytes."
"That makes sense," Kelli commented. "It's nestled right between the two temples, I suspect."
"It is. And while it's no longer the bustling community that it was centuries ago, you will know it when you see it. And it is within this village that you will find the answers that you seek."
"That's good to know!" Link replied. "We're currently looking for the Moon Sword and Shield so I can take up my role in this as the Guardian of the Moon. We can't fight against the monsters for much longer without them. And it's pretty clear that time just isn't on our side here. We'll find out where they are!"
"Indeed, you should soon. I wish you both luck."
After that, the Fairy of Winds took her leave once again, disappearing amidst gentle zephyrs. Link and Kelli then resumed their travels. After a time, Link found the potential problem of Malon's crush on Judo, and Kelli likely nursing similar feelings for her old friend, intruding upon his thoughts again. If Link was right about Kelli's potential feelings towards Judo, then she had a right to know, and decided now was as good a time as any to bring it up. And besides that, putting it off too long would not be a good idea at all.
Granted, the idea of telling this to the girl who'd stolen his first kiss, literally in her sleep, and whose gaze he still had trouble meeting was not an appealing prospect. But he grit his teeth and got on with it.
"Hey, uh, Kel? Can I tell you something?" Link spoke up, his eyes drifting from hers, though she didn't seem to notice.
"Sure, what's on your mind?" Kelli wondered.
"Well… So, Judo being the general of the knights really threw me for a loop…" Link began. "I mean, what you told me about him made it sound like he was too much of a goof to be a knight. And, a general? From what I can tell, it's odd enough seeing a knight our age even make lieutenant."
"Heh, can't really blame you, I was floored myself," Kelli replied. "Then again, I'm not sure what else I can imagine Judo doing with himself, other than maybe getting on a stage and making people laugh all day. Heh heh. Back when we were kids, someone, who exactly kept on changing, would always get him a jester's hat for his birthday."
"Yeah, I'll bet he knows a thing or two about running gags. Thing is, it's not just about that…" Link admitted, pausing to take a quiet gulp.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"See… Uh… A while back, I visited Lon Lon Ranch—"
"No, Epona visited Lon Lon Ranch," Navi chimed in. "She just dragged you along for the ride and dumped you off."
That prompted some snickers from Kelli, Vira, and Navi, but Link was prepared for this particular mistreatment.
"And then she tried to eat you because she was sick of us arguing," Link added.
Navi wasn't laughing this time, but Kelli and Vira made up for it when both let out loud guffaws.
"Heh, heh, heh," Kelli spluttered, red faced. "Thanks, I needed that. But you were going to say something else, right?"
"Well, yes," Link admitted. "While I was there, I spoke to Malon. She had mentioned the knights' general to me and she said, and these are her words, I swear, that she was rather taken with him."
Kelli's humor seemed to evaporate, and she blinked upon hearing these words in a way that seemed conflicted, almost solemn.
"…Really now?" she said.
"Yeah. Malon definitely has no idea that you and Judo are close though," Link pointed out. "Heck, she doesn't even know his name. I didn't either at the time. But…this isn't a problem, is it? I-I just don't want you two to end up…well, at odds over him."
"Oh, don't worry about that," Kelli said with a smile, though she also couldn't prevent herself from being reminded of the two romantic meetings she'd had with the dream version of her best friend. "Judo and I are just close friends. Honestly, the idea that we could be more than that seems…kind of weird, actually. It's never even occurred to us. And even if I did feel that way about him, if Judo found a different special someone, I couldn't ever bring myself to stand in the way of his happiness."
"Ah," Link remarked, trying not to let slip how skeptical he was of Kelli's words. "That's good to know. I was worried, but I'm glad it turned out to be nothing. Sort of. Still have to hope Malon takes this as well as you are, should she find out. Which, she probably will."
"I'd like to think she will. She's got a good head on her shoulders."
"Yeah, I can agree there."
Before Kelli could say anything else, she spotted the fork in the path as well as the sign that would point them towards their next destination.
"Ah, there's where the path splits!" Kelli said. "The right leads to the Sun Temple, so we're taking the left branch this time."
"So I can see!" Link replied. "That sign is in ancient Hylian, but I can still make out that it says Skyview Village."
"Yep, that's what I thought too."
"Good to know that studying up on this stuff wasn't a waste of time."
"You studied ancient Hylian?"
"For a little while. I was traveling a lot before coming home, you know. Which means I was in a lot of unfamiliar places. There was no telling when I'd be back, or if there'd be anyone to help me, so I figured I was better off learning as many new things as I could."
"Ah, that makes sense! You might know more about the ancient dialect than I do. I wouldn't mind finding out some time."
"Heh, I'd be glad to help!"
"Great! For now, though, we're off to that village."
With that, the two continued past the sign and down the path. Since Kelli no longer was familiar with the territory they were traveling through, the duo treaded more cautiously so as not to mistakenly wander off the path and into the deep woods. The path was visible, but not so visible, but only barely. Only bits and pieces of it still peeked out amidst the tangling weeds and ensnarling roots. And in some areas, a bush or small tree threatened to obscure it completely. Thankfully, between Kelli's keen eyes and Link marking their trail, they were able to stay on course until, finally, buildings came into view.
Or, what was left of them. By the look of things, the village covered a fairly open area, no doubt hacked out of the wilderness over generations. Few trees had managed to spring back up amidst the former thoroughfares and lawns, but one could easily tell that the ancient village had long since been abandoned and nature was slowly reclaiming it. Every building was visibly falling apart from long neglect. Window shutters were banging in the wind or fallen off, some window panes were broken, and many sections of wood were rotted or covered in vines and moss. A sign, barely legible, and partially hanging off the door of one of the larger buildings, seemed to denote a "General Store" that looked like it hadn't had a customer in a century or two. Sitting very crooked where Link and Kelli entered the village was a sign that welcomed visitors to the less-than-welcoming Skyview Village.
However, one thing in particular soon caught Link and Kelli's attention. A peculiar statue sat in the center of what was probably once the village square. The two heroes had, of course, never seen it before, but what it depicted was all too familiar. Two stone shields were propped up against a stone column, and atop the column were stone sculptures of the Sun and Moon Swords themselves, though in their base forms before they would be awakened as the stronger forms and full power, as Kelli had done not long ago in the Sun Temple. The shields were definitely the counterparts to the swords as well, as they depicted the respective sun and moon emblems. Along the statue's circular base, alternating sun and moon emblems were carved into the stone.
Also notable, but not entirely surprising, was that the statue was in better shape than the rest of the village. There were a few small cracks here and there and a few weeds and bits of moss had crept in, but it didn't show nearly the same neglect and decay as the buildings around it.
"Wow…" Link commented. "Looks like you were right, this village really was vital to the Sky Guardians… Its inhabitants must've borderline worshiped them if they erected this in their honor."
"Yeah, I can imagine. Those heroes were all that stood between Hyrule and many evils back in those days," Kelli replied, laying a reverent hand on one side of the statue. "I can't believe I never learned of this village while studying in Mayia though… They knew something of the Sky Guardians' legend over there since much of their history affected them and Hyrule. But I guess some information was lost to both."
"That does appear to be the case. King Daphnes didn't even know it was here."
"That's true. Now I wonder if there are things we may never know because every trace was lost to history…"
"You need not fret, young one," a strange voice suddenly spoke up, causing both Link and Kelli to jump a little.
The two whirled in midair and nearly drew steel, very nearly ready for a fight before seeing only an elderly woman standing opposite of the statue from where they were. After deciding she hardly seemed threatening, Link quickly assessed this unexpected visitor.
He was more than a little curious about who she was and whether she did, indeed, live in this long-abandoned village.
She had to be only a little shorter than Daphnes and though she was clearly quite elderly, her face wrinkled and her hair nearly snow white, she appeared to be in surprisingly good shape. The woman was fairly fit, her form lean and sinewy with nary an ounce of fat. Her silvery hair was tied behind her neck in a functional braid and she wore a simple magenta dress.
Link spied a flicker of movement behind the woman, which turned out to be a young girl. Very young, in fact. She looked no older than Kelli had been when she'd first left Kokiri Forest. She was wearing a purple tank top dress and her orange hair was tied in two rounded pigtails at her neck.
"Whoa! You must be the heroes Grandma told me all about!" she cried in amazement, very nearly bouncing with elation. "You're finally here!"
"Oh, hello!" Kelli greeted with an awkward smile. "Yes, I think we are…"
"Dawn, don't get too carried away now," the woman advised the girl. "I'm sorry if we startled you. My name is Twilah. And this girl is my granddaughter, Dawn. I presume you fine young ones have come to see us. Or perhaps more specifically, me."
"Aw, I wanna help too!" Dawn groused. "It's so great to have someone visit! No one's come in a very long time!"
"We figured," Link replied. "But yeah, we're looking for information and we were told it could be found here."
"Yes, please, we need your aid," Kelli added. "I'm Kelli, and this is Link, by the way."
"Pleasure to meet you both. And indeed, I can help," Twilah confirmed with a smile which betrayed she'd waited for this moment for a long, long time and that, beneath her self-control, she felt nearly as giddy as Dawn. "I must admit, when I first saw you, I was as awestruck as my granddaughter here. She is right that no one has visited in many years. And judging by that sword and shield you carry on your back, young lady, it is no coincidence that you and this young man have appeared here. Please, follow me to my home and I will do what I can."
With that, Twilah and Dawn led Link and Kelli to another house, but one that was in far better shape than the others. Still, neither visitor doubted this building was far older than most in Hyrule proper.
"There's not a lot to see in our village," Dawn said as they walked inside. "Grandma and I are the only ones here. But I want more people to live here again someday! It's so lonely. I hope you heroes can save it!"
"Heh, well, we can certainly try," Kelli agreed with a smile.
"Yeah, given the reason it exists at all, I think we'll have to," Link put in.
"Yay! Thank you!" Dawn replied, jumping happily.
"That would be lovely indeed," Twilah said after shutting the door. "Now, let us sit down and begin. Surely you wouldn't mind resting for a little while? That was part of the reason your predecessors came to this village, after all. The journey here can't have been easy, and the journey ahead will surely be harder."
"Oh, yes, of course," Kelli replied. Link nodded his agreement as well, and they took a seat upon Twilah's chairs and couch.
It quickly became apparent that Twilah hadn't had any guests in a very long time, as the chair's dust left a figurative, and also quite literal, impression, and the couch was long overdue for reupholstering. Still, neither of the young heroes commented on it.
"Skyview Village, as you already know, was founded primarily to support the Sky Guardians and their endeavors. Nestled halfway between the two temples that tested those chosen by destiny to take up the legendary blades, the village's inhabitants built it to serve as a place of preparation, respite, and preserving the lore of the Sky Guardians for future generations," Twilah began. "It grew prosperous, and became the most bustling community in all of Hyrule outside of the castle and Castle Town themselves."
"But then the Sky Guardians vanished…" Link remembered somberly.
"Yes," Twilah confirmed sadly. "After the time of the previous two heroes came to an end, the villagers eagerly awaited the arrival of the next. That had always been a time of excitement and anticipation, like waiting for a Winter Equinox Festival that fires the imagination every time you think about it. But as time wore on and no new Sky Guardians came, we realized that something was wrong. Or, more precisely, that something had changed."
Here, Twilah paused and heaved a heavy sigh, betraying that the old grief over what must've happened next never truly went away.
"After reading the signs, it soon became apparent that a great change was coming…and nothing would ever be the same for us again. The gods and another hero forged a new weapon, the Master Sword. Our village welcomed the idea at first. We offered to build a sanctum to house the blade, not terribly dissimilar to your Temple of Time, and even renovate our two temples to suit whomever was chosen to wield this Blade of Evil's Bane. However, Hyrule and the gods had already chosen to entrust this new legacy to others. And thus, the Temple of Time in Castle Town would then come to be. Most in our village were left saddened, even heartbroken, by this news. For some, it was as if a part of who we are, or were, as a people had been lost. Some felt angry, some felt betrayed. Others felt…abandoned."
"I…I'm sorry," Link replied somberly, knowing full well what was behind that decision. "The seven sages, they built the temple to protect the Sacred Realm, the resting place of the Triforce. And the Master Sword served as one of the keys, as well as a weapon that could destroy any evil. I—!"
Link had very nearly blurted out that he had been the last one to wield the Master Sword…in a time that, for most of Hyrule, never came to pass. Even if Twilah understood the tall-sounding tale, which was doubtful, would she believe it?
She certainly seemed to note his hesitation, for she regarded him unblinkingly and one silvery eyebrow had arched.
"I studied the lore extensively and found nothing like this" he finished lamely.
"Yes," Twilah said after a pause, either falling for, or more likely ignoring, the hasty ruse. "My people's pride simply could not abide that slight."
"They were unable to cope with the change," Kelli said, recalling Twilah's earlier words.
"Indeed, as I'd said. At first, they thought they could still get visitors who were interested in the village history and the Sky Guardians' legend. The village had become something of a tourist attraction in that regard as well. The temples could remain as historic landmarks, and the swords and shields could at least remain on display so future generations could know of that ancient legend and those who upheld the legacy of the Sky Guardians. But this was not to be. The temples were ordered closed and the swords and shields moved to underground shrines where they would remain locked away so their power didn't somehow fall into the wrong hands."
"I take the villagers here didn't respond too well to that," Link commented.
"They didn't," Twilah affirmed feelingly. "They tried to protest it, but to no avail. So these tasks were carried out and the villagers had to watch a very legacy be taken away before their very eyes…"
Twilah went onto reveal that it wasn't only the temples being sealed off and the weapons hidden away, but every written record about them and the Sky Guardians was ordered to be locked away as well. The tipping point came when the statue the duo had seen earlier was supposed to be taken down. But by then, the villagers had run out of patience and clashes between them and those sent by the king to seal away their legacy turned violent. And as a result, whether out of pragmatism or retaliation, that section of Hyrule was then sealed off from the outside world, wiped from the map, and eventually forgotten.
"Oh my gosh, that's awful!" Kelli gasped. "Even if having one powerful blade that can destroy any evil was ideal and those temples were no longer needed… It sounds like some people were being far too stubborn on the matter."
"True, but our own stubborn pride is really what led to this village's downfall," Twilah said. "The king may have been overcautious about the Sun and Moon Swords and Shields falling into the wrong hands, and his fear drove him to wrong us dearly, but do you think we made the situation better by assaulting a group of unarmed laborers and scholars? Our pride and anger drove us to hatred, and we soon paid for it. Since Skyview Village vanished from the maps after that, and the Sky Guardians were no more, the traffic and commerce that kept us going dried up. With no trade and no work, the villagers soon had no choice but to leave, and gradually moved away so they could build new lives elsewhere. However, my family remained. My ancestors held onto the belief that one day, the Sky Guardians could return and be needed to save the world once again. Centuries passed, but the village fell into ruin, and soon we were alone here. Still, even when I was old enough to know the legend, I believed as well. The evils that these blades were created to fight against could always find a way to return stronger and more terrifying than before. Your presence here tells me that that has happened. It was a shame that the gods and Hyrule didn't take that into consideration."
"And of course, that very thing had occurred," Link pointed out. "Those monsters returned and have already attacked a neighboring kingdom. Now they've overrun Hyrule."
"Then, it is as my family believed. The darkness we feared is upon us, but the Sky Guardians have returned!" Twilah finished with a smile.
"And you can save all of us!" Dawn added with a happy jump.
"That's right, and we will," Kelli proclaimed. "That's why Link and I are here, to do what we need to."
"Yes," Twilah agreed. "However, I noticed that only one of you is actually properly equipped, so to speak."
"Y-Yeah," Link admitted, scratching the back of his head. "We've evidence that indicates I'm supposed to take up the Moon Sword and Shield, but we have no idea where to look for them. We hoped you could help with that."
"Ah, of course. Unfortunately…I don't know exactly where they were hidden. All I can tell you is that their last known location was somewhere far to the south."
"…Ugh," Link groaned. "…Well, it has been hundreds of years, I suppose."
"Indeed. However…" Twilah continued. "I do recall something that could help. Although he had retired from combat by this point, the last hero to wield the Moon Sword and Moon Shield still had them in his possession at the time they were to be moved. He and his family had been allowed to choose where they were to be hidden, so long as the place could be made very secure and not easily discovered. And this family owned a farm or ranch of some sort. If there's still a place like that in southern Hyrule, you might look there."
"Wait, southern Hyrule?" Kelli wondered. "The only thing down there is Lake Hylia, and the shores aren't nearly big enough to sow crops or graze livestock."
"Wait, what if we're looking at this the wrong way?" Link spoke up. At seeing everyone's confused glances, he continued. "Yeah, to Kelli and I, Lake Hylia pretty much is southern Hyrule. But that's working off the maps of Hyrule we know, which didn't include Lost Hyrule at all until this morning. But, Twilah, the maps you're going off of would likely be from back when this area was on the maps, right?"
Seeing both women nod, Link pressed on.
"So, like Twilah said," he continued, "we're looking for a farm or ranch well south of here. And, like Kelli said, it'd make sense for it to be in an area with large amounts of cleared land for crops and grass for grazing, right?"
"Right," Twilah confirmed. "Now, I haven't gotten out in, well, quite a while. So, what's south of here that has lots of cleared land and grass?"
At this, Kelli's eyes widened and Link's lips curled upward. With the new perspective Link had lent to the problem, there was only one location that lined up with Twilah's story.
"…Lon Lon Ranch?!" they both gasped, looking at one another.
"So there is one!" Dawn cried. "Yay! Grandma, once the Guardians are back, can we go to the ranch? Are there horses there? I've almost never seen one! I only get to read about them in books. Are they as pretty as they are in the pictures? Do either of you two have horses?"
"Thanks for setting her off," Twilah quipped with well-meaning sarcasm. "She'll be asking me questions like that all day. Not that I can blame her, I suppose. The only time Dawn and I leave this village is when we go to Mayia to get food and supplies, so I've no idea how Hyrule has changed over the last several centuries. I've done what I can to take care of this house and the village statue. It hasn't been easy, but perhaps it will soon prove to be worth it."
"We noticed," Kelli commented. "You've done well, and I hope it pays off!"
"Yeah," Link agreed. "But I can't believe that a legendary sword and shield might have been sitting under my friend's ranch all this time and nobody ever knew!"
"Me neither! But I can also sort of see why," Kelli added. "No one would think to look for something like that at a common ranch. And not only that, Link, this means that Malon and Talon are likely descended from the last Guardian of the Moon. They'll be blown away when they hear of this, that's for sure."
"Oh man, totally."
"That is quite a revelation indeed," Twilah agreed. "You two had best begin your search as soon as you can. From what you've told me, I gather the monsters have continued to grow stronger and are surely becoming more and more dangerous we speak."
"They are," Link said feelingly. "Thank you, Twilah. You've been a great help."
"And I'm glad," Twilah said. "I can give you a little bit more, though. Give me one minute."
With that, the elderly woman went to a closet in the room and, after riffling through it for a moment, opened a hidden compartment in the back. Intrigued, Link and Kelli watched as she removed something from within it.
"I hope you both have Guardian's Bows," she said. "Because then you can and will need to make use of these. And believe me, you will need them."
Twilah then turned around to reveal what she had been keeping hidden for many, many years. It was a pair of arrows with navy blue arrowheads and silver fletching encased in a similarly colored magical aura.
"The Moon Arrows!" Kelli gasped.
"It is!" Link realized. "We've also been looking for those!"
"And we did both find those bows," Kelli added. "One of them, the one I have, was in Mayia, and Link found his deep in the Lost Woods in…it's either eastern Hyrule or southeastern Hyrule to you. I kind of wonder how those bows came to be in those places, honestly."
"Me too. How does a bow like this wind up all the way among dead trees under the Lost Woods?" Link wondered aloud.
"I had figured," Twilah replied. "And since the bows were not as important or powerful as the swords and shields, they may have just been sold, found and then passed around, or even stolen, lost, or thrown away for whatever reason. I'm more surprised that fletchers that found the designs intriguing never tried to craft replicas. Perhaps people decided the value of the originals should be maintained, or could not be reproduced? Or there actually were fake ones made, but a real one was mistaken for a fake and thrown away. In any case, it is very fortunate that you both found the true bows. Please take the Moon Arrows so they can once again fulfill their purpose."
"That does make sense, yeah," Kelli agreed. "And don't worry, we will use these!"
"Thank you. I'm afraid, though, that the Sun Arrows have been lost," Twilah also revealed. "We never found them, nor could I tell you anything about where they might be."
"Oh, don't worry about that! We actually have them. King Daphnes of Hyrule had been keeping them safe," Link explained. "Our princess found them buried on the castle grounds and gave them to him. At least someone had some sense."
"Oh, that's wonderful news. Then once you find the Moon Sword and Moon Shield, you will have nearly everything you need to confront this plague of evil."
"Yes, we won't let you down. Thank you for all your help!" Kelli said.
"Of course, and I wish you both luck on your travels. Oh, but…"
"Huh?" Link wondered.
"There is…some unfortunate news I have for you," Twilah continued. "Should you seek to visit the Moon Temple after collecting the sword and shield, you're going to have a hard time reaching it. The path that leads there has become far more overgrown and treacherous than the one you took to arrive here. There have also been many rockslides from the nearby mountains in that area over the years as well. You would be better off finding another route."
"What?!" Kelli gasped. "But the only other route we know of is also closed off!"
"Damn!" Link fumed. "That is a real problem. But we'll have to worry about that later, Kel. We have to get the sword and shield first."
"Right, yeah… We best be off now then."
"Wait, I have something to give you too!" Dawn suddenly said. "Take this."
She then handed Link and Kelli a glass bottle that had been sitting in a crate on the floor.
"I find stuff like this lying around the village all the time!" Dawn explained. "I cleaned the bottle and it's in good shape. You can carry more medicine or other things in it if you need to. And I always find more stuff too, so you can always come back and see me and I might have something else!"
"Oh, thank you!" Link said. "This is very helpful."
Under his breath, he muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "And for once, I didn't need to wrangle any cuccos or chase down Poes to get it."
"You're welcome!"
With that, Link and Kelli departed the house. Twilah had soon followed them outside, however, and this time, Dawn didn't. Twilah called out to the duo one more time before they could leave.
"Wait. I have one more thing I'd like to tell you, before you go," she said. "I apologize if this is sudden. But I cannot let Dawn hear this."
She accentuated the point by giving Dawn a warning glare and then closing the door in the little girl's face.
"Oh? What's the matter?" Link wondered. "It sounds urgent."
"Yeah," Kelli added. "If we can help with something, we will."
"Well, you see…" Twilah began hesitantly. "Half of me is telling me to shut up right now, but the rest of me is pointing out that I've revered the Sky Guardians all my life. And if I can't trust them, who can I trust? To come to the point, Dawn is…not actually my granddaughter. I have only led her to believe this, if only for the sake of her happiness and wellbeing. The fact that she hasn't had parents other than me has never bothered her, she is so happy with me, in spite of us being all alone here. She came to me when she was very little, and barely able to speak. I was on my way back from running an errand in Mayia when I found her crying among the wreckage of a coach. It had been waylaid and ransacked, and I was amazed that anyone had survived such a brutal attack, let alone such a small girl. No one else was around for miles, and there weren't even any bodies that could've been her parents or the coachman. Whoever might've been the girl's family, they were gone without a trace, along with any hint of who they were or where they'd come from. I took her in and gave her the name Dawn to continue a tradition of sorts that Skyview Village once had. I couldn't just do nothing. The poor dear was hungry and alone. Also, the last of my family's neighbors left long before I was born, and I knew I would need help continue looking after things here while awaiting the Sky Guardians' return."
"Oh my… That's horrible," Kelli gasped out.
"Yeah, who could have done such a thing?" Link wondered.
"I don't know…" Twilah somberly replied. "I would like to find out myself. I ask that if you two find or hear anything that could relate to the incident, please let me know as soon as you can. We don't know if Dawn has other relatives or friends that miss her. If so, they surely have no idea that she's safe. Her parents could be alive and frantically worrying."
"That's true. We'll do what we can," Kelli agreed. "I promise."
"Yeah," Link seconded.
"Thank you both," Twilah said. "And once again, good luck!"
With that, the elderly woman returned to her home, leaving the two heroes to ponder all they had discovered during their visit. They began making their way back to Kakariko, following the markers Link had left along the overgrown path.
"Wow, we really found a ton of answers here!" Navi suddenly spoke up. "Talon the Lazy being descended from a Moon Guardian? Makes my head spin."
"Yeah, this place is full of history, even in its current state," Vira agreed, and then noticed that the fairies' sudden appearance had caused Link and Kelli to jump. "Oh, sorry. We remained hidden so we didn't mistakenly spook the woman and girl. I doubt they've seen fairies recently. If at all."
"I was wondering why you two stayed quiet all this time," Link said. "That makes sense though."
"Yeah. But we have to figure out how we're going to find the Moon Shrine under Lon Lon Ranch, if that is really where it is," Kelli pointed out.
"Yeah…" Link said and brought a hand to his chin. Then something about the ranch suddenly occurred to him. Something he'd all but forgotten.
"Hold on!" he suddenly beamed. "I think I know exactly where to look!"
"What? Really?" Kelli said, her eyes widening.
"Yeah! But…oh, shoot!" Link fumed again.
"What? What's wrong?"
"I remembered something else that might make this annoying. But I can explain later. Right now, we have to get back to Kakariko and see if Judo's arrived yet. He might actually be able to help us out! Come on!"
"Oh, right behind you then! He has to be brought up to speed on everything anyway!"
With that, everyone sped off, eager to see where Link's sudden flash of inspiration might lead. And Kelli, of course, felt her heart begin to race at the prospect of finally seeing her friend again for the first time in those seven long years…
…and more than a hint of trepidation about whether he'd still be a "friend" when they met again or…something else entirely.
