As vast a difference between night and day, the village has already been extinguished from the overnight attack. These people move quick, despite their size, that's for damn sure. Although I can't see it from here past all the trees, I can tell that dawn is breaking on the horizon. Deeming it to be awkward to simply stand around while everyone works on restoration, I've found myself a nearby perch overseeing the village. I watch as everyone buzzes about, as if they hadn't just been attacked. Confusing as the sight is, it's admirable if nothing else.

After my brief introduction with the chief of the village, he quickly muttered something about finding living arrangements for me and disappeared without a trace. I've been trying to pick him out of the crowd, to no avail. My only assumption is that he's picking an area outside of my field of view. To be honest, I wouldn't mind if he had simply given me a tent and a warm blanket, but I wasn't offered much time to protest. With little familiarity of the people here or their customs, my own thoughts are the simplest company I could have at the moment. Every now and then, the thought of the dragon I had killed resurfaces. I still feel bad, but there's nothing I can do about it now besides learn.

And there's the problem. I don't know nearly enough about this place. Hyrule's monsters are simple, even if they're new to me. These beasts on the other hand- no, these dragons. They're unique and they all seem to be powerful in their own regard. I'm not even sure if the dragons I saw last night comprise of the entire species; something tells me they don't even scratch the surface.

Of course, there's still the question of how I even got here. What I saw in the Cave of Ordeals was definitely Twilight, but this world has no sign of it. I scratch the back of my head in frustration, jostling my cap slightly. I have no choice but to take this one question at a time, despite what I'd like to do.

"Would love to have Zelda's piece right now," I mutter to no one in particular, rubbing the back of my left hand. I scoff at my own helplessness, but it's unfortunately true. Between the daily tasks I used to get from Fado or the mayor Bo, to Midna's carefree guidance through Hyrule, and even Zelda's instructions during my short time as a knight, I'm not used to not knowing what to do. Despite this, I can't help but feel restless, as if I should be doing something to help.

Frustration and boredom gets the better of me and I stand up for the first time since I've made my way to this resting area. The village is some distance down from me, but I can make it down rather safely by jumping around the cliffside. I move forward to leap down to the first ledge I see before being stopped by a chill running down my spine. It's the same feeling I used to get when a monster spotted me, but I've grown to learn that the sensation simply means I'm being watched. I turn around, but my eyes fall only upon the foliage. There's no rustling in the trees or on the ground, and I can't see anything lurking in the shadows. Had I been able to turn into my wolf form, I could probably sharpen my senses to look around, but it's a useless endeavor as a Hylian. Clicking my tongue in frustration, I decide to give up the short lived search and hop down. I can't help but feel like I heard a mischievous giggle as I jumped down.

After a few well placed leaps from ledge to ledge, the cliff seems to be less steep and I'm able to slide the rest of the way down it. Even the boots that I obtained with the rest of my hero's garb are enchanted, so I don't have to worry about the material wearing down as I surf down the rocky formation. I reach the bottom where the village is located in a matter of some dozen seconds, and push off from the protrusion. I get some immediate looks, be it out of recognition for my fight earlier, or simply confusion at my "entrance." Brushing them aside, I walk through the village unsure of what I'm looking for, but the long strides I'm taking would fool anyone watching.

Without thinking, my legs carried me back to the blacksmith shop where I had first met the chief's son. I think a few people might have been trying to call out to me on the way here, but not knowing my name makes it harder to pin me down for a conversation. I don't see the small boy, not that I had expected to. Instead, a large man with what appears to be a wooden leg and a hammer for an arm is there, working away at some metal. I wander in aimlessly, and the soft creaking of the wood alerts him to my presence.

Before even turning around fully, he proclaims loudly, "Hasn't anyone ever taught you to say something when you-" He stops mid-sentence when he looks at my face. "Ah. You're not Hiccup."

You don't say.

"You're that new lad that came in overnight, aren't you?" His accent is thick and heavy, but it's nothing I can't understand, especially considering the many different regions of Hyrule I'd traveled to. "That's a good thing you did for Hiccup, saving his life and all. Even nicer of you, considering you just met him."

Goddesses, you're blunt. Ah, I should probably respond to him before he thinks I'm suspicious, just aimlessly wandering around his shop.

"I didn't want to see anyone die," I answer honestly. The force that spurred my legs into motion was the same one that dragged me out of my comfort in Ordon and across Hyrule to save a kingdom full of people that I had never known.

He chuckles softly, but not out of mockery. "Well, there are worse reasons to fight a dragon." He turns away from his previous work and faces me straight on for the first time since our conversation has begun. "You're not from 'round here, then, are you?"

"How'd you know?" I think out loud with a scoff.

"Oh, you know." He takes a moment to scan my clothes up and down. "Just a hunch."

Right.

"Well, not my business. What can I get for you? You look like you're trying to find something."

He's a perceptive one, I'll give him that. Even so, I don't even know why I walked down here. Ugh, I can't just stand here forever. "I uh, was looking for that kid from before."

"Oh, him?" He waves his arm as if to swat away the very thought of him. "Don't worry, he's just up brooding in his house."

I can't imagine why. "I see," I mutter listlessly. Perhaps I can talk to the chief then. I haven't seen him in quite a few hours, so perhaps he'll have some information for me. Or at the very least, he can tell me where I'll be sleeping. "Then, do you know where the chief is?"

"Knowing him, he's probably already in the Great Hall preparing for the meeting. You can head over there if you like, maybe he'll let you sit in too." The man trots off back to his forge, the sound of his wooden leg resonating against the floor.

He seems busy, anyways, so I best leave him be. I walk out of the humble shop and look out upon the village, still taking in the high energy area as everyone is moving from place to place. I don't even notice the stares this time, as the scenery of this cliffside settlement reminds me of Kakariko Village. I had a good view of the place from my vantage point, but it's so much different being down here during the day and seeing it directly.

I'm getting sidetracked again. That guy back there said the chief would be in the Great Hall. I'm not sure where that is, but I'm sure I can find it with enough time, even if I can't read the signs here. Come to think of it, I didn't get his name. I'll be sure to do that later when he doesn't seem so busy. For now, I should get out of the middle of the village. I'm probably blocking some people's paths. Without any real sense of direction, I start walking.

The Great Hall could be anywhere. Hyrule Castle was located north of the town, while in Kakariko, the closest thing they had to a hall was at the very south end of the town. Back in Ordon, Mayor Bo's house was at the center of the village, if you included the ranch. The main chamber of the Gorons was at the heart of that goddess-forsaken mountain, too, so I might as well start with the center of the village.

The boy from before mentioned that every building in this village was new. I had thought that was an exaggeration, but I'm reconsidering that line of thought now. House after house, shop after shop, all of them seem to have a fresh coat of paint laid overtop wood that doesn't appear to have aged a day. The only signs of longevity anywhere are some burn marks here and there. Whether they're a product of the most recent dragon attack or more distant ones is beyond me. Part of me is impressed, while the other part is wracked with confusion.

Not many people are actually walking up to say anything to me, thankfully. I'm beginning to think that the looks I was getting was more due to my outfit rather than my heroics. After all, killing a dragon must be a common occurrence here. If only I could be as enthusiastic as the rest of them seem to be about it. I laugh wryly at the mental critique towards myself, slightly lamenting Midna not being here to lighten the mood with a joke or quip. That reminds me, I haven't turned into a wolf since she left. Painful as the transformation is, I can't deny that it has its benefits. After all, if Midna was in Hyrule, I could have found her easily as a beast. Her scent is practically engraved in my mind given how much time she spent on my back.

Why am I thinking of Midna anyways? I shake my head and dispel the cloud of thoughts distracting me for the time being. At least I try to. I opt to focus on the buildings around me to avoid thinking of anything unnecessary, but I can't help but be reminded of everyone back at Ordon. Goddesses, how I wish I had Epona with me right now. Something tells me that even she wouldn't be able to find me if I called her right now. According to Zelda and Shad, the last hero before me had some magic he used to get around easier. Maybe I should try learning some myself.

Ah whatever, I'll just walk faster. Hastening my steps, I pass by even more buildings that give off the impression of being freshly built. The houses I'm passing by are starting to get bigger, too, which is probably a good sign. Eventually, I come to a building far larger than the others, and with two extravagant stone statues adorning doors possibly twice my size. Out of each building I've passed, it seems to be the oldest one, too. This is definitely it. I walk up the long set of stairs, the sound of my steps mixing in with the hustle and bustle of the village around me. Despite being at the center of the village, this is rather isolated, probably due to its elevated position above the rest. Reaching the entrance, I struggle for just a moment to push open the huge doors.

I'm greeted with a breathtaking sight, but for all the wrong reasons. If Hyrule Castle were to be called a great keep, this would be more like barracks. It's huge, but primitive. The huge pillars jutting out from the floor block one's view of the interior at several spots. The stone is at least an improvement from the wooden make of the other buildings if dragons are a common occurrence, but it's unpolished and cracked in areas here and there. In the center of a hall is a massive wooden roundtable with a bonfire illuminating the chamber at its center. At least they understand how to prevent fires, since the wood is blocked off from the fire by a wall of rocks. The most extravagant part of this room is the dragon-shaped mounds attached to the massive pillars spread throughout the room, as well as the colorful paintings adorning the walls.

Damn, spending the last half year in the castle really changed my expectations. I'd be amazed at something like this back when I was still the naive farm boy at Ordon. Maybe I should spend some time with the Gorons to humble myself up after this. All the same, I walk further into the Great Hall, occasionally looking around to see if there's any details I missed. The paintings on the wall all seem to be depicting events, but I can't pick them out since I'm unfamiliar with this place's history. As I turn to look at another painting, I catch sight of the massive chief further back in the hall, quite some distance away from the roundtable, rolled up maps clenched in his right hand.

I approach him almost soundlessly, the soft shifting of leather against chainmail being the only indication of my presence. He turns slightly to cast a sidelong glance at me, but remains mostly focused on the map board before him fixed into place with small daggers.

"I've heard you're having a meeting today." The soft tone of my voice cuts through the silence of the massive chamber, echoing off the walls.

"Aye, that I am. We need a plan to stop these beasts before they wipe us out." He turns his head to speak to me more directly before continuing. "Will you be joining us?"

I nod in affirmation, the tense look on his face softening a little. If I want to help these people, what better way than helping them set a plan in motion? I've never been the best at strategizing on a large scale, but working with Telma and serving under Zelda's shown to me that once I have a direction and an instruction, I can raise hell. Not to mention, I'm more than capable of defeating something without killing it. King Bulblin is ample proof of that.

"Well, you're plenty early." He turns back to his map board, still engaged in conversation with me. "I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I asked you some things to pass the time."

Shit. I don't like the tone of that offer. I should have figured that he'd still be suspicious of me, he's the chief after all. As if to confirm my worries, he asks his first question without waiting for me to respond. "Where are you really from?"

Of course. Why wouldn't you start with the most difficult question to answer? Can't make things simple for me or anything, can you.

I'm caught now. I may not be as clever as Zelda or Midna, but I could spin a quick lie in this scenario. But I can't keep track of every lie that I've told; eventually they'll stack up if I try to continue this charade.

On the other hand, the truth isn't much better. How crazy would the Twilight sound to someone who's never heard of it? Hell, they probably don't have any concept of magic. I could try to explain the situation in the Cave of Ordeals, but he may just take me for a madman.

Damn it, what can I do? I have the benefit of being spared some suspicion since I already saved his son from a dragon, but I can't blame him for being skeptical past that.

I'll just have to pick the third option; I don't have to tell him everything, just enough to get by.

After a pause lasting a few seconds that felt like an eternity, I break my silence.

"I am from Hyrule, that much is true." I make sure to immediately affirm him that my place of origin wasn't a lie, hopefully alleviating him a bit while he listens to the rest. "But, I haven't got the slightest clue where it is in relation to this place. For all I now, it may not even be recorded on your maps."

He turns fully away from his board, focused entirely onto me. His expression is grim and guarded, but not aggressive. That's good enough for me.

"I'm not sure how I got here or how long it took to get here. But I can promise you that I'm alone, and no one knows where I am." I imagine that as chief of a village, he has to be on guard from possible invaders. I'll try to appeal to this concern and draw him away from the thought of Hyrule.

Of course, if that answer alone satisfied him, he wouldn't be a chief. "Just what kind of people are there in Hyrule?"

I can feel his eyes on my long ears and unique clothing as he asks this question. I begin with a sigh, knowing that this explanation will take a while. Holding back information about who we are would only make him more suspicious.

"For starters, I'm sure you've noticed these," I say, lightly rubbing the tips of my ears. Good to know they're still sensitive. "People who have them are called Hylians. Others look like you, so we call them Ordonians." I opt to leave out the part about people of Ordon being much smaller than these vikings.

"Up in the mountains, we have the Gorons. They're strong and hardy, also like your people. But they prefer the heat much more than most others do."

Stoick is listening with a much softer expression on his face than he's had beforehand, visibly taking in the new information. I'm purposefully leaving out details about racial features to avoid the ensuing explanation, but thankfully this is still allowing me to give a good explanation of Hyrule.

"Along the rivers, we have the Zora. They're elegant, prideful people. You'll never find a tribe that knows their way around the water better than they do." I'm starting to get into my storytelling a little bit. Rusl used to give me lessons about the rest of Hyrule since I'd never left the village, and all that information is coming back to the front of my mind now.

"But, they're all people of Hyrule. That is what we're like. We take pride in our unity, and that's what allows us to flourish and prosper." While that's not the whole truth, it's certainly not a lie either.

I would have died long ago if I wasn't able to freely travel from province to province and interact with the different races scattered throughout the land. I can't imagine sneaking into the Goron mines successfully or diving down to the Lakebed Temple without the late queen's gift. Still, I continue my story; partially to wipe away any suspicions he may have, and partially absorbed in spinning the tale itself.

"Simply put, Hyrule is advanced. Our weapons have been optimize over years and years of cooperation, and our armor has allowed even the weakest of knights to stand up to horrible creatures." I notice Stoick's eyebrows furrow at the last word I utter.

"Creatures?"

Aha. I've got him interested now.

Suppressing the smile that dares to break my storyteller's composure, I nod slowly. "We don't have nearly as many dragons as you do, but the things I've seen would give a man nightmares for months. Imagine a serpent the size of this room and six times as long, cloaked in enough scales to serve as armor."

I recount the features of Morpheel, the Twilit abyssal I was forced to exterminate within the Lakebed Temple.

"A living fossil that commands the lifeless bones of the very men that had tried to end it once before."

Now Stallord, the remains of a beast that Zant had given life back in the desert.

"Or perhaps a dragon twice the size of one of those Nightmares, covered from head to tail in thick armor."

Argorok. This one makes him shudder ever so slightly. Good, I'm getting somewhere.

"A crazed boar that could swallow you whole, with fur as black as the night and a bloodstained mane behind its massive tusks."

Finally Ganon himself.

I let myself get carried away with the theatrics of recounting my journey. It's self indulgent, but all that matters is that I have Stoick interested. If I can get him to see me as a hero, then he should be willing to drop the subject of why I'm here; so long as he feels that I'll be of use to his people.

At the very least, he doesn't appear suspicious. Only intrigued.

"If you saw all these things, why would you keep going?"

That question isn't from confusion. He's testing me, I know it. I've had enough people try to draw that answer out of me before, even if they didn't know it. Could I really say that it's only the Triforce pushing me forward? Of course not. It spurs me into action, but I'm still the one who has to answer the call at the end of the day.

It doesn't matter, though. The answer is as natural as breathing.

"I didn't want anyone to die."

I repeat the words I had said to the smith earlier. This single minded motivation that's thrown me into danger time and time guides every swing of my sword, every thrust of me shield, and forces me back up even when pain assaults my senses. It's probably the simplest answer I could possibly give, and yet it's the most honest.

His expression hasn't changed much, but I've spent enough time around Zelda to pick up on small mannerisms. I can see the corners of his mouth twitch for a moment, as if suppressing a smile. His eyes are still fixed on me, but they've unconsciously softened. Yeah, that answer did more than satisfy him.

"Do you understand now, Stoick?" My blue eyes are still locked with his green ones, silently conveying the results of my foolhardy determination. "That's the type of person I am. So ease your worries. I'll protect your people, I swear."

If Midna were here she'd already be doubled over laughing from the performance I'm putting on here. Maybe the kids from Ordon would find it cool, like they did everything else. I guess it doesn't matter. It just matters that the chief isn't suspicious any more. I can see the hint of interest in his eyes, but I'm not sure what for.

A few seconds pass after the last word of my promise, leaving only the sound of fire crackling in the chamber. His turn to be speechless now, I suppose. After some more time passes, he averts his eyes from mine and awkwardly pretends to cough. Honestly, if it weren't for my run-in with the Gorons, I'd be surprised to see such a large man acting bashful in even the slightest of ways.

"Well. I just wanted to make sure you weren't up to any trouble here in my village." He finally says after clearing his throat.

I can't help but smirk in response.

"As you should. I'm sorry for worrying you in the first place." I've grown thankful of the time I spent around nobles and knights in Hyrule Castle. My Ordonian accent won't go away of course, but the amount that I've improved my vocabulary over the past half-year makes it a lot easier to sell these gallant hero moments.

Stoick must've noticed my self-satisfied look because he straightens himself out and puts back on a more, well, stoic expression. "There's still some time before the meeting. Maybe you could... tell me more about your travels. If you wish."

I stare back at him for a moment, a little surprised at the request. My attempts at maintaining my composure fail as a soft chuckle escapes my lips. One outburst follows another and soon enough, I'm leaning back on the roundtable for support as my chest heaves with more laughter. Ah shit, he probably thinks I'm being rude.

When was the last time I even laughed like this? It definitely would have to be before the Twilight fell, back when I was ignorant and happy in Ordon.

"I'm sorry," I manage to breathe out between laughs. I look up at him, still smiling, but he doesn't seem upset, only confused. "It's just that no one's ever asked me to talk about my journey."

I think back to Colin in the others, how they'd always ask me to show them sword techniques in Ordon. The few royal guards that were left would usually ask me what it was like fighting Ganondorf, maybe what the Zora's domain looked like, or some nonsensical question. Rusl would typically ask me if there's any routes I know about or how to fight a certain enemy more effectively.

But no one's ever just asked what I did while saving Hyrule.

The reality of that is so absurd that I couldn't do anything but laugh.

It's refreshing to have someone who doesn't care about my status as a hero and just wants to hear the stories of a wandering swordsman, at least in their eyes. I chuckle one last time, but out of a warm appreciation for how quickly the tone shifted in the room.

"Alright." I unstrap the scabbard holding the royal sword and hold it in front of me as I take a seat behind me. "I'll start from when I first left my village."

Stoick never took a seat while I spoke, and I wasn't the sole target of his attention, but he remained interested as I carried him through the cornerstones of my journey. I make some major adjustments to the story in order to leave out some more mystical aspects, like the Twilight, the spirits, and my alternate form.

I substitute the Twilight for an unnamed invading threat, and the spring spirits for wise sages. I tell him about Midna, but make no mention of her magic or imp form.

A few points in the story, I stumble for a bit as I try to think of what changes to make, but for the most part, I'm able to carry smoothly through the Forest Temple. Apparently, monkeys don't exist around Berk, so I have to explain to him what those are. But, since he doesn't know what they are, I just pass them off as one of Hyrule's races, which saves me some time later explaining how they were able to be so helpful.

As expected, Stoick voices his skepticism at a few points in the story, not that I blame him. The Gale Boomerang unsurprisingly causes some confusion, but I manage to pass it off by saying that it's a haunted weapon. Diababa raised a great deal of questions, but after a few rounds of back and forth, he makes a comment how he's seen stranger dragons and drops the subject.

Halfway through my trip to Kakariko Village, the doors of the Great Hall open, and two people walk in; a man and a woman. They're not as large as Stoick, but they're definitely larger than me, and they're wearing a similar style of armor. People must be starting to show up for the meeting, then.

I push off from my seat on the roundtable and grab my scabbard, ready to let the two new arrivals greet their chief. Now that I look at it, there aren't any actual seats here, the table's just incredibly low. Ah, whatever. I find a place in a corner and prop myself against the wall as I face the door, watching the Great Hall slowly fill up with more and more vikings. After a few minutes, it's practically bursting and the chatter of wayward conversations have already melded into one collective static.

"Best we get started, then." I pick out Stoick's low voice throughout all the mess, doubly aided by my Hylian biology and my increased senses. By now, it's too full for me to try and get closer, but I can see just fine from here, and hearing is no problem either.

The stout chief quiets down the room simply grabbing a large mug and slamming it down twice on the wooden table. I'm not quite sure what I expected. Either way, it works.

"Let's not waste time." The chatter fades away and the only voice left in the room is Stoick's. Of course, every eye is on him now. "We'll skip the village matters for today. We've all got a much bigger problem."

Some affirmative mumbles ring out through the chamber. I look around to scope the general tone of the crowd, and to my surprise, not everyone looks as resolute as Stoick. I can see some unease in many faces, others appear afraid, while a couple just seem otherwise indifferent.

"These attacks are getting worse and worse. We can't just stand by while they come after us time and time again." This statement garners some nervous murmurs instead.

Somewhere near the door, a viking speaks up. "Then what do you suggest we do?"

The question draws out some agreement from others, but for the most part, there's still order in the room. Stoick hunches over, hands placed on the large map before him.

He speaks his next sentence slowly and sternly. "We have to find the nest."

So much for the order. The room explodes into an uproar. Some people are crying out in protest, others in agreement, and everything else in between. I can see Stoick attempting to regain some semblance of order by grabbing a mug out of another viking's hand and banging it on the table.

"Either we finish them, or they'll finish us! It's the only way we'll be rid of them!" His attempts to reassure them aren't met without some critique.

"We've been trying to find the nest for years, and we still haven't!" Another viking cries out this time. Fewer people speak up in agreement this time, but a couple do.

"Then we just need to try harder," Stoick retorts. "If we find the nest and destroy it, the dragons will leave. They'll find another home!"

To drive home his point, he grabs a dagger that was placed next to him and stabs it into what I presume to be the map, though I can't very easily see from behind all these people. This quiets down most people, it seems.

"One more search, before the ice sets in," the chief continues.

"Those ships never come back." Someone else near the door pipes up again.

Stoick just shakes his head in response. "We're vikings. It's an occupational hazard."

This might be a good time to get my opinion in before the room explodes again. I cut off Stoick before he can continue further with a question of my own.

"How many ships do you usually send to search?"

The eyes in the room all shift away from their chief and onto me. Some look confused, others look offended that I interrupted him. Stoick doesn't seem to mind, likely since we had some time to talk beforehand.

"Only a few scouts. Usually one or two per search."

There it is. "Then that's your problem. Lone scouts are easier to attack, and that stops them from getting close to the nest."

Shortly after I was appointed captain of the guard, we had to travel to nearby villages to deliver supplies as part of the widespread restoration from Twilight attacks. Traveling in a large group always proved to be safer, especially when I compared it to the time I escorted Telma.

The monsters of Hyrule were intelligent, and knew that they'd likely die if they tried attacking such a large group. These dragons must be the same.

"What are you getting at, boy?" The first viking that spoke up earlier directs his question at me now.

"What I'm saying is, your scout ships aren't just getting lost. They're being destroyed by dragons protecting their nest."

The room threatens to creep back up into another uproar as people begin to discuss what I said between one another. I'm a little shocked that this surprises anyone, honestly, but I hold my tongue. Instead, I decide to move from my social bunker in the corner and towards the main group of vikings gathered around Stoick.

"If you send out a larger search group, send more ships, you'll have a fighting chance against whatever dragons come." I push through the crowd and make my way next to Stoick, looking down at the map. It's well made visually, but offers little information.

"And how do you know the dragons are destroying our ships?" A viking clad in black on the other side of his chief speaks up this time, dragging my attention back up from the map.

"Come on, these creatures are far smarter than you let on." Another round of chatter circles around the room, this one filled with more jeers than previous ones. I make no attempt to shut them up, instead I just talk over the mess of voices. "They know to keep coming back here and not only that, but they're coming back more often."

The jeers slowly dissipate and in their place, more contemplative murmurs arise.

"They know where to hit you when they show up. You can see them attacking your towers and going straight for the food. They know what they're doing, whether you want to believe it or not."

I'm making a lot of assumptions here for the sake of my argument. Since I only witnessed the one attack, that's all I can go off of, but I turn my observations from that one experience into a talking point. I can see the apprehensiveness on some of their faces, but no one dares to speak up against the point, allowing me to continue.

"If you send enough ships, they'll have no choice but to let you get close to the nest. They'll try to lure you in and crush you there, and that's when you make your maps, gather your strength, and come back with a full invasion force."

I don't like the idea of a full on slaughter, but if destroying the nest will push the dragons out to find another home, then it's the safest option for everyone; including them.

The idea seems to make sense, since I'm hearing more affirmative muttering than at the start of my explanation. One person still retorts with another question, though.

"And what if they just burn down our ships when we get close?"

"It's an occupational hazard, right?" I take advantage of Stoick's own words, rousing some more people. "You don't have to get close enough for them to spot you. You're bound to see their nest before they see you. Travel at night if you must, just stay concealed."

I give everyone a moment to mull over my words, and the soft chatter resurges as vikings discussion between one another. I cast a sidelong glance towards Stoick, to which he return with a subtle nod. He doesn't seem at all bothered that I interjected, possibly because he respects my opinion as a captain.

"Then how many ships is enough?"

That question I don't have a response to, nor did I see who even asked it. We don't have a need for ships in Hyrule, so the only experience I have with them is what I've been told travelers and gossipers. However, while I'm thinking of an answer, Stoick breaks his silence.

"All of them."

What?

I'm not the only one confused, clearly, as the room explodes in a mix of confusion, protest, and some affirmation.

I thought that I'd be ready for whatever response that Stoick could possibly given, even if it was refusing my proposal outright. And yet,my lack of imagination's left me speechless. I try to gather my wits and speak out against Stoick's suggestion but my voice is swept up in the crowd.

"Who's going to watch the village?!"

"What if we don't come back?"

"They could kill us all!"

Left and right, I hear objections and worries rising throughout the room. And yet, despite all the chaos, Stoick doesn't appear worried in the slightest. He simply grabs another mug and slams it down to regain order once more. Perhaps it was the same mug, I'm not sure. Some of the contents of it fly out into the air as the wooden base connects with the table, spilling splotches of ale onto his maps.

The air remains tense, but people are quieting down to allow their respected chief to speak. Even I don't dare interrupt again.

"If what the boy says is true," His words are slow and measured, a razor sharp dagger cutting through the thick tension of the room. "The more ships we have, the closer we'll get. They can't take out all of our ships."

What he's saying makes a bit of sense, I have to admit. Even so, this much is overkill. The room has yet to break out into another murmur, giving me a chance to respond.

"Still, taking all of your ships back and forth is going to require more supplies than you can-"

The chief cuts a rift in my thoughts yet again with his commanding voice. "We only need one trip. Then and there, we'll destroy the nest."

By Hylia, what have I gotten myself into.

"We'll take our catapults, our nets, everything we need. We'll destroy the nest as soon as we see it once and for all. Now who's with me?"

I look around the room absentmindedly, caught up in the shock of what's just happened in the span of possibly a minute or two. Everyone else is either just as shocked as I am, or even more apprehensive. I can't hear a single sound from anyone, even with my tipped ears. I throw a sidelong glance in Stoick's direction, and yet all I can see is a smile creeping through his facial hair.

"Alright. Those who stay will look after Hiccup."

Like clockwork, the room explodes again for the last time as hands shoot up all around. The uncertain clamor and scattered protests that I could hear in every other uproar are nowhere to be found this time. Honestly, part of me feels bad for finding their reactions a bit comical. I shake my head and push away the last thought, watching as the vikings that were filling the room proceed to vacate the hall.

Some murmurs spread out through the room as usual, and my ears twitch as I pick out the different conversations. I hear someone say something to Stoick, and turn in that direction.

"No," Stoick has already walked away from the roundtable and is talking to the stout man in front of him. "I need you to stay and train some new recruits."

Ah, it's the blacksmith from earlier. I suppose I might as well get his name now, but I wonder if it's alright for me to keep approaching the chief so casually.

"Oh, perfect, and while I'm busy, Hiccup can cover the stall- Molten steel, razor sharp blades, lots of time to himself, what could possibly go wrong?" The smith's words are absolutely drenched in sarcasm, but Stoick doesn't even bat an eye at it.

Well, that gets rid of my last concern. I'll refrain from interrupting their conversation for a moment longer and just listen in the meantime. I direct my attention down to the maps that Stoick had laid out during the mission, lazily scanning over them.

I can hear Stoick sigh along with the sound of his massive frame landing on a bench. "What am I going to do with him, Gobber?"

Oh, so that's his name.

"Put him in training with the others." Before the smith's last word is even finished, Stoick quickly snaps back.

"No, I'm serious."

"So am I."

That's the second time they've mentioned training. I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise to me that combat training's commonplace, but I'm even more interested in their conversation now.

They begin to bicker for a bit. Surprisingly, Stoick's not the one defending his son.

"You know what he's like. From the time he could crawl, he's been- different." The tone of that last word sends a sudden pang of sadness into my heart. Rusl and I had shared a similar conversation some time back about Colin, just a few weeks before the eve of the Twilight, actually.

"Colin's just not like the others in the village, you know?" I can hear his words ringing in my ears as a faint echo, bringing a grimace to my face. "Jaggle's boys always want to learn how to sword fight. Even Beth, for how haughty she tries to be, she can't help but watch you train. But Colin doesn't do any of that."

The memory's as painful as I remember it, but it's so vivid that I can practically recreate Rusl and the spring we were sitting at if I were to close my eyes. Against my own wishes, my mind continues to replay the moment as if it were a dream.

"Sometimes, I just... I just wish he was more like you, Link."

I never did say anything back to Rusl on that day. I didn't have an answer back then, and I never would up until that frail boy took up his own sword after the Twilight's disappearance. Part of me always felt like Rusl gave up on his son that day, but I never dared to ask. The other kids certainly had, and in my own way, I did too.

Perhaps if I hadn't tried to protect him so much as if he was my own brother, I could have taught him how to fight. I thank the goddesses that he was never seriously hurt six months ago, but if he did, it would have been my fault for letting him carry on so aimlessly instead of helping him find his place in the village. The weak little boy that admired courage, but never knew the word himself.

And again, here I stand, listening to another father about ready to give up on his son. Maybe he already has, I don't know. Funny, I still don't know what the right thing to say in this kind of situation is, either.

I shake my head and try to dispel the mixed cloud of memories and thoughts invading my mind, bringing me back to the present. Surprisingly, Stoick and the man he called Gobber are still talking. All this time, I'm still staring mindlessly at the map before me, not really having taken in any of its information. I take a close look at the crude drawings of the village area, still keeping one ear open to the conversation.

"Even as a boy, I knew what I was, what I had to become... Hiccup is not that boy."

As I thought, Stoick's still on the side of disappointment. I'll continue to hold my tongue, for now, but I shouldn't let this matter just pass by.

"You can't stop him, Stoick, you can only prepare him." An unexpected bit of wisdom escapes the one armed viking's mouth, easing my worries some. Perhaps I won't have to speak up.

"I know it seems hopeless, but the truth is, you won't always be around to protect him. He's going to get out there again; he's probably out there now."

Shit.

My eyes widen as his last sentence gives me the final kick back to reality I needed. He's right, and I'd completely forgotten about the dragon from earlier that the boy shot down.

My head's on a swivel as I frantically look around the room for a quicker exit, my eyes falling on a discreet looking back door. I bolt out of the door almost immediately, silently thanking the few seconds I took looking at the map. I curse my lack of control over my Triforce piece, as the lack of imminent danger keeps me from empowering my legs.

Just like I thought, the back door of the Great Hall leads directly to the forest, but I still don't know where to look.

"C'mon, think!" I growl at myself. I paint a mental picture of the cliff Hiccup was standing on when he shot down the dragon, but I have to connect it back to the faint image of the map.

Downwards. It fell downwards, but the Great Hall is on a cliff. That means I have a vantage point. I look downhill at the expanse of trees and begin scanning the landscape for any signs of damage or burns.

My eyes bounce from tree to tree, trying to pick up on even the slightest patterns of disturbance. Eventually, I notice that one tree is otherwise completely fine aside from the fact that its top branches have been torn away. I glance left of it and see that the other in a line downhill from it are all disturbed, but not completely destroyed. It's a gamble, but it's the best lead that I've got. I take off in that direction, leaves flying up behind me as I run.

Everything about my current path on a chance. I don't even know if the dragon caused that damage, or if Hiccup's even there yet. Wait, is it even better for him to get there before me? He could have gotten lost, but do I really have time to take a chance like that? Who's even in more danger? A wounded creature might be weak, but so is that boy.

I growl in frustration and push my body harder, quickening my pace.

Past one tree, around another. Over a log, under a low hanging limb. I weave through the natural obstacle course not skipping a beat. Every now and then I brandish my sword to cut down some branches in my path that I think are thin enough. Again, I dodge left and right, avoiding tree after tree as I sprint as fast as my unenchanted legs will allow me. If there's a log, I leap over it. If there's something in my way, I go under it, or I tear it down.

I repeat this ritual for who knows how long. My legs haven't begun to grow sore yet, but my lungs are burning for air. I still don't stop. I've long passed the trees I saw that carried me down this path and I'm still running in the direction they pointed, but I haven't seen any more signs of disturbances.

"Damn it," I hiss in between strides. Having access to my wolf form made everything easier, especially tracking. Even without a familiar scent to follow, the enhanced hearing and senses could at least make it easier to pick up his trail. While my Hylian ears are much better than any Ordonian's, they're still nowhere near good enough to pick up on small sounds at this speed.

Should I try to stop and listen? No, there's no guarantee I'm near anything of interest. But if I keep running, I may pass whatever I'm looking for.

Growling again in frustration, I stop in my tracks, kicking up some more leaves and dirt as I slide across the forest floor. I put my back to a tree in order to avoid wind interfering with my hearing. Slowly, I close my eyes and make some attempt to take in my surroundings.

I block out the occasional crow calls and bird chirps and try to listen for anything out of the ordinary. I can hear the shifting of leaves as smaller creatures run across the forest floor, but nothing as large as a dragon or person yet.

I hear a more distinct noise. A faint squeal, likely from a boar in the forest.

My ears twitch at the unique sound, but I click my tongue and continue listening.

"Ow!"

That was a person.

My eyes fly open and I cock my head in the direction that I heard the sound.

I push off from my crouched spot on the ground and start to sprint towards the source of the yelp. It was faint, but closer than the boar was.

My steps begin to turn into bounds as I quicken my pace, turning my aimless search into a purposeful charge. Triforce or not, my speed speaks for itself, although I do still prefer running in wolf form.

After a minute or so of running, I notice a tree torn half, the toppled end warping horrifically down into the ground. The forest floor below it has been all but ruined, signs of something large having crashed into it. This is far more damage than the few trees I noticed earlier, which must mean I've gotten much closer.

I slow my running down to a walking pace, passing the tree. I carefully march over the ravaged ground, roots poking out through the sides of the freshly made ditch, if one could call it that.

The damage only goes so far though. The trough slopes up, presumably overlooking a downhill drop. I put a hand to my blade's hilt and begin to climb up it, using my free hand for support whenever necessary.

There he is.

That boy, Hiccup. Part of me had feared I was too late the moment I'd heard his yelp, but he seems to be perfectly fine. He even has a knife.

And what's more, the dragon from earlier, almost gift wrapped behind him.

The boy's back is turned on it, but that doesn't seem to be a concern to him, given the rope binding its scaled limbs. Up this close, beast isn't nearly as horrid as I'd imaged it would be. While I can see how it gets its namesake, given the sleek black scales covering the entirety of its body, its form is rather unimposing, almost cute.

Its wings, on the other hand, are just what I'd expect for the speed it boasts. Each black curtain looks as if it could cover the entirety of the dragon.

And yet, it's completely caught and powerless before the flimsy boy, back still turned and casting an almost regretful look at the bound creature.

I don't know anything about this dragon yet, so I can't say whether or not I'm glad that it's still alive, but I suppose it doesn't matter if it remains tied up like that.

No point in hanging around, then. I turn around to avoid sliding off the slope onto my face and carefully begin to walk back down it.

And yet, my ears twitch.

A particularly unique sound for the forest, almost like the sound of cutting and then a snap.

My eyes widen and I immediately return to the slope, hopping over to see what the source of the sound is.

And of course, it's exactly what I think it is. In the span of what might not have even been a few seconds, Hiccup is crouched down, using his knife for the exact opposite purpose that most would expect.

Twice more, before I can say anything, he cuts away some of the rope binding the dragon. By the third cut, the trap slips away from its body, freeing its limbs once more.

In less than a second, it leaps at him, arm outstretched.

I don't have time to stop Hiccup from being pinned to a rock, but I make sure the dragon hears me unsheathing my blade as I place myself in striking range of it. My blade is at my side, so as to prevent it from doing anything drastic, but I holler out to it in an attempt to take the attention off of Hiccup.

Eyes like that of a cat meet my own as we stare each other down. Perhaps in an attempt to assert dominance over me, the beast snorts. I shift my footing slightly to offer me a better chance at rushing it. At this range, I can attack it before it does any damage to Hiccup, even better if it chooses to attack me.

All the while, the boy squirms underneath the creature's hold. It looks back towards him, but not for very long once it hears the sound of my gear moving about.

This time, it looks at my sword. It bounces its eyes back and forth between the blade's tip and my own edges before jerking its head to the side with a vocalization.

I scowl back at it, provoking it to growl in response. It moves its arm ever so slightly, to give it more leverage towards Hiccup's neck.

I click my tongue in frustration, but decide to play along. I return my blade to its sheath, keeping a hand on it to entertain the prospect of a Mortal Draw.

The dragon draws back a little bit, removing its arm from Hiccup's chest, still keeping its eyes on me. I lower my eyes, signaling it to back away from him, prompting it to snarl in annoyance. It looks down at the terrified boy and rears back its head.

The hand on my hilt tenses, but I keep the blade sheathed when I notice that there's no fire building up. Maybe it doesn't need time to gather its flame, but even Dodongos and Argorok did.

While I'm rapidly exploring my options, Hiccup squirms even more beneath it, fearing for his life. The dragon's wings flap once, potentially as a show of confidence before it roars in the quivering boy's face.

The sound is like a medley of Hyrule's own animals, and yet something completely different. From this distance, I can practically feel the reverb through my bones. It pulls away from Hiccup, and runs off in the opposite direction from him. It turns around specifically to make some vocalization at me, whether it's an insult or something else. I watch it as it leaves, Hiccup's heaving breaths gracing my ears as I do.

Strangely enough, I notice the dragon drift into a landform rather ungracefully as it attempts to fly away. Further roars of annoyance begin to meld in with Hiccup's heavy breathing as the beast struggles to fly straight.

Meanwhile, its would-be prey has finally begun to calm down behind me, and in the place of his breathing, words begin to take over. At least, his attempts at speaking.

"Y-You saved me," he finally spits out.

I unintentionally scoff at the familiar words and turn towards him, leaving the matter of the dragon to the forest. "All I did was scare it off. If it wanted to kill you, it would have done that first instead of pinning you."

He doesn't offer me a response, instead his eyes race around the forest, as if another threat is going to come jumping out.

"Hey." I bend down to prevent his eyes from darting around any more, at least as well as I can. "What were you thinking, coming out here alone?"

He's not looking all around the forest anymore, but he won't meet my eyes either. Instead, he's chosen a spot on the ground to stare at while he speaks. "I... I thought that-"

"That you'd kill your first dragon?" My words pierce right through him, as his shoulders slump even more.

Nayru's grace, this boy. I sigh and sit down across from him on the ground, looking straight at the sullen viking-to-be. "Look at me."

It takes him a moment, but he listens to me. His eyes are glistening, but he won't let himself cry just yet. I can't help but soften up my expression staring back at this frail boy.

"Hiccup. Compassion is a gift that most people aren't blessed with." Unconsciously, I find myself looking down at where my birthmark would be on my left hand. "Even heroes like me still have to kill. We kill so that others don't have to."

I begin to unstrap my sheath from my back as I continue to talk, meeting Hiccup's eyes every now and then to make sure he's still focusing in. "When you take a life, even if it's right, you remember it. Even something as cruel as a monster still feels pain." I chuckle unconsciously as I think back to the endless waves of evil I faced throughout Hyrule.

"Well, at least the beasts back home were all angry until the moment they died. Made 'em harder to feel bad for." I hold out the hilt of the royal sword to him, completely removed from my back now. He looks down nervously at it, then back to me. All I offer back is a smile and a nod.

An audible gulp. All the same though, the boy takes hold of the hilt. I place my hand an inch under the scabbard and yank it away with my other hand, revealing the steel edge to the forest air.

Surprisingly, he manages to keep a hold on the blade without dropping it, although he did need to bring a second hand to the hilt just to hold it up. His eyes are moving up and down the blade, fixing on the edges, the fuller, the intricate hilt, and every possible point that this weapon has to examine.

"That sword there already took the life of two dragons here, and I can't say I'll be forgetting that any time soon." I take hold the hilt with my left hand and point it sideways, away from either of us, keeping Hiccup's own small hands on it as well.

"They're not like the others I've fought. They may be beasts, but they can still feel fear just like the rest of us. Just like you did now." I squeeze his hands slightly, prompting him to look back up at me.

"Killing to defend yourself or another person is one thing, but for status?" I let go of his hands and stand up, grabbing the scabbard behind me as I do. Hiccup's eyes follow me up, but his hands are still glued to the sword.

"That's not really like you, is it?"

I can't help but flash a warm smile.

This boy who's nothing like me, and yet I see so much familiarity in him.

He looks back to the sword in his hands once again, shaking his head a bit. "Why... are you telling me this?"

"That's what heroes do, right? Help the people." Maybe I'm just teasing him at this point. "If you'd prefer, I can teach you how to kill dragons instead." Yeah, definitely teasing him.

"No no, that's- that's not necessary." He starts waving around one hand while trying to get up off the floor. His legs are still shaking a bit, presumably due to the dragon roaring in his face just a minute prior. I grab his hand as it makes another pass across his face and pull him up off the ground, my sword slipping from his grasp as he uses his other free hand to clasp around mine.

"I didn't think so. But I don't think I'm the one you should be telling." I walk past Hiccup, still a bit entertained by his reactions, and pick up the royal sword. As I return it to its sheath, I turn back around to address the boy one more time.

"You should get going back to your village and have a talk with your father."

"My dad's not exactly the most understanding person, you know," he mutters while rubbing the back of his head.

"Well, it's either that or more repeats of this last night. We'll see which one he prefers."

I turn back around and pick up the knife he was using earlier, fiddling with it briefly before handing it back to him. "Head on back, now."

He takes the knife wordlessly, but still doesn't turn to leave yet. "You're not coming?"

I wave my hand to tell him to hurry on, turning my back once again on the small viking. "I'll catch up, just gonna look 'round here for a bit first."

There's a bit of a pause before I hear him move, but after a few seconds, his footsteps start to fade away into the forest behind me as he runs off. I begin to walk in the direction that I saw the dragon fly away, if you could call that flying. I'm not as hard pressed with any sense of danger anymore, thankfully, so I can take my time enjoying the scenery as I explore.

The formation of the forest seems to change quite drastically around this area, as it becomes filled with more rock forms and inclines as opposed to the relatively level grassland I'd passed through before. If the dragon did come through here, it fell downwards, as the terrain seems to drop further and further down.

I don't see the dragon anywhere, so it at least got further than I'd have thought. I can't use felled trees as a tracking reference either, so my only option is to keep going forward and hope I run into it. I hop down from rock to rock and the forest begins to level out again, just with more boulders strewn about. The trees are beginning to thin out a bit, which is either signaling the end of the forest, or something else in their place.

"Hmm..." I think I can see a clearing ahead, but it's becoming slightly more difficult to see as the sky begins to darken.

Strange though, I haven't been out here for very long, it shouldn't be getting dark yet.

I look up in confusion, and a thick veil of clouds serves as the answer to my concerns. Despite them though, I can't help but feel nervous as chills run down my spine. I've stopped walking, yet the hair on the back of my neck is tingling, as if responding to the tension in the air.

Danger. That is what my senses tell me is coming. Quickly, I draw the royal sword yet again and arm the Hylian shield in my right hand. Without notice, not even a full second later, I feel a rush of wind to my right.

I throw my head in the direction of the disturbance fast enough to give me whiplash, just barely managing to throw up my shield in time to block a set of talons aimed at my neck.

The force of the blow almost knocks me over, but I manage to stay on my feet. Shaking off the numbness from my shield arm, I look to the skies to discern the identity of my attacker. However, my eyes go wide as they land on the winged beast just a few meters away from me, hovering menacingly in the air.

This certainly isn't the creature I was tracking. It's much too aggressive looking for that. Its black body is adorned with purple scales that reflect the light in an unnatural fashion. Those purple scales are the very depiction of a curse that Hylian knights would tell stories about between one another, but something tells me that I won't get such a simple answer with this beast.

Spines line its grey underbelly, trickling all the way down to the tip of its tail. The dragon's head looks like that of a demon, with more long spines protruding from the nape of its neck, along with a row of thin, razor sharp teeth offering a silent premonition of death to any prey unlucky to find itself between them.

Two thick hind legs are decorated with long talons, three on each foot, all curved into a wicked hook-like shape. This predator has no front legs to speak of, instead bearing two large sharp wings, more spines jutting out at several points, likely where its bones are. Each wing bears one thick claw, indicating that this beast's entire body is a weapon. My shield is one thing, but if I'm not careful, I'm not sure that even my chainmail can stop its wings or its tail from tearing me to shreds.

Keep blocking, then. As vicious as it appears to be, it should understand the importance of not breathing fire in a tight woodland area like this, so that's one less concern of mine. Motion should be difficult as well, with all the trees around, but its speed just now goes against that idea.

I tighten my grip on my sword and prepare my muscles in the case that I need to raise my shield again in an instant. Tiring of our standoff, the dragon makes the first move.

I shift my feet in preparation for an attack, but instead all I'm met with is the living weapon throwing its head back and roaring, baring its spiked underbelly to me. Its roar is completely different from its recently freed kin, producing more of a shrill tone. I contemplate moving in to attack, but my thoughts are cut off by a harrowing noise.

A crash echoing through the clouds above me.

In the midst of the Twilight, Hyrule hadn't seen much perilous weather, aside from the occasional downpour. Thunderstorms were a rare occurrence that most attributed to the protection of Nayru, but when they would happen, all citizens were advised to stay indoors.

Especially the knights clad in full metal and bearing weapons of a similar making.

Another lightning bolt jumps between the clouds, sending the second loud thunderclap ringing throughout the air.

Can I survive a lightning strike? Perhaps if I run back into the forest, I can use the foliage for cover, but will this dragon really let me just back away and run?

Come to think of it, it hasn't even made a second attempt to strike me yet.

The third thunderclap cuts through my train of thought, even louder than the last two.

Damn it all, I want to run, but the moment I turn my back is when I can't another strike from that thing's talons, or any part of its razor sharp body for that matter. I can only back away slowly at this point and pray it doesn't try to keep me in this area.

Of course though, things are never that easy. The fourth thunderclap rings out, and with it, a strike of lightning aimed for the forest. The bright flash of light blinds me before I even have time to raise my shield. All I can do is tense my body and pray that my empowered body can take the strike head-on.

Yet, it never reaches me.

I open my eyes and there's the telltale sign that a bolt of lightning tore through the trees, burned leaves falling from their tops. However, there's no scorch on the ground, nor a single burn on me. Instead, a rabid crackling answers all the questions that are beginning to form in my head.

The dragon before me took the strike head-on.

Electricity bounces all over its body, jumping from spine to spine like each of them is a conductor. Its demonic face has curled up into a twisted smile and without another moment wasted, it opens its mouth and begins to inhale, just like every other fire breathing beast I've come across to this point.

I raise my shield and drop behind it, covering the majority of my body behind the slab of metal as if it was my last grip to this world. My only indication to prepare myself is a curt snarl and the sound of a discharge akin to a cannon.

The impact was no concern to me, not while I'm crouched like this. But what my shield blocked wasn't fire. Fire doesn't send itself coursing through the steel wall and into my skin. Fire doesn't get past my shield like that just did.

There's no other reaction but for me to scream in pain as every muscle in my body constricts and seizes. I'm not even sure if there's any sound escaping my mouth, if I can even make any sound at this rate. My blood feels like it's on fire and the uncomfortable sensation forces me to drop the royal sword. The Hylian shield barely stays in my grip solely because of the leather strap wrapped around my arm.

The surge of electricity running through my body paralyzes my limbs for a few seconds, and all I can do is thank the goddesses that the dragon hasn't opted to follow up with its talons. Perhaps it presumed the blast would kill me. The moment I regain control of my limbs, I push off the ground with my empowered legs, narrowly avoiding another blast as I duck behind a tree.

Lightning. That's what this beast channels. Unlike its brethren, it doesn't use fire to strike from a range, but instead employs the one thing that my shield can't defend against. It's fair to assume that it called on these clouds as well to fuel its attacks. I don't hear its wings beating against the air, so at the very least it's staying where it is. I haven't heard the sound of any leaves being trodden upon either, but the crackling of the fire a few meters from me is certainly getting in the way of that.

Damn it, I can't just rush it either, it's much too fast for that. If I just had a wooden shield instead, I could deflect these lightning blasts with a shield attack. That's assuming it doesn't simply tear through the shield itself, though.

There's a fallen log a little bit away from me, but if it's already begun to rot, it'll be little more than shrapnel for that dragon to use against me. Either way, I need to put some distance between me and this thing before it gets impatient and decides to start flying again.

I place my foot on the tree I'm hiding behind and push off from it, aiming for a decently sized boulder to hide behind instead. As expected, another lightning blast sounds out as I do, just barely catching one of my boots. The impact blows it off and sends another jolt through my body, albeit not as intense. I hop over the boulder with my good leg, trying to quickly shake off the numbness as I do.

In terms of impact, these blasts aren't that bad. I've survived worse hits from larger enemies, but the paralyzing effect of the electricity makes me an easy target for a follow-up. I can probably survive three or four more of those before it starts to tear apart my insides, but there's no guarantee that its talons won't finish me off. If it comes to that, I can only put my faith in my gear.

Although my boot was blown off, so I can't say that fills me with confidence. Shaking my head in frustration, I try to think of a plan. My eyes bounce around the forest, looking for anything I can use for a makeshift shield, but dead logs don't particularly fill me with confidence. As I glance to my left, something in particular catches my eye.

My discarded boot which had flown some distance away from me. It sits on the forest floor, but the important part is that it's still in one piece. It's not even scorched from the blast.

Right. I hadn't forgotten that my clothes are a blessing from the goddesses themselves, but in the heat of the moment I'd begun to have doubts about their durability against enemies like these. I should have known better. Despite all the hits I've taken from powerful beasts, there's not been a single moment where I've had to tend to this divine garb.

This realization gives me an idea, sacrilegious as it may be. I strip myself of all of the leather straps binding my tunic down against me and set my shield down beside me for a moment. I start to pull the cloth over my head, leaving me with just my chainmail and my undershirt on. My hand must have gone over the top of the boulder, because a lightning blast goes right over me. This confirms another guess of mine; this dragon's attacks aren't strong enough to blow apart my cover, so it has to resort to a direct hit.

I grab my shield from next to me and begin to carefully cover the face of it with my tunic. Another shrill roar stops my actions though, as repeated thunderclaps begins to follow it yet again. Shit, is it going to try to strike me directly instead? I set my feet to try and run again, but before I have a chance, I hear the crash of lightning behind me, colliding with something in that direction.

I don't dare peek behind me out of the risk of getting hit with another blast, but the beast's roar has stopped and I can hear the crackling of electricity yet again. It must have guided the lightning down to its body again, but I can't imagine why.

No, that's not right. It's got to be obvious why.

Perhaps all the monsters back in Hyrule were being empowered by the Twilight, but even they couldn't attack forever. As brief as their pauses were, they needed time to gather their strength once more. I think back to the different abominations I'd fought that Midna had endearingly called "bosses" and how each of them had to take time to let off their strongest attacks.

And each of them drew off the same source of power.

Twilight.

But that's not here now. This world hardly seems to have an impression of magic, so how else would creatures be able to fire off a repeated volley of fire?

No, not even that. If they could do just that, the village wouldn't be standing from last night.

They're limited. All of these dragons have a limit of shots they can fire off, which means they have to be precise with each one. If not for that, the one behind me could just keep pinning me down with a barrage of lightning.

The only way they can recharge is probably from their surroundings, and with no magic, they probably have to rely on nature.

I think I counted four shots before it called down another bolt of lightning, but that doesn't exactly mean that's its limit. Either way, if this doesn't go well, I should keep that in mind. I finish wrapping my tunic around the face of my shield and grip it tightly, steeling my senses.

A deep breath. That's all that precedes my first move. I kick off the ground with my strengthened legs and leap over the boulder, a lightning blast flying underneath my back. My chainmail attracts a little bit of the electricity, but not enough to do any damage to my body. I land on my feet, still missing one boot, but it makes no difference for me. I place my shield close to my body as I prepare myself for the second shot and without skipping a beat, the dragon launches off another attack.

A single grunt rises from my throat as I thrust my shield forward. The blast hits the enchanted cloth straight on, but instead of dispersing, it reverses direction. I can't see the dragon's face past the bright light, but I fill in the image of shock for myself. A self-satisfied grin graces my face as I hear a shocked snarl ring out ahead of me.

The sound of an impact follows the snarl, and I move my shield out of the way to see that the dragon's been knocked back into a tree, currently shaking off the pain from the hit. I make a dash for my sword that I dropped earlier, still keeping my shield firmly gripped in my hand. As I pick up the sword, I hear a sharp inhale as the dragon tries to fire off another blast. Once more, I rebound it back with my shield.

This time, it's fired off a second blast as quickly as it could after the first, catching the return shot before it makes its way back to the sender. As the two shots collide, a small scale explosion spreads out from the point of collision. The electricity spreads out into the air, but bears no threat to me at this distance.

Not to mention, that's four shots, just like last time. Is it going to try to call down another bolt of lightning, or does it have more of those blasts ready and waiting? I don't wait for either answer, instead of rush in, sword raised, before it gets a chance to recover.

The dragon's already taken flight again, the arc of my sword barely missing its tail as it flies above me and through the leaves that had ignited as a result of our altercation.

I prepare myself for another strike, but to my surprise, as I look up I see the clouds beginning to clear, and as if on cue, the dragon's turned its back to me and is fully intent on flying away from this forest.

I'm not sure if the cloud cover was its own doing, or if it was just a lucky coincidence, but the sudden departure makes me think that it was on a time limit. Either that, or the dragon just couldn't bear the feeling of losing. Regardless, this battle appears to be over. The strength of the Triforce dissipates from my body, indicating no more immediate danger.

Finally able to catch my breath, I let out a heavy sigh as I begin to go collect my discarded straps and my boot. I'll leave Hiccup's injured dragon alone, for the time being. Something gives me the odd feeling that this attack just now was a direct result of my efforts to seek it out.

I click my tongue in frustration as I return the royal sword to its sheath, both cursing and blessing my actions in that fight. As quick as I may think in battle, my lack of information might get me killed.

I need a way to study up on these different dragons. Analyzing our enemies was always Midna's job, given her advantageous position as a spectator, but sadly she's not here right now. Perhaps these vikings have collected their information in some fashion.

Come to think of it, that man from earlier, Gobber. He briefly mentioned something about training. I should probably talk to him and see what he knows.

I mull over my options silently, staring at the sky as the clouds continue to clear up. There's no sight of that beast anymore, but I'm sure it'll be back. For now, I've survived.

Hell, for now, I've won.

So come back.

I'll be waiting for you.