"Two green potions. That will be sixty rupees."

Impa placed three red rupees on the counter and claimed the two bottles. "Thank you."

"I would not advise taking them one after another." The shopkeeper warned.

"Noted." Impa waved her thanks as she left the shop, taking a swig from one of the bottles, enduring the intense bitterness on her tongue. She hadn't realised how exhausted she had become, but it was to be expected. The use of magic, especially teleportation, drains the energy of the user. Excessive use could prove catastrophic for the user.

Impa shuddered as she forced another sip down her throat. Slowly, she felt the emptiness in her stomach begin to ease. It had been years since she expended so much energy is such a short amount of time, and she had forgot how painful it could be.

She headed towards the town square to return to the castle. In the distance, the sounds of explosions had faded away. In all likelihood, the army of monsters had been driven off, or at least repelled. She would be wanted back to advise the next action.

As she walked through the town, her mind still foggy, she saw a group of horses, along with two men and a young girl with fiery hair. After a moment, the pieces clicked in her mind. The residents of Lon Lon Ranch. She thought for a moment, shrugged, and approached them.

"Mr Talon?" She prompted.

The portly man spun on her and instinctively put himself between Impa and his daughter. "That's me. Whadaya want?"

Impa raised her hand. "Peace. I'm a friend. Link brought you here, correct?"

Malon peeked around her father. "You know Link?"

Impa smiled. "Yes. I am the attendant of Princess Zelda."

Talons eye's widened. "Lady Impa!"

Impa waved away his shock. "Peace."

Malon came out from behind her father. "Where's Link?"

Impa grimaced. "He's in the dormitory with the other trainees."

"But why isn't he here?"

"He needs to be disciplined."

Malon blinked. "What?"

Talon looked Impa in the eye. "Disciplined? Is he in trouble?"

Impa pursed her lips. "He went against our commands. Commands from me and Captain Graves."

Talon raised an eyebrow. "Wha' are these 'commands?'"

"He was ordered to stay at the dormitory."

"He's beein' punish fer saving us?"

Impa shook her head. "No, not at all-"

Malon jumped in. "Then why are you punishing him?"

"He was supposed to stay."

"Why?"

"He wasn't supposed to leave."

"Why?"

"It was for his own good."

"Why?"

Talon cleared his throat. "Malon, leave the poor woman alone."

Malon pouted. "But dad! She's not telling us anything!"

"Maybe ya should leave. Impa an' I will talk."

"But dad!"

"Now darlin', just listen to me."

Malon bit her lip. "…Fine."

Impa kneeled down to her. "Perhaps you should go to Link. It's been a while since you have seen each other."

Malon shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, ok."

Impa smiled and gave her the directions towards the dormitory. Malon slowly walked off and, with one last look behind her, ran off towards the castle.

Talon turned to Impa. "Now. Tell me ev'rythin'."

Impa straightened herself. "You know of the swordsman, correct?"

Talon nodded. "Yeah. Went off an' killed someone, right?"

"Yes, Captain Viscen."

"That's nice an' all, but what does this 'ave ta do with Link?"

Impa was quiet for a moment. "When the swordsman first went on a rampage, he targeted Link."

Talon froze. He tried to form a sentence, but the words alluded him. Eventually, he managed to mutter "But why?"

"We don't know." Impa clenched her teeth. "With the vast dark magic at his disposal, he shouldn't have been able to approach the town without every sheikah converging on him."

"I… I understand now." He stuttered. "You're right. The boy should 'ave stayed."

"There's more."

Talon slapped his forehead. "Hylia above!"

"When Captain Viscen was killed, he was protecting Link."

Talon frowned. "Whatdya sayin'?"

"Link saw him get decapitated." She whispered.

The both fell silent. Talon's face was a mask of shock and horror, and Impa was suddenly very, very tired.

Slowly, Talon shook his head. "Why… how did this happen?"

"I don't know." She hissed. "I don't bloody know. And I hate it." It was true. Impa had eyes and ears across the kingdom, to protect Hyrule and its people, a job that was only second to the safety of the princess. And yet, she was still useless.

Talon held his head. "That boy… he'll be scarred for life, he will." His voice shook. "Goddesses, please don't forsake the boy!"

Impa placed her hand on his shoulder. "Peace. Link is far more tenacious than most sheikah I have trained. In time, this trauma will fade."

"An' until then?"

"We will help him through it. You have my word."

Malon burst into the room with a bit too much excitement, startling everyone inside. Eshie brandished a quivering sword in Malon's face.

"Um!" Malon whimpered. "Please don't stab me."

A voice trembled behind them. "Malon?"

Malon spun to face the boy in green, grinning, but was startled to see him sitting on his bed with puffy eyes and a trembling lip. He tried to smile, but he could only muster a grimace. "It's good to see you safe."

Slowly, Malon walked over to him. "Hey, what happened?"

"Impa yelled at me."

Malon winced. "She's really scary."

Link let out a hollow laugh. "Yeah. I forgot that."

Oulson cleared his throat. "So, Link, you gonna introduce us?"

Link turned to the other trainees, as if he forgot they existed, though he quickly regained his composure. "Right, of course. Everyone, this is Malon. She lives at Lon Lon Ranch and taught me how to ride Epona."

Malon gave a little wave. "Hiya."

"Malon, these are the guys that are training to be knights with me." He started to single them out. "That's Eshie, he's Oulson, and that's-"

"Duncan." Diddy interjected, offering his hand for her to shake. "I am Duncan Ilan Dr-"

Link rolled his eyes. "No one calls him that. It's Diddy."

"Hey!"

Malon giggled and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Mr Diddy."

"There's also Aram," Link continued. "but he's not here."

Malon tilted her head. "Why not?"

"He almost fainted or threw up."

She wrinkled up her nose. "Ew."

Diddy leaned towards her. "We've heard a lot about you."

"You have?"

He grinned. "Yeah. You're a really good friend of Link's, right?" At this, Link raised an eyebrow.

Oulson, before he could help himself, blurted out "Are you his girlfriend?"

"Oulson!" Link barked, his face turning as red as a tomato.

Before she could respond, Eshie laughed. "No way! Don't you know? Link's all cozy with the princess, right?"

"Eshie!" Link grabbed his pillow and threw it in her face.

"The princess?" Malon smirked, amused by her friends horror. "Well, no more free milk for you, mister! And I'll be taking back Epona, thank you very much!"

Link hid his face in his hands. "I hate you all, so much…"

"King Link!" Diddy heralded, waving his arms for dramatic flare. "Sounds pretty cool."

Unfortunately, Link was no longer fragile, but instead embarrassed, and launched himself at Diddy and wrestling him to the ground. While Eshie and Oulson tried to pry them apart, Malon fell onto Link's bed, cackling.

"Ok, ok!" Diddy laughed. "I surrender! I'm sorry!" Satisfied, Link got off him and helped him up. Diddy turned and made a face at Malon. "Why was that so funny?"

"You should know better!" She giggled.

"But we all teased him! Even you!"

"Yeah, but you were the last one to do it."

"Link!" Diddy pouted. "She's evil!"

Link managed a weak smile. "You're all evil."

"Hey!" Oulson grinned. "There's a smile!"

Malon placed a hand on her chest, beaming with mock pride. "I just have that effect on him."

Link laughed. "Oh shut up farm girl."

"No way, fairy boy."

Eshie burst out laughing. "Fairy boy?!"

Link started to blush again, and whispered "Oh no."

"Captain!"

Graves walked over to a scout holding a telescope. "What is it?"

The scout offered the telescope. "Take a look at this."

Graves complied, taking a look at the far off army. "Tell me what I should see."

"Left a bit." Graves shifted his gaze. "It looks like group is breaking off, heading south east towards the Lost Woods."

Graves found the group, and nodded. "How many have left?"

"About a fifth, Captain."

Graves handed back the telescope. "That doesn't make sense. They're too far south to target even the Zoras." He scratched his chin. "Maybe they're setting up a camp near the forest. Get this back to the council as fast as you can, please. Leave out no details." The scout saluted and Graves dismissed them with a thumbs up. As he turned back to Hyrule Field, another Faction of monsters were charging. "Archers! Bows at the ready! Nock and release on my command!" Once again, the walls became a hive of activity. "On my mark!" The monsters drew in close, ready to probe their defences once again. Bowstrings became taught, and arrows aimed high.

"Release!"

Hey everyone. Merry Christmas.

Not much to say really. There isn't much to this chapter, mainly set things up more the next couple of chapters.

Sorry if you're disappointed.