He took in the sights, the smells, the feel of the bustling, busy marketplace. It was shocking and overwhelming, so different from everything he was used to. Everyone here was on a particular mission, bushing by each other in an attempt to get to places quickly, coming in and out of stores. There were merchants yelling out deals, mothers firmly pulling their screaming children along on grocery trips, there was a woman with a yapping puppy running about, there was a pair of enthused lovers dancing in their own world… it was chaos! Utter and complete chaos… and he liked it. It was a safe, certain chaos, the chaos of society.

However, after a few minutes, he realized it was frightening in its own way. The people were too immersed in their own problems to cast a secondary glance at the poor lost little Kokiri boy. That is, if they even graced him with a first glance. He was stumbling along, looking around awed. He bumped into several people, and would've muttered an apology, but they hadn't even stopped long enough for him to open his mouth and speak.

Focus, he told himself, you need to do what you came here to do.

From the mayhem, the rousing roar of haggling, selling, buying, laughing, yelling, screaming, and cursing, there came a sweet, tinkling, distinctive giggle. He turned his head, catching the sound and holding onto it. It seemed to be the only thing that had been directed towards him since he stepped into Castle Town. Finally, his gaze settled on the owner of the enticing, teasing giggle.

She was maybe a year younger than he, shorter. She had pale, powder blue eyes that glinted and long, luscious fire red hair that cascaded down her back like a waves. Her skin was healthy with exercise and tanned by an obviously loving sun. She had an addictive, contagious smile that curled the pretty pink lips into a cupid's bow. She was wearing a simple, cream colored dress that ended at mid-shin and mud-splattered brown leather boots. She had an orange scarf around her neck, tied with a bronze, engraved emblem. She clasped her hands behind her back, shifting in her spot to turn more towards him.

He glanced around almost unsure before taking a couple of steps towards her. She smiled widely at him, as if reassuring him. He stood in front of her and felt her taking his appearance in. She giggled again.

"Well, hello," she said with a comforting tone. "You're new around here, aren't you?"

He nodded and licked his lips, looking around at the chaos again.

She laughed. "Yeah, you look it. Can I ask what's up with that outfit? It's very… different."

He looked down at himself and shrugged. He cleared his throat. "Everyone wears this back home." It was the first time he'd spoken a word in four days and his voice sounded raspy, like it wasn't his.

"Back home? Where is that?" she asked, bluntly but not unkindly.

"Kokiri Forest."

"Kokiri Forest? That's all the way to the south, isn't it?"

He nodded. Just then there was a bright flash, and a sparkle. A pinpoint of flittering light and then a small, airy voice spoke close to his ear.

"Come on, we need to go!"

The girl was intrigued by the sight. "Oh, a fairy! Wow. She's so pretty."



He looked at his friend, who was smiling and blushing a bit, though it was hard to tell with the luminous shine coming from her. He grinned at his friend.

"This is Navi," he explained to the redhead girl.

She smiled. "So you're a fairy boy from Kokiri Forest. The getup makes a little more sense now. I'm Malon. My dad is the owner of Lon Lon Ranch. Maybe you've seen it?" He shrugged, trying to think back to his excursions out in Hyrule Field. "Its right in the middle of Hyrule field really. It's a half a day's walk from here. What's your name?"

He swallowed before answering, almost a little relived that someone was actually interested in his name. No one ever really was before, except Saria.

"My name is Link."