Fado brushed his hand against the newly repaired side of his barn as he said goodbye to Link, who was leaving to continue his quest. As he watched Link walk below the crest of the hill and out of sight, behind him, he heard a low, unfamiliar, hooting voice mutter, "And the hero continues his adventures. Ah, brings back memories…"
Fado jumped, shocked. He wasn't expecting anyone to be behind him. Turning around, he peered about swiftly. Not spotting anyone, he asked, "Who's there?"
"Oh, you heard me, didn't you? I'm up here, in the tree," the voice answered. Glancing up, he found a huge brown-and-tan owl staring at him from a high branch in the nearest tree.
"Was that you who was talking?" he asked the overly large bird.
"Hoo-hoo-hoot! Of course it was! Did you think it was a leaf, perhaps? I am Kaepora Gaebora," As the owl said his name, he flipped his head over and opened his eyes, giving Fado a shock. The owl's head had been upside down!
"Uh, what are you doing here, Mr. Owl- um, Kaepora?"
"Oh, hoo-hoot! I am watching the young hero during his journey! He reminds me of another lad I helped long ago. Another young hero named Link."
Fado thought back to the day that blue fairy , Navi, had visited the barn. She had said that her partner- the hero's shade- was named Link. If this owl was that old, then he certainly wasn't a normal bird. Then again, normal birds didn't talk either.
"How exactly old are you?" he found himself asking.
"Hoo-hoot! It's been so long I've forgotten! I am very old. I started out as a hylian named Rauru. I became a protector of the sacred relic, the Triforce, and sealed myself within a temple as to better protect it from the wars that were being fought for its ownership, eventually becoming the Sage of Light. I stayed there for a long, long time until I heard of a new hero's arrival. So, I took the form of an owl as to better watch over and help him and have stayed that way since. Would you not like that repeated again?"
"No," Fado answered quickly. His mind was a little scrambled from hearing the owl's history. He was the Sage of Light?
"Alright, I'll repeat it again," the owl said, and Fado realized his mistake. He had accidentally agreed to hear it again.
"Hoo-hoot! It's been so long I've forgotten! I am very old. I started out as a hylian named Rauru. I became a protector of the sacred relic, the Triforce, and sealed myself within a temple as to better protect it from the wars that were being fought for its ownership, eventually becoming the Sage of Light. I stayed there for a long, long time until I heard of a new hero's arrival. So, I took the form of an owl as to better watch over and help him and have stayed that way since. Would you not like that repeated again?" the owl repeated.
"No- oh, uh, yes!" Fado answered hastily, desperately hoping the brown owl wouldn't reiterate his life for a third time.
"Really? Very well," the large bird sounded genuinely disappointed, "I suppose I should catch up to the young hero before I lose him."
"Does Link know you're following him?" Fado asked.
"Oh no! Why would I tell him? He already has someone helping him, he does not need me as well! Farewell! Hoo-hoo-hoot!" The owl unfurled its wings and flew noisily away. Fado was still shocked. That was the Sage of Light? He just hoped the other sages weren't nearly as eccentric. Unfortunately, they probably were.
A/N Well, here's the next chapter! I don't know when I will be able to post the next one, but hopefully soon!