Where Is This?

'Hm, another adventure over with.' Link thought as he watched the two sorceress sisters make their way from the castle. They, along with this universe's Link and Zelda had finished using the full Triforce to wish the land back to normal. Only, for some strange reason, he, along with a couple others, hadn't been sent back yet. He adjusted the Keaton mask that he kept atop the right side of his head and felt for the Fierce Deity's mask at his waist, thinking of how Tatl left with Skull Kid once everything was over. 'Then again, I'm still looking for Navi.' He sighed, shaking his head, "How can I go to different universes and still not find her? It makes no sense."

In the past several years since he saved Termina from destruction, when he'd gone back into the forest to hopefully return to Hyrule, he found himself stopping at a hub full of people he'd never seen before. There was an older, slightly different looking version of him and a Zelda to go along with it. They were apparently from a different Hyrule and would talk about something that had to do with twilight from time to time. Though, he never personally asked since it felt like he was prying. He later found out with the others that they were all part of a grand tournament where they were pit against each other for the prize of submitting a testament against this world's god, y'know, for true glory or some other prideful BS.

As much as he didn't care for the prize or pointless fighting, it was admittedly fun to test out his sword skills with no serious drawbacks, such as legitimate injuries. As time went on, he would find himself in multiple scenarios like that, the latest of which being this war they were finally finished fighting. It was Hyrule's best warriors against Ganon and the servants from previous times he had with him, plus a plethora of lethal monsters, of course.

The Zelda from this world strolled up to him, her voice was cheery but uncertain, "Hey there. I noticed that the Triforce hadn't sent you back," she paused, "yet? I'm not quite sure." She crouched next to him, "Have any idea why, Hero of Time?"

He shrugged, looking past the gates, "Zero, actually. I suppose I'll head out on foot soon."

She looked hopeful, "Well, I was almost wondering if you might consider staying."

His brow lifted at the suggestion.

"At least for tonight. Y'know, get your bearings for the long road ahead."

Link could tell that wasn't what she was originally intending, "I was gonna say, after spending a year fighting this war, it's not like I've managed to look any older than I'm supposed to, Your Highness. If time wasn't passing for me then, there's no obvious tell that it will start now." He smiled, "I appreciate the offer, though. I think I'll stay tonight and leave tomorrow morning."

Zelda nodded, "Very well. I'll be sure to get your room accommodations set up before dusk." Before leaving, she booped his button nose and giggled as she wrapped him into a hug, "Just in case I don't see you before you leave, I want you to know that it was wonderful to work with you!"

He couldn't help but laugh as well as he hugged her back, "With you as well! Your rapier skills have left me wanting to learn some myself." Link caught her Link's eye from over the Princess's shoulder. He had a perfect poker face, but his eyes said it all. The younger looking hero started to let go from the embrace, "I'll let you get back to, er, Link over there. Honestly, it's funny that we've fought together so many times and yet it's still weird that we have the same name."

"Oh really?" She chuckled after looking over her shoulder, "Yes, it was certainly confusing at times when I was commanding the both of you at one point or another." Zelda stood and patted him on the head, "May your future be bright, young one, and goodnight in advance."

"Thanks, you too." He waved, 'Not a kid though. I think I'm at least seventeen if not eighteen by now.' Link didn't mind that much, but he understood that his child body didn't help his case. 'If Miss Zelda had never sent me back, my age might not be as confusing. The only "proof" I have is the Fierce Deity's mask, but people can't look at me when I use it or else their eyes bleed..or something. I don't actually know; I just remember the soldiers screaming whenever they saw me for the first time, and then they weren't allowed to be around me while I was transformed.'

He briefly looked around for anyone else that was left, his eyes finding Agitha sitting on the edge of the water fountain in the castle square. 'Hm, it wouldn't kill me to talk to her. Bugs are cool.'

Link strolled over, "Uh hey, how's it going? I'm glad this war is over, even if it feels bittersweet."

She smiled brightly, "Oh hi! Everything's good over here in the bug kingdom!" Now she nodded, cooing at her basket, "Also I completely agree! All this fighting evil would make my poor snails hide in their shells!"

"Speaking of which, can I see your bug collection again?"

Agitha jokingly put a hand on her hip, "They're my royal subjects thank you very much! But of course you can see them again. I don't have as many as I did last time, some of them have already flown home." She took out a collection of small and medium-sized jars from her frilly, decorated basket. Each had a different kind of bug, from beetles to butterflies.

"There's only one butterfly this time? This one is new."

"Like I said, some of them have already flown home. This guy is delicate though, and quite posh." She opened the jar, her subject fluttering onto her finger. "Don't you just love how his wings sparkle?"

He nodded at her striking, six-legged friend, "I've certainly never seen a butterfly with purple specks before. That's a good find you've got."

Ghirahim, who turned "good" once Ganon betrayed him toward the end of the war, spawned out of nowhere, "Mmmm yes, it is a beautiful find." He did a weird motion with his creepily long tongue.

"Ugh, you're kidding me. You're still here? You don't eat bugs do you?" Link made a face.

The demon sword was aghast, "I WOULD NEVER!" He crossed his arms, "And here I was getting ready to offer you a price for the dainty thing." His eyes practically rolled into the back of his head, "Of course I'm insulted instead, hmph!"

Agitha's spiral ponytails wiggled as shook her head, "Hey, my royal subjects are priceless!"

"As is that fantasy you're living. Anywho, I guess I've wasted my time." He warped away without another word.

"He's something else for sure," Link commented. Despite joining the other side, the demon was not a pleasure to work with. He caused more trouble in the long run despite being a formidable ally, but they were desperate at that point.

"I'm just happy we're not from the same universe," She put her butterfly away along with the others.

"Oh right, you're going to a place that has something to do with twilight?"

"How did you know?" Agitha asked, her eyes twinkled.

"Oh, I noticed from the others that would talk to you sometimes. They looked like they were from there too," He explained, quietly questioning her reaction.

"I can see that. I'm excited to see if Link drops by my palace again." Her eyes became wishy-washy.

"Your Link, right? What's he like?"

"He's a bit more rough-looking and has dirty blonde hair~." She swooned, her hands coming up to her cheeks, "And of course he's older than me by a lot, but he brings me all sorts of sparkly bugs!" Her smile was giddy, "Then, I give him some money in return. My house is full of all sorts of glittery subjects because of him!"

'Heh heh,' It humored him to hear this, 'so he's like the rest of us then too, eh? Can't resist a rupee either.' He smirked, "Well, he certainly sounds nice. I think I'll go find my room, happy travels back to your world!" She waved goodbye to him as he walked toward the castle.

Turns out he had to wait a few hours for his room to be ready, 'No big deal,' he thought as he lounged on a comfy bench in the hall, 'All good things come with time.' Though, aside from sitting and waiting, he also found the castle's mess hall and happily ate with the others. He would have liked to join them in their drinking, especially after enduring something as long as this war and to also commemorate the brothers that fell along the way, but alas, he looked far too young for them to even consider it. They probably would have laughed at the gesture if he wasn't one of their commanders at one point.

Once the staff were done, he was happy to collapse into an actual bed for the first time in months. The majority of the time, him and the others were constantly on the move, and while Link was used to camping, it was more so getting used to sleeping on the hard ground in hot, sticky, cold, and damp environments. You name it, he's probably slept in it. If it wasn't from this world, it was certainly from his own. Comfort was far from being a priority, even for the captains, even for Zelda.

'Dear Goddesses, this is amazing. I'll never take a mattress for granted ever again. It's almost a shame the Princess got me this room to only use for one night.' Sitting up, he realized they had left him a moderately sized leather suitcase for his belongings. As much as he wanted to pack in the morning, he decided to do it then anyways.

'Who knows,' Link thought as he clamped the latches down, 'Maybe the castle isn't entirely safe despite us dispelling all the evil and whatnot. There could be a random monster attack in the night.' He glanced down at the bare back of his left hand, 'It's not unlike the triforce to not completely leave everything safe and sound. I know this place is a little different with Lana and Cia, but still, the Gods seem to enjoy making false promises.'

With the suitcase set by the door and his sword propped up against the nightstand, he promptly flopped into bed and swiftly fell asleep. Unfortunately, despite being in safe, quiet quarters, after a few hours of peaceful rest, Link would keep momentarily waking to the sound of a floorboard creaking or the night breeze sending the leaves outside his window into a flurry. He about had it when he lamely opened one eye, spied around his room, closed it, and then found his suitcase moved over by less than inch the next time he opened it again.

He grumpily rose from sleeping on his stomach, wearily looking around the now solemn, dark room. 'I can't catch a damn break, can I?' The hero stared at his suitcase, 'If I'm just hallucinating, I'm gonna go back to bed and kick myself in the morning for it.' But a few moments later, it wobbled as the door hinges whined, allowing a crack large enough to peek from in the doorway. In less than second, as if forceful with physics itself, Link was at the door with his sword in hand and was pissed about it. He ripped the door wide open at the flicker of a blue-ish light coming from further down the hall, 'Oh, I'm about to tear this poe a new one…'

However, after rounding the corner, his eyes widened at instead catching a glimpse of a familiar pair of fairy wings, "N-navi?" Without a second thought, he raced back to his room to grab his things and took off after the light. In one moment, he was running through the castle halls, and in the next he was clambering over a stone wall. Having rolled out of the jump down, he clearly saw his long-lost navigator now heading into the nearby forest.

Link kept after her even as he was beginning to feel irked by the increasingly dangerous looking flora and brush. She looked to have fluttered around a large tree only to have practically disappeared into thin air when he rounded it. He huffed from all the running, "What the? Where did you go?" His mind had been flickering between thinking this was a game or an awful trick.

After waiting too long to for a response, he crossed his arms, "Ugh, of course I've been played for a damn fool! Just my luck to follow a trick of the eye!" He kicked the trunk of the tree, a faint smell tickling his nose soon after, "I better be extra wise when I'm old after experiencing all these mistakes I make!" Even though he was thoroughly annoyed at himself for this, at the same time, he found it hard to take any of it seriously.

Looking down at what he kicked, he cracked a smile against his will at seeing the mushroom spores misting into air from the caved in shrooms. The peculiar scent had grown stronger than before. He laughed as his head began spin.

Soon another voice joined in as well.

And another.

Oh, and one more.

Now he was furiously giggling as he tried to stop laughing, 'W-why can't I stop?' The ridiculous question only sent him into another fit of laughter. Trying to get ahold of himself, he strained his eyes to see in the dark forest. Clearly the mushrooms he coincidentally kicked were psychedelics. 'Ugh, I'm an idiot! I've gotta get away from this damn tree!' But it was nearly to no avail. He must have been wearing iron boots because it took every ounce of his energy to even walk ten paces with his luggage and sword.

Oh, and the laughter.

It was everywhere.

It emanated from the bushes, echoed in the wind, even bleated from nasty crows overhead. It's all he could hear. Even worse some of them sounded familiar. His Zelda's younger self put a ringing in his ears with her sweet, joyful laughter at seeing him again after he was sent back in time.

The ringing, the laughter, the exhaustion, hell, the mere thought of moving another inch forward plunged Link's head into a physically staggering spiral of tear-jerking giggling. His inner thoughts weren't safe from it either, 'I—ahahaha! I can't sto—baahahaha! Pleas—' Desperation clawed at his sides as he started to reach for his ocarina—wait no, his mask would be a better idea. His pinky managed to nick the end of one of the silver bangs before the gaggling of everything around him vanished and he fell to the ground with a hard thud.

"Hah…hah, w-where is this?"

Breathing heavily, he slowly pushed himself up onto his side, finding that the Keaton mask had fell off his head. As he put it back, he took in the once dark forest, hearing birds pleasantly chirp and sing. He could have sworn otherwise, but now the trees were incredibly tall and lumbersome. Very few rays of sun managed to shine through their thick canopies.

He took a few moments to collect himself before getting back on his feet. 'Sword? Check,' He did a doubletake, '…uh it's one-handed now. Alrighty then, I suppose that's easier.' His mental checklist continued, 'Ocarina? Check. Mask?' A wave of relief washed over him when still felt it at his waist. 'Thank goodness.' Finally, the leather suitcase sat untouched from the night before.

The recent events made him jumpy despite his own frustration and lack of eyesight being the cause. Much less, his heart couldn't decide if a resting beat was good enough or if nearly pounding through his chest would be more useful in case something sprung out.

With that said, the hero would be lying if this forest didn't bring back less than great memories in general. It dawned on him that he didn't feel any safer only being on foot, even with the weapons he had available to him. He deeply inhaled and exhaled, shaking the jitters from his limbs. A determined look firmly set itself on his face.

But dammit, he wasn't the hero of courage for nothing! Link bravely continued into the woods, using his intuition as a sense of direction.