The Mystery of the Triforce
Link meandered to a spacious, octagonal chamber absent of a roof. Water flowed around the island-like grounds, clusters of yellow flowers surrounded by short grasses growing in the center. To the right, a narrow pine tree, two more at the upper left portion.
At the other side of the area was a short, stone stairway, railings large, each topped with red tulips. An engraving of the Triforce was on the wall above the tier.
"This looks nice," Navi remarked, four butterflies fluttering around the garden.
Link smiled. "It does." He walked on, noticing windows at each side of the area. The window to the right overlooked some odd paintings hanging along a hallway. The window to the left showed some potted plants.
Nervousness crept upon Link. A figure, wearing a purple and white mitre and matching robe with blue sleeves, was leaning into a tall window. She had short fair hair, the rest presumably bunned up within her mitre. As nervous as Link, she was staring through the glass, hands on the window, seemingly frightened of something.
Link stopped amid the flowers, mouth slightly open, upper eyelids tilting down. A single drop of sweat rolled down his face.
"Uh...
Um..."
BMP
Navi tugged his ear. "Go on, Link... Don't forget that girls do like you a lot."
Link bit his lip. Holding his breath, he stepped up the stairs as if they were his death sentence. The figure didn't react. Link took another step, and another, and another...
Navi flew above the girl, turning blue.
The girl turned her head.
Link froze. His heart jumped up his throat.
The girl turned around, hand over her gaping mouth. With the sweetest voice imaginable, she softly gasped.
!
"Who?!" she cried, lost for words. "Who are you? How did you get past the guards?"
Link said nothing, Navi flying casually.
"Oh? What's that?
Is
that...
a fairy?!
Then, are you...
Are you from the forest?"
She slightly leaned forward, clasping her hands by her face. "Then...then...you wouldn't happen to have...the Spiritual Stone of the Forest, would you? That green and shining stone..."
She kept her hands clasped. "Do you have it?" She sweetly waited for an answer, eagerly staring with her bright blue eyes.
Navi hovered, enjoying how cute the two kids looked, her cheeks warming up.
Link needed a few seconds. "No."
Navi facepalmed.
Link stopped blinking. Oops...
Confused, the girl cocked her head, letting off a cute, puppy-like hm? "Well, that's odd... I thought you might be the one from my dreams... You really don't have it? Tell me the truth."
She straightened her head, clasped her hands again, and delicately asked, "Do you have it?"
Link's heart beat faster. "Yes."
Hands together, she happily reared, releasing a heartwarming laugh. "Just as I thought!"
The girl lowered her arms, pleasantly watching her friend. "I had a dream...In the dream, dark storm clouds were billowing over the land of Hyrule...
But suddenly, a ray of light show out of the forest, parted the clouds and lit up the ground...
The light turned into a figure holding a green and shining stone, followed by a fairy... I know this is a prophecy that someone would come from the forest... Yes, I thought you might be the one..."
...
Link just stood there, innocent and dumb.
Navi flew closer to him. "Link!"
"Oh, right!" Link checked his pockets.
RUSTLE
RUSTLE
"Ah-hah!" Link pulled his hand out, showing a—
"Bagawk?"
Link looked down, his feathery friend sitting on his palm. The pocket Cucco looked up at the girl with her beady eyes, cocked her head, and clucked.
The girl blinked once, twice. "Thank you for showing me your pet. It is not that often such a humble creature visits a princess."
Link deeply blushed. "Oops, sorry...not that..." He pocketed the Chicken then rummaged his pockets again. He withdrew the Kokiri's Emerald.
Smiling, the girl nodded. "When I first saw that yesterday... I felt it was something special. Now I know without a doubt that my prophecy is true."
Link pocketed the Kokirish treasure. "And this..." he held the blue ocarina up. "You dropped it yesterday. I thought maybe..."
She gently took the instrument, keeping eye contact with her friend. Her pleasant demeanor dropped, replaced with a frown, vicious eyes, and a clenched jaw. "HRM!" She swung the ocarina into her pocket, crossing her arms.
Eyes shut, Link bashfully rubbed the back of his head. "Wow, what a surprise. You should have told me..."
Her eyes widened and she reared, covering her mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry! I got carried away with my story and didn't even properly introduce myself!"
She hesitated, contradictory emotions bursting in her mind. She turned around, looking out the window behind her, and took a few breaths. She softly said to herself, "Link... I still haven't told you my name, have I?"
Once she calmed down, she faced Link again. Let's try this again...
Link's eyes widened.
?!
"Y-You're..." The first girl I met in the town?
Her shoulders slightly dropped, as if she tried to make herself smaller, eyes partly closed. "I am Zelda, Princess of Hyrule." She clasped her heads, keeping her pleasant demeanor as she cocked her head. "What is your name?"
...
"Link."
"Link... Strange...it sounds somehow...familiar."
Smiling big, Zelda put her hands together and slightly leaned forth. "OK then, Link... I'm going to tell you the secret of the Sacred Realm that has been passed down by the Royal Family of Hyrule. Please keep this a secret from everyone..."
Link knew what he had to say. "No." I mean...
Navi facepalmed, again.
Zelda's pleasant demeanor paused.
Pure disappointment replaced her expression. "Mmff..." She cocked her head one side, eyes turning oppositely, smile gone, eyebrows tilted downwards. Unexpected negatives sting the hardest. "C'mon...don't be a blabber-mouth!"
She returned to her happy, sweet demeanor. Leaning forward, smiling big, hands clasped, Zelda was eager to reveal the secret legend.
Link just said, "OK."
Zelda lowered her arms, back straightening, looking confident. "The legend goes like this..."
As Zelda spoke, Link's imagination intensified, leaving his body and floating away, everything turning white...
Imagination formed storm clouds and glowing raindrops, very much akin to when the Greta Deku Tree spoke of the legend. The Golden Goddess flew, their auras defining which was who.
"The three goddesses hid the Triforce containing the power of the gods somewhere in Hyrule. The power to grant the wish of the one who holds the Triforce in his hands."
One by one, the Golden Goddess flew higher; the Triforce faded into view, glimmering and spinning within a ray of teal light.
"If someone with a righteous heart makes a wish, it will lead Hyrule to a golden age of prosperity...
If someone with an evil mind has his wish granted, the world will be consumed by evil... That is what has been told...
So, the Ancient sages built the Temple of Time to protect the Triforce from evil ones."
The Triforce soared up into the clouds, teal ray intensifying, three additional beams circling as imagination faded to white light...
Link's imagination returned to earth.
"That's right..." Zelda narrated, "The Temple of Time is the entrance through which you can enter the Sacred Realm from our world."
Even the pink tulips seemed to be listening to the story.
"But the entrance is sealed with a stone wall called the Door of Time. And, in order to open the door, it is said that you need to collect three Spiritual Stones. And another thing you need...is the treasure that the Royal Family keeps along with this legend...
The Ocarina of Time!"
The princess stood there, dignified, pleased. "Did you understand well the story I just told you?"
Link just stared. "No."
Navi's wings wilted. Ughh... Oh, Link...
Zelda's breathing briefly stopped. "Uhh-hihhuh—" She covered her mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm not very good at storytelling..."
Link paused. Oh no, don't tell me all that again... "Oh! The Great Deku Tree already told me a similar version of your story, just without the Royal Family stuff. I was trying to...connect the parts together."
"That's great!" Zelda said, "I forgot to tell you..." She stepped aside, gesturing to the window, keeping her arm out. "I was spying through this window just now... The other element from my dream...the dark clouds... I believe they symbolize...
that man in there! Will you look through the window at him?"
Link was curious, but not that much. "No."
Navi double facepalmed.
For a moment, Zelda looked like she wanted to give Link a smack or two. "Please! If you don't hurry, he'll be gone!"
She really won't take no for an answer... Link stepped forth, putting his hands on the window frame, blinked, and took a look. Navi flew across the window, glancing herself.
Walking up the blue carpet was an immense man, armored in black, with fiery red hair, dark skin, and a long nose.
Royal Guards stood along the wall, wearing white armors over mail shirts, their clothes purple and spears purple. Although their tall helmets did not cover their eyes, they did not react to Link.
The immense, dark man knelt before the king.
"Can you see the man with the evil eyes?" Zelda asked. "That is Ganondorf, the leader of the Gerudos. They hail from the desert far to the west. Though he swears allegiance to my father, I am sure he is not sincere. The dark clouds that covered Hyrule in my dream...
They must symbolize that man!"
Ganondorf knelt still though turned, not happy.
Link looked away, to Zelda, something pretty.
"What happened?" she asked, "Did he see you? Don't worry. He doesn't have any idea of what we're planning...yet!
.. ... ...Yes. I told my father about my dream... However, he didn't believe it was a prophecy. But...I can sense that man's evil intentions!"
Zelda turned away from Link, head low, hands behind her back, clearly distressed. "What Ganondorf is after must be nothing less than the Triforce of the Sacred Realm. He must have come to Hyrule to obtain it! And, he wants to conquer Hyrule...no, the entire world!"
Hands over each other, Zelda faced Link, mouth open. "Link...now, we are the only ones who can protect Hyrule! Please!"
How Zelda explained her crazy dream, and her bad storytelling, and her cliché warning, just felt so childish.
"I don't believe you."
Navi facepalmed so hard she splat onto the floor.
Smile gone, eyebrows bent, Zelda was deeply hurt yet again. She lowered her hands behind her back while turning away, chin low. After a second, she raised her head, mouth opening as she looked at the pretty sky. Four butterflies fluttered nearby, a glimmer of hope. "Please believe me... My prophecies have never been wrong!"
She turned back to Link, hands over each other, face full of desperation. "Please!"
"OK."
Zelda slightly reared but from relief, blinked, tilted her head, and slightly closed her eyes. "Thank you!" However, fear crept back into her. She lowered her arms, warily staring into Link's eyes. "I...I am afraid... I have a feeling that man is going to destroy Hyrule. He has such terrifying power! But it's fortunate that you have come..."
Hands together, she leaned to Link. "We must not let Ganondorf to get the Triforce! I will protect the Ocarina of Time with all my power! He shall not have it! You go find the other two Spiritual Stones! Let's get the Triforce before Ganondorf does, and then defeat him!"
"Greetings, Princess Zelda..."
The friends looked back, wondering where the deep voice came from.
The large man in dark armor had spoken, his face confident, sinister. The King of Thieves definitely had skills in stealth despite his statue. His gait, however, changed to gentlemanly, contrasting his angered fealty he had shown to The King. He raised his arm to his chest to politely gesture. "I have just met with your father."
Link just stood, innocent and hesitant.
Zelda, however, was unamused. "Lord Ganondorf... Entering this courtyard without permission is an insult!"
Link thought, Did that also apply to me?
Ganondorf approached. "My apologies..." His face softened, yet the evil within clearly remained. "Cementing relations between my people and Hyrule is an honor. This is a land filled with beauty... ...and you, princess, are the most beautiful thing of all."
Zelda's eyebrows scrunched together, eyes fierce. She had more than enough of boys for the day. "Save your flattery! And leave my sight!"
Link looked at Zelda, the boy remaining innocent and hesitant. Despite her pleasant demeanor, when angry, Zelda was quite a little demon to behold.
Ganondorf politely bowed. Yet, once he straightened his back, he had a crooked grin. "It is said, princess, that you possess the Ocarina of Time... ...the greatest treasure of the Hyrulean Royal family. I wonder if you might show it to me sometime?"
"I don't know anything about it." Zelda's frustration didn't wane, arms down, her hands clenched. "Odd, a gang of thugs asked me the same thing yesterday. They wouldn't happen to be acquaintances of yours?"
He said nothing.
Link looked over, suspicious and unimpressed of the mountainous man.
Ganondorf glared back at Link with one eye, filled with nothing but malice and anger.
Upset baby boy just stared back, unflinching, though Navi took cover behind his hat.
Ganondorf abruptly left without saying a word.
"And that..." Princess Zelda stated with some scorn, "That was Ganondorf, the leader of the Gerudo, who live in the western desert. He's swearing fealty to my father now... ...but his real goal is to acquire the Triforce in my country's Sacred Realm.
Link frowned dramatically, mouth open.
"T
R
I
F
O
R
C
E
?"
Is he the one the Great Deku Tree warned me about?
Link's personal war brewed in his mind. That man's sinister visage, his horrible glare, the fake behavior... How much Link wanted to utterly destroy all that. A plethora of wild yet heroic fantasies swirled in his thoughts... What was he anything but a heroic boy, triumphantly standing atop the defeated Ganondorf, Zelda in awe and totally mesmerized?
Eventually, Link's imagination faded...
...He noticed Zelda watching him impatiently. Navi leaned mid-air, waiting for Link to...
Link innocently stared back.
The princess frowned. "Hello? Did you hear me talking to you?"
Link just blinked.
Zelda turned away, looking up. "Why do boys never listen... What do you remember of the secret legend I told you ten minutes ago?"
Link blinked, again.
Zelda sighed. Maybe my dreams really are nothing but dreams? What if all of this is just a coincidence...
"Looks like I'll have to explain things...again." She sat on the steps, hugging her knees. Link sat down beside her, palms against the floor.
She didn't have to look to know he was focused this time. "I had a dream... A horrible dream in which Hyrule was covered in pitch black cloud. But then a ray of light broke through, shining down on the land... ...revealing a figure accompanied by a fairy and bearing a shining green stone.
Link imagined what she described.
"A fairy..."
Navi hovered, aura shiny.
"A stone..."
The Kokiri's Emerald popped in Link's thoughts.
While looking at Zelda, Link pointed to himself. "...?"
Looking forwards, Zelda put her hands together by her face, a small smile forming. "The first time I saw you... ...You are the one in my dream."
A butterfly landed on one of the yellow flowers nearby, the peaceful image calming Zelda. "I'm scared. Without a doubt, Ganondorf is the dark cloud I saw. His black heart will destroy Hyrule, I can feel it!"
Zelda shut her eyes, hurt and gloomy.
Link definitely noticed Zelda's expression. Concerned yet confident, Link assured, "I believe you!"
Zelda felt his emotion, not having to look to know the concern in his eyes.
The boy added, "His evil power killed the Great Deku Tree."
Zelda opened her eyes. "We can't let him have the Triforce."
Once again, Link became rather confused, lost, struggling from so much new information. He looked around, making sure Ganondorf wasn't prowling around. "Where is the Triforce? Where's this Sacred Realm?"
Princess Zelda upheld her patience, knowing that, as long as Link made progress, she would be there for him. After all, Link was not a schooled boy; if she had to repeat herself multiple times for him to understand, she would be his teacher.
Zelda imagined the three Spiritual Stones, hovering before the Triforce, returning to a narrator's state of mind. "The entrance to the Sacred Realm is in the Temple of Time. But the door is sealed fast by a wall of stone. It is said that in order to open it you must gather three Spiritual Stones... ...and bring them to the temple."
She held her ocarina. "But you need one more thing—a treasure of the Royal Family... This... The Ocarina of Time."
Link jumped to his feet, fists balled up. "I'll do it!" His expression intensified, too. "I'll find the other two Spiritual Stones! !"
Zelda did not expect such an energetic response. "Link?!"
He stood sideways, ready to charge into his next adventure. "Princess Zelda, please keep the ocarina. I'm going to find the other two Spiritual Stones and then return!"
Zelda pocketed the Ocarina and, hands clasped, stood. "Yes, Link. You must keep the Triforce out of Ganondorf's grasp!" She held her hands under her neck, excited and happy that her friend was truly a hero. Yet, Ganondorf's evil face was burned into her mind, though she hid that.
Link raised his foot to dart off but...paused mid-step.
Navi tilted. "Hm? Something wrong, Link?"
He looked lost and confused, again.
Zelda walked up the stairs, sitting on the tier and putting her hands on her lap. She waited for Link to look at her...again.
Link awkwardly scuttled up the stairs and sat beside her.
The princess smiled. She didn't ask if her storytelling had somehow gotten much, much better...or if her friend just wanted her to keep talking. "Long, long ago... ...before there was any life in land or in the sea... ...the three Golden Goddesses came down to the chaotic land of Hyrule..."
Link envisioned three bright entities flying up the sky, below them hefty clouds and endless landscape.
"Din, the Goddess of Power... ...whose strength lay in fire, which she used to forge the red earth."
Imagination depicted the might of the goddess slamming into the rocky landscape, blasting shards of earth away and cracking mountains.
"Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom... ...who bathed the land in her wisdom and brought order out of chaos."
Link imagined a sun, light shining through clouds, illuminating a mountainside. Next, trees sprouted, birds flying across a cloudy day.
"And Farore, that Goddess of Courage... ...who protected that order and from her great heart, brought life to the world. When these tasks were completed and it was time for the three goddesses to return to heaven, they left behind a golden pyramid—the Triforce—and the surrounding land became the Sacred Realm.
"Legend says that the Triforce will grant the wishes of of anyone who holds it. So to protect it from those with evil hearts... ...ancient sages built a temple and sealed the entrance with the Door of Time."
Zelda recalled her dream: A robed wiseman stood in the Temple of Time, three Spiritual Stones hovering above him, the Ocarina of Time glowing before him, three sages at either side of him. "He who gathers the three Spiritual Stones... ...must stand in this spot with the Ocarina of Time and play the Song of Time. If he does... ...the door will open."
The princess looked at her friend. "This is the secret of the Sacred Realm, passed down from generation to generation in the Hyrulean Royal Family."
Zelda stared at the ocarina, old memories of... Mother...returning. She did not remember Mom's face, the memory just showing her beautiful dress and figure. Mom sat by a window, playing the ocarina, little Zelda holding Mom's shin and listening attentively...
"My mother told me before she died. She said never to speak of it to anyone... or about the ocarina either."
Link raised his finger near his mouth. "Are you sure you should be telling me something so important, Zelda?"
"You believe my tale. Even my father didn't believe me." Zelda leaned sideways, eyelids slightly lowered, smiling big, the sweetest thing ever... "That's why... I believe in you."
Link's eyebrows rose, face blank. His heart beat with emotion, B-DMP!
"A
W
W
W
I didn't do anything special..."
He scratched the back of his head.
SCRATCH
SCRATCH
Zelda stood and turned away, withdrawing a quill and paper then writing. "One more thing... Take this letter... I'm sure it will be helpful to you."
Link got up, accepting a...
Navi's aura flickered. "You received Zelda's Letter! Wow! This letter has Princess Zelda's autograph!"
S
H
T
A
K
Link reared "AGH! !" Navi flew behind him, also alarmed.
That tall woman was suddenly standing by him, as if out of nowhere! Navi peeked around Link's hat.
Unfazed, Zelda had her hands together, looking up at the tall woman happily. "This is Impa, a Sheikah. She's my bodyguard."
Link recovered from his heart attack, Navi hovering normally.
Zelda didn't seem to realize Link's brief terror. "Impa, this is the messenger from the forest I saw in my dream."
Impa crossed her arms, looking assured.
Link just stared at the tall lady.
Zelda comforted Link with, "My attendant will guide you out of the castle. Don't be afraid to talk to her."
He was rather intimidated. The idea of an imposing, strong woman—so heavily contrasting the girls he grew up with—was shocking to behold.
The tall woman's expression became stoic. "I am Impa of the Sheikahs. I am responsible for protecting Princess Zelda. Everything is exactly as the Princess foretold."
Navi cocked her little head. Even his blunders?
Impa continued, "You are a courageous boy... You are heading out on a big, new adventure, aren't you? My role in the Princess's dream was to teach a melody to the one from the forest. This is an ancient melody passed down by the Royal Family. I have played this song for Princess Zelda ever since she was a baby... There is mysterious power in these notes... Now listen carefully..." She raised a small ocarina to her mouth. "Memorize this song..." She calmly swayed, eyes open, playing a simple tune.
Link listened attentively.
When Impa finished playing the tune twice, Link raised his Fairy Ocarina to his lips, gently swaying with closed eyes. Although a bit awkward at times, Link had a good ear to music. He breathed musical life into his instrument...
After playing the initial six notes, he replayed the song, every note flowing exactly to Impa's time signature. A vortex of purple lights swirled around the edge of Link's mind, the magic notes proven true.
Link held it ocarina to the side, staring with wide eyes as the instrument sparkled.
"You've learned Zelda's Lullaby!"
Zelda smiled, holding the Ocarina of Time warmly. Watching Impa teach Link the lullaby reminded her of... Mom...teaching daughter how to play...
Link pocketed his ocarina.
"It's my job to protect Zelda. I was watching you all day yesterday... ...including your battle with the bandits."
Link's face looked dumb.
"Huh
?!"
Impa's expression softened. "You are worthy to carry the princess's secret... ...a young man with great courage."
Zelda happily chirped, "Impa, you see everything, don't you?"
Link's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Do you have any idea where the other two stones are?"
"I don't know where the Spiritual Stone of Water is... ...but I've heard that Darunia, the leader of the Gorons, has the Spiritual Stone of Fire."
Link turned around to jog. "Got it!"
"Link, wait!" Somehow, Zelda stood in front of his path, holding the ocarina to her chest.
Link stood confidently, fist raised mid-level. "Don't worry, Princess Zelda! I'll find the stones before Ganondorf does! I swear it!"
His honest promise showed on his face.
Zelda's eyes softened. "Good
..."
She looked down at her ocarina. "...And I'll make sure that Ganondorf... ...Doesn't steal this ocarina."
Zelda stepped closer to Link, so close he felt the warmth of her skin. His face went blank, he unable to even look at her.
Eyes closed, she softly whispered, "Be careful, OK?" She pecked his cheek.
Link's brain deactivated from puppy love. "FWOOOO" He leaned away from Zelda, arms and left leg raised in her direction as he went cross-eyed, almost swooning.
WOBBLE
WOBBLE
DASH
Link charged off, a massive grin on his face, eyebrows furrowed acutely, the boy over-energized.
Impa and Zelda stood back, surprised by Link's sudden blast of energy...
Link had no idea where he ran, but ended up in places that normally was impossible. With the unlimited energy children possess, he charged down hallways, a horde of guards running after him, unable to keep up.
Up ahead, a regal man stepped into the hall, followed by two Royal Guards. The regal man carried an immense scroll, looking tired but pleased. "About time I finished working on the pact! I spent all day ensuring utmost perfection—"
Link's forehead crashed into the scroll as he charged past The King, the paper flying off into a brazier and burning up. The Royal Guards tried stopping Link, tripping over each other instead.
Link jumped sideways up the stairs, moving with rapidity that defied physics. "Huh-hoh-huh-hyah-hah-huht-hoh-huht-hyah-huh!"
The guards and their king just stared, stunned.
Navi flew between them. "Sorry! He really, really likes Z Targeting!"
Meanwhile, outside the castle...
The sunny day had little clouds.
The guards standing watch at the field overheard excessive noise echoing from the castle. They turned their heads, wondering what was going on.
CLOMP
CLOMP
CLOMP
Guards voices echoed from the walls. "Wh-who is that?" "Stop that guy!" "Agh! That's a jar from the Royal treasury!"
R
A
T
TT
LE
K
L
I
N
K
IK
RA
SS
H
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A
P
"GAAAH!" Link nearly jumped off the top tower, legs bicycling mid-air, his eyes as big as saucers.
"Hey!" Navi cried, "Don't forget about me!" She frantically flew upwards, having a hard time catching up with Link's wild running that on whistle or man could stop.
The guards below kept quiet admit the echoing noise. "Glad I don't have to deal with that!"
...Impa was unamused.
Zelda had her hand over her mouth.
...
GRAB
Impa carried Link by the back of the shirt. "If the castle soldiers find you, there will be trouble. Let me lead you out of the castle."
The boy seemed quite proud with himself, like a misbehaved dog happy to be with his owner, unaware of the trouble he caused. Impa, however, shut her eyes, carrying Link like the pesky thing he was.
Two guards, one very short, clattered over. "Lady Impa?!"
"Don't worry about him. I'll escort him out."
THRUST
"AAAGH!" Link's eyes widened, teeth barred, finding himself held before a large castle window. Impa held him there, and from there, Link had a good view of town, Hyrule Field, and a vast faraway mountain.
Impa's other hand was on her hip. "That's Death Mountain, where the Gorons live.
She calmed down and smiled, Link also returning to normal. "We must protect this beautiful land of Hyrule." Her eyes turned to the side. "Did you say your name was Link? The peace of this country depends on your courage.
We're counting of you."
Determination set in Link's face.
Navi reappeared, huffing and puffing from her flight—Link wriggled out Impa's grasp.
Link happily waved as he fell. "Leave it to me, ma'am!"
Impa's veins throbbed. "Ma'am?!"
Down below, the guards who failed to catch Link regrouped, panting. They looked around, having no idea where Link went.
Link jumped down the castle walls, rolling upon landing every fall. He departed the castle grounds in the most obvious manner imaginable...yet it worked, as the guards were bad at their job anyways.
Navi jingled happily. "Glad that the Deku Scrub who told you to roll upon landing taught you so well!"
Link leapt off the cliff, landing on the dirt path. "Yeah! Imagine being taught how to land by something who stays underground all the time!"
Link headed to town. As usual, the girl in a yellow dress chased a Cucco. Market stalls were busy. The guy looking for Gerudo ladies from atop the scaffolding didn't seem successful.
Nothing changed in the market, as usual.
As Link went through town, he met a rather large woman by the Potion Shop, wearing a purple skirt and blue shirt with white sleeves. She had brown hair with a small bun atop.
She said, "Kid, have you been to Lon Lon Ranch? Their milk is delicious! There are many horses there, and the young daughter of the ranch owner is cute! To get to Lon Lon Ranch, after you leave town, head due south across the field. You should visit the ranch at least once!"
Link thought, Lon Lon Ranch...is that where Malon lives? I don't see her here...
Link found himself outside town, right after the drawbridge, Impa standing nearby with her arms crossed.
Navi hovered by Link's ear. "I really hope you don't ever suddenly run around like crazy again."
Link just stood quietly.
Impa stared out to Hyrule Field, waiting several seconds. Once she felt Link surely had himself under control, she spoke, "You brave lad... We must protect this beautiful land of Hryule! Take a good look at that mountain."
Link stared at the mountain, which was unmistakable from ground level.
"That is Death Mountain, home of the Gorons. They hold the Spiritual Stone of Fire."
Link took several steps forwards, keeping his eyes on the adventure ahead.
"At the foot of Death Mountain you will find my village, Kakariko. That is where I was born and raised. You should talk to some of the villagers there before you go up Death Mountain.
The song I just taught you has some mysterious power. Only Royal Family members are allowed to learn this song. Remember, it will help to prove your connection with the Royal Family.
The Princess is waiting for you to return to the castle with the stones. All right, we're counting on you!"
Impa raised her arm then threw something down.
FLASH!
Shocked, Link looked back then spun around and reared—Impa was gone.
After a few seconds, Link faced forwards and ran on. "Let's go, Navi! To Death Mountain!"
Navi flew along. "OK!"
From a castle window, Zelda stood, hands clasped, watching Link scurry away. She was pleased yet also worried.
Impa stood nearby, pleasantly watching the boy embark of his journey. "Heh."
Zelda looked at her. "What a wild day, Impa!"
"That boy does have lots of energy."
The Princess's eyes followed Link again. She snickered. "Do you think he's...on the spectrum?"
Impa smiled. "I do believe he is."
Zelda grinned. "It makes him cute." She rested her palm of her cheek, elbows on the window frame, and she sighed.
Impa noticed, raising an eyebrow. "You like him?"
She blushed, looking away. "A little."
"Only a little?"
Zelda looked at her. "Ya..."
Down below, Link ran across the field, a few trees to his right. "I wonder what Saria would say if I told her we were going to save Hyrule."
"She'd be very proud!" Navi assured.
"That's right!" As Link ran, he looked up. "You ready for me, Death Mountain?! Here I come!"
He headed to Lon Lon Ranch instead.