The light of dawn had barely started to illuminate the early morning's dark sky. As the darkness slowly turned blue, life in the warm-colored lands of Akkala began to stir. Those in stables rose from their beds in order to cook breakfast, while others had already risen to tend to the horses being kept in their pens. While the Hylians were starting their days, small animals were also starting their daily tasks, hunting for food through the piles of orange-colored leaves that were scattered across the ground, searching for any nuts they could find. Even the trees that dotted the hills of north Hyrule seemed to liven up the moment even the tiniest bit of sunlight illuminated their leaves. While everyone else had started their days, there was one who had been awake for a few hours now.

He had been walking through Akkala during the night, doing his best to ignore the soreness in his body, though admittedly, it was nowhere near as painful as it was before. Regardless of whether he was healing properly, or just starting to go numb to the pain, it helped him to keep moving, allowing him to reach his destination. Walking through the wilderness, having long abandoned the roads he had been following earlier on his journey, he made his way across the grassy fields and through the rocky areas before finally, he came to a stop and looked at what stood before him.

It was a small cliff, a natural one made of stone, covered with vines that hid away what sat peacefully behind them. While the vines did well to hide the entrance, so well that one wouldn't dare try walking through them, afraid that their nose would be crushed by stone, the traveler simply walked through without worry. Behind the vines was a hallway, one that was old, but still gave off the aura of elegance it once had boasted in its past. The arched roof and walls were made of stone bricks, bricks that were so well crafted that they held up even to this day. Step by step, he walked down this hall until it opened up, revealing a structure behind it all. It was a calming place, one built on tranquility and peace. Its stone, as old as it was, was still beautiful, even if its color had faded, but the true beauty came from the water that flowed around said stone. It was a spring, one he and a special someone to him had visited long before.

He hadn't intended on coming here. In fact, he actually walked off a path on a whim, remembering that this place was nearby. It seemed like the right thing to do; to take a moment and reflect, to think back to when times were—surprisingly to him— simpler. With a quiet breath, he took a step forward and began walking down the stone path, through the stone pillars that lined it. After stepping up the short staircase, he came to a pause at the end of the path and looked out into the shallow sparkling waters the spring had to offer. There, standing tall in the water, was a goddess statue, far bigger and more detailed than the ones that sat in the settlements that dotted the map.

Quietly, the traveler looked around the place, taking in its beauty as the light of dawn began to shine down on the statue, causing the waters to sparkle even more than they were now. The last time he was here, it was at the opposite time of day, when twilight was fading, consumed by the darkness of the night. It was here, during that very darkness, that he learned just how dark his special person's hope had become as she sat in these very waters, freezing to the bone, with her frozen fingers clasped together in prayer.

"I come seeking help… regarding this power that has been handed down over time…" the princess of Hyrule spoke to the tall statue.

With her hands tightly clasped, she slowly lowered to her knees, ignoring the frigid waters that now covered her legs and hips. It was honestly surprising to her knight, from his stoic stance on the stone platform a fair distance behind her, that she could keep her voice so still, even with the cold that surely plagued her body. Though he refused to look back at the princess, knowing her current state was surely indecent now that her dress was drenched, along with the knowledge of her insecurities now harboring his mind, he couldn't help but listen to the sweet tones of her voice. They were a guilty pleasure, one he knew he couldn't resist any longer, though, beyond just his inner forbidden desires, his habit of listening had now started out of concern thanks to those insecurities he now knew about.

He was worried for her, beyond that of his position as her appointed knight.

"Prayer will awaken my power to seal Ganon away," he heard her continue, "or so I've been told all my life… and yet…"

The knight frowned and closed his eyes, something he knew was unacceptable in his current guarding position. He couldn't help it, for he knew what was coming.

"Grandmother heard them– the voices from the spirit realm," the princess said, "and Mother said her own power would develop within me. But…"

His eyebrow twitched.

"I don't hear… or feel anything!"

Nothing had ever broken the knight's spirit, but his heart was another case. His heart shattered at the princess's voice, for behind the frustration was a tone of desperation and sadness. It killed him. He wanted to help her, to give her the key to unlocking her power, or even find a way to take the responsibility away from her entirely. He wanted to, and yet…

Opening his eyes, he looked down at the sword his hands were resting on, its purple gleam shining bright even through the darkness of the night. All the things he was told this sword could do, all the things he felt it could do… None of them could unlock the powers she needed. Out of all the things he was able to do perfectly, of all the gifts he had been granted, that was the gift he desired most, and the one he simply didn't have.

"Father has told me time and time again… He always says, 'Quit wasting your time playing at being a scholar!' Curse you…"

He heard the waters splash, a sign that the prayer was over. He knew she was no longer speaking to the goddess, but to anyone, anything that would listen. What he also knew, is that she knew he was listening. It was an excuse to speak freely, even if it was one-sided. So, he would listen to every word she spoke, to take in every emotion she laid out into the air. He would make sure, even if silently, that she was heard.

"I've spent every day of my life dedicated to praying!" he heard the princess continue to cry out. "I've pleaded to the spirits tied to the ancient gods…and still the holy powers have proven deaf to my devotion. Please, just tell me… What is it…? What's wrong with me?"

It was then his stoic facade broke. Breaking his statue-like stance, he grabbed the handle of the sword and looked back at her, unable to control himself. He saw her, sitting helplessly in the water, her arms crossed as she gripped her arms, her head lowered in weakness as she cried to the waters. Every day she prayed. For years without much break, she continued to try and unlock her powers to no avail. Now here she sat, alone and cold in the waters. This wasn't the sight of a princess, no— this was the sight of a girl, tired and hurt, calling out for help, expecting no one to answer. And in reality, no one besides the goddess should have. It was out of his status, something he should have dared not comment on, especially with her words challenging the methods of the most powerful man in the lands, the king.

And yet, he spoke.

"Nothing is wrong with you," he said softly.

Surprised to hear his voice, especially knowing the implications and political dangers behind it, the princess slowly turned to reveal her bloodshot and puffy eyes.

"I don't care what anyone says," he continued. He placed the sword gently on the stone before stepping down into the waters himself. "You've worked hard for so long, without rest, and without appreciation. If there's anyone who's at fault… I'd say it's the king, or the goddess herself."

"Link…" the princess managed to whimper out, still surprised at the fact he spoke out. He couldn't blame her for being taken aback. While this wasn't the first time he uttered agreement with her complaints, as quietly as he usually did, to do so during a prayer to the goddess was madness. "Y… you can't be saying things like that. I… I know what my duty is, and what I'm supposed to do. To speak like this during prayer is foolish, and you know that. I know I have to keep trying, it's just…"

"Come on, Princess," Link said as he stepped through the water toward her. "At this very moment, all I see is a statue, and a girl crying before it. My job is to protect you, and if I can protect you from judgment, even for just a moment, I will."

Arriving in front of her, he knelt down into the waters himself, ignoring the cold before placing a light hand on her bare shoulder, something that surprised her even more. Unable to keep whatever remains of the royal front she had left, she allowed more tears to run down her face.

"What am I supposed to do now?" she whispered.

"Rest," Link answered. "You've worked every day for years, pushing yourself to the brink to unlock this power, right? For tonight… let's rest. No one needs to know."

"I… I can't—"

"You can," Link said. He held his free hand out to her. "So, come on. Let's get out of here… Zelda."

Allowing her tears to fall even more, she released one of her arms and placed her wet hand into his.

Over a century later, that same knight now stood in the same place he stood guard, without that legendary blade nor the princess he was sworn to protect. He looked out into those sparkling waters, repeating the words Princess Zelda had spoken all that time ago.

"It's no wonder you were so adamant about me resting back in Hateno," Link said quietly to himself. "You worked nonstop for years, wearing yourself down simply because your father expected so much from you, and I agreed with you. I can't believe I didn't think about that…"

Disappointed in himself, he closed his eyes and sighed.

"No point in letting that guilt control me anymore," he said to himself. "It's time to accept and move forward. Though…"

He opened his eyes and looked up into the large statue's empty stone ones.

"Next time… I'd appreciate it if you helped her without asking. I think she's done enough to earn your respect by now, don't you?"

...

With one of his thumbs latched onto one side of his belt, Link walked up one of the pathways of the Akkala plains, guiding Epona by the reins with his other hand. Though he was following the path, his eyes were focused on the beauty of the sun that was slowly rising from the great sea of water that splashed against the land's cliffsides. Humming a tune, one he had heard from a certain Rito Bard who had a habit of playing at any stable he was, he continued his trek. It actually wasn't until he came upon one of these stables, the eastern stable that was pitched up in Akkala, did he finally take his eyes off the rising of dawn.

"Link? Link, is that you there, friend?" a voice called out.

Tearing his gaze away from the sunlight, Link looked over to see a familiar merchant walking out one of the stable's entrances. With a dashing smile, the merchant began to hurry over, something that made Epona shake her mane in displeasure. Keeping a firm grip on the reins, Link chuckled and looked over at his favorite mare.

"It's alright, girl," he said calmly, brushing the chestnut horse's silver mane. "You know him. It's not the Yiga, trust me."

As the horse blew air through her snout, a sign that she was accepting her master's words, Link focused his attention back on the merchant, who was now stopping in front of him.

"Teli, it's good to see you," Link said kindly.

"I'd say the same to you!" Teli said cheerfully. "It's good to see you, my dashing friend. Though, I didn't think I'd run into you so soon. It's only been what, a week?"

"Almost," Link chuckled. "We've got a few more days left before it becomes a week. Are you off to see Robbie, or did you already see him?"

"I was just about to head up there," Teli said, placing a hand on his hip. "You know how old lady Purah is. Shoot, if I take any longer, who knows what she'll do to me? Ugh, can you believe someone like me is getting bullied by an old lady and a child at the same time?"

"If it's Purah, I can completely believe it," Link chuckled, but after a moment, he raised his eyebrow at his merchant friend. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Oh, sorry," Teli laughed. "It's just… You seem a lot more relaxed—more calm. This is the Link I got to know on my travels."

"You think so?" Link asked.

"I know so," Teli said with a grin. The two chuckled before Link stretched and sighed.

"Well, I guess I have been taking some time to reflect," he said as he turned and looked back out into the sparkling ocean waters from afar. "I guess that means it's doing me well."

"It is," Teli said. "Were you headed to the old man's as well?"

"I was," Link answered, turning back to the silver-haired merchant. "I was just gonna let him know how I and Zelda are. The last time he saw us was after the beginning of… Well, stuff was going on, I can tell you that. I thought it'd be a good idea to catch him up, and maybe try and get a few rupees out of him. I picked up some Guardian parts on the way here."

"Hey! Trying to steal my business now, are we?" Teli asked.

"Come on, you know you're way better at scavenging those things than I am," Link argued. "I can't rely solely on the money Zelda and I split. She worked hard for it, so I might as well try and do my part to make money where I can, you know?"

"Can't argue with that logic," Teli laughed. Suddenly, his face softened. "Do you miss her?"

"I… I do," Link said. "A lot, actually. I hate being away from her. I know we kinda had to go our separate ways for a bit, but man do I miss having her next to me… Hey, stop grinning at me like that."

"Ah, you two are so similar," Teli said. "It's no wonder you both are such a dashing couple."

"Hm," Link chuckled, looking back at the sun behind him. "I guess we are, huh?"

"Well, if you're so princess-sick, then why don't I try to fill that empty hole, even if only a little?" Teli said, wrapping his arm around Link's shoulder. "Why don't we go to Robbie's together? We can catch up on the way."

"Catch up? What have you been doing besides taking screws from guardians?" Link asked teasingly.

"I don't just get screws, I get ancient cores," Teli corrected. "Besides, I may not have much to tell, but I know your adventures are much more interesting. I know you had to have done something crazy these past few days."

"Well… I did make a stop near Zora's Domain," Link said, "and I totally took down a Hinox alongside the Zora's prince. I guess I can tell you on the way there."

"See, you're acting smug because you know you have more fun than I do," Teli said. "But, little do you know, not everybody is insane like you are."

"Yeah, but you still wanna know what happened, don't you?" Link asked.

"Absolutely. Tell me about the whole thing," Teli said as the two began to walk up the path. "Man, if only we had a couple of drinks, this sounds like the perfect story to drink to. You think the old man has some bottles?"

"With how he acts? I'd be surprised if he didn't," Link replied.

As the men chuckled between themselves, they continued their trek up the winding path as Link recounted the events with the Black Hinox he faced down with the Zora Prince, telling of how Sidon was the one who ultimately finished the beast off. Eventually, the pair's destination came into sight.

It was an old building, one that had been repurposed to fit the needs of the small researcher who had moved inside many years ago. While its base still had its original stone brick intact (most likely the remains of a watchtower from the ancient kingdom's glory days), its many add-ons made it look like anything but what it used to be. Wooden platforms had been built on top of the remains, along with little house-like rooms and towers. A wooden crane hung off the side, with its claw holding a large, worn-out Guardian in the air. This was far from the only Guardian though, for many more sat in piles on the ground around the place. These messes alone made the place stand out, however, its biggest feature was actually the gigantic telescope that sat on top, one that miraculously hadn't fallen with how massive its lens was. Though it wasn't as well put together, it all somewhat resembled the tech lab that sat at the top of Hateno Village.

Leaving Epona nearby— and after explaining to Teli that the mare was most certainly trained enough to not stray far— the two walked up the short stone-carved staircase. Raising a hand, Link tapped his knuckles against the wooden door. Immediately, the sound of crashing and chaos erupted, something that took both Link and Teli aback. Confused, they glanced at each other before suddenly, an old but high-pitched voice spoke from behind the door.

"W–who's there? If it's you dastardly Yiga, neither Link or the princess are here, and they haven't been here for months, so go away!" the voice said. "A-and I wouldn't go after them either! Link will destroy you, just like he did before!"

"Robbie, it's me," Link called out, still a bit caught off guard by the sudden hostility.

"Link? Is that really you?" the voice called back.

"And Teli," the merchant said. "I'm here too."

"And how do I know you're the real Link and Teli?" the voice asked. "How do I know you aren't two Yiga impersonating the two of you?"

"Well, other than knowing only one Yiga wasn't accounted for when they were captured," Link started, "you know they would never in a hundred years wear my face. They hate it too much."

"From what I've seen, he's right," Teli called. "Besides, it's been months since I've last been here, so I know you're low on materials. These dashing parts I have aren't going to sell themselves, so open up!"

After a pause, the door finally opened, revealing the small researcher who had been speaking from behind it. Unlike Purah, who was small thanks to her de-aging formula, this researcher had shrunk due to his old age. He was so short that he barely came up to Teli's knees. His height wasn't the only standout feature though. Being the Sheikah that he was, he wore the traditional tan robes his people were known for wearing. That was the most normal thing about him, for his long hair (long enough to match his height) stuck straight out to its ends on the back of his head, and had been shaped to give the hairstyle a box-like shape. To top off his strangeness, instead of a pair of glasses like Purah wore, he constantly wore a pair of technologically advanced goggles, ones that made his eyes look like randomly darting around blue dots.

The moment the short researcher opened the door, he looked up at the two towering over him. It took a second for his goggles to align with their eyes before he hummed in disapproval.

"Well, look who it is," he grunted. "I have every right to keep you two out on those steps, but being the logical and respected researcher I am, I won't fall to such pettiness. Now get in here, both of you."

"Okay?" Link said, glancing over at Teli, who only shrugged. Deciding best to listen to the old man, the two stepped inside. The moment the door closed behind them Link asked, "what's got your hair sticking up more than usual?"

"Oh, it's nothing serious— nothing that could ultimately change how we handle our lands as we move forward," Robbie said mockingly.

He hobbled over to one of the stools that sat in front of one of the desks in the room before he jumped and spun around on it. Angrily, he pointed a finger at his two guests.

"It's only that at the beginning of the winter, I wanted an update on the assassin situation and how our progress was going with getting rid of the malice that still plagues us!"

At the sound of this, Teli sucked air through his teeth and guiltily looked away. Link, however, continued to look at Robbie in confusion.

"Sorry, Robbie," he said. "Things got a little hectic, Zelda wanted me to rest for a bit, it's a long story really. I came to tell you about it all actually."

"And that's well and good, but a letter or something would have been nice," Robbie said in a grumpy tone, turning back to his desk. "At least something responding to the letter I sent you."

"Letter? What letter?" Link asked. "I didn't get a letter."

"What do you mean you didn't get a letter? Is your memory still a mess?" Robbie asked, glancing back at the two. "Of course you got a letter, Teli's the one that delivered it!"

Even more confused, Link looked at Teli, who chuckled awkwardly.

"Uh… Yeah, about that," the merchant mumbled. "I… um… never gave it to him."

Quickly turning back around on his stool, Robbie's blue dots-for-eyes immediately focused their attention on Teli.

"You what?"

"You had a letter for me and didn't deliver it?" Link asked, now giving Teli a stern gaze. "We were in Hateno together for months."

"I know, and I'm sorry," Teli said guiltily. "It's just—"

"Do you know how serious of a letter that was?" Robbie asked, jumping down from his stool. "Jerrin and I have been sitting here worried that the Yiga may come back to get any information out of us on Link and Zelda! We were worried not just for them, but for ourselves too! I trusted you with that letter!"

"Why didn't you give it to me?" Link asked before Robbie's large head could explode. Having taken a moment to think, he gave Teli an earnest look. "There had to be a good reason."

"I mean… Depends on what you'll consider a good reason," Teli said. "Zelda… Zelda didn't want me to give it to you. She took the note herself."

"Zelda stopped you—?" Link began, but Robbie had already shouted.

"The princess stopped you?" he said loudly. "That girl! For what reason did she think keeping that kind of information was—!"

"Robbie, dear!" a voice suddenly called from the second level of the makeshift lab. Everyone turned to the wooden staircase that curved upwards with the wall it was placed against to see a woman coming down the stairs. "What's got you screaming like a lunatic down there? Oh, Link! And Teli, as well!"

"Hey, Jerrin," Teli sighed out as Link nodded in greeting. "It's good to see you."

"Same to you! And to you, Link, I'm glad you're alright," Jerrin said as she made her way to the bottom of the staircase.

She was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and a sharp chin and nose. Though she wore a similar garb to that of her husband, she was a Hylian, one that towered over the goggle-eyed researcher. Coming behind her husband, she placed her fingertips on his shoulders in an attempt to calm him down.

"We were worried when we didn't hear back from you," she said sweetly, something that made Teli's face twist with even more guilt. "I hope everything is alright. Is Zelda not here with you?"

"It's a good thing she's not here, or I'd be giving her an earful myself!" Robbie said, but Link shook his head.

"She made the right call."

"You're agreeing with her?" Robbie asked. "Do you not understand—?"

"I do," Link said calmly, "and it would've been great if she were able to send a message back, but if you sent it at the beginning of winter, there probably weren't many options too. Teli stayed in Hateno and no one else in that town really knows about you, and the few who did just weren't traveling then."

"Then why didn't she come herself?" Robbie asked. "And why keep the note from you to begin with?"

"Because she was keeping an eye on me," Link answered. With a sigh, he walked away from the door and took a seat on one of the room's stools. "I came to tell you what happened, and now's a good time to do so… Here's what happened—"

He told the entire story, just as he had done with Sidon. Though it looked as though Robbie wanted to comment and intervene every now and then, his wife kept him silent as they listened. At the end of the tale, the old researcher snorted.

"It sounds like the both of you were fools," he said saltily.

"Now, now, dear," his wife cooed. "They may be a princess and a knight, but they're still so young. Not everyone is as old and wise as you."

"Well, you're certainly right about that," Robbie agreed, but after a moment, he blew air through his nostrils. "So, you two are alright then?"

"As alright as we can be right now," Link said. "I'm doing my best to work through my stuff and Zelda… Well, Celessa is with her, so I'd guess they're doing okay."

"And what about your wounds?" Jerrin asked. "Would you like me to rebandage you? They were pretty severe, were they not?"

"Ah, I'll be fine," Link said, waving her offer away. "I should reach the mountain top by evening. The hot springs should get me pretty close to healed. It would be a waste of time for you, but thanks."

"I see," Jerrin said. Suddenly, she began smiling, staring at the young knight warmly. Link raised an eyebrow.

"What?" he asked her. "What is it?"

"Oh, nothing," Jerrin replied in a singing tune, but when Link continued to stare at her, she giggled. "It's just… to think, the last time you were here, you barely understood the princess's feelings, and now here you are giving us a lecture on them. My, how you've grown."

"T–thanks…" Link said, blushing slightly at the sudden thought of Zelda's feelings. He looked down at his hands, which were now clasped by his fingers, and smiled. "Back then, I didn't think Zelda's feelings would have stayed the same for me… No, that wasn't it."

He sighed and closed his eyes.

"I was afraid to be with her. Afraid I couldn't make her happy," he said. "That's the truth, but now that we're the way we are… I don't think I could ever live without that love."

"Oh my, so you two are officially together then?" Jerrin asked excitedly. Somehow, even behind his goggles, Link could tell he was rolling his eyes as he pulled himself away from Jerrin's grasp, heading over to Teli to see what he had to offer in terms of Guardian parts. Giving her husband a glare, she shook her head and smiled brightly at Link again. "Don't mind that hypocrite, he's always thinking about our marriage and our memories, not to mention that oven of his. Now tell me, are you two together or not?"

"Yeah… We're together," Link answered bashfully, though he tried his best to hide it under the stoic expression he had come to rely on. Clearly, he was losing his touch at putting it on because Jerrin giggled again.

"You're cute," she said. "I'm sure you two will be very happy together."

"If I stop screwing up, maybe we will be," Link said with a warm smile. "I'll do my best to ensure she's… That we're happy."

"Good. That's exactly the mindset you should—" Jerrin began to say, but the sound of Robbie's loud voice interrupted her.

"Zelda is planning on restoring the kingdom?"

Both Jerrin and Link turned to see Robbie, holding a note in his small, elderly hands.

"That's what Purah wrote," Teli said. "Sorry, I meant to give this to you the moment we walked in, but then we started talking about your note to Link. Old Lady Purah would do worse than shout at me if I forgot to give you this."

"Is this true, Link?" Robbie said, turning his goggles onto Link. "Is Princess Zelda really ready to restore the kingdom?"

"That's what she says," Link said, standing from his stool. "So that's what I believe."

"Well, after the story you just told me, I wonder if that's true," Robbie mumbled under his breath. Link furrowed his brow, ready to convince the old researcher of Zelda's strong will when she put her mind to something, but before he could say a word, Robbie continued. "Hpmf. That girl will need all the support she can get, and she won't get anywhere without me helping her out. Jerrin, honey! We've got work to do. Looks like my old teacher already has some plans she wants to start, so we'd better get to work!"

At the sound of this, Link snorted and gave a small chuckle. As bothered as Robbie still seemed to be about being left in the dark throughout the winter, he still was as supportive as ever for Zelda.

"I guess I'd better be off then," Link said.

"Already?" Jerrin asked as Robbie began scurrying around the place, searching through boxes and piles of junk for whatever it was he needed. "You just got here."

"I know, but I really need to get to the hot springs," Link said. "The sooner I'm feeling better, the sooner I can go see what it is the Master Sword has in store for me."

"It's imperative we learn the sword's intentions, and soon if what all you told us was true," Robbie said as he now dug through a pile of old guardian parts. "We have to let him go, Jerrin."

"Well, if you must," Jerrin said. "Jeez, you're just like our son, always hurrying off after a quick hello."

"Sorry. I do wish I could stay longer," Link said, but suddenly, he paused. "Actually… If I could borrow your cooking pot before I leave, that would be great."

"The pot? Sure, but why?" Jerrin asked. "If you need food, we've got some upstairs."

"I'd actually like some, yes," Link responded. "But I need the pot for a different reason. Do you guys have any Goron Spice lying around?"

"We have some of that, yes," Jerrin answered. "We get some from the stable nearby whenever we feel like adding some spice to our meals."

"If I could have a bottle that would be great," Link said. "I've got something I need to cook before I head out."

...

The sun began to lower as Link, taking deep tired breaths, came walking his way under a crudely crafted archway of steel beams and and bolts. Coming to a stop, he brought a hand to his brow and wiped off the sweat that had accumulated on it. Whether all that sweat was from having to climb all the way up a mountain, or from the heat the mountain was giving off, he didn't know. What he did know, was that after half a day's journey, he had reached his destination: the village carved out in the rocks of a mountain, Goron City.

While the mountain Goron City was set in was named Death Mountain, the mountain itself wasn't really a mountain, but a volcano. It was one of the marvels of Hyrule, one that wasn't usually active unless agitated by some powerful outside force. The last time it was activated was only a few months ago by the gigantic ancient beast, which now sat quietly in the volcano's lava-filled mouth, hanging off the sides with the strength of its elongated legs and the intense grip of its claws digging into the molten rock.

Though the volcano wasn't currently active, the heat of its lava-filled core still filled the air, burning everything that wasn't rock and steel. This was exactly what the city carved into the rocks was built of. While the town was named Goron City, the place was more like a small village than anything else, smaller than even that of Hateno Village. The houses were made from rocks, supported with steel beams, and every bridge that happened to be put over lava was also bolted together by steel plates. It was certainly a town built for those who could withstand the heat, and thankfully, that's just what the residents were able to do.

The Gorons were large creatures, with orange, if not darker skin that was as tough as iron. Their bodies were strong and large, with arms almost as big as their meaty torsos, and backsides that were literally made of molten rock. The only two things that happened to be small on their bodies were their beady eyes and stubby legs, something that encouraged the Gorons to curl into a ball and roll around instead of actually walking.

Link had always liked coming to Goron City and seeing the Gorons. They were a simplistic race, ones that specialized in mining, and really nothing else. They enjoyed their fun, whether it was finding ways to survive standing on lava or any other hot surface or having rock-eating contests or shows of strength. While most Hylians would be put off from this sort of behavior that would be considered dangerous for them, Link would laugh along, and even partake in the challenges if he could find a way. It reminded him of simpler times when he was a simple knight, where he could rough-house with the other knights without easily overpowering his opponent, a time before the Master Sword had come into his possession.

That was long ago though, and even if he could relive some of those fun, carefree goof-offs in Goron City, he hadn't come to have fun and challenge himself. He had come to heal, but before that, there was someone else he had to help first. After going into his pouch and pulling out a bottle of fire-proof elixir he had purchased before his climb, he took a drink before sighing in relief. Ensuring a nice cool for another few hours, he put the empty bottle away before heading into the rocky town. Only a few steps in though, someone was already calling out his name.

"Hey! Hey, Link!"

At the call of his name, Link turned to see a boulder quickly rolling down the metal roads toward him. Instead of moving, he simply smiled, waiting for the boulder to get close. It continued to barrel closer toward him, but before it could run him down, it jumped in the air and unraveled itself. Landing on its tiny feet with a ground-shaking thud was a large, familiar Goron. While his characteristics were similar to those of the other Goron, his build was a bit more muscular than most, even though his face happened to be softer than the others. The little patch of white hair he had on his head was curly, and to top off his unique look, he wore a bright blue bandana around his neck, one that was reminiscent of another Goron that lived a century ago, one both he and Link knew was a distant relative of his.

"Hey, Yunobo," Link said as the Goron looked down at him with a kind smile. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, goro!" the Goron named Yunobo said happily. "I haven't seen you all season! Are you here to see Death Mountain at its coolest time of the year?"

"It's coolest time," Link chuckled under his breath. "Actually, I came to use the hot springs."

"The hot springs? Actually, now that I'm getting a good look, you certainly don't look well," Yunobo said, tilting his head to inspect Link a little closer.

As much as Link missed his fellow champion, if he had told Yunobo's ancestor, he would've gotten a painful smack to the back and a hearty laugh telling him a soak in the hot springs would do the soreness well. It was times like these when he appreciated Yunobo's gentle nature.

"I got into a little scuffle with a Yiga, nothing too serious," Link replied to the Goron's earlier comment.

"I see, but… Why are you up here, goro? The springs are a little higher up the mountain…"

"Right," Link said, "but, I needed to come see your boss for a moment. I've got something for him."

"The boss, huh?" Yunobo replied. "It's getting late, so he might already be turning in for the night. But, knowing you, it must be important right? Like last time?"

"Like last time…? Oh," Link said, remembering the last time he was in Goron City. His time at the iguana that loomed over the mountain flashed in his mind before he continued. "Nah, it's nothing like last time. I finished those trials I was doing before. No, I actually came just to give Bludo a gift from Zelda."

"A gift from Zelda? Oh, is it that stuff from before?" Yunobo asked.

"It sure is," Link said. "Even if it's late, with that back of his, I'm sure he'll want this to sleep well. Mind taking me to him?"

"Of course not! Follow me," Yunobo said cheerfully.

"So, how have you been Yunobo?" Link asked. "We really didn't get to talk last time I was here. Are things with you good?"

"They are!" Yunobo said. "After you left, I've been thinking about how best I could help you with whatever it was you were doing, but then I realized something. How could I help you if I wasn't even able to help my people? Boss was always telling me I needed to shape up, and so I decided it was time for me to do something. I've been asking Boss to teach me how to properly mine, goro!"

"You mine now? Like one of the workers around the mountain?" Link asked.

"I sure do, but I don't just want to be a worker," Yunobo said. "I want to be the best! The harder I work, the better help I am to those around me. I've also been—"

The Goron paused and looked around before leaning down to Link's ear level.

"I've also been teaching myself how to use one of the Cobble Crusher swords," he whispered. Though Link was confused about why the Goron was whispering, he played along.

"That's good!" he whispered back. "But, why? You don't like fighting, do you?"

"It's not that I don't like it, it can just get scary at times," Yunobo said in his hushed tone. "But, you could have really used the help against monsters when Rudania was causing a scene. I couldn't protect my people the way my ancestor, Daruk, would have been able to, and I wasn't able to help you. So, I've been practicing my swinging late at night in secret!"

"Well, that's great!" Link said, continuing to whisper. "But… Why is it a secret?"

"Oh… Well, um… It's because the boss thinks I'll hurt myself somehow," Yunobo said, frowning in embarrassment. "I can't have him find out and stop me from practicing."

"Did you hurt yourself?" Link asked. The Goron nodded.

"A few times… but, I can't just give up because I got a little hurt!" Yunobo said. "I'll keep trying and learn to use it, that way I can make the Great Daruk proud!"

"Trust me, Yunobo, with how much work you're putting in, I'm sure he already is," Link chuckled quietly. "Just… be careful. Using a sword is no joke."

"Don't worry, Link! I'll get strong, just like you, goro!" Yunobo said as he leaned upwards. "Oh, it looks like we're here!"

The two stopped in front of the biggest of the stone and iron houses.

"I'll go in and get the boss," Yunobo said, and with a cheerful smile, he hurried on his stubby legs into the building's gaping entrance.

After a few minutes of waiting outside (and a few shakes of the ground, something Link noticed had come from the house but decided to ignore), the Goron Link was looking for stomped out of the home, followed timidly by Yunobo. He was a huge Goron, larger than most. It was clear that, at an earlier age, he was a machine of a worker. His arms were burly, with iron bracers around both wrists. His stomach was large, and his beard of white hair was even larger. Even the eyepatch that covered one of his beady eyes was made of iron. As impressive as this all looked though, his age had started to show long ago. His skin was patchy and the wrinkles had grown apparent from the years of work. Regardless of this, Link couldn't help but feel the boss could snap him in two if he so chose, and now looked like one of the times he wanted to.

"You," he grumbled loudly, pointing a large old finger at the little Hylian in front of him. "If anyone else had come ta bother me this late, I'da pummeled them with all the strength in my— ack!"

A large crack echoed through the town as the old Goron jolted for a moment. With a painful groan, he reached back and placed a hand on his rock-covered backside. Sighing in defeat, he tiredly continued.

"What d'ya want this late in the evenin' Link?"

"S–sorry for coming this late, but I figured this would help you sleep," Link said. He reached into his pouch and pulled out another bottle, similar to the one he had before, except instead of the dark, fireproof elixir, this one was filled with a sparkly, red liquid. "This is a gift from Zelda."

"From Zelda… Oh, tha' little she-Hylian!" Bludo said, recalling the golden-haired girl he had met months back. "It's been some time since I last saw her. She said she'd send more o' this stuff up, but I never heard back from her!"

"She had a box full ready for you, but… Well, things happened," Link said. "But, this is a fresh bottle, made with fresh fairies caught from the Spring of Power. I think it was supposed to help ease your back pain for a while."

"It sure will! Down tha' hatch!" Bludo said, popping off the cork of the bottle with a flick of the thumb. Raising it high, he downed the bottle in half a second before sighing. With a gleeful laugh, he clapped his hands together. "Woo! Tha' hits the spot! Haven't felt this good in a while!"

The Goron stretched his back out, yet no crack or pop could be heard.

"Thank ya, Link. Guess this was worth gettin' back up for. I'll sleep soundly tonight thanks to this," he said. "But, I guess I should be thankin' your friend. Where is she at?"

"Not here, unfortunately," Link said almost sadly. "I'm just the postman this time. She's off doing some other business. She may actually come to talk to you about it, so I hope you spare some time for her."

"I can' exactly say no to that after accepting this stuff, especially if I wan' some more," Bludo said. "Did you only come to drop this off?"

"That, and to use the hot springs if that's alright?" Link asked.

"Boy, you don't needa ask me to use them springs," Bludo scolded. "If it's the springs you need, then go use 'em. I'm goin' to lay back down."

"G–good night, Boss," Yunobo managed out, though Bludo simply grumbled something and waved before disappearing back into his cave-like house. Allowing the tension to leave his body, Yunobo sighed. "Man… He really doesn't like to be woken up, goro. But, that'll help him sleep, so he'll be in a much better mood tomorrow!"

"Sorry to make you wake him like that," Link said guiltily. "If I had known he'd react like that, I would've waited."

"Oh, it's fine, goro! The boss really needed it. His painkillers haven't been working all too well recently, so this was for the best," Yunobo explained. "I guess this means you'll be heading to the springs now, right?"

"Yeah, I need to get rid of my own pain," Link said, rolling one of his shoulders. "It'll be nice to get rid of it."

"I see… Well, then, I guess I'll see you later then!" Yunobo said cheerfully.

"Actually, Yunobo," Link said before his Goron friend could walk away. "Why don't you come with me?"

"Come with you? To the springs, goro?" Yunobo asked.

"Yeah, why not?" Link asked. "You've been doing a lot of hard work, swinging that sword and a pickaxe around, right? Your arms are sore, aren't they?"

"They are! How'd you know?" Yunobo asked. Link chuckled.

"It happens to everyone when they first start out. Come on," Link waved. "Let's hit the springs together and ease those muscles."

"A–Alright!" Yunobo cheered. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get a roll on!"

Jumping and popping into a ball, the Goron began rolling down the path toward the springs, causing Link to laugh even more. He moved to hurry after him as fast as his sore body would allow him to, but after taking only a single step, he paused and turned back around. He looked up at the mountain tops, where the faces of Gorons had been carved into the peaks above the city, with one of the largest being the Goron champion Link had known. The statue was smiling under the pointy beard it had, and in that moment, Link couldn't help but feel as though the statue was smiling down on him.

"Thanks for everything, Daruk," Link said quietly. "Your ancestor is inspiring, just like you were… and still are."

...

As white dots began to cover the now-darkened sky, Link brought his feet to a stop and looked out into the springs he had arrived at. He had been here a few times before, usually after his fight with a Lynel or some other large enemy. They looked exactly as they had before, sparkling waters that almost glowed a greenish texture thanks to the craters they filled. Steam rose from the water, causing the area to be covered in a fog of humid pleasure, something that was only enhanced by the heat of the volcano. Taking a breath full of the vapor, Link sighed in relief. He felt his body had already started feeling better from the air alone.

"Woah, it's so pretty here at night, goro!" Yunobo said, looking around the springs. "It looks like we have it all to ourselves too! This is great!"

"It is. Honestly, I'm glad we came so late," Link said. "I'll have to bring Zelda here at this time of night."

As Link sat down to take his boots off (grunting in pain from the rocks beneath him), Yunobo jumped into the water with a splash. Instantly, the Goron sighed in pleasure, leaning back to allow his body to sink deeper into the water.

"That hits the spot," he said blissfully. "You were right, Link. I needed this, goro."

"Not as much as I do," Link said as he pulled his tunic off.

He threw the clothing he had taken off away, leaving a mess of fabrics and leather on the ground. Zelda wasn't here, so the disorganization wasn't an issue now. With his body now bare and exposed to the elements, he stepped into the water himself and sank into it, letting out a sigh similar to Yunobo's.

"Yup… That's the stuff," he said.

With a moan, he laid his head back against the rocky edge of the springs and closed his eyes. He could feel the water caressing his body, flowing slowly around his torso and legs. Though it was slow, the pain began to vanish from his body as his wounds began to close. Even though they were healing, Yunobo took one lazy look over at his friend before he sat up in surprise with a splash.

"Woah! Are you okay, Link?" Yunobo asked. "What happened? Was that assassin able to do all that to you?"

"Yup," Link said lazily. "It was my fault. I wasn't at the top of my game. Heck, I wasn't on my game at all."

"You not being on your game? That's surprising…" Yunobo said. "Are you sure the springs will be enough? Why didn't you use a fairy or something?"

"Yeah… yeah, they will. I wanted to really learn from my actions, so I chose not to use a fairy. Just… lemme enjoy this for a second," Link sighed as he sank deeper into the waters.

Yunobo hummed in worry, but listening to Link, he leaned back down and tried to relax again. The two sat in silence, listening to the rippling of the water and the heating of it that created the vapor. After a few minutes, Link spoke again.

"Always remember what you're learning to fight for, Yunobo," he said. His sudden words caught Yunobo off guard."

H-huh?" he asked.

"I got this way because I forgot what I was fighting for, and who," Link continued. "I let my anger get the best of me… along with my guilt and sadness. Because of that… I wore myself down, chasing after something that really didn't matter in the long run. Had I been patient, and enjoyed my life— enjoyed those that were around me— I could have handled the situation better. Much better."

Opening his eyes, the knight looked up into the night sky above them, watching as the stars twinkled.

"I almost lost everything again because of my recklessness," he said. After a pause, he smiled. "Someone special once told me that there's a fine line between courage and recklessness. I definitely crossed that line. Don't make the same mistake I did."

"I… I see," Yunobo said thoughtfully, taking in every word Link was saying. "Do you… still feel guilty and upset?"

"A little," Link admitted. "But, I'm learning to deal with it; to move on. Honestly, the hardest part was choosing that it was time to, but… I had some help."

"Oh… Oh…" Yunobo repeated, choosing to look up at the stars himself. "The one who gave you the advice, and the one who helped you choose… Was it Princess Zelda?"

"It was," Link said, allowing his smile to grow warmer. "It was her. I forgot that… she and everyone in these lands is the reason I fight. I won't forget that ever again. You want to fight and protect your people, right?"

"Right! I do!" Yunobo said passionately. Link nodded.

"Never forget that reason," he said. "Always remember that."

"I will… I promise!" Yunobo said. "I'll always remember the reason I fight!"

"Good," Link said calmly. "Good…"

Silence erupted between them again, though this was a lot more peaceful than it had been before. As he felt his body healing, he looked back up, but instead of the stars, he looked at the large moon that was shining brightly above them.

I wish you were here, he thought. I miss you. It'd be great if I could hold you right now, just a quick hug to prepare, because in a few days… I see what the Master Sword has in store for me.