Note: Here's the final chapter before Link gets to meet the Princess of Hyrule, at least officially. There will be some moments in this chapter between Link and "Gris", but I don't want them getting too friendly just yet. Especially Gris, as she's trying to not potentially fall in love.

Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoy!

A Night in Castle Town

Tremendous. Confined. Spacious. Closed in. So many things he was familiar with and he associated with home and comfort, and yet there were also other elements that were completely alien.

Gris had led Link into the enormous building, the interior as grand as its walls outside. From Link's perspective, no tree could've made this. True, perhaps the foundation, but everything else was stone and brick. Archways that hung over wide, spacious windows separated into three sections, the light from the sinking sun outside casting the white building in a hue of light orange. As if the entire environment had become engulfed in a soft light.

This was a temple?

"What are you two doing here?"

Link suddenly became aware that someone was addressing him, as well as the fact that Navi had gone missing from sight again, hiding under his hat. A woman dressed in white robes and a veil that covered her head studied the two children with scrutiny. Just who was this woman, and why was she here?

"We're just here to visit the temple, Miss," Gris told the woman. "After all, aren't you the one that says children need to take the legends about this land seriously?"

The woman nodded. "Indeed," she said. Link noticed that the same three triangles were emblazoned on her garments. For as many times as he had seen it, Link could've mistaken it for something people worshiped. Was this what this place was for? Was it for their Triforce? "All right, you two can stay," she told them. "Just mind yourselves. This isn't a place to cause a lot of noise."

"Right, we'll be sure to, Miss," Gris responded.

"You address servants of the Gods as Sister, young lady," the woman corrected. "But fine. Off with you, then."

With that, she left them. Gris seemed relieved by her departure. "Geez, the people that run this place are worse than the Castle library," she muttered to herself. Who knew how many times the Reader, Aypo, had to get onto her about her supposed "noisiness" when she decided to try and read aloud. She wasn't even reading that loud, to begin with!

Seeing that they were in the clear, Navi emerged from her hiding place. "Who was that?"

"One of the nuns that maintain this place," the blonde girl explained. She then scoffed. "This place hasn't even been around that long, and they suddenly act like they're the ones in charge. No one really comes to this place anyway."

"But…" Navi began. "Just what…"

"Is this place?" Link finished for her.

"This," Gris said, gesturing out to the wide, empty space around her, the two children and fairy being the only souls within its walls. "Is the Temple of Time. And, if the Hero is anywhere, it's bound to be here."

She then led Link down a stretching red carpet that led for what felt like forever. After a short while, the boy in green was finally brought before a pedestal with three spaces, and a sealed door behind it. The door was embroidered with a circular symbol with what appeared to be rays emitting from the center, yet what lay above it drew Link's attention. The same crest he had seen all around this place, the one he had seen in his dreams, and the very thing the man in black coveted.

"See this?" Gris asked. "This is the Door of Time," she explained. "Since you're the Hero of the Kokiri, you're going to set the stone you have here," she then gestured to the left circular imprint on the pedestal. "By the way, can I see it?" she asked. Link appeared hesitant. "Hey, I'm here for the Princess too. Whatever you need to tell or show her, you can show me."

He was still somewhat unsure. He looked at Navi, seeking her advice. "Hm, so far, this girl's been honest," it was perhaps a trick of the light, but she thought she saw Gris' smile slip for a moment. "So, I see no reason not to trust her."

Well, if his own fairy didn't have any protests, then neither did he. Taking a moment, Link retrieved the Kokiri Emerald from his sack, the stone glowed brilliantly in his hand. Gris looked around, seeing if anyone was watching. Hopefully, the temple's walls would conceal them from anyone listening in.

"Great," Gris said. "Now," she took the stone, the Emerald seemingly accepting her touch without issue. "This will go over here," she said, placing the round jewel of green to the left. "And the Goron Ruby here," she then gestured to the center indent on the pedestal. "And the Zora's Sapphire there," her eyes then fell onto the sealed door. "When they're gathered here, and the sacred song is played, then the Door of Time will be opened," she then closed her eyes, as if, despite her talk earlier, making a silent prayer. "And the Sacred Realm shall be ready to enter."

"And this is what the enemy wants?" Navi questioned.

"Yes," Gris said. "He wants nothing short of the Triforce," her eyes then opened and narrowed. "And, once he gets that, he'll set his sights on the entire world."

The entire world? That covered a lot of ground, didn't it? Link didn't understand things from the same angle Gris did, yet he could sense that it bore great importance. Still, he had one question.

"What…is the Triforce?"

Gris turned her attention to the boy. "It's a sacred talisman that the Three Goddesses left upon leaving the world they created. It was to serve as a direct link between them and their earthly children, or as the legends go." the girl explained.

"Well, where is now?" Navi asked.

"Somewhere," Gris answered. "Although, no one can reach it. Not even the King."

Link was shocked upon hearing this. Not even someone like the King could lay claim to it? "Why?"

"Because neither of the Keys to the Triforce belongs to him."

"Keys?" Navi asked.

Indeed, Link thought. Saria had said something about a key before he left. Something that led to the place she called the Sacred Realm. Although, he still wasn't entirely sure what that was.

"Yes," Gris answered. "Behind that door," she gestured to the large barrier that stood in between them and what it concealed from view. "Is one of the Keys," she then turned to Link. "But the Princess has the other. And, in order to get to one Key, you must have the other."

"And what is that Key?"

Gris's eyes shifted, looking to see if anyone was watching or listening in. Yet, thankfully, they appeared to be the only ones in the temple. "A sacred instrument that's been passed down since the Kingdom of Hyrule was first established," then, she paused for a moment and reached into her purse. Buried underneath the rupees inside, she retrieved an object and presented it to Link. "The Ocarina of Time."

Link and Navi's eyes fell on the woodwind instrument, its surface a finely painted blue, a silver band with the golden triforce around the sound hole. The boy in green studied it and brought out his own ocarina that Saria had given him.

"Oh, that's right," Navi remembered. She then looked at the blue instrument in Gris's possession. "And you play a song with it?"

"Exactly," the blonde girl nodded.

Link gazed at his own ocarina. He wondered what was so special about Gris's compared to his.

"You can't just play the song with anything," Gris told Link. "The Ocarina of Time isn't just something you blow into," she clarified. "It's said to have mysterious powers," she ran her fingers along the blue surface, her digits dipping into the holes. "Songs that are played with it are said to contain magical properties. In fact, there's one story I was told about a terrible drought that overtook Hyrule. So much so, that even the Zora's River was almost dried up."

A drought? He believed that the Great Deku Tree had spoken of such a thing in one of his stories. But, unfortunately, he couldn't remember much else. "What happened?" he questioned.

"A Princess of Hyrule held the Ocarina in her hands and played a mysterious song," the blonde girl answered. "Then, the clouds grew dark, and rain poured down from the heavens. It rained and rained until the river was close to flooding. But, before it could reach that point, it stopped. And Hyrule has never had a dry spell since."

Really? An instrument could do all that? Link wasn't entirely sure, as, while the ocarina was pretty, it didn't look all that special. Still, he was curious as to why the girl had brought it. If it belonged to the Royal Family, then wouldn't Gris get in trouble for taking it?

As if reading his mind, as well as his expression, the girl answered his question. "I had planned to give this to the Hero," she explained. "Or rather, I was told to by the Princess," she then turned her attention from the instrument to Link. "That's why I have to find him. He has to have both Keys in order to reach the Triforce before that man from the desert does."

"Wait a moment," Navi interjected. "If the King himself can't lay claim to the Keys to get the Triforce, then what makes you think this man will even have a chance?"

Gris went silent for a moment. "Well, the thing is," she bit her lip, her face growing forlorn. "Even if it is a gift from the Goddesses, the Triforce in itself is neither good nor evil."

Neither good nor evil? Link and Navi looked at each other to see if the other could perhaps understand what Gris meant. But before either of them could speak, the girl looked out one of the many windows in the temple and yelped.

"Oh no, oh no!" she said, rushing over and peering at the sky through the clear glass. "It's that late already?!"

Link and Navi came over and saw that, indeed, the sun had set, and the skies had already darkened to where several stars hung up, lighting up the black abyss.

"Ah! She's going to kill me!" Gris cried out, panicked. "I've got to go! I've got to get back to the Castle!" She threw the ocarina in her purse and dashed off, leaving Link and Navi. Although, she soon realized her mistake and came back. "Come on! Hurry!" she grabbed Link by the wrist and dragged him with her, Navi following close behind.

Upon going outside, both Link and Gris saw that it was night, and the once-active streets were completely empty of people. Compared to earlier, Link felt as if he had stepped into another reality, the same yet different.

"Hurry!" Gris urged him, continuing to lead Link through the quiet town.

Despite Gris's focus, Link found himself distracted. All around the town, he thought he had been seeing monsters lurking in the shadows, and was about to draw out his sword. But then, one of the small shapes emerged, and the boy found himself feeling rather guilty for getting his weapon.

But still, he wondered aloud. "What's that?"

Gris gazed in the direction Link was, and saw the four-legged creature approach them both. "Oh, it's just a dog,"

Dog? Studying the furry animal (at least, Link believed it to be an animal), the boy in green saw that the little thing bore shaggy, white fur, dark brown eyes, a black nose, and ears that stood upward. Kneeling down, Link stared at it curiously, the animal then backed up, rearing up as if to charge.

"Watch out!" Navi shouted, wincing as the beast ran toward Link and jumped, sending the boy to the ground, the dog immediately assaulting the boy with its mouth.

But, instead of cries of pain, the fairy heard strained giggles emitting from her Kokiri, the boy squirming as the animal continued to dig its nose into his neck, its teeth lightly nipping at the tender flesh.

"S-Stop!" Link chortled, trying to get his four-legged, furry aggressor off him. "N-Navi! Ge-he-t him off!"

"How?" the fairy asked. Surely he didn't expect her to be able to lift that beast herself, did he?

Fortunately, Gris stepped in and took the dog in her arms, picking it up and examining it. "Hm," she studied the small animal, Link managing to rise up from the ground. "You look a little too well-groomed to be a stray."

"Richard!"

Just as she was about to wonder who the dog belonged to, she, Link, and Navi heard someone shout from a short distance away. Seeing someone approaching, the fairy hid underneath Link's hat, and a stout woman with a large, brown bun, a blue dress with white patterns of diamonds, and ruby-red lips came toward them. While Gris didn't mention it, she thought the woman looked ghastly. Link was just wondering why she had seemingly put paint on her face.

"Oh!" the woman cried out, immediately swiping the dog from Gris's hands. "My Little Richard!" she brought the dog close, the poor pooch squished by his owner's hold. "What are you doing out here? There's a bunch of stray mutts running around out here."

"Well, we were on our way to the Castle," Gris explained. "But we-"

"No! I wasn't talking to you two!" the woman exclaimed. "I was worried about my Ritchie." she hugged the dog yet again. Link swore that the animal's eyeballs were about to pop out of his head from the force. Then, she went off, as if the two children didn't even exist.

"Gee, lady, you're welcome," Gris huffed, folding her arms. "Well, come on," she said. "I didn't find the Hero," her voice reflected her disappointment. "But," she turned her attention to Link. "You did help me, so I owe you."

Link's eyes widened. "You mean…?"

Gris nodded. "Besides, if I don't get back soon," she shuddered. "She's going to have my head."

"She?" Navi questioned, emerging from Link's hat. "I thought there was a King."

"Oh, it's not the King I'm worried about," the blonde girl told the fairy. "It's the Princess's attendant."

It had been hours since he went to the Castle.

"He's fallen asleep, I know it," Malon sighed, kicking at the ground. "Once again," suddenly, she felt something stir from within her dress, specifically her back. "I know, I know, you'll only have to hide just a little longer." A soft trilling emitted from the bulge on her back, the red-haired girl giving the round shape a small pat. Then, she heard footsteps approaching her.

"Ok, it's not too far away!" a girl's voice was heard, and its source was coming closer. Soon, the red-haired girl spotted a blonde girl running with a blonde boy dressed in green. "Huh?" Gris soon stopped, noticing Malon. "Oh, it's you," she said. Then, she grew suspicious. "What are you doing here?"

Malon wasn't entirely sure, but she believed that the other girl was perhaps insinuating something. "I'm not here to cause trouble if that's what you want to know," she responded, putting her hands on her hips. "I'm here because I'm waiting for my dad."

"Your dad?" Gris questioned.

"Yeah, he went to the Castle to deliver milk, but he hasn't come back yet," she then sighed. "Knowing him, it'll be nearly noon tomorrow before he wakes up," she then turned her attention back to Gris and Link. "Say, you two are going to the Castle, right?"

"Yes?" Link answered with a nod.

"Well, would you mind finding my dad?" Malon asked. "Otherwise, I'll be waiting here all night."

Gris pondered this. True, this Malon had red hair, but so far, she hadn't displayed any malicious intent. Plus, she was a child, just like the blonde girl. Even if she was a spy, what could she do? Still, Gris was doubtful about whether or not Malon was indeed related to the man from the desert. "Ok," Gris answered. "We'll be on the lookout for him. What's he look like?"

"He's in red and blue and has a mustache," Malon relayed the details of her parent. "And, don't tell him I said this, but his nose is a little big. It almost looks like a peach." she giggled. Hey, her father had left her out here, so the least she could do is poke some fun at him.

Then, Link noticed the bulge on her back. "What's that?" he asked.

"Huh? Oh! It's nothing!" Malon said, holding the shape underneath her dress. "I just got some stuff from town, so I'm storing it back here."

"Back there?" Gris asked. "But you don't have a sack or bag."

"I know," Malon said. "That's why I need dad to hurry back," she realized that the two children were curious as to what she was hiding, Gris, in particular, eyeing her suspiciously. "Oh! I forgot!" she then reached into her pocket and pulled out a round, white oval.

Link drew closer and inspected the strange object. Just what was it? He was seeing so many things he had no idea or clue about!

"That's an egg," Gris explained to him. Then she looked at Malon. "And what do you want us to do with this?"

"I've been incubating it carefully," the other girl clarified. "It'll be hatching anytime now, and I think that its first moments in life should be making sure the owner of the ranch gets up when he's supposed to."

"Hatch?" Gris questioned. Link held the egg and studied it closer. "But it'll just hatch into a chick."

Malon grinned. "Oh, you underestimate the lungs of Lon Lon Ranch's Cuccos. Anyway, please find him, regardless. I'm counting on you."

"Ok, sure," Gris said. "Besides, we're on our way to see the Princess."

"Oh, the Princess, huh?" Malon smirked. "Wait a minute, I thought you said you were from Labrynna. What relation do you have to the Royal Family?"

"I…" Gris stammered, trying to piece together a believable story. "I'm…a friend of the Princess!"

"A friend that lives in the Castle?" Malon questioned. Now she was the one that was suspicious of Gris.

"Yeah, a friend. Her personal friend," the blonde girl explained. "She doesn't have any, so I'm allowed to stay to be her playmate."

Malon was silent, pondering what the other girl had relayed to her. Truthfully, she didn't really buy it, but if these two were going to the Castle, they were her only hope of finding her dad. "Ok, fine. If that's the story you want to stick with," the redhead shrugged. "But, while you're going in, look around for a man that might be taking a snooze somewhere."

"Will do," Gris answered. Link put the egg in his pocket, and followed the other blonde as she urged him to follow her. "Come on, there's a secret way around here."

Both children, as well as Navi, were unaware of the large shape perched above them in a towering tree, his keen eyes observing the two youths as the girl led the boy to an ivy-covered wall. "You may fool others, but you cannot fool me," Kaepora Gaebora chuckled, watching as Link and "Gris" made their way to the top of the cliff and ran across to the gate blocking the way, climbing down a ladder hidden away in a small space to the right. "Still, this ruse of yours will only lead to trouble," the owl mused. "After all, even if neither of you knows it, you've been through this before."

And they would go through it again, although this pained the bird. They were still so young.

"Ok," Gris said, opening the door to the outside as quietly as she could. "The guards patrol the grounds at night, so we've got to be careful," she warned Link, eyes peering around for any armored figures nearby. "This way," she led the boy down a small pathway of rock through a grassy field, both of them keeping their footsteps as quiet as possible.

In the distance, Link could see men dressed in armor, just like those in Castle Town, walking around and spying for any potential intruders. Intruders such as him.

"Look," Gris whispered, pointing to a wall of stone. "You have to climb on certain rocks in order to get up," she told Link, moving towards the wall and maneuvering her way up. "Hurry!" she urged Link to come up.

The boy did so, making sure to get his footing. He began to use the same stones Gris had climbed, but accidentally slipped on the surface of one rock and was about to fall back. It never occurred, as a hand seized his wrist, pulling him back. Looking up, he saw Gris had saved him from falling. With her added support, Link managed to climb up, sighing with relief.

"Are you ok?" Gris questioned.

Link nodded. Then, he rubbed the back of his head, a shy smile creeping to his face. "Th-Thanks."

Gris felt her own face grow warm. "Uh, yeah, sure. No problem," she answered. Then, she looked behind her, spotting her destination. "Yes! We're finally here!"

Link looked up and his eyes widened in awe, the structure he had seen from the treetops in the Lost Woods was now right in front of him. And it was even more glorious than he could've imagined. A building of white brick and blue roofing, several windows situated on all floors of the enormous palace, and a long, winding body of water surrounding it. He had done it, Link thought. He had finally reached the Castle. Now all that was left was to see the Princess.

"Ok, we've got to shimmy our way around the moat," Gris informed Link, slipping down to the small bit of land around the body of water, and guiding the boy along. "It's a little slippery, so-"

"Oof!"

SPLASH!

"Shh!" Gris shushed, Link having accidentally stepped into the water. They both waited for a few moments but found that no one was approaching them. "Whew," the girl sighed in relief. "Let's go." then, she stopped. "Hey, do you hear that?"

Link listened in, at first unsure of what the girl meant. But, after a few moments, he caught onto something too.

"It sounds like…snoring," Navi observed, peeking out from her Kokiri's hat. "Heh, it's even louder than you." she chuckled.

"Does not!" Link huffed.

"Hey, do you think…?" Gris asked, thinking back to what Malon had said. She then found a small patch of land she could climb up, pulling Link with her. Then, they both saw a man reclining by a small number of crates. "It's him!" she proclaimed. "It's the guy that delivers milk to the Castle!"

Both children approached the slumbering man dressed in blue and red, perfectly matching the other girl's description. "Welcome…to our ranch," he murmured, occasionally throwing in a small snore with his mumbling. "It's…so fun…"

"Wow, this guy is out of it," Gris observed. "I don't know if there's anything around here that can wake him up."

Suddenly, Link felt something stirring in his pocket. Then, he, Gris, and Navi heard the sound of cracking, and from within the pocket sprung out a newly hatched chick.

"Huh, that was fast," Navi observed. "Now what?"

As if answering their question, the chick hopped out of the pocket and ran over to the slumbering man, getting in range of his ear. Then, to the shock of all three of the onlookers, the chick released a bellowing "Cucco!" immediately rousing the man from his sleep and getting him up with a start.

"What in tarnation?!" he cried out, getting up in a panic. "Can't a guy get some shut-eye around here?" after a few moments, his pumping blood began to slow and his blue eyes noticed the two children before him. "Huh? Who are you two?"

"Us?" Gris asked, placing her hands on her hips. "Who are YOU?" she questioned, raising a brow.

"I'm Talon," the bearded man answered. "I own the ranch outside of town."

Gris then looked at the crates of milk behind him. "So, you're the milkman?"

"Hm, I guess you could say that," Talon said. "I do bring milk to the Castle," he then chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Although the trek up here sort of took a bit out of me, so I set down for a little rest. Guess I overslept."

Yeah, no kidding, Link thought. Had he been here since yesterday?

"Anyway, what are you two doing here? They don't just let anyone pass by." Talon questioned.

"Well, for one, we're on our way to see the Princess," Gris told him.

"The Princess, huh? Well, good luck with that! The King never lets her out of the Castle," Talon told the children. "Truth is, I don't know if anyone outside of the Castle has even seen the Princess. I've been delivering milk for years, and I've still never seen her."

"We don't have a choice," Gris answered the ranch owner. "This boy has to see her, no matter what."

"Hm?" Talon then directed his attention to Link. "Huh, look at you," he observed. "Dressing up for Princess Day a little early?"

"He's from the Kokiri Forest," Gris explained. Truthfully, while this Talon seemed like a pleasant enough guy, she was in a hurry. "But you said you're from the ranch?" she asked.

"Yeah, that's right," Talon responded.

"Well, we met a girl that says she's looking for you."

Talon was puzzled at first, then his expression turned into one of horror. "Oh no, Malon! I left her behind!" the chick that had awakened him leaped up into his pocket, the man readying himself to get out of there as fast as he could. "I'm going to get it from her!" then, at a surprising velocity, Talon dashed away from the two children, leaving a trail of dust as he went off in a hurry, desperate to be spared the supposed wrath of his child.

"Well, that's taken care of," Gris said, watching Talon disappear from sight. "Well," she turned her attention to Link, gesturing to a nearby door located in the northern outer wall. "Come on." she took him by the hand and led him through the door. Inside was a small area with fertile green bushes contained in bricked-off sections filled with soil, and a small, man-made stream running. "Through there is the garden," she told Link. "I'll tell her that you're here, and she'll meet you in the courtyard. It's at the end of the garden, so you'll find it, no problem."

She then released Link from her grasp and made her way to another door situated to the left. "W-Wait!" Link called out. Where was Gris going? Surely she couldn't think of leaving him!

"I have to go get the Princess!" Gris informed the boy. "She…" she paused. "She might still be sleeping."

Well, yes, it was still early morning, Link thought. Still, he wasn't sure if he could navigate the garden alone.

"Trust me, I've snuck through here before. The guards can't see anything that isn't in front of their faces. You'll be fine," with that, Gris opened the door. "The Princess will see you there!" Then, she left, leaving Link behind.

"Well, that's a bit rude," Navi said, emerging from Link's hat. "She gets you here all this way, and now decides to leave you hanging?" the fairy gazed at Link. "Hey, Link, are you paying attention?"

Huh? Oh yeah, Link nodded in response. Although truth be told, he was sort of disappointed that Gris had gone. Even if it was for a short while, he enjoyed hanging out with her. It felt good to have another friend. It certainly helped that she was kinda cute.

"Uh, yeah, you can drool over her later," Navi told him. Link snapped out of it, immediately flustered and protesting the fairy's observation. "For how, however," she then flew a short distance away, spotting men sporting armor and spears. "We've got to get past these guys."

Great, she had to hurry! Not only did she have to somehow sneak back into her room, but she ALSO had to get dressed and be where she said the Princess would be on time! And, all the while, praying that her attendant wouldn't notice her absence. As Gris made her way towards the chambers of the Royal Daughter, she found her mind thinking back on the boy she had just led here. He wasn't the one she had seen in her vision, he was much too young. But still, regardless, Gris found Link pleasant enough.

She just hoped she could make the other role she would play convincing.

Note: Next chapter will have the fateful meeting! And we'll get the first peek at the man from the desert!

It's obvious who the characters are, but please, no spoilers.

Thank you all for reading! Let me know if you spot any errors, and I hope to see you next time.