The moon had long risen high above the lush, green fields of Hyrule. While nature itself was growing strong and vibrant, what slumbered beneath the soil was vicious and cruel, patiently awaiting their next victim. The moment there were vibrations of footsteps upon the dirt path, the creatures emerged from the ground, their calcified skeletons forcing the dirt apart as they reached for the night sky.
The collection of bones formed three separate creatures once fully exhumed, two of them short and stumpy with long arms and large skulls, the third tall and intimidating, with an elongated snout. All three stared down at the unfortunate person who'd walked over them, their glowing, empty eye sockets locked onto their newfound target: a tan-skinned Hylian with silver hair.
She was clearly a traveler, dressed in thick padding and leathers, a large backpack, and simple traveling weapons. Furrowing her brow, the woman gritted her teeth, pulling her sword from its sheath and a shield from her backpack, ready to defend herself. Yet, the moment the beasts stepped forward, she took a step back, her confidence somewhat lacking. Regardless, the traveler stood her ground, steeling her nerves as the trio of undead creatures stomped closer to her, dirt falling from the crevices of their bones as they rattled.
"Two stalkoblin and a stalmoblin, huh?" the woman mumbled. Gritting her teeth in anger, she began banging her sword against her shield., shouting,"You looking to fight? Come on! Bring it on!"
With a roar, the two stalkoblins darted forward, flailing their long, bony arms. The woman narrowly avoided the hands and forearms, feeling the force of disturbed air swish past her body. With an angry swipe, she severed the calcified tendons of one beast, causing its arm to fall, before turning and slicing through the vertebrae in the other's neck. Bringing the pommel of her sword back up, she slammed it against the skeleton's head, knocking it clean off. As the bones tumbled to the ground, she dodged another of the remaining stalkoblin's attacks—swinging its remaining arm—before eventually getting its head cut off as well.
As a second pile of bones dropped to the ground, the skeleton's head rolled away. The woman grinned at her work, only to hear a deep roar from behind her. With fear in her eyes, she turned to see the large, hulking form of the stalmoblin, its bones rattling as it jumped toward her aiming its elongated, pointed horn down toward the traveler as it descended. Fortunately, the woman had raised her shield, causing the stalmoblin's horn to scrape across the wood instead of her skin. As the beast pulled itself out of the dirt, it knocked her away, sending her skidding across the grass.
Disoriented, the woman pushed herself up, bringing her hand to her pounding head, her sword laying in the grass. She looked up to see the stalmoblin stomping its way toward her. As if that wasn't bad enough, she watched in horror as the piles of bones from the stalkoblins she had defeated began to rumble and re-form, their skulls bouncing across the ground before hopping back onto their shoulders. Cracking their necks, they turned their glowing eyes toward her as they too stomped forward.
"Oh geez..." the traveler quavered. "How'd I get myself into this mess? Do I have really bad luck or something?"
Together, the three beasts roared, causing her ears to ring and the air to vibrate. The traveler curled into a ball, shielding her ears and closing her eyes, awaiting her demise, unaware of the shadow of another traveler passing over her, dressed in bright blue and carrying weapons of his own.
Screeching, the two stalkoblins leapt forward, their bony arms poised to strike. Readying himself, the traveler in blue swung his sword, his blade slicing through the air as he struck one of the skeletons on the skull. Sending that one flying away, he quickly raised his shield, allowing for the second skeleton's ribcage to land on its front. With a yell, he brought the shield down, slamming the stalkoblin into the ground, scattering the bones.
As the dislodged skull rolled away yet again, the blue-clad swordsman glanced up to see the large stalmoblin stomping toward him, along with the other stalkoblin picking itself back up. Looking down at the sword in his hand, the swordsman frowned, inspecting the weakened steel. He quickly formed a plan. Bringing the sword above his head, he chucked it as hard as he could. The weapon spun through the air, striking the stalmoblin in the skull, shattering upon impact.
As the stalmoblin's head detached and fell, the rest of its bony body collapsed. The swordsman then turned his attention to the final stalkoblin dashing toward him. Reaching behind his back, he grabbed the bow hanging off his belt, nocked an arrow, pulled the bow's drawstring back to his cheek, and fired, striking the stalkoblin's skull and causing its skeleton to collapse again.
Having knocked all three skeleton's skulls to the ground, the swordsman returned the bow to his back, replacing it with the stone device resting on his hip. After a few taps and a flash of blue light, a much larger sword appeared in his hands, one that required two hands to wield. With another yell, he leaped into the air, the greatsword high above his head, and with a heavy swing, the wide blade slammed onto the ground, crushing the stalmoblin skull into pieces. With another two swings, both the stalkoblins' skulls were crushed as well, causing all the bones on the ground to cease their rattling.
Breathing a sigh of relief, the swordsman placed the large weapon on his back, ensuring all the bones were truly lifeless, but was only able to look around for a moment, for someone suddenly shrieked behind him.
"You won't be taking me without getting a few scars!"
The swordsman turned, catching only a glimpse of a wooden shield before it slammed against his face. It was only after he fell clutching his nose—as he was rolling on the ground—that the traveler recognized him.
"Link! Oh jeez, I'm so sorry!" the traveler said apologetically. "I thought you were one of the monsters!"
"Yeah, I know," Link said in a muffled voice from behind his palms, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. "You did the same thing last time..."
"Hold on, I think I have a rag in my bag for your nose. Hopefully it isn't too bad," the traveler said, crouching down to his level.
Setting her bag down, she began searching through it before finding a simple cloth. She held it out for Link to take, who accepted and placed it over his nose.
"Thanks, Letty," Link said, still slightly muffled as he pushed himself up. With a nod, Letty continued to search through her bag.
"I should be thanking you. I thought I was a goner for sure this time," she said, pulling out a few sticks and a couple jagged pieces of flint. Jarringly, her mood suddenly changed from appreciation to extreme anger. "Those damn monsters! It's like they have a vendetta against me! Ugh, I'm really tired of this... Seriously."
"If you're tired of it, you should have stopped at a stable," Link said. "You know stalkoblins and everything else comes out at night."
"Are you looking for a fight, too? Huh?" Letty asked, pausing her hands to glare at him, yet Link glared right back at her.
"You're being temperamental again," he said sternly. "Besides, I technically already got a fight from you."
Immediately, Letty's face went from furious to guilty.
"Sorry..." she said, continuing her work. "I'm trying to be better at that..."
Forming a pile with the sticks, she placed a piece of flint on top and struck it with her sword, causing the sticks to burst into flames. With a campfire now set, she sat in front of the warmth, bringing her knees to her chin while wrapping her arms around her legs.
"Um, thanks for saving me...again," Letty said. "And sorry for hitting you...again."
"It's fine. It is, I promise," Link said, noticing Letty's sudden lapse into sorrow. Her mood swings truly were one of a kind. "Where were you going at this time of night, anyway?"
"Lurelin Village," Letty said, her mood swinging back to joy as a smile formed on her face. "They say the fish and fruit there are really delicious, so I thought I'd try and add them to my diet!"
"Well, that's a good reason. I'd travel as quickly as possible to eat Lurelin cuisine, too" Link replied.
Pulling the rag away from his nose, he inspected the red stains; thankfully, there wasn't too much blood. He knew, though, that it was only due to his abnormal strength that it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Anyone else would have been knocked out by such a strong blow to the face from a wooden shield. Taking a deep breath, he lowered the rag and took the ancient device back into his hands. With a few taps, another bright blue light flashed, and a few fish appeared in his hands, much to Letty's surprise.
"Woah! I thought you could only make weapons appear!" she said in awe as Link replaced the slate on his hip.
"I can make pretty much everything appear, if I already found it," Link chuckled. "It's nothing too special. Think of it as a really big pouch. See these?"
He held out the fish for Letty to look at.
"These are from Lurelin. You can have them," he offered kindly. At this, Letty's eyes widened.
"Really? Are you sure I can have these?" she asked.
"I wouldn't have offered otherwise," Link smiled. "Though, I don't have a cooking pot, so they'll just be roasted, if that's alright."
"Yeah, of course! They say the fish from Lurelin are extra fatty, so I'm sure they'll taste just as good!" Letty said cheerfully. Nodding, Link took a stick from the ground to hold the fish over the flames. The two sat in silence for a while, before Letty spoke again. "You know, I have some pretty cool information about meals, if you want it as my thanks for saving me."
"Sure, I'll listen," Link agreed. Though he was confident he knew everything there was to know about cooking, he also knew if he didn't accept, her mood would quickly drop.
"Well, the type of meat you cook can affect your body!" Letty explained. "Meat dishes are really great for helping you recover your health, but fish dishes such as these can contain pretty special effects! And if you combine them, who knows what you'll get? Pretty neat, right?"
"It sure is," Link said nonchalantly. At this, Letty's brow furrowed.
"You don't sound too impressed," she grumbled.
"I am, I am," Link said, though Letty didn't seem all too convinced. "Okay, how about this: do you have any information on Lover's Pond?"
"Lover's Pond?" Letty asked.
"You know about Lurelin, right?" Link asked. "I figured maybe you know about the pond. I heard it was in the east, and saw on my map that there's a pond that looks heart-shaped. Maybe you can tell me if that's it..."
"Well, you've come to the right place!" Letty said, pride swelling in her chest. "Lover's Pond is said to be around Lurelin Village. It's specifically in the southeast, from what I'm told. It's a famous place where love can become reality, and they say the pond is literally heart-shaped. You said you saw a heart-shaped pond on your map?"
"Yeah. Here, take a look at this," Link said, grabbing the slate again. He brightened the front with a tap, tapped it a few more times to get to the right page, and with a pinch and spread of his fingers, he fixed the focus on a specific part of the map. "Right there. Do you see that?"
"The heart? Are you sure this is a real map?" Letty said, examining the glowing stone. Taking it from Link's hand, she moved the map around (taking a second to figure out how it worked) before inspecting the rest of it. "Hm... This seems pretty accurate. In fact, this is the most accurate map I've ever seen... If that's the case, then wow, it really is heart-shaped, which is surprising to me...but I don't know what I expected."
"So you think that's it?" Link asked.
"I can't imagine it would be anything else," Letty said, handing the slate back to Link. "Are you thinking of heading there? Do you think you'll find your true love?"
"I don't know," Link said. "It's more like... I think I might take someone there one day. Maybe to...confirm their feelings. I heard this song and I've been pretty unsure about it."
"That must've been one heck of a song, but I think it'd be pretty romantic if you did that," Letty giggled. "Hm. Maybe I should head southeast before Lurelin and go to Lover's Pond myself! Maybe fortune will finally smile on me and I'll find a partner, one that will accept me even if they think I'm temperamental!"
"I'm sure you will," Link chuckled, which gained him another glare of frustration from Letty.
"So you do really think I'm temperamental, just like everyone else!" she yelled. Sighing, Link pulled the freshly-roasted fish back from the fire and held one of them out to her.
"Just eat," he said.
Begrudgingly, Letty took the fish, and for the next few hours, the two continued to eat and chat.
...
The afternoon clouds passed over Link's head as he thought about the Lover's Pond. It had been stuck in his mind ever since he began wondering what to do when he arrived in Lurelin Village within the next few days. He had a few different ideas he'd been considering, but that one consistently appeared at the forefront of his mind. Before his thoughts could delve deeper into the pond for the day, the mare he was riding lightly shook her mane as she galloped.
"Getting a little tired, girl?" Link asked, stroking her white mane. "I thought you were having a little too much fun yesterday. You may be strong, but you need to take some time to rest every now and then. I know that better than anyone now."
The mane snorted, which made Link chuckle a bit. Accepting that as Epona's agreement to rest for the day, Link looked at the sky, counting how many days it had been since he had left Kakariko.
"We still have time... Actually, more than I thought," he said to himself, watching as the sun began its descent, late afternoon transitioning to evening. "An entire night's rest will do us both good. Hm..."
He glanced over at the mountain they were passing.
"Satori Mountain... If I remember correctly, the Outskirt Stable is nearby, just down the road from here," Link said to the horse. "We'll stop there for the night. How does that sound?"
Epona nickered in response, suddenly galloping just a little bit faster. Link smiled.
"You're a great horse, Epona. You really are," Link said, continuing to stroke her white mane.
The two continued down the road bordering the plains of Hyrule Field, passing the mountain, a few forests, the occasional destroyed wagon, crossing a wooden bridge suspended above a roaring river, and rounding one final bend in the road before the smoking, wooden horse head of the stable came into view. As they drew closer to the stable, Link tugged gently on Epona's reins, slowing her to a trot, only stopping her completely the moment they were in front of the stablemaster's desk.
"Link! It's good to see you!" the stablemaster said with a bright smile as Link slid off Epona's saddle. "Come to rest for the evening?"
"I sure have. Do you think you can board and feed Epona for me? It's just for the night," Link replied, reaching into his back pouch, searching for a specific rupee color. "I'll also be spending the night, if I could have a bed."
"Of course you can! You know you're always welcome, especially after helping old Toffa find that pure-white horse," the stablemaster replied as Link located the rupee he was looking for.
"I'm glad I was able to help him out," Link said, proffering a red gem, which the stablemaster gladly accepted. "That horse has served me and my partner well, though I can tell he still prefers to be alone. I've been debating letting him roam free again and getting a new horse to replace him. He just doesn't seem as happy as before."
"If that's what you think is best. At this point, I value your horse knowledge more than my own," the stablemaster said, pocketing the money. "Maybe someone else can watch him for you, once it's time."
"Maybe. Thanks for the bed," Link said, rapping his knuckles on the countertop in farewell. He heard the stablemaster call for his employees to come and grab Epona as he disappeared inside the tent-like building, choosing a bed near one of the tables. Stretching, he sat on the edge of the bed with a sigh. "I think I'll take it easy tonight. As much as I like riding, I've been sitting on that saddle for too long..."
Absentmindedly massaging his legs, he gazed around the stable, seeing the occasional traveler or stable worker, before his eye happened upon a poster on the wall–a local recipe with a picture of a meal and its ingredients on the front. Squinting, Link read the instructions.
"Wheat... Egg... Sugar cane..." he mumbled to himself before turning his attention to the front desk. "Hey, Embry! Do you have these ingredients from this poster here in the stable?"
"Yeah, why?" the stablemaster called back from his desk. "Do you want us to whip the meal up for you?"
"Actually, I'll cook if you'll let me," Link said, rising from the bed. "I'll make a bowl for everyone if you provide the ingredients."
"You cook? I wouldn't have guessed!" the stablemaster laughed. "This oughta taste good!"
"I think you'll be surprised," Link chuckled as he approached the desk. "I'm good to use your ingredients, then?"
"Go for it. Just search some of those crates over there," the stablemaster answered. "I'm curious to see how good it tastes."
"I won't let you down," Link said, stretching his arms as he exited the stable.
The stablemaster was indeed not let down, nor was the rest of the staff. As the sun began to set, the aroma of Link's cooking watered the mouths of any Hylian in range, prompting them to take a plate once the food was ready. Once everyone who'd requested a plate had been served, Link made himself a plate and reentered the building, passing the front desk again.
"I gotta say, Link... This is incredible," the stablemaster said, indicating his own plate of food as Link walked by. "You're incredible."
"Thanks, Embry. I'm glad you like it," Link responded kindly.
With a yawn, he took a seat at the table near his bed, sitting next to an elderly man wearing the stable's uniform.
"That was some good food you made, Link m'boy," the elderly man said, gesturing to his empty plate.
"Thanks, Mr. Toffa," Link said, taking a bite of his own food.
"How's that white horse doing?" the elderly man asked, watching as Link swallowed.
"Good. Embry and I were just talking about it," Link said, preparing to take another bite of food. "I think he'd be happier being able to roam freely again, though. Hey... Would you like to watch over it if I decided to set it free?"
"Me? Why, watching over that white stallion would be a dream come true," the old man said.
"I think that's a wish that will come true," Link said before taking another bite of his food. "I think it's just about time to replace it."
"Well, I'll gladly watch over him," Toffa said happily. "I know that horse liked to graze on its own, free to go where it pleased. I can see why you'd wanna return him back to that life."
As Link nodded in thanks, he noticed someone come through the stable's entrance. After speaking with the stablemaster, the individual came over and sat in the third chair at the table with Link and the old man. He was a sturdy man, wearing a heavy layer of thick clothing and leathers, and large, square glasses. His dark hair was perfectly parted, and his jawline was also very square. With a sigh, he pulled his traveling backpack off, the sword and shield hanging off its sides clanking with the motion.
"Ugh, my shoulders get so stiff from lugging that thing around," he grumbled, adjusting his glasses before looking at who he was sitting in front of. "Oh, hey! Look who it is! It's good to see you, Link."
"Hey, Botrick," Link said through a mouth full of food. "It's good to see you, too. How are your patrols going?"
"Smoothly for once!" Botrick said. "After being saved by you twice—"
"Three times."
"—twice, I dedicated myself to learning where the monsters tend to appear. It's made it pretty easy to avoid and keep an eye on them, warning travelers as they pass by," Botrick said. "Feels good not to get knocked by a bokoblin every few weeks."
"I can imagine. Glad you figured out how to do your patrols," Link chuckled, taking another bite of his food.
"Hey, that smells delicious! Did you cook that?" Botrick asked.
"I did," Link replied simply.
"Woah, that looks perfect! Do you mind if I try a piece—?"
"Nope. you missed out," Link said, taking another big bite of food. Through his stuffed mouth, he said, "Get here sooner next time."
"Ah, man..." the bespectacled man whined, leaning back in his chair in disappointment while listening to the old man's laughs.
With the sun having finally set, those at the stable began to unwind, prepping their beds and cleaning up for the night. While stable workers swept the wooden floorboards of the room, Link lay in his bed, his arms behind his head with his eyes closed, as he listened to the ambient sounds of the stable's atmosphere. Botrick remained in one of the chairs, looking through his notes from his patrols. Sighing and closing the book, the patrolman pushed up his glasses before looking out toward the small portion of night sky visible through the stable's entrance.
"Hey, Link... Are you still awake?"
"Yeah, what's up?" Link called back, his eyes still closed.
"Have you ever heard of the Lord of the Mountain?" Botrick asked curiously.
"The what?" Link asked, his brow slightly furrowing as he tried to think back to any time he may have heard such a name. "Now that you mention it, I think a guy named Quince may have mentioned something about that before..."
"The Lord of the Mountain?" the voice of the elderly man suddenly called out. "I haven't heard anyone speak of that legend in some time."
"Legend? What are we talking about?" Link asked, his eyes opening in curiosity. "What is it?"
"A creature of elegance," Toffa explained. "They say if this lord appears, the animals will heed its call and gather."
"But what is this 'lord' creature?" Botrick asked.
"No one knows," Toffa said. "No one has ever seen the lord, at least not as long as I've been around, and I've been here quite a long time."
"Actually, according to Quince, he's seen it before. Scared him half to death. Apparently a dog saved him by barking, but I never looked into it. Why are you so curious about it, Botrick?" asked Link, pushing himself up to a sitting position. "I thought you were focused on your patrols."
"Well, I am, but I've noticed more animals heading toward Satori Mountain recently, now that I've been paying more attention," Botrick answered. "I thought it was weird, and I remember hearing about that old story from a few travelers passing by."
"I mean, is it a bad thing?" Link asked. "Is the gathering causing problems?"
"No, I'm just curious about it!" Botrick said. "Imagine being able to see the fabled Lord of the Mountain! To be the first in who knows how long to see it!"
"I dunno, m'boy," Toffa spoke up again. "Not counting whoever Link spoke with, it's been decades since the creature has been seen. It may not even be real. It could be a just legend meant to keep people off the mountain. It's a beautiful and sacred place to many, from what I hear. Besides, it's dangerous to go up there nowadays with all the monsters around. Seeing as you had to be saved three times—"
"Two times."
"—three times, I dunno if I'd suggest going up there. Not alone, at least."
"Aw man," Botrick said, leaning back in his chair in disappointment. Link, however, remained sitting up.
He looked at the pillow he had been lying on, gauging just how tired he was. It was interesting. Very interesting. It had been some time since he had gone on a mini adventure, searching for the unknown and other interesting legends. He thought back to the memory of Lover's Pond he had earlier before sighing, committing to his plan.
"Get your sword and shield on, Botrick," Link suddenly said, catching the bespectacled man by surprise.
"What? Why?" Botrick asked as Link stood, grabbing his own weapons that had been propped up against the bed's headboard.
"We're going to see if we can find this Lord of the Mountain," he said, buckling the sword onto his back.
"Now?" Botrick asked, to which Toffa chuckled.
"You piqued his curiosity," the elderly man said. "When Link's curious, his energy burns bright."
"I'm going with or without you," Link said. "I have to go into the Gerudo Desert tomorrow, so it's now or never. Besides, most monsters should be asleep now that the sun has gone down."
"I... Wha..." Botrick stammered, unsure of what to do. Upon hearing his stuttering, Link shrugged and began walking off. Noticing this, Botrick sighed heavily before grabbing his weapons. "Fine! Fine, I'm coming. I'm coming!"
Hefting his backpack and throwing it over his shoulders, he hurried after Link into the darkness of the night.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Botrick asked, falling into step at Link's side.
"We'll be fine," Link said. "Most monsters are asleep by now, so if we creep around quietly, we'll be fine. And if any of the undead come up, I can take care of them easily."
"If you say so..." Botrick said nervously. Link chuckled.
"Come on, how many times have I saved you now?" he asked.
"Twice."
"Three times," Link said with a smile. "I'm sure I can pull off a fourth."
Botrick grumbled as they walked, watching as the moon slowly rose higher into the sky. They walked for some time, rounding the bends in the road and across the bridge Link had traveled over earlier that day.
"So... Why did you decide you wanted to try and find the Lord of the Mountain?" Botrick asked after some time. When Link hummed in question, he continued. "I mean, you're headed for the desert tomorrow, right? Don't you want to get some rest? Why are you wasting time out here helping me fulfill my wish of seeing a lord that may not even exist...?"
"It's not a waste of time," Link answered immediately. "I'm going because... You never know what you could find. I used to check out every crevice of this land I could, but as time passed, I stopped looking for those little pieces of beauty. I wanna bring that aspect of my life back, at least during times of peace. I may not know what will happen in the future, but right now, at this moment, things are good, and I want to make use of this good again."
"I... Wow, that was a surprisingly deep answer..." Botrick responded. "I...didn't understand much of that at all."
"Also, I have a lover, and if this place is special, I'd like to show it to her one day," Link added.
"Oh, well why didn't you just say that!" Botrick laughed, a smile appearing on his face. "Look at you, getting a girl finally! I hear Satori Mountain is stunning, so showing her that place alone would tug at her heart! But... Do you think showing her a creature like the Lord of the Mountain would be smart? It could be...ugly. You never know."
"Honestly, I think she'd be fascinated by it regardless of how it looks," Link chuckled. "But maybe it'll be pretty, too. We won't know until we get up there."
"Right, right, right..." Botrick said. He looked up the path, the dark silhouette of the mountain coming into view. "Though, I really hope it's not scary..."
They began their trek up the mountain, and it wasn't long before skeletal creatures emerged from the beneath the dirt. Though Botrick was ready to fend for himself, Link took the monsters out with ease before he could even process what had happened. After watching the bones clatter to the ground, he noticed Link sheathing his sword, frowning once he realized what had happened.
"There's no way you're human," he said, as Link picked up a writhing skeletal arm. "Not with that kind of speed. And put that thing down! Why are you carrying that?"
"It'll save me from using my sword," Link said, placing it on his back next to his main weapon. "Swords don't last forever, and I'd rather not use them on guys like these. Here's another one, here—"
Link picked up another writhing set of bones.
"—use it," he said, holding the bony arm out. "Extend your sword's life by using this. It could save you from losing a weapon midway through a fight. You wanted to do whatever it takes to help your patrols, right?"
"Aw, man, don't use that against me," Botrick whined, but after catching Link's unwavering gaze, he sighed. "Fine. Give it."
Reluctantly, he took the arm away from Link, his face full of disgust as he watched it twist within his grasp.
"Alright, let's keep moving," Link said, his tone unchanging as he continued on.
"Yeah..." Botrick said, still looking at the arm he held before following.
They passed trees and boulders, carefully stepping in the darkness so as not to slip and fall back down the mountain. After a few hours, when the moon was directly above them in the sky, Link could hear Botrick's tired gasps growing louder. He was so loud, Link heard the skittering of animals dashing away through shrubs and from behind rocks in fear of who was climbing past them.
"Are we...getting close...to the top?" Botrick managed to ask. "I dunno if I have much energy left..."
"Look," Link said simply, pointing ahead.
Botrick looked ahead to see what appeared to be the peak of the mountain. Though he looked grateful the climb was over, he quickly frowned.
"Wait, there's nothing here!" he said, looking around. "Just shrubs and rocks!"
"Look closer," Link said. "There's a path."
Upon closer inspection, what Link said was true. Similar to Dueling Peaks, there was a pathway cutting through the peak, just wide enough for someone to walk through. Botrick gulped.
"Y-you wanna go through there?" he asked.
"Is there any reason why we shouldn't?" Link asked, stepping toward the crevice.
"A lot of reasons! What if there's a cliff? What if we walk off the edge—?"
"Well, I'd be able to climb back up no problem," Link said. "If you're scared, I'll check it out first, then you can follow."
"B-but what if the Lord of the Mountain leaves after seeing you?" Botrick asked. Link shrugged, still heading toward the crevice. At this, Botrick groaned. "Uuuuugh! I'm coming!"
He hurried forward, catching up to Link, who was inspecting the crevice entrance.
"Look's safe to me," Link said, stepping inside. "Whew... It's kind of cold though..."
"Ah, here," Botrick said, reaching behind him. "My clothing is already kind of thick, so take this."
From his traveling backpack, he pulled out a cloak. Accepting it, Link nodded in thanks before throwing it over his shoulders. After confirming Botrick truly wanted to follow, the two entered the crevice, walking along the natural path before quickly finding a split in the crevice.
"Careful, not that way," Link said, holding an arm out to stop his companion. "Down there is one of those steep falls you were worried about."
"See, I told you there were possible dangers! We could've slipped and fell off the—uh?"
Botrick stopped, something having caught his eye. Noticing this, Link turned to see what it was that had distracted his traveling partner. In the air, slowly and peacefully floating around them, were pink particles. They almost looked like—
"Leaves?" Botrick asked in awe.
"Leaves..." Link responded, watching as the leaves surrounded them. "Pink leaves, like the Great Deku Tree. They're coming from down there. Come on."
The two made their way through the second crevice, entranced by the falling leaves, before eventually they stepped out from between the rock walls. Their eyes widened at the sight before them. There before them was a pond, filled with lily pads and floating pink leaves, its edges surrounded by shrubs and greenery, and a large cherry blossom tree with branches that spread far out, creating a pink canopy over the entire site.
"Woah..." Botrick said. "Have you ever been here before?"
"No... I was close, but it was specifically to reach a shrine. Once I'd found it, I didn't bother searching the rest of the mountain," Link said, looking around at the pond's beauty.
"Well, if there is a Lord of the Mountain, this has to be where it would appear," Botrick said. "I don't see anything, though..."
"Maybe it's not the meeting time," Link suggested. "The animals have been gathering here, right? Maybe we're too early."
"Or too late," Botrick said. "What do we do?"
"I'm staying," Link said.
"Staying? Up here?" the bespectacled man asked incredulously, to which Link nodded. Walking over to the mountain wall, he took a seat against it, selecting a spot where he could watch over the pond.
"If it comes, it comes," he said. "And if not, that just means I missed it, and in the morning, I'll head to the desert. You can head back if you want, or you can stay—"
"Shut up," Botrick said, taking a seat next to him. "I've already made it this far, traveling past midnight up a mountain. I can't believe I followed you up here..."
Link chuckled.
"Sorry. I tend to drag a lot of people along with me," he said. Botrick shrugged.
"Eh, whatever. Honestly, this is the craziest thing I've ever done. It's kind of nice," he said. "I feel like a new person. Even if we don't find the Lord of the Mountain, we found this place. Maybe I can bring a lover up here too, when I find one that is. Say, who is this lover of yours anyway?"
"Who's my lover?" Link asked. When Botrick nodded in response, he hummed. "She's someone special, the most beautiful woman in Hyrule, who has the biggest heart and kindest smile you could imagine. She's extremely passionate with whatever she's doing, stubbornly so, and... I couldn't live without her."
"Really? You're setting the bar pretty high there, Link," Botrick chuckled. "Where is she? Why aren't you traveling with her?"
"We had to travel separately for the goals we have right now, but I get to see her in a few days," Link said, a smile appearing on his face at the thought. "I have so many things to tell her. I can't wait."
Botrick smiled.
"I'm happy for you. Man, I want someone even more now," he said, raising his arms and placing his hands behind his head as he leaned against the mountain wall. "It sounds amazing having someone so special."
"I won't lie... It is," Link said, looking up at the cherry blossom leaves above them. "It really is."
A strange, echoed whinny rang through the air. This was what made Link's ears perk up, snapping him out of his slumber. With a snort, he sat up, rubbing his eyelids before lifting them, only to be met with a pair of bright, yellow eyes. Gasping, he tried to back up, banging his head against the stone behind him. Rubbing the dull pain behind his skull, he looked up to see a creature desperately scampering away after Link's shocked reaction.
It was a small creature, blue in color, with a body shaped similarly to an oversized rabbit; however, the shape of its body was the only leporine similarity there was. Its face appeared similar to that of an owl, with large eyes and a beak, and at the top of its head were strange, protruding antlers, with buds sprouting all over them. Finally, what made the creature even more unique was its glowing body.
"A blupee? What's one of them doing here?" Link murmured quietly, still rubbing his head while surveying his surroundings.
Suddenly, his drowsiness vanished entirely as his eyes widened. To his surprise, the pond had changed. While the tree was still there and the cherry blossom leaves were still floating around, a teal-colored mist had enveloped the mountain. The fog was thick enough to swirl when he waved his hand through it. Surrounding the pond were multiple blupee creatures, all sitting or standing around, all staring at Link.
"Hey, guys..." Link said awkwardly, looking around at all the bioluminescent creatures surrounding him. "I really hope this meeting doesn't have to do with the arrows I shot at you when I first woke up... Botrick. Botrick, wake up."
Botrick didn't respond. Link looked over to find him still deep in sleep, his arms folded in comfort with his back against the mountain wall behind them, slightly drooling while his glasses had begun slowly slipping down the bridge of his nose.
"Botrick... Botrick," Link continued to call, yet his ears twitched again.
The whinny that had originally awakened him, again strange and echoey, rang through the air once more. Carefully, he gazed around again, inspecting the mist around them. He quickly noticed a disturbance in the mist's fluidity. Link slowly got to his feet, watching as the swirling part of the mist began to grow. Suddenly, something stepped out, revealing one of its legs.
It was the same luminous color as the blupees, yet this didn't resemble a rabbit's leg, but a horse's. Clopping slowly out of the mist, a new creature had appeared, one Link had never seen before. Its glowing, pulsating body retained its equine features—its coat covered in circular patterns, with a blueish-white tail—however, its neck and head more closely resembled an oversized blupee. The hair of its mane was long enough to cover its neck completely, making it appear to also have a beard, and its orange eyes were doubled in number.
This had to be the Lord of the Mountain.
The lord continued to move, its hooves stepping lightly upon the leaf-covered ground. It paid the two Hylians no mind as it stopped at the pond's edge. Leaning its head down, it dipped its beak into the water to drink, the ends of its hair floating along the pond's surface. After a few gulps, it raised its head and shook the water from its mane, before turning its head in order to meet Link's eyes.
Link slightly furrowed his brow as the beast turned and began slowly making its way toward him. This creature was far more intelligent than any regular horse and it had business with him. The thought of all the blupees he had shot in the past crossed his mind again. When he had first awakened, he hadn't thought much of it. The blupees were a quick way of getting money, for they dropped rupees with each hit of an arrow. Nowadays, Link felt awful shooting them for such a paltry reason, regretting each arrow he had fired. Was this what the beast had appeared for; to punish him for his crimes against its brethren?
He reached down for his sword as the beast drew closer. Though he felt guilty, he had to make it back to Zelda, regardless of this lord's responsibilities. Grabbing the handle, he stood, prepared to unsheath it, yet the creature didn't stop. It simply kept walking. This took Link by surprise. This creature was certainly smart enough to know what a weapon was—there wasn't a doubt in his mind about that—yet it continued on, stopping only when it stood directly in front of Link, staring down at him with their eyes still locked on each other.
For a time, the two simply stood in place, wondering what the other would do first. Carefully, so as not to give an opening, Link inspected the beast's body again, wondering if or where it would attack or defend from, before noticing something. Though it stood tall and confident, it wasn't tense. Realizing this, he looked back into the creature's four eyes, where it simply continued to stare back. Slowly, Link set the sword back down as he got to one knee, lowering his head before the creature.
"I'm sorry...about the blupees," he said calmly, closing his eyes. "I won't strike them again. It was wrong."
The lord blew air from its beak. Link looked up, noticing more creatures had come out of the mist. Deer, boars, and other animals stood around the pond, all staring at him with intense gazes. He swallowed.
"I...can't promise I won't shoot them," he said. When the creature blew air again, this time with a bit more force, he quickly added, "but, I won't here. I know this is a special gathering place. I can't say the thought of hunting here didn't come to mind when I heard animals gather, but...I won't. Not here. I promise."
Blowing air from its beak once more, softly this time, the lord stepped back. Giving Link a final look, it turned and began slowly clopping away. As it walked toward the mist, the blupees followed as they, and the animals that had appeared, all disappeared back into the fog, leaving the two Hylians alone again.
After a few moments, the mist vanished entirely, revealing the sky and the landscape once more, barely illuminated by the arrival of dawn. Link stood and walked to the pond, staring up at the tree as he processed what he had seen, before eventually noticing something at his feet. It was two flowers, with blue and white pedals. Crouching down, he picked the flowers and stood back up, watching as they sparkled in his hands.
"Silent Princesses..." he murmured to himself. "These weren't here when we first came... Did it leave these here for me?"
Chuckling, he walked to the mountain's cliff and looked out over Hyrule's fields, the castle shadowed in the distance as the sun rose higher.
"Satori, the Lord of the Mountain," Link said to himself, still holding the flowers in his grasp. "I'll have to introduce Zelda to it one day. She'll wanna see this... I made the right choice by getting sidetracked."
With a deep breath, he placed the flowers in his back pouch before turning to look at the companion he had brought along, drool still falling off his lip.
"Well... Time to head back and then hit the road. I've got a promise to fulfill."
Feeling her body re-form, Zelda opened her eyes to reveal the glowing pillars of luminous stone and a staircase of cascading water before her. Happy to have arrived, she stepped off the platform, her bare feet splashing in the water covering the floor. Compared to the sea water that crashed upon the shores of Hyrule, this water was much warmer, even though it was still winter.
Hurrying up the staircase, Zelda entered the domain of the Zora. As she passed through the courtyard and up the many winding pathways, she waved to the Zora that were out and about, who all waved and greeted her excitedly in return. Eventually, she arrived at the final staircase, running up the steps and entering the throne room, where the king and his stingray counselor were in casual discussion.
"King Dorephan! Muzu!" she called as she hurried through the water toward them. At the sight of her, the large whale of a Zora laughed heartily.
"Well, our little Hylian princess returns!" he said happily. "Welcome back to the domain, my dear! How are your festival preparations going?"
"They're going, though we are a little behind," Zelda admitted.
"I did notice a month had already passed," Muzu chimed in with a pointed look. "You must remember, this isn't just something nice for Link, but an important occasion that will prove why you should be the head of this new kingdom."
"Now, Muzu—" Dorephan began to intervene, yet Zelda cut in.
"No, it's alright. When I was here last, I requested that the Zora teach me the ways of ruling, for the domain remembers the times before the calamity. Muzu is right, and I appreciate his guidance," she said before giving the old stingray a slight bow. "I'll do well to remember this and schedule properly in the future."
"As long as you understand," Muzu nodded, mollified. "I'm assuming you're here for Prince Sidon, yes?"
"I am. Is he around?" Zelda asked. "I hope my tardiness doesn't dissuade you from permitting him to leave the domain."
"Nonsense!" the king of the Zora laughed. "Even if it did, I doubt he would accept such a change. He's been looking forward to this day since you invited him. As to his current whereabouts though, I'm not sure where my son is..."
"I believe the children asked Sidon for some advice in...defensive maneuvers as they put it," said Muzu. "In case the Lynel ever reappeared on Ploymus Mountain. It seems they wanted to be of use to you once you took the throne, Princess. You and Link inspired them."
"Well, that's nice to hear, but I'd rather they didn't have to worry about such things," Zelda said with a rueful smile. "I hope there comes a day when the monsters no longer appear in Hyrule. Could you please tell me where Sidon is teaching the children, if you happen to know—?"
"Princess Zelda!" an enthusiastic voice suddenly called out from behind her.
At the call of her name, Zelda turned around to see the prince of the Zora running up the stairs toward her.
"There he is!" King Dorephan laughed as his son sped into the room.
"Prince Sidon!" Zelda said, her smile growing wider as he stopped before her, towering over her with a bright smile of his own.
"It's good to see you, Princess! I heard from others that they had seen you run by! I thought my ears were playing tricks on me!" Sidon said, getting to a knee as he took her hand, giving it a quick shake. "And I was worried the festival had been canceled after a month had passed! I'm assuming it's still on, yes?"
"Absolutely. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," Zelda said, as Sidon continued to hold her arm. "We still have a lot to prepare, though. I hope you won't mind giving us a hand."
"Not at all!" Sidon said, releasing Zelda's arm. He stood, spreading his arms out wide with an even larger toothy smile. "I will do all I can to make sure this celebration is one Link deserves!"
"And ensures the future of Hyrule's reconstruction," Muzu chimed in.
"That as well," Sidon nodded to the stingray before looking down at Zelda again. "I believe that device of yours is able to transport multiple individuals, yes?"
"It is. Why do you ask?" Zelda replied.
"I believe I said it before, but we need to gather fish from the sea during our outing to the shore," Sidon said. "All thanks to that Hinox Link and I took down. I was hoping now that you're here, we can send not just myself, but the Zora we've chosen to gather the fish to bring back to the domain. And of course, they'll gladly participate in preparations."
"A wonderful idea! But, how many do you wish to bring?" Zelda asked. "I've only teleported a maximum of four people. I've never transported more."
"Do you think it can handle five?" Sidon asked. "I'd like to bring three Zora along with us."
"I believe five will be just fine," Zelda said with a nod. "When shall we leave?"
"We can leave right now if you wish!" Sidon said excitedly. "Just allow me to gather my companions, then we can be off. Will you meet me in the courtyard in ten minutes or so?"
"Of course," Zelda said with a nod.
"Wonderful! I will see you then," Sidon said, before turning to his father and Muzu, then bowed respectfully. "I'll be off now. I shall return in a few days' time. Please wish me well."
"Of course, my son," King Dorephan said, raising a hand in farewell. "Do take care, and give the villagers and Link my best wishes."
"Mine as well," Muzu added with a slight nod of his own. With that, Sidon raised himself and disappeared out of the throne room. With the prince having departed, the stingray turned his attention to Zelda. "I suppose you'd best be on your way as well."
"I shall," Zelda said with a nod. "I wish you well until Sidon and I return. I promise he'll be in the best of care."
"With Sidon there, I'd say you are in the best of care!" the Zora King laughed. "He saved some of those villagers from a large octorok once! My boy will do his best for you and those in the town. He will serve you well."
"Thank you," Zelda said. She started to turn away, yet the old voice of Muzu stopped her.
"Princess, what do you plan to do once your festival is over?" he asked.
"What do I plan to do after...? Hm," Zelda thought. "I believe I'd like to head back to Hateno, my home, and enjoy some much needed time with my lover. After that... Well, why don't I return? We still have much to discuss."
"You're more than welcome. I have much to teach you," the stingray said with a nod. "Off you go now."
With a smile, Zelda hurried off, disappearing down the staircase just as the prince had. Once she was gone, the King laughed merrily once more.
"You've grown quite a soft spot for her, haven't you, Muzu?" he asked.
"If I have, it's due to her own efforts," Muzu replied. "Though, I'd have been blind to those efforts had it not been for Lady Mipha."
He looked away from Dorephan and out into the mountains of Lanaryu.
"I hope she's watching me from above, knowing I took her words to heart."
...
Zelda stood in the courtyard, staring up at the statue of the Zora Princess, patiently waiting for Sidon to return.
"Princess!"
Zelda turned toward one of the domain's ramps and smiled, watching as Sidon and three other Zora stepped off into the court.
"I'm glad to see you're here and ready to depart! I hope we didn't keep you waiting," Sidon said as they came to a stop before her. Zelda shook her head.
"Not at all. I've only been here a few minutes," she replied, stepping away from the statue to greet them properly. "Are these who you've chosen to bring along?"
"They sure are! I believe they'll be most helpful," Sidon said. "I'm sure you've met them all by now. This is Laflat, the chief secretary of the Zora Royal Family."
The prince gestured to a slender, red-scaled Zora, who curtsied.
"We've met before on quite a few occasions," Laflat said. "It's good to see you again."
"Likewise," Zelda giggled.
"I believe she'll be able to help keep everyone organized. I'm assuming we have lots to get done, so her assistance will be invaluable. Then there's Gruve," Sidon continued, gesturing to the next Zora. "I believe you went diving with him once!"
"Princess! It's so good to see you, up close that is," Gruve, a blue-scaled Zora, said excitedly. "I saw you helping Muzu and Prince Sidon with our Champion's Festival! I thank you for helping us with that, and I can't wait to repay that favor by helping you with this gathering for Link!"
"Of course, it was my pleasure," Zelda said with a slight bow.
"Gruve's diving skills should come in handy when helping gather fish," Sidon explained. "And finally—"
"We know each other very well at this point!" the final red-scaled Zora said with a bright smile.
"Kodah!" Zelda exclaimed. "You're coming with us? What about the inn?"
"Kayden will be able to handle Finley and the Seabed Inn," Kodah said excitedly. "I haven't been away from the Domain in some time, so this will be exciting! Besides, after all he's done for the domain—and considering our childhood together—I'd love to help do something nice for Linny!"
"Kodah will be able to help keep track of all our goods and any finances we have, owing to her work at the inn for so long," Sidon finished. "I hope all of these choices meet with your approval."
"They certainly do," Zelda said, looking between the four Zora. Clasping her hands together, she bowed before them. "All of you, thank you for helping me with this. You have no idea how much this means to me, truly."
Surprised at the sudden bow, the Zora looked between themselves before grinning. The Prince of the Zora leaned down, placing a large, webbed hand on her shoulder, something that made Zelda look up.
"Link helped me when I was stuck at the top of a tower. He showed me what a true dive is supposed to look like," Gruve said.
"Link went and took care of that Lynel once before, even risking his life to get a few true-to-life images of it for me to scare the children away from there," Laflat said. "He even helped you defeat the Lynel again when the children tried to get you to defeat it for them when it reappeared. I owe him, and you."
"And of course, Linny is a childhood friend of mine," Kodah said. "I wish for nothing more than to see him smile the way he did in the past."
"Link helped save the Zora's Domain, and Hyrule itself, from flooding due to Vah Ruta's rampage," Sidon said. "And you helped everyone by keeping the Calamity contained for a century. This is our thank you to you both."
"I..." Zelda hesitated, but after looking into their eyes, she simply nodded in reply.
"Well then, shall we be off?" Sidon asked. "Your friends must be waiting for us to return, isn't that right? I believe we shouldn't keep them waiting much longer."
"Right," Zelda answered, pulling the Sheikah Slate from her hip. "Everyone, place a hand on me if you would, please."
Once she felt the four Zoras place their large hands either on her shoulders or arms, she tapped and brightened the screen, and with another few taps, the group began to glow before flying away, all turned into strings of blue lights.
"I still can't believe I missed it..." Botrick sighed, watching as Link buckled his sword and shield to his back from the table where he was seated. "Are you sure you didn't dream the whole thing, Link?"
"It was real, I promise you that," Link chuckled, still sitting on the edge of his rented bed as he adjusted his belts. "I don't think even my imagination could come up with a creature like that."
"Awww," Botrick whined, folding his arms on the table. "And I traveled all the way up there. What a total waste of a journey—"
His sentence ended in a yawn, which made Link chuckle even more before standing.
"If anyone were to find the Lord of the Mountain, it'd be Link," the old stablehand said from the other side of the room.
"Still, I wish I didn't miss everything... I didn't get to try Link's cooking yesterday either," Botrick said.
"If the stablemaster doesn't mind me using a few more ingredients, I'm happy to cook breakfast before I head out," Link said, looking over at the stable's front counter.
"As long as I get a bowl, use whatever it is you need," the stablemaster replied with a kind smile. At this, Botrick finally perked up.
"Yes! I haven't had a real tasty meal in some time," he exclaimed excitedly.
"Then I'll put my all into it," Link assured him. "I can't stay for long after, though. I need to start heading to the desert soon, if I'm gonna make it to where I need to be at a reasonable hour, that is."
"Why do you need to rush to the desert anyway?" Botrick asked. "You sound as though you're in a hurry. Is there something going on?"
"I have somewhere to be in a few days, actually. That's Lurelin Village," Link explained. "But, since I have a few days to kill, I figured I'd stop by the desert and see a friend, though I need to leave now so as not to be late to the shore."
"Who could you possibly be going to see in the desert there... Don't tell me you got a Gerudo as a lover?' Botrick asked with his eyes wide. "I'd be so jealous! They're some amazing people! Being chosen as a Gerudo's spouse is such an honor!"
"Nope, I don't have a Gerudo lover," Link chuckled. "But, I am going to see a Gerudo friend. She's like a little sister to me, and I promised her a long time ago that I'd tell her stories of my adventures—"
"Link, we'll have Epona ready for you soon!" one of the stablehand's called from outside.
"If you're gonna cook and leave at a reasonable hour, you'd better start now," the stablemaster added. With a nod, Link began rolling up his sleeves while finishing his thought.
"I think now's a better time than any to fulfill that promise."
