Link had heard stories about Hyrule.
His father spoke of a kingdom that once had land that was once green and beautiful. All kinds of flowers bloomed in vast meadows in the spring and the trees were once tall enough even to reach the sky. Many of the people were kind and always strived to help those who needed it. It was during those peaceful days when his father had met his mother when they were around Link's age. He had said it was love at first sight and that his parents bonded more and more as days turned to years before becoming lifelong partners in love.
His father had dreamed about always raising him peacefully in Hyrule ever since he was born into the world, just for him to have the chance to grow up somewhere known for it's lush nature, much like his parents had.
But that once peaceful kingdom was torn apart upon the arrival of a demonic being that took the form of a monstrous, bipedal boar. Ganon was the name of such a beast, bringing with him an army of monsters to bring destruction upon the kingdom. The once green fields of Hyrule were choked of life, villages were burned to the ground, and many who called Hyrule home had no choice but to fear for their lives.
His father and his mother had chosen to flee Hyrule to protect his life.
From what his father said, no one knew what had happened to the royal family when the beloved kingdom was turned into a wasteland. For all of the citizens of Hyrule knew, Castle town had been destroyed the day that Ganon took over the kingdom.
Some of them believed that the royal family had abandoned their kingdom, leaving those trapped in Hyrule to rot in their misery. While others would theorize that they had been slaughtered by the vile beast who destroyed all of what once was a beautiful kingdom.
Link however still wondered if none of them were right. That there was a faint hope that Hyrule's last heir was still alive. The only one who could truly bring hope to Hyrule in such dire times.
Perhaps some would say it was a foolish belief for someone still so young to have. But even then Link could see that the world needed her wisdom for Hyrule to be restored to what it once was during the age that Link's parents were still alive. A time when his parents were happy and had not yet suffered a slow and painful death from worrying about the health of their only child.
It pained him to remember the day he had lost them, that was the day he had to become a man too soon. One who would have to face the world to survive. Link carried their memory of their existence with him and knew he would do what he could to find the missing princess. No matter how fruitless it may be to others who had lost hope for a future without Ganon.
Today he was almost at the border that would led to the desolate kingdom of Hyrule. The lush trees of Hyrule's neighbouring kingdom would be the last time for a while that he could see such a flourishing place of nature before entering the wastelands of Hyrule. He knew the dangers that lay ahead and the threat of being attacked by Ganon's minions, entering Hyrule also meant he would have to worry about his supplies running low.
It was because of that fact that Link slowed his pace to the border by taking a break by the river to fill his canister of water and purify it for his canteen. It was nice to finally have his backpack off his shoulders.
However, his peace was short-lived when his long pointed ears heard the loud clanking of metal approaching, it was only getting louder and louder. As fast as he could, Link quickly closed his canteen of water and pulled his heavy bag into a nearby bush.
No sooner had he hid, Link was able to quickly recognize that it wasn't some humanoid being trying to steal his supplies like he was worried about, instead it was two Moblins that easily towered over his small stature.
The two bipedal pig monsters had decided to stop by to drink. While one of them crouched by the river to drink, the other stood guard. Something was bugging him by the look of his scowling swine-like face.
"I still can't believe that Ganon forced us to look for that old maid, she's not even a good to use to us," the Moblin grumpily rasped, "She's mostly just skin and bone—by now if she's trying to get away from Hyrule, she wouldn't even make much of a good meal!"
"All you do is complain about the food," the other Moblin growled as he got up from drinking and firmly grasped the collar of his metal armour, "You've got a sharp tongue for someone who should be more thankful for what Ganon has done for us".
"Oh of all the good things Lord Ganon has done," the blue Moblin mocked his companion, bravely staring down the other moblin, "If he wasn't staying put in his lair scheming instead of conquering the rest of Hyrule, then maybe all of us could get equal amounts of food!"
"Maybe you'll get some if you listened for a change!" the other Moblin spat back, "He's keeping watch over that-".
A wolf howled in the distance, making the two Moblins grew silent. Their attention focused on the direction where the wolf howl had come from. Faintly he could see their faces held worry over something.
"We should get going before the captain wonders why we're late".
"Fine, but make sure you wash yourself later," the older Moblin grumbled loudly as they walked away from the river, "You're starting to smell like a musky Hylian".
When the coast was clear after the Moblins marched away from Link's location, he stepped out of the bushes with his supplies already packed.
That was close, maybe too close.
Link's pointed ears perked when he heard what sounded like the cries of an elderly person calling for help. Quickly he made sure his supplies were strapped onto him and rushed towards the sound.
He hid in the bushes when the noise got louder and he looked to see the sight of an elderly woman who collapsed to the ground and was surrounded by two crimson-red tentacled creatures he recognized as Octorocks from one of his father's old books.
Link, feeling sympathy for the defenceless old lady in distress, knew he couldn't allow this old lady to be hurt any longer by the creature's attack on her. He had to act quickly, even if he didn't have a suitable weapon to fend off monsters.
When the monstrous pest attempted to inhale another gale of air to launch it's stone at the elderly woman who was too exhausted to move, Link quickly put down his bag and ran into the clearing to bravely kick at the small beast sending it flying.
He glared at the remaining Octorock giving in a warning not to mess with him. The creature knowing better, fled from Link. Not wanting to be kicked like a ball into the sky.
When he looked back, Link saw the old woman panting. She looked exhausted, but grateful about finally being able to catch her breath.
"I must thank you for saving me, child," she rasped in relief, "I haven't been able to...rest properly for some time, what is your name, young man?"
"You can call me Link."
Something sparked in her eyes, it was strange to Link. It was if something about his name was familiar to her, even though he had never met her before in his life.
"Very well then, Link," she said, sounding amused if anything, "You may call me Impa. But may I ask, do you have a home?"
"I'm afraid I don't have one, I'm a traveller heading to Hyrule," Link replied.
Impa looked alarmed by the words he said. "To Hyrule? Young man, why would you want to go there? It's a kingdom that has fallen into ruins and monsters swarm those lands. It's not a place for young boys to be traveling to"
"I know it's dumb, but I have to go there if it means finding Princess Zelda".
It was only for a moment that Link saw a look of surprise in Impa's eyes. What was it that Link had said that made her look at him like that.
"Ah, but regardless of your plans, I suggest we find a place to stay. The sun will be setting and it would be unwise to travel alone at night".
Link nodded and made sure he had his gear attached to his body before he helped Impa up so they could look together to find a place to rest for the night.
As patient as Link was with Impa, he was also keeping track of how much sunlight they had left before he might have to risk using his lantern to light their journey to find somewhere to rest for the night. Link knew it was risky, especially if monsters would be roaming the wastelands of Hyrule looking for a meal.
Thankfully after much time searching through the rough landscape of Hyrule, Link finally found a cave where they could rest for the night.
"There! We should be safe for the night in that cave, Impa".
Impa looked pleased, even though Link could see that she was also exhausted from being ambushed by monsters and having to walk alongside Link back into Hyrule.
But before they entered, Link stopped Impa. "I'll go in first, I'll make sure that it's safe".
Impa nodded and allowed Link to proceed to investigate the inside of the cave.
Upon entering the cave, Link was not expecting to see a heavily robed old man who looked like he had seen better days. He seemed to stir from his sleep when he noticed Link.
"W-what, a young swordsmen? What brings you here of all places? Are you a-"
"Oh! It's you!" Impa said out loud, before the old man could finish. Which startled Link even when Impa brushed past him to greet the elderly man.
"Impa! It's really you, thank Hylia you're safe," the old man said, cracking a smile.
"I didn't think I would be able to see you again Sahararn. I thought Ganon surely had gotten the better of you due to how old you've gotten".
"Heh, my age is nothing to do with it. I doubt he could kill me if he tried," Saharan joked, cracking a wider smile before he shuffled up to her and gently hugged Impa, "I'm thankful to those above that I'm not alone anymore. It's been some time since my apprentice went out to get supplies, he hasn't returned yet. I feel like the worst must of happened to him. I haven't had much to eat, mostly because I've been trying to make my remaining rations last".
Feeling for the kind old man, Link went quickly to his bag and pulled out a loaf of bread. It was a bit stale since he last ate some, but he hoped it would be enough.
"It's not much, but would this help?" Link asked as he managed to break off half of his bread for Sahararn to have.
Sahararn looked taken aback by what Link was willing to offer to him. Yet Link could tell that he was indeed very much hungry from trying so hard to survive on any food he could have that could help keep himself from going hungry.
"You would offer me some of your bread?"
"I thought you'd look like you needed it more".
"Bless your heart, young one. I will accept your offer. You're more than welcome to share this cave with Lady Impa and me".
As Sahararn ate half of the bread loaf he was given by him and Link settled his heavy bag down and detached his sleeping bedroll from it.
Although the room was quite dark, two torches illuminated more of the centre of the room than the sides of the wall. Even with such limiting lighting, he just hoped that it wouldn't give away the location of the cave to the monsters that worked for Ganon.
When he looked in Impa's direction, he could see the older woman was having the time of her life getting to chat with her old friend after her encounters with monsters trying to track her down and kill her.
It made Link all the more curious about who she was before Ganon decimated Hyrule into a near-barren wasteland.
Even if it wasn't today, he knew he had to ask her when morning came again.