"The three kings of rule Hyrule. There is a King of Hylians, the King of Gorons, and the King of Zoras."

Fido leaped on top of a slanted grey rock forced into the ground shaved smoothly, and stood above the children, puffing his chest out, resting his hands on his hips, "And I am KING of the Kokiri!"

The children laughed, snorted their button noses, and filled the air with their rowdy sounds and taunts.

"Yeah right, Mido!" one of the freckled, frog-looking ginger twins yelled and threw some deku seeds, encouraging the other children to do the same.

"You still run scared from Skulltulas!" a blond girl with bushy pig tails ridiculed him.

"Shhh, be quiet will you?!" Saria scolded the children. Link sat silent and locked his attention on the Great Deku Tree.

"But no other king has compared to the king of Gorons in Hyrulean history. His mighty strength reflects his strong heart for his people. After the goddesses created Hyrule, the land needed form; thus, the Gorons were Din's people—the race that towered even higher than the Hylian king—formed Hyrule's lands, its valleys, its hills, its mountains in the days of old."

The Deku Tree's stories returned to him as he stood before his new brother. Darunia, HotRodder, and a few other members of the goron people stood at the foot of the cave that led to the former Dodongo's Cavern stared at Link tall plastered with a crooked grin, bashful from the attention and honor. The gorons of Death Mountain ceased their usual city activities and stood at the edge of the mountain's layers, looking at the young boy who saved them. The sight was wondrous and overwhelming Link's childish nerves.

"Well, little brother, are you sure you don't want company on your journey? This duty is too much for one kid ya' know," he persisted, refraining from showing concern.

Link nodded, "I'm sure. I'm not so scared." Dodongo's gaping mouth and tail quickly flashed through his mind. He clenched his hand into a fist and his heart raced at the glimpse before feeling the instant overwhelming pain of his fractured body before darkness took him.

Navi looked at Link with a soft smile, glistening with pride. She flew over to goron king, "Thank you for everything, Brother Darunia."

"Let's go, Link," Navi led the way. Link inhaled and immediately followed after her.

Darunia grinned and nodded. He stood erect and pounded a fist to his heart, then, HotRodder mimicked his leader's gesture and stance, along with the entire goron kingdom as well.

"Tread safely little brother, and you come back here so we can come and get a taste of the damned desert man too!" he said with a wicked smile.

Link stopped to turn and wave, "I will!" He turned to leave to enter his journey once again. Death Mountain roared vibrantly at his departure, sharing their blessings to him.

Link pulled the finely braided string of his travel bag that was made of refined Kokiri forest plant fibers to close it. He packed some berries, seeds and vegetation untouched that Navi had spotted. Link sat down, biting onto a sweet crunchy root and seeds reserved from his home as he looked over the map Darunia's cartographer Fra Mauro-Goro made.

"We still have a long ways to Zora's Domain," Navi twinkled over their location drawn on the map.

Link sighed, "I wish there was a faster way to get there..." Time was always on his mind since his journey began. His brow hardened as he thought of time. He wished he could manipulate time and change everything quickly. Or, even prevent anything from happening. His lips tightened at the desire.

"Me too," Navi agreed. "Don't worry, we will get there! We just need to follow the river bank."

"...I hope it's before nightfall," Link tensed.

"Absolutely!" Navi fluttered her wings, "if we keep this pace up, we'll get there a bit before the twilight of day starts!"

Link rapidly exhaled in relief. They traveled further towards their destination, time in their favor.

"Hey Navi," Link's questioning continued, "I haven't seen any of Ganondorf's warriors like the ones in the cavern... Do you think they ran scared and found out we're gonna stop them?"

Navi flapped her wings rapidly, chuckling, "Very good question..." Navi flapped her wings to refrain her laughter but his question captured her intrigue, a smile creeping upon her lips in admiration of her friend's sharp awareness before sharing her thoughts.

"All I know is, I'm feeling uneasy. The shadow looming over the land has been growing quickly. I'm sure you feel it too, Link. which is why you have been feeling more emotional than usual."

Link looked at his fairy, surprised at her revelation, "Really?"

They stopped under a group of trees that shaded them from the rather boisterous sun.

"Indeed," Navi fluttered. "Before...what happened to the Great Deku Tree, you didn't hesitate to search for the sword and shield. It wasn't until you entered the Great Deku tree that the dark magic affected your innocent and pure heart the more you stayed inside, but your courageous heart keeps you going."

"But if only you were—" Navi stopped herself.

Navi's light dimmed. Link looked over at his friend with concern, "What's wrong Navi?"

There was a brief pause. "It-it just worries me that eventually...," she trailed.

Link looked confused, "Huh?" As she looked at his worried expression, she noticed something stir in the distance.

"Link, hide," she glowed yellow with apprehension. Link immediately obeyed and squeezed inside a bush. A rush of footsteps was heard. Link slowly moved his head to see what the commotion was about.

Of course, the commotion stopped where they lay hidden. Link gripped the dirt beneath him, tension caught him. A foreign set of feet that wildly stormed the fields now came to a stop and stood in his obscured sight with something running behind him made of wood as well.

"Wh'ut are ya' doin' Fiona?" a voice slurred and cracked from above then hiccuped. Link rose his head to try and see this uninvited visitor, but could not make a clear image through the thick layer of leaves and laying so low to the ground.

Sniffing and crunching was soon heard. The voice cracked in irritation, "For Goddess's sake ya' bottomless pit, you can eat back home!" the sound of fidgeting and a light flapping and tugging sound was heard. Link slowly turned his head and exhaled, yearning for the stranger to bid off his journey so he could continue forth his. Unexpectedly, whatever was crunching on some of the roots and berries scattered in this shaded area of shrubbery managed to squeeze its teeth on his behind for a brief moment.

Link dove out of the bush and yelped in pain, "Ahaha! Ahhhh!" He grabbed on to his rear and moaned in pain. "Hey!" Navi flew into the man's face in annoyance and jolted to Link.

"Wh'ut in tarnation—?!" the voice cracked his unfinished question and ended in a hiccup.

Link looked back in concern as Navi hovered to check on him. A nearly bald big-nosed large man with a thick brown unkept mustache and reddened cheeks looking lazily through his large sulky reddish eyes at Link.

The animal before him rose its head, covering the man behind him from Link's sight, and its long snouted face munching on vegetation as it now stared intently at him as if it were to ask the questions.

"Darn it Fiona, ya' blocking my view!" the man scolded. Then the man popped to the side behind his animal called Fiona.

"Wells now, aren't ya' a forest boy?" the man eyed curiously.

Link looked wide-eyed, dumbfounded. "Uhh, no. I'm a Kokiri," he muttered.

Navi twinkled, "We have to work on your social skills, Link."

"It's all the same kid," the man waved his hand and hiccuped. Then Fiona blocked him from Link's view and looked at him with a skeptical look.

"Dang nab it Fiona! I'm askin' the questions 'round here!" Link clench his lips, holding in a laugh at the comical scene.

"So, what's a kid like ya' doin' all by hi'self?" the lazy-eyed flushed man eyed him suspiciously.

Link's pain subsided and stood back up his feet, "Uhh, I'm heading to Zora's Domain. So, I need to get going now before it gets late."

Link started to turn and return to his destination. Navi shook her head.

"Woah, hold on there kid! You're goin' the wrong way!"

Link stopped and looked at the man curiously. Navi quickly whispered in his ear, "He's wrong, Link. He's not exactly himself right now..."

Link shot a confused look, "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Come on kid! Hop on this ol' wagon! I'll give ya' a lift! Ya' want some milk? I got tons of it too!" the sluggish man hiccuped.

Before Link could oppose, he found himself being snatched away into the noisy contraption the man was on. "Woooooh Farore, you're one heavy son of a barrel! Now g'yet Fiona!"

Link was whipped back against the wagon's seat as the wagon rushed and sprinted through the grassy hills. The man rushed his wagon with sharp turns and drifts, nearly lunging the wagon over like a madman.

"Why is he turning?!" his voice rattled through the bumpy ride as he held tightly on the back of the seat. The man laughed, "Oooh-wee! Ya' don't see any other fast mares like mine!"

"I don't wanna die yet...!" Link whined quietly to Navi.

"Watch out!" Navi hollered and flew in his hat.

"Huh?!" Link called out to her and turned to see the end.

Link caught sigh of a narrow entrance and held on to dear life. The man tugged the straps tightly and turned his mare who cried and rode into an opening that led to a dark wooden entrance into a narrow pathway. Another sharp turn was made until they reached an open path between two buildings that led to an open space from a glance view before Link and the odd man made a harsh stop that sen them flying into a mountain pile of yellow grass. They groaned at the mess and discomfort they were under.

"Ya' witt'n slick dabbin' grunt! You gonna go one week without them apples Fiona!" he scolded her. The horse flashed its teeth, bobbing its neck up and down. Link covered his mouth as he snorted.

The round tipsy man rose from the unstable hay pile that slowly fell over completely in irritation, covered in grass shedding and needles.

Link leaped from the yellow dry itching grass. He looked curiously at the needles covering his tunic, never seeing grass different colors other than green from the forest. His eyes traveled along the wooden huts of different color wood colored white and red. They were similar to the buildings in Castleton. He dusted his wardrobe until his attention was curbed at the soothing sound of singing.

At the center of the place, he caught glance of a girl busy with a horse, tinier than the one the reckless man had steering his vehicle. His attention was captured by the red color and length of the singing girl as she brushed her tiny horse. He slowly walked to the opening that could lead him to her, never displacing his large blue eyes off her. Link stopped at the side of the entrance and peered from behind the wooden plank that held the black metal frame surrounding the open space the horses lingered freely in. He looked in fascination as she sang to the chestnut horse that was different than all the other horses. He noticed the white hair and white markings on its hooves. She tugged on the girl's dress a few times and nickered.

He couldn't help how his attention lingered on her features; her volumous layered hair glistening in the sun, the peach pale skin and natural rose cheeks. His fascination seeped through his now reddened cheeks to his unawareness. His thoughts traveled to Zelda, wondering how Zelda would look like without the rather unfitting garment she wore over her head. He wondered if she had a lovely voice too like the girl he was looking at.

Navi slipped from his cap and fluttered her wings. She looked to see Link in awe in confusion. She turned to see what had captivated him. She looked on in shock and turned with disapproval.

"Hey!" she flew in his line of sight. Link yelled in surprise, "Ahh!"

"What is that look on your face?" she demanded.

"Huh? What look?" his eyes widened and his voice losing grip.

"That look! The same look you—" Navi tingled away. The young girl looked on in amazement as she walked closer at the unexpected visitor. She gasped in joy as she identified the floating light near the boy in green.

"It's a fairy!" she clasped her hands together and laughed. Link and Navi ceased in mid-sentence and looked at the excited girl.

Link blushed at the girl with long wavy red hair, wild like the foxes that hinted and radiated with beauty like the petals of a deku blossom in full bloom.

"And who are you? A fairy boy?" Malon asked happily with large blue eyes, bluer than Zelda's. Link shook his head of such a thought.

Malon laughed, "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"

"Huh?" Link asked in confusion.

"So you can talk," she giggled. Navi sighed. "Manners, Link. Introduce yourself!" she jingled.

"Uh-um, my name is Li-ink..." he tried to pull himself together. "Link!" he stood firm and nodded his head.

Malon laughed at the odd boy. "You're funny fairy boy. It's a pleasure! My name is Malon LonLon."

Malon's bright smile slowly faded into curiosity. "Hmmm..."

Link looked intimidated and his face burned.

"I thought fairy folk were only found in the forest. What'ch'ya doin' way out here?" she asked, confusion over her lovely pink cheeks.

"Uhhh—"

Navi twinkled in front of her, cutting off Link.

"Well, hello there," she chuckled and offered her ear to hear Navi.

"Ohhh okay! So you're on a journey! How fun!" she said excitedly.

"...no, not really," Link confessed. Malon's features slowly faded to concern. Link looked down for a moment and looked back at her sighing.

"Wow... I can't believe it," Malon looked shocked.

Link nodded, "I have to stop Ganondorf, and Princess Zelda is going to help me."

"Wow..." she whispered. "You're so brave, Link. You're a hero, and helping the princess?! How romantic!" She clasped her eyes and looked lost in blissful thoughts.

Link swallowed hard and looked away, blushing. Malon broke from her daydream and noticed Link's expression.

"Well I'll be, you're redder than a ripe strawberry fairy boy!" Malon laughed. "You really like the princess don't you?" Malon sighed and her face sunk in a big smile and her eyes dozed off. "That's so romantic. I wish I was a princess and had a hero."

Link looked surprised and looked back to the hopeless Malon. "Do you have to be a princess to get a hero?" he wondered.

Malon broke from her daydream.

"Why yes silly! All the stories have a princess and a hero knight in shining armor. He goes and rescues her from a great dark evil. But I didn't know the princess can fight—that's new!"

Link shrugged his shoulders, not knowing if she could fight.

"I hope she can. I like fighting when I'm not doing farm and house chores," she rose from the ground.

"My daddy says I have to be tough and strong so no man can hurt me," she clasped her hands behind her.

"You can fight?" Link asked, amazed.

"I sure can fairy boy!" Malon laughed and ran to the dark brown horses and yelled for it to steer away. She laid low and gripped the horse's mane. She snatched a stick with three sharp claws at the end from an abandoned pile of the itchy thick grass gathered in the corner of the yard, turned the horse in a wide turn. The horse speed faster and swiftly towards the clumsy looking figure made of clothes, sticks, and other trinkets where birds picked at it. Malon hit her target and destroyed it with her sharp long tool. Malon pulled the horse to a swift stop and clumsily slid off.

Link looked in awe at the ginger girl.

"Y-you're amazing," Link scratched his head bashfully.

The hot-headed ginger blew strands of hair settled on her face, "Well thanks, fairy boy. Maybe one day I can help you both when I'm not helpin' out with the ranch."

Sorry for the LONG hiatus. Life happens. I am back and continue C.I. Short chapter, but its still a work in progress. Completion currently pending. Malon is such a doll and must give an appropriate intro chapter. Thanks!