hero of time.

She sympathized for the Hylian who was now lost in time, looking for clues or signs of a world that was familiar to him. Her heart ached with sorrow knowing she couldn't be of much help, too burdened by her own responsibilities to attempt to come up with solutions. The last thing she wanted was to send someone off to the twilight and never see them again, an unfortunate fate she had encountered with many, many soldiers to this date.

"Are you able to return home, Link? Please... I know we've just met but this twilight has been taking away too many of my people. I'm afraid I can't be of much help to you because of this catastrophe, and for that, I deeply apologize."

He was quick to shake his head, his hands raising in a soft gesture to perhaps try and stop the princess from the bow she had dipped into. There was no need for someone of her status to bow to someone like him.

"Apologies aren't necessary, Princess. You've provided me with plenty of information, and I thank you for that."

However, the question regarding if his return to his time was possible would go unanswered until he could dig deeper, and the only way he could find out more would be to visit the Temple of Time and hope that the pedestal was still there for him to lay his sword down. Even thinking like that filled Link with doubt. What if he did that and then lost the Master Sword for good in this timeline? How would he proceed on his own without the sacred blade?

"Princess, if it isn't too much to ask, would you point me in the direction of the Temple of Time? Is it still within walking distance of Castle Town?" Just looking at the castle before him, there was much that had changed; the structure itself was different, and so was the landscape. It was quite unnerving in a way, reminding him of how an area he had once known could change so greatly with the passage of time.

Although, she supposed Princess Zelda was not much older than him, was she? Perhaps it was intentional.

Meiko looked towards the door again, chewing her lower lip. Then she sighed and leaned on the bar, voice lowering.

"Awright, ye really need tae see her?" This was a stupid idea. But. She doubted that the guards of Hyrule would do more than rough up a boy his age if they caught him. "There's...I heard there's an outlet from the reflection pond in the castle courtyard that falls intae th'moat surroundin' the castle. If ye can reach it -- safely -- ye should be able tae crawl right on through. Ye look small enough."

His eyes widened. There was a way in! He could see Navi dance around just by his head and knew that she was happy to finally have a way forward as well. A grin stretched his cheeks that were now a little rosy from how warm it was in here compared to outside, and he went to hop off the stool.

"The moat that connects to the pond in the castle courtyard, got it!"

It was too late to go right now because the princess would be sleeping, but he'd go in the morning and hope the guards were too sleepy to really pay much attention to the route he had to take. Ah, but speaking of sleep, he'll have to get some himself or he'll be the one too sleepy to pay attention!

Though sure in her mission, Nabooru's nerves vibrated intensely with her anxiety. Moving forward with how Ganondorf blocked the temple off would prove difficult as it stood, and she risked someone, Ganondorf or his mothers, finding her when the former banned the Gerudo from the temple all together in recent days. Tack on that she openly opposed her king, her presence would no doubt be doubly unwelcome. But she had no choice: she feared Ganondorf's violence in Hyrule would blow back on their entire tribe in a time when they could not afford conflict, least of all survive it. Not when Hyrule already held such hostility toward them. Her name called from a childish voice surprised her, and she turned away from pondering how best to move forward to find a kid clothed in green alighting the steps. The garb struck her as similar to that of the Kokiri from the drawings she saw of them in books, and the winged globe of light, a fairy, bobbing over his head cemented the theory. But...she thought they couldn't leave the forest? Why would this one leave? Least of all somehow travel all the way out here?

And why did he know her name?

" That depends on who's asking, kid, " she answered, resting a hand on her hip. Her eyes flickered to the hilt of what she assumed could only be a dagger protruding over his shoulder, the edges of a shield peaking out from his back. " This is not place for brats, you know, somewhat armed or otherwise. It's dangerous. "

Now that he had her attention, Link raised his gaze to make eye contact—she towered over him like the other Gerudo did—and got right into it. "I'm Link, and I need to get into the Spirit Temple." The part about needing to awaken the Sage there and collecting the medallion went unsaid for now; one of the guards had told him that Nabooru was the second-in-command to Ganondorf and revealing something like that could potentially cost him his entire quest.

"There's something in there I need, and I was told Nabooru lives here."

The only problem was that his words wouldn't hold much weight when he looked like a kid who was being nosy. While he didn't wish to reveal too much of what he was up to until he knew where she stood in the grand scheme of things, Link knew that he had to say something that would keep her attention.

"I've been sent from the Sacred Realm by the Sage of Light to find the temples around Hyrule and awaken the remaining sages." His blue eyes remained fixed upon her, silently communicating that he was here for something of utmost importance and not just because he had a childish imagination of a kid messing around.

"We have to stop a great evil that will soon spread across Hyrule." That evil being the very king that she and her fellow Gerudo held in high esteem, but Link hoped that wasn't the case anymore. Still, he had to see how she responded first before he went deeper into his reason for being there.

He had no idea about the twilight, yet mentioned the Kokiri. The castle library and Zelda's hobby of reading had aided her in the sense that she had recognized what he was speaking of. But, these only posed more questions at the tip of her tongue. She'd read of the Kokiri people from centuries ago, a race of children with fairies. However, the man before her was clearly Hylian.

Could he have come from the past?

"I am Zelda," she affirmed, preparing to answer his questions the best she could to someone who had no clue of the twilight, "Hyrule is being plagued by evil powers from the Twilight Realm. They are invading our towns, concealing the light, turning people into spirits and soldiers into shadow beasts." For a moment, Zelda gazed up at the sky above them. Still light blue, but, she feared the day that wouldn't be the case.

"You must be from the past, Link. I read of the Kokiri people who previously inhabited Faron long ago. This... This cannot be safe for you. You should not threaten your future with the dangers of this world."

Zelda. It was Zelda. But not the one he knew...

Link listened to her describe this evil that had spread throughout Hyrule from a place called the Twilight Realm. His gaze followed hers when she looked to the sky that still looked the way he'd expect it. This plague of twilight hadn't yet reached this part of the kingdom.

He nodded, agreeing with the conclusion she'd reached just from a short exchange between the two. Zelda had always been wise beyond her years, and that was one of the things Link truly admired about her.

"I am from the past... I can travel from my past to seven years in my future, but it seems I've somehow managed to travel too far into the future." It wasn't anything he could logically explain since he'd done everything he was supposed to regarding pulling the Master Sword back out of its pedestal, and yet here he was.

Even though he said he didn't know how to do magic, was it smart for him to pick up one of each anyway? In case he learned magic? He thought about it for a moment, then shook his head and chose two red ones.

"If I ever learn magic, I'll come back for the other ones." There was no point in hoarding a potion that replenished magic when he didn't need that right now, especially when he'd be better off using a red potion when needed and then using the empty bottle.

An evil King. It really did sound like something out of a storybook. But between the Kokiri Forest, the fairy, and that large arse clearly magical stone -- it felt really unlikely.

This seemed like a story she wasn't meant to get caught up in, and she wouldn't -- if not for the fact that his lad was so young.

"-- I believe ye." She looked around, triple checking to ensure that there was no one else around. There wasn't, but now Mei was paranoid. "I'd rather ye be makin' shi-- stuff up, personally. Whatever ye've been tasked with sounds...important. Beyond me."

She paused, and then frowned, waving away the gem as he put if back.

"Someone already tried to steal it at the market."

Once the pouch with the emerald was secured back at his waist, he looked up at Mei. "Really? You believe me? That's good." With the limited interaction he'd had with adults so far, Link had come to realize just how little they thought of kids. It was like they thought they were silly and didn't have anything worth saying. One man even said he had a "head full of nonsense" because he said he wanted to meet the princess.

"I won't show anyone else, but I felt like it would be okay to tell you." She'd given him free milk with chocolate in it and listened to him even when she didn't have to. He leaned forward, elbows on the counter and cheeks in his hands as he felt the weight of this responsibility push down on him a bit.

"I thought it would be easy to meet with the princess, but I didn't realize how big of a deal that is." The Kokiri didn't know much about how the outside world worked, so he was learning as he went. "I need to meet her tomorrow because I'm afraid if I leave it too long, bad things will start to happen." What if the Evil King was getting closer to taking over just because Link was taking too long in delivering the Kokiri Emerald?

"Ten rupees each. But since you're clearly going to be --" In over your head "-- quite preoccupied on your journey, how about I sell you two for fifteen?"

"Yeah, I can do that!" Yes, even at this age, Link was all about a bargain. He also enjoyed haggling, but Navi said he had to choose who to do that with because some of the shopkeepers around here didn't like him all that much. He pulled out his wallet and grabbed two blue rupees and five green ones.

"And I don't have to bring the bottles back? I can keep them forever?"

"I apologize, Link, I'm not quite sure I know you," she responded, eyebrows furrowed with confusion as to what brought him here in the first place.

Something was wrong. Very wrong. Zelda wasn't behaving the way he expected. Of course, a lot could change in seven years, but she didn't recognize him at all. His brows furrowed as he attempted to come up with an answer that would make sense. Was it possible this was related to the Sacred Realm? Could the power that propelled him seven years into the future somehow have a negative effect on Zelda? A consequence that forced her to forget him?

She genuinely appeared alarmed, so he thought it best to take a step back, calm himself, and think it over. He forced a smile, hoping to offer some reassurance even if he felt his heart clench. "I might have been mistaken. I apologize if I came across as too intense."

She spoke of twilight as if it were something beyond the fading of light after a sunset. He shook his head. "No, I don't think I have. What do you mean by twilight?" It seemed they would have a steady stream of questions for one another, but he was fine with that. If it helped them get to the bottom of their mutual confusion, then he'd answer every single question she had for him.

"I'm from Kokiri Forest, near the Lost Woods." His blue gaze searched Zelda's face for any recognition, hoping that if he reminded her of certain aspects of his life, then he'd see it all come rushing back to her. He was about to tell her that it had been a shock to learn that he was Hylian and not Kokiri but was quick to catch himself. It wouldn't do the situation any good to bombard the princess with information that she was struggling to recall. He decided to try a different approach.

"I do! A common variety, but certainly the kind that could assist you on such a perilous journey," he nodded, and moved to a nearby shelf. The potions were at the very top, far higher than the boy's height -- and Sylvain had no desire to see him start to climb it. So he plucked the crate of potions off the shelf and took them down, holding them out.

"I can't do spells." So, the blue and the green weren't needed. Link wondered if he'd be able to learn magic, but that seemed like it would be hard. Who would he even learn it from? He looked at the red one. If it healed injuries, then that would be the best one, especially if he were to climb a mountain.

"Does it cost a lot?"

She felt like she was losing her mind.

"I--" He was being truthful. This wee lad had shown up with a fairy speaking of the Kokiri and pouring skulltula tokens out of a bag like they were spare Rupees!

All right, Mei. This really isnae any of yer business-- She would treat it just like she did the patrons who came in and out of her bar, rambling about their sob stories. Just because he was a child didn't make any difference!

...

"Uh. Not in Castle Town, no," she cleared her throat, carrying on. "But I've heard -- Kakariko Village, way up near Death Mountain--" What was she doing, telling a wee boy about Death Mountain!? -- "Supposedly there's someone there who trades in 'em."

Frowning, she leaned more heavily on the counter.

Death Mountain. That was what the big mountain was called? He'd seen it on the way here—it was pretty hard to miss it—but Navi had said they didn't need to go that way. Maybe after he spoke to the princess, he'd go to Kakariko Village and trade his skulltula tokens.

He broke out of his thoughts when Mei said his name in a way that sounded serious. His eyes, still so full of wonder, raised to hers as he quietly listened, catching on to the tone shift.

"I know. I already saw the guards outside, and when I tried to tell one of them I had to get in, he laughed at me." Which he thought was mean for no reason. He'd caught on to the fact that the royal family was a really important family and that they were protected for some reason. The way the townsfolk talked about them made it seem as if they weren't easy to meet.

"I really have something important for the princess, though. I know I sound like a dumb kid who's playing around, but I'm not. It's serious." He'd been debating whether or not to let Mei in on the reason he needed an audience with Princess Zelda. It would be okay, wouldn't it? Mei wasn't the bad sort, and she wouldn't try and take the Kokiri Emerald if he showed her it.

"I have to give her this." He reached into the pack he'd been traveling with and pulled out the emerald. It glowed with a mystical power, even without light shining on it. "It's hard to explain, and I don't know everything yet, but this emerald is important in stopping the Evil King who wants to take over Hyrule..." Link trailed off, realizing that saying all of this probably wouldn't matter. That she probably wouldn't believe him all because he was a kid and kids said silly things and liked to play make-believe.

In her brief moments of quiet, she would think of her parents and what they would do. Her memories of them were bleak, and if she was lucky enough, she could dream of her childhood again and feel reassured by their warmth and company. While they had taught her how to live and love, they hadn't been around long enough to teach her how to rule, or so she thought.

Perhaps this had been a test from them all along. She would stare up at the sky and wonder if they were watching, hoping for some sort of sign to know she was doing the right thing.

The sudden surprise that caused him to call out had gotten the best of him, but this was just one of those situations where he couldn't help himself. It was Zelda. She was really here in front of him! However, it was the way her lovely face shifted into an expression that paired curiosity with bewilderment that caused his next words to die in his throat, forcing him to rein in the wave of excitement that now flowed through his veins.

"It's me, Link." His voice held that same quiet admiration that was purely reserved for Zelda, like he couldn't quite believe he got to know her. It wasn't because she was the princess, either. It was more than that. Her title, while obviously important, didn't mean as much to him as the woman who carried it with such grace and maturity despite the constant pressure.

He whipped his hat off to hold it between his gauntlets but wasn't really sure why he'd done so. Maybe it was to give his restless fingers something to do. "It's been a while, but you still recognize me, don't you?" It hadn't even occurred to Link that the Zelda from seven years in the future wouldn't recognize him. Not when he wore this green tunic and hat he was known for. Added to that, Link liked to think he'd made an impression on her. Even before he'd taken on the quest to find the Spiritual Stones, even before he'd discovered she was the princess, they'd spent an entire day playing in Castle Town.

"You're safe..." It was like that realization hit him squarely in the chest, enough to draw a sigh of relief from the young man. Zelda was safe, and just knowing that would give him a boost in strength and motivation to continue on and see this life-changing quest to its end. The hat was jammed back on his head again, and he grinned.

"Have I changed a lot? I guess seven years is a pretty long time." He couldn't blame her for the momentary confusion, especially when their reunion happened in a way that neither of them probably predicted. His grinning mouth softened and changed his face into a look that could only ever be directed towards Zelda.