The morning sun blazed down upon the fields of Hyrule, suffusing the land with light and bringing the shadows into stark contrast—so dark they appeared to stain the grass—among a cluster of strange rock formations, all with near-perfect circles through the center. Musical notes from a feathery bard's accordion echoed through the natural stone rings.

"Such a beautiful landscape," the bard said, admiring the rocky field as he played, "one that isn't made for me, but for–"

Suddenly, between his words and his music, the galloping of hooves could be heard in the distance growing ever louder. The bard smiled.

"–someone special."

Beginning to hum along with his accordion, the bard played until the mare and its rider appeared, crossing an old wooden bridge before stopping in the grass beside the tall rock the bard stood on. The bard watched as the rider looked around, listening to the notes before determining where they were coming from, and with incredible agility, he hopped off the mare and climbed the rocks. The bard pretended not to hear him.

"Kass?" the traveler called, to which the bard acted surprised.

"Oh, Link! I didn't hear your approach," Kass replied. Link raised an eyebrow.

"You didn't hear the horse?" he asked.

"I did not. I happened to be lost in this song written by my late teacher," Kass said, holding up the accordion between his feathery fingers.

"Another song from your teacher?" Link asked.

"Yes. In fact, this was the last song he taught me before he passed away several years ago," Kass explained. "This song, and this field, have a special place in my heart because of it."

"This field?" Link asked, looking around the field. "Don't tell me these rocks are some sort of trial..."

"Hm?" Kass hummed, having actually lost himself to his thoughts this time. "Excuse me. I fear I may have gotten a little carried away. Nostalgia will do that to a person. The song does happen to be about this place, about an ancient verse passed down in this region. Would you like to hear it?"

"Let's hear it," Link nodded, still looking around at the scattered cluster of rocks.

"Excellent! Then without further ado–!"

The bard cleared his throat before pushing and pulling on his accordion.

"When a single arrow threads two rings,

The shrine will rise like birds on wings."

"That's a pretty short song this time around," Link commented.

"It may be short, but something tells me it's meaningful," the bard replied. "Do you think the rings in the song refer to these oddly-shaped rocks? And what of the shrine?"

With a contemplative hum, the bard looked around, still playing the occasional note on his instrument.

"There's a mystery to be uncovered here, that's for sure," he continued, "and I get the feeling the truth is beyond my wildest imagination."

"It may not be too wild, if I have this right," Link replied thoughtfully. "When a single arrow threads two rings...? So... Just shoot an arrow through two rings with one shot. That shouldn't be too hard; I'm pretty handy with a bow, if I do say so myself."

"It seems you have a plan," Kass said with a smile. "May the light illuminate your path."

With a confident smile, Link jumped off the tall rock, leaving Kass to watch as he began shooting arrows through rocks, trying to see which angle he could find in order to get one shot through two holes.

"He's heard almost all of your songs, my teacher," Kass spoke quietly up to the clouds. "There are only a few songs left, and then I'll be able to pass on the most important song of them all..."

Staring up at the clouds, the accordion notes continued to play as he quietly sang a few lyrics.

"The hero, the princess—hand in hand—must bring light back to this land..."

With a hum, he watched as the clouds drifted by, the echo of Link's frustration in the distance.

"Once I pass your songs on, my teacher, I wonder if I'll be able to discover more songs? Or...if it will be time to write a few songs of my own..."

"–and then, the lizalfos tried to choke me with his disgusting, slimy tongue! But that wasn't going to stop me!" Celessa relayed her story as the children listened eagerly, leaning forward as the pilgrim spoke. With a grin, she too, leaned forward, acting out the memory she regaled them with. "It pulled me in, ready to take a chomp out of my head, but with a spin, I cut its tongue off before stabbing it in the chest!"

In the house neighboring the elder's, a married couple was serving dinner to the many guests visiting their home. While some children ran or flew around to play—regardless of Saki's calls to settle down—others listened to the stories Celessa had been telling.

"Woah!" the children cheered as the pilgrim swung an imaginary sword in her hand. In awe, they asked, "Did you really defeat it?"

"I did, with this very sword right here," Celessa said proudly, patting the hilt of the sword on her lower back. "Pretty incredible, isn't it?"

While the children cheered, the reporter seated nearby scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"So you fought an oversized lizard. Big deal. That's not all that impressive; not enough to be considered a worthy story," Traysi chimed in, turning her attention back to her notebook as she leaned against one of the hut's wooden beams. At the sudden gibe, Celessa frowned.

"Do you have a better story to tell then?" she asked, to which the reporter snorted.

"I have volumes full of stories I could tell, like the time I was almost swallowed by a molduking," she replied without looking away from her notes. The pilgrim furrowed her brow.

"There's no way you could have been almost swallowed by a molduga—those things are impossible to escape from!" she exclaimed, the Rito children seated among them wide-eyed and preparing to hear a grand story. "You wouldn't be alive now if it were true."

"Oh, so now I'm the one being doubted, after the trust I've put into you all?" Traysi asked as she started flipping through the pages of her journal. "First off, it was a molduking—there is a difference—and second, I was saved. An incredible swordsman caught me in midair before the thing chomped me; and, while I appreciate his help, I'm sure I would've figured something out."

"I could guess who it was..." Celessa murmured.

"I don't need guesses; I need truths, and I've been meaning to track him down. He sounded like he had such a story to tell," Traysi mumbled before landing on one of the pages in her journal. "There. The entire story."

"I wanna read it! I wanna read it!" one of the bard's children spoke.

"Hey, this is my home, so I get to read it first!" Teba's white-feathered child, Tulin, suddenly spoke up.

"Tulin! Mind your manners," Teba scolded, holding multiple bowls of his wife's cooking. "The woman never said she was handing her notebook over."

"That goes for all of you now. I believe I taught my children to be far more patient than they're acting," the bard said, taking a bowl from his warrior friend to hand to one of his sitting children. "How do you all expect to continue learning songs if you can't wait and listen?"

"Sorry," the Rito children sitting in front of Traysi responded in unison. Noticing their father's tone, the fledglings flying around the home came to a landing halt.

"There we go," Kass said with a smile. "Come on now and get your food."

"When you've all got your bowls, Traysi here will read the story to you!" Celessa said cheerfully, wrapping her arm around the Hylian she had offered up as entertainment.

"And where do you get off signing me up for reading duty?" the reporter asked with a glare, somewhat attempting to pull herself out of the pilgrim's grasp. "I write down stories for others to read. I don't read them out loud."

"Come on! The way you write, it's as if you're speaking to the reader anyway! This isn't all that different. It wouldn't hurt to share your stories verbally now and then, would it?" Celessa asked cheekily. "Come on. For the children."

"You're annoying, you know that?" Traysi asked, still glaring at the pilgrim, yet she sighed after hearing the children egging her on. "Fine, fine. I guess I could tell a few stories from my notes here, but you all have to promise me you'll convince your parents to get a few copies of the Rumor Mill as thanks! Since we're talking about my stories, we might as well start from volume one, where I went to confirm the existence of a place called Lover's Pond–"

As Traysi began to speak about rumors, ranging from treasures of falling stars to glowing blue bunnies, Teba and his bardic friend finished passing out the bowls until only two were left.

"Looks like we got signed up to spend some rupees on 'rumor' books," he chuckled, returning to Kass's side. He held out one of the bowls, which Kass took gratefully. "So, what's got you back in the village so soon?"

"I believe I already told you, my dear friend," Kass chuckled. "I came to see the little ones."

"You did say that earlier, but I still find that a bit odd," Teba replied. "It's rare for you to return after only a few weeks. Is there something else going on?"

"Nothing gets past you, it seems," Kass said. "I've been keeping my teacher's songs alive for quite some time, well before my children were born or I was married to my wonderful Amali. I've passed the notes on to the ears of those who needed to hear them and finished the other songs that were left in my care. Now that it's all been completed–"

"–you wonder what's next," Teba finished, yet Kass only slightly nodded.

"It's more so... I wonder if I should pursue what I know naturally comes next," the bard clarified.

His eyes weren't looking into his warrior friend's as they spoke. Instead, they were locked onto the five rainbow-feathered children still listening to the reporter telling stories he knew were hers.

"I've missed so much of my children's lives as I've continued the work of my teacher, and they're only just fledglings," he continued with a weary smile. "And for all that time away and all those songs I sang—and as important as they were to pass on—I have no songs of my own to sing to them."

"You don't regret it, do you?" Teba asked.

"Not at all. I'd do it all over again, for my teacher... For Link and the princess... For my wife and children..." Kass rattled off. "No, it's as you said, my friend. The question is whether or not I will write a song of my own."

"Hm... I see," Teba hummed thoughtfully. "That can't be an easy decision to make."

"It is a challenging one, I must admit," Kass agreed with another nod. "But, it is a decision I must make in due time—a time which isn't this very moment, for we have a dinner to enjoy now, don't we? In fact, where did the princess and her Sheikah friend disappear to? They were supposed to be joining us, weren't they?"

"Knowing Zelda, she probably went off to plan that festival of hers. I didn't even see them leave thanks to all...this," Teba said, gesturing to the commotion happening in the middle of the hut. "I doubt they'd go far when they've agreed to dine with us. I'm sure they're right outside. I'll have Saki make a couple more bowls and find them–"

"Allow me. I heard about this festival in passing from dear Paya. I'd like to learn more about it," Kass offered.

"It's quite the idea the princess had. I'll be attending in place of Kaneli and taking Tulin there with me," Teba said. "Maybe you should consider going as well. You might just find your answer there, seeing how it's about change and all. Saki–!"

After two more bowls of food had been made and given to the bard to balance on his feathery arms, Kass left the hut. He only had to walk a few steps along the wooden walkways that lined the stony perch to one of the village's launch pads, until he found both the princess and the Sheikah sitting, their feet dangling over the edge. As he drew nearer, he could see the luminous glow of the ancient device reflecting on their skin as the princess looked through the slate. With a smile, he walked up to them carefully so as not to startle them, though the Sheikah woman still gave a slight jolt at his soft call.

"Food is ready for you both," he said kindly, holding the bowls.

"Kass," Zelda called, turning to her visitor before glancing at the food in his arms. With a smile, she placed the slate in her lap and reached up to take one of the bowls. "Thank you. I meant to return by the time Saki finished cooking."

"Working on your festival plans, are you?" Kass asked.

"I am. At least, I'm doing what I can with what I have here in Rito Village, which isn't much, truth be told," she replied. "Regardless, it doesn't hurt to start now."

"I admire your drive, my dear Princess," Kass said. "Will you tell me the full details of this festival of yours?"

As Paya quietly ate her bowl of food and Kass tookg a bite of his every now and then, Zelda explained her plan and what led to it. Carefully, the bard listened through his bites, occasionally nodding in understanding. When she finished, he gave a melodic hum.

"Quite the story you and your knight can now tell, it seems," he said.

"The story gets more embarrassing the more I tell it," the princess replied, taking a bite of her food.

"No one is perfect; everyone moves at their own pace. What matters is, after the end of one song, you take what you've learned and add it to the next," Kass said with a smile. "Isn't that right, my dear Paya?"

"H-hm? O-oh, yes," Paya agreed after swallowing her food.

Zelda smiled, glancing down at the glowing screen of the slate in her lap. "I suppose you're right," she said before suddenly asking, "Why don't you join us, Kass? Now that I think about it, you should most certainly be there after all the help you've given both of us."

"Will I join you, you ask?" Kass wondered aloud. He glanced over to the hut, watching his colorful-feathered children sitting in front of the pilgrim and reporter as they told their stories, entranced by the tales. "I wish I could, Princess, but... As I've just returned, I must spend time with my children, for who knows how long it'll be before the next time I see them. I will be leaving again soon."

"The festival won't begin immediately, as much as I'd love for it to," Zelda replied. "I'd give it a week longer, maybe more if I encounter any possible setbacks. Maybe you could attend just before your next journey? I just know Link would want you there, as would I."

"A week, you say?" Kass asked.

"If not more," Zelda cajoled.

"Y-you could bring your children along with you," Paya suddenly said. At her suggestion, the bard gave a hearty, melodious laugh.

"It's hard enough flying across Hyrule on my own, much less watching over five children," Kass said. "I believe they'll be fine staying here. Their mother would appreciate some company. It's a miracle she allows me to go off on my own to pursue my musical endeavors as often as I do."

"O-oh, I-I see," Paya stammered, her cheeks burning red.

"It was a kind suggestion, one I wish I could follow, my dear Sheikah. Any other parent would have agreed to it. Maybe when the fledglings are a little older, I'll be able to as well," Kass said, noticing her embarrassment. "Still, as for my participation, I'll talk it over with my wife and children. I would like to be there to support our heroic friend. Tonight, however..."

He glanced over at the hut, where he could see his children and Tulin still wildly enjoying the stories from the reporter, who clearly had gotten caught up in the moment and fun surrounding her.

"I understand," Zelda said with a nod, noticing where Kass was looking. "If you can make it, that would be wonderful. I'll just hope to see you there, and if not, I'll know you're having a wonderful time regardless."

"I appreciate that, Princess," Kass said with a slight bow, a kind smile still curled on his beak. "If you'll excuse me, I'll be heading back inside. It's poor manners enough for me to have left Teba and Saki with all the children to look after. I hope to see you inside soon."

With a nod, the Rito disappeared back into the hut.

"Why don't you head back inside as well, Paya?" Zelda insisted to her friend. "I believe we've gone through all we could tonight."

"But, what about you?" Paya asked.

"I'll follow not long after. Give me just a few minutes to finalize some things," the princess answered.

Though the Sheikah looked as though she wanted to question further, with a nod, she stood from the platform and walked back into the hut with her bowl in hand. Zelda watched as Paya was quickly pulled into Celessa and Traysi's shenanigans, yet the longer the princess looked on, the more she felt her focus trailing away from her companions to the hosts of the evening.

There, she watched Teba scolding Tulin for being too rambunctious, only for his pink-and-purple feathered wife to giggle and comfort him. She took her husband's arm into hers, resting her head on his shoulder, before Teba pulled away, only to wrap his wings around her entirely, still watching his son, yet clearly calmed by his lover's presence.

After a few minutes of observing, she looked back down at the bowl of food in her hands, only to set it down on the floorboards beside her. Picking up the slate from her lap, she swiped through the screen before landing on an item.

With a tap and a flash of blue light, a bright blue, slightly tattered tunic appeared. Setting the slate next to the food, Zelda stared down at the tunic, inspecting the tears and rips. She ran her fingers over the white embroidery that lined it, taking note of her craftsmanship, though her real thoughts were elsewhere, fully on the person the tunic belonged to. Taking a deep breath, she raised one of her hands, pushing loose strands of golden hair away from her eyes before looking up at the bright moon shining above her.

"Link..."

*    *    *    *    *

Mist drifted through the forest, and the wind blew through the trees with a slight whistle that constantly echoed in the visitor's pointed ears. The only other sound he could hear was the crunching of grass beneath his feet. Passing shrubs and the occasional dead tree or stump, he continued, curious about where he was, yet no answer came to him. Eventually, however, another sound began to echo in his ears.

Was that an...instrument?

Intrigued, Link's ears perked up, and he looked around as he listened out for the faint musical notes. They certainly weren't a figment of his imagination; they were real. Closing his eyes, his sore and worn body turned in place before he picked up the direction the song was playing from. Furrowing his brow, he followed the sound, faintly audible through the wind, pushing branches aside. The music slowly got louder and clearer while the forest grew more colorful and vibrant.

Eventually, Link found himself standing in a clearing where a tall, decaying log stood upright in the ground. There, he found a vaguely familiar individual. He was a small person dressed in leafy clothing and a makeshift pointed hat, though this time, his face was hidden. Only a familiar pair of orange glowing eyes and a beak were visible. In the imp's hands was a flute, and he was playing the same song he played during the previous trials.

Remembering how that first encounter had gone, Link carefully stepped closer to the imp, ready to draw his weapon at any moment. The imp still didn't react; he merely continued dancing on his trunk, playing the cheerful tune. Eventually, Link called out to him.

"Skull Kid?" he said apprehensively.

At this, the imp stopped playing and dancing and turned to look down at the Hylian, now standing at the base of his trunk. He didn't say a word but simply stared down, his glowing eyes curiously inspecting the adult man looking back up at him. After a few moments, Link spoke again.

"You are Skull Kid, right?" he asked. "It's me... Um... Your friend..."

"Friend, hee hee?" the skull kid asked, bouncing on top of his trunk. "I do have a friend, and he isn't you! Bye bye!"

With that, Skull Kid jumped surprisingly high, backflipping into the tree leaves above. Though risky, Link let down his guard slightly, relaxing his muscles and lowering his arm.

"A friend, huh?" he wondered aloud. "This is before Twilight's time... Meaning I should be meeting this first friend of Skull Kid's. Twilight said he was trained by this guy, didn't he?"

With a hum in thought, Link continued to look around before noticing another log nearby, the dark interior obscuring whatever was on the other side. Deciding to continue his trek, he disappeared into the log.

Is the Master Sword in this forest as well? Link thought as he walked, listening to the echo of his footsteps against the wood beneath his soles. It always seems to be in the forest– Huh?

Stepping out of the tunnel, he found himself on a ledge with light beaming down upon him from above, brighter than before. Rubbing his eyes to help them adjust, Link blinked a few times before looking around to find he had walked into a clearing. The canopy of leaves above had disappeared, revealing a clear sky above, where the sun shone down upon the open fields and rivers winding between them. It was a beautiful place, and from where Link stood, he could see down into the clearing and the few decorated tree stumps there.

It took him a moment to realize those stumps were more than just decor.

Are those...houses? Is this a town? Link wondered. This is way different from the temple I found the Master Sword in... I wonder if it's even here, wherever "here" is...

Using some vines, he climbed down and searched through the village, inspecting the small houses, the occasional fences, and even what appeared to be an old store. It all looked abandoned. Whatever life had been here had vanished, and from the looks of it, many years ago.

There's nothing here... Link thought as he walked through the smaller-than-usual pathways. I doubt I'll find anything that'll guide me to the Master Sword here. It might be time to start searching for a way out–

His thoughts paused as he noticed another house he had missed upon his initial inspection. It was carved from a stump larger than the rest, somewhat removed from the rest of the town near the edge of the clearing, just beside the forest. Its door was high above the ground, requiring a ladder to reach it; luckily, one was conveniently placed against the trunk, waiting for whoever wished to climb, though it had clearly been years since anyone had used it. That was, until now.

With a creak, the rungs held his weight as Link climbed up and onto the small balcony. At the top, he was met with a curtain instead of a door. Intrigued, he gently pulled it aside and stepped inside, revealing the home's small interior. It was a simple home, with a bed in the back, a small desk, and a similar-sized table.

"Didn't Twilight live in a high tree?" Link wondered out loud, walking around the little house. "He was living on the outskirts of town, too... Just like this house. Could...this be...?"

Nearing the bed, he dragged his fingers across the simple white sheets before grunting.

"Even if it is, it doesn't matter," he said thoughtfully. "I'll get more answers when I find my sword."

Turning back, he returned to the balcony of the home, but not without looking back inside one last time. For a time, he continued to explore the village, but to no avail. The Master Sword wasn't there. Soon, he found himself standing in the center of the town, looking back and forth at his surroundings.

"There are two logs... One on each side of town, not counting the one I came out of," Link murmured. "There's no telling where each one leads, so... I guess I'll just have to make a choice."

After a moment of thought, he turned toward the log across the river. Leaping across the angular stones in the water and passing under rope bridges, he crossed the rest of the town and entered the log he had chosen. The moment he exited the darkness and returned to the light, his eyes widened.

Directly before him was a large tree with branches and knots on the trunk that had grown to look like a face and mustache.

"Great Deku Tree?" Link called, yet there was no response.

Something was wrong. The tree's bark was dull and rotten; its leaves had all clearly fallen off—its branches were now bare. There was no booming voice. There was no heavy, vibrating yawn. There was no life to be found in the old tree. Slowly, Link walked to the tree, reaching out to place his hand against one of the large roots.

"What happened to you?" Link asked quietly. "You weren't in Twilight's era... Is this why?"

Gently, his hand slid against the bark, yet even this tiny action dislodged a piece of rotting bark off the large root. Furrowing his brow, Link looked down at the dead piece of wood before pursing his lips and looking back at the clearing before the tree.

"The Master Sword isn't here, is it?" Link asked out loud, even though he knew full well he wasn't going to get a response. "I don't see a temple in this forest, and you don't have it like you do in my era... If this Deku Tree even is you..."

With a sigh, Link crouched down, placing the piece of bark he had accidentally removed in the soft grass.

"Of course, things would be different," he continued to himself. "There's no way the sword would make things the same for each trial. It's somewhere else... I have to leave the forest."

Using his fingers, he dug a little hole in the soil in front of the tree before placing the separated bark into it. Covering it, he patted the small burial mound before picking himself back up. Looking up at the tree's face once more, he nodded.

"Wish me luck," he said.

Turning, he went back through whence he came, leaving the ancient tree alone once more. He traveled through the log again, returning to the forest village, which he then crossed to reach the second log on the opposite side.

"Please be an exit..." Link murmured as he walked through.

Exiting the log, he found himself standing on a short but wide rope bridge, surrounded by the forest, with yet another log on the other side of it. At the sight of this, Link frowned.

"Is this not an exit?" he wondered as he stepped onto the bridge's wooden boards. "If the Deku Tree is here, then this is definitely the Lost Woods. I really don't wanna get lost in–"

Link then turned quickly and sharply, looking back at the bridge he had just halfway crossed. He swore he had seen someone. Was it a child? A girl? Link's brow furrowed as he stared at the spot, hesitantly looking away only after nothing appeared. He looked around the forest again, wondering if he'd see anything else, yet nothing revealed itself.

"Was it a Korok?" he asked himself, "or am I just tired? I didn't exactly get to sleep this time after completing the floors... Hm."

He stared at the spot where he thought he had seen the child for a second longer before completing his journey across the bridge, disappearing into the next and final log. Upon appearing out the other side, another bright light blinded him, even brighter than when he had entered the forest village. The number of trees dwindled, and the sky became clearer until Link eventually arrived at a clearing much larger than the one he had come across earlier. This one looked like an entirely open field.

"Where am I now?" Link asked as he stared out across the grasslands. "Well, it's not the forest, so I have to be making some progress. I hope..."

He stepped away from the log and walked out into the fields before eventually finding a road and a sign. He jogged over to the sign, ignoring the pain in his body, hoping he would be able to figure out where he was.

"And the sign says...something," Link muttered as he tried to read the lettering etched into the wood. "I can't read this. Is this Hylian? It must be ancient..."

Giving up on reading the sign, he decided to simply follow the road, hoping he'd eventually find himself somewhere important.

"The Master Sword isn't in the forest; at least, that's what I'm guessing," Link mused, walking past the occasional tree or boulder. "If it's not there, it has to be somewhere else. I know I'm at least in Hyrule, that's for sure. If I'm gonna get any sort of clue about where the sword is, the best chance I have is to first find–"

Suddenly, he paused. Having crested the hill the path was taking him over, he now had a perfect view of the entire field he had been crossing, and there in the distance, he could see gigantic stone walls. He grinned. 

By the time Link arrived at the giant stone walls, the sun had already begun to set. Yet, even though the blue of the sky had darkened with the coming evening, he knew the blood-red clouds floating above him weren't natural. Just as it had been with the Great Deku Tree, something was not right with the castle or its town. The drawbridge that granted visitors entry into the town had been destroyed—snapped in half, its center drowned in the moat it was meant to cross—the stone walls were blackened with dirt and soot, and beyond the red clouds was a murky sky, darker than that of the evening.

"If this doesn't scream trial, then I'm not sure what does," Link thought out loud, cautiously examining the entrance to the town.

Knowing well what he had to do, he carefully crossed over the remains of the drawbridge and passed through the worn-down gate, entering what he knew to be this era's Castle Town. The place was barren—nothing but dilapidated buildings and destroyed cobblestone roads.

The air was dirty and heavy, the fountain had no more water to give, and the shop signs formerly displayed on various buildings had long since fallen to the ground. It was a sorry sight, causing a pit to form in Link's stomach. It was too familiar—too similar—to how his own Castle Town had been left in his era after the Calamity. In fact, this might even be worse, for occasionally, he would find himself walking over a skeleton or body dressed in rusted chainmail and decaying fabric.

This was recent... Link thought solemnly. It couldn't have been that long ago if these bodies are still here...

Eventually, he crouched beside one of the bodies leaning up against a wall. Though this body was little more than a skeleton, it still wore the most intact armor Link had seen—a helm still lodged over the skull and a chestplate still strapped onto the rib cage. Even an old spear was still grasped between the skeleton's bony fingers.

Was this place hit by a Calamity of its own? Link's thoughts continued to wander. Suddenly, his brow furrowed as the memories of Twilight's era appeared in his mind. Clearer than anything was the red-haired Gerudo with the evil eyes. No... It was a person who did this.

Closing his eyes, he remained crouched before the soldier, only moving when he heard something. It was a slight sound, something that barely made his ears twitch. It was as if someone had just taken a step. Opening his eyes, he glanced at his side to see another dead body, yet this one was standing, slowly walking around as if it were alive. As it walked, it moaned, as if longing for the life it once had.

That's...new, Link thought, focusing his attention on the creature. That's not a monster I've seen before...

Suddenly, he heard another step. He looked over to see another dead body walking around, mimicking life. Slowly, Link took a deep breath.

It's starting.

Realizing there was only one thing he could do, he reached out and took hold of the spear the soldier's skeleton was holding on to.

Sorry, but I need this, Link said to himself, though addressing the skeletal soldier mentally, as he gripped the spear's handle tightly. I'll make sure to use it proudly in honor of your sacrifice. I promise.

As gently as he could, he pulled the spear away from the skeleton's grip, yet the bones around the handle remained strong. It wasn't until Link gave a light tug that the bones fell, clattering loudly to the ground, some clanking against the armor the soldier still wore. The clanging echoed through the ruined town, immediately causing the empty eyes of the walking undead to turn and land on the one living person in the town. With the undead focusing their attention toward him, Link readied his newfound spear, looking back and forth between the few that were surrounding him.

They're slow, he thought, watching as they shuffled closer to him. Slightly loosening his grip on the spear, he raised the weapon above his head. I can probably take one out with a throw... Gain some distance between myself and the others–

He couldn't even finish his thought. His body began to vibrate, his eardrums felt as though they were about to blow, and his head had begun to pound. The sound that echoed around him was ear-piercing. It was so loud it felt as though he wasn't able to move his body. No... He couldn't move his body.

What...is...this...? Link forced himself to think, trying to block out the violent ringing in his ears. Is this how they make up for being so slow? It's excruciating!

Suddenly, the screams silenced, and the vibrations halted, allowing Link to fall to his knees, the spear clattering to the ground. Gasping for air, he brought his hands to his still-ringing pointed ears.

I gotta avoid the screams... Link thought, trying to pick himself up as he watched the creatures shamble even closer. They must have to catch their breath; otherwise, they'd scream until they got their hands on me–

Suddenly, he felt his body beginning to vibrate again.

Already? he exclaimed internally.

Desperately, he brought his hands to his ears, trying to cover them in hopes of preventing the oncoming petrification, yet the piercing screeching filled his head again. It was no different from when his ears were uncovered. Again, he felt frozen, his body aching in pain, the vibrations coursing through every muscle and fiber of his being.

It's...not a scream... Link thought through his pounding head, his jaw clenching as hard as he could in order to keep his mind from breaking. It's...something else... What...is it...?

Suddenly, he felt something smack against the sides of his head, clamping down on his skull as if trying to crush it. Forcing his eyes open, he looked up to see the creature keeping him in place, its body covered head to toe in bloodstained rags, all except for its own soulless, dark eyes.

The eyes!

The moment he looked into those empty eye sockets, the vibrations in Link's body intensified to an unbearable degree, threatening to shatter his bones. The creature began to lift his body, its mouth opening behind the rags to reveal rotten teeth behind them. Thankfully, Link's fingers twitched.

Stretching his arm out as far as he could, he took hold of the spear, able to just barely reach as the undead entity hadn't lifted him very high, and with a swing, he knocked the creature in the head. The wrapped monster stumbled back before falling to the ground, where Link jumped and plunged the spear tip between the eyes. Before he could pull the spear free, though, the high-pitched shrieking and vibrations began again.

The one from...behind! Link managed to think, trying to turn his head. He could hear the footsteps growing ever closer, the moans of the undead growing louder, able to be heard even through the screech. Wait for it...

The undead reached out, its bloodied finger ready to take hold of the Hylian tunic its prey wore, but just before it could take hold, the vibrations in Link's body stopped. With a twirl of the spear, he twisted his body before swinging it again, slicing the undead's eyes with the end. Regaining a firm grip, he brought the spear back before striking the creature right in the heart, allowing it to fall lifelessly to the ground.

"Okay... These guys are not fun to deal with," Link mumbled, flicking the spear to free its tip from any strands of bandages it had collected. "If they're anything like the forest trial with Twilight, then these guys are probably everywhere."

Placing the spear on his back, he continued through the town, carefully looking around every corner, using the remains of shops and buildings to explore. Just as he suspected, the undead were everywhere, crouched in front of fountains or simply standing around. With a deep breath, Link stepped out into the open as quietly as he could, careful not to attract the monsters' gazes.

No one said I had to fight them. If the trials wanted, they'd all be coming at me right now, Link thought as he crept along the town. Please be right about the eyes... It's times like these I wish I had the slate; I could really go for my Sheikah gear right about now. Come on, Link; focus. Where could the Master Sword be–?

Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a large, begrimed building isolated at the edge of the town. It was a structure that looked oddly familiar to the skulking hero.

The Temple of Time? Link wondered internally. It's a part of Castle Town in this era? Wait... Even in the forest in Twilight's time, I was in the ruins of a temple...

With a goal in sight, he continued through the destruction, creeping past as many undead as he could while taking out the ones that occasionally managed to catch him in their line of sight. Eventually, Link found himself walking up the staircases leading up to the temple, the walking dead's numbers dwindling the higher he got until, finally, he stood before the magnificent building.

While the town it overlooked was in shambles, the Temple of Time appeared to be in perfect condition. Though its walls were covered in the same black soot as everything else, there wasn't a chipped brick or cracked glass pane to be seen. It was as if the building itself was stuck in time, a door that showed what Hyrule once was. After looking around to ensure there weren't any more surprises, Link stepped up the small, final staircase and entered the temple.

He found himself standing in a beautiful room, untouched by even the dirt of the outside. The stone was a pristine white, with light shining through the windows. The checkered floors were as shiny as polished glass, glistening in the radiant light. On the floor was the royal family crest, matched by the crest above a stone door near the back of the room, where three jewels were displayed upon an altar before it.

"This is different," Link murmured, walking through the temple. "I'm surprised there's no goddess statue in here...or the Master Sword. Unless..."

He walked past the jewels, taking note of their beauty before stopping in front of the closed stone door.

"Unless you're behind here," he finished, placing a hand on the stone before him. "I can't imagine you'd be anywhere else. Let's see..."

Placing his other hand on the door, he began to push, a grunt of effort escaping his lips. The door didn't budge. After a few moments of pushing, Link backed off, his breathing heavy.

"Either I'm really sore, or this isn't going to work. Maybe both, now that I think about it," he thought out loud. "I can't think of anywhere else you'd be..."

He looked back at the jewels upon the altar behind him. Stepping over to them, he took them off the altar and into his arms. Nothing. He placed them back in different orders. Still nothing.

"Is it just not here? Am I in the wrong place?" he asked himself after some time, now staring at the stone door again. "Come on, Link. What are you missing?"

"You're missing the password."

There hadn't been any footsteps, or any sign of entry. The voice had simply appeared, echoing against the walls. Turning toward the voice, Link set his eyes upon a new person, one who looked oddly familiar, just as Twilight had. Though he looked similar, this person's hair was a much brighter shade of blond and had been perfectly parted, his eyes a brilliant blue, and his armor thick and bulky with a sword and shield on his back.

"You're Skull Kid's other friend," Link said, unfazed by his new visitor.

"His only friend in this era. Here, that is," the visitor chuckled. "Elsewhere... He's got a pretty good group he's friends with."

"Does he attack them with puppets?" Link asked.

"Nope. For them, he chose a moon," the man said. When Link raised an eyebrow, the man waved the unspoken question away. "That's for later. For now, I see you're struggling to get that door open."

"I am. So, it's in there then?" Link asked as the man stopped beside him, looking up at the stone door himself.

"It's where I pulled it," the man said. "You just need to have the right key."

"A key? Well, there's nothing in here but those three jewels, and they didn't do anything–" Link began, but the man shook his head.

"That's only a third of the key," the man said, reaching back into one of the pouches on his hip. "The other two pieces...are right here."

From his pouch, he pulled out a beautiful blue instrument. It was a small, round instrument with multiple small holes for fingers and one to blow into. Link furrowed his brow, trying to recall its name.

"Isn't that an...ocarina?" he asked.

"It is. There aren't many of these left in your era, are there?" the man asked.

"After the Calamity? I haven't seen any," Link said. "So, how's this work? What do I do with it?"

"You play the right notes," the man said with a gentle smile.

Link watched as he brought the instrument to his lips. He began to play a melody, a simple and slow yet powerful one. Each note echoed through the temple, resonating with the atmosphere itself. Suddenly, the large stone door began to shudder, dust falling from its edges, before slowly beginning to lift. The temple rumbled as the scraping of stone echoed until, eventually, the door had completely opened, revealing a room on the other side.

Lowering his instrument, the man glanced at Link before gesturing forward. Taking the sign, Link stepped into the large, octagonal room, with stone pillars decorating each corner. At the top was a singular window, allowing a single ray of light to shine down upon the raised pedestal in the center of the room, where the purple-winged sword Link had been searching for stood glistening and waiting.

"There you are, waiting silently, just like you always do," Link whispered with a grin, stepping onto the pedestal.

Now standing in front of the blade, he took it by its green-strapped handle and again slowly lifted it from the stone it rested in. He raised the handle to his face and closed his eyes, a glimmer of light glinting on the blade before eventually lowering it to turn back to the man who had helped him. He was now standing with his arms crossed at the stone doorway.

"So, I take it you're 'Link,'" Link asked from the pedestal. The man nodded.

"Just like you, but why don't you go ahead and call me...'Time,'" the man said.

"Like the temple?" Link asked, stepping down from the stone dais and back to the door.

"Like the song," Time corrected. "What you heard was called the Song of Time, the third part of the key that allows you into the chamber. It's a song that, paired with the Ocarina of Time, can alter the flow of time itself."

"I didn't know songs had that kind of power," Link said.

"You'd be surprised. The power of notes is immeasurable, whether they're played on a magical instrument or not," he said. "There are many songs I know, all of which grant me some sort of special ability, but the Song of Time... That's a special one."

Time stared down at the blue instrument in his hand for a moment before returning it to the pouch he had pulled it from.

"Tell me, Link," he began again. "What did you think of your trial this time around?"

"My trial?" Link repeated. When Time nodded, he took a second to think. "It was different. Before with Twilight and Skull Kid, it was very battle-focused. They tested my skill with a sword, and then Twilight helped me improve my skill further, but... I didn't need to fight here. It felt more like...like I was being shown something."

"Good. That's because you were," Time said.

He gestured for Link again as he began walking, a sign for him to follow.

"Is all I saw what happened to your Hyrule?" Link asked, keeping pace with Time. "Did a calamity happen?"

"It did...and it didn't," Time said. "You see, seven years ago, a man with an evil heart came into this temple, found his way into the Sacred Realm through the Master Sword, and managed to gain a piece of the Triforce. With it, he caused all the wreckage you saw outside."

"He used the Master Sword?" Link asked in shock. "But...I thought evil couldn't touch the sword. I thought only we and the girl with the blood of the goddess could touch this sword."

"And you'd be right," Time said. "The man was cunning. He didn't touch the sword himself... I'm the one who broke the seal and allowed him entry into the Sacred Realm."

"You did?" Link asked. Time nodded.

"I was nine," he said, "and so was the princess. He played us both. I'm sure you've already pieced together who that man was."

"Ganondorf," Link answered, remembering his time with Twilight. "You two were just kids–"

"–kids who brought upon the destruction of Hyrule," Time cut in, nearing the Temple of Time's exit. "Children or not, that's what happened. Thankfully, we were able to seal Ganondorf away seven years later, stopping his reign of terror across Hyrule."

The two stepped outside, returning to the ruined city Link had seen earlier, except now, the dark red-and-black clouds had disappeared, revealing a bright blue sky once more. The aura of darkness had vanished from the air.

"So... You did it," Link said. "You saved everyone."

"We did," Time answered, looking up at the sky.

"That's great but... You said this tragedy did, but also didn't happen," Link said, furrowing his brow in confusion as he looked at Time. "What did you mean by that?"

"Well, when you have the flow of time sitting in the palm of your hand, anything is possible," Time answered. Link's eyes widened.

"You... You chose to go back in time? Back to before all of this happened?" he asked, but Time shook his head.

"No," he said simply, his eyes glued to the sky. "I was sent back."

Suddenly, a light shone in the sky above, prompting Link to finally look up at what Time was staring at. It was barely visible, but up in the air, two people looked to be standing above the clouds. A faint sound could be heard...more musical notes. A song had been played, followed by a blinding light and a few echoing words.

"Now go home... Regain your lost time. Home...where you are supposed to be... The way you are supposed to be... Thank you... Link... Good-bye."

Suddenly, the light faded, revealing Castle Town once more. This time, however, the buildings weren't destroyed. The town had been restored, the plants had all returned, and the bustling of people could be heard in the distance from where Link and Time still stood. It was almost as if they had gone back to a time before.

"You got sent back in time..." Link began to say, still wrapping his mind around everything. "You got sent back and–"

"–managed to stop everything that was going to happen," Time finished.

Just as he finished his words, Link heard footsteps behind them. He turned to face the Temple of Time behind them to see a young boy dressed in green running out of the temple and darting down the now beautiful staircases into town. Link began to follow, assuming that's what he was supposed to do based on his training with Twilight, but quickly realized Time wasn't following.

"Time?" he asked, turning back to the older hero. The hero wasn't paying attention, for his eyes were glued to the temple, lost in thought. Again, Link called out to him. "Time."

"Yeah," Time answered simply. Taking a deep breath, he turned away from the temple and began to walk. "Let's follow."

The two followed the little boy down the stairs and into town. Castle Town was as bustling as it sounded, with shopkeepers calling out to passersby, buildings with bright signs that promoted their games, people shopping, and lovers dancing. A red-haired little girl singing near the gurgling water fountain in the center. The sight brought a smile to Link's face, a joy to see what he could only remember from his own Castle Town before the Calamity.

"You managed to save all of this... To stop it before it all happened," Link said. Time nodded.

"I did," he said again, but when Link looked at him, there wasn't a smile on his face.

The two followed the path until they were out of the town. Rounding bends and passing by hills, their destination soon came into view: Hyrule Castle. This castle was much smaller and simpler than either the castle Link knew or even the castle of Twilight's era. Still, it was a beautiful building, with clean white bricks, bright blue roofs for the towers, and flags billowing in the breeze.

Time continued to guide them, passing through the gate that had already been opened, through the castle, and eventually, to the garden, where Time and Link found two children staring at each other—the royal girl in surprise, the forest boy with a knowing glint in his eye.

"This is all amazing..." Link said, watching as the young princess began to question the little boy. "So, you managed to stop the destruction from ever happening... You saved everyone, so... Why don't you look happy about any of it?"

Time didn't immediately respond. He watched as his younger self explained to the princess what was going to happen before, eventually, a much older, white-haired woman arrived, deciding to hear the young boy out herself. After a few moments, he finally spoke.

"If you had the choice to go back, would you?" Time asked.

"I–" Link began to answer immediately but hesitated. He almost looked confused as to why he stopped in his words, but Time glanced at him with knowing eyes.

"You'd leave behind a life you grew to know," he said, looking back at the children and the woman conversing between themselves. "You'd alter the course of history, gaining what you had lost... But losing what has become important to you in the present. Am I wrong?"

Link looked back at the children, allowing Time's words to stir in his mind. Zelda would get her kingdom and her father back. Link could get his family back. They could save so many lives, and in the process, they'd lose so many others. Those in Hateno Village, Tarrey Town, Riju, Yunobo, Teba and his family, and so many others. Link and Zelda could potentially lose each other...

"I..." Link finally hesitated. "I'm not sure..."

With this in mind, he stared at the young version of Time, whose eyes had a glint of sadness behind them.

"You didn't want to go back."

"I didn't," Time answered solemnly. "The decision was made for me, and while history was altered, so was my own future."

Both watched as the trio standing before them moved on in a group, leaving Link and Time alone in the garden.

"What ended up happening?" Link asked quietly. "With Twilight, I saw the entirety of his journey to save the kingdom, but this... This is different. This is everything after."

"You're right," Time said, stepping forward to where the princess had been standing, leaning down to stare through the window to see the King of Thieves kneeling before whoever was in the throne room. "After I got sent back, I stopped Ganondorf's attempt to rule, but he was as cunning as ever. He escaped, planning to return at some point in the future. While he was gone, I was left on my own, where I was challenged by my own internal struggle."

"On your own?" Link asked. "What about Zelda?"

"The Princess and I... Well..." Time hesitated. "You'll have to wait. For now, what matters is the lesson I have for you now and that..."

Reaching back, he pulled the Ocarina of Time from his pouch and stared down at it.

"...is what to do with your remaining time."

Bringing the instrument to his lips, the same notes that opened the doors in the Temple of Time began to echo again, yet this time, something different happened. The world began to turn white, the castle walls and the grass vanishing. Suddenly, Link felt the ground beneath him disappear, causing him to fall through the bright, empty void. As the notes continued to play, a vortex of clocks surrounded him, their hour hands ticking in unison, vibrating in his ears.

Link did his best to keep his eyes open, regardless of the tears welling in the corners from the wind, yet he couldn't help but blink. The moment his eyes closed, even for that fraction of a second, he felt the ground return and the song came to a halt. Opening his eyes, he looked around, finding himself in a dark room surrounded by wooden gears and bolts, all jolting and jerking in rhythm with each other. Before he could guess where he had arrived, his ears filled with the repeating, deep, vibrating ring of a bell.