"Who taught you to catch chickens like that?" You asked Link before taking a bite of stew.

"What do you mean?" Link asked as he got ready to eat a bite of biscuit.  "Is there supposed to be another way to catch them?"

"Yes!" You firmly replied as you gave him a stunned look. "Your supposed to hold their wings down then tuck them under your arm as you grab their feet."

"That sounds boring." Link said in a  bored tone as he looked down.

"What?" You asked in shock.

"And besides, the 'chickens' as you call them, seem to enjoy it." He replied as he kept his eyes away from you as you gasped.

"Huh?" You asked in surprise. "So you're trying to give them a heart attack?"

"Oh."  Link continued without looking at you as he ignored your comment.  "And if your going to talk about them. You might want to use their proper name. They take offense to being called anything other than cuccos."

Cuccos? I haven't heard that term in years. But how..... "But....but how would you know?" You asked as you tried to stay calm.

"They told me." He said as he looked up and took a bit of stew.

You must have given him a look like he two heads. Because his stunned look back at you almost made him look uncomfortable. He apparently was serious about what he said since he looked taken back by your reaction.

"What?" He asked before taking another bite.

"They....told you that?" You asked as you tried to see if he was just fucking with you.

"Why is that surprising?" He asked.

"Well, cuccos don't usually talk to people." You said with exasperation.

"They do if you listen to them."  He said as he half chuckled at you. "Of course if you think that's surprising, you would of flipped over the one that talked to me in our tongue. She was an odd one though. She kept losing her baby in various temples. I guess it was a good thing that she could teleport though.  Otherwise I never would have been able to help her out."

You slowly dropped your gaze as you stared at your food.  I think he may have hit his head harder then he thought.

"Did I say something wrong?" You heard him ask with a worried tone.

"No." You said as you slowly shook your head.  "I was just thinking."

"About what?" He asked as he slowly took a bit.

"You." You answered plainly as you slowly stirred your stew. "Your nothing like what I was expecting."

"How so?" He asked as he tore off a piece of bread.

"Well, my village had taught us all that you were this super strong, silent type who could wipe the floor with one swoop." You quietly replied as you kept your gaze down.  "They had you up on this pedestal and seemed to worship you like you were some great God or something.  They had even made it seem that only people that could get near you was royalty.  Which was why only certain people were selected to be trained as knights who would serve beside you when you came back."

"I take it that your disappointed?" Link nervously asked as he watched you.  "Have I completely destroyed that god like image of me that they had taught you?"

"Maybe a little." You replied.

Link felt a jab to his heart from your comment. He was hoping to hear something else from you.  Even though he wasn't entirely sure why it bothered him.  He had just meet you after all.  But still, he seemed to long for your affection.

"But it's not against you.  Just mainly in my lessons." You said before you slowly looked up at him. "I'm actually glad your not like that. I don't get along very well with hot heads like that.  So to me, it's a relief that your just like everyone else.  Even if you are a bit odd yourself."

Odd?  She thinks I'm odd?  He thought as he chewed his food before he continued.

"Well fair warning. I treat everyone the same way they treat me." He said back as he searched your eyes. "Which is why I always seem to be quiet to other people. Which might also explain why I'm always by myself."

"Well you won't have to worry about me leaving you." You replied back with a smile. "I don't abandon my partners."

Link then gave you a relieved look back as he smiled at you.  "I'm glad.  It will make my journey more enjoyable to have someone else with me to talk to.  Besides Blaze of course."

"Oh.  The horse you snagged from me." You said with a smirk.

"Your never going to let that go are you?" Link asked as he watched you eat a spoon full of stew.

You gave him a smirk as you chewed your food. He slightly laughed as he took a bite of bread. Suddenly you heard the horses stirred as someone came running up. You both quickly looked up and saw one of the villagers come running up to the table in a panic.

"Master Link! I need your help! Please!" The man said as he ran up to the table.

"What's wrong?" Link asked as he looked at the frazzled man.

"It's my daughter.  I can't find her anywhere." The villager said frantically. "Can you help me find her?  I've looked everywhere. But I can't seem to find her."

Link looked at you to see what you wanted to do. But one nod from you told him everything that he needed to know. Because with the nod, you smiled at him before you turned and looked at villager.

"Of course we'll help."  you said calmly.  "Where did you see her last?"

"Ahh, bless you."  The villager said with a huge sigh.  "She was with me in the yard at the house.  We were outside while I working on the house.  I just happened to turn around to ask her something and realized that she was gone."

"Where do you live?"  Link asked as he watched the man slowly start to calm down.

"My house is the middle one on the left as you head up the hill."  The man said as he pointed towards the path that lead up the hill.

"Got it."  You said as you put the lid back on your half eaten stew as you started to get up.  "We can start our search there."

"Right."  Link replied as he did the same.

"Bless you both."  The man said as he bowed to the two of you.  "I'll keep looking around the village as well."

"No."  Link said as he stood up from the table and started walking down to the road with you following him.  "It would be best if you were to wait at the house in case she comes home."

"Oh okay."  The villager said as he watched the two of you walk past him and head towards his house.  

Then without another word, the two of you left your interrupted lunch and started to make your way towards the hill.  The whole time you were both looking around everything and everywhere to see if you could spot a child wondering around by herself.  But you didn't see any as you started to make your way up the hill. That was until you glanced up the hill and happen to spot a a small child racing up the same path that you had run up as you had chased Link before he took off and glided over to the roof top of a house.

"Link!  Look up there."  You said as you started running up the hill.  "I think that's her."

"What?"  You heard he ask from behind you.  "Hey, wait up!"

But you didn't wait.  Instead you kept running as you ran up the hill once again.  And you didn't stop until you got to the top of the hill as you looked around and tried to figure out which way she ran.  Only for you to stop in your tracks as you spotted a temple entrance at the bottom of an embankment that was next to another road that seemed to lead into the woods.  The sight of it normally wouldn't have made you even blink.  Except this temple seemed to glow.

And as you walked up to it, you could see that it actually was glowing.  And the golden glow seemed to be coming from deep inside the rock.  The sight was astonishing even to you since they hadn't even so much as a spark from any temple before.  And as you got closer to it you could hear what sounded like a hum coming from it.  You stepped up onto it and over to the pedestal part that seemed to have a slight indent in it.  

Since when have these started to respond?  I don't recall any of these doing this before.  You thought as you slowly started to trace your fingers along the edge of the rock as it was warm to the touch. 

Which was strange since it was usually as cold as stone.  And was how they had all been for all these years.  Even when you where first learning about them.  They were nothing but rock formation that Link would be able to to use to enter the temples.  Of course he was the only who who could enter them.  At least that was what you had been told.  Outside of Link, everyone else was forbidden from stepping foot inside them.

This fact of course made your curiosity go crazy with wanting to know what was inside.  But now as you looked at it, you started to get worried.  Link was going to have to enter these temples to clam  whatever prize or wonder was found inside them.  It made you wonder if he had even glanced at one of these up to this point.  But as you marveled at it, you heard Link come running up to you.

"Hey!"  He almost shouted as he half panted as he came up to you.  "Don't run off like that.  Wait a minute.  Where's the girl?"

"Link?"  You quietly asked as you kept your eyes on the pedestal.  "Do you know what this is?"

"Of course."  Link said as he came walking up to you.  "It's an entrance to a temple.  These things are scattered all across Hyrule.  Why?  Did she go inside?"

"No.  Or at least I don't think so."  You said as slowly dropped your hand as you turned to look at him.  "Have you been inside one of these yet?"

"Sure."  Link said in a casual tone.  "I've actually been in a few of them.  Its actually pretty easy.  But we can talk about that later.  We need to find the girl."

"Come on."  Link said as he grabbed your hand and started to lead you up the hill that was beside the temple.  "We should check up here."

"Yeah."  You quietly said as you allowed him to pull you along.

Since when did it become 'easy' to get into these?  You thought as you walked away as you started to head up the hill.  Did I miss that somewhere along the way?

You were still lost in thought as you approached the top of the hill.  But as you did, you suddenly heard someone crying.  You suddenly stopped walked as Link stopped in his tracks and started looking around as he tried to figure out where it was coming from.

"Please tell me that that is only the wind that we're hearing?"  You asked as you tightened up your grip on his hand.

"I wouldn't take you to be someone who's afraid of ghosts." Link said as you slowly wrapped your other hand around his arm as you tightened up your grip on his hand even more.

"It's not that I'm afraid of them as much as I hate being caught off guard." You replied as you snuggled close to him.

"Okay. Whatever you say." He said back as he watched you nervously look around.  I have no problems with protecting you, if you need me to. In fact, I kinda like you touching me like this.

You slowly looked around before looking up at Link when he didn't move. But as you looked back at him he quickly looked away as a woman's cry could be heard coming from the forest just ahead of you.  You felt the hair on the back of your neck raise up as the cries had an eerie muffled tone.   As you listened you felt Link slightly tense up under your touch before he relaxed again and started walking towards the sound.

You released him enough for you to walk with him, but you never took your hands off of him. But he didn't seem to mind as the two of you walked further into the forest. And as you followed the sound, you came across a clearing that had a gigantic flower bulb right in the center of it. The bulb was covered in spikes on the outside and was as big as a house.

As you got closer you realized that the crying seemed to be coming from inside the bulb.  You released Link and slowly started to walk around the bulb as you tried to see if there was anyway to see inside of it. Link did the same thing as the two of you walked completely around it as you looked for some type of opening. But as you both reached the other side, you both were stumped. There didn't seem to be anyway to get in.

"Well there's no obvious opening." Link said as he put his hands on his hips and he continued to scan the gigantic bulb as he walked back around to the front of the bulb.

"But how did she get in there? You don't suppose that she was trapped in there by the plant itself do you?" You asked as you looked at Link in concern as you followed him back around to the front.

"It's possible." He replied as he started to walk up the orange stones that stood in front of it.

"Link! What are you doing?" You asked right as he reached out and touched the thorny bulb.

"Boy..."  Said a loud voice.  "Sweet boy...."

"Please...listen to my story...."  The voice continued.

Link looked at you.  You silently nodded back at him.  He nodded back at you then turned to the bulb.

"Sure."  Link said as he nervously scanned the bulb as he tried to figure out of he was going to have to fight or not.

"I am the Great Fair Cotera.  This place was once a beautiful spring.  But as time passed, fewer and fewer travelers stopped by to offer me rubes.  As a result, my power has abandoned me.  I'm nearly powerless now, so I beg your help.  I need rubes to become whole again.  All I need is a hundred rubes."  The voice said.

"And why would we give you rubes?"  You asked as you felt a bit suspicious about the while thing.

"Well, once my power has been restored, I can help you do great things."  The voice answered.

"Now."  It said,  then suddenly  the bulb opened up enough for a huge woman's hand to come out with it's pawn up.  "If you have rubes.  Hand them over to me.  Quickly!"

"Ahh.  Are you sure you have that many?"  You nervously said as Link reached into his pouch and counted out a hundred rubes.

He then looked at you with a smile.  "Of course."

Then he handed her the rubes.  She quickly pulled her and back inside the bulb and it closed back up again.

"Thank you.  You are too kind."  She said in a sweet voice now.  

"Ahh....the power."  She said.

Suddenly the whole bulb started to bounce and a strange purple smoke came out the top of the bulb and started to fill the air.  You took your fighter stance and got ready to grab your dagger in case you had to defend yourself or Link.

"It's overflowing......"  She said right as the bulb seemed to bloom right before your eyes as the whole bulb gently opened and laid out completely.

The purple mist slowly disappeared and revealed a small pool of water that seemed to sparkle.  Suddenly the water seemed to boil until a huge torso of a woman came flying out of the water.  She had her hands stretched to the sky as she cried out with excitement.  You jumped back as you watched her.  

You stared at her in shock as you realized that she must be one of the great fairys that were said to live in Hyrule.  She had to be, as she was there with her jeweled necklace and chain that hung from her jewel stubbed bra.  She was even wearing jewels in her hair.  All you could do was stare as if you were frozen in place as she settled back down and smiled broadly at Link.

Then as she started talking to Link, you noticed that suddenly fireflies seemed to fill the air as they came out from the bulb.  You slowly stood back up and marveled at one as it flew over to you.  You reached out a hand to try and touch one. Only to jump back as you saw that it actually was a very tiny person as they quickly flew away

"Fairies?" You quietly said to yourself. "I thought you were all gone."

"Not gone." A soft tiny voice said. "Only trapped."

"Trapped?!" You asked in astonishment as you tried to figure out where the voice was coming from. "How?"

"When people stopped visiting the great fairy. They also stopped believing in us. And the only way we could survive was to hide close to the pond. But then people stopped visiting all together and we had no choice but to get closed up in the bulb with the great fairy."

"That's awful." You said as you felt a tiny hand touch your cheek.

"Yes. But you and the choose one have freed us once again. And for that, we will help you in any way we can. If you take us with you, we can heal you if you get hurt." The tiny voice said as the fairy sat down on your shoulder.

"You can do that?" You asked as you turned your head as you tried to look at them. "But I thought that fairies could only heal once before you had to heal up yourself?'

"That is true." They replied. "But it can still help you if both of you get hurt, since then at least one of you is fine. And in turn they can heal the other."

You dropped your head for a moment as you thought about what that would be like.  Especially since there wasn't always a way for the other to have time to heal the other before the inevitable happened.  There had been many times that you had heard about that happening during a fight from the other fighters in your village.  And it was one of the main reasons why you tried to avoid fighting as much as possible.  The last thing you needed was to get hurt and not have anyone there to help you out.  Or worse yet, someone else got hurt and you couldn't help them.

"You are still worried?"  The fairy said as they stood back up.  "Why?"

"Because I know what's out there can get people killed."  You quietly said before you continued as you clutched your hands.  "And we're about to go straight into it."

Suddenly you heard the Great fairy slightly sing.  You looked up in time to see her blowing a mist at Link.  Instant told you to quickly get him out of the way.  So you ran forward.

"LINK!"  You called.

But then you stopped short as you saw him looking at his clothes as they started to glow for a moment.  Then as the glow disappeared, Link looked back up at the great fairy.  She smiled back at him.  You stood there stunned as he smiled back at her.

"There.  Your clothes have been enchanted with fairy dusty that have improved the dexterity of the fabric and has further enhanced any magical spell that was sacred on the material." She said as she smile broadly at Link.

Link smiled at her and gave her a slight nod.  "Thank you.  I greatly appreciate it."

"Any time sweetly."  She beamed back.  "Come back whenever you like and I can help you by enhancing all of your clothing for you." 

"I will."  Link said back with a nod.  "Thanks."

"Anytime."  She replied as she did a dramatic pose before she spun around and sunk back down into the small pond in the flower bud again.

You stood froze in place as Link walked up to you.  You couldn't get over what you had just heard and seen.  She had just used magic to further enhance the very clothing that was on his back.  No one had ever told you that that was even possible.  How is it that you had never heard about that even being a possible?

You felt your heart sink as you started to see how ignorant you and your village had been about the real world that had been right outside the gates and in the area that surrounding it.  No wonder why they were wiped out so easily when a real attack happened.  They truly had no idea what they were getting ready to face.  

You dropped your head and turned away from him as you started to head further up the hill as you started to search again for the little girl.  Link stopped and watched you in confusion.  He wasn't sure what had just happened.  But he could tell that you were upset about something.

"Welcome back Master Link."  Link heard a small voice say.

Link looked up and saw a fairy beaming down at him.  "Long time no see my friend."

"Like wise."  The fairy replied.  "But I knew that you would come back.  Even if it did take a while for you to heal back up from your injuries."

"Yeah.  Sorry about that."  He said as he rubbed the back of him head.

"No worries.  We're just glad that your back."  The fairy beamed back.

"Thanks."  Link said as he smiled at them before he looked over at you as you walked away from him and started looking around the forest again.  "Is she okay?"

"She is troubled."  The fairy said as it looked at you as well.  "But not to worry.  Humans are always like that.  So you need not worry about her.  She will be over it before you know it."

"You don't know that for sure with her.  And she isn't just some human."  Link said as he walked away and towards you as you were now making your way up the path that ran beside the fairy pond and towards the upper part of the forest.

As you walked along you heard a small child crying from ahead of you.  You quickly broke into a run as you headed for the sound.  That was when you came across a small bridge that was only made up of wooden planks.  You quickly crossed the wood and spotted another temple entrance in a small clearing right next to the bridge.  And that was when you saw the small girl crouched by the temple.

You sighed and slowed down to a walk as you made your way over to her.  "There you are."

"We have been trying to find you."  You said as you slowly walked up to her as she was hiding beside the temple entrance.  "It's okay. We're here to help."

The little girl slowly looked up at you and gave you a tearful look.  "Really?"

"Yeah."  You replied with a slight smile.

But then you saw her face slowly change into a look of pure terror.  You went to turn around as you heard a cracking sound behind you.  But before you could, you found yourself once again, flying through the air.  Only this time you were stopped when your back slammed up against something hard.

Instantly your breath was slammed out of you as you slid down to the ground.  You tried to get back up as you started to cough as you tried to catch your breath.  Then you heard the little girl scream.  Which made your blood go cold.

No!  Not again!

You quickly started looking around for her.  You were desperate to find her.  But you couldn't seem to focus on anything.  You shook your head as you pushed yourself up as you used the tree behind you for support.

"(Y/N)!"  You heard Link shout from the side.

Then you heard a strange deep male voice in your ear.  "You might want to reconsider who you have decided to keep company with.  It could very well cost you your life."

"Who...'cough, cough'...who the hell are you?"  You asked in a hourse voice as you started to focus on a figure that started to approach you.

"What do you mean?"  You heard Link ask as the figure came right up to you and wrapped his arm under yours.  "What the hell happened?"

"I wish I knew myself."  You said as you felt him straightening you up as he supported you on your feet.

"It was the forest ghost."  The little girl said as she slowly came into focus.  "He likes to torment my daddy."

"Your dad?"  You asked as you stood back up on your own for a moment and gave her a curious look.

"We can discuss this once we're back at the village."  Link said before he put his hands to his mouth and did a loud whistle.

You gave Link a curious look.  

"What was....?"  You started to asked before your back started spazzing and sending pain shooting through you.

You grunted out loud and started to collapse.  But before you moved very far, Link had grabbed you under your arm again and held you up.  You grabbed onto his arm as he firmly held you up. You looked up at him and saw his concerned glance as he looked back at you.

"I'm starting to think that your more trouble then your worth."  Link said in a joking manner.

"What?"  You asked in shock.  "You think I asked to be thrown against a tree."

That was when you heard Blaze's winey coming from the other side of the wooden bridge.  You looked over and saw that he was alone and didn't have any of his tack on.  But he was still obeying Link.  When in the world had that obedience been established between them?

"We're going to ride back."  Link said to you as Blaze trotted over and stopped right in front of Link.  "Your in no condition to walk out of here."

"I'm fine."  You said as you tried to push away from Link.

But as you did, you almost fell to your feet again.  But Link grabbed you again and pulled you back up.  You kept your eyes from him though as you felt the shame come back that you had been more of a hassle then an assistant to him so far.  Perhaps he was right.  You were more trouble then he needed.

"Come on."  Link said as he led you over to Blaze.

Then he gave you a leg up so that you could get onto Blaze's back.  As you as you sat up on his back, you felt your heart start to race.  This was the moment that you had been wanting ever since you had first seen Blaze.  You could feel his powerful muscles between your legs as he slight trembled as he shifted his feet slightly.

"Wow."  You quietly said as you placed your hands on his back and started to rub his soft fur.  "This is incredible."

Link smiled up at you and placed his hand on your leg for a moment.  "I'm glad you found him.  Because I couldn't agree with you more.  He is a beautiful animal."

"Does he bite?"  The little girl asked as she gave Blaze a nervous look as Blaze leaned his head over to her and put his muzzle right in her face as he sniffed her.

"Only apples and bad guys."  You said with a smile.  "Are you a bad guy?"

"No."  The little girl said with a slightly hurt look.  "I'm a good girl.  At least that's what my mommy use to say to me."

"Then you have now worries."  Link said to her with a smile.  "Would you like to ride too?"

"Really?"  She asked as her eyes got really big.

"Of course."  You both responded at t
he same time.

"Yeah.  Okay."  She said as she started to get excited.

You smiled at her then moved back a bit.  This way she could ride in front of you, as you held onto her.  Link then lifted her up to you.  You put her leg on the other side of Blaze, and settled her down in front of you.  She nervously looked around for a moment before she looked back at you and Link.

"This horsey is tall."  She said in wonder.

"Yes he is."  You replied with a smile.

"And strong."  Link said as he placed his hand on your leg again.

Instantly you felt your heart start to race again as his fingers started to slightly move across your leg. You didn't understand how he could do that to you so easily. It was as if he knew that he could affect you that way. Not that you were complaining. Quite the opposite actually.

You then watched in wonder as Blaze turned his head and nickered at Link as he slightly tossed his head towards his back.  Link gave him a curious look.  Then he smiled at Blaze and rubbed Blaze's forehead.  Only to have Blaze softly nicker again before he slightly pushed Link towards his back.

"Looks like you have to ride too."  You said to Link with a smile.  "He is a very stubborn horse and usually gets his way."

"I'm think your right."  Link said as he smiled up at you.  "Can you give me a hand?"

"Of course."  You said as you tightened up you legs and reached your left hand to Link.

Link grasped your hand with one hand and placed the other on Blaze's back.  Then in one smooth move, Link  swung up onto Blaze and was soon sitting behind you with only a slight pull on your arm.  And once he was behind you, he moved up and settle right behind you.  

He then reached his left hand around your waist and pulled you closer to him.  Instantly your heart started to race as you became very much aware of his warm and firm body as he gently held you against him for support.  You could feel the heat starting to rise in your cheeks as his closeness was sending chills through your entire body.

He then leaned forward a bit and grabbed a small bit of Blaze's mane with his right hand.  You fought to stifle a gasp as his breath blew across your neck which seemed to spark a deeper desire from within you.  But as you closed your eyes as you tried to fight it off, Link leaned back again.  Then he slightly squeezed he legs as he turned Blaze back towards the village.

"Let's head back."  He said in a calm deep voice.  "We have a little girl to take home and our lunch to finish.

******Author Note******

I apologize that it took a bit to come out with this chapter.  But I had had to research again on what had happened.  And especially since I had completely a lot of these missions months ago.  Some over a year ago.  But I do hope you like it.

I had added in a bit of a different factor.  But not to worry.  You'll see why as the story progresses.  :)

Well now that the little girl is found.  You and Link can get back to raising a few more rubies so that you can get the supplies that you'll need to make the trip to Hateno Village, which was on the other side of the Fort Hateno.  You knew that way.  But you also knew what dangers laid ahead as well.

I hope that you'll continue on with us into the next chapter as we make our preparation.  But wait a minute?  What happened?  Why is Payna crying?  And where the hell is Dorian running off to?

Thanks for reading.  :)

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