Part XII: "Homeland"

Link and Vladamir Dukov emerged from a tunnel into Lon Lon Ranch. They had fled the castle via a secret exit that only members of the royal family, the royal guards, and Talon, caretaker of the ranch, knew about. The tunnel itself ended at a shack in the rear of the ranch. That shack had been built forty years ago as cover for the tunnel terminal.

Dukov led Link out of the shack and into the large fenced-off area that housed Lon Lon Ranch's horses during the daytime. Talon met them with surprise.

"Vladamir!" he yelled, running across the field to meet them. "And young Link! What brings you this way?"

Vladamir pointed towards the flags flying over Hyrule. They had been replaced by those of the Artronnens.

"See for yourself," he said.

Talon gasped, "For the love of Nayru! I saw them march by, but I had no idea..."

"None of that matters now," continued Dukov. "What matters is that I get this boy to safety. I need use of a horse so that I can deliver him to Kokiri Forest with quickness and ease. And then..." He looked back at the castle. "And then I will offer my services to you as a stablehand. There is nothing left for me as head of the Queen's Royal Guard."

Talon nodded. He understood perfectly.

Twilight had fallen over Hyrule. In the distance, a chorus of chirping crickets composed beautiful melodies. The hooting of owls echoed throughout the vast, endless land.

Link and Vladamir Dukov had been standing there for a good five minutes, staring at the hollow tree trunk that served as an entrance to to Kokiri Forest.

"I am to live here?" Link asked. "For how long?"

"As long as destiny chooses," Vladmir replied.

Link turned to Vladamir one more time before advancing into the tree trunk tunnel. Vladamir Dukov turned his borrowed horse around and returned to Lon Lon Ranch and the new life that lay ahead of him.

He emerged a short time later onto the most beautiful scene he had ever witnessed. Beautiful, yes. But deadly to every Hyrulian but him. All around, there were children playing. At least they looked like childen. Link knew that was but a false pretense. Some of them were older that fifty years. Some were hundreds of years old.

As Link stepped into the light, the Kokiri ran to meet him, Mido, The Know-It-All Brothers, Link recognized them immediately. For reasons he did not know.

"Link," Mido said in his usual commanding voice, "there's somebody waiting for you in the Lost Woods."

Link nodded, he needed to hear no more. Without a word he climbed the hills leading to the entrance to the Lost Woods and ventured inside...