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ith only General Onox standing between him and the salvation of both the Oracle Din and all of Holodrum, Link returned to Horon Village once more to regain his focus. The villagers there were stricken with awe as he revealed to them the eight Essences which had blessed their lands since time beyond their reckoning of history, and the children were quite taken to touching and holding the delicate gifts that the goddesses had to have given them at the creation of their island nation. Link eagerly spoke to the citizens of the village about recent news, but he was disheartened to hear that, despite the restoration of the eight Essences, without the Oracle of Seasons to bless them with her magic, the seasons continued to be set in chaos.

As Link walked through the village, the Maku Tree caught wind of him and requested his presence, and Link obeyed his command, coming through the wooden gates and standing before his presence without question. There the Maku Tree seemed vibrant with enthusiasm and vigor, no longer the slumbering tree lost within the fog of the forest. He asked for the eight Essences to be placed within a circle upon the ground, and Link did so, placing them perfectly in an octagonal pattern, watching them eagerly as the tree once against closed its eyes in concentration. Its branches shook wildly in the sky, and leaves slowly descended upon the magical artifices, an emerald glow within the center of the eight pulling them together to enclose them within a sphere of light, slowly becoming solid as it formed about them. The Maku Tree then opened his eyes and spoke once more, saying to Link, "With the Essences restored to Holodrum, together they have formed to create the Seed of Nature; it draws its goodly strength from all things living, from the roots of the trees and the life of the rosebud to the frolicking squirrels and gleeful children. This seed should dispel the dark seal about Onox's castle and allow you entrance. Go now, quickly, and rescue the Oracle of our fair land!"

Link nodded in reply and took the seed to the far northern rim of Holodrum to a castle just west of the ruins of the destroyed Temple of Seasons, and only the castle's ominous towers were visible over the tips of the tall canopy of the surrounding vegetation. As Link approached, he felt an invisible force shove him to the ground, pushing him with such force that it knocked him off his feet. Link stood up once more and began running towards the castle, and while his effort succeeded initially, the dark force opposing him took to his stomach, filling him with a sickening nausea, pushing him down upon the ground once more gasping for breath. Determining that this had to be the shield about Onox's lair that the Maku Tree had talked about, he held up the seed given to him by the guardian spirit, and about him formed a beacon of light that cut into the invisible field, cleaving a hole through it. Link found strength returning to him, and he surged forth once again, the beam of light from the seed never once faltering, protecting him from the evil unseen and allowing him to enter the doors of the castle.

Therein, Link found his quarry. There stood the armored knight holding a hefty spiked mace in his hand. Onox only snarled in disgust to see his castle invaded, but Link did not flinch, only saying with unusual calmness, "Hand over the Oracle, or suffer defeat."

"Though there's no chance of it happening," said Onox, "I would rather die. Let's go. "

Onox came after Link running, but Link sidestepped the metal knight, slamming his sword into his backside; however, the blade only ricocheted off of his thick plate mail. The general, though slow to turn around, came after Link once again with unbelievable power, hurling his mace into Link's shield, easily knocking it away under the heavy impact and completely stunning Link's right arm, Link realizing the bone was spared from breaking only by the slight tingling sensation left within. Devoid of his trusty shield, Link knew that he had to take the offensive or he would be doomed to lose. He taunted Onox, who lunged at him with his mace, throwing it into the ground with all of his might. While he recovered, Link then leapt at him, his blade seeking the narrow visor in his helmet and skillfully it found its mark, fitting into the gap so tightly that it was as if the blade were always meant to fit within it. Onox screamed in a rage as blood immersed from the wound, and he backed away from Link as the sword was pulled loose from its target. With another loud scream, Onox's armor began to bulge as if it were being inflated from within. Seconds later, it exploded into hundreds of metal shards as Onox emerged from it, no longer humanoid but rather now in the form of a gigantic dragon. Its wings stretched out and took to flight, and Onox merely laughed at the Hero.

"You fool, you are already too late. The candle is lit, and Twinrova's plan is already set into action. Even if you rescue Din, all is for naught! But lo, behold my true form! It shall be the last thing you see!"

"That remains to be seen," Link muttered in reply.

The dragon soared into the air and then flew down towards Link at an incredible speed, stretching out his legs as he came into contact once again with the ground, running after him and preparing to claw him. Link took his sword and watched the flying beast approach him, scanning him quickly for a weakness, and he made a decision only moments before it was too late to commit to fleeing; Link took a leap into the air at the dragon, jumping onto the raised forearm of Onox and embedding his sword into its meaty flesh. Link nearly lost the air in his lungs as he was slammed into Onox as he once again took flight, carrying Link with him. Soaring into the heavens, Link used his sword as a handhold, climbing along the arm and then to the back of the dragon, Onox finding himself incapable to bite at him with his oversized maw so long as Link remained upon his back. In turn, Onox flew every imaginable direction, twisting and looping frantically in the air, but he could not seem to shake Link off of him for Link was holding on tightly to either dragon or sword at all times. Finally, Link reached the head of the beast, and with one final stab, he jabbed his sword through a large jewel upon Onox's forehead, causing the general to writhe uncontrollably, shaking Link from his body. Link began to fall, but no sooner had Link destroyed the gem than did Din's crystalline prison explode into nothingness. Seeing the falling Hero, she summoned forth her magic, pushing the wind upward to greet Link's helpless body, slowing his fall until he was virtually floating. Onox, meanwhile, careened out of control into the towers of his own castle, knocking them over as his dead carcass tumbled over the steep cliff of the island into the waters below.

Once firmly upon the ground, Din reached with her bronze arms over to Link's shoulders, as if she were verily holding him to the earth so that he might not float away, and once certain of the fact she embraced him tightly in gratitude. She tilted her head sideways slightly smiling as her nose touched his cheek. "I knew from the moment I had laid my eyes upon you that you were special," she whispered, almost breathing into his ear. "I didn't know just how special, though, until this very moment. Link, I owe my life and the entire island to you, and for that you have my deepest thanks and appreciation." She backed away from him slightly, still with a smirk upon her lips as her arms crossed her chest, herself radiating a glow of confidence. "Might there be anything I can do for you for your trouble?" she added, just as softly, throwing in a slightly mischievous giggle.

Before Link could even think to answer, lightning struck the courtyard of Onox's castle, and twin witches appeared from within a sudden conjured darkness, one with hair set aflame in crimson and gold, the other completely frozen within a block of ice. They were Koume and Kotake, the very same witches Link's ancestor fought so many years ago to rescue the princess at the steps of Hyrule Castle's throne. They cackled with delight to see Link's shocked face, but Link did not recognize just who these witches were, their names and faces lost to the memory of Hyrule ever since they went into hiding in years long past.

"He he he!" Koume had cried out. "You may have won the battle with our general, but you are only slipping further and further in the war, dear Hero. With the reign of devastation caused by the embattled seasons of Holodrum, the Flame of Destruction has been lit! All that now remains are to light the remaining two candles, and already they beckon for the fire from the Flame of Destruction to anoint them in unholy light! And then... then he whom is dead yet not dead shall rise once more to claim these lands and all lands as his own! You cannot stop us, Link, but if you dare to wager your life upon it, come to the isle of Labrynna. Come and see for yourself the sorrow and despair that will soon ravage and rape the land. Until then, have a pleasant life..."

In a final wicked laugh oozing with poisonous venom, they disappeared from view, no longer anywhere to be seen. The sky brightened up finally, the proper season of summer taking residence in the skies above and lands about. Link and Din looked to each other with concern, knowing full well that the witches had been behind Din's kidnapping and the terror over her island all this time, and so they were faced with the prospect of the witches' wrath being directed at Holodrum's neighboring kingdom. The threat of the witches was very clear, and it was obvious that they must take the witches up upon their challenge. With a sigh, they walked back to Horon Village in silence, letting their contemplations guide their thoughts, seeking to find solutions to the problem which toiled their minds. Without talking to any of the villagers, they reported immediately to the Maku Tree, who while joyous with Link's victory was saddened by the threat now looming over Labrynna. After some discussion and debate, soon all three of them came to a consensus. With the seasons now in order and peace restored to the island, it would be safe for Din to leave for the isle of Labrynna for a time so that her and Link might foil the witches' plans. With smiles upon their faces, the beacon of hope found within their souls, they set to the task.

Din and Link left the Maku Tree to find the wise Sheikah Impa and escort her to Labrynna, figuring that she might have information about the island or what trouble they might expect Koume and Kotake to cause in the foreign land, but upon finding the Sheikah's shelter just north of the village, they found that Impa had already left the island, leaving behind only a single sheet of papyrus with a message scribed upon it. It simply read:

Link, if you are reading this, then I have already gone to the island of Labrynna, which is several hundred leagues east three-quarters north of Holodrum. Perhaps you have sensed the same foreboding sense of disaster both there that I have foreseen, but in the event that you have not, I believe there to be a great evil beginning to awaken upon yon island. Link, it is of utmost importance that I meet you there in Labrynna as soon as practically possible, and so I hope that you will make haste in sailing for the island. Please, come as soon as you can; worry not about finding me there, for I shall find you after you arrive. The Sheikah, after all, still do have their ways...

Impa

The two looked at one another as Link shoved the note underneath his tunic. "Well, apparently we'll be meeting her there then," Link said, to which Din simply nodded. In a quickened pace, noting the sudden sense of urgency, they returned to Horon Village, themselves gathering supplies for the voyage ahead of them. Once all was made ready, they headed to the harbor just west of the city where they hired a ship captain to sail them to Labrynna at the cost of a handful of rupees each. Saying goodbye to all of the friends they had both made over the course of their journey, they waved from the deck of the ship, eager to sail upon the open seas for the first time, awaiting the trial that was inevitably before them.

Slowly the land of Holodrum began to shrink as it drifted towards the horizon, and Link and Din found themselves lost amidst the wide expanse of the Great Sea. From horizon to horizon, only the sights, smells, and gentle waves of the rolling sea could be sensed, nothing else sans the ship keeping the sea company as the traveled. Din would occasionally make conversation with the crew of the ship, and Link would often seek to help out in the day-to-day chores aboard, but more than often, Link and Din found themselves occupying each other's time and interests. Din and Link both realized that they had had very little time getting to know one another when they had first met, and so over the course of their journey, they discussed their lives and what it meant to them to be the Hero and the Oracle of their respective kingdoms. At night, sometimes they would sneak out of their rooms and meet under the twilight of the night, lying upon the wooden planks of the deck to count the stars and to childishly wish upon them. One particular night, Link proposed to Din the question, "If you could wish for any one thing, what would it be?"

Din smirked almost slyly. "I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet, Hero, but," she added with a sigh, "it would be someone else to be with, to dance with until our feet hurt too much to dance anymore." She giggled a little bit, almost blushing. "What about you?"

Link turned to face Din with an idle frown upon his face, then turned back to the starry sky. "You know, I actually don't know. I've spent so much of my life for others around me, rescuing this person, helping that person, being something for everyone else... but myself. I... I really don't know."

Din only shook her head as she pushed herself up with her arms. The Oracle leaned over to Link, placing her lips upon his forehead and kissing it gently. "One day you'll find out, I think. Even heroes have to settle down one day, if only to discover and live out their own dreams. Well, it's late. I'll see you in the morning." With a simple wave of her hand and a final smile, she disappeared below deck, leaving a dazed Link in her wake.

The next day, land was finally sighted from the crow's nest, and Labrynna was visible in its full splendor. Link and Din began packing their belongings into their satchels, ready to disembark onto the island which posed such great danger to them. From the island's center, a great tower, black in color, unfinished and incomplete, stood proudly where all could see from the side of the ship. The crew lowered the sails as the ship came slowly into the harbor, lowering the anchor as it pulled alongside the pier. Moments later, the call to disembark the ship was given, and Din and Link, carrying their belongings, set foot upon dry land, set foot into Labrynna.

"You go find Impa," Din advised Link. "I'll go find us a place to stay."

"Alright, but be careful," Link said. "We have absolutely no idea of what is yet to come, and I... have no idea what to expect."

Link decided he definitely hated that feeling.