The legend of AB: Epona´s Filly, Hero´s apprentice.

Applebuck leisurely sipped her hydromelon shake as she trotted down the winding path toward the Bastion in central Hyrule. How was this possible, you might ask? After all, she was a quadruped, wasn’t she?

The answer was simple: someone else was holding the base for her.

Tulin, his feathers rustling in the gentle breeze, glanced over at Applebuck, his head tilted in a mix of amusement and disbelief. "You're really going to use that favor for something like this?" he asked, both bemused and incredulous. The slight arch of his beak betrayed more than his words, hinting at his true feelings on the matter.

A soft rustle stirred in the leaves overhead.

Applebuck didn’t even glance at him as she gave a side smirk, the mischievous glint in her eyes unmistakable. Without missing a beat, she slurped loudly from the straw, finishing the drink in two quick sips.

Tulin raised what passed for an eyebrow, then let out a short, incredulous laugh, shaking his head as he fidgeted with the now empty container.

"You know, if you'd just asked, I would've subtracted four favors from our pool instead of just this one." The Rito shrugged, his beak curved in a playful grin, as he absentmindedly twirled the container between his talons.

A small chitter of wood that grew distant.

"And that is exactly why i did not." Applebuck flick her head moving her hair out of her eyes, her shoulder relaxing slightly.

Tulin huffed in amusement, idly passing the empty container from one talon to the other as they walked, but pocket it after a while. The rhythmic rustling of leaves and distant chirps of wildlife accompanied them as they made their way through the thick forest.

They had nearly reached the tree line when something crashed in front of them.

Both instinctively tensed, eyes snapping to the figure sprawled on the ground. A man—no, a Sheikah—lay before them, his pale hair matted with sweat and blood. His beige clothing was torn, dirtied by the struggle he had evidently endured. Frayed ropes hung from his wrists, and strapped to his back were several sickles—Yiga sickles.

The pair approached cautiously, hooves and talons barely making a sound against the earth. Tulin, ever prepared, used the wind to carry his voice directly to the wounded man, ensuring that only the intended recipient would hear.

"You live a..." He trailed off, the security phrase left unfinished—waiting.

The downed Sheikah groaned, a wet cough bubbling up from his throat as blood dribbled past his lips. But he managed to respond, voice hoarse yet steady.

"Hyrule Fantasy."

Tulin gave a firm nod toward Applebuck. No more hesitation. In an instant, both rushed to assist.

"Where are the others?" Applebuck asked hurriedly as Tulin worked to secure the man onto the mare’s back.

The Sheikah shuddered, forcing out words between ragged breaths. "Dead... Mission was a partial success. Spotted. Killed a few. Need to... give information. Critical."

His voice grew weaker, but before unconsciousness could take him, Tulin pressed a red potion to his lips. The moment the liquid touched his tongue, some of the tension in his body eased.

"This should slow the bleeding enough to get you to camp," Applebuck assured, her voice shifting into something sharper, something colder—practical and no-nonsense. A tone not unlike her uncle’s, the Hero of Hyrule himself.

The Sheikah barely managed a faint "Yes, ma’am" before his body slumped into exhausted stillness.

Tulin wasted no time. In one fluid motion, he drew his bow, nocked three magic fire arrows, and loosed them into the dense foliage. The enchanted flames crackled as they struck, briefly illuminating the shadows before flickering into embers.

Then, with a powerful beat of his wings, he summoned a gust to widen his range, ensuring their pursuers—if there were any—would think twice before advancing too quickly.

"That should buy us a few minutes," he said, already turning. "Let’s move."

Apple buck met his gaze, nodded, and without another word, they took off into the night.

"Well… this is a problem."

Purah, Director of Reconstructions, exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temples as if she could physically knead away the stress.

"A whole underground—an entirely new Hyrule right beneath our feet…" Princess Zelda murmured, her golden eyes wide with a mixture of astonishment, intrigue, and no small amount of excitement.

Across the room, Link chuckled softly. Watching Zelda get this animated was always a treat—her excitement bubbling up like an overflowing potion. It was cute, in a way that made him bite back a grin.

Even Purah, despite her weariness, couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. But that moment of warmth quickly gave way to another sigh—this one heavier, laden with the weight of responsibility.

"It might sound hypocritical coming from me," Purah admitted, folding her arms. "But business before research, Zeldy. Business before research. Then Linky can take us on a date down there."

"Oh! R-right, of course." Zelda straightened, a light blush dusting her cheeks as she quickly turned her attention back to the report in her hands.

A subtle glance passed between Purah and Link, a silent conversation unfolding in a single shared look.

(How long before she realizes?)

Both smirked. A bet was about to be made.