Our Only Hope and Chance
Prologue
"It was a land, glorious in every way possible. Grand castles and fields of green, claimed to have been created by the goddesses themselves. This land was said to protect a power, so strong that it could destroy the world if it was in the hands of evildoer. The power was once found by a madman who tried to claim it for his own. When his dirty hands rested upon the power, it shattered into three," said a woman with a voice so sweet you would say it wasn't true. "When it shattered, the three shards then disappeared and went to the three chosen ones. But, by some unforeseen force, one of the shards went to the evildoer. He tried to claim the other shards for himself throughout time but always was he stopped by the Hero of Time."
"But, he has fallen, the hero. He is not dead, I believe, but he is as good as. We need a hero now, Laila. Unfortunately, only the survivors of the original Hyrule continue to believe in the goddesses and the sacred power so there is no one to restore what is lost. Do you believe that?"
The girl named Laila looked up and nodded. She rested her head on her mother's breast and breathed in her scent. "If no one believes in the goddesses anymore than how do you, mother?" she asked.
The woman sighed. "Because I was at the fall of the hero. I watched him fall and there was nary I could do." She looked at her daughter, now of age to marry. The soldiers would take her soon for the Prince of the land they now resided in was looking for a wife.
She closed her eyes and hugged Laila tightly. "Remember that story, daughter, for it is the last of out life. But, never tell it to a single soul for nothing but horrific happenings will occur."
"I will keep it to myself, mother. But, why, may I ask, should it remain a secret?"
"Because not everyone still believes in the goddesses and those who don't take their name as a sin."
"And how long ago did the hero fall?"
"Ah, I would have to say about only two decades at the most."
"Then why have people forgotten so suddenly?"
"Not even I know the answer to that question."
"Oh." Laila stood up and looked at her mother whose beautiful blue eyes were set on her. "Do you think I'll be chosen?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know, but, if you do, take this with you." The woman stood up and walked over to a wooden chest next to the hearth. She opened it up with a creak and pulled out a small box. "When you are in the time of need, open this and your troubles shall be relieved. But do not use it for minor matters because only will it work once," she said, handing Laila the box.
Laila fingered the box and hugged her mother once more before she disappeared into another room to pack her belongings.
Her mother sighed and jumped when a knock sounded from the front door. She breathed in deeply and opened it, only to encounter a royal messenger. He nodded at her, knowing fully well that the woman knew what he was there for, and the woman called to her daughter. "Laila! Hurry with your packing! They are here." She turned back to the messenger and asked, "Is it confirmed or will she just be there for awhile and may be sent back?"
"The prince has ordered that no information shall be given," the messenger said with a rigid look upon his face.
"I see."
"I am done, mother!" Laila called, running towards the door. When she saw the messenger she seemed to hesitate but continued onward towards her mother. She wound her arms around her mother and felt her kiss her head once more. "Goodbye, mother."
"Goodbye."
"Well, if we are done with this then I would like to be on my way." The messenger turned and Laila followed, glancing back at her mother one last time who was waving sadly in farewell.
The woman watched her daughter be led away by the messenger. Well, although she believed it to be a pathetic sight, she had to think for her daughter. The marriage would probably be a good thing for Laila.
She sighed and looked out at the dusking sky. She grabbed a traveling cloak and went to the small stable behind the wooden framed home. Grabbing the reins of the single horse she led it outside, mounting it, and setting off through the valley. Wind blew in her face as she ran, causing her golden brown hair to trail madly behind her. Reaching the beginning of the mountain range, she slowed her horse to a stop. She dismounted the horse and tied the reins around a tree, ensuring that it did not escape.
She entered a cave, hidden by bushes and shrubs, and a voice called to her. "Is that you?" it asked roughly.
The woman nodded and lit a lantern that hung on a wall of the cave. "It is… She is gone."
The fire flickered, revealing a man, middle-aged but could be called an elder because of his appearance. His hair was matted and turning grey. His fierce blue eyes that once held a lively spark had died and reflected experience and sights that no one would enjoy to see when they looked into them. "I thought so… Did you give her the box?"
The woman nodded and sat beside the man on his makeshift bed. She opened up a bag that was slung over her shoulder and pulled out a bottle of blue liquid. "Here, drink up. But, you will have to make it last for a while. I do not have much money to spare. Although, when -and if- Laila is definite, we will have as much money as we could ever dream of to fix your injuries."
The man smiled and shakily stood. He walked over to the entrance of the cave and looked out. "Twilight…" he whispered. "When our world connects with theirs."
"You-you miss it. You miss her. Don't you, Link?"
Link's eyes widened and he turned to the woman. "It has been forever since you last have spoken my name. Well, to answer you question, I must say yes. How can I not? I miss her smile, her laugh, her taunts. The way she looked at me and said my name. I-I loved her. But she is gone. She has been gone and she will always be gone. This is pathetic, isn't it?" Link asked suddenly.
"What do you mean?"
"Ha! You… You are Zelda, Princess of Hyrule. I am Link, Hero of Light and Twilight. Look at us now. Mere scavengers who have to fight to live. Zelda, I don't know if you have noticed, but I have barely any fight left in me." Link's eyes darted towards Zelda's and his face hardened. "To have our blood live on we had to have a child, Zelda! Are you saying that isn't pathetic?"
Zelda looked sadly at the hero and closed her eyes. "Maybe… there isn't any hope."
Link frowned and walked over to the once-princess. He placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her roughly. "Listen, never say that. Although… things, I could say, have, uh, well, changed, there will always be hope. The goddesses are forever existent." He grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. Slowly, a golden triangle shone on their hands. "The goddesses will always be with us."
A/N: Well, there is my prologue to my story. I hope you enjoyed. And, if you haven't caught on that this story is set many years after TP, well, you have now. If you haven't played TP and you don't know who Link is talking about, you will find out in the later chapters. As I was originally saying, I hope you enjoyed and if you did, please review. Tell me if you liked it or it wasn't exactly you favorite. Also, if you have any suggestions or helpful ideas, please tell me. Thanks and please review ~Rosie