Chapter I: Hero, Resurgence

Is this what if felt like to be dead? Does anyone really know what death feels like? Cold, lonely, full of regrets and wistful longings – or is it just a constant state of peaceful slumber? Can anyone really consider it peaceful?

Not a hint of light scratched the dimness of the surroundings. This strange ray of black seemed to stretch for miles like an empty voice. Not only echoed an absence of light but an absence of sound and touch and taste, with only the profound scent of roses lingering in the air; the same lingering scent for as long as he could remember.

This dark sanctuary portrayed uncertain tranquility, unknowing the different between a dream or reality. It was like sleeping while being aware of the state of slumber. However, for the first time in who knew how long, distant mumbles echoed into the void but words couldn't be made clear. Even the scent of roses grew stronger, almost unbearable. It was as if reality was finally overthrowing the dream realm.

Suddenly, a dull light began to emerge in the dark distance, and the chosen hero realized he was awake yet still sleeping. Sleeping, could he even call it? He could feel his eyes squint at the light and his naked hand stretched from his body, grasping for the alien glow. The glow suddenly became waves of light moving beside his vision, everything moving at a rapid speed, and a cold wind beat his face. No, the light wasn't growing, he was moving towards it. His heart beat at a rapid pace. Faster, faster. His brunette bangs whipped with the wind and the light shined with such intensity he was forced to shield his eyes. A dry lump stole the back of his throat, unable to breathe against such rising anxiety. The mumbles stopped long ago and the scent of roses vanished. What was happening? Where was he going?! It was all happening so fast; he was going to crash into the light.

"Awaken, brave hero."

An elegant voice called him. Abruptly, everything fell still and the black dispersed to white. No scents, no sense of space, no sound. Except for this voice.

"Link, Wielder of Courage, it is your time to rise again into this unfamiliar world of Hyrule. I've let you sleep for far too long, so now you must awaken, brave hero…"

Within an empty stone room lit with flickering torches rested a stone bed adorned with a delicate blanket. While no person stood in the room, a lone golden seed rested on the pillow of the bed and enjoyed the company of roses. Drips of water trickled from the ceiling cracks due to the misty showers of early dawn and splattered against the golden seed's surface. The small seed vibrated at each dribble, water sliding off its skin, until the seed began to glow. Equally as bright as the light from the hero's vision, the dim room was consumed with this eerie glow until the light stretched from crevice to corner. But when the light died down, all that remained was a clothed human body lying on the stone bed. This was the Hylian hero, Link.

Link took a calmed breath through his nostrils and lifted his eyelids slowly, revealing the glisten of cerulean eyes. Everything was blurry as his vision struggled to focus on something, anything. He looked to the center of an earthy stone ceiling as he lied on his back, or so he came to realize. He couldn't remember where he had last been or why or how he ended up here, but he knew for sure this room was unfamiliar to him.

The hero suddenly jolted to a sitting position and he violently gasped for air, a bouquet of roses falling from his chest and onto his lap. His head was struck with an aching pulse, perhaps attempting to comprehend the situation. Who was that voice? And where was he? His eyes darted around the empty room for answers but he was only met with stone and a stained-glass window shaped like the Triforce above a wooden door. Along with the roses on his lap, rose petals scattered across the floor. He wasn't apart of some sick sacrifice, was he?

Come to think of it, he could hardly remember anything that happened before this moment. Maybe he died and here he was waking in his bed in the Sacred Realm. Link's heart raced at a rapid pace. He wasn't prepared to die. He still had so much to encounter, to live for. There were so many tasks to fulfill in the land of Hyrule. And who witnessed his death? Who was mourning over him? What exactly happened? Link had so many people to say goodbye-

His panicked thoughts were interrupted by the creak of the wooden door, revealing a light so bright that Link was forced to shield his eyes. Once his eyes adjusted, he was able to look clearly at the door. Without blur. Finally.

A tall, dark skinned woman with white hair carried another bouquet of roses and halted at door. Her crimson eyes were wide in disbelief and her mouth fell agape as she gazed upon the risen hero, and the roses slowly dropped from her hand. They hit the ground with a quiet crash and the smashed roses bounced off the cold floor only to be squashed under the woman's feet as she took a step forward towards the hero. She lifted a trembling hand and pointed a finger towards the character. "You… you're awake," she gasped, her voice almost silent.

Now that the light had fully adjusted, the hero could make out that she was of the Sheikah Tribe. "Who are you supposed to be?" Link asked without hesitation. His head was pounding and he was confused. He didn't care that she pointed out the obvious.

The previously astonished woman approached a drastic change of character and came into a deep, respectful bow with her toned arm thrown across her chest. Her voice was deep as she spoke to him, nothing like the voice he heard earlier in his dream.

"My name is Impa, leader of the Sheikah Tribe and… the last member of my clan. I'm also the sole guardian of Princess Zelda. I've returned to this room at least once a day for a decade to exchange the flowers and relight the candles." She lifted herself back to a stand and stared at him with soft and comforting eyes. "All of Hyrule has been waiting for your seed to bloom… and now you've finally awaken."

"My seed to bloom?" Link gripped at the flowers in his hand, needing something to desperately hold onto after being so bewildered by this introduction. "What does that even mean? Explain yourself!"

Impa's lips curved downwards at the hero's stupefaction. She didn't expect him to know how long he had been in a state of slumber, but he displayed much more surprise than imagined. Then again, he had every right to be alarmed. "My apologies, I assumed you'd remember. Legends say that the golden goddesses let your soul rest within a seed until reawakened when dark times should stir once more. It's come to date that your seed has reposed in this room for the past 1,000 years, but I'm not certain whether you've been asleep longer than that."

Link's eyes widened and he silently lipped the words '1,000 years.' As a seed? What was that all about? The incredulous hero looked down at his hands to confirm this tale, yet he was astounded to find that his hands hadn't aged a bit. However, his gloves were completely different than how they looked the last time he had seen them. His old cotton gloves were worn out and simple, while these had an intricate design and were made of hard and protected leather, also armored with silver gauntlets. His eyes looked up and down his body, studying everything he was wearing. He was dressed in the same green tunic fashion, only now upgraded to fit this new apparent time. Link reached up and patted his head, relieved at the familiar hat on lying on his hair. At least that was the same.

Impa cocked an eyebrow at the boy. "Our people have eagerly anticipated your reawakening. Your seed sat in this temple for as long as anyone can remember; our guardians stood long days and nights to protect you. We've tried waking you before, planting your seed, watering it. How silly to think anything might have worked, but it all failed." She hid a chuckle behind her armored hand until her mood sunk again and she pressed her eyelids close only for a moment. "During your slumber, ultimate peace has been marked across the land with rarely any signs of danger. Your awakening must mean that trouble is brewing somewhere across the land. The Hylians believed the goddesses trapped your spirit inside this seed only to rise in times of our dire need, and now here you are. That's all I can offer you on that subject."

Link's eyes flickered at the ground in slight panic. This had to be a joke they were playing. He could hardly contain his laughter of insanity as he slid his legs to the side of the bed. "I don't believe a word you're saying. I bet this is just some big prank; some form of payback for all the jokes I've played in the past. I woke up thinking I was dead and now I'm told that I've been a seed for the past thousand years? Yeah, right!"

However, as his feet touched the ground he realized he couldn't carry himself and his legs collapsed beneath him. No, this wasn't right. They were completely consumed in static numbness, like… they hadn't been used in years. Link took an airy breath and glared at the Sheikah, his eyebrows creased in frustration. "You told me you were Impa, the sole guardian of Princess Zelda? That's impossible! I'm her guardian!"

But he was swayed by the dark truth revealed in Impa's stern eyes. Her footsteps echoed against the walls as she approached the hero and kneeled in front of his collapsed body. While he wasn't frail or boney, he wouldn't have the strength to stand on his own. At least not for a while. Cautiously, she offered a hand. "I can only help you make sense of things if you come with me."

Link's eyes glistened at the offered hand. Was this real at all? No, of course it was just some dumb prank. "This is one cruel and convincing joke," Link silently snickered to himself with uncertainty and took her hand. "Not that she can fool me easily. I'll get her back for this one."

Impa said nothing as she lifted the hero's arm over her shoulder. Together, the two exited the stone room for the last time in their lives.

The two walked into the next room and down a wide corridor. On the walls were faded paintings of Hyrule Castle, built and rebuilt, and portraits of unrecognizable kings and queens and royal families. Link couldn't help but be consumed by the strange art.

"Your king and queen died long ago," Impa began, "died of old age. So did many others throughout the years. There was a diary somewhere that mentioned your body being blessed by the goddesses, but that evidence disappeared not too long after your Princess Zelda did. Your seed was brought to this Temple of Time in the Lost Woods as your resting sanctuary and your seed lied here ever since you were purified. Since that day, Hyrule has been waiting for you to awaken as some sort of sign. We've also been waiting for a princess to come to us, for one hasn't been born in the past several centuries. It was about 17 years ago that the king and queen of Hyrule were bestowed a beautiful girl, which would mark the reawakening of the hero, or so that's what we believed. It seems our hopes came true. I honestly don't know what it means to have a returning princess and hero; it's destiny, obviously. I'm worried a grave danger will soon be approaching us."

Link had stopped paying attention to the history after a while, his mind consumed with an unfathomable story. He was forced to accept a new fate. What was happening? All his friends, people he considered his family… to be forced to believe they were gone was, well, unbelievable. With a silent sigh through his nose, Link slid his arm from around Impa and made his way for the painting, his numb feet somewhat dragging with every step.

"Any way of going back?" Link's voice was faint as he pressed a firm hand against the wall, staring up at the faded painting of the royal family he once knew. Their faces were hardly recognizable against the wither of time. "You know, to my past?"

Impa stood in silence as she watched the bewildered idle, pondering the question against her tongue. "Hero of Hyrule, I have no answers. All I know is that destiny is catching up to us and we must be going."

Link's fingers curled into his palm and he shoved himself from the wall to turn to Impa, sporting a dashing smile with a twinkle in his teeth. It was unlike him to portray such weakness, so he was quick to revert back to his carefree attitude in order to distract himself from such dire news. That, or perhaps he convinced himself he was insane. "Well then, no use in being sad if I can't change anything! You take the lead and I'll follow. I'd rather not have to lean on you, I can take care of myself."

Impa snorted and lifted an eyebrow in surprise. "What a rather unexpected change in character. I understand things are different to you, but arrogance won't disguise your dejection." With that said, the Sheikah began to stride out the door. She definitely didn't expect this "exotic" personality from such an ancient and noble hero as told by the legends.

The two of them walked outside of the Temple of Time and stood in front of its mighty doors. The forest, rich with towering trees, was still misty and grey due to the early morning rain. A group of Hylian soldiers sat patiently on sturdy horses outside. It was their daily duty to protect the place in case of an attack. They gazed down at the hero in astonishment, amazed that he was truly awake. Some exchanged whispers among each other, but most of them stayed quiet.

Link didn't even bother to listen or pay any mind to them. He was too engaged with the temple. He looked up at the inferior fortress covered in moss and weeds, absolutely disgusted by its horrible state. "If you're going to shove someone into an old, crusty temple, the least you can do is fix it up a little," he scolded, shaking his head at the hideous sight.

Again Impa shook her head. "Should I be accustomed to this playful nature, or are you still upset?"

"I guess you should say I'm still in denial. Are you sure this isn't a prank?"

Impa's shoulders lifted with her sigh. Rather than answer, she took a piece of red cloth from her pouch and held it to Link. "Put this over your eyes."

Link stared at it reluctantly before grasping it in his hands. "What for?"

"Our orders were that you don't see the outside world so you can't find your way around or escape," Impa coldly admitted, though she feared hurting the hero's feelings. And by the look on his face, he was clearly taken off guard.

"My first day back and you already don't trust me? How flattering." The hero would have laughed had this been a normal day, yet he loyally obeyed and tied the red cloth behind his head.

Impa's lips were firm, and no one else dared to say a word. The Sheikah lifted Link onto the back of a stallion and jumped atop it as well, taking the reins into her tight fingers. "Let's go," she simply ordered. With a kick of her heels against the side of the steed, it burst into a run through the forest with the obedient soldiers following behind.


The group dismounted at the gate of an enormous castle and the hero was allowed to remove his blindfold. As expected, Link was threw his head back in surprise, barely managing to bask in the glory of this great fortress; he remembered Hyrule Castle being much smaller in the past, but now it nearly tripled in size with buttresses and towers and ornate columns and battlements. Those faded paintings hadn't exaggerated one bit.

The hooves of the trotting horses proceeded to enter along the drawbridge and through the archway. Likewise, the soldiers tightened their formation around the hero in the center, careful to stay around Link so that way he didn't wander off. They were warned of a predicted adventurous nature; Link would most likely want to walk around and visit with the people of Hyrule, considering this was all completely new for the hero who slept for 1,000 years. But the soldiers had not time for an unwanted delay. Hyrule had been waiting all this time for the hero to return to them, but most importantly so did the princess. Following their orders, the soldiers huddled closely around him.

Impa had apparently disappeared.

All was silent at first once entering Castle Town, aside from citizen chatter and eager salesmen inviting shoppers to their stands and a few flutes desperate for spare change. However, a green tunic and hat caught a shopkeeper's eye and he whispered and pointed to the soldiers behind the woman standing at his shop. Her long eyelashes fluttered with curiosity. "My, you're right. He looks a lot like the legendary hero, Link."

And with one rumor, whispers immediately erupted all around and the Hylians turned their heads to take note of the protective soldiers. Some Hylians crowded around, wondering what they were guarding or escorting.

Nervous, the soldiers atop their horses exchanged shift glances before making a silent decision. The man in front lifted his hand in reassurance. "This is not the one you call Link-"

But the Hylians were already in a frenzy. A sudden clash of cheers echoed into the sky. It was Link, the Hero of Hyrule! The flutes and horns of the small band on the sidelines elevated in volume to contribute to the mood while the citizens cooed and awed in wonder as the guarded hero passed through the town on his steed. Everyone in all of Hyrule knew of Link's heroic actions in the past and fell into a giant fandom, wanting nothing to do but praise him for his work. Link was wildly popular amongst the entire land. Whoever didn't know of his face, his name, or his actions was considered an uneducated stranger, but that was rare considering Link's tales and legends had been widely distributed in various stories and articles and merchandise all amongst the land.

A couple of beautiful cheering women climbed atop the crowd like hungry animals to catch Link's eye, and one was brave enough to slam herself against one of the soldiers. The armored knight gently pushed the fan away, yet squeals of excitement erupted from between her red lips and her hands stretched for the hero who chuckled and leaned back in uncertain fear. But the woman was no match and was brutally shoved down by the soldier she attacked. This jealous soldier grimaced at these actions, fed up with the hero's fame already despite having just met him. It wasn't often that the people were graced by such a celebrity. Looks like the guards would have a rough time hiding this kid.

Despite the pure energy of the crowd, a few strangers looked uneasy for reasons unbeknownst. One odd old man with a hunched back braced himself against a wall and glared at Link, wrinkles digging into his aged skin. "Do not be eased just yet," he croaked, stealing Link's ear who cringed at an absence of teeth in the elder's rotten mouth. "The hero's return only means a time of turmoil approaches us. This so-called hero… is a warning. Beware… beware the star within the crescent moon."

"What?" Link silently whispered.

"Just some holiday," a soldier replied before spewing a nasty spitball to the ground. "Not much of a celebration. Civilians cower inside their homes in fear of some rumor that a demon roams the streets on the night when the red crescent moon aligns with the sacred star, but I've never seen any demons. Not one."

Link only bewildered at the soldier without reply and then back to the old man as they passed. He was extremely exasperated that the old man would insult him saying "so-called." He wondered whether he should retort to that uncanny accusation, but he decided to keep to himself.

The soldiers now approached the gate of the castle and forced the civilians to stay back with their shields as Link and his guards entered the gardens. The gate creaked to a close behind them and the fascinated cheers of the crowd still echoed from the other side. Some of the soldiers threw a provoked glare at the hero who only shrugged in apology. Not like this was his fault.

The soldiers immediately dismounted their horses, so Link did the same. "Alright," Link huffed and straightened his hat. "Whose castle is this? Zelda sure is taking his prank far, and I don't remember being so popular."

"Prank? This is Hyrule Castle," one of the soldiers spat, but before he could question further, he turned to a group of guards in the distance, slowly marching towards them between the towering rose bushes. Immediately, he and all the other soldiers fell to one knee and bowed their heads in respect and loyalty.

Link stood dumbfounded. "What-" But a hand grasped his wrist and pulled him to the ground to kneel with the rest of the soldiers.

"Forgive me, Hero of Hyrule," this knight whispered, "but I won't allow you to disrespect our princess."

"Princess?" Link spoke without lowered voice or worry, though a smile crept over his lips. If this was the princess he knew, if this was a prank after all, then he could relax around her. "Princess Zelda?"

The marching guards finally approached and abruptly halted several feet away before the kneeling soldiers. With a salute, they stepped aside until they revealed the tall Sheikah whose crimson eyes were stern. And at her side stood none other than Daughter of Wisdom, adorned in a gown of the most elegant rose color and her caramel hair tied up and dressed with a veil. With glossy lips, Princess Zelda's sweet voice sang to the hero;

"You're quite the talk among Hyrule."

A sparkle in Link's gazing cerulean eyes matched the glisten in Zelda's. Not of recognition or familiarity, but wonder.

The ethereal beauty softly smiled at him and lightly lowered her voice, though of course everyone around them could hear her. "It's been a long time, Link."

The soldiers hung their heads low in honor of the gentle maiden, careful not to disrespect her. Link, on the other hand, shoved himself up and brushed the dirt from his knees. He knew his princess too well, and not that he was disrespectful, but he and his princess were comfortable with each other.

Link pouted in irritancy and fixed his hat on his head. "So it has, princess- a thousand years too long. I should apologize for having slept in." He now walked up to the princess and placed his hand over his heart before falling into an elegant bow. "Forgive me, O wise and powerful Highness. And you too, Impa."

Impa, who towered behind Zelda, only silently stared at him and crossed her armored arms. Meanwhile, the soldiers exchanged whispers and gasps in the background.

"You know, this is one elaborate prank. Luckily, I'm one smart guy and can't fall for such tricks," Link snickered as he straightened his back again, tapping his skull in pride. "I'm actually amazed how many people you got in on this! So whose castle did you borrow? Our courtyard isn't near as nice as this one." He then turned his head to all the different plants and marble statues in the courtyard and the towers of the castle breaking the sky. This place was unlike the Hyrule Castle he knew like the back of his hand.

Zelda fell into a change of attitude, unsure of how to take the legendary hero's actions. She masked an unnoticeable frown by his playful remark, careful to hold her perfect image although perplexed by this childish nature. Whatever little comments he made would have to be overlooked; after all, the hero was probably still in shock.

"Hero of Hyrule," Zelda coaxed softly, "this is my castle and this is no prank. I know this news bewilders you and you're in denial, but you've honestly slept for 1,000 years. Your awakening is a sign of our shared destiny, hero."

Link said nothing. Denial was right. He didn't want to believe it. Any of it. That his friends and family were left behind, dead. The princess of his past, gone. He couldn't even remember how he got here or what happened last. The corners of Link's smile twitched and slightly faltered with the drop of his shoulders. By the dismay in Zelda's eyes, he knew he had to trust her. But he couldn't. This information was all so new.

"Alrighty then, princess." Link's voice cracked, straining to keep his composure though he felt humiliated and irritated, and his eyebrows creased into frustration. "I'm here, so now what?"

Zelda's shoulders lifted at the hero's compliance, though she kept her stern guard up. "I know you're anxious to see the outside world, but I'd like you to stay within the castle walls for a few months. It's too dangerous for you to go out into the land of the unknown and we'd like to teach you the ways of our people; our current time. Will you please stay here until deemed ready to take on your task?"

"A few months, you say? Gee, I just woke up and I'm already being caged again," Link grumbled, although teasing. The stubborn hero turned away from them and rubbed his chin while taking this all deep into thought. Truthfully, he wasn't concerned at all with the matter. According to Impa and the soldiers, traces of evil hadn't grazed the surface in the past thousand years. If anything was to show their faces again in Hyrule, Link would easily be able to take it down like he always managed in the past. In courtesy of the princess' humble request he felt it necessary to be a gentleman and help the fair maiden nonetheless. However, he was not to follow commands without a price. "What's in it for me?"

Zelda curved an eyebrow at the hero's flashy smile. "I don't understand."

"You get a nice bed in the luxury of Hyrule Castle and that's it," Impa spat coldly. "It's not so much that we're asking; you have no choice. Your awakening means an evil is afoot, so preparation is mandatory. We don't even know if we have a few months to spare."

Link's chest burned with defeat and he took a step towards the princess in defiance. "Well, excuuuse me! I don't even have a say in this? I figured the princess' terms would be a little more fair in account of a legendary hero."

Zelda's eyes flickered before shutting her eyes with a grimace. Had Impa not confirmed the awakening of the hero before her own eyes, Zelda wouldn't believe this childish beast to be the goddesses' chosen hero. Whoever this man was, he wasn't fit to be the legendary Link. "Life isn't fair, and if it was then we wouldn't be in this predicament. I apologize for the inconveniences, but the least you could do is fix your manners and accept your fate."

The kneeling soldiers gasped and even Link flinched in shock, but Impa concealed a proud smirk in admiration of her strong princess.

Before the hero could say anything else, Zelda continued with the necessary business. "In the meantime, I don't want you stepping foot out of this castle. You can visit with some of my servants. I'm sure they'd be happy to talk to you or even show you around the fortress." And with that, Zelda and Impa and her personal guards strode away from the men without another word of protest. The princess had other duties to fulfill that were required for the kingdom.

Link stood completely baffled by Zelda's orders. He let out a deep sigh and turned back to the gate. "There's no way I'm going to stay here for another minute. I'm leaving!" He began to stomp towards the gate, but two soldiers stepped in front of him with their spears crossed together. Link was appalled by their sudden demeanor. "Hey, what's the big idea?! Let me out!"

"You heard the princess' orders," a masked soldier recalled. "No stepping foot outside the castle."

Link scowled and turned his back to the soldiers, already walking off. "Yeah, well… I'll find a way out of here soon enough, so keep your guard up!"

As Link wandered throughout Hyrule Castle's immense and spacious gardens, the rushing of nearby fountain water pouring into his ears, his eyes remained locked on the only familiar thing in this distant period of time. The clouds, one in the same as clouds of his time, moved slowly and freely amongst the vast blue sky. Link envied their freedom, their innocence. Was Link really 1,000 years into the future? And why was he unable to remember he events prior to waking up?

It must have been hours that Link silently wandered about in his thoughts, thinking over his past and how so much had changed. To think that if felt like only yesterday he and some fellow travelers had kicked their shoes off and were dangling their feet in the brook. Now he was stuck in the irreversible future where he was forced to follow under the law of this 'new Zelda.' It couldn't be helped, though. How or why he was summoned to this era would remain unanswered until the moment was revealed.

Amidst his wandering, the hero soon found himself placed high above on one of Hyrule Castle's walls, sitting on top of the ledge and staring over the kingdom. He looked down at all the little Hylians walking about the town. He frowned bluely to himself, irked by their strange habits. Even the people of this age walked differently.

A sudden thought occurred to him; if he wanted to, he could escape right now. He could jump off that wall and ride down the ropes and leap off the rooftops towards his freedom. But he wouldn't. Somehow carved into his heart, he was loyal to his kingdom, to the princess, to her orders and everyone's desires. He was told to stay, so he would. Link let out another wistful sigh, wishing he was back in his own time so he could freely explore his own land. Unfortunately, he was to be trapped inside of this boring castle for a few months. There wasn't anything exciting to do around except maybe talk to the princess or Impa, but they'd be too busy to converse with him. It was going to be boring around the fortress, especially having to learn about their advanced culture or whatever the princess wanted.

The sunset began to bake the land of Hyrule in a ray of gold, its golden light glistening among the waters and black shadows cast by tall buildings. However, his eyes were set on Castle Town's center fountain. It was one of the only familiar artifacts in Hyrule that remained; a statue of the Holy Triforce resting at the top surrounded by the three Golden Goddesses. He remembered passing it often during his visits to Castle Town, but this centerpiece didn't strike much importance to him until now. Perhaps he was in the future, after all. Strange nostalgia overcame him, though he was satisfied that someone kept up with the fountain.

"I presume you've been doing a lot of thinking today," Zelda's familiar voice called as she approached the adventurer. "I noticed you on several occasions when I looked from my windows. A lot has changed for you, hasn't it?"

Link merely glanced to the girl, not exactly having heard her. He let out a groan and directed his attention towards the sunset again, childishly kicking his dangling feet against the wall. "I've been bored all day! There's nothing to do around your castle. To think that I'm going to have to stick around here for a couple months! Are you always going to be this troublesome?"

"I apologize for dragging you into this, but I'm only doing what's right for my people," Zelda retorted, and Link knew she was doing right. They remained in an awkward silence for several moments, basking in the glory of the sunset. Zelda then turned away from him and began to walk down the structure. "The doors to this wall's towers are always locked. I know I shouldn't be surprised that you managed to make your way to this spot, yet I am. It should be expected of such a great hero."

"I'm not really a hero or anything," Link humbly admitted. "I was just good with a sword and fought a lot of monsters and swordsmen." He moved off the ledge and began to trail behind her.

"It's not about what you do with that power; it's why you do it. You risked your life to save Hyrule from the vicious Demon King, Ganondorf. That's why the goddesses preserved your body. She knew that you would be the savior of this land in case of another attack."

Link narrowed his eyes, not recalling having ever battled Ganon, the ultimate evil of their realm. He remembered reading about the Demon King as a child, but he couldn't have seriously fought the beast. In fact, there were a lot of things he couldn't remember. But maybe it was just a side effect from sleeping for 1,000 years and he would remember everything later. Whether he did or didn't defeat Ganon, Link wasn't about to admit it.

As the princess approached the nearest tower and fumbled to unlock the door with a key, Link gazed nostalgically at her backside. The structure of this princess was the same of the princess from his time period; even their faces were fairly similar. Yet their attire and their attitudes were completely different. His of the past was so friendly, but this princess was strict, stern. Link's fingers twitched and he lifted his hand, but he hesitated. He wanted to touch her shoulder and say 'hello,' as if that would awaken the soul of the princess he knew within this one. He craved for a friendly talk, an explanation, assurance; why wasn't his princess here with him? "This was all a big joke," she would laugh. But this princess… it wasn't her, and she wasn't joking.

After one last twist, the tricky key went into the lock and opened the door to the tower. "What a difficult lock," Zelda huffed before glancing over her shoulder, "I'll be showing you to the bedroom you'll stay in for the next several months. I hope you find it to your liking." She entered through the door with Link closely following behind.

The hero knew he shouldn't have been throwing comments out like this, but he just couldn't help himself. "I'm sure I'll like it if we're in the same room together." He even winked and snickered.

Zelda came to an abrupt stop in her tracks, and the leather of Link's boots skid against tile as he forced himself to halt so he wouldn't bump into her. Link's spine tingled when the princess' dress flared with the spin of her heels to face him and her eyes flashed up and down as she studied this so-called excuse for a hero; no, excuse for a man. "How disgusting for a noble hero to condescend his female superior," she hissed. "You wouldn't speak to a man like that, would you? No? Precisely, let's get moving."

With that, the princess was on her way again. Link rubbed the back of his neck in humiliation, though he snickered without care. "I'm sure a man would react a little bit nicer."

The two of them wandered through endless corridors and stretching hallways before they stood outside a wooden door, Link's said bedroom. The hero let out a deep grunt and began to stretch his stressed arms. "I don't think I'll be able to remember the long passage to this bedroom every night. Can't I just sleep in an unlocked cabinet or something?" He complained with a heavy yawn.

"I don't want you scaring my people when they open a cupboard and see a body stuffed inside!"

With that said, Zelda opened the door and revealed his room. It was fairly large, provided with a lavishly queen bed, a large chest of drawers for clothes or useless items, a wooden desk for writing, and a window adorned with ornate curtains. Despite the dust, it would be a comfortable living space for the hero.

"I meant to get this cleaned up before you arrived," Zelda scoffed in disdain, "but it appears to be that no one had the time to dust it. My mistake, but I'm sure you'll adapt. You've slept in a dusty room for 1,000 years, after all." The princess glowered to Link who slipped out a sneeze, yet he smiled at her and nodded in agreement. Zelda returned a compassionate smile as well. "Or maybe I'll find someone to clean it tomorrow during your lessons. Anyway, I'm heading to my room. Please get some rest, if you will."

"I've been asleep for a thousand years. The last thing I need to do is shut my eyes!" Unfortunately, Link was contradicted with a yawn, marking his loss of the battle. "Well, I suppose I'll get some sleep just for you, but only if you…" He suddenly quieted his voice, unsure what others would think about his request. Link leaned his face close to hers, making the princess uncomfortable. Their cerulean eyes locked and the princess' porcelain cheeks flushed with strawberry. "… tell me about the crescent moon."

Oh, crescent moon? The request was completely unexpected compared to the unmannerly first request, but the fact that Link was so close to her made her uneasy. Zelda swiftly turned away from him before he could move to her any closer. "Good night, Link," was the only thing she called to him before striding into the next hallway.

"Yeah. Night, princess," Link pouted before trudging into his room, slightly astonished. He'd have to get some answers about it later.

Link clicked the door to a close and listened to the footsteps disappear. Thank the goddesses he was finally alone. No one could see him break at this insanity. Link slid to his knees and rested his head against the door before pounding the hard wood with his fist in frustration. It wasn't fair. None of this was fair. None of this made sense. "1,000 years," he growled like had in his head all day. "No, no." He pounded the door again and again and again, the hinges raddling with the vibrating door. His knuckles ached. Was the skin splitting? Who cares, who cared about anything? He didn't even care if anyone heard him. He needed this. After all, he lost everything.

A small crack in the wood remained where Link beat his fist, but Link suddenly stopped at a ringing in his ear. Screaming. Link's eyes popped open. A sudden explosion. Link jolted to a stand. Someone was in trouble. Flutes and horns and guitars. What on earth was going on? The noises erupted from the open window on the opposite wall.

Link rushed to the warm light pouring from his barred window, keeping him from escaping. Yet he rested his hands on the windowsill and gazed into Castle Town, suddenly in awestruck. A flood of Hylian citizens gathered in the streets in celebration of the hero's return, chanting his name and title. Glittering lights of the Castle Town's homes and flickering torches and lanterns and fireworks ripping the black sky; Link had never seen such breathtaking beauty, especially not from a town as big as this. His eyes had fallen upon waterfalls and lakes and forests and deserts and mountains, but not this.

The citizens danced with such innocence, such merriment with the music. Link's shoulders relaxed and his hastened heartbeat rested, though his eyes glazed over with wistful longing. The weight of destiny washed over him. He couldn't complain. This wasn't the time. Whatever was bound to happen, these were the people he needed to protect; he only wished he knew from what.

Link's back felt cold against the gloom of the room. He pushed away from the warmth of the window, colors of celebration dimming from his face and darkness crawling over his shoulders. Slowly, Link turned to his dusty bed. Everything felt quieter here. Lonelier. This was the life he was to live for months to come, surrounded by cold stone walls only to catch a glimpse of this outside world. Maybe to make it worth his while, he'd sneak out every now and then. He smirked to himself. Yeah, he couldn't sit around in a boring castle all day. As soon as he could, he'd sneak off into town.

And with that thought in mind, Link undressed and threw himself to bed. Dust and dirt lifted into the air, causing him to erupt in a wave of coughs. He used his hand to swipe the dust from his face as he quickly removed himself from the bed. "What a load of trouble," he whispered as he took a hold of his blanket and shuffled underneath.

Though he shut his eyes, the lost hero couldn't sleep.


Fun fact: I probably rewrote this chapter like five times with five different ideas.

Anyway, sorry for such a long first chapter. Please feel free to give me some feedback or just tell me what you think. Thank you, hope you enjoyed!