I shouldn't have even allowed the thought to pop into my head during my English class earlier that day, but since the idea of returning to the digital kingdom of Hyrule came up due to a simple triangle drawing on the board, it was all I could think about until, finally, I was able to drive home in a rather rushed pace and slam the Ocarina of Time cartridge into my faithful Nintendo 64.

There were other things I could have been doing. I knew I had homework, I knew my black lab Shadow (creative name, isn't it?) very much needed a bath, and I knew that errands needed to be taken care of before my aunt returned home from work, but for some reason, I needed this. After all, it had been almost a year since I saved all the Hyrulians, Gorons, Zoras, etc.

Besides, it was only the second week of my senior year of high school. Homework could easily be made up. Dogs were supposed to be smelly and dirty. That's what made them dogs. And if I drove fast enough, I could get to the post office and stores before my legal guardian came back.

As I waited for the Nintendo 64 logo to spin around and slide into the beginning theme music, I slipped my pants off; a guilty pleasure I found most important for my world-saving adventure. It seemed as if I couldn't play as well unless pants were absent.

You're such a weirdo, Ella.

I could hear my aunt's voice now. She wasn't much older than me. Being the age of 22 made a five-year difference between us. Although she was basically my best friend (I called her my sister more often than my aunt), she couldn't grasp the fact that any video game needed to lack the use of pants.

Bringing my attention back to my TV, I became aware that the game had frozen three seconds into the theme, even though the music kept playing. No big deal. Games like this (old games, no doubt. 2012 was such an amazing year, what with its realistic graphics and high-speed consoles. Bleh) had a tendency to freeze up.

I flicked the power off and removed the game, blowing heavily into the bottom of it in hopes to rid it of any dust hiding away in the cracks. I'd obviously abandoned the game for far too long. Poor thing.

Just as I was finished, a loud crash nearly made me jump right out of my skin. I placed the cartridge back into the console, turned it on, and snuck my way into the den. Shadow must've gotten into something in the kitchen, but when I saw him lying comfortably on the couch, I knew that wasn't the case at all.

In fact, everything was just how it should've been. Nothing was broken on the ground, nothing had toppled over (which, in all honestly, I expected to be my aunt's overflowing bookcase), and nothing had created a large hole in the wall.

I glanced at my dog, who had one eye open as if to say, "Put some damn pants on, you freak."

And in return, I thought, "Speak for yourself, you hypocrite."

I chewed on the inside of my lip, twirling a few strands of my lengthy auburn hair around my pointer finger. I loved my hair, although I occasionally received the "ginger" comments, and the way it cascaded down my back in a wavy sense. I had a soul, okay? I wouldn't be alive if I didn't.

Shadow followed me back into my room and happily took a seat on my bed. I frowned to show him he didn't own the place, but I think he knew I thought everything about him was adorable.

The game was frozen again. This time, the logo hadn't even had a chance to revolve in the darkness. I went to turn the power off once again, but just as my finger touched the plastic, a low growl came from Shadow. I turned around, wondering just what he was growling at.

He stood straight on my bed, his tail curled dangerously. His lips were pulled back to reveal his lines of sharp teeth and ears lie flat against his head. His chocolate eyes locked with the Nintendo 64.

"What's your problem?" I asked him, moving away from the game.

"Inferior beast!" a deep, raspy voice said from nowhere.

In a quick flash, Shadow was down on my bed, whimpering in pain. I hadn't even seen what happened, but naturally, my body lunged for his, covering his entire dog body. There was a splatter of blood on his left leg and on my sheets, and now on my bare skin.

I began to panic, my breathing speeding up and my heartbeat pounding loudly in my ears. I couldn't see what had hurt my dog, or who for that matter. Something was in my room and obviously it wasn't happy about something I did.

I turned to look at the TV again. A face stared directly at me – a face I'd seen many times throughout my childhood. The green skin, red eyes, maniacal grin. Ganondorf. But how?

"Defeat will turn to you and will come in numbers," he told me. The way his lips moved was too real, as if he was actually a real person. "Just as you've subjected me to for far too many years."

There was another flash of pain and this time, I was the one who felt it. It was the worst pain I'd ever felt. My entire body seemed to be set ablaze. Everything suffered a burning sensation; my fingertips, my toes, my internal organs. I collapsed on my bed, just barely missing Shadow.

My vision became fuzzy after that. I stared straight, watching everything that happened before me. Ganondorf crawled from my TV, obtaining an entirely new, more human look. His green skin turned peach-colored, long black hair replaced the bright orange, and black eyes warped anew.

"This is all mine," he told himself (or was he talking to me?) before strolling from my room.

I saw him step over something on my floor, which was impossible. My room was always spotless.

Pain surging through my body, I moved myself closer to the edge of the bed, gazing over to the body lying motionless on the ground. Naked, he remained on his stomach.

I knew exactly who this man was. After all, I had been him many, many times. The messy blonde hair gave it away in an instant.

"Link," I whispered, causing a stir from him.

I knew I should've just done my stupid homework.


Well, this is an idea I had while in my English class (oh snap). And I decided as a way to celebrate my very last day of high school, I would post this.

Anyway, I want to say that I appreciate input and if you have an idea for this story you'd like to see incorporated in, please feel free to message me. After all, I'm writing for you guys, not just myself.

I hope you all enjoy this story! Until next time!