…

…

Link…

Open your eyes.

Wake up, Link.

The light was almost blinding.

His thoughts came slow and groggy. The familiar awful taste of a long sleep lingered in his mouth. There was a blue light above him, though he felt no heat from it.

In fact, he felt pretty wet all over.

With a groan of exertion, he turned over on his side just in time to see a strange glowing blue liquid descend into his stone bed. Wait, what was he doing in a stone bed? Come to think of it, where was he? This dark room certainly didn't feel very familiar with its ornate stone floor and blue lights everywhere.

Then he looked up and saw two things of interest: a stone pedestal glowing blue like the tub and lamp and what must have been a door. Since he could see no handle, knob, or any other way of opening the door, he decided to investigate the pedestal first.

Link sat up on his now dry bed, which he noticed was more like a tub of some kind. He yawned and stretched, wincing at the pain of latent muscles being suddenly put to work. He swung his legs off and stood up.

Then his legs buckled underneath him, and he shouted in distress. He was now lying on his back on the ground. He sighed in frustration and grabbed the side of the tub, pulling himself up.

Please be careful, Link. You haven't had to stand or walk for a very long time.

Link looked around wildly for the source of the voice, the same one he had woken up to. He had assumed it to be part of his dream, yet here he was in the waking world hearing it all the same.

I'm not there with you, though I wish I could be. When you get your bearings, go to the glowing pedestal.

The voice resonating in Link's mind sounded familiar, yet he couldn't place who it was. This angered him for some reason, though he didn't have time for anger.

Link looked again to the pedestal. Strangely, even those few steps he would have to take seemed like a monumental effort. He could feel his strength returning little by little, though the thought that walking was so difficult scared him.

With a deep breath, Link took a step forward, letting go of the tub as he did so. His legs wobbling every step of the way, he made his way to the pedestal at a snail's pace. After what seemed like an eternity, Link practically collapsed against the cold stone. His heart was racing and his breath heavy as he regained his bearings. He heard a click and watched as a small panel in the middle flipped around.

The fatigue will wear off soon. Watch your head.

Link didn't even have time to look up in confusion as the panel stood straight up and smacked him in the face.

He shook his head and rubbed his nose. Soft laughter reverberated through his mind. It was infectious, and Link found himself smiling without even realizing it.

That is a Sheikah Slate. Take it. It will help guide you after your long slumber.

Link realized she was referring to the panel. Cautiously, he stood up straight and took the "Sheikah Slate." He turned it over in his hands, inspecting every detail. The same strange orange and blue lines that he had seen all over the room so far covered the stone slab. On one side was a design of a blue eye with a single tear. On the other was a dark blue screen made of some smooth material. It too sported the glowing blue eye. Link had never seen anything like it…yet it felt so familiar.

Link jumped at a loud rumbling, snapping him out of his thoughts. The door was opening piece by piece, and the steam hanging in the air rushed out. He stepped through the doorway (his legs weren't wobbling anymore, but he still went slow to be safe) and found himself in a dark chamber. His shadow reached all the way up to a set of steps before it faded away. At the end was another door sealed tight.

He grinned excitedly at what else was occupying the room: two treasure chests. He ignored the crates and other things lying around and hurried over. The first contained a pair of well-worn trousers, a belt, and a pair of shoes while the second contained an old shirt. It was then that he realized he was clothed in nothing but tight-fitting underwear. He blushed profusely and hoped whoever it was talking to him couldn't see what he looked like. The clothes were rather small and torn in several places, but he would gladly take them over running around in his undergarments.

He walked down the steps and noticed another pedestal, this one glowing orange. It had no place to fit the Sheikah Slate, instead having a large blue eye in its center.

Hold the Sheikah Slate up to the pedestal. That will show you the way.

Link then realized he had no idea why he was following the mysterious voice's every word. Perhaps he had gone crazy and was hearing things that weren't there.

You are not losing your mind.

Somehow the voice sounded a bit more strained than before.

Link took the Slate in his hand. He looked between it and the pedestal, then placed the screen against the stone. There was a flash and the pedestal turned blue. Another rumbling as a second door opened, letting bright sunlight in. Link squinted and held his hand up to shield his eyes. All he could see outside was the golden light of dawn.

Link… You are the light – our light – that must shine upon Hyrule once again.

Now go…

And suddenly Link felt the presence beginning to fade from his mind. He felt something then: a word…no, a name on the tip of his tongue.

The mysterious voice vanished before he could figure out what it was he was about to say.

Link did a slight jog onto cool grass still wet with morning dew. His fatigue was indeed fading away by the second. He came upon a high rise and gasped at what he saw.

The view was incredible. The uncertain morning light cast everything in mysterious shadow. A forest covered the land in front of him. But that was only on the plateau he discovered he was on. In the distance he could see so much more. There a volcano spewing an endless ash cloud into the atmosphere. There a high mountain with an enormous bird slowly circling it. A huge grassy plain far away. And beyond that, a grand and glorious castle in the middle of the wild. All ripe for exploration and adventure. The thought of it made Link's heart race and his face light up.

He gazed to his right and saw a great temple. But what took his attention more was something unprecedented. There was someone staring up at him. From this distance he merely appeared as a silhouette, a hooded figure with a large walking stick and white beard.

Link also had the distinct feeling the man was watching him. The fact that the man turned away the moment Link noticed him only confirmed this.

Link jogged downhill. The mystery man had set up a campfire under a rock shelter. Now Link could make out more details about him: his raggedy hooded cloak, his skin darkened from long days spent outdoors, his incredible height and imposing figure. Link guessed that the man was old, though how old exactly eluded him. This did not mean the old man wasn't dangerous. Cautiously, Link stood and stared at the man with his arms crossed.

The old man looked up at Link cheerfully. "It is rare to see another soul in these parts," he greeted. His voice was deep and commanding, yet not unpleasant.

Link opened his mouth, then found that his throat was parched. The old man frowned. "Something wrong, my boy?"

"Water," Link rasped. The old man reached into his cloak and produced a canteen, quickly handing it to the boy. Link drank greedily, not pausing for breath until the canteen felt much lighter.

"You can keep that if you'd like," the old man said with concern. "Please, sit down."

Rather than sitting with the stranger on the log near the fire, Link decided to sit down on the ground right where he was standing. "Who are you?" he asked. His voice came out as a croak, but at least he didn't feel as thirsty.

"Me? I'll spare you my life story." The old man shifted in his seat. "I'm just an old fool who has lived here alone for quite some time now."

"Do you have a name?" Link asked. "Or should I just call you 'Old Man?'"

The Old Man smiled at that. "You are clearly a man of many questions. I suppose if you must call me by something, Daphnes is as good a name as any."

Link stared at Daphnes, taking in the very strange name.

"I think I'll stick with calling you 'Old Man,'" Link said finally.

"Oho ho!" Daphnes laughed loudly. "I thought you might. I'll be the first to admit it is not the best name. How about you, stranger? What do they call you?"

"Link," the young man said. He suddenly sniffed the air. He smelled something sweet. His stomach growling made him realize something: he was very very hungry. Without thinking, he looked to the source of the smell – an apple sitting next to him – and took a bite. He relished at the sweet taste and noted with some surprise how hot it was.

"I BEG YOUR PARDON!" Daphnes shouted. Link leapt to his feet, nearly dropping the precious food. "I do believe that is my baked apple! You can't just go about taking whatever you please!"

"I-I'm sorry!" Link said, his face heating up at the sudden embarrassment. "I couldn't help myself, I was just so hungry I…" He trailed off when he realized Daphnes was smiling again.

"Oho ho!" he laughed. "Forgive me – I could not resist pulling your leg. Please help yourself, an apple and an open flame make for a succulent treat."

Link shook his head and sat back down, continuing to eat the apple. "You just about scared me to death!"

Daphnes shook his head, still grinning. "My boy, you must learn to loosen up a bit. A sense of humor is necessary to stay sane in this world." He suddenly looked dead serious. "So…what brings a bright-eyed young man like yourself to a place like this?"

Link hesitated. He took a breath, then closed his mouth again.

He had no answer for the Old Man.

He thought long and hard, but he found no memory of how he came to be in a tub of glowing blue water in an ancient stone chamber on a plateau in the middle of the wild. In fact, now that the grogginess of sleep was wearing off he found himself without any memory whatsoever. He couldn't remember his age. He couldn't remember his home. He couldn't remember anyone he might know. He couldn't even remember his last name, assuming he had one. It was a harrowing thought.

The only image he could conjure in his mind was a young woman silhouetted by golden light. Who was she? What did she look like? Where was she now? Why was he so infuriated at himself for not being able to remember her? All these questions and more plagued Link's mind the longer he sat there.

He realized he had been sitting there in silence for a while now, and Daphnes was giving him a puzzled look. Link decided to play it safe and not let the stranger in on his turmoil.

"Where are we?" he finally asked.

Daphnes nodded thoughtfully. "Answering a question with a question. That is fair enough." He stood up, leaning on his tall cane for support. "As I cannot imagine our meeting to be a simple coincidence…I shall tell you."

Link stood up and followed the old man as he walked around the canopy and downhill more.

"This is the Great Plateau," Daphnes said as they walked. "According to legend, this is the birthplace of the entire kingdom of Hyrule." He stopped suddenly and turned. He pointed with his cane, and Link followed his gaze to the large temple he had seen earlier.

"That temple there," the old man continued. "Long ago, it was the site of many sacred ceremonies."

"But not anymore, it seems," Link said, noticing the caved-in roof and moss-covered walls even from this distance.

"Indeed," the old man replied, his eyes closed. "Ever since the decline of the kingdom 100 years ago, it has sat abandoned in a state of decay." He opened his eyes and began hiking back to his camp. "Yet another forgotten entity, a mere ghost of its former self."

Something about Daphnes's tone seemed off to Link. It almost sounded as if he were referring to himself rather than the temple. He made to follow the old man when he stopped. It sounded like someone had called him.

…

No, it was that presence again, the same familiar yet mysterious voice he had felt in the chamber.

Link…

Link looked around frantically, trying in vain to get some idea of where the voice originated from. It was so faint he could barely hear it.

Link.

He stopped at the voice's commanding tone, taking a deep breath. It wouldn't do to panic now.

Head for the point marked on the map in your Sheikah Slate.

And just like that she was already fading from his mind.

"No, wait!" he shouted to the sky. But it was too late. The only thoughts that were filling his mind now were his own. He sighed. He still couldn't help but feel he knew the voice's owner. Even now he could feel her name trying to escape his lips, yet no sound escaped them.

"Did you need something else, my boy?" Link looked up. Daphnes had stopped and was staring at him from on the hill.

"I, uh…want to borrow your axe," Link said, pointing to said object embedded in the tree trunk next to him.

The Old Man shrugged. "You can have it if you'd like. I have another one. Besides, you'll need something to protect yourself if you plan on venturing anywhere on the plateau. There are Bokoblins everywhere!"

Link looked to the axe. It was a simple thing; just a large one-sided blade with a long wooden shaft. With some effort, he pulled the axe free of the stump and hung it on his back.

He then realized he still hadn't done what the voice commanded and took out his Slate. Indeed, the screen was not blank as he had first thought, but had a map of some kind on display. There were thin lines – borders no doubt, yet he had first assumed them to be cracks – running along all over it. There was a single flashing yellow dot some distance northeast of his location (represented by a yellow arrow pointed where he was facing). It was quite the strange and unique device, yet he still couldn't shake the feeling that he had held it before.

He looked at the point on the map. There was a long expanse of rocky ground until a small outcropping of rocks formed a cave of sorts. But there were small humanoids with bright red hides walking around and sniffing the air with pig snouts. Instinctively, he knew them to be Bokoblins.

He hiked down further. He had a lot of trekking to do.

Link peered down curiously at the small camp he had come across. There were three Bokoblins dancing around a fire with a huge slab of meat. Link's hunger once again came to the forefront of his mind (he found that his hunger never truly had gone away since he had woken up). Of course, he knew the monsters weren't going to be too willing to share, yet he didn't like his odds in a three-on-one battle.

Then he turned to his right and grinned at the solution to his predicament.

He pushed the boulder down the hill and watched as it crushed each Bokoblin in turn.

He slid down and strutted right up to the fire. "Don't suppose you guys will be needing this anymore." He turned to the Bokoblins. His eyes widened when he saw they were no longer there, instead replaced by a large puddle of black sludge quickly evaporating away from under the boulder.

"Okay…" Link said, shrugging and taking a bite of meat.

After finishing his meal, Link continued his trek across the plateau to the cave. The only issue he encountered along the way was two Bokoblins with bows and arrows, but they were easily circumvented by approaching the cave from the back.

Link peered inside. The ground of the cave was the same smooth black stone with strange markings as in the chamber. There was another pedestal as well, this one with a rectangular indentation the perfect size for the Sheikah Slate.

He was about to step inside when he heard many footsteps approaching. And then he turned around and saw them: ten red Bokoblins led by a single blue one. All of them were glaring right at him.

"I don't suppose you boys are friends with the three over there, are you?" Link said, pointing in the direction of the camp he had ransacked before.

The blue one bared its crooked yellow fangs at him.

"I see…" Link tried to figure out how he could possibly get out of this with his life.

Then a long howl filled the air. All the Bokoblins looked around in a wild panic. The blue one snarled at its underlings to get them in line, but even as the first howl faded away another took its place. All the red Bokoblins scattered instantly, their fear-filled screeches accompanying the howls. The blue Bokoblin turned around and snarled at its comrades.

Then its face was split open by Link's axe.

Link looked around and saw it: a four-legged figure far off in the distance at the top of a hill. He stared at it curiously as the creature stared back at him. After almost a minute, it turned and padded down the hill.

Link needed to know what that thing was that scared nearly a dozen monsters away by its mere presence. But he also needed to know what was so important about this cave. Only one of these was close at hand.

Link, his axe returned to his back, placed the Sheikah Slate on the pedestal. After the Sheikah Slate was pulled into it, words began appearing on the Slate's screen. Link blinked in surprise as he read the message.

[Sheikah Tower activated.] the message said. [Please watch for falling rocks.]

Link barely had time to give a confused look before he felt the earth tremble all around him. He dove toward the pedestal as the cave collapsed.

Gruve woke to the earth shaking around him. He rolled onto his front, heart racing as he felt some invisible force pushing him flat against the ground.

Then just as quickly as it had begun, the shaking stopped.

Gruve stood carefully, his legs still feeling unsteady. He looked down and jumped back. He had suddenly found himself high above the ground with no conceivable way down that didn't involve becoming a colorful stain on the ground. Cautiously, he stepped forward to peer down. He could just make out Prince Sidon's form on Inigo Bridge looking around wildly. No doubt he had heard the great tremors.

"PRINCE SIDON!" Gruve shouted. "YOUR HIGHNESS!"

But it was no use. The Zora Prince gave no indication of hearing his subject's cries. Gruve sighed and sat down. He anticipated that he would be there for a long time.

The rain began falling harder as a faint trumpeting sound could be heard.

Teba watched Vah Medoh like…well, like a hawk.

The Rito hadn't moved from his perch at Revali's Landing all day. He needed to stay up there to make sure the Divine Beast didn't get any closer. He was shocked that Kaneli wasn't as worried as he should be. It didn't matter that the Divine Beast was once a protector of their village! The old bird was blinded by nostalgia it seemed. Nostalgia for a time he hadn't even been a part of!

He was snapped from his thoughts by Vah Medoh's distinct screeching. He looked up, his bow already in hand before he could even think about it. But he noted with surprise that the thing wasn't circling closer. No…it was actually flying away from the village! And at a remarkable speed it had never demonstrated before.

He saw it slow above the ruins of an old Hylian soldier barracks. He knew those ruins well; he had taken his son to see them before they had become swamped by Malice and overtaken by monsters years ago.

There was a new addition to the ruins: a great stone tower was rising from them, Malice dripping off the sides visible even from this distance. Vah Medoh was about to pass directly over it. As it approached, the Divine Beast's distinct red energy field appeared, as did its defense turrets. The turrets each took aim at the tower and began firing a barrage of explosive light beams. Teba was amazed when he noticed the tower didn't even slow down. Nothing was stopping its advance to the heavens.

Vah Medoh passed right over the tower, having done nothing to deter its progress. The tower finally stopped at its full height before the Divine Beast could make another pass.

"Teba!" The Rito turned around and saw his friend Harth had landed next to him.

"Everyone heard the Divine Beast and saw it fly away!" his friend explained. He looked at the tower Teba had been watching. "What just happened?"

Teba looked back and his heart nearly stopped. Vah Medoh was turning around and heading right for the village. Teba turned to Harth frantically.

"Get your bow and all your bomb arrows!" Teba said. "We need to shoot that thing out of the sky!"

Beedle stopped for a moment to catch his breath. The hike to Goron City was a lot more trying than he had thought it would be at first. Even with his Fireproof Elixirs, the heat was bearing down on him like a physical force pushing him into the earth.

With a huff he heaved his pack onto his back and set out again. The moment he took that first step down the path he felt the earth begin to rumble. He looked up to see a tower rising into the sky in the cliffs off the path. Immediately following that was a roar louder than any Lynel was capable of. Beedle looked up at Death Mountain and gasped at the sight of a massive beast climbing to the very top. It roared again as massive flaming boulders erupted from the volcano…falling directly on the tower next to Beedle!

Beedle turned around and ran for his life. Even he wasn't brazen enough to peddle in Goron City with that thing raining fiery death all along the mountain.

Sudrey sighed. She supposed she should be honored that Lady Riju had entrusted her with the all-important and dangerous task of monitoring the Divine Beast's activity. Instead, she was mostly bored.

All the thing seemed to do was stomp in circles in the one area of the desert, whipping up sandstorms and lightning wherever it went. Watching that all day was really starting to take a toll on her sanity.

So she had taken up the habit of watching people travel in and out of the desert through the canyon to the northeast. She would get something different every day. Sometimes a single person could be seen trekking across the sand. Sometimes an entire caravan of people. Hylians, Gorons, and Rito all passed through at varying intervals. She had never seen a Zora, though. This was a desert after all.

Then something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She stared with mouth agape at what she saw. She blinked, yet it seemed the great stone tower rising from the cliffs was no illusion.

A low moan reverberated through the desert and seemed to shake the very air. Sudrey knew that call well: Vah Naboris made that sound whenever it was about to cause a lightning strike. As she watched the tower continue to rise, a lightning bolt struck the top. Then another. Then many more. But even from this distance, Sudrey could see the tower wasn't even slowing under the relentless onslaught of electricity.

Finally, the tower stopped, as did the lightning. The tower began glowing a soft orange as the Divine Beast returned to roaming the desert.

Flik caught his breath in a tree. But even from its very top branches he could find no sign of intelligent life.

He sighed. Kakariko Village felt so far away now. He hadn't any idea how long he had been travelling, only that it would probably take much longer to get back. Mainly because he was hopelessly lost.

Flik was still trying to figure out why he had left. It was so uncharacteristic of him to simply act without thinking. Among his many brothers and sisters, he had prided himself with his rational thinking skills and excellent foresight greater than all of theirs. Yet here he was, blindly wandering the wild without a clue as to what he was doing.

He had been desperate. If someone didn't do something soon, she would…no, best not to consider that possibility. The very thought of it made him shiver. That was why he had acted so rashly, yes that must have been it: desperation.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he felt the ground rumble through the tree he was perched in. He looked up and gasped with shock. Bursting from the ground in a shower of stone and dirt was a great tower. Suddenly the moss-covered Guardians around him shuddered and began glowing with light the same as the Malice. He nearly jumped out of the tree when all of them turned and looked at the tower. Blue energy beams shot from their eyes. Many many explosions made a great cacophony in the air as the tower was hit from all sides with maximum force. Yet nothing deterred its progress. Flik found it to be almost inspiring.

Finally, after revealing its true magnificent height (Flik was sure it had to be at least 100 meters tall), the Guardians stopped their onslaught of the tower and went dormant once again.

Flik found himself awed and slightly confused at what had just transpired.

Link finally let go of the pedestal, still feeling the tremors long after they had ceased. He looked around and saw nothing but blue skies and the high mountain tops to the northwest. As incredible as it seemed, he must have been closer to the heavens now than he had ever been in his life. Even without his memory he could at least be sure of that.

He heard a dripping sound and turned to look at the pedestal. The Sheikah Slate, completely forgotten in the excitement, was now glowing a bright blue. It flipped around, allowing him to remove it. To his amazement there was a map on the Slate more detailed than he thought possible. Everything on the plateau from the smallest pond to even the entire ruins to the southeast was shown with every minute detail.

He felt that presence again. It was warm and familiar, yet still the name of this presence eluded him.

…Remember…

Try…Try to remember…

This time he could discern where it was coming from. He turned and walked to the edge of the tower. From here he had a clear view of the wild once again. He could see that similar towers had sprouted up across the land, their distinct orange glow visible from a great distance.

What drew his attention most, however, was the golden light emanating from the castle in the distance. He instinctively knew it to be the source of the mysterious voice.

You have been asleep for one hundred years.

Link gasped as the ground rumbled again, as if a great creature were forcing its way through the rock.

The beast…

The castle was suddenly obscured from view by a cloud of red and black smoke like a serpent constricting its prey. Link could see the vague shape of a monstrous boar's head, many times bigger than any living thing rightly should be, circling the castle and rising into the sky. The boar's head opened its mouth far too wide and roared in triumph at the heavens. Compared to the great darkness, Link thought the dot of gold light to be almost pathetic.

Then the boar turned those horrible yellow eyes upon the plateau.

Upon Link.

When the beast regains its true power, the world will face its end.

Gazing upon the creature now, Link had no doubt this statement was true. The light suddenly grew in intensity. The boar roared in pain, its form dissolving. The black mist continued to envelop the castle even as the light began to fade.

Now then…You must hurry, Link.

Before it's too late.

A/N: And there we have it, the beginning of a new novelization. I've been meaning to get this started for a while, but between college work and certain issues at home, I just couldn't work up the motivation to get this started. Anyway, I'm surprised this turned out so short, but I think I got all that I wanted to get out for the first chapter. I laid the foundations for a couple characters that will come up much later, some familiar and others new. And yes, a certain canine companion will be showing up sooner or later. Can't wait for him to come along. I'm hoping I didn't overdo it and turn this into a massive wall of purple prose. Be sure to let me know what you think about it.