The Legend of Zelda: The Flooding of Hyrule
Immediately Following Ocarina of Time
Familiar ground. The castle walls loomed above his head as he stepped onto the dewy ground. The grass was springy beneath his feet, bouncing as he walked, and snapping back into his place once his feet had left. The air smelled damp, like springtime after a shower. The flowers were just blooming and the scent of roses, daisies, and numerous other flowers within the garden floated in the gentle breeze. The boy walked forward with a grim look of fear etched onto his face as he approached the window and the solitary figure before it. The girl was concentrating on peering through the window into the chamber beyond; she didn't notice his approach. Only when his heels clicked on the stone steps did she turn and gasp. The boy's fairy hid in his hat almost immediately.
"Link?" The girl asked, a look of fear slightly aflame in her eyes. The boy only nodded, only his expression had changed from fearful to sad, almost tearful. It was a face that showed the burden of painful memories long past. In fact, the hardship the two had faced together was one that was not to be forgotten, even through the passage of time.
"Link, I'm so sorry…for everything. I know what I did was wrong but I had no choice. I was a fool, and I beg your forgiveness." The girl pleaded, nearly bursting into tears herself. Only her strength kept her from throwing herself at him and breaking down entirely. Instead, she studied his reaction, and saw none. He seemed as if he had not heard her speak.
"I've been having dreams again Zelda, the same dreams I had before…before he came. I don't know exactly what they're telling me but I know what it must mean. It means he's returned. I don't know how, but I know that for whatever reason, the seal of the gods was broken and he has been released." Link spoke as if Zelda had not apologized. He either chose to ignore the apology or to accept it silently. Whatever the case, Zelda chose to disregard his lack of acknowledgement and instead focus on what words he uttered.
"Him? But, how can that be? He was sealed away after…what happened before. The gods have never failed to fulfill an oath made with righteous intentions, and the oath they made then was the strongest ever. What power could possibly break the promise of the gods?" Zelda asked him, a tone of panic arising in her voice. It was unusual for Zelda to show any sign of fear, lest it be the most serious situation. The mere fact that she was afraid meant that doom was near at hand. This knowledge showed on Link's face for a brief moment, and he quickly covered it up with perplexity.
"I don't know, but there's only one place where we'll find answers. We have to go to the Temple of Time and look for clues. Perhaps the gods left some sort of warning inscribed on the altar." He suggested.
"I don't recall ever hearing of anything like this in the prophecies, but it's worth a search." The two hurried off to the temple, just beyond the entrance to the castle grounds.
The temple itself was a sign of the power of the gods. It stretched toward the heavens and only seemed to end when the spires met the clouds high above the earth. The stained glass window above the entrance depicted the three goddesses, Farore, Din, and Nayru, departing Hyrule, their tasks completed, and leaving the Triforce behind them. The structure seemed to radiate the power of the Triforce itself. As the townsfolk gazed at its beauty, they marveled at how they were blessed to possess such a beautiful temple within their town. The Temple of Time was a beloved treasure that belonged to all of Hyrule. Many traveled to Hyrule Castle Town just to let their eyes feast on the divinity of it. The steps leading up to the oak doors were white marble, and they shined in the sunlight, reflecting nature's light onto the children as they passed through the doors, and into the sacred chamber within.