Disclaimer: I don't own the legend of zelda series or any of the characters, game elements, or anything else mentioned here with the exception of a few original characters that will be appearing later. If I did, I would probably manage to make it all a lot more confusing.
Most of this was written around 3:00 a.m., but I think it turned out pretty well. If you think so too, feel free to let me know. That's what the review button is for, people!
Chapter 1: The Quest
Link brought his shield up just in time to catch his opponent's sword before stabbing out with his own. The attacker managed to block the blow, but the force drove him back a few steps. The fight paused a moment while the combatants caught their breath, and a third, green-haired figure stepped into the clearing.
"Are you two still going at it? It's nearly dark already!"
Link faced his opponent with a mocking grin. "How 'bout it? You had enough yet?"
"As if! The great Mido would never lose to you!"
Saria sighed. Link might eventually see the wisdom of returning home before the forest got too dark to navigate, but getting Mido back to the village required a different tactic. "Would the great Mido agree to a time out? It's almost dinnertime."
The mention of food provoked a long growl from Mido's stomach. He put one hand on his hips and pointed his sword dramatically at Link. "We're picking this up tomorrow, got it?" The Hylian nodded and Mido, satisfied, made his way toward the Kokiri village.
Saria almost smiled. Mido's pride had a nasty habit of drowning out his common sense, but his appetite was louder than the other two combined.
It took Link only a moment to pack away the wooden sword and shield he used for training (the real equipment he'd picked up in Termina was packed away in his house at the village). While he was busy with that, he asked the question Saria had grown used to hearing from him: "Did anything happen while I was gone?"
"There were a couple of ghoma larvae running around the shop, but we took care of them." The Kokiri girl shook her head. "Honestly, Link. If something serious had happened, someone would have gone looking for you."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
"I'm going ahead. See you back home."
"Okay."
The girl set off among the trees, leaving Link alone with his thoughts. After his return from Termina, Link had spent some time checking in on things in Hyrule. The Gorons seemed to be getting along fine, as did the Zoras, and Hyrule Castle Town was as lively as ever. As it turned out, the place that really needed his help was his childhood home in Kokiri forest. With the Great Deku Tree gone, the Kokiri remained leaderless and had little protection from the monsters that lurked in the forest.
Saria had helped with the first problem through her tendency to look after everyone. Meanwhile, Link was dealing with the second. Any really dangerous monsters, Stalfos for example, he would handle personally. The rest, at Saria's suggestion, he dealt with by teaching the forest children self-defense. It was rewarding, and it kept him busy. But still…
"You're restless, aren't you?"
Link jumped and spun around. A tall woman wearing a tightly-fitting red outfit was standing at the edge of the clearing. Her long red hair was held back by a golden headband, and there were matching gold bangles on her wrist. Judging by her pointed ears, Link guessed her to be a Hylian.
The young hero forced himself to regain his composure. "You really shouldn't be here," he said. "The forest is dangerous, especially for adults."
The woman simply laughed. "This place holds even less danger for me than it does for you." She stepped further into the clearing. "And as we both know, that isn't very much at all. Compared to the battles you've seen, there's very little challenge to be found here, and you're beginning to tire of it. Am I wrong?"
Suspicion crept into Link's expression. "Who are you?"
"Of course, it's hardly surprising," the woman continued. "You're strength is simply too great for this place. It's only to be expected," and here she smiled, "from the one whose hand bears my sister's mark."
Link's eyes widened. Hardly anyone knew about the mark on his left hand. It was the symbol that marked him as the bearer of the Triforce of Courage. Which came from the Goddess of Courage, Farore. And she was one of the three goddesses that created Hyrule. And this lady doesn't look much like Nayru…
"You-You're Din, aren't you?" Link stammered. "The Goddess of Power!"
Din smiled. "Well done. I wondered if you'd figure it out."
"What are you doing here?"
The goddess sighed. "Well, that's a bit complicated. You may remember that Ganondorf has been imprisoned in the sacred realm?"
The boy took a deep breath to calm his nerves and nodded. "Right. The sages trapped him there after I defeated him."
"Exactly. And that seal has saved Hyrule from his reign. But while you and the princess keep my sisters' pieces of the Triforce safe, the Triforce of Power remains without a bearer. And with Ganondorf in the sacred realm, it's no longer safe to keep it there." She met Link's eyes with a serious gaze. "To be frank, we need your help. If a more suitable bearer isn't found soon, my Triforce will return to Ganondorf. And if he regains its power, he may be able to break through the sage's seal."
Link shuddered. Ganondorf had been no friend of his. "But why do you need me? It's your Triforce. Shouldn't you be the one to choose?"
Din shook her head. "My sisters and I didn't create Hyrule so that we could play puppet master. We can offer power, tools, and even advice so long as we don't get too specific. But in the end, this land's fate must be decided by its people."
Link thought about this for a while. "I guess that makes sense," he replied. "So what do I have to do?"
The goddess blinked. "You've accepted already?" The hero nodded, and Din smiled. "I can see why Farore likes you so much. Very well. Under the circumstances, I can answer three of your questions. Choose them well."
Link spent a few minutes considering his first question. It seemed to him that the first thing to do was to get himself on the right track. "What should my first step be?"
"Well chosen. Since the Triforce of Power won't be available until after Ganondorf is defeated, you'll have to return to the future. I'm afraid we can't wait for the years to catch up with you. Time is a very complicated element, and I think that only my sister, Nayru, fully understands it. Simply put, it runs in layers, and there's very little of it to waste in the timeline we goddesses inhabit. Now I gather that you discovered some unique uses for the Song of Time during your travels in Termina?" She waited for his agreement. "Good. The sacred realm has been sealed, so you cannot use the master sword to make your journey. But if you take the princess to the temple of time and have her play one of those variations, that should do the trick. Just remember to recollect the Ocarina of Time from her on the other side."
She paused. "Oh dear. That was much too specific. This is why Nayru usually makes these visits. I'll try to do better with the next two." She winked.
Link caught the wink, but decided it was best not to comment. "Okay, then. Is there anything I have to watch out for?"
Din spent a moment considering her answer. When she thought it was cryptic enough, she nodded. "The usual monsters, of course, but the main threat is the one foe that you never truly defeated."
Link frowned. "That's not very helpful."
"Thank you. I thought I did better that time. Now consider your last question carefully. You're missing something important."
Something important… oh, right. I'm still not sure what I'm looking for. "What should I look for in a bearer for the Triforce of Power?"
Din smiled. "That's exactly what I was hoping you would ask." Her brows furrowed in thought for a moment. "Hm. I think the best answer I can give you is a question. Bearers of the Triforce represent our interests in this world. Farore chose you, a hero who fights to defend the life that she created. Nayru's chosen is a member of the royal family, one who will uphold the laws she wrote when this world came to be. Bearing that in mind, I ask you this: What made Ganondorf capable of fulfilling my intentions?
"And now, I think it's time for you to head home. There's a day of travel ahead of you tomorrow. Goodbye, hero. Remember to choose wisely." With that, the goddess disappeared in a flash of scarlet light.
Link blinked until the spots in his vision began to clear. What did she mean by Ganondorf fulfilling her 'intentions'? And once he got to the future, where should he start looking? First things first, he decided. It really was getting dark. He needed to get home, rest up, and prepare for the next day. And then… He almost smiled in anticipation. I guess I'm off on another adventure.
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Next chapter will probably be longer. Till then.