Hey everybody! This is my first fanfic, so tell me what you think. Just so you know, all characters listed below, as well as most happenings mentioned, belong to Nintendo. Little old me has no connection to them (sadly). So... there you go! See you next time, and good reading!

Edit: Added character list and backstories, hopefully on all chapters!


Link rode quickly, Epona galloping faster than she had in months. He felt the wind in his face and took in the scents of the forest. He smiled when he heard the familiar music playing through the trees. This particular tune had always given him a sense of happiness him and everyone else. He knew where it was coming from, and how that was the only place to go. Slowing down to a walk, he stopped Epona and, after promising to be back soon, began the climb up to the temple.

Now, this temple was old and decrepit, and hardly, if ever, used for worship. It was nothing but ruins and, for the first nineteen years of his life, he didn't even know what it was. All he knew was that this was a place he could come to escape the ridicule of the others. A place of safety...

It was also her place.

As his head leveled with the top steps, he peered out into the clearing ahead. The stump was still there, and the temple as old as ever. It all seemed so familiar... yet it, for the first time, didn't seem like home. As he looked around, he was hit with a sudden force that knocked him off his feet. What was it? A deku nut? A tektite? He reached for his sword.

"You're back!" Saria cried, tears at the corners of her eyes.

Link relaxed. He knew she was no danger, "Yes, Saria," he told her, "I am back. It's nice to see you too," they both laughed a little.

"Where have you been these last seven years, Link?" she asked curiously. He smiled, standing up, then helped her up. She was as excited as ever, and hadn't aged a day - quite literally. She never aged. Unlike him, of course... but that was another matter altogether.

"I've been... busy," he told her, thinking back to the last seven years. He looked at her, "I'd tell you now, but it's getting late. We both know that we should be getting back to the village."

She nodded. The woods were dangerous at night, and, while Link could protect himself, he didn't want Saria to get into any danger. The pair grabbed Epona before taking the short trip back to the village. It was odd... it took longer to get there than it did to get back. Nobody knew exactly why. It had just always been that way.

They got back to the village late, and some of the child-like Kokiri were in bed. Most of them liked him, some even idolized him. All of them, except...

"You!" cried a voice from across the river. A short, authoritative Kokiri was the source of the voice. He looked to be maybe 13, but had already lived longer than Link would live to be. Mido took charge of the village, and he liked order... and disliked Link. Even when he thought Link a Kokiri, he still hated Link. He swaggered to a stop in front of him, "So, you've come crawling back here?"

"Buzz off, Mido," Link warned, "There's no reason to get into all of this again."

"Buzz off, Mido," he mimicked, "Oh, you think you're so high and mighty, don't you? Just because you APPARENTLY traveled through time and saved the kingdom means that you can just waltz in here and..."

Link was already gone, walking right past him, "Don't worry about it, Mido. I'm not trying to take charge or anything- it's not worth it," he didn't even bother looking back... he knew that the Kokiri would be cursing him out and calling him a coward already.

Saria followed him, asking, "Do you want to come over to my place for a bit?"

Link nodded, "I might as well."

Saria's jaw was on the floor. Over the past few hours Link had told her about the many things that he'd done over the last few years. The monsters he'd fought, the destruction he'd seen, and the evil he'd faced- all while trying to find some peace, "How could you go through that?"

Link sighed, "I don't know. Eventually I just stopped feeling the pain. Do you know what that's like, Saria? Unable to feel pain or fear... barely able to feel happy," he sighed, "That's when I knew I needed to come home."

Saria shook her head, a tear falling from her cheek. Link knew that she'd always been very emotional, but knew also that she, as his closest and only childhood friend, had to know. Link hugged her, "It's all over now, though. I'm back in Hyrule for good."

She kept crying and Link patted her back. She cleared up a bit and they just sat there for a little while. He looked at her, then said, "I think I should go now."

"Are you sure?" she asked, concerned.

"I'm sure," he said, "I'm the Hero of Time. After all that, what else can be done to me here in the Village?"


Link: The Hero of Time was raised as one of the immortal Kokiri, but, when he failed to stop the death of the Great Deku Tree, left to warn the land of Hyrule of the impending evil. Put the rest of Ocarina of Time in here. After Zelda sent him back to "regain his childhood", Link found this almost impossible. After seeing the once bright and cheery city of Castle Town become zombie-infested ruins, and seeing the destruction wrought by Ganondorf, he decided to leave in an attempt to find the one soul on the planet that could understand him... the fairy, Navi. He searched for seven years, traveling to many lands (including Termina). He never did find Navi. Giving up, he went home in an attempt to start up a normal life among those he knew as friends.

Saria: The Sage of the Forest is a member of the Kokiri race and was, for many years, Link's best friend. She was sad to see him go, but knew that he had to. With Link back now, she wants only for him to be happy, but, the way things are going, that isn't going to happen.

Mido: The unofficial leader of the Kokiri, Mido has always been a hot-headed jerk, but he hasn't necessarily done it to be a bad person. At his heart, he wants what's best for his people, but is usually unable to act beyond his own selfishness. He sees Link as a threat to his power, his possible relationship to Saria (which she will never let happen), and the respect of his people. He is one of the few Kokiri who still does not believe the stories about the Hero of Time passed on by Princess Zelda.