I don't own Legend of Zelda in any way, shape, or form. (Aside from copies of various games)
In the land of Hyrule there echoes numerous legends. Legends of a hero blessed by the goddess Farore, yet there is no record of what happens after the heroes finish their journeys. Some say the Heroes become Hylian Knights, others say they fade into obscurity, still others say they die once the journeys end. But none are the case in the Woods of Faron lies a shrine that none know of, this shrine appears only for the chosen hero once his journey ends.
Riding on Epona, Link is still thinking back to Midna's departure wondering if he will actually see her again. Suddenly Epona whinnies loudly, snapping Link out of his reverie. Patting her side Link asks, "What is it girl?" Epona tosses her head toward the golden colored wolf sitting in front of a wall, Link dismounts and approaches the wolf shocked as he knows that it is actually the Hero's Shade, the very same that taught him his techniques, Link approaches and the wolf pounces. Coming to Link asks, "Hero's Shade I thought you had nothing left to teach me?" The shade replies, "Yes, it's true. But it is time to show you the Heroes of Hyrule's past, I will guide you to the Hero's Shrine."
Link wakes back up and follows the Hero's Shade who returned to a golden wolf. After climbing some vines and swimming across a river the shade stopped in front of a wall, Link approached ready to pull out a bomb but turns out he didn't need to as the wall faded from existence revealing a tunnel. Link followed it with the Hero's Shade, back in his human form, walking along side him.
At the end of the tunnel Link gasped at the shrine that looked more like a manor, the Hero's Shade said, "This shrine holds the knowledge, memories, and equipment of the previous heroes." Link asked, "Why did you bring me here?" The shade said, "Because after each hero's journey ends they are guided here by an unidentifiable power, in your case I was the guide. As your journey has ended you were called here to pass your knowledge, memories, and equipment to the next hero. Who will awaken when a great evil rises to take Hyrule." Link was unsure what he was supposed to do, but then the Triforce on his left hand began resonating and a chest appeared in an alcove marked by a depiction of the Fused Shadow that Midna always wore. Link saw that the chest was empty and had spaces for his equipment, including his bottles and fishing rod, Link asked, "Will I need to leave a bottle of oil for my lantern?" The shade said, "No the oil in your lantern will be preserved."
Link nodded and noticed there was no space for his horse call yet there was for the dark relic he used to transform into a wolf unwrapping it from the cloth he placed it in its space followed by his slingshot, fishing rod, lantern, gale boomerang, iron boots, bow, quiver, bomb bags filled with normal bombs, water bombs and bomblings, hawkeye, clawshots, spinner, ball and chain, dominion rod, Zora armor, magic armor and bottles. The shade then said, "Once you get back to your village I will take back the hero's clothes." Link asked, "How do you know of this shrine?" The shade said, "Because I was once guided here." Pulling off his helmet the Hero's Shade said, "In life I was the legendary Hero of Time, the reason I could not teach my skills to anyone was simply I didn't learn them until after my journey ended, once a hero leaves the shrine they lose memory of it existing." Link was then told the stories of the previous heroes and he told his. Much later he left the shrine and returned to Ordon Village and his story became legend.
Centuries passed, mountains rose and crumbled. In time a new Hyrule rose, this one encompassed the lands of the previous heroes. At the castle two kids are playing as the caretaker, Impa, watches with a soft smile, these are Link and Zelda and they're the best of friends. Both love the stories of the heroes, Link's favorite is the Legend of the Twilight Princess and Zelda's is the Legend of the Wind Waker, both agree that Ruto from the Legend of the Ocarina of Time was creepy while Navi was a bit annoying and the Legend of Majora's Mask is the most unsettling. After lunch Link said, "I'll see you tomorrow Zelda." Zelda said, "Bye Link." Impa was thinking, 'Link's a good kid, shame that he has no family left since his uncle died a few years ago. Poor kid had to grow up faster than most' As Link left he picked up his sword and shield that his uncle gave him before he died, Link then went hunting for his dinner.
On his way he came across a trio of sisters outside the forest, approaching he heard them crying and asked, "What's wrong?" The three turned and the eldest said, "Our horse Epona ran into the forest." The middle said, "Something spooked her and she ran off." And the youngest said, "We want to find her but there are monsters in there." Link said, "I'll find your horse for you, I was going into the forest to hunt for my dinner so I might find Epona as well." The eldest said, "Oh thank you, I'm Liana, these are my sisters Melia, and Theresa. We live at Lomadon Ranch." Link said, "I'm Link, when you get home could you tell your dad I'll deliver his tools in a couple days?" Theresa said, "Sure Link, but can't you deliver them tomorrow?" Link shook his head, "No, they won't be finished by then."
He then entered the forest and thought, 'Why do I feel a connection to the name 'Epona'? I mean sure it was the name of the hero of time, and the hero of twilight's horse. But I couldn't be the next of Hyrule's legendary heroes... Could I? Nah, the only things I have in common with them is my prowess with a sword and my friendship with Zelda, those and the ease I can move large blocks like the ones in those puzzles.' He then heard an eerie tune that he somehow recognized, ignoring it for the moment he killed a boar and stored it in his magic pack then followed the tune and found a beautiful brown pony that he realized was Epona that the Lomadon sisters said ran off, Link carefully approached and said in a soothing voice, "Easy there, I won't hurt you. I know the hero of time and the hero of twilight had horses named Epona but you are a much more beautiful horse than those from the legends." The pony Epona sniffed Link's hand and leaned into his touch.
Just then a girl with green hair and a tunic appeared, Link subconsciously gripped his sword and asked, "Who are you?" The girl giggled, and said, "I am the Forest Sage, Saria." Link asked, "Sa-ri-a? Why does it feel like I should know you?" Saria looked him over and said, "You remind me so much of someone I used to know." She then disappeared, Link stood confused for a moment then said, "Alright Epona, let's get you back home." Epona whinnies in agreement and, with his hand on her side Link lead Epona back out to Liana, Melia, and Theresa, Melia asked, "How'd you get her to not run off?"
Link shrugged, "I'm not entirely sure I just spoke softly and she calmed down." Then the sisters took Epona back to the ranch, that night as his dinner was cooking Link thought, 'Things are getting weird, as Impa was telling us the stories of Hyrule's heroes it felt like I lived through it, and if I'm right Zelda felt the same. Then there was the sisters from Lomadon Ranch with Epona and I can't help but draw parallels between Liana and Illia from the Twilight Princess legend, Theresa and Creamia from the Majora's Mask legend, and Melia and Malon from the Ocarina of Time legend. And finally I met the Forest Sage that the Hero of Time awakened but it felt I knew her once. Oh well, my dinner's almost finished.'
As Link was getting ready for bed he looked out his window and saw the twilight fading to night and he remembered what the Hero of Twilight was told by his mentor Rusl before his journey began, 'Do you ever feel a strange sadness as dusk falls? They say it's the only time when our world intersects with theirs... The only time we can feel the lingering regrets of spirits who have left our world. That is why loneliness always pervades the hour of twilight' Link then unconsciously wondered what Midna was up to, the thought startled him as while he heard the story he never before felt a greater connection to Midna. As Link slept he dreamt of a dark mist seeping from various areas of Hyrule that formed into various shadows, Link bolted upright out of bed in a cold sweat only to have to shield his eyes from the rising sun.
Link fixed himself some breakfast from the leftovers of the boar and the eggs he gathered the other day, he then headed to the castle for his lessons on magic with Impa and Zelda. Inside as they waited for Impa to prepare the lesson Zelda asked, "What'd you do after you left?" Link said, "Well, before I went into the forest I met Ross's daughters Liana, Theresa, and Melia who's horse ran into the forest but get this, the horse was named 'Epona' like in the legends." Zelda grew wide-eyed, "Wow!" Link said, "Yeah, and strangely I felt a connection to Epona's name and the idea crossed my mind that I could be the next 'hero of legend' but that's ridiculous I mean the only things I have in common with them are my sword skills, my friendship with you, and the ease that I can move those huge blocks from the stories."
Zelda said, "Oh yeah, from when I trapped myself accidentally you pushed that block onto the switch." Link nodded and continued, "Anyway, after I had killed my dinner I found Epona with help from the song the Forest Sage taught the Hero of Time then I met the Forest Sage, I think her name was Saria, and she said I remind her of the Hero of Time." Zelda said, "Wow, that's crazy." Link replied, "Yeah, but that's not all as I was waiting for my dinner to cook the Lomadon sisters reminded me of Illia, Creamia, and Malon from the legends. Then as I was getting ready for bed I felt a greater connection to Midna from the legend." Zelda said, "Now that I think about it you're right. The Lomadon sisters are extremely similar to Illia, Cremia, and Malon." Link nodded and said, "Yeah."
Then asked, "Zelda? Did it feel like you lived through the legends Impa has told us?" Zelda asked, "You too?" Link nodded and was about to continue when Impa returned, slightly surprised they weren't running around. She then whistled to them and began to teach them a spell that could create a campfire.
A/N: I wanted to do something like this for awhile, and since I want to clear out some document space now's the perfect time to publish this. Next Link will tell Zelda of his hunch and I'll go from there.