Hey, Guys! This is not only my first fanfiction, but the first thing of mine posted on the web for all to see. Believe me- It took a LOT of encouragement and persuasion to get me to actually do this... (Looking at you, Sarah! :D) And I'm still quite a bit nerveous, so please be gentle with the reveiws!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Legend of Zelda franchise.

Onto the Prologue! :)
-SS

How do you know if your whole life is about to change?
How do you know when everything you know is about to be destroyed?
How do you know?

The answer is sadly simple: You don't.

You don't know if drastic change is just around the corner.
You don't know if there's a secret lingering that could change everything.
You don't know if today is the last day you have on this earth.

You just don't know.

I am just like you.

Which means I didn't know either.

Lightning crackled across the red sky, and cold sheets of rain poured upon the battle-torn Castle Town. The sounds of thunder and war cries filled the air as the castle guards fought valiantly against the servants of darkness attacking them. Frantic villagers ran screaming through the confusion, slipping in the pools of blood and muddy rainfall, desperately trying to escape.

The fighting was the thickest at the entrance to the castle, where a figure dashed through the storm and quickly mounted his horse, slashing enemies as he went. He was a boy of about 17, dressed in the green tunic and hat of the Kokiri, and bearing a shining silver blade. He spurred the horse forward, his blonde hair flying as he raced towards the center of the town. His head swung from side to side, searching for a clear route. Then something caught his eye: a silver-haired Shiekah woman was fighting with her back to him, desperately slashing through the endless rows of dark soldiers.

The boy yanked his horse to a stop, skidding on the slippery streets. "Impa!" he shouted. "I'm alright!" She yelled back without turning around. "Zelda is waiting at the temple! Hurry!" The boy hesitated; worry shining in his blue eyes. "Go, Link!" She screamed. Lightning flashed as she whipped around to meet his eyes, rain streaking through her hair. "Your life is a million times more important than mine! GO! " Link spurred Epona forward, casting a regretful look behind him as he disappeared across the battlefield. Impa slashed another enemy, and stared after the hylian boy. "…Be safe." She whispered, half to herself.

"….and protect the princess."

Link pushed Epona as hard as he dared, constantly casting looks behind him to assure himself that he wasn't being followed. The cries of battle faded as he grew closer to the Temple of Time, his sawing breath and the driving rain loud in the sudden silence. He practically leaped off his horse and sprinted to the entrance to the temple, praying he wasn't too late.

"Zelda!" Link cried as he burst through the doors. For a few heartbeats, only silence greeted his call as the boy blinked leftover raindrops from his eyes. Then a voice called from around the corner. "Link…?" He could hear footsteps echoing as she approached him. The Princess looked frazzled; Muddy water stained her flowing snow-white and rose-pink gown, her long golden hair was hopelessly tangled, and her eyes were red as if she'd been crying. Relief rushed through Link at the sight of her alive; and he let out a long sigh. Zelda gave him a half-hearted smile, and even when she was as shaken as she was, she was still dazzlingly beautiful. Link opened his mouth to say something, but Zelda shook her head. "There isn't time..." she said in a small voice and pulled him gently down the corridor. "Rauru is waiting for us by the Door of Time. He said wouldn't tell me why he summoned us here until you arrived…"

They found The Sage of Light within the sanctuary, standing by the Master sword's empty pedestal. "Thank the Goddesses you're both safe!" Rauru exclaimed when he saw them. His voice flooded with relief, though his expression was still hard. "But Hyrule is not!" Zelda cried desperately. "We need answers before these dark messengers destroy what's left of the kingdom!" Rauru watched her silently, and then began to pace slowly. "You don't think you understand what's going on?" he said, without looking at them. "No, we don't." Link said slowly, fighting to keep calm. Rauru chuckled bitterly, making his way towards a window. "Oh, I think you do… but neither of you are willing to admit it to yourselves."

Link's dread grew as he saw Zelda grow pale and push closer to him. "You don't mean…" Lightning flashed across the blood sky as Rauru turned around. "Yes. I do mean. He's returned. And he's after you. Both of you." Both hylians recoiled in shock, the awful truth dawning upon them. "So He's responsible for this?" Link shouted his anger and hate boiling over. "Yes." Rauru replied calmly. "But you can't let your hate for your enemies overshadow your responsibility to protect your people and this kingdom." Link forced his anger down quickly. "What….do you propose we do?"

"You must stay here. It is the last safe place left. You must protect your kingdom by protecting yourself." Zelda pushed forward, hot tears streaming down her porcelain face. "Kingdom? What kingdom? If we don't do something, there will be no kingdom left to-" "NO!" Rauru interrupted thunderously. "You are not listening! It has been foretold that tonight- yes tonight- the kingdom of Hyrule will fall- and both of you will fall along with it!"

The sanctuary echoed with the Sage's speech. Rauru felt a small pang of guilt at the two young, shocked and fearful faces staring back at him, but he was careful not to show it. After several heartbeats, the Sage let out a long sigh. "Just stay calm, and try to entertain my idea, understand?" after a moment's hesitation, both Link and Zelda nodded, eyes downcast.

Rauru began pacing again, pausing every few moments to glance out the window. "My idea is that we shall put the Master Sword to sleep with the Ocarina of Time- before Hyrule falls tonight- and close the Door of Time. Your time may have ended, but not your legacy." Link narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

"Your memories and powers will be preserved, sealed away until the next two worthy heroes are born."

The boy nodded slowly, eyebrows knitting themselves together. "So… we will be reincarnated…?" Zelda looked up at her hero questioningly. "…Yes. Your spirits will meet again in another lifetime, and, as before; will work together to seal the darkness that threatens this holy land." Rauru stated. "I may be old, but I still have some power left. I can place a spell upon both of you that will ensure that in ten generations, your incarnations will find their way back to Hyrule, and reclaim what is rightfully theirs. I will teach them in your ways, and help them to defeat the King of Evil as you once did." The Sage paused, letting his words hang in the air for a moment.

Link stepped forward, his eyes glistening with sadness and confusion. "But why this… complication?" he asked, running his fingers through his rain-soaked hair. "Our combined power was enough to seal Ganon away last time, so why can't we-"

"You underestimate the evil you are up against, hero." The Sage said unemotionally. "The Triforces of Wisdom and Courage need… time to regain their power. What light they posses now is… not enough."

Link and Zelda bowed their heads. Rauru stepped forward and placed a palm on both of their foreheads in turn, his eyes closed in concentration. There was a brilliant flash of warm light, a bright contrast to the battle that raged not a mile away; and Rauru vanished, leaving the sanctuary eerily silent.

"So…" Zelda whispered, her small voice echoing in the silence. "…now?" she pulled close to Link, tears still glistening in her eyes. He smiled sadly and squeezed her hand. "Now."

The Princess pulled away from the Hero, the Ocarina of Time in her hands. Link stepped past her and drew the Master Sword. Raindrops slid down its polished surface like tears.

It was too symbolic.

His own sad reflection shone silver within the sacred weapon. Determined not to show any tears, Link swallowed the hard lump in his throat and slipped the blade into its pedestal for the last time.

Princess and Hero departed the sanctuary, standing before the opened Door of Time. Zelda stood facing the door, and put the sacred Ocarina to her lips. An aching sadness filled the halls as she played, Link's mood dropping with every melancholic note. When her song was through, The Princess placed the Ocarina on its pedestal and watched as the gigantic stone doors rumbled shut.

Only when they locked did Zelda break down sobbing, her cries echoing through the Temple. She fell into Link's arms and he held her tightly, tears of his own slipping down his cheeks.

Both of them knew that this would be their last time together.

Tremendous booms of thunder rocked the Temple, sending large chunks of the stone ceiling crashing to the floor. Zelda only clung to the Hero tighter, knowing that this was the end. A deafening crash filled the air as the Temple doors burst open, releasing a huge wave of dark power. It crashed into the two hylians with a tremendous force- - Link clasped Zelda's hand as he felt the shadow magic latch onto his life force. She looked up at him weakly, barely able to smile.

Even then- so close to death- she was beautiful. Link knew that this was it- he would never see her again. With the last ounce of energy he had, he put his feelings into three slow, passionate, hopelessly true words. Zelda just smiled and laid her head on his chest. The darkness swirled around them, slashing at the light of the hylians… tearing at their pure lives…

…Until there was nothing left. And just before it ended, Link heard Zelda's small whisper in his ear.

"I love you too."

The Land of Hyrule cried out in Agony that night. Not for centuries would it again hold the pure light of the Princess of Wisdom and the Hero of Courage. It seemed that the land had lost all motivation- except for the small, flickering light of hope that was Rauru's Promise. Forever the people would await salvation- shelter from the wrath of the King of Evil….

And that salvation would come exactly ten generations later- in the form of two heroes that would once again fight to regain the light of Hyrule, to avenge the death of their ancestors, and to follow the path that, before now, was thought to be only a legend.

The Legend, that is, of Zelda.

So what do you think? Good? :) I'll admit that I'm a little bit of a slow writer, so I unfortunately won't be like some of the wonderful authors out there going with a daily update. The first few chapters will come fast, but only because they're already written.

Thanks for taking the time to read!
Hope to see y'all next time! :D