Author Note: Eclipsing the Cycle is going to be a 50-chapter AU LinkxZelda series. I've really been wanting to return to the Zelda fandom for a while now, so how better than with a Zelink series? This chapter stands as prologue of sorts for the series. The themes used are from the 30kisses community on Livejournal. Each chapter, which shouldn't be more than 1,000 words at best, features some sort of Zelink relationship in a different alternate universe and aren't related unless specifically noted. Enjoy!
Prologue: Waking Dreams
"Please," implored the Princess, the hero's blood slipping through her fingers to pool on the cold marble floor, "please, Goddesses."
She cradled the hero's head in her lap, her brunette locks falling out of place to fall upon his features. She swept a finger across his brow, further smearing blood and sweat, but she didn't care. His eyes, his beautifully clear blue eyes, were squeezed shut, and as he coughed up more blood, his brows furrowed in pain. Zelda choked back another sob, and lifted her eyes to a statue of the three goddesses situated behind the throne.
"Please," she began again, "end this cycle. I cannot bear to see him like this again. Tear us apart if it means his freedom. I will give anything to stop the destruction of Hyrule time and time again." She closed her eyes and pressed a kiss to the fallen hero's brow.
"Fool," growled Ganondorf from the other side of the throne room. He attempted to stand, but the wound in his side forced him to the ground again. With a coughing fit, he rumbled, "The goddesses care nothing for you or your precious hero. Hyrule is merely a playground with which to enact their every whim."
"Please," the Princess whispered against her hero's brow, tears sliding down her cheeks.
Silence engulfed the throne room like a smothering blanket. Zelda watched helplessly as Link became still beneath her hands, his features smoothing as pain left his body. Letting out a sharp cry of grief, Zelda threw her head back and roared into the quiet, "I will do anything!"
A glaring light broke from the mosaic behind the statue of the goddesses to illuminate the entire room, blinding the inhabitants. Ganondorf howled in pain, and Zelda pressed her palms to her eyes to shut out the brightness.
"Princess," crooned an ethereal voice, emanating from what Zelda supposed was the heavens. "We have heard you plea."
Zelda gasped as she opened her eyes, but quickly shut them. The light was overwhelming.
"We will stop this cycle, but at the price of your freedom. The bearers of Courage and Power will have the choice to live as they please, but you will be bound to Hyrule forever."
The light began to grow brighter, if it were even possible. After a sharp intake of breath, the Princess felt a wave of lightheadedness pass over her, and she slumped forward onto the unmoving body of her hero. With the last of her conscious, she barely registered the next words of the goddesses.
"Perhaps the hero will find you in the next life…"