Acknowledgements: To give credit where credit is due. This fanfic was inspired by a Youtube video called: Zelda Theory: Link's DARKEST Secret? | Macintyre, by Mecintyre. That said I've diverged from the video in several respects. Obviously I don't own The Legend of Zelda.

Chapter one: To the Past.

Navi was gone.

What seemed like a lifetime together and she just flew away. Link knew she would leave eventually,-she had said that her time outside the forest was limited- but he never thought she just fly off with barely a good bye. And right after his separation from…her.

Since he had first walked into her life, Link had felt a deep connection with Zelda: More than her charm, and intelligence, something inside him simply urged him to follow and look after her. But that was not wise: though she was smart she was only a child, and her plan to defeat Ganonorf backfired. Instead of ensuring he could never enter the sacred realm they opened the gateway for him. Ganondorf gained the Triforce of power and plunged Hyrule into a reign of tyranny the likes of which it had never seen before. As a result many lives were lost, villages were destroyed, and Hyrule was left a shell of its former self.

Link was stripped of his childhood and charged with rectifying the mistake he and Zelda made. After many years he managed to unite the sages and put an end to Ganondorf's reign. But even then the world would not let him rest.

When He was finally reunited with Zelda at the end of the battle she was a shell of the girl he met in the palace garden: wrecked with the guilt of destroying her kingdom. In her misplaced empathy for him she decided to give Link back his childhood. He wanted so badly to tell her no, to stay with her, but the words would not come: He still felt bound to follow her despite knowing she was not as infallible as her charisma suggested. So he let her return him, and now he was once again alone. Both Navi and Zelda had left him. It seemed everyone he valued eventually slipped away.

Walking back from the temple of time and into the center of castle town link was hit with a wave of nostalgia. He had traveled back in time before but never to a time before Ganondorf's raid on the castle. He had forgotten how lively it was before the castle was locked down. Even in the twilight hours the market was packed so thick you had to squeeze between shoppers.

Speaking of twilight Link saw it would be dark soon. There was no time to go to the castle so Link sought out an inn he knew would give cut rates to a kid traveling alone.

…..

As night covered Castle Town Link looked out the window of his cut-rate room. Hyrule Castle was lit up in the distance, just like in his memories—memories which now only he possessed. It was only after having time to think that Link realized the implications of what Zelda had done.

The Hyrule he knew and this Hyrule were effectively two different worlds now. Zelda had split the timeline.

Link shook his head. Did she really think the Gods would allow such a thing with no repercussions? Guilt must have overcome her wisdom. In any case he was now cut off from the world he knew, he was stuck in this world and in the body of a child.

While Link couldn't recommend skipping puberty, losing his adult body and the… abilities… that went with it left him feeling…unarmed so to speak, and disoriented. A child's body was not only weaker, its mind was simpler and his could barely handle the very adult ideas in his head. Perhaps the only thing keeping him sane was the Triforce of courage.

Somehow the Power of the Gods had followed Link from his timeline to this one. That was also a cause of concern, but in the short term it meant he could still bring out his strength and keep his wits about him even in the body of a child, that is as long as he relied on its power, which he didn't like doing, but until he dealt with Ganondorf it was a necessity. AS long as he had the power of the gods and Ganondorf didn't, he was sure he could deal with the sorcerer, even with the body of a child.

Children also need more sleep than adults. Tearing himself from the skyline view Link got into the cheap bed he had been provided. For while he found he couldn't sleep, the ghosts of the showdown with Ganondorf still haunting him, but exhaustion soon took over and dropped him into a feverish sleep.

…..

Link stood outside Castletown. It was dark as night and the rain fell as thunder sounded in the background. The drawbridge came down in front of him and Impa rode by on a white horse with Zelda in tow. Link turned back to the bridge and recoiled in shock as Ganondorf stood before him on a black horse.

"Foolish boy, did you think you could escape fate by meddling with time!? The power of the Gods cannot be circumvented so easily! There will come a day when you and Zelda will pay for your arrogance! "

Ganondorf raised his hand and fired a blast of magic, not like when they first met but one backed with the Triforce of power. The light consumed Link's attempts to block it, burning his flesh.

…..

Link awoke with a scream. Throwing the blanket off himself he prepared for a fight before realizing where he was.

Collecting himself he drew himself out of bed and looked toward the castle. Entering that castle would start everything over again. Link didn't want to do that, but he never believed in procrastinating either.

…..

The castle guards were annoyingly easy to sneak past. It was strange; in Link's memories sneaking past the guards had been quite difficult, now it felt more like a game. He now understood how Ganondorf had so easily overwhelmed the guards that fateful day. Link was pretty sure he could take them as is with his current body. Impa on the other hand was a different matter. Link could already feel eyes on him from atop the walls. Oh, she was good. Not equal to Ganondorf in a one on one fight, but enough to challenge him without the Triforce. Link wondered if she has spotted him the first time he did this was well, and why she didn't stop him. Link hoped she could sense he good intentions, but she could just be looking for an opening. As a force of habit Link didn't show many of those.

After about fifteen minutes of avoiding the guards and being watched by Impa, Link finally managed to get into the inner courtyard. It was exactly as he remembered it with lush gardens and flower beds, surrounded by the castle with large windows and stately décor which could be seen inside. Toward the back of the garden he saw Princess Zelda. Just as in his memories she was trying to peek into her father's court. He had to question Impa's wisdom in letting someone as clearly armed and dangerous as him so close to the royal heir, but decided to count his blessings rather than look up to where she was looking down on him like a mother hawk.

As Link stepped his foot clanked against a rock and Princess Zelda turned to him with a look of surprise. Link was surprised too. That hadn't happened the first time they met. Perhaps history was already diverging in subtle ways. Perhaps they really couldn't alter time without dramatic consequences.

"Who? Who are you? How did you get past the guards?" The Princess asked; shocked that anyone could get so deep into the palace unaccompanied.

"My name is Link," He began. There was no use playing naïve. Child though she was Princess Zelda was still incredibly smart and perceptive. "I come from the forest."

"The forest?!" she half exclaimed. "Then… would you perhaps possess a spiritual stone?"

Ah, it appeared she had the same vision in this timeline as well.

Link shook his head. "I did once but I gave it up a long time ago…" Link had used the spiritual stones to open the door to the sacred realm, dooming his Hyrule to Ganondorf's tyranny.

"But that's…" the princess hesitated; she was not use to her visions failing her.

"We're you thinking you could use the spiritual stones to open the sacred realm?" Link softly accused.

"I thought that…" Zelda began but Link cut her off.

"The man you're looking at is more dangerous and clever than you realize. He's very aware that he lacks the means to open the sacred realm, but he is the king of thieves and if an opportunity presents itself…" Link left the rest unsaid.

Part of him felt bad for being so harsh. After all, when Zelda first proposed it to him he though it sounded like a great idea.

"You should know that on the 3rd of the month of Din, or sometime thereabouts that man will attack the castle with his minions and try to overthrow the royal family. That is the true threat right now."

Zelda's eyes narrowed. "How can you know these things?"

Ah, there it was, she never showed it to him but Link always suspected Zelda had a hidden edge. Zelda was even prepared to use magic on him, though she thought she was concealing her intentions.

Link knew his story was farfetched but he also knew how perceptive Zelda was. He need only prove he had some sort of basis for his claims.

"There are magic's that can have a keen influence in time." He explained.

"What do you mean…. That's?"

Link started softly humming the song of time so only Zelda could hear him.

"Only my father and I know that song… How do you…."

Link grasped her hand revealing the Triforce mark he carried. "You have to trust me. I know the power of the Gods. You can feel it can't you?"

"Is that?!" Zelda couldn't believe what she was seeing

Link nodded.

Zelda turned back to the window.

"Disturbing the flow of time…is quite dangerous. Even amongst the royal family who are descended from the Goddess Hylia it is forbidden."

"The royal family would make exceptions, in some cases." Link replied cryptically. He didn't want to let her know it was all her idea.

Zelda turned back to him. "I see. In that case I must believe you. But what should I do? Father won't listen to my warnings and if that man is allowed to run wild he'll..."

Link put his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. Just let Impa know and prepare yourself. There are a few places I have to go but it shouldn't take long. After that I'll stick close to the castle and watch. Even Ganondorf can't take this castle by himself. He'll try to take it by surprise with his minions. Be vigilant and you and Impa can stop his attack before it starts."

Zelda seemed unsure but she nodded. For now she was confused but at least this way she wouldn't have her innocence shattered like the Zelda in his time.

"Good" Link said. "I have to go now. Ganondorf's magic has already affected the Gorons and Zoras. If no one does anything their societies will fall apart."

"But they're so far away!" Zelda protested. Stay here. Impa can arrange you a room in the castle!"

"They are far away," Link agreed, "But I know ways to travel great distances in an instant. It won't take me more than a few days. And I'm of more use outside the castle anyways. "

"I see…" Zelda sounded disappointed. "Then please take care. Contact me when you return."

Link nodded. "I will, until then be careful and don't like Ganondorf know you're on to him."

"Yes… good bye…"

Link turned towards where he knew Impa was waiting for him. It was always hard parting with Zelda, though it was somewhat easier knowing she was only a child. Granted in real years he wasn't much older, but there was a huge gap in experience between them, that was the only way he was able to dominate the conversation with the frankly smarter girl.

Impa stood near the exit of the court yard. She looked younger than Link remembered, though her gray hair and toughened skin always made it hard to tell her age.

"You're quite a warrior for someone your age." She wryly observed. "But are you sure you know what you're doing?"

"Afraid not, Link said. "But there aren't a lot of good options."

Impa snorted. "The princess trusts you, so I will trust you too."

Link lowered his head in thanks.

"Come, it would be a problem if the soldiers saw you, I will take you by a different root.

After all these years Link had never figured out how the one way passage from the castle was operated. It seemed only Impa new how to work the passage and its secrets. "Lead the way."

Impa led Link through a pathway that opened in the courtyard and led through a drainage pipeline all the way to Hyrule field.

"Please accomplish what you need to and come back quickly, I have a feeling we may need you here."

"Don't worry, I'll feel it if Ganondorf moves early, and I will be there." Link had a connection to the princess, one that had been broken when he went back in time and mended when he met this Zelda. With the songs he knew he could reach Castletown from anywhere in Hyrule.

Impa nodded. "Good luck then." She bowed her head "May the path of the Hero open the way to the Triforce." She said in prayer. Then with a flash she was gone.

"No," Link mumbled. "That was what went wrong in the first place."

I'll try to post new chapters weekly. If you like what you see or even think it needs work please leave me a review.

-Gedaemon