Summary:

The legend is well known throughout the kingdom of Hyrule - when darkness falls across the land, a chosen hero will stand with the power of the goddesses to light the way. The cycle is forever, evil rising, only to fall, then to rise again, but one man wants this change the pattern. Ghirahim has read 'The Book of Ages' and knows the destiny of the Hero of Time, the Legend of Zelda and the mythos surrounding the Triforce. He intends to thwart the forces of good at every turn. First he will choke out the root of the Hero of Time's power - The goddess Farore then he will move on to bigger and better things. Will Link be able to save the world even though the enemy knows every detail of his destiny?

About:

I'm aiming to create a whole new adventure following Link and his journey to save the world from the forces of evil - again. There are a lot of things I like in all the various Zelda games, and a few things I dislike... so I'm going to mix and match. Basically this is a world mash-up (though I'm hoping to do it in a way that if you squint a little it will make sense). Main villians of this story are most likely going to be Ghirahim (since I think he's a hilarious enemy and had lots of potential), maybe some Ganon (though it'll be weird, I'm making him younger), definitely Twinrova. As for other characters... you will see Zelda, Impa... and some other familliar faces. I do have a plot sketched out, it will be very Goddess oriented, as you will see. I don't know who to pair Link up with, or even if there will be a pairing. I'm planning on leaving it open to see fan-favorites as the story progresses - sorta like Ocarina of Time, god that Link gets around. Any other questions just ask!

Hope you enjoy. Please read and review!

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Chapter One

They say that in the ancient times there was a hero who never failed to best the forces of darkness. He was chosen by the Goddess' to be their warrior, and over and over he was reborn anew to play out his destiny as the prophecies foretold. Times of peace were always the product the hero's labor. It is said that when chaos arises, so too does the Hero of Time. It is a circle - a balance that depends on the spirit of the Hero to give us hope when the world needs it most.

"But that doesn't make sense!" Interrupted Malon from her place on the bench. Her forehead was furrowed in confusion and already the other students were groaning at the inevitable discussion that would follow. It was the Harvest Festival that afternoon and everyone wanted out of class as fast as possible. Malon was sure to keep them for an extra five minutes (five minutes that could be spent down by the river or stuffing one's face with candy), if only she'd keep her mouth shut.

The instructor, Saria, smiled at the girl and encouraged Malon to speak, "Please, continue Malon. What part of the story troubles you?" The woman wandered to the chalkboard and started to scrub off the notes she had made about the three goddesses - Farore especially since she was said to be the guardian of the woods. Meanwhile, the other students silently glared as Malon phrased a question that had only a few people interested.

"Chaos can't come first can it? The Hero of Time doesn't just pop into existence - he's there. Wouldn't he be born first? Technically doesn't that mean chaos follows him?"

Saria's gentle expression hardened somewhat as she set the chalk brush down on the window sill. "Interesting theory. It's hard to say what comes first. Perhaps the Goddesses, sensing disorder, create the warrior anew so that he is available in time to overcome such crisis."

"Then wouldn't his birth be a sign of something terrible arriving?" Malon probed further, only to be have the conversation intercepted.

"You can't know who the Hero of Time is at birth; he doesn't really exist as a Hero until he does something Heroic." Another girl from the bench in front commented confidently. "Anyone of us could be the Hero of Time; we just wouldn't know it till something bad happens."

Malon crossed her arms and looked away. "Well, it can't be me. It's always a boy."

A few classmates laughed, whilst others looked around at the boys in the room curiously. A few of them puffed out their chests, but most dived into hazy daydreams about adventure and chests full of rupees. None of them noticed the instructor pause at the window and look casually at the sky. Her face caught the warm mid-morning sun and for a moment she looked ethereal.

"Usually it is a boy... dressed in green, bearing a sacred sword; though only the most ancient manuscripts hold such detailed information. It is not how he appears that labels him as the goddess' chosen, but his heart. He will have the courage to face the most terrifying of trails in order to bring hope to all who have become steeped in darkness. That is what identifies him as Farore's own." The teacher whispered softly, only everyone had heard her and became enraptured with her words.

"You hadn't told us that!" A few chirped; Malon included.

"Because it isn't fact - it is myth." She smiled and strolled to her desk. She shut the tome she had been referencing with a dull thud and slipped it into a nearby bookshelf. "That is all for today, I'm sure you all are itching to see how the Festival preparations are coming. I expect to see the dancers back here at six and the choir at seven. I want a final dress rehearsal before we face your parents."

It was hard to hear her words over the cheering of the restless. It was a stampede out the door, but a few stragglers lagged behind, one of which Saria singled out with a wave of her hand.

"Link! Might I have a word with you before you go?"

A boy stopped in the midst of making his way out into the sunshine. Malon was at his side, looking curious as to what Instructor Saria could possibly want with him. Both of them were expected at home to do their chores before greeting the caravans that would be arriving at noon. All guests that entered the Faron Woods had to be housed at the Inn were the two of them lived and worked with Malon's father Talon. The next few days were going to be very hectic.

Silently, Link smiled reassuringly at Malon and approached the desk with inquisitive eyes. The instructor leaned in and whispered in Link's ear.

"Keep out of trouble tonight." The way Instructor Saria's eyes latched onto his as she spoke those words, sent a shiver up Link's spine. He didn't know how to reply. He was always well behaved, far more then Malon ever was. What could possibly make her say such a thing?

The tension in the room made all of his senses suddenly sharpen in alarm. "I will…" Link fumbled over his words, and in the end he just turned awkwardly and rejoined Malon at the door. Paranoia followed him however; he couldn't shake the feeling that Saria knew something critical that he didn't. The pair wandered off towards a brightly colored cottage in the distance while Saria watched them from the school house window.

Only, she wasn't the only one.

Hours later, Link watched Malon stretch for her upcoming dance from his perch on a comfortable mossy boulder. She was rehearsing in their secret retreat deep in the woods where no one dared to venture, except the occasional traveler. Lush flora coated everything and the smell of a hundred flowers made the pair of them happy and serene. Malon was performing that evening after the acting troupe, which was currently staying at the inn. Every year the same band of gypsies visited for the Harvest, and every year it seemed that they became more rowdy and full of cheer. Their leader, Jonah, was an eccentric old man with a knack for story-telling. All the young boys with adventure in their hearts rejoiced during the festivities whenever Jonah sat at the bonfire and wove tales no woodlander could even dream of dreaming. Link liked him a lot.

Malon slowly started a tapping jig that captured Link's attention. She was the kind of dancer that charmed rather than awed a crowd. There was an underlying naturalness that grounded the performance and entertained rather than overwhelmed. Steps were almost stumbled, movements were hesitant, and spins were wild and full of chaos; but the energy was beautiful, and that alone cast everything else into shadow. It was a performance that was flawed in the way that nature was flawed - only Malon could dance like that, and Link was proud of her for it.

When she finished, Link clapped, but another pair of hands echoing his own made the boy turn around and eye a suddenly appearing gypsy with concern. It was a young man with dark hair and a charismatic smile whom the villagers knew as Silas. He had only been part of the caravan for the last three years. He was likable enough, but stranger than the usual foreigner. What he was doing deep in the woods was a mystery that had Link on edge.

"That was wonderful! You're going to be a hard an act to follow I'm sure."

He approached the grove while Malon tried to get her breath back. "Y-You think so?" She puffed and smiled at Link as if expecting him to say something similar, which he did.

"You get better every time."

She beamed and turned to Silas. There was a lot of color in her cheeks and Link was wondering if it was because of the dance she just did, or Silas' presence. "Are you the act following mine?"

"Unfortunately." He chuckled and ran a hand through his wavy hair. His body language was very confident, which made Link cautious. Everything about him screamed predator. It was obvious that Malon was warming up to him very quickly - and he knew. "A singing routine. I hope you have the time to watch it."

Malon shuffled her feet, "I should. I'm looking forward to it." Awkwardly she rushed over to Link and pulled him from his boulder. "We should be heading back though, the pot-luck is probably being set–up and father is going to need our help. G-Good bye!" She practically dragged Link through the forest, making him nearly trip and land on his face.

"H-Hey, slow down." Link called, tugging his arm away to force the pace to slow down a little. "That was a little odd."

The girl blushed and let out a long stream of air. "Oh, Silas is just so handsome! Don't you think so?"

"…um..." Link rubbed his shoulder and navigated back towards the village, "I don't think Talon would approve."

"Oh Father wouldn't approve of anyone interesting! But Silas... he's so charming… and tall… and mysterious. I wonder if he has someone special. That girl Claudine from their group looks familiar with him." She nattered and started to brush her hair with her fingers like a nervous date. "Link, what do you think?"

Link paused and gave the man some thought.

"I think there is something very wrong with him." The comment came out before he had a chance to curtail it, and he shocked himself with the frankness of it. He would have thought the cause was jealousy, but he knew that he considered Malon nothing more than a sister; they were raised as such after all, since Link's parents disappeared when he was very young.

Malon's eyebrows knitted together and she examined Link with suspicion. "What? How do you mean?"

"What was he doing in our grove? A stroll, that deep in the woods?" Link pondered aloud, getting more serious with every word. "I just get this bad feeling is all..."

"We do it, so why not him? He is a traveler after all; they like to stretch their legs. Let's drop the subject… I don't like thinking ill of our guests." Malon flexed her arms and ran ahead. Link had a feeling that she just didn't like talking negatively about Silas. He was being rather unfair to the man though. Maybe it was just paranoia from his earlier chat with Instructor Saria.

"Come on Link! I'll race you!" Malon called as she turned and slid down a mossy embankment. Link ran after her, his mind trying to find some logical explanation for disliking Silas.