The Legend of Zelda: The Chain of Hylia Chapter 1, a legend of zelda fanfic

"Have you ever sat back and wondered about the power of a name?"

Link looked at the princess quizzically.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm serious."

"I'm not sure I understand, m'lady."

"Always so formal. You don't always have to stand on ceremony with me, Link, especially when it's just the two of us."

"As you wish, my pr- Zelda. Still, I'm not sure I understand your question."

"Well… Do you ever wonder why, in Hyrule's long and storied history, no one has ever thought to change the name of the princess? I'm a descendent of the first princess, whose name was Zelda, and every princess before me has been named Zelda. Do you think there's power in that name? Or is it simply tradition?"

"People are not usually concerned with what I think, princess… Zelda, I mean."

"You're terrible at this. But what about you? You're the descendent of the Hero, are you not? And named Link, just as every Hero before you has been named Link. Is there power in that name? Or is this simply something we do, not really knowing why?"

"I -"

"Do people expect great things from us because of our namesake? Are you meant to be a hero once more? Am I meant to keep Hyrule in a golden age of peace?"

"Your wisdom belies your age, your grace, but perhaps I am the wrong person to consult on matters such as these. I am simply the captain of the guard; I fear my wisdom is limited to using a pointy object to stab or shoot. Perhaps I should fetch one of your advisors…"

"No, Link. I want to talk to YOU - Not Link, the captain of the guard. I want to talk to my friend. For Farore's sake, we grew up together, Link, and we never worried about all the ceremony or politics of royalty until recently. Can you talk to me as a friend? Can you talk to me without worrying about my title?"

"Forgive me… Zelda. What's really bothering you?"

"Politics. Economy. Social interactions. Ceremony. Hidden agendas. That is all I have known since I was brought into the castle. My advisors are only concerned with the political side of running a kingdom. But what about the personal side? Answer this question for me, Link: WHO am I supposed to be? Can I live up to the responsibility of being the ruler of Hyrule? I am one person in charge of an entire kingdom. Can I make the right decisions? And for that matter, who are YOU going to be? Don't try to be coy, Link, I know you're not an idiot. Someone named Link doesn't just live a normal life like everyone else - every time a Link has been born, there's been a reason to need one. And it's that thought that scares me the most, Link. What will become of us? What will become of you? What if Ganon comes back, or any of the other countless evils from before? WHAT IF I CAN'T LIVE UP TO MY HERITAGE?!"

Link stood in the doorway, silently staring at the princess. He was stunned. He had no idea this is why he had been summoned, and had barely made it through the door before the princess had begun to open up to him. He had never seen the princess overwhelmed so, and he wasn't sure what he could do to help ease her mind. But the princess needed him, so he would do everything he could to help her. He thought for what seemed like an eternity before an idea finally manifested itself. Slowly he unlatched his shield from his back, letting the polished silver point fall to the floor. He then unbuckled the scabbard for his sword and let it fall next to the shield where it lay. He would not approach the princess as a warrior here - instead as a friend.

"Come on. Let's take a walk."

The two childhood friends walked through the castle, smiling at the strong grey walls that stood as a constant reminder of stability amidst Hyrule's chaotic past. They waved at commoners as they passed, dodging children as they played and giving affirming smiles to the shopkeepers in the marketplace. As they crossed the castle's heavy wooden gates, the beauty of Hyrule Field lay before them. The sun was at its peak and lit the rolling emerald hills with almost a divine light. They could see the cuccos playing in the distance at the banks of Lake made their way westward toward Lake Hylia to a particular hill, one of the tallest in the field, where they used to sit and talk and watch the clouds pass by.

Link and Zelda sat down on top of the hill and looked over the grassy knolls that made up Hyrule Field. As Link sat down, he pulled out a lyre.

"Honestly, Link, could you be more predictable? A warrior with a sword, a shield, and a song. I suppose you're going to sing me a lullaby now?"

Link chuckled as he tuned his lyre. "What's your favorite story? Of the heroes, I mean."

"Hmm… Oh, I love the one about the transformed princess! That one just feels so romantic."

"Ah, that's a great one."

Link began to play his lyre, picking a melancholy tune dark as night as he began to sing to Princess Zelda the tale of the Hero Chosen by the Gods:

Once upon a peaceful morning wi - thin Hyrule's great land
A budding young hero adorned in green raced through tracks of sand;
Assigned a task to deliver treasure to the great throne.
Our hero, after saving a child, gets ambushed while riding alone.
Awakened in the Spirit Spring, young Link finds a wall of grey;
Imprisoned inside and transformed, where night has been made of day.

The Hero Chosen by the Gods to save Hyrule from twilight;
With padded foot in darkness, with leather boot in light
Will save the twilight princess and the ruler of this land
With shadow jewels, a sword of light, and a glow upon his hand.

As Link continued to play, his accompaniment on the lyre changed from a dreary dirge to an adventurous anthem:

Fair princess of light, to save another, gave of her own life;
So noble heroes of dark and light traverse the kingdom of strife.
Into the desert Gerudo land they search for a looking glass,
As one thought dead uses his power the sages to harass.
He shatters and scatters the mirror, his vict'ry all but won;
But the Hero Chosen by the Gods has more courage than anyone.

Now reaching the climax of the tune, Link's lyre moved into a strong major tone, highlighting a heroic ballad recounting the glory of victory:

Now battling the Lord of Twilight, the mirror now restored,
The Hero defeats the evil Zant with his legendary sword.
Now on to battle Ganondorf with glowing hand of power,
The gods' hero defeats great evil in this, his finest hour.
Order restored and the princess saved, the hero disappears
Leaving his sword and his legend, which we remember through the years.

Zelda was enamored by Link's song, and when he finished, she giggled and clapped with the giddiness of a young girl dreaming of her hero come to save her. "Bravissimo! I love that story!" she squealed with glee. "And might I add, you sang beautifully, maestro."

A slight blush appeared on Link's cheeks and he smiled. "Thank you. I had hoped to raise your spirits."

"If only a short distraction, it was certainly a welcome one. It reminded me of when we were kids, sitting on this very hill and telling each other our favorite stories of Hyrule until sunset."

"And look now, princess, the sun begins to set."

Together they sat and watched the sky burst with pinks, purples, and oranges as the sun melted into the horizon. They marveled at the growing darkness of the night sky and the appearance of the first few stars. And after trying to spot a few constellations, even though they only really knew of the Hero's Belt, they stood and gazed wistfully at the sky, preparing to take the long walk back to the glowing castle.

"I fear you put too much pressure on yourself, my princess," Link said soberly as he continued to gaze at the heavens. "Your greatest power is not your name, it is your memory. Remembering the stories like the one I sang to you, in which the princess sacrificed everything she could for her people; remembering times like these, when you comfort and are comforted. These are the things that will make you a great princess - you will strive to comfort others, including your subjects. You will keep the kingdom at peace because you realize that the kingdom is not a thing: it is people. Try not to trouble yourself with silly things other people will fight over, like politics. Simply do what is right: comfort the kingdom."

"I covet your advice, captain. Thank you. It is truly by accepting the wisdom of others that one can truly become wise. And Link?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for your friendship."

"Of course, my princess."

They had no awkward silences nor any drawn out gazes into each other's eyes; simply an honest smile as they turned back towards the castle. They hadn't made it more than a few steps, however, when Link suddenly stopped.

"I must apologize, princess. I don't quite feel myself."

"Are you well?"

"Yes, I think so, I likely just - ARGH!"

Suddenly Link collapsed and fell petrified onto the grass. He hit the slope of the hill with an audible thud and rolled chaotically down the hill until coming to a rest at the base. Zelda trailed after him, going as quickly yet carefully as she could. When she reached the base of the hill, she dropped to her knees and huddled over Link.

"Link! Are you alright?"

"My arm is burning - it feels like it's on fire!"

"I should fetch a healer! I promise I'll be right -" Zelda's voice trailed off as she gazed down at Link's left arm. She now saw why his arm was burning, but she could not believe her eyes. Link met her gaze, and followed it down his arm.

There, on the back of Link's left hand, had appeared a triangle, glowing bright with a yellow light.

The goddesses had awakened the Triforce within Link.