The Legend of Zelda: The Last Light
Chapter 0: Prelude
For many centuries, the fate of the Hero have been sealed. Every 100 years, a new hero must take a new task at hand and prove his worth through dangerous terrains, temples and collect precious gems in order to unlock the Master Sword, which is located in the Holy Temple of Time. However, with each new century, the growing menace of Ganon was once again showering its hate with fear and chaos.
The fate of the Hero were created by the powerful sages who had sealed Ganon despite Link's failure and death amidst their final battle in a time long gone. The tradition was created in order to unite the villages with the Hyrule Kingdom, which created a cycle in which a new hero would be chosen every 100 years from a different village. The hero would have a ceremony and be sent to the castle to be given the traditional mission of the Master Sword. Then he would go towards the Sheikans for training hidden near Death Mountain to prepare for the task. It has gone unchanged for a millennia.
However, as his body's slain, his spirit lives on.
No one knows when he will return.
Totem Village – Lost Woods
In the Lost Woods near Totem Village, an eager boy sat alongside many fairies and another girl in a circle on leveled ground. The ruins surrounding them bared the remnants of the ancient and extinct race of Kokiris, with its decayed temples and grassy overgrowth. The boy held his bag of herbs tightly and leaned against a tree so he would feel more comfortable. As he sat, he took out a worn out leather book from his sack. The fairies surrounding him happily flew around him to get a glimpse at another marvel; another book which can take them to another world and adventure outside the forest.
The boy hustled and opened the book slowly.
"What are we going to read about, Link?" asked one of the fairies.
"The History of Hyrule".
Link opened the page and showed the pictures to the fairies. The girl next to him stared at the pages, which had long been worn out from use. Her long and delicate fingers flipped through each page and looked at the illustrations that showed many different environments, villages and cultures. Some showed flowing water while others showed sinister beasts and monsters. After skimming through the book, she returned the book to Link and asked him to read it. The fairies followed suit.
"Read it Link!"
"We want to know what is going on out there!"
Link smirked and laughed, "Why wouldn't I?"
He flipped the book over and turned to the first page…
The forest had just started to turn crimson, with many shadows and leaves crackling among itself. The sun had just started to set. Link's voice echoed near the Kokiri ruins as he was finishing up the book. He yawned and looked around. It was getting late and he had to leave.
He had to work tomorrow and prepare for the upcoming Mask Festival.
Link quickly shut the book. The fairies who were listening cried out in shock.
"Hey! You were almost done reading it! Why didn't you just finish it for us?!"
"Sorry, I have to go. My parents would be furious with me again".
The girl giggled and nodded. While she was listening to Link's words, the forest had gleamed with bright lights in excitement. She wanted to get out of the forest someday. Whenever she had the chance, the short-haired girl would listen to his tales of wonder and excitement of the world outside the forest.
Link sighed heavily, "Saria, I have to go. See you tomorrow!"
He quickly packed up his sack of herbs and brown bag. As the boy trotted towards the banks of the forest, another light darted towards him.
It was Nikki, Link's personal fairy friend and one of the few to ever leave the forest unharmed.
Link remarked, "Seems like you want to come back home with me tonight".
The luminous yellow fairy flew over towards him and exclaimed, "Of course, Link! Don't you have to prepare for the Mask Festival? Your brother is coming to visit you as well and it's been years since you last saw him."
The fair-haired Hylian shrugged and began to walk towards his home, a generational family-owned potion shop, which were near the hills that lead to the Lost Woods. The family's symbol were displayed near the doors because of their status as the well-known potion makers in Totem Village. A large wooden mask of a mysterious red bird hung above the main door, embellished with the family name Menire.
As the sunset slowly turned into dusk, the heavy darkness was filled with many small lanterns and candle lights from the village. An icy breeze flew into the forest and rustled a windy howl. Link held on to his short ponytail tightly and ran towards the main door. Nikki hastily followed through.
Standing near the door, he held his breath and turned the knob.
Link bellowed, "I'm back!"
"Did you stay up late in the forest again, son?"
Link's father was sitting on the table that near to the kitchen, which was wafting with the aroma of delicious food. His mother was cooking dinner, but this time adding another special dish to celebrate the upcoming Mask Festival. Link went and hung up his ruffled green coat and red scarf. He took out his bag full of herbs and emptied them into one of the family's bulky potion jars that were stacked near the kitchen shelf. Then he sat down on the table.
Link swiftly answered, "Well, I already completed my errands today, and the Mask Festival is starting soon. I do need some free time once in a while, Father".
Avoiding eye contact with his father, he felt guilty and ashamed for staying in the forest for so long. The risks that he faced would have been dangerous to the other villagers, who were terrified of the Lost Woods for its numerous disappearances that happened over the centuries. The herbs that he had collected with Saria and the fairies had helped him bond with the forest as well as helped with his apprenticeship duties in the potion shop.
After all, the Lost Woods was also his second home.
As the outdoors gleamed with fireflies and insects, the potion family's son stared outside his room in the dark. The atmosphere shone like twilight with little lights flickering outside his room and floated around like lanterns. Link's lamp blazed crimson, with its oil slowly dying down. Sitting next to his bed, Nikki lay down on a cover of blankets, with her wings glowing faintly in the dark.
Link turned over to the side of the bed to face Nikki and thought about the upcoming Mask Festival and his brother's initiated visit. His lack of communication over the years from the past three years have caused family tensions, with stricter expectations in the household. Leaning over to the side, Link faced towards the window and observed the empty bed above him, which had previously been his brother's.
Link closed his eyes and whispered, "Nikki, what am I doing with my life?"
Nikki strolled a bit on the blanket and faintly smiled, "I can't answer that question, that's up to you".
He quickly muttered, "My brother joined the army and is coming back for the Hero Ceremony, but what have I done? All I did is dream about the outside world and lazily read books!"
But the tired fairy had not heard him, and was already asleep.
Link sighed and thought to himself, If only I can persuade Father to let me wander outside the village…
By the time the boy had gone to sleep, the crickets had already stopped chirping.