For those who have enjoyed my video game-related fanfics, here's another one you might enjoy that's based on the Legend of Zelda franchise with some elements of Bioshock: Infinite thrown in the mix. For those who are new to my work, I hope you enjoy what I have to offer! Now for all you Zelda fans out there, this story is a rough sequel to Twilight Princess that also borrows characters and elements from Majora's Mask, Skyward Sword, Ocarina of Time, and Hyrule Warriors. Some weapons and items will be used from those games as well, but I'll also be throwing in some original ones as well. So without further ado, I give you Legend of Zelda: The Infinity Gauntlet a steampunk Zelda adventure I'm sure you'll all love and enjoy!

Chapter 1: Clocktown

It was a quiet day on Romani Ranch, like always. The goats were grazing, the Cuccos were clucking pleasantly, and the horses roamed the open fields happily. In the stables, a young woman wearing a white blouse, a yellow shawl, and a pink skirt was carrying a pail full of freshly squeezed goat-milk when she passed an adolescent female horse that was being brushed by a teenage boy. He had striking blue eyes, pointy ears, short blond hair, and wore a plain white shirt, brown trousers, worn-down shoes, and a green neckerchief.

"I finished milking the goats, Link," said the young woman. "How's Epona doing?"

In response, the boy named Link smiled.

"I take it that she's fine," the young woman said cocking her head sideways.

Link nodded as he continued brushing the horse which whinnied in response.

"She really likes you," the young woman responded. "But won't let anyone else handle her."

"Marlene!" An angry voice shouted.

The young woman turned toward the entrance to the stable and saw an angry-looking man approaching. He was middle-aged and skinny, wearing blue overalls and brown boots and his thick eyebrows were furrowed underneath a thin patch of brown hair.

"What is it, Uncle Ivo?" Asked the young woman named Marlene.

"Where is that lazy brother of mine, Taren?" The skinny man said looking around until he noticed Link. "How much longer are you planning to brush that horse, boy?"

Link held up five fingers.

The man named Ivo grumbled. "Sometimes I wish you could just speak, Link!"

"He can't, Uncle," Marlene said defensively. "He's mute."

"Sure he is," Ivo said folding his arms. "I bet he just doesn't want to talk."

Link frowned and continued brushing Epona.

"Hey, I'm still talking, boy!" Ivo snapped, making a sudden movement towards Link that caused his leg to brush against Marlene's pail causing it to spill its contents. When Ivo noticed stains on his pant-legs, he glared at Marlene and said, "Watch where you put that pail, Marlene!"

"I'm sorry, Uncle, I didn't mean to," Marlene said apologetically. "And I think my father's sleeping in the Cucco loft."

"Again?" Ivo looked toward a stairway at the back of the stables and marched toward it. "He needs to be running the ranch, not dozing like a pig!"

When Ivo was out of ear-shot, Marlene sighed. "I know my Uncle works hard, but sometimes he can be very mean."

Link nodded in approval.

"I'll talk to my father about this," Marlene said with determination. "Ivo had no right to say those things to you."

###

Later, while Link was giving Epona her daily ride Marlene was heading toward the gate that marked the entrance to the Romani Ranch. Curious, Link lightly kicked Epona's sides and trotted over to Marlene. In her hands she carried a basket full of milk bottles and cheese.

"I'm heading to Clocktown to deliver some of our goat-milk and cheese to the Milk Bar. Want to come along?"

Link nodded and padded the back of his saddle.

Realizing the indication, Marlene helped herself up to sit behind Link while he held the basket. Holding Link's waist tightly, Marlene held on as he cried out and Epona leapt over the ranch gate without too much difficulty. From there, they traveled along Milk Road through the forest until an open field appeared before them. Beyond that, the walls of Clocktown were visible. As Link rode Epona across Termina Field, he thought he saw another horse riding parallel to them with two cloaked figures on its back. He couldn't see their faces clearly, but kept an eye on them until they vanished over a hill.

"What's wrong, Link?" Marlene asked, noticing Link's tense shoulders as they approached the entrance to Clocktown.

Link shook his head and got off Epona.

"Are you sure nothing's wrong?" Marlene insisted, following Link off the horse.

Link nodded and gave Marlene her basket.

"I won't take too long," Marlene said heading into the entrance. "You can wander around Clocktown if you want. Just meet up with me at the entrance around noon, okay?"

Again, Link nodded and guided Epona to some stables just inside the walls of Clocktown. It was a bustling place filled with shops, street vendors, markets, and at the center stood a tall Clocktower with a large clock on it and a hidden observatory on the roof. Then just as Link finished tying Epona to the post, he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He looked behind him, and saw the two cloaked figures that were riding on the horse he saw earlier. Up close, he could see one was tall wearing a dark cloak while the other was shorter wearing a bright-blue cloak.

"Excuse me," asked the figure in the bright-blue cloak who sounded female. "Are you Link?"

Cautiously, Link nodded.

"We need you to come with us," the dark-cloaked figure said, also female but slightly deeper. "It's very urgent."

Link made no indication to move.

"Didn't you hear what we said?" asked the dark-cloaked figure impatiently. "Are you deaf or something?"

"No, Impa, I don't think he is," said the blue-cloaked figure defensively. She then turned to Link and said, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're a mute, right?"

Reluctantly, Link nodded.

"Just like the others," the blue-cloaked figure murmured out loud. "He's definitely the one."

"Based on whether he can speak or not? I knew he was Hylian right away based on his hair and eyes," responded the dark-cloaked figure who was apparently named Impa.

Link's eyes widened and then he made a series of hand gestures.

"You don't know what a Hylian is?" Impa said, sounding surprised. "They're from the neighboring Kingdom of Hyrule, which is where we're from."

"We need your help," the blue-cloaked figure said removing her hood. Underneath the hood, she was a beautiful young woman with long blue hair tied back in a ponytail with a fair complexion and deep purple eyes. "The Kingdoms of Hyrule and Termina are in danger, and you're the only one who can stop this threat for you are—

"Hey," Marlene said appearing behind the two cloaked figures looking confused. "What's going on? Are you bothering Link?"

"We weren't bothering him," Impa said, turning away.

"Yeah, we were just leaving," the blue-cloaked figure replied, waving back as she followed Impa down the street. "Good day!"

"What were they asking you about?" Marlene asked turning to Link.

Link shrugged in response.

"They don't look like they're from around here," Marlene said nervously. "Let's go home."

To be continued…