The Lost Woods. That's where I was raised, at least, the first ten years of my life. After leaving the forest I traveled all across the land of Hyrule, even all the way to Termania. I had met so many people and different races, even the princess herself, The Princess of Destiny, Zelda. But it wasn't all fun and games. I faced so many things that I wouldn't even wish on my worst enemy. The world was in a plague of darkness for seven years until the Hero of Time came out of his slumber and brought light to the darkness. The Hero of Time. Me. Link.
From the forest, to the desert. I traveled the world of the dead, to the deepest waters and the highest volcanos. I even destroyed the worst of them all. Ganondorf. And when it was done, when Hyrule knew light and peace once more, The princess herself brought me back to my own time, to live the life and childhood I deserved. She meant well but I wouldn't have changed one thing about it. I had learned so much, grown so courageous. After stepping off the alter of time, my closest friend and companion, Navi, left me. I didn't know why she left, but I knew I had to find her.
Before starting my new journey, there was one thing I needed to know. Did she remember? After a serious case of Deja vu, I found her in her courtyard. Many thoughts ran through my head. Did she remember? Did I even want her to remember? Did our journey across the land go unnoticed by a simple song? But then, she turned around. She remembered! I wasn't the only one to carry this burden of memories. After telling her about Navi's sudden disappearance , she wished me well and returned the Ocarina of Time to me, and told me to never lose faith. The Goddess of Time will always see me when I'm in great peril.
With our goodbyes I set out to go where all Lost things go, the Lost Woods. With my trusty horse, Epona, we set out to find her, to make sure she was ok. Next thing I remember a strange, yet familiar, masked imp was robbing me. I thought I saw Navi in the chaos. No, it couldn't be. Could it? I didn't have time to think about it. I needed to get Epona and the Ocarina back or else I would have nothing left. Nothing.
I had entered another land of Termania. I again had to go to the farthest desert and the deepest waters. The snowiest peak and the most dangerous swamp. I set free four giants, travelled in time more times then I could count and banished another evil, Majora. Becoming another Hero. In another time. Another land. And with nothing to show. My friend was still Lost.
I found my way back to Hyrule and gave up hope to find her. That was a different seven years ago. I am now the fiercest knight of Hyrule. I was givin the highest duty, to protect the Princess herself. It was then I found the real reason she sent me back to my original time. She wanted us to have a real childhood, more importantly, she wanted to share it with me. And we grew close in the past relived seven years, not fighting, but growing, and playing and loving, together. Of course as we grew we had more duties and couldn't see each other everyday. After all she is a queen in training and I'm very busy with my knightly duties.
"Ready to head home, Epona girl?" She whinnied in responce and so I hopped onto the saddle and set her at an easy pace until trees became few and far between and she set forward at a gallop, North to castle town.
The sun was just setting when we rode up the road to the castle. I always thought it to be beautiful in the setting sun. The dimming sun painting the white castle in orange, red, and sometimes purple. I stared up at the natural beauty that the goddesses set on this land for us to enjoy, but I didn't stay long in fear I would be late in meeting with Zelda. We had impromptu dinner together on my days off in the courtyard. It was no easy task. The princess was expected to be in bed straight after dinner and her afternoon bathing, but on days like this she would shoo away her hand maids and sneak out, hidden in a dark cloak and behind a suit of armor in one of the hallways to a secret exit to the courtyard. It was a half hour before she appeared with a basket full of bounty for us to share together. I greeted her with a deep bow.
"Link you know such formalities don't need to be taken when we're here." she placed her hand on my shoulder with a smile.
"Old habits die hard I suppose," I chuckled "But you will be my queen one day and I should practice in case I slip in public." I returned her smile and offered her a seat on the lush green grass, and took the basket from her.
"Some things will just never change with my knight in shining armor." Zelda fake gushed over me, her hands clasped together and under her chin.
"How was your day, Highness?" of course i knew how her day was, she just passed her seventeenth year and her father, or rather his advisors, liked to call it her 'prime courting years.' so she has been seeing different suitors all week. She was a wildfire when she found out.
"Do you really have to ask?" she glared "I had to deal with three more big headed, full of themselves, wannabe kings! They were so stuck up. One of them, Ronaldo you know the Duke of Nelor, he would talk of only himself and the powers he has in this home town. He didn't ask one question to me and he kept calling me Zellie." I let her rant trying to keep my laughter down.
"I rather fancy the name Zellie." I pushed my luck, and failed once I got a swift slap on the shoulder. "O.K. O.K so no 'Zellie.' What's for dinner I'm starved!"
The Princess opened the baskets lid and pulled out an array of foods. There was duck, and fish, bread, some sweet treats and Hyrule's famous bread pudding that was only served on special occasion banquets.
"Bread pudding?" I questioned.
"Father and his advisors think it a special occasion, myself finding a suitor, so we've been having the big banquets all week. I'm rather sick of it, I miss simple dinners with just my father and I." I could feel for her. I've never had a simple dinner with my parents. I was orphaned at a young age, and on my mothers' death bed, she brought me to the Kokori forest. The last safe haven in Hyrule
We ate and I told the Princess about my day.
"I decided to go to the woods and enjoy the peace it gives me. The deku scrubs were especially playful, and Saria and I played her song to all the living things on the forest."
"It's nice to hear Hyrule is enjoying peace again." Zelda sighed contently. I could only agree.
"Who are you seeing tomorrow?" I had forgotten to ask earlier.
"Ruffio of the Southern Isles." she let out a disgruntled noise.
"Would you like a deadly escort for the evening?" I gave her my best brave face to make her laugh, it worked.
"Thank you, but I think I can handle a Prince of Fools on my own."
I helped her pack the plates and waterskin she had packed and lend her a hand up.
"I'm back on duty tomorrow, so I will see you then, Highness." I gave her another deep bow and she retreated back through the secret entrance and I headed back to the barracks. "Goodnight Impa," I couldn't see her, but I knew she was there. She was always there.