Author's note: Here is the first chapter after the prologue. I'm so-o-o-o-o happy you guys liked the prologue! This is my first fan fiction to put on this website, so I'm really happy! (Replies to reviews at the end of the chapter)

The Hero that Holds my Hope: Another Journey Over

For once, the land was peaceful, despite the blood that had been stained on it when Ganondorf ruled. It had been ten years since he was defeated, and the young boy, Link, was now a grown man. He had left the forest when he turned fifteen and wondered the world. The Master Sword had been shattered and now laid on a sacred table in Hyrule Castle. Link had also met the young and beautiful maiden, Princess Zelda, whom he visited once a year.

That morning, he would come to her from his journeys. She sat on the grassland in front of the castle, and sat against one of the trees reading a book. She heard the gate open and steps of a horse and the rolling wheels of a carriage. She perked up with excitement and closed her book, then looked to the side and ran to the edge of the hill. Link passed, he quietly rode on, trying to ignore Zelda to tease her.

"Don't you dare run off like that..." Zelda said, putting on a frown.

Link stopped his carriage, which was pulled by Epona, and slowly lifted his head to Zelda. He looked at her with his deep blue eyes and frowned back at her. What a sense of humor he had, it flattered Zelda like a bee to pollen on a flower. Zelda decided to tease back and she continued to frown, until she broke out laughing. She then leapt from the hill to Link's arms.

"Oh, Link, you're late!"

"Aren't I every year, Zelda?"

Zelda laughed again and sat beside him. He continued on toward the castle, and when he reached in front of the moat he got off the carriage and helped Zelda off. They then took a walk together around the castle. Every year, Link would tell Zelda stories about his treks in the past year.

"So, Link... what is this year's story? Tell me all of it!"

"My dear Zelda... My journeys are far to vast to tell anything..." Link was teasing again.

Zelda hit him lightly on the shoulder before he began laughing hysterically.

"All right, let me start from the beginning..." Link started, "I passed a man in Gerudo Valley, of course you know he wasn't a native, but he was selling mighty beautiful necklaces and..." Link said reaching into his tunic, "I couldn't help but imagining one on you."

He handed her a beautiful necklace. Zelda gasped with excitement, however, she had to get back at Link for teasing her... So she put on a strait face and walked off leaving him behind her.

"It's ugly."

"Zelda!"

She turned around and laughed, then kissed him on the cheek, "Never mind, thank you, Link, it's beautiful!"

Link smiled and then tickled her at the waist, before they continued to walk 'round the castle. It was such a beautiful day. No worries were scattered about the wind and skies, it was as if no evil would come to pass at least for a thousand years, it was so peaceful with Ganondorf defeated.

"Did I miss the Year's Birth Festival?"

"No... In fact, I believe your timing couldn't be better, it is tonight."

Link smiled, he loved the festival that marked every year's beginning. It was part of the reason why he visited his homeland every year.

That night was extremely exciting. It started with the song the Hylians sang every year on the fields as each of them held candles with dim light under the pale moon that was silver, and it hung over them with the glittering specs around it. The song went:

Years come and go,

Like a fading wind dying out...

A year has passed,

A year has died...

We welcome the birth of a year anew...

May it be a blessed year...

Of hope and peace...

Link was beside Zelda holding his candle. When he did visit her, he would spend a lot of time with her. Zelda looked at Link and noticed how tall he was. His voice was beautiful too, it was so deep it seemed to make her rumble, however, it was so soothing to the heart.

After the singing was the actual celebration, there was merriment, feast, dancing, and music. Zelda sat beside Link on the grassy fields. Link watched the different couples dance with each other, he then looked at Zelda and stood up. Zelda then found a hand in front of her.

"May I ask your hand in a dance?" Link said smiling at her.

She nodded and took his hand. They then danced in circles while some did the same, and others clapped along. Zelda's hair flew back as Link held onto her back to prevent her from falling. She clenched lightly onto his shoulders and went along with him.

She wasn't wearing her elaborate dress of a princess, she wore that of a common maidens', except with her tearra on. Of course Link, as usual, would always wear his green tunic, regardless of the situation, however, that didn't matter to him, and not to Zelda either. When they stopped dancing Zelda fell onto Link's chest with exhaustion. She breathed heavily, but was smiling as well.

Malon was there as well, and when she noticed Link and Zelda had stopped dancing, she skipped over to Link. She went before Link and smiled.

"Hello, Fairy Boy! May I dance with you?"

Link looked at Zelda for some reason, indicating whether he should or not. However when Zelda nodded at him he hesitantly took Malon's hand and danced with her. However, it wasn't as bad as dancing with Ruto. The thought would make Link twinge, but she was a good friend to him, she wasn't as bad as she seemed. The dance with Malon wasn't as long as the one with Zelda, but to her satisfaction, she bowed and smiled,

"Thank you, Fairy Boy! I'll see you the next time we meet!" She said skipping off.

However, when the other girls noticed Link had danced with two girls, basically every girl surrounded him and asked him to dance with them. Overwhelmed, Link looked around quickly then sunk his head. However, with much relief, Zelda had saved him. She went in front of Link and spoke to all the girls,

"Link is a bit tired now, maybe you can ask him for a dance next time you see him?"

The girls looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders, some let out a moan, and others laughed. Link was indeed the most handsome Hylian in all the land. He then mouthed a "thank you" to Zelda and sighed deeply. He heard his name being called from behind him. It sounded like Saria.

"Link!"

"Saria!" Link held out his arms.

It was as though he was still a child when he met up with Saria. She jumped into his arms.

"Is it just me, or are you growing shorter, Saria?"

Link teased all of his friends, Saria laughed, "You haven't changed a bit have you?"

Behind Saria, Link noticed another little Kokiri running toward him, it was Mido all the rage! He couldn't stand it when he saw Link and Saria together. He charged to Link and when he stopped in front of him, he had to catch his breath.

"Link... don't... touch... Saria..."

"Oh! Would you prefer I embarrass you, Mido?"

Mido blushed and shook his head. So it was then when the four of them, along with Malon celebrated together. The celebration went so deep into the night it seemed that it was a full day. Link always loved nights like this, it always reminded him of the times in the Kokiri Forest as a child. Except he enjoyed them even more, mainly because he had Zelda with him. He felt so empty without her in his life before but now, that void had been filled.

That night, Link was escorted to his own room at the castle. He had promised Saria he would spend the night at Kokiri Forest sometime but this year was Hyrule Castle. He didn't notice it, but he had been spending the nights at Hyrule Castle every time on his yearly visits.

When he was dressed for bed, he looked out the window one last time, and from across his window was Zelda's chambers and he found her combing her beautiful golden hair. He found himself gazing at her with his hands under his chin. He shook his head to get himself out of his daze, and then blew out his candle after climbing into bed. He gazed up at the ceiling as he began to hear Zelda's voice singing her lullaby. That put him to sleep peacefully, thinking wonderful thoughts.

Special thanks to:

zeldaisthebest: I'm glad you think the beginning is good, one day I was bored and I came up with that. Thanks! An author always needs to be encouraged!

Brownblade: I feel so loved... I'm so happy to know that other people appreciate my work! YESS!!! This makes Hyrule Master very happy!

Author's note: REVIEW... Say it with me, readers... REVIEW...