Chapter 1: May I Take Your Order?

Coming to, our hero looks around. The hidden chamber behind the Door of Time looks much the same as it did seven years ago with just a few exceptions about the level of dust floating around in it. That and a folded piece of paper in front of him where the Master Sword rested formerly with his name scrawled at the top.

"Welcome to the new Republic of Hyrule?" The boy scratches his head. "Hey Navi, what's a 'republic'?

The little blue fairy flies from beneath his hat and lights the paper before reading. "I don't know, Link. Let me look it up in my fairy wiki."

"Seriously? That's how you're always telling me stuff?"

"Yup. Deku Tree thought I'd need it going around with you. Just about everything is in here and it's always updated magically."

"I don't see why you don't do this instead of me."

"Prolly cuz I can fit in your ear but hold your horses, let's learn something." A few minutes pass as his companion sifts through the know all reference book. "There's a lot of new stuff in here, give me a sec. It says: country with a political system of elected officials."

"What?"

"That's what it says."

"Whatever."

Armed with new and apparently worthless information Link pockets the brochure and walks out of the Door of Time. An unfamiliar hallway and a velvet rope later he walks into an atrium. "This is new; I remember the Temple of Time being a lot smaller." His fairy seems to concur with that conclusion and the pair wander around rather aimlessly until he finds someone official looking. After a brief exchange with him, Link is back on track and headed towards the exit with a new word to ask Navi about.

"What's a museum?"

"A place where people keep historical stuff and discuss history. Like how people figure out old stories and legends or something."

"Legends like what? The Tri-Force?"

"I guess. I mean that's one old story and that symbol is everywhere."

"So now there's a Hylian Museum?"

Navi shrugs (like Link can tell) "It was built three years ago using the Temple of Time as a foundation according to this tablet by the door."

"It says that in this pamphlet too. Strange."

"Link, maybe you should read the rest of it. It seems to be full of useful information."

"Whatever." Link flips through it. "No section on where Zelda is so useless as far as I'm concerned." He crams it into his bag. "Which way, Nav?"

The floating blue orb rolls eyes small as grains of sand before sighing, exasperated. "Do I look like a princess finder?"

"How about a hint?"

"Have you eaten in seven years?"

"Good point." As they walk out towards the market something strikes Link suddenly. "Hey...it said 'amusement park' under construction, what's that?"

"Well let me see..."

X

The new Hyrule has a lot to show for seven years of progress. What would barely qualify as a village at the base of a castle before easily could be considered a bustling city now. It had undergone a massive transformation in just a short time starting with the illustrious Hyrule Market. To promote stable commerce the most profitable market stands were replaced by buildings which facilitated shopping in any weather conveniently. With the advent of buildings came streets and more stores. After you have a shopping district you need only one more thing.

Restaurants. The palette of the average Hylian has changed quite a bit as a result. Depending on the season and where you go any kind of food could be available. Usually though when on a shopping spree the average shopper isn't looking for a memorable meal, just something quick and cheap. Hence one particular restaurant experiencing a daily boom each afternoon and this one being no exception.

"Welcome to G-Burger, may I take your order?"

Every day she says it, day in day out automatically. The repetitive drudgery is only matched by the distasteful blow to her ego for every syllable. Yet her hairnet is the oldest and her nametag is the most worn. She's been here since the store opened and it shows in the practiced way she flips burgers and her manager title. It's three o'clock and her shift is a little more than half over when her day takes a serious turn.

"Umm, yeah..." The customer hedges. "The sign said 'great eats for cheap, can't spell great without G-Burger!' so...what's that mean?"

Even without the air of cluelessness the dress gives him away. The too-small tunic and tights with the little green cap have stayed with her all this time. This is a very special occasion. "Calle, I'm on fifteen." The manager says abruptly to the girl next to her. "He is an old friend."

X

Link is confused. The last four minutes he's been in line watching people hand over rupees for paper bags and now that he is at the front of the line with his money out nothing is happening.

"Excuse me, do I know you?" He asks the lady at the counter with the penetrating gaze. "Nav, do I know her?"

"Search me." The fairy replies, flitting out for a cursory scan. "Her nametag says 'Z'."

Link is preparing a razor sharp comment for how well he can read one letter when the lady comes around the counter to him and is standing imminently close now. Her gaze has turned up by a power of two but in addition to being a little spooked he is intrigued. Something about the face is familiar, maybe the dark blue eyes but he can't quite place it with having slept through two leap years.

"Link...?" Z whispers lightly. "Is that you?"

"Yeah...wait..." Realization dawns on him suddenly. "Princess Zelda?"

Z nods slightly with a small smile. "It's been such a long time." She blinks back a few tears and swallows heavily. "I can't believe it's really you." She reaches out and touches his cheek, almost startled by the solidity of it and closes her eyes, shaking her head. "I've been waiting seven years for this day..."

"Zelda, what happened? Everything is so different; I don't understand."

"Link, let me explain. I knew this time would come and I've been thinking about you forever. I...you...I'm sorry."

The man from another time doesn't get a chance to ask her way as suddenly the world changes for him again. A flash of white like before in the Chamber of Sages upon his awakening hits him again. He flashes back to everything he's done in the blink of an eye. As he spins on one foot and collapses in a heap all he can think is that he can't recall ever being hit so hard in all his life.

X

Waking up for the third time in the same day Link sits bolt upright, sword drawn. He doesn't recognize where he is again and he'd be damned if someone wasn't going to pay this time.

"What the heck happened? I feel like I've been kicked by a horse in the side of the head!"

"She got you good." Navi says with a laugh in his ear. "Dropped you with one hit."

"Where the hell does she get off doing that? She's such a-"

"Simmer down, hero." Comes a voice from the doorway. "We need to talk."

"You're damn straight we do!" The hero snaps. "Something about how you greet old friends with a right to the jaw to start with...crap." He rubs his face and glares seriously at her.

"Look, you have no idea what I have been through and if two chipped teeth is all you can say bad happened to you we should change places."

"I would!"

"So you want to lose your birthright to the throne and work for your nemesis out of necessity?"

"Wait...what? You aren't the princess?"

"Not anymore."

Link cocks an eye at her and Navi takes her cue. The fairy flits over and back dutifully before briefing him. "Z: Zelda the former crown princess of the Hylian Kingdom. An abdicator with a bone to pick. Watch out for her right hand, there's something about it..."

"Really? I thought my face was swollen cuz of a bee sting..."

"Shut up."

"Thank you little miss obvious."

Zelda is oblivious to their mumbling as Link turns his attention back to her and pulls his hat around his ears for a muffled yell from beneath it. Smirking upward a little he crosses his arms and turns to regard the person before him in a serious manner. "Let's start this from the beginning..." He says slowly, taking a deep breath. "What the hell?"

Z is tempted to laugh but doesn't. "You're a bit late but I'll try to catch you up."

"Seven years, I know."

"Six years, nine months, three weeks and five days late actually. I was counting."

"I see. What happened?"

"Well the big problem was what didn't happen." The look on Link's face bids her to continue so she composes herself to tell the tale. "When we met I told you a story about the dark, evil man Ganondorf from my dreams. The one who would destroy my kingdom, dark visions, the whole apocalyptic nine yards, right?"

"Sounds familiar, sure."

Stifling the urge to snap at him she keeps going. "Well as soon as you opened the door of time we got outsmarted."

"I pulled the Master Sword from the pedestal and what happened after that?"

"Let me finish. You pulled the sword from the stone and then Ganon got his hands on the Tri-Force-"

"Holy crap!"

"Shut up!" Zelda barks. "That couldn't be avoided. What was wrong was the fact that when he touched the Tri-Force it separated and he got the Tri-Force of Wisdom, not the Tri-Force of Power like I predicted."

"Okay...but he's the King of Evil, right? Or am I really missing out?"

"He is the King of Evil but you are missing the point anyway!" She shakes her head, lowering her voice again. "Impa and I fled for our lives and he took over."

"Good princess runs away, bad king reigns supreme. Standard fairy tale. Enter: The Hero?"

"No, you are still in Montage Land or did you forget that part of the story?" Instead of rising to her bait and asking what a "montage" was he nods and she continues. "We fled and instead of taking over violently Ganon started making changes. Good ones."

"What? I'm the clueless one here but King of Evil = Bad, right?"

"That's a hard sale right now, depending on who you ask. He went and got the Gorons from Death Mountain to do construction in the kingdom. He extended the marketplace, made roads, built apartment buildings..."

"You're selling Ganondorf better than a mother's love right now."

"Quiet!" Zelda's eyes flash dangerously with the command as she raises her hand. "Listen!"

"Yes, ma'am."

"I came out of hiding and tried to confront him. The whole thing went terrible. We had a huge debate, I broke his arm and he went to the hospital. I got arrested right after that and was going to rot in jail but he pardoned me. By now I look horrible assaulting the benevolent Prime Minister who is ushering in new, better times for Hyrule Castleton and the world is ending as we know it."

"May I talk?"

"Yes."

"Where is the bad, me smiting evil part? I was listening and I do not see why I am supposed to insert the Master Sword into the King of Evil."

"It's easy." Zelda almost laughs but can't quite manage it. "As he did all the good for this city he screwed the rest of the world up in the name of 'progress' so bad that I feel bad for anyone outside of these gates. You will have to see for yourself but it'll be obvious. Go visit the rest of the kingdom and find your friends, you'll find out soon enough. Save Hyrule, Hero of Time."

"How?"

"I don't know but running up to him and trying to pound him into the ground will get you a night in the dungeon, a restraining order, and a half ton of community service."

"You think you could've taken Ganon down by yourself?"

"I sure took you down pretty quick."

"So what am I supposed to do that you, the One-Hit Wonder, couldn't do?"

"I don't know, honestly. I've got the Tri-Force of Power, not Wisdom. Maybe Courage can triumph where Power has failed. You're the one destined to save the kingdom, not me. It's your legend, hero."

"Well what's your deal? Why would a princess work?"

The youth in Zelda's features is evident but still seven years of frowning have not been kind. Another ugly expression mars her countenance at his question but she controls herself this time and doesn't assault Link physically. "I told you once, I'll say it again. I have to work to live like anyone else."

"But-"

"Use your head, hero. It's obvious I am not princess anymore, isn't it? If I want a roof over my head and food to eat I have to work or I'm out on the street. I don't have anyone to rely on but myself and I'm not letting that happen, no matter what. It's a tough world without the perks of royalty but I manage."

"There's one other thing I want to know." The ex-royalty shoots him a look that says 'out with it' as she rolls her eyes and he sighs. "Why did you slap me, earlier?"

"It's all your fault. I got you to get three spiritual stones and open the Door of Time with my Ocarina. I did those things and you said you'd save the kingdom but you were so late coming back it's retarded. It is too late for Hyrule and it's all your fault."

It seemed moot to mention that he wasn't responsible for how long he was asleep and that he probably would not have been able to even carry the Master Sword if he'd awakened any earlier but even knowing it wasn't his fault he could not help feeling guilty. "Well...all I can do is try." The door slamming behind him is his only reply. "You're welcome!"