Chapter 1: Memories of An Elf

Link lifted his eye-lids open, the blue irises greeting the starry blue night sky. The twinkling gems floated in a lofty bliss above a soothing green forest canopy. It was as if the trees framed the sky or even perhaps the trees were like a fish bowl, keeping the mischievous glowing fish in the night liquid. In other, more simpler terms, beautiful.

…Pretty, but not quite like Hyrule…

Link groaned as he rubbed his left eye with his palm. Those dreams again… or more like memories of his first adventure in his homeland, the sacred kingdom of Hyrule. Unfortunately for Link, he had the displeasure of dreaming of his journey's end and the separation of time-lines… separated from all the adventures and friends he made.

Link did return to his time as Zelda had wished. He was a boy again, a little tyke that wore odd forest fairy garbs. As consequence of time travel, all of the things he faced and the friends he'd make never happened.

Zelda had sent him back to the morning after Ganondorf attacked the castle. To most, the potential usurper was never able to touch the Triforce and become the Evil King. He and what was left of his forces retreated, and the young princess and her loyal Sheikah guardian Impa returned to the castle safe and unharmed. The King placed a huge bounty for Ganondorf dead or alive. And from what Link had heard, Nabooru and the Gerudo who were loyal to her banished Ganondorf. Quickly hunted and surrounded by both Hylian and Gerudo forces he man was apprehended and executed for his treason. By the mercy of the Goddess Ganondorf was gone and he did not possess the Triforce of Power.

Despite his low status and no official business to mingle with the princess, Link couldn't bear the thought of not seeing her again. As he had done before, he snuck into her favorite garden to see her. Instead of finding her glued to the window of the throne room, the little girl was sitting gingerly in the grass, playing her lullaby on a golden harp Link recognized as Sheik's. Although, Sheik was the princess's alias, and the instrument belonged to Zelda.

Of course Link's Kokiri boot would shuffle too loudly as to disturb her so suddenly. She gasped as she swirled her head to find the source of the noise. But when blue met blue, her face transformed into a smile of pure joy.

Link could only murmur a simple "Hi.", but he was clamped by her surprisingly strong embrace. "You did it!" she beamed. "You saved Hyrule and the Triforce!" beamed the nine year old, as she hugged ten year old Link joyfully.

Link returned the hug as he smiled. "We saved Hyrule, Zelda! I couldn't do it without you and the Sages."

Zelda looked at him curiously as her head titled. "Sages? I've heard about them in stories, but I don't remember meeting them."

The hero was astounded. Link opened his mouth to argue, but he suddenly figured out why Zelda seemed out of the loop. His adventure never happened, and Zelda never disguised herself as a Sheikah and sought the aid of the Six Sages.

Link smiled awkwardly. "Heh, never mind. Must have been a weird dream." Zelda cocked her head, not quite convinced. Link told her that he traveled through time itself, much to her astonishment. The children sat themselves down as Link elaborated on his quest.

Zelda held her heart in shame after he finished. "So… You were trapped in the Sacred Realm for seven years?" she asked quietly. Link frowned as he nodded.

"Oh no, I didn't expect for it to… Oh Link!" Zelda had been holding back tears of guilt, but now they escaped her ducts. Sobbing, she embraced Link apologetically. "I-I'm so sorry! It's all my fault!"

Link smiled softly. "Hey, Zel. It's ok. I'm not mad." She sniffled. Link continued. "What happened was something neither of us saw coming. And we needed to do something quick before Ganondorf did something really terrible."

The princess looked up tearily. "Re-Really? You're not mad?"

"Cross my heart. Friends forever, right?" Link held out his hand. Zelda smiled as she wiped her tears away. She clasped her hand around his. "Right!"

The two were inseparable. Link soon became a familiar and was eventually allowed to roam the castle ground, but not without the protest of the soldiers and the nobles. Nevertheless, Zelda and Link enjoyed each other's company and they became very fast and dear friends within a year's time. It was complete bliss, at least for a little while…

Link felt he was missing something… a sprite something.

Ever since he returned to the Temple of Time, Navi the fairy, his loyal companion, flew off into the window, never to be seen again. Despite where he was raised, Link wasn't a Kokiri, so it was only natural that she wouldn't stick to him. Fairies were immortal creatures and the Kokiri lived very long lives as eternal children. Link will grow up, and being a Hylian his life-span was short compared to the sprites that raised him.

But still after all the two have been through, it didn't make sense to Link why she left him…

Feeling uneasy, like a son who lost his mother-mentor, Link decided to travel to search for her; he looked all over Kokiri Forest, the Lost Woods, and even the Sacred Forest Meadow for her, but with no luck. He searched all over Hyrule… all the places the two had traveled there was no sight of the pixie. But Link wasn't one to give up.

"So, you're leaving the land of Hyrule…"

Link will never forget the sadness of the princess's voice when he informed her that he was leaving. He was only eleven and she only ten, but the bond they shared seemed ancient. "Even though we've known each other for a little time, I feel like I've known you forever."

Link shook his head. He hated himself for leaving despite his reasons. But Zelda was completely understanding. She wished him safe travels and entrusted him with one of the Royal Family's sacred heirlooms: the Ocarina of Time.

Link shuffled through his pack lying next to him and pulled out a blue polished instrument. Even in the nine years he had been roaming, the Ocarina of Time looked polished as if it were made minutes ago. Nine years… he had no idea why he continued his travels, seeing that there was not a trace of Navi. But he had gotten himself caught in new adventures, and he even found himself living with a farmer and his wife for a while.

Perhaps it was his selfless nature and divine duty as the Hero of Time to help other people and lands, as such with the Majora's Mask incident. Many other adventures followed the last, and the years seemed to go by as he traveled.

He sighed as he shifted on his side, holding the ocarina close to his heart. He longed to return… but he felt drawn to continue forward.

He messaged his left hand, the hand that shown his legitimacy as the chosen of the gods: the Triforce of Courage. It felt as though it was calling to him, and the only phrase that came to the elf's mind was 'unfinished business'.

Considering his situation, Link deducted that Zelda still bared the Triforce of Wisdom. And as for the Triforce of Power… its whereabouts are a complete mystery.

Deciding not to allow his consciousness dwell on the past, Link closed his eyes. Whatever business he'll deal with tomorrow, he will turn back and return to Hyrule immediately afterwords. He had to go home.

Sleep soon spared Link his anxiety, but he was oblivious to the malicious eyes staring down from the shadows…