What Lies Beyond

Chapter 1

Link heaved a long sigh as he finally arrived home, climbing off of Epona at the bottom of the ladder that led up to his front door. Another full day of work at the ranch done. He felt like he should be more tired than he was, he decided, as he raised his arms over his head to stretch his muscles out from riding. But he suspected that all of his time spent fighting and journeying had conditioned him for harder labor than what he was doing these days. Playing with the children, working as a ranch-hand and making the occasional trip to Castle Town for various errands on behalf of Mayor Bo never took much out of him anymore.

Epona nickered softly to him, gently nuzzling his soft blonde hair. He chuckled, petting the side of her face and running his fingers through her mane. "Good night, Epona," he said to her, although the sun hadn't begun setting quite yet.

He swiftly made his way up the ladder just as he did every day, but what made today different from all the other days and months that had passed him by was the letter that was pinned to his front door. Pausing, he examined it for a moment before taking it down. His name was written in elegant handwriting on the front of the envelope, but what made his heart jump in his throat was the crest of the Royal Family of Hyrule beside it. It was a dead giveaway to who the letter was from, and that was what perplexed him. Princess Zelda had never contacted him this way before; he couldn't decipher the nature of her reason to call to him and it slightly bothered him. He made his way inside and took off his sandals, leaving them beside the door, before he sat down and finally opened the envelope.

Link,

You will be receiving this letter only a few hours after I have written it – I sent a messenger to personally deliver it to ensure its arrival would be as quick as possible.
I am writing to you because I would like to share a bit of an urgent matter with you, and request your help in this matter. For the past two hours, I have been sensing a very large disturbance within the area of the Faron Woods. At first it was so strong it nearly took my breath away. It has dulled now, but I have not felt anything like this in so long, and it is troubling me enough now that I do not feel comfortable ignoring it. I ask that you might be able to investigate these Woods for me and either confirm or deny my suspicions. This is a task that I did not feel I could trust with anyone other than Hyrule's own Chosen Hero. I know issues such as this are not foreign to you, unlike any Hyrulean Soldier.
I ask you to make your journey before dark falls tonight, for I am afraid to let this matter go unattended through the night. If you find something, I will expect you to report your findings to me before midnight. Otherwise, I will trust your judgment that what you find does not demand immediate attention and I will expect to see you in the morning. Please keep your quest to yourself. I do not want to alarm the people of Hyrule until we know whether there is any real threat or not. And please take precautions. Do not go unarmed. The Master Sword awaits your arrival.
Thank you, Link. I am eternally grateful for your service to Hyrule.

Princess Zelda

Link's heart was pounding as he glanced over the letter a second time, his mind running wild. He knew how worried Princess Zelda had to be to ask for his help like this, not to mention her request for his use of the Master Sword. She needed his help and perhaps he was a bit too anxious to oblige. On any other evening he would be contemplating dinner right about now, but any thought of food was abandoned now as he headed towards the basement to prepare for a journey instead. Having to retrieve the Master Sword before venturing into the Faron Woods gave him quite an expedition to make before the sun set. He had to start now.

Link drew Epona to a halt as they approached the bridge that connected the Ordon Woods to the Faron Woods. It had honestly been quite a while since he had been here. He had never found reason to come back here after the end of the battle with twilight, especially since he chose to stay away for the sake of the Ordon children, namely Talo and Malo, whose father had forbidden them from entering Faron Woods because it was too dangerous. Talo in particular had always looked up to Link, and often mimicked the blonde's interests and actions, so he had chosen to set an example by teaching Talo to avoid the Faron Woods at all cost. He actually had been worried about the children when he emerged from his house, clad in the Hero's green tunic for the first time in months. Princess Zelda's letter had plainly instructed him to be silent about his journey to investigate the Woods, and he knew the children would insist on knowing where he was going dressed the way he was and why. Ilia would probably fuss about him taking Epona on another adventure, Talo would probably try to convince him to bring him along, and none of them would leave him alone until they knew every shred of information about his evening's plans. He couldn't have picked a more opportune time to leave when there was no one to greet him outside his home, nor did anyone pass by when he mounted Epona, who had been surprised to see her master return to her so soon after he had gone inside. He spoke to no one about his departure as he rode his mare swiftly through the village, but this wasn't exactly unusual to the people for him to leave without warning, and so they let him go.

Epona grunted and swung her head back towards him, pulling him out of his musings and urging him to go on. Link shook his head to clear his mind. He surveyed the outside of the Faron Woods, furrowing his brow. It sure did look normal from here at least, he thought, remembering how distressed Princess Zelda sounded in her letter. But he shrugged it off and nudged Epona's sides with his boots to move forward in a steady canter.

The Woods were as quiet as ever as he rode on through, slowing Epona down to a walk so he could take in their surroundings. Zelda's letter had been vague about the precise location in question. He didn't know what he was looking for exactly, and so far nothing here stood out to him. He felt heavy as he rode through the tall brush and shrubbery, unused to the weight of the Hylian Shield and the Master Sword on his back, but he had to admit that he felt powerful wielding the two weapons once more.

It wasn't long before Link lost himself in his thoughts for a second time as his quest turned into more of a joyride of nostalgia instead. Part of him was hoping that Princess Zelda's request to be armed with such powerful weapons wasn't all in vain, but what caused him to press on was the fact that it always seemed like Princess Zelda was never wrong about things such as this.

Vibrant beams of red and orange began slipping in through the trees as the sun began to gradually slip below the horizon. Link had somewhat lost track of how long he had been scouting the Woods, but his back and legs were growing weary from riding, and he knew that Epona was probably feeling it too. Passing the Faron Spring for what he knew was not the first time, he decided that it was a good place to give his horse a short rest and so he guided her in that direction.

Epona seemed to prance with relief after Link finally climbed down from her back, immediately turning to step all four hooves into the chilly crystal clear waters that flowed peacefully from the Spring, taking a good long drink. Link smiled at her behavior as he took a moment to stretch, silently greeting the unseen light spirit that dwelled here as he cast a quick glance up at the waterfalls. He stood at the water's edge, bending and straightening his knees in an attempt to shake off more of the stiffness. Amused, he watched Epona as she indulged herself in the fresh spring water. He knew his ever obedient mare was probably tired after a full day of work at the ranch and now a long journey through the Woods. She deserved to relax for a bit. Smiling to himself, he decided to let her be as he took a brief walk to loosen up. He knew she would be safe there for a few minutes.

He hadn't planned on straying very far from Faron Spring. In fact, he had only managed to wander a short distance away when he heard a soft neigh from his mare that made him glance over at once. His eyes sought out her form through the shadows of the trees on the other end of the spring, and immediately he discovered a silhouette approaching Epona who hadn't seemed to notice his presence. His guard went up without a second thought as he tried to understand how the figure had slipped into the spring without him noticing. He made his way around the spring, sure to remain unheard and unseen. He was sure at any moment, Epona would let out a whinny to alert Link of the intruder and by then he would be close enough to jump into action to fend the stranger off. But what he saw instead made him stop in his tracks.

Epona neighed quietly to the stranger again, nodding her head towards the silhouette in a warm welcome, as if Link himself was the one approaching her. The mare took a step towards the stranger and a hand was raised to pat her muzzle. Link's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had never seen her treat complete strangers that way.

Confused, he stood and watched, partly hidden behind the shrubs where he had stopped. The figure's stature seemed a little leaner than a typical combatant, Link noted. He could tell that it was also shorter than him. He and Epona were always eye level, but the stranger was an inch or so short of that. Then he caught a fleeting sight of the side of the stranger's face and he gasped. It was a girl.

His guard went down a little as he began making his way towards the girl and his mare once again, puzzled at who she was and where she had come from and why she was in the Woods. He could begin to hear her murmuring to the horse, but couldn't make out any clear words. But then she turned away from him and he tensed up when he made out the outline of a sword sheathed behind her back, as well as a shield.

He needed to get to the bottom of this.

His steps were soundless as he crept up behind her as she reached out again, this time to stroke Epona's neck. He reached behind him to draw the Master Sword and Epona's head swung over towards him in surprise as he unsheathed it. There was a blur of maroon before his eyes and he heard the girl yell, followed by a crash of steel against steel. It took his brain a moment to register what had happened in the mere second that passed, and he realized that his sword hand was still raised above his head. He glanced up with a start to see the Master Sword locked with another sword. Her sword. For a second his mind reeled in shock that he had lost track of his senses even for that sheer moment.

"Who are you and why do you attack me?" the girl spat at him, her eyes narrowed.

Link took a moment to answer, keeping his sword pressed against hers. "Why did you approach my mare and why are you armed?" he responded calmly.

"Why are you armed?" she shot the question back at him.

"I am on a quest," was his only reply. A breeze kicked up towards him and he caught a faint scent of cherry blossom. It was almost enchanting and… familiar.

The girl suddenly withdrew her sword and jumped back. Immediately, Link withdrew as well and waited for her move as she stepped backwards into a patch of evening sunlight still bleeding through the thick canopy. She was clad in a maroon tunic that – much to his surprise – resembled his own in a way. A black bow adorned her short dark blonde hair and her ocean blue eyes pierced him as she studied him in return. He noticed the features of her face and ears and his eyes widened.

"You are Hylian," he said. It was more of a statement than a question.

His words visibly threw her off and he could see a few of her muscles relax as she realized that they were of the same race. "So are you," she noted, slight uncertainty drifting into her previously fierce voice as she looked him up and down.

Was this girl the source of the disturbance that Princess Zelda was sensing? Was the Princess simply sensing the presence of a fellow Hylian? But even if that was true, why now? Any why was it troubling her so?

Link slowly lowered his sword and took a step towards her. He was trying to understand why she looked so familiar. She looked so much like someone he knew very well. But who…? He nearly dropped his sword when it dawned on him.

She looked just like him.

He glanced over at her sword that she had also lowered before his eyes darted back to look at his own weapon. They were exactly the same.

"The Master Sword—" was all Link could think to say in his stupor.

The girl tightened her grip on her sword, pursing her lips. But when she recognized the sword he held, her mouth fell open. "How do you have one just like it?" she wanted to know. "I'm the one that has it."

"I was the Chosen One to remove it from the Pedestal of Time," Link answered.

"No, I was the Chosen Heroine that removed it," she objected in bewilderment.

"Heroine?" he echoed, shaking his head. None of this was making sense.

The girl huffed. "I'm lost," she suddenly admitted, waving her hands as if she was shooing away the previous subject. "I was making my way through Hyrule Field and I was attacked." She rubbed the back of her head. "I was hit in the head… I blacked out and ended up here somehow. I was with my stallion and my friend Onyx, but now I cannot find either of them and I cannot find my way out of this place."

Link sheathed his sword, no longer feeling any threat. "Maybe I can help," he suggested. "I'm Link of Ordon Village." He extended his left hand, but she was giving him a very funny look now, and as soon as she introduced herself he understood why.

"I'm Reni of Ordon Village," she said slowly as her hand reached out to meet his. And as soon as they touched, a sharp pain lanced through his body and he gasped, instantly losing touch with his surroundings.

"Duck!"

A boy's shout penetrated his clouded mind. He found himself in the waving grasslands of Hyrule Field, the ground trembling beneath his hands and knees and the thundering of hooves assaulting his ears. Someone had yelled at him, and apparently he had done as instructed. A bomb arrow whistled past him, barely missing his hat. This was so familiar… yet it wasn't. This wasn't right.

He glanced up in time to see an angry mob of Bullbos galloping towards him and he instinctively jumped back, feeling way too disoriented. As he attempted to calculate his best move, a hand suddenly gripped his shoulder and began pulling on him. He went for the Master Sword.

"No time for that!" that same voice bellowed.

A huge black stallion had appeared beside him and a young man with hair equally as black was pulling him onto the horse's back.

And without warning he was dropped back into the Woods, his senses rushing back to him and leaving him with a feeling of unease in the pit of his stomach. He registered the fact that he had let go of Reni's hand as he tried to even out his breathing. The mark of the Triforce on the back of his hand was burning, feeding his uneasiness. He had no idea what had just happened, but from the look on Reni's face he thought it was safe to assume that she was just as mystified. She was also rubbing the back of her head again, looking pained.

Epona let out a low grunt, breaking the thick silence. She nudged Link's arm.

The Hero looked around the forest for a moment, silently willing himself to calm down. He would worry about this later. Right now he felt he needed to help this girl out. "Come on," he finally spoke, relieved that his voice lacked the trepidation that he was still feeling. "It's getting dark. You must not have come out this way before. I know how to get to Ordon Village from here, it isn't far. Then maybe we can find your horse and your friend." He was ready to head back anyway. He was convinced that nothing in the Woods was out of place, except for Reni.

Reni gave a small smile to him. It complimented her features beautifully. "You're too kind. Thanks."