Legend Of Zelda:

Ascendant Legacy

Chapter 1

Heavy Lies the Crown

For nearly eight years, the land of Hyrule had been peaceful and prosperous. The Hylia and Humans that populated most of the land lived very harmoniously. The Zora, now under the guidance of the young Princess Ruto and her father King Zora, were establishing new water transport systems, making trading between almost all races and tribes of the land easier and faster. The mighty mountain lords, the Gorons, under the leadership of king Darunia had dug deep into their mountain home and erected an incredible citadel that led directly to the castle of Hyrule. Even the Gerudo, a race of female thieves and bandits from the west, entered into a agreement with the Royal Family of Hyrule to allow very small trading enterprises, and swore allegiance to the princess Zelda, thanks to negotiating from the leader of the desert warriors, Nabooru, the matriarch and most skilled of the bandits. Most surprisingly of all, a small band of Kokiri, a race of small, secretive, childlike, and woodland beings, had come out of hiding from the forests of Hyrule to seek out the Royal Family outside world, led by the brave Saria, much to the surprise of everyone in Hyrule.

All the changes and action in this world seemed to center around one point, Hyrule Castle... and for good reason. Princess Zelda had won the hearts of all her subjects every day since her birth, she had gained the respect of her guardians and the nobles, and it was known to all in the land that her beauty was unrivaled in all of Hyrule... perhaps even the world. For this reason, and because she was nearing her eighteenth birthday, and at the unanimous cry from the people, common, noble, and of all races, she was to ascend the throne and become Queen of Hyrule.

Princess Zelda stood on the top of the ramparts, the white, polished stone gleaming in the new dawn's sunlight. The princess looked out upon the horizon, the sun's light illuminationg the green hills, the blue rivers, the red mountains, and the castle's town. The world seemed to lull in this new sense, awakened, but still rousing from the night's touch. Her lengthy light brown hair caught all the hues of the sunrise and reflected it, and her beautiful blue eyes did the same, similar to how two blue crystals would. Her gown, beautiful and finely crafted swayed in the new winds, and all the world seemed to pay homage to the young lady's beauty.

"Princess," came a voice strong, yet feminine, "here again?"

"Good morning, Impa." The Princess replied in her melodic and intoxicating voice. "Yes, I thought I might see the sunrise." She stated without turning around. Impa stood behind her, standing on the turret, swift and silently as all Sheikah could, but none so as Impa.

"You mean you thought you might see 'him' if awoke." Impa said with a sort of caution in her words. "Princess, there is no word of him. There hasn't been for nearly a decade. Your scouts are always on watch, and there is no word of him-"

"Not even from the Kokiri?" Zelda asked in a slow tone, but desperate all the same.

"No, your highness. I assure you, if he were to show himself, then you would know before anyone else."

"I'm just so scared Impa..." Zelda looked down, a wave of sadness emanated from her. "I'm a sage... I even posses the Triforce of Wisdom, but for all this, I know nothing of him, nor of his fate. No magic or spell I use can show me anything of him, no seer can sense him or his footsteps, and all I have are rumors and whispers." Zelda paused. "What if he's forgotten about me and Hyrule? What if he isn't coming back... what if-"

"Princess, I do not think any harm has come to him." Impa stated quickly so that Zelda would not finish her distressing thought. "I've known may fool hardy adventurers and would be heroes. He is none of those. Never have I seen anyone with skill of sword and strength of will. No, I do not think the spirits have called him to the heavens. And of one thing I am sure." Zelda turned and looked at her guaridan. Tall and fierce looking, but gentle all the same.

"He would not have forgotten you. I saw the way he looked at you. I saw his eyes. You saw how he fought for you, how you gave him strength. I saw something in him that called out to you. No spell or power in all the worlds and no villain in all the depth could ever hope to break that. He will show himself when he is ready... frankly I find his determination to be something that impresses even me."

"Sometime I wish I had never turned back time. Was I right in doing so?" Zelda wondered, even though it was more to herself then to Impa.

"Your highness, all anyone can do is what they believe is right... and that is what you did. He knows that, and I don't believe he doubts your judgment, none of us do."

"I just wish I knew where he was and what he was doing... I would feel better if he were here, now."

"I know Princess. But now, you must attend to your duties." Impa stated in a business like manner.

Zelda nodded, putting a smile on her face and accepted that her duties must be fulfilled. The young woman looked back to the sunrise, now golden and beautiful, and thought to her self "Link... where are you?" Slowly descending the stairs of the tower, Zelda began to move gracefully towards her destiny, alone though she was. But the fate of Hyrule was not hers alone to bear...

That day, Zelda addressed the royal court, negotiating a treaty with the Zoras and Gerudo, and addressing the matter of her coronation. Eloquently, all matters were put to rest, as they always were, and she received praise and admiration from all the nobles and regional leaders. Her walk to the castle was littered with flowers and kind words from her subjects who numbered in the thousands just to see their glorious princess. Zelda felt love and pride in her role, she felt better knowing that she upheld the trust of all of Hyrule who believed in her, but a piece of her still felt alone. No one could identify with her... not the way that he could.

While in the view of the world's eye, Zelda smiled and waved, and all was well. However, when Zelda was unseen for a moment, she touched the back of her left hand with two fingers, causing a golden symbol of three interconnected triangles to surface. All across the land, a feeling went out, and six people felt the summons in their hearts. A beautiful young girl dressed in green rested among the treetops to look to the skies, a mighty mountain king paused with his hammer in hand to feel the earth, a graceful water princess stopped her frolicking to feel the currents, a shadowed warrior looked to her liege and nodded as they walked toward the castle, a warrior thief stopped along the sands of her home to feel her spirit beckon, and an old man in a hidden temple looked to the light. Each one had heard it, and each one would answer the summons.

And another felt the summons too... but he was not a sage... and he looked upon in shadowed vision and smiled with jagged teeth and darkened eyes.