Chapter 1

18 years later…

The morning had just started in the small village of Ordon and everyone in it was about to start their day. One of these people were Mayor Bo's family. Isabel had just prepped breakfast but noticed some empty seats at the table.

"Did the girls sleep in again?" Isabel asked.

Before an answer was given a blonde hair girl entered the kitchen. The girl was Bo & Isabel's 16-year-old daughter, Ilia.

"Morning mother and father."

"Good morning Ilia," Isabel greeted her daughter. "We were worried that you slept in."

"But it seems that Zelda had not yet awakened," Bo commented.

"Ilia. Could you wake your sister up, please?" Isabel asked her daughter politely.

Ilia nodded and she went to go wake her older sister. She opens the door to Zelda's room and found her sleeping on her bed.

"Hey Zelda," Ilia called.

"Mmm...What?" Zelda tiredly mumbled.

"Mom and dad want me to wake you up to come down for breakfast."

"Oh...Tell them I'll join them in a few minutes," Zelda said as she sat up on the bed.

Ilia left the room, leaving Zelda alone. The former mentally scolded herself for sleeping in too long. Zelda was normally an early bird, but lately she's been having trouble sleeping. For the past several days, weird dreams kept on appearing and she didn't know why. All she can do is hope that they're a temporary thing and they'll move on.

After getting out of bed, Zelda dressed herself, and tied her brown hair in a ponytail. The last thing she put on was necklace that had the Triforce at the center, a necklace she had as long as she can remember. Zelda left her room to join her family for breakfast.

"Good morning mother, father. Sorry I slept in late." Zelda apologized.

"It's quite alright dear. Is everything alright? You hardly ever slept in. You're usually up before Ilia."

"I don't sleep in a lot, dad!" Ilia retorted, earning a chuckle from her mother.

"I'm fine guys. I guess I've been working harder lately." Zelda did not want to bring up the dreams she's been having, not wanting to bring her own simple troubles to her family. "It's nothing to worry about."

"If you so. Now sit, we have a little surprise for you," Bo said.

Zelda sat down and at the table and watched her mother & sister go into the kitchen. Several seconds later, they both walked out holding a plate of pancakes for her.

"Happy birthday dear," Isabel greeted.

It was when Zelda remembered something. Today was her 18th birthday. "Oh, you guys. You didn't have to."

"Nonsense! It's your birthday, so we wanted to treat you with this," Bo declared. "Now let's eat."

The family started their breakfast and talked about their plans for the day. One of Zelda activities was helping her lifelong best friend, Link, at Ordon ranch. They both often helped out around the ranch run by Fado's parents. When they were not doing that, they would ride around on their horses in the woods and hang out at the Ordon Spring. Zelda had just finished her breakfast and was about to head out the door when she heard Isabel called her.

"Zelda?"

"Yes, mother?" Zelda stopped at the doorway and turned to face her mother.

"Whenever you get back today, your father and I want to talk to you about something."

"Is there something wrong?"

"Oh no, dear. It's just something important that's all," Isabel assured. "Now go on and enjoy your day."

Isabel kissed her daughter's cheek and watch her leave the house. A look of worry crept across her face as she watched the door closed. She has been dreading this day for a long time.

"Are you alright dear?" Bo asked his wife.

"I'm fine Bo. I'm just thinking...later."

Bo looked at his wife tenderly and gently held her hand. "Look...I don't like it as much as you do, but this is something Zelda should know now. It is best she hears it from us, rather than having her find out for herself. Surely she'll understand."

Zelda went to her family stable to her horse Blizzard, who was a beautiful white horse that that was gifted to her several years ago. The name 'Blizzard' was given to him due to his white coat and, as Zelda often joked about, he can be noisy as a blizzard whenever he was hungry. She saddled up on Blizzard and rode towards Link's home. Once she got there, she saw that Epona was still in front of his house but no sign of her friend. She got off of Blizzard and walked to the front of his house. She then shouted for Link.

"Link! Link are you up!?"

A loud thud and a few moments later, Link stumbled out his home, still rubbing the sleep out of his blue eyes.

"Morning sunshine," Zelda greeted with a smile.

"Morning to you too," Link greeted sarcastically. "Why couldn't you just knock on my door like other people, Zelda?"

"Because this way is more fun and enjoyable. Now let's head over the ranch before Ilia comes and steals Epona away."

"Wait, hold on second! I have something for you."

Link duck back into his home. He came back out several moments later holding something that was wrapped and hand it to Zelda.

"What is this, Link?" Zelda asked.

"You think I forget my best friend's birthday? It's your present. Now open it up!"

After placing her present on the ground, Zelda begins to unwrap it. Underneath the wrappers was an archers bow. "Link...You shouldn't have…"

"I remember how upset you were when your last bow was broken. I ask Rusl if he can help me carve a new one," Link explained.

Archery was skill Zelda was very good at. When she was young after reading her favorite stories about the adventures of a heroic pirate who braved the seas. One of the best-known traits of this pirate was her skill in archery and Zelda wanted to be an archer. She begged her parents for and bow and arrow for days before they caved in. The last bow she had had broke a few weeks back during a hunt where the deer she was hunting spotted and charged up at her, causing herself to fall on her bow and snapping it.

"Thank you, Link. I love it." Zelda hugged him.

"No problem." The pair pulled away from each other. "Now how 'bout I get on Epona and race you over to Ordon ranch?"

"You're on," Zelda declared.

After a long day working at the ranch Link and Zelda went to the woods with their horses. They were relaxing near the Ordon Spring after riding around a bit.

"Not much happened today at the ranch huh?" Link commented.

"Yeah. I mean, how long has it been since the goats escaped?" Zelda said.

"I say about...three days." Zelda gave a lighthearted laugh at Link's joke. "Hey Zel, are you feeling alright today?"

"I'm fine." Zelda was not expecting him to ask a question like that. "Why do you ask?"

"You look like you have something on your mind throughout the day. You sure everything alright?"

"Everything is fine. It's just that earlier, my mom told me that she and dad wish to discuss something important with me later. She said it isn't anything bad though."

"If it isn't bad, then I don't think it's anything to worry about," Link suggested.

"I guess you're right. Besides, I shouldn't spend my birthday worrying about something that probably isn't a big deal anyway."

The pair continued to hang out near the spring for a little longer. They just talked and joked like any good friend would do. After a while, Zelda noticed that the sky was getting dark. "We should probably head back now."

"Probably should. I'm so tired."

"When are you never 'tired', Link?"

After giving a good laugh, both friends got on their horses and rode back to the village. Once there, they both said their goodbyes and parted ways to their homes. Zelda entered hers and saw her parents both sitting down and looking up at her. Both of which have nervous expressions.

"Mother, Father, I'm back. What's is it you wanted to talk about?" Zelda looked around a bit and took notice of her little sister's absence. "Where's Ilia?"

"We sent Ilia on an errand. Your mother and I have been needing to discuss something you should know...about yourself," Bo explained.

"Myself?"

"Please, take a seat," Bo gestured to which Zelda obeyed.

"Zelda, have you ever wonder why you look...different from us?" Isabel asked.

Zelda gave her mother an odd look as she comprehended the question. In the past, Zelda had asked herself that question at times, as both of her parents and sister were all blondes (at least Bo was before he went bald), and have green eyes. Zelda was brown haired, blue eyed, and she, like Link, had elf-like ears, much similar to Hylians, rather than normal ears like everyone else in the village. Despite that, she never really look deep into it. She did, however, wondered why her mother bringing it up.

"There...have been times when I might've had. Where are you guys going with this?" Zelda said.

Isabel took a deep breath and proceeded to tell her daughter the full story. "You see Zelda, about eighteen years ago a basket came here from the river…"

From that point, Isabel told Zelda every detail about the day how she mysteriously came here in a basket from the river. With Bo bring up additional details as well. Isabel brought the full conclusion of the story.

"...After I found you, we both took you in and...You know the rest."

Zelda just sat there, comprehending the new information that her parents just revealed. She was an orphaned, no, abandoned as a baby! "Why haven't you guys told me this before?!"

"We wanted to wait till you were old enough to understand. Since you're eighteen now, we felt like now was a good time to let you know."

With that answered Zelda then focused on the next question on her mind. "But who and why would someone leave me like that?"

Bo took a deep sigh. "We wish we knew. The necklace you're wearing and this note is all that was with you." Bo handed a piece of folded old paper to Zelda, gesturing her to take it. Zelda took the paper and unfolded and read it in utter silence.

"Does Ilia know about this?"

"No...we were wondering if you want to tell her or want us to," Isabel said.

"You can tell her. I want to be alone right now."

Zelda left the room and the sound of the door to her bedroom slam shut. Isabel took a deep sigh.

"Well...that went better than I thought," Bo broke the silence.

"No doubt she's upset. I guess that's to be expected," Isabel said.

"She just needs some time taking it all in. For now, let's respect her wishes for privacy," Bo suggested.

All Bo and Isabel can do that evening was stay silent and wait for Ilia to come back to tell her the same thing they told Zelda.

For the rest of the night, Zelda didn't leave her room. She spent the night thinking about the revelation that she was adopted. Part of her was upset at her adoptive parents for not telling her before, but another part understood why they waited. Her parents probably told Ilia the truth by now, but she never went to see Zelda that night. Ilia probably assumed that Zelda wanted to be alone. After spending many hours thinking, Zelda decided to turn in for the night.

There was a towering man with a bushy beard and white blonde hair. He seem to be a man of high status since he was wearing an elegant red robe and had a headpiece that resembled a crown on his head.

Along with him was a beautiful young woman with blonde hair as well. She was seemingly the man's wife as she too was wearing the same kind of clothes, only it was a pink and white dress and she too was wearing a headpiece with a centered jewel.

The two were close to each other and smiling as they looked at what the woman was holding something wrapped around in blankets.

Zelda woke up and bolted upwards on her bed. It was still in the middle of the night, as the darkness in her room indicated. It was that dream again, much clearer this time. What did it mean? Why was she having them? Did she knew those people? Unfourtnatly, Zelda didn't have answer. All she can do was go back to sleep.

So here's a glimpse of Zelda's life and discovering her adoption.

I've made Zelda & Ilia (adoptive) sisters in this story. Most fanfics I'd seen have them either hating or downright avoiding each other. Granted there are fics with them being friendly, but more like acquaintances. Since this story isn't connected to the games, therefore I can do what I want, I made them sisters. Hope you guys don't mind that twist.

Flashbacks, thoughts, dreams, time transitions, etc will be in Italics.

Ages of some characters:

Zelda-18 (as of this chapter)

Link-19

Ilia-16

And if you're wondering where Link's dad, Leal, is...You'll find that out later on.